Reminder #1: The cut off time to make roster changes is 15 minutes prior to the scheduled kick off of the first match of the week. This week, that deadline is 3:45 pm ET on Sunday.
Reminder #2: Only the second leg of the Conference Championship will count towards your Round 38 total score.
Top Player in Round 37: Robbie Keane – 14 points
Key Injuries: (QUESTIONABLE) – Mauro Rosales, Juninho, Chris Pontius, Landon Donovan, Brandon McDonald, Ricardo Clark, Adam Moffat
You only get one transfer in Round 38 and one transfer in round 39 so try to focus on those players who you think will be playing in the MLS Cup final. Dwayne De Rosario is expected to get some playing time, but how much he will get remains to be seen. It’s a risky pickup, but if Ben Olsen is confident enough to start him it might just be worth a shot. We’re one round away from the final showdown so every single point becomes even more crucial.
As always, pay attention to the most recent injury report that came out on Friday. Andy Najar and Marc Burch are the only two players suspended for Round 38. Good luck everyone!
Will Bruin, $9.0m, Houston Dynamo (165 points, second among forwards)
D.C. United will be forced to press the Dynamo for goals, which should leave some holes in their defense. Bruin has shown an ability to finish this year, which is why he’s behind only Robbie Keane in points among forwards (165). In the last four rounds he’s tallied four goals, one assist and 30 points (7.5 average per game). Expect Bruin to get a few nice looks in front of the net, which has been typical for him as of late.
Robbie Keane, $11.0m, LA Galaxy (189 points, first among forwards)
Keane has superb vision and excellent finishing ability. His 189 points are 24 more than the next closet player at the forward position and look for him to add to that before the final whistle blows. He has the most goals of any other player left at this point and he’s a playmaker too – 20 goals and 7 assists total, including playoffs. LA seem poised for another deep run and Keane might just be the hottest player in MLS at the moment.
Brad Davis, $10.3m, Houston Dynamo (199 points, first among midfielders)
Davis is a proven veteran leader who has to be in your lineup come game time. He’s second in key passes (76) and first in successful crosses (91), leading the next closest player (Mauro Rosales) by 24. His time on the ball gives him a better chance to get points than most players. Expect Davis to find a way around a D.C. United defense that’s given up three goals in their last two games at RFK Stadium.
Landon Donovan, $11.0m, LA Galaxy (199 points, second among midfielders)
The Galaxy captain has one goal and three assists in his last four games. His 16 assists are the most by any player in the playoffs, proving his worth as more of a creator than a finisher this season. His 86 key passes are the most in MLS and eight more than Davis for the most by any player still left in the competition. Look for Donovan to continue feeding the ball to Keane all game as long as his hamstring doesn’t give him trouble. Have a backup plan, though, just in case he’s a late scratch.
Bobby Boswell, $7.8m, Houston Dynamo (171 points, first among defenders)
Boswell is the current leader in points among defenders and two of his 13 clean sheets have come against the Dynamo's Sunday foes. In those two wins over D.C., the Dynamo outscored United by a total of 5-0. Boswell’s 13 clean sheets are tied for the most by any player still remaining and his 288 CBIs are a third-best overall. His height gives him an extra advantage when it comes to converting on set pieces as well. Even if the Dynamo give up a goal, Boswell will still gather points from CBIs.
Top transfers (in) this round: Tommy Meyer, Mike Magee, Robbie Keane
Top transfers (out) this round: Marc Burch, Chris Pontius
