Best XI Predictions – Round 12

Did you ever wonder what you could do with a team if you used a Wild Card every week? In Best XI at $120m, we will explore the options available to brand new players as well as those using a Wild Card as we predict the rounds Dream Team. Along with the best players by round matchup, players with the best upcoming schedules will take precedence over similarly priced players.

Round 11 Recap

Irwin: 11, Allen: 0, Moor: 11, Campbell: 11, Valeri: 10, Kljestan*: 14, Bradley: 10, McNamara: 0, Pontius: 3, Giovinco (c): 7 (14), Villa: 3

Total Without Captain: 87
Round Average: 64
Round Best: 147
* Dream Team

Note of Apology: The NYC shuffle and collapse really hurt this lineup.  Beating the average is something, but more is expected from a WC team.  The complete lack of coverage for BWP and the NYRB Defense was also a huge mistake.

Starters

Goalkeeper – Blake $4.9 PHI: Blake will be staying for the DGW so he’s the obvious inclusion. Post Copa America, he’s a solid candidate for any roster and has a DGW in 15.

Defender – Rosenberry $5.9 PHI: Stock up on Philly players. A DGW in 12 and 15 with a game in 13 is hard to pass up. Rosenberry also takes some corners which ups his value.

Defender – Steres $5.2 LA: Steres looks to have locked up the starting role. At $5.2 he leads LA’s defense in fantasy points and is almost a must have for any team at this point. A round 13 game easily earns him a spot this week.

Defender – Glad $5.3 RSL: RSL are quietly rocking this year and Glad has been a huge part of it. With favorable matchups, a DGW on the horizon and a week 13 game, don’t sleep on him.

Midfielder – Kaka $11.0 ORL: A one and done player that could really make a difference on the DGW. Look to swap him for Jorales for round 13.

Midfielder – Molino $8.1 ORL: If it’s not Kaka making plays, it’s Molino. Although he’s a one and done as well, he’s definitely worth the spot. Molino is easily dropped to a scrub to leave money for a Larin upgrade.

Midfielder – Diaz $10.9 DAL: One of the strongest mids when healthy with a game in round 13. Last week’s absence was likely a precaution more than an injury.

Midfielder – Valeri $10.7 POR: Still one of the best options and an easy inclusion most weeks. A week 13 game keeps him in the lineup.

Midfielder – Pontius $7.2 PHI: Pontius is the leading midfield scorer for Philly so far and cheaper than Barnetta. 180 minutes isn’t guaranteed, but his production so far earns a spot on this roster.

Forward – Sapong $8.2 PHI: The most likely candidate for goals and the only true must own forward for the round. Oh and it’s Philadelphia again.

Forward – Larin $9.3 ORL: Using the WC trick of three transfers allows Larin to be included and sent out next round without a penalty. The matchups are favorable for goals and if it wasn’t for the bye in 13, he would be a must own for most others. Take the money from Molino and look at Villa in 13.

Subtotal: $86.7

Note: This lineup assumes $120 available, but is just $0.2 shy of adding Barnetta instead of Pontius.

Subs

Goalkeeper – Rimando $6.2 RSL

Defender – Duvall $6.6 NYRB

Defender – Gullien $4.0 DAL

Forward – Dos Santos $11.3 LA

Forward – Hollinger-Janzen $4.5 NE

Subtotal: $32.6

While not the ideal week to WC, there are some serious advantages. Taking advantage of the 3 free transfers following a WC allows the inclusion of the Orlando trio of heavy hitters. This lineup sets up nicely for the end of the first half of the season. The bench has three solid answers to roster questions down the road as well.

Total 119.3

Captain

Take your pick from the DGW players. The community seems to be leaning towards Sapong, but mostly because Orlando won’t be seeing much play.