Gameweek 12 of the 2022 MLS Fantasy Soccer season is a monster. Twenty teams play twice in a week that sees the end of the second qualifying phase for the Champions League.

Stats Courtesy of FBRef

Goalkeeper

Essential: None

Recommended: Bill Hamid (DC United) Carlos Coronel (NYRB) Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union) Joe Willis (Nashville SC)

All four look to have at least one clean sheet chance, with Hamid and Willis also having two home games.

Possible: Sean Johnson (NYCFC) JT Marcinkowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

Defenders

Essential: None

Recommended: Julian Gressel (DC United) Kai Wagner (Philadelphia Union) Alexander Callens (NYCFC)

Gressel has five assists in his last five games and is fourth in the league for crosses (48).

In addition to his attacking threat, Wagner looks to have at least one clean sheet chance this week. Just beware that he is one yellow card from suspension.

13 bonus points in the past three games mean Callens is a great option even before considering NYCFC have managed clean sheets in each of those games.

Possible: Sean Nealis (NYRB) Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union) Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC) Mbacke (LAFC) Nathan (San Jose Earthquakes)

Midfield

Essential: None

Recommended: Daniel Gazdag (Philadelphia Union) Emanuel Reynoso (Minnesota United) Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC) Cristian Espinoza (San Jose Earthquakes)

Gazdag is goal and assist dependent but when you have goal involvements in eight games out of eleven then that’s less of an issue.

Reynoso has scores of 8, 13, 14 and 8 from his most recent home games. He starts the week at home to LA Galaxy.

While Mukhtar’s season hasn’t really got going, he has home games against CF Montreal, who have conceded 14 times in seven away matches and Chicago Fire (xGA 9.3 from five road trips).

45 points from four games makes Espinoza an obvious choice as he heads into games at home to Portland and SKC, both of whom have struggled on the road.

Possible: Maxi Moralez (NYCFC) Lewis Morgan (NYRB) Luquinhas (NYRB) Djordje Mihailovic (CF Montreal) Jamiro Monteiro (San Jose Earthquakes)

Forwards

Essential: None

Recommended: Taxiarchis Fountas (DC United) Valentin Castellanos (NYCFC) Jeremy Ebobisse (San Jose Earthquakes)

He has only played 60 minutes or more four times in his early MLS career, but Fountas already has five goals and two assists in those appearances. He also picks up the occasional bonus point or two.

Taty has the highest npxG+xA per 90 minutes in the league and has six goals in his last four games. However, he is another player one yellow card away from a ban.

Possible: Raul Ruidiaz (Seattle Sounders) Jesus Ferreira (FC Dallas) Nathan Fogaca (Portland Timbers)

Captain

1. Fountas
2. Espinoza
3. Castellanos