MLS Fantasy 2018: Gameweek 14 Review - Player of the Week
After each round of matches for MLS Fantasy players, we'll be providing our Player of the Week, the player who we think is deserving of top spot, even if they didn't finish on the most points for a week. We'll take a look at the impact the player is having on his team, as well as the MLS Fantasy returns that they are providing. Strap in, it's time to get nostalgic. All aboard.
MLS Fantasy: Gameweek 15
For the 2018 MLS Fantasy season there is a 'Rolling Lockout', which means you can make substitutions and transfers until the second a player's game kicks off, which means you can chop and change your lineup as any Gameweek progresses.
You can view the schedule and a real time Gameweek deadline countdown clock (in the London GMT timezone) on our dedicated MLS Fantasy page.
MLS Fantasy Gameweek 14 - Player of the Week: Josef Martinez (Atlanta)
Atlanta United returned to the field after two weeks without a game, having sat out Week 13 due to a bye round of fixtures. Atlanta had suffered 2 losses in their previous 3 fixtures, so Week 14 was an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and go again against favourable opposition.
Atlanta United's Last 5 MLS Results
Week 11: Atlanta United 0-2 Sporting Kansas City
Week 11: Orlando City 1-2 Atlanta United
Week 12: Atlanta United 1-3 New York Red Bulls
Week 14: New England Revolution 1-1 Atlanta United
Week 14: Atlanta United 3-1 Philadelphia Union
Atlanta's 1-1 draw at New England was a tight and nervy affair, and one which Gerardo Martino's side should have been out of sight in after a series of squandered opportunities early in the second-half. Josef Martinez's only shot of the game was the resulted of a cutback from Julian Gressel that evaded the entire Revolution defence, with Martinez coolly slotting home for the opening goal of the game.
The midweek draw set the stage for a home encounter with a Philadelphia Union side who were proving defensively compact, but less than 20 minutes into the game would see that compactness disintegrate.
Alejandro Bedoya was sent off for protesting a penalty award to Atlanta when central defender Auston Trusty brought Josef Martinez down in the area, and when Bedoya was sent packing it sparked Haris Medunjanin into two yellows in the space of seconds after arguing with the referee. Martinez would score the first of 2 penalties against Philadelphia, with a tap-in sandwiched between after a delightful run and cross from Miguel Almiron.
Whilst the New England fixture provided a real contest, the Philadelphia game was about MLS Fantasy players smelling blood in the water after Philadelphia went down to 9-men. It was Josef Martinez owners, all 25.89% of them, that would be the one's laughing at the end of Week 14.
Josef Martinez's Gameweek 14 Points - New England Revolution 1-1 Atlanta United:
79 mins played: 2pts
1 goal: 5pts
1 big chance created: 1pt
Total: 8pts
Josef Martinez's Gameweek 14 Points - Atlanta United 3-1 Philadelphia Union:
84 mins played: 2pts
3 goals: 15pts
1 penalty earned: 2pts
7 shots: 1 point
Total: 20pts
This is the second time this season that Josef Martinez has earned our Player of the Week accolade. Martinez scored 4 goals and managed an unbeaten 28 points this week, so his selection is a no-brainer, as was his first selection during Gameweek 3, which saw Martines score a hat-trick against Vancouver Whitecaps at home.
Despite playing 90 minutes only 5 times this season from 14 attempts, Martinez has scored in 8 matches this season, including 2 hat-tricks which have both come at home. Week 14 saw Miguel Almiron as the primary captaincy choice amongst players, and it has been set-pieces that have gone in Martinez's favour this week after notching 2 penalties against Philadelphia. The risk for Miguel Almiron was potentially earning a yellow card in the New England fixture, which would have ruled the Paraguay international out of the Philadelphia game. What many didn't expect was Martinez to put Almiron in the shadows in the manner that he did.
Next up for Atlanta United is a visit to Yankee Stadium and NYCFC in a fixture which could have massive implications for the Supporters' Shield standings come the end of the season. Atlanta are top of the overall standings right now with 29 points from 14 fixtures, with Patrick Vieira's NYC side on 27 points from the same matches played.
This top of the table clash in the East is a replay of the Week 7 fixture which finished 2-2 at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This colossal fixture is bound to have goals and entertainment value, so it would be unwise to rule the likes of Villa, Almiron, Moralez, or Martinez, for continued MLS Fantasy delight.
The 2018 MLS Fantasy Season
MLS has returned, and you can join our very own MLS Fantasy League by clicking here, or alternatively by using the league code RDPUAHR2 whilst on the MLS Fantasy site, or checking out our pinned tweet on our @HypeTrainMLS Twitter account. We'd love to have you aboard for the ride.
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All aboard.
