MLS Fantasy 2018: Gameweek 17 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 18
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 Week 17 - Player of the Week: Bořek Dočkal (Philadelphia)
It's not often that we get an opportunity to put the spotlight on Philadelphia Union as part of our MLS Fantasy coverage, but this past week has lifted the lid on The Union's involvement this season.
The halfway point of the MLS season during Week 17 was Philadelphia's highest point in the MLS this season, sweeping aside Vancouver Whitecaps 4-0 at home. Not only was it Philly's biggest win of the season so far, but it also took them to 21 points in the Eastern Conference. 21 points, and a host of impressive home performances of late, has seen The Union climb to sixth in the East at the expense of an Orlando City side whose form has completely derailed over the last two months.
Currently in play-off contention, the big performers for Philadelphia last week were Midfield options, with both Borek Dockal and Ilsinho both in the top 5 performing MLS Fantasy players last week.
Typically we avoid picking lowly selected differentials, but due to a lot of inactive players in the overall game, and the impact of a top few players banking on Dockal's 17 points, it was a week where most rued the omission all whilst a handful of smart players capitalised on a rout of a Vancouver side who have been unpredictable at the best of times this past season.
Borek Dockal's Week 17 Points - Philadelphia Union 4-0 Vancouver Whitecaps:
86 mins played: 2pts
Clean sheet: 1pt
2 Goals: 10pts
67 passes: 1pt
5 key passes: 1pt
3 crosses: 1pt
5 shtos: 1pt
Total: 17pts
Dockal's influence is too much to ignore this season. Featuring in 15 league matches this season (just missing one match), Dockal has seen his Fantasy price rise by $1.7 million this season, and the 17 points amassed against Vancouver took the attacking threat up to a centenary of points.
Against Vancouver, Dockal scored twice and provided an assist, as well as earning bonus points for successful passes, key passes, crosses, and shots, as well as earning a clean sheet point.
For us, who overlooked Dockal and Philadelphia's potential will be looking back in anger whilst the heavy-hitting midfield picks laboured to 6 or 7 points, we'll think twice before omitting him again whilst on his own patch. Next up for Philadelphia Union is an away trip to LAFC, so we'll probably holster our enthusiasm for Dockal until The Union return to Talen Energy Stadium.
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.
You can read more of our latest news from in the FPL, Premier League, and around the footballing world on our Football page by clicking here, or by clicking the image below.
For more MLS, follow @RealHypeTrain and @HypeTrainMLS on Twitter for the latest social media insight from The Hype Train.
Want to know more about The Hype Train?
The Hype Train is an entertainment website founded in 2015, specialising in the Fantasy Premier League (#FPL), providing beautiful graphics and weekly insight for hopeful players attempting to climb ranking tables. We are also occasional media reviewers, with a keen interest to review movies, live sport, and professional wrestling.
As well as providing FPL articles on our website, we are a founding Contributor to the new Fantasy Football Hub, where you can find more unique articles, including weekly Power Rankings, from The Hype Team. You can support us and read exclusive members only content for just £2 per-month by clicking here.
The Hype Train were nominated and shortlisted for the 'Best Football Blog 2016' by the Football Bloggers Association at their annual Football Blogging Awards (The FBA's), with the final presentation held at Old Trafford in Manchester.
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All aboard.
