MLS Fantasy 2018: Gameweek 20 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 21
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 20 - Player of the Week: Alex Callens (NYCFC)
The last few Gameweek's of MLS Fantasy have been a perfect advert for the game, and as the platform being one of the most enjoyable and progressive games in the world. Positive play and defensive play have been awarded in spades over the last fortnight, with New York City's success this week being the first case point.
Heading in to a double helping of home fixtures at Yankee Stadium for Week 20, Dominic Torrent's dispatched competitive teams in Montreal Impact and Columbus Crew to put the squeeze on Atlanta at the summit of the Eastern Conference.
Atlanta sit pretty at the top fo the East with 41 points from 21 matches played, with back-to-back wins pushing NYCFC comfortable in second with 40 points, and destiny in their own hands with a game in hand over their Conference rivals.
Jesus Medina starred in the 3-0 victory against Montreal, scoring and assisting, whilst goals from Ronald Matarrita and 21-year old Forward, Jonathan Lewis, put the icing on a cake for NYC and MLS Fantasy players who had good servings of points across the park.
At the weekend it was Jesus Medina who found the deadlock in a tight affair against Columbus Crew, prodding home at the back post, with right-back Anton Tinnerholm also on the score-sheet, and edging 24 points in MLS Fantasy this past week, more than any other player.
A brace of assists and a steady stream of bonus points also saw captaincy favourite Maxi Moralez claw 18 points over two games, supplying a healthy 36 points for wise players.
Our selection of Player of the Week comes down to our evaluation having watched both of NYC's outings this past week. When making graphics this week I had pinned Anton Tinnerholm for this role, but when I came to filling in the boxes my decision defaulted to Alex Callens and it wasn't until I had uploaded the below image that I was clued in to the fact that my mind naturally changed from one defensive option to another.
Alex Callens's Week 20 Points - NYCFC 3-0 Montreal Impact:
90 mins played: 2pts
Clean sheet: 5pts
6 tackles: 1pt
78 passes: 2pts
5 clearances: 1pt
Total: 12pts
Alex Callens's Week 20 Points - NYCFC 2-0 Columbus Crew:
90 mins played: 2pts
Clean sheet: 5pts
75 passes: 2pts
4 clearances: 1pt
2 blocked passes: 1pt
Total: 11pts
The top four defenders this week in MLS Fantasy all came from NYC; Tinnerholm (24), Callens (23), Sweat (20) and Matarrita (13).
Tinnerholm's last-gasp goal against Columbus Crew pushed him from 18 to 24 points, topping the charts this week, thoguh the real winners this week were the 13.46% who banked on Callens.
The central defender who a colossus this week, particularly in stopping the threats of Piatti and Zardes in consecutive games. NYC found themselves defending for long periods against Columbus, managing 4 defensive points against both Montreal and Columbus. Even the MLS recognised Callens in their Audi Team of the Week picks.
NYC have kept a treble of back-to-back clean sheets, their best run without conceding this season, and it goes without saying that MLS Fantasy players who banked on a combination of Callens, Sweat or Tinnerholm, are the ones laughing to the bank this week.
NYC face a Bye for Week 21, meaning they close off the Spring Season with another impressive Double Gameweek showing. Next up for the side from the Big Apple is a trip to Orlando City, a fixture which NYC have won at home twice this season without conceding.
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.
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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.
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All aboard.
