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 29

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 28 - Player of the Week: David Villa (NYC)

Week 28 in MLS feature just 4 matches, with New York City FC featuring at home in the first 2 matches of the fixture schedule. Most clubs decided to honour the international break, which featured the USA losing 2-0 at home to Brazil in New Jersey, but it didn’t stop NYCFC’s attempts to claw back into contention at the top of the Eastern Conference… to little avail.

Dominic Torrent’s side began their Double Gameweek with a rather surprising home defeat to New England Revolution, with Brian Wright scoring his first goal for a travelling side who climbed to 7th in the East and well within play-off contention.

A few days later to kick off the weekend it appeared as it history had repeated itself, with D.C. United visiting Yankee Stadium. Bill Hamid was superb for the visiting side and was the standout performer as NYCFC looked set for further frustration as Steve Birnbaum converted from a set-piece, over-powering shot-stopper Sean Johnson in the air.

With just minutes remaining, and back-to-back 0-1 home losses on the cards, Bill Hamid’s fortitude in DC’s goal was finally broken, as our Player of the Week selection, David Villa, stepped up excellently to convert a free-kick that inched past Hamid’s far-post.

Just a single point from 2 home matches virtually ends NYCFC’s hopes of landing the Eastern Conference crown, as well as the Supporters’ Shield, as they’re rooted on 49 points from 29 matches – 6 points worse off their rivals New York Red Bulls, who have played a game fewer than the blue side of the city. Atlanta have 55 points, 1 less than the Red Bulls, though Gerardo Martino’s side have a game in hand, so the likelihood of a NYCFC triumph looks a near impossibility, but based off their Week 28, it’s what they deserve.

David Villa’s Week 28 Points – NYCFC 0-1 New England Revolution

90 mins played: 2pts

4 key passes: 1pt

8 shots: 2pts

Total: 5 points

David Villa’s Week 28 Points – NYCFC 1-1 D.C. United

90 mins played: 2pts

1 goal: 5pts

3 crosses: 1pt

10 shots: 2pts

Total: 10 points

MLS Fantasy players on the whole risked stacking the deck with 3-4 NYCFC players and won’t be overly hurt as Villa managed 15 points, whilst another Fantasy favourite, Maxi Moralez, squeezed 12 points out of a brace of fixtures despite not scoring or assisting.

Ultimately it was Villa who slightly prospered this week with his late heroics salvaging something for NYC this week, though besides the table-topping points stats, NYC weren’t the team catching the headlines as Western Conference sides Portland Timbers and Sporting KC both registered home victories without conceding.

Villa’s 7 attacking bonus highlights that NYCFC had the efforts on goal, just not the clinical edge that would usually set them apart on home soil, but you won’t hear many Fantasy players complaining at one of the most comfortable weeks of the season. The few options that there were to choose from pulled points out of the bag. The only disappointing detractors for the week were NYC’s defensive unit, who struggled for 6+ points each.

New York don’t feature during Week 29, which means they next take to the field for Week 30’s trip to Montreal Impact, and by then we expect it to be confirmed that they’ll have too settle for a place in the play-offs as Atlanta and The Red Bulls battle for the Supporters’ Shield.

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All aboard.