This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EDT)
- 7:00 pm: Atlético San Luis vs. Puebla
- 9:00 pm: Leon vs. Pumas UNAM
- 9:00 pm: Tigres UANL vs. Juárez
- 11:00 pm: Guadalajara vs. Monterrey
For detailed stats and odds, as well as expected lineups check out the
Before we dive in, I have to note that tonight's Tigres v. Juarez match could be postponed because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Yes, the one that has shut down sports leagues around the world except Liga MX. The local Monterrey government is recommending a suspension of massive events, which a soccer match at a stadium with more than 40,000 people seems to qualify. That being said, if it's the only match that's suspended in Mexico tonight, we still have options from the other matches, and presumably the slate will still run on DraftKings.
FORWARDS
Andre-Pierre Gignac, TIG v. JUA ($10,400): The most expensive player on the slate, Gignac also comes in with the highest anytime goalscorer odds while leading the line for the biggest favorite. Those reasons alone are likely to make him owned in GPPs and probably cash games because of the number of new people playing Liga MX now that it's one of the only DFS options. Gignac's floor is mostly from this shots, as he's averaging 5.32, including 1.39 on target, per 90 minutes, and his seven goals in eight Clausura starts came in four games, including a hat trick against Pumas on March 1. If you want cheaper exposure to the Tigres attack, you might think Enner Valencia ($6,500) is an option, but just know that he has one goal this season, including the Apertura. Frankly, a move away from Gignac should be toward Luis Quinones ($9,600) if he starts because he's an exception well-rounded fantasy scorer who takes shots, creates chances, sends in crosses (some from corners) and even wins tackles. His floor is certainly higher than Gignac's, though the latter has the ceiling advantage.
Nicolas Ibanez, LUI v. PUE ($8,700): If the Tigres match is postponed, Ibanez becomes the player who has the highest anytime goal scorer odds on the slate. They aren't overly high (+115), but he's playing for a home favorite and had four goals on 16 shots (five on target) in his last four games. The Atletico San Luis attack isn't overly impressive, and Puebla actually come in with three consecutive clean sheets, so while Ibanez could get some attention because of his goal odds and recent form, we can't ignore that he's also in the game with the lowest implied total. Instead, paying down slightly for Leon's Jean Meneses ($7,500) might be more fruitful, as they actually have the highest implied total on the slate. Meneses doesn't cross much, but he draws fouls to give him a decent floor while still taking shots and creating a few chances of late.
Juan Ignacio Dinenno, PUM at LEO ($6,700): Dinenno isn't a regular starter, so we may not get him in the first XI and he is playing in the second wave of games, so we won't be able to pivot to anyone in the Atletico San Luis v. Pueblo match (which is probably fine) if he's not in. That being said, he got his first start of the season last week and was excellent, scoring one goal on six shots (three on goal) while adding one shot assisted and one foul drawn. He's had some big games off the bench (don't play him if he's on the bench), and while we can't rely on his floor, the attacking upside has been evident. The difficulty with the cheaper Pumas attackers like Carlos Gonzalez ($5,900), Sebastian Saucedo ($5,000, midfielder) or Favio Alvarez ($3,400, midfielder) is that their floors are very low and they haven't exhibited much upside, which is probably why they are so cheaper.
MIDFIELDERS
Miguel Layun, MNT at GUA ($7,700): The biggest issue with Monterrey is that they have a number of high-impact fantasy players, but they're all pretty expensive and they aren't massive favorites where we need to try to jam them all in. Layun has had a bigger role on set pieces recently, and he's exactly the type of attacker we want: he takes shots, he sends in crosses and he creates chances. If the starting XI breaks down a certain way, he could have a monopoly of set pieces for a Monterrey side that's the highest-crossing team in Liga MX. One of the players who could theoretically hurt Layun's floor is Dorlan Pabon ($8,400), who will surely be a very popular forward if Layun doesn't start for some reason. Pabon has come off the bench the past two games, but he was taking a big share of set pieces when he was starting, and similarly to Layun, he takes multiple shots and creates multiple chances almost every match while also reaching double-digit crosses very consistently. And if you're looking for someone who may be a bit lower owned in this attack, Jesus Gallardo ($7,300) could be that guy, as he comes in with two goals on 14 shots (six on target) and 14 chances created in his last five games. Heck, you might even be able to get away with paying down for Carlos Rodriguez ($5,500), who has had a sporadic role on set pieces and created eight chances while drawing seven fouls in his last three.
Victor Malcorra, PUM at LEO ($8,600): Malcorra returned to the starting lineup last weekend and put on a show, scoring one goal on two shots (one on target) and picking up one assist on two chances created. However, he also regained a role on set pieces, which helped him to send in 12 crosses over his 90 minutes. He shared those opportunities with Pablo Barrera ($8,200, midfielder/forward), who could be a forward consideration for some because of those opportunities. That being said, Pumas are decent underdogs in this match, enough so that fantasy players could consider Leon's Luis Montes ($8,300), who takes set pieces for the side with the highest implied goal total on the slate. He isn't a high-volume crosser by any means, but he takes shots, creates chances and draws fouls enough to be a cash-game option.
Rafael Carioca, TIG v. JUA ($3,800): Carioca has been taking set pieces for Tigres lately, helping him to 14 crosses and six shots assisted in his last two games. However, he's much more of a defensive player than an attacking one, something we can easily see by the fact that he has just one shot in seven Clausura matches this season (five starts). He doesn't even really do much defensive work, so you're really relying on Tigres winning a bunch of corners and hoping someone can get on the end of one of his crossed corners. If you prefer more open-play attacking action and not focusing on set pieces, Raymundo de Jesus Fulgencio Roman ($3,700) has been starting on the wing for Tigres and provides solid salary savings versus paying up for the player on the other wing, Javier Aquino ($7,900), who at least has the benefit of also being forward eligible.
DEFENDERS
Leonel Jesus Vangioni, MNT at GUA ($3,600): Vangioni is expected to start for the suspended Daniel Parra, and while paying up for fullbacks in Liga MX isn't usually necessary, we get to have Vangioni for a reduced price. His floor is still somewhat dependent on his defensive work, but he has shown previously he's able to move up in the attack, and playing for a team that can get going offensively, he's certainly worth consideration.
Luis Ricardo Reyes, LUI v. PUE ($6,600): The most expensive defender by $700, Reyes' role on set pieces will have fantasy players looking his way, with Atletico San Luis favored at home and having the second-highest clean sheet odds. Puebla has only scored six goals in nine Clausura games, five times getting shut out completely. It's obviously a high price to pay for a defender, but a midfielder at this price with his situation would probably be heavily considered anyway, and that player wouldn't have the potential clean sheet opportunity.
William Tesillo, LEO v. PUM ($3,900): Tesillo moves back and forth between center-back and left-back, with the latter position providing a higher fantasy floor because it allows him to move up in the attack and send in crosses. He doesn't take many shots, mostly because defenders rarely do, but he draws fouls and wins tackles, giving him a decent shot at making value, even with a lower chance at a clean sheet despite being a favorite.
GOALKEEPER
Nicolas Vikonis, PUE at LUI ($4,000): The Puebla defense has been very strong of late, enough so that Vikonis has scored at least 11.7 fantasy points in five of his past six games. He's working on three straight clean sheets, two of which were wins, and he's now in the game with the lowest implied total. He's likely to be pretty popular because of that, and especially because he's the second-cheapest goalkeeper available, only sitting ahead of Juarez's Ivan Vazquez ($3,800), whose match could be postponed.
