DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Sunday Liga MX Picks

MATCHES (EDT)

• 8:00 pm: Santos Laguna vs. Club Necaxa
• 10:15 pm: América vs. Cruz Azul

For detailed stats and odds, as well as expected lineups, check out the

DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Sunday Liga MX Cheat Sheet

MIDFIELDERS

Brian Lozano, CSL v. NEC ($10,500): There is a lot of firepower in midfield on this slate, which is why we're going to start there. Most of the high floor players are at the position, and they should probably be prioritized, at least in cash games, especially since it's a slate that isn't expected to be high scoring. Lozano is the most expensive player, but he's completely earned that distinction, scoring at least 11.5 fantasy points in every match during the Clausura. He dominates Santos' set pieces, a situation that has helped him average 10.70 crosses, 2.22 chances created and 3.56 shots per 90 minutes, not to mention also adding 3.22 fouls drawn. The salary is high, but that isn't likely to stop Lozano from being the highest-owned player in cash games, and he'll surely be popular in GPPs as well given it's only a two-game slate.

Elias Hernandez, CRZ at AMR ($8,000): Hernandez takes a majority of Cruz Azul's set pieces, especially with Yoshimar Yotun now out with injury. His price is high, especially for those who also want to play Lozano, but Hernandez is a consistent crosser because of those corners, and he takes plenty of shots and creates plenty of chances. This match is expected to be tight, with America sitting third in the table and Cruz Azul second after winning five in a row while scoring 15 goals over that span. Richard Sanchez ($7,400) is the primary set-piece taker for America and could also be popular, and there will certainly be fantasy players who try to jam all three in. Sanchez doesn't play as forward as Hernandez, though he draws more fouls, so their floors are relatively similar if you prefer to focus on the slight home favorite.

Fernando Gorriaran, CSL v. NEC ($5,200): Gorriaran's game log looks a bit like Wilfried Zaha's, for those familiar with the Premier League. While he doesn't cross at all, Gorriaran takes multiple shots per game and draws a high number of fouls, including nine in last weekend's match against Pachuca. He's probably priced efficiently for his floor, and the bigger question about using him, or anyone else priced around and below him, is the opportunity cost of the midfield or utility spot. If you're looking for an even cheaper option, Cruz Azul's Alex Stik Castro is only $3,300 and started last week's match on the attacking wing, though a return to the starting XI is hardly guaranteed, and the risk is high because he's playing in the late game.

DEFENDERS

Jairo Gonzalez, NEC at CSL ($5,300): Gonzalez is the most expensive defender on the slate, but he's priced that way because he takes a majority of Necaxa's set pieces. Given how expensive the other set-piece takers are on the slate, Gonzalez will surely be owned in cash games, especially after sending in 24 crosses and creating nine chances in his last three games. Even with Necaxa as pretty firm underdogs, Gonzalez's dead-ball opportunities should allow him to create enough despite his price.

Carlos Emilio Orrantia, CSL v. NEC ($4,400): We have two solid defender options on the other side of Gonzalez's game, with Orrantia showing as slightly better than Gerardo Arteaga ($4,000) because he's been starting as a right midfielder as opposed to the latter's left-back spot. Orrantia has more attacking upside from crosses and chances created, which is unsurprising given his position, but Arteaga wins a high number of tackles to maintain a solid floor. Both are decent options as the biggest favorite on the slate, though their clean-sheet odds aren't overly high at 33.44 percent.

Juan Marcelo Escobar, CRZ at AMR ($3,800): Escobar moves between right-back and center-back, with the former position obviously allowing him to move forward more than the latter. His floor isn't high, but he's been attacking a bit more recently while still registering multiple tackles won and interceptions. Additionally, his salary is low because he doesn't rack up fantasy points, but he could be a solid cost-saver in a match that could theoretically end scoreless (it's unlikely).

FORWARDS

Jonathan Rodriguez, CRZ at AMR ($9,300): Those who don't want to pay up for multiple midfielders should have salary available for Rodriguez, the most expensive forward on the slate. He has the second-highest anytime goal scorer odds and comes in on a solid run of eight goals on 32 shots (15 on target) and one assist on 12 chances created in his last eight games. His floor is predominantly from shots and shots assisted, and you can make the case that stacking him with Hernandez makes sense if you really believe that Cruz Azul can continue their excellent play. And if you want Cruz Azul attacking exposure but don't want to pay so much, Roberto Alvarado ($5,800) can be had for significantly less and is coming off an excellent performance against Tijuana when he had two goals on three shots (two on target) and one assist on three chances created. The goals were his first of the Clausura, though he had a run at the end of January and beginning of February when he had assists in four straight games.

Julio Furch, CSL v. NEC ($6,500): The argument for Furch is light but simple: he has the highest anytime goal scorer odds and leads the line for the biggest favorite on the slate. Unfortunately, his floor is pretty low because he isn't a high-volume shot-taker, he doesn't really cross at all and he rarely draws more than two fouls. The Santos floor players aren't really found in their forward-eligible players, but on a slate that could only have a couple goals, Furch at least provides some potential there.

Maximiliano Salas, NEC at CSL ($5,700): Focusing on a forward from the biggest underdog on the slate isn't quite as bad when there are only four teams to choose from, and Salas has at least shown a floor lately thanks to his shots, chances created and fouls drawn. That being said, Juan Delgado ($7,200) has been the better fantasy scorer, bagging four goals on 13 shots (seven on target) and grabbing two assists on nine chances created while adding 20 crosses and 18 fouls drawn in the past seven games, partially because he has a role on some set pieces. However, his salary is high enough where it'll be tough to fit him in if you're paying up for another forward or multiple midfielders. If you want to stick in Salas' range but like the other game, Leo Suarez ($5,300) provides some exposure to the home team and scored a goal against Pumas just last week.

GOALKEEPER

Hugo Alfonso Gonzalez, NEC at CSL ($4,100): Gonzalez is the cheapest goalkeeper on the slate, a decent gap of $600 behind Cruz Azul's Jesus Corona ($4,600), who makes sense because he's $300 cheaper than Guillermo Ochoa while playing in the game with the lowest total. Gonzalez's last three games truly exemplify the diverse ways goalkeeper scoring can go, as he had 12.4 fantasy points against Morelia thanks to eight saves and two goals allowed, which was preceded by a 10.5-point performance against Club America in a zero-save clean-sheet win. And before that? Minus-1.8 fantasy points against Club Leon when he made one save in a 2-1 loss. A two-game slate with neither expected to be totally one-sided, just build the rest of your lineup and plug in the goalkeeper who fits at the end.