Fantasy Liga MX: Saturday Cheat Sheet

MATCHES (EDT)

6:00 p.m: Chiapas v. Pachuca
6:00 p.m: Cruz Azul v. Pumas
8:00 p.m: Monarcas v. Queretaro
8:00 p.m: Tigres v. Atlas
8:06 p.m: Leon v. Necaxa
10:00 p.m: Toluca v. Club America
10:00 p.m: Guadalajara v. Monterrey

ODDS REPORT

EXPECTED CORNER TAKERS

Chiapas: Alonso Escoboza, Dieter Villalpando
Pachuca: Urreta
Cruz Azul: Victor Vázquez, Aldo Leao Ramírez
Pumas: Pablo Barrera
Morelia: Juan Pablo Rodriguez
Querétaro: Yerson Candelo
Tigres: Lucas Zelarayan, Jurgen Damm
Atlas: Bryan Garnica, Luis Reyes
Leon: Elias Hernandez
Necaxa: Xavier Baez
America: Rubens Sambueza
Toluca: Carlos Esquivel
Guadalajara: Carlos Cisneros
Monterrey: Dorlan Pabon, Carlos Sanchez

PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS

GOALKEEPER

Moises Munoz, AMR vs. TOL ($5,400): The goalkeepers who have a legitimate chance of performing well this weekend are all very similarly priced, so if you find yourself needing an extra hundred dollars or two you can certainly look at Jesus Corona ($5,100) or Carlos Campestrini ($5,000), but Munoz has all the factors lining up for him: America are a large home favorite, the clean sheet is a legitimate possibility, and there is more save potential than goalkeepers for Tigres or Leon who should not face many shots.

I like my goalkeepers in cash games to be playing at home, but in tournaments there is certainly no harm in looking towards Alfonso Blanco ($4,700) against Chiapas.

DEFENDER

Carlos Alberto Gutierrez, PUE vs. TIJ ($6,400): The defenders in the higher price tier are tough to figure out as a lot of the better crossing defenders are in tough matchups and players in good matchups that are cash game locks are simply too expensive. If you can stomach paying $7,000 for Paul Aguilar I wouldn't argue, but I think Gutierrez is a much smarter play. Even if you remove his assist from last week, it's clear that his role on the team has expanded, and by taking more crosses his floor has jumped up to double digits.

Raul Lopez, PCH at CHI ($3,900): Prove me wrong, Chiapas. Seriously, we have to assume Lopez is in line for a clean sheet and extended opportunities at the attacking end of the field. I was pleased to see how involved he was in the attack last week and see no reason to think that was a one-off phenomenon.

Enrique Perez, MOR vs. QUE ($3,100): Going back to my sneaky game of the night, I'll repeat that pricing is just too cheap all over the board. Unless DraftKings knows something that bookmakers and myself do not, Morelia is a decent favorite and Perez should be shutting down Queretaro attackers. If he sends in a few crosses like he did last week, that is only an added bonus.

MIDFIELDER

Elias Hernandez, LEO vs. NEC ($12,700): This seems like an easy pick, as I usually find a way to roster Hernandez every slate, however, let me explain myself: he is coming off his worst fantasy performance since DraftKings began hosting Liga MX contests and he did not play 90 minutes for the first time in two tournaments; and yet, his price has increased $300. Hernandez is the guy you want to build around in Liga MX, but I have a suspicion that people may be turned off after last week's showing. Necaxa is not in the same class as Pachuca, and Hernandez should have no trouble getting back to 20 or 30-point production. This may be his lowest ownership of the year, so take advantage.

Urreta, PCH at CHI ($6,500): The first rule of Clausura 2016 is to pick on Chiapas. Until they prove something, I will be gunning for them with my midfielders and forwards. Pachuca put a 5-1 beatdown on a strong Leon side and should make easy work of the Chiapas mess. Hirving Lozano will be very chalky after his two-goal performance, but the observant DFS player will notice it was Urreta who stole the show, adding 10 crosses to his goal and assist. At a savings of over $3,000 and the floor that Urreta brings with his crosses, this is a no brainer.

Juan Pablo Rodriguez, MOR vs. QUE ($4,900): There is always one game that doesn't look quite attractive on paper but provides sneaky under-the-radar fantasy plays. Rodriguez is one of my favorite plays on the board and comes at a hugely discounted salary compared to the midfielders in similar positions. Morelia have won nine of their last 10 at home, while scoring on Queretaro on the road is like shooting fish in a barrel: they surrender almost three goals per game on the road going back to last year. Don't be fooled by the absence of big name players in this game, the pricing is simply wrong and there should be fantasy goodness here.

FORWARD

Andre-Pierre Gignac, TIG vs. ATL ($11,900): For those that read my articles last year, I constantly faded Gignac and repeated my mantra of "Why not spend down for Rafael Sobis and his higher floor AND ceiling?" Well, Sobis has now departed for Brazil and that puts even more responsibility on Gignac moving forward. Tigres are one of the biggest favorites and should be a much better team than the club that limped into the Liguilla last tournament. Atlas have failed to win 10 of their last 11 and pose no threat on the road; Gignac has legitimate multi-goal upside at a much more reasonable price than last tournament.

Victor Zuniga, CRZ vs. PUM ($5,200): I was surprised that Zuniga earned the start over Joao Rojas last week, but he turned in a very solid 90 minutes and there is a good chance that he has earned the job for the foreseeable future. Cruz Azul have struggled to score going back to last year, but Pumas are typically a more wide-open opponent on the road. Zuniga filled almost every category of the stat sheet last week, and if he can get some looks on net there is 15+ point potential.