Fantasy Liga MX: Saturday Cheat Sheet

MATCHES (EDT)

6:00 p.m: Cruz Azul v. Club America
8:00 p.m: Monterrey v. Club Tijuana
8:00 p.m: Monarcas v. Tigres
8:06 p.m: Leon v. Atlas
10:00 p.m: Necaxa v. Santos Laguna
10:06 p.m: Guadalajara v. Chiapas

ODDS REPORT

EXPECTED CORNER TAKERS

Cruz Azul: Joao Rojas
America: Rubens Sambueza
Monterrey: Dorlan Pabon
Tijuana: Dayro Moreno
Morelia: Cristian Penilla
Tigres: Ismael Sosa
Leon: Hernan Burbano
Atlas: Candido Ramirez
Necaxa: Luis Gallegos
Santos Laguna: Fredy Hinestroza
Chivas: Isaac Brizuela
Chiapas: Alonso Escoboza

GOALKEEPER

Marcelo Barovero, NEC vs. CSL ($4,800): Okay, so Necaxa aren't the flashiest team in the world but there is no excuse to not be all over Barovero on this slate. Monterrey is the only team that can really be considered a favorite this Saturday, but Alex Dominguez has been shaky at best in net. Barovero, on the other hand, has the Necaxa net completely locked down, only allowing one goal per game over seven weeks. Santos Laguna, on the other hand, just cannot score. They are coming off of a win, but that was at home against the "who even cares anymore" version of Club Leon. They have just four goals on the season and won't score another one this week.

DEFENDER

Ivan Piris, MNT vs. TIJ ($4,400): Defender prices have been steadily falling on DraftKings the last few weeks, and some of the higher name players are becoming more palatable again. Piris is a prime example; we can get good exposure to crosses on the team that is most likely to win its match on this slate. Jose Basanta is the more expensive Monterrey defender, but Piris is the steadier of the two and offers a much higher floor with equal upside.

Brayan Beckeles NEC vs. CSL ($4,200): As mentioned above, Necaxa is hands-down my pick to get a clean sheet this week, but this is much more than just a bonus points chase. Beckeles is back from representing Honduras and played very well in WCQ: He plays hard on the ball and wins a ton of tackles as well as sending in crosses. He even fired a shot on net in the match against Canada. The floor is high and Necaxa is still territory people fear to tread.

Julian Velazquez, CRZ vs. AMR ($3,400): Velazquez is the cheapest defender I would feel comfortable rostering (at this point in time, always check official lineups!), but this isn't just a punt play. Cruz Azul are the second stingiest team in the league and find themselves in a pick 'em against America, who haven't exactly impressed. Oddsmakers like the under in this match and I think the clean sheet bonus is firmly in play for Cruz Azul defenders.

MIDFIELDER

Candido Ramirez, ATL at LEO ($6,100): Goals, goals, goals? This match is the only match besides Monterrey to feature the over 2.5 goals as the favorite and I cannot see where Leon is going to do any damage, even at home. You guys know if I had to rank the best footballers in the world right now I would have Candido over Ronaldo but hey, bias aside this is still a great spot for him. He hit the back of the net in the last league match, and he finally got to play a full 90 minutes, which is great for his floor. He only saw some garbage time in Mexico's win over El Salvador, but in league play his ceiling is growing every week.

Aviles Hurtado, TIJ at MNT ($5,700): Monterrey/Tijuana is the other matchup where the over is the favorite, but given the way this tournament is playing out I am struggling to see Monterrey scoring three goals all by themselves. Vegas obviously likes some goals from Tijuana as the visitor, and brave is the man who hasn't jumped on the Hurtado train yet. I'm struggling to see the reasoning behind his price only increasing $1,000 this season, while Elias Hernandez still costs about $50,000 per DK point. Hurtado will probably be subbed off around the 80th minute if Xolos are trying to protect a lead, but that is hardly a deterrent.

Fredy Hinestroza, CSL at NEC ($5,200): I'd be a terrible architect because I am a sucker for a high floor with a mediocre ceiling. Hinestroza has taken over sole possession of corner duties for Santos Laguna and has fired in double-digit crosses twice in the last three games. I don't see any of them connecting in this game, but come on, 10+ cross potential is why people pay five figures for Sambueza or Hernandez, but there's no point when Hinestroza is going to score more points than them anyways!

FORWARD

Dorlan Pabon, MNT vs. TIJ ($11,900): I've been going value in most of the midfield and it's pretty clear where most of my money is going. I think these games will be close, low-scoring affairs and I don't feel comfortable trying to pick a goalscorer in some spots. Where I do feel comfortable is picking a guy with a double-digit floor who can explode for two or three goals on any given day. The most explosive player in the game with the highest expected total? Let me in, take my money.

Ismael Sosa, TIG at MOR ($8,900): My forward strategy is probably predictable at this point, but I cannot ignore a forward who also crosses the ball. I was very vocal in my disappointment with Sosa's production early in this tournament, but I am coming around to the potential. Crosses have increased in frequency, and he put seven shots on net in the last two matches, scoring on three of them. He's too hot to fade in this matchup, and again, he may be subbed out late to protect a lead but his damage will have been done long before then.