This article is part of our Daily Fantasy Soccer Cheat Sheet series.
MATCHES (EDT)
12:15 p.m: Sporting Gijon v. Athletic Club
2:15 p.m: Real Sociedad v. Real Madrid
4:15 p.m: Atletico Madrid v. Alaves
ODDS REPORT
EXPECTED CORNER TAKERS
Sporting Gijon: Carlos Carmona
Athletic Club: Benat
Real Sociedad: Asier Illarramendi, Carlos Vela
Real Madrid: Toni Kroos
Atletico Madrid: Koke
Alaves: Ibai
PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
GOALKEEPER
Fernando Pacheco, ALV v. ATL: Yes, picking the goalkeeper with a 77 percent chance to lose doesn't sound like the best strategy, but it's worth noting that Atletico Madrid have not been a high-scoring attack, and they will be without Antoine Griezmann, who is suspended. The three goalkeepers from the favored squads are obviously fine plays, but for fantasy players who like to live on the edge, Pacheco is about as close to falling off the cliff as you can get.
DEFENDER
Juanfran, ATL v. ALA: Paying up for Filipe Luis is certainly an option, but taking the extra $1,000 on DraftKings for Juanfran to use elsewhere seems more prudent, especially since Luis may not get as many peripheral stats if Atletico Madrid control possession (you can't rack up tackles and interceptions if the other team never has the ball). Both are solid crossers, but Juanfran has shown more skill in the box on set pieces, making him a tad more desirable this week.
Stefan Savic, ATL v. ALA: The Atleti fullbacks are always solid fantasy options, though they're also expensive. Savic's floor is fairly low, but he's a decent salary savings and
MATCHES (EDT)
12:15 p.m: Sporting Gijon v. Athletic Club
2:15 p.m: Real Sociedad v. Real Madrid
4:15 p.m: Atletico Madrid v. Alaves
ODDS REPORT
EXPECTED CORNER TAKERS
Sporting Gijon: Carlos Carmona
Athletic Club: Benat
Real Sociedad: Asier Illarramendi, Carlos Vela
Real Madrid: Toni Kroos
Atletico Madrid: Koke
Alaves: Ibai
PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
GOALKEEPER
Fernando Pacheco, ALV v. ATL: Yes, picking the goalkeeper with a 77 percent chance to lose doesn't sound like the best strategy, but it's worth noting that Atletico Madrid have not been a high-scoring attack, and they will be without Antoine Griezmann, who is suspended. The three goalkeepers from the favored squads are obviously fine plays, but for fantasy players who like to live on the edge, Pacheco is about as close to falling off the cliff as you can get.
DEFENDER
Juanfran, ATL v. ALA: Paying up for Filipe Luis is certainly an option, but taking the extra $1,000 on DraftKings for Juanfran to use elsewhere seems more prudent, especially since Luis may not get as many peripheral stats if Atletico Madrid control possession (you can't rack up tackles and interceptions if the other team never has the ball). Both are solid crossers, but Juanfran has shown more skill in the box on set pieces, making him a tad more desirable this week.
Stefan Savic, ATL v. ALA: The Atleti fullbacks are always solid fantasy options, though they're also expensive. Savic's floor is fairly low, but he's a decent salary savings and they are unlikely to concede against the newly promoted side, making this mostly a clean sheet play.
Raphael Varane, RMD at SOC: Similar to Atletico Madrid, the Real Madrid fullbacks are excellent options and priced accordingly. Varane provides a solid opportunity for a clean sheet and his price allows spending elsewhere.
MIDFIELDER
Koke, ATL v. ALA: Taking a player who is on corners for a heavily favored side is always a solid plan, and Koke provides that in bundles. Some fantasy players will be drawn to Toni Kroos, but his fantasy upside pretty much ends at free kicks, as he does little else across the stat sheet.
Benat, ATH at GIJ: Speaking of corners, Benat figures to take them for Athletic Club in a matchup they should handle fairly easily despite being on the road. No one took more corners and only two players sent in more crosses than Benat last season, and there's little reason to believe that will be drastically different this time around.
David Zurutuza, SOC v. RMD: While facing off against Real Madrid is never easy, it is much easier when they come in without Cristiano Ronaldo (knee), Karim Benzema (hip), Luka Modric (suspended) and Keylor Navas (Achilles). Zurutuza is the only midfielder that figures to start in the attacking four (the others are forwards on DraftKings) for Sociedad, and while he's never been a huge goal-scorer, he has plenty around him.
Marco Asensio, RMD at SOC: Given the absences of Ronaldo and Benzema, Asensio figures to start up front with Gareth Bale and Alvaro Morata, which isn't a bad place to be for an attacking midfielder. The possibility of not going 90 minutes is there, particularly with James Rodriguez available off the bench, but Asensio is worth a try in GPPs for sure.
FORWARD
Aritz Aduriz, ATH at GIJ: No one scored more goals for a non-big-three club than Aduriz, who will lead the line for Athletic once again. On a slate without Ronaldo, Benzema or Griezmann, there's plenty of value to be had outside of the big names.
Gareth Bale, RMD at SOC: While Real Madrid might not have Ronaldo and Benzema, they still have Bale, who is coming off an excellent European Championship for Wales. There certainly should be some interest in Alvaro Morata, especially given the cost savings, but Bale is definitely the higher upside play.
Inaki Williams, ATH at GIJ: Williams is a versatile attacker who can check off multiple places on the stat sheet, which comes in handy given his reduced salary. Admittedly, he was subbed off early in plenty of matches last season, but he showed lots of promise while scoring eight goals in only 25 appearances, and the playing time should be more consistent this year.
Kevin Gameiro, ATL v. ALA: With Griezmann out, Gameiro figures to lead the line, with Fernando Torres taking up space somewhere else in the attacking third. The former Sevilla man scored 18 goals last season, and while Atletico Madrid are more interested in defending than attacking, they've got an excellent goal-scorer in Gameiro.
