Fantasy La Liga: Sunday Picks

GOALKEEPER

Gorka Iraizoz, ATH v. OSA: I can't imagine how much fun cash games are going to be on Sunday because when there is only one true quality team on a short slate you have to just bite the bullet and load up. Luckily there aren't any high dollar players up front that we have to pay up for, but at the end of the day Iraizoz gets a cake matchup against league embarrassments Osasuna and only costs $600 more DraftKings dollars than Antonio Adan. A Real Betis goalkeeper priced over $5,000? Give me a break. Javi Varas might be a cute GPP option, but there is only one cash game keeper.

DEFENDER

Mikel Balenziaga, ATH v. OSA: Balenziaga returns from suspension and will most likely feature at right back in place of Inigo Lekue. Athletic Club have held Osasuna to a clean sheet in seven of their last eight meetings at home, and I see no reason for this match to be any different. Balenziaga has been a decently productive fantasy defender in La Liga, contributing a few crosses to go with defensive stats.

Michel Macedo, PLM v. VGO: All indications suggest that Macedo is ready to return to the starting lineup after his injury, and that is great news given the lack of consistent fantasy production available from the defenders on this short slate. With just two shots on the season, you are not paying for offensive potential but rather a stay-at-home type defender that is going to go hard for every ball, win you a bunch of tackles, draw fouls and maybe even send in a cross or two. It doesn't sound like much, but when you can count on 7-10 fantasy points per game from a defender on this ugly of a slate, you should take it.

Cabral, CEL at PLM: It's pretty strange to suggest a defender that has not sent in a single cross all season given the importance of that stat, but Celta Vigo as a whole are underpriced in this matchup. They have only lost once in their last five, and given the wide open nature of matchups between these clubs, I would not be surprised to see Cabral's potential for interceptions and tackles won to shoot through the roof.

MIDFIELDER

Sabin, ATH v. OSA:Aduriz is doubtful to take the field again this week, and that should see Sabin take his place once again. Sabin scored last time out in the loss to Real Madrid and is in the best spot of any other midfielder to get on the score sheet again, as he should be leading the attack against Osasuna. Not that price is an issue, but he is incredibly cheap for the role he will occupy in the attack.

Roberto Torres, OSA at ATH: It does go against every fiber of my being to roster Osasuna players in any situation in any format, but sometimes you need to just put the table away and look at individuals. Torres has scored in four straight, and though I wouldn't class him as a high volume shooter, he has put a ball on net in all but one game and even went as far as sending in 12 crosses last game (as well as once before). As an added bonus, he rarely leaves the field, and while he has scored at least 15 DraftKings points in his last five games, that number is his much closer to his floor than his ceiling.

Kevin-Prince Boateng, PLM v. VGO: For all the love given to Celta Vigo, it's important to remember that Las Palmas have a three-game home winning streak against Celta Vigo and have scored at least twice in their last two games against Sunday's opponent. More importantly, they have not lost in eight home matches and Boateng should factor into their efforts to keep that streak alive. He is a very creative offensive presence and, given his goal last time out, figures to remain in the starting XI. He has only played a full 90 once, but he is a high volume shooter and (along with Tana, who is also a viable fantasy option) leads Las Palmas in goals this season.

FORWARD

Iago Aspas, VGO at PLM: I mentioned earlier how criminally underpriced the Celta Vigo players are, and even though Aspas is among the highest priced forwards, his potential is staggering here. He has scored three times in the last three matches, netting two last time out to help one of the most surprising "hot" teams in La Liga right now. Las Palmas have a very overrated defensive unit, as they have given up at least two goals in four of their last six outings and should let a few through here.

Joaquin, BET v. ESP: There aren't too many individual players to love on either of the teams in this matchup, but Joaquin is one of my favorite plays across the board. Given the dual eligibility on DraftKings, he is locked into all my lineups at either forward or midfield, and considering he is one of the only legitimately reliably producer of crosses on this slate, he should be a no brainer for cash games. It shouldn't hurt too much that he has three goals and an assist on the season, either, and he has only scored under nine fantasy points on just two occasions. Age is just a number!

Marko Livaja, PLM v. VGO: This may be more of a tournament lean for me, but for the love of god if Livaja could just stay off the discipline sheet he could actually be a decently productive fantasy option. He draws a ton of fouls even before the ones he simulates, so even though he isn't a goalscorer he is still a place to look on a short slate for someone who is going to take a few shots and may grab an assist off the two very talented players he will have on his left and right. He was sending in a few crosses in the last two games before suspension, but I would wait and see if his role has changed or if that was a coincidence.