Here are some key stats you need to know for your fantasy lineups ahead of this weekend's La Liga matches.
Monitor the Tier 1 forward situation closely this weekend as Champions League action returns to both the forefront of the soccer world and the minds of La Liga managers. Real Madrid play Wednesday, while Barcelona and Atlético play next week. If Lionel Messi starts against Valladolid on Saturday at 2:45 ET, his spot in your lineup as Tier 1 forward and captain should be cemented without looking back. After dealing with a recent injury, however, it remains possible that Messi rests ahead of Tuesday's game against Lyon. This week's insane Messi stat: the Argentine is on pace to finish this season with nearly 400 more fantasy points than any other La Liga player.
Karim Benzema faces an enticing home matchup against Girona on Sunday. Girona has allowed multiple goals in seven-straight games and the second-most fantasy points to opposing forwards over that span. Antoine Griezmann, who has the second-most fantasy points this season, has scored nine goals in his last 10 games across all competitions and faces a Rayo Vallecano squad that has allowed the second-most goals in La Liga this season. Last weekend, Celta's Iago Aspas saw his first 2019 action after missing five games with a calf injury. This weekend, Aspas should be fit enough to start in a home fixture against Levante, a side against which Aspas has averaged 19.4 fantasy points since the 2015-16 season. Levante has allowed 25 fantasy points-per-game to opposing forwards this season, the most in La Liga.
This week's Tier 2 forward options are a little thin, but Real Sociedad's Willian José should continue to receive consideration due to his productivity at home. The Brazilian is averaging 15-plus fantasy points per game in his last three home La Liga matches. However, Leganés has held opposing forwards to the fewest fantasy points per game (7.0) since the New Year. Despite a tough test against Getafe this week, Eibar's Sergi Enrich and Charles are among the top options for the Tier 2 forward spot. Eibar is averaging the second-most goals-per-game at home (1.83) in La Liga this season, behind only Barcelona.
Valencia's Dani Parejo continues to be an automatic choice for Tier 1 midfielder this season as the only La Liga midfielder with at least 300 fantasy points. Valencia faces Espanyol at home on Sunday, a team allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing center midfielders since December. Parejo has made each of his last nine penalty kicks in La Liga and could have a chance for No. 10 this weekend, as only Girona have conceded more penalties than Espanyol's five this season. Villarreal's Santi Cazorla has put up the third-most fantasy points at home (153.3) among midfielders this season. With Cazorla taking on Sevilla, that offers a lot of value for the Tier 2 midfield spot this week -- Sevilla has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing midfielders since January. For the second straight week, Moi Gómez is the go-to Tier 3 midfielder with an enticing matchup against Athletic Bilbao at home on Monday. Huesca, motivated to climb out of last place in the standings, are riding back-to-back shutout victories during which Gómez has put up a goal and two assists.
Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos is enjoying the best scoring season of his career -- and that will not be changing anytime soon. Ramos' 11 goals across all competitions ranks No. 3 on his team and includes a perfect 8-for-8 from the penalty spot. With a match this week at the Bernabéu against Girona, Ramos should enjoy success against a team that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points and is tied for the most goals (eight) ceded to defenders this season. One of those goals came from Ramos' right foot back in August. Barring an injury on Wednesday in the Champions League, look no further than Ramos for your Tier 1 defender this week. Leganés Tier 2 defender, Jonathan Silva, is tied for the most chances created (37) by a defender in La Liga this season. This week, he will face Real Sociedad, who have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to left defenders this season.
Last week against Athletic, Marc-André ter Stegen had as many saves on shots from inside the penalty area as he does names, bailing out Barcelona in a game they probably should have lost. Ter Stegen's 88.9 percent save percentage since December is the best in La Liga. Atlético's Jan Oblak leads La Liga with 11 clean sheets and has an enticing matchup against Rayo Vallecano, who are putting nearly 40 percent of their shots on target this season, a fact which should help Oblak pick up easy saves.