Granada are top of the table in La Liga 10 games into the season - yes, you read that right, Granada. They have six wins, one draw and one defeat in their past eight games - with all six victories including clean sheets - and currently have 20 points, one more than Barcelona, Real Sociedad, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla, and two more than Real Madrid.
Barcelona and Real Madrid both have a game in hand after El Clasico was postponed this past weekend. Nevertheless, it's a remarkable achievement for a newly promoted side that finished second in the Segunda Division last season.
That being said, Granada are still underdogs in both of their games this week - it's another double matchweek in Spain. So you'll want to start with the traditional La Liga powerhouses when building your fantasy lineup.
Barcelona have gotten extra rest after being off this past weekend, and are heavy favorites in both their games this week - home vs. ninth-place Real Valladolid, and at 13th place Levante.
Lionel Messi has scored in three straight games including the Champions League, with 14 shots and eight chances created in those three games combined. He'll be my Tier 1 forward and captain this week.
But I'm not going with one of the three Barcelona options at Tier 1 midfielder. Arthur was not included in the squad to face Valladolid on Tuesday, and Frenkie de Jong and Sergio Busquets have just one goal between them. I want someone with a bigger upside.
Eden Hazard got off to a very slow start with Real Madrid, but there have been some encouraging signs of late. He got the assist in their 1-0 Champions League win over Galatasaray last week, and took four shots. He also had a goal and an assist in his most recent La Liga appearance, against Granada.
Hazard's goal against Granada came on his only shot of the game, and he's only taken four shots in four La Liga appearances (three starts) so far this season, but I still like him this week, given Real Madrid have also gotten extra rest. Better yet, Real Madrid are the only team with two home games this week, and their opponents are bottom-of-the-table Leganes and 18th place Real Betis. Hazard will be my Tier 1 midfielder.
Teammate Toni Kroos has a much higher fantasy points average than Hazard, in part because he is tied for fourth in the league in chances created with 26. But Kroos isn't nearly the goal-scoring threat Hazard is. Kroos does have one La Liga goal already this season, but didn't score a single one in 28 La Liga appearances last year. Hazard scored 16 Premier League goals for Chelsea last season.
Double down
Moving to Tier 2 forward, Real Betis' Loren Moron is tied for the Pichichi lead with Villarreal's Gerard Moreno; both have seven goals so far this season. Moron is available in this tier, but did not score last week against Granada, and took only one shot. Moron's averaging fewer than two shots per game, and one of Real Betis' two matches this week is at Real Madrid, as mentioned above. I'd steer clear of him this week.
Villarreal's Karl Toko Ekambi is also available in this tier, and has scored in back-to-back games, including a brace this past weekend against Alaves. But those goals against Alaves came on his only two shots of the game, and Ekambi has started only six of Villarreal's 10 games so far. That makes him a bit of a rotation risk in a double matchweek. Plus one of Villarreal's games this week is against Athletic Bilbao, who have the second-best defensive record in the league, conceding just seven goals in 10 games.
Real Sociedad are one of the teams on 19 points, one point behind Granada. They are favored in both their games this week. The first one is at home against Levante, who have conceded only 12 goals but have the worst defensive record in the league in terms of xG (expected goals) conceded, according to TruMedia's model, at 21.08. Real Sociedad's second game is at Granada, yet they've been made slight favorites, meaning the bookmakers think Granada will come back down to earth sooner rather than later.
Mikel Oyarzabal is coming off a quiet game against Celta Vigo, but has four goals and three assists this season. He's also started every game, is fifth in the league in shots with 26, and is on penalties for Real Sociedad. Oyarzabal will be my Tier 2 forward this week.
And teammate Martin Odegaard will be my Tier 2 midfielder. Odegaard picked up his third assist of the season on Sunday against Celta Vigo. He also has two goals, is tied for fourth in the league in chances created (with Kroos) with 26, and is 12th in passes completed, averaging 47.3 per game.
Other picks
Denis Suarez, Celta Vigo (Tier 3 midfielder): Suarez is third in chances created with 27, one ahead of Odegaard and Kroos. Celta Vigo are struggling, currently in 17th place, but have a relatively easy schedule this week. First they play at Real Betis, who have already conceded 20 goals this season, four more than any other team. Then Celta will host 11th place Getafe.
Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid (Tier 1 defender): As mentioned above, Real Madrid are the only team with two home games this week, and they're facing two of the three teams currently in the relegation zone. Ramos is sixth in the league in passes completed, averaging 56.2 per game. And he's on penalties for Real Madrid.
Pau Torres, Villarreal (Tier 2 defender): The Sevilla fullbacks, Jesus Navas and Sergio Reguilon, have been very good so far this season. But Sevilla have a tough schedule this week -- at Valencia, and then home vs. Atletico Madrid -- and fullbacks are more likely to be rotated in a double matchweek because of all the running they do. Torres is the safer choice, and he's also been very good this season; seventh in the league in clearances (44), and eighth in passes completed, averaging 49.4 per game.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Barcelona (Goalkeeper): Jan Oblak has been outstanding this season, with seven clean sheets in 10 games, but Atletico Madrid are the only team with two away games this week, including a tough matchup at Sevilla. I don't trust Thibaut Courtois, who has looked unconvincing for Real Madrid, and only has two clean sheets and eight saves in seven appearances. Ter Stegen's numbers aren't great either - three clean sheets, 18 saves in nine appearances - but he tops Courtois in terms of the eye test, at least for me. Ter Stegen was excellent in the Champions League against Slavia Prague last week, conceding one goal but making eight saves.