Here are some key stats to consider on the Tier 1 forwards from the marquee La Liga games before selecting your fantasy team for the upcoming weekend of play.
Real Madrid vs. Espanyol
After dropping two points at San Mamés against Athletic Bilbao last Saturday, Real Madrid will look to bounce back at home vs. Espanyol. The last time the teams met in February resulted in Espanyol's first win over Real Madrid in 23 meetings. Another Espanyol win is unlikely considering it has not won consecutive games over Real Madrid since 1995-96.
Karim Benzema is the lone Tier 1 forward option on Real Madrid, but the Frenchman is tied with Lionel Messi for the La Liga lead with four goals. That's one shy of his league total from all of last season, when he posted his lowest league goal total in 11 years. Benzema has done well historically against Espanyol, finding the back of the net in three of his last four meetings.
Although he is not listed as a forward, Gareth Bale, Tier 1 midfielder, jumps out for consideration. He is the second-highest-scoring outfield player in La Liga in terms of fantasy points behind Lionel Messi. Despite Bale being listed as a T1 midfielder, only Luis Suárez (Tier 1 forward) has attempted more shots in the box than the Welshman in La Liga.
Real Madrid's Toni Kroos provides a high floor as a Tier 1 midfielder -- he leads La Liga in passes completed per game (98.25) and takes corners for Real Madrid.
Getafe vs. Atlético Madrid
There is a Madrid Derby on Saturday, in which a Getafe team unbeaten in its last three matches and tied for third in the table hosts Atlético Madrid. When it comes to picking a player from Atleti, the question may be Diego Costa or Antoine Griezmann? Both are Tier 1 forwards and both have gotten off to slow starts in La Liga.
Griezmann has attempted more shots (8 to 5) and created more chances (9 to 3) than Diego Costa, and his 1.4 xG is superior to Costa's 0.3. In the Brazilian-born striker's favor is his record vs. Getafe: seven goals in 10 games, his fourth-most goals vs. any opponent.
Getafe's Ángel Rodríguez stands out as a strong option to consider for your Tier 2 forward slot. Ángel has scored three of Getafe's four goals this season, and although he faces a challenge in Atlético's defense, it is worth noting that Diego Simeone's team has conceded in five of its six matches this season in all competitions.
Barcelona vs. Girona
League-leader Barcelona puts its perfect start to the season on the line when it hosts another Catalan club, Girona, on Sunday. Lionel Messi is the obvious choice, as he is on fire this season, with seven goals and three assists in six games in all competitions. Messi leads La Liga in fantasy points and is third among all players in Europe's top five leagues. Not only has Messi attempted the most shots in La Liga, but he has also created the most chances.
If you want to gamble on a lineup without the Argentine international, you could do worse than selecting Luis Suárez, who scored four goals in two appearances vs. Girona last season. Suárez may not have the chance-creation stats of Messi, but he has two assists and a league-leading 3.80 expected goals total this season, a metric based on the quality and quantity of the shots that he has attempted.
The last of the Tier 1 forwards is Barcelona's Ousmane Dembélé, who may not have the pedigree of the other options, but he has already scored five goals in six games in all competitions this season, more than he scored in all of last season.
Under the Radar
Betis defender Aïssa Mandi: The right back for the Seville-based club has been busy this season. Mandi has completed the third-most passes in La Liga and has contributed on the offensive end as well. Mandi boasts six chances created and an assist to go along with a respectable 9 clearances and four tackles this season. Betis faces Athletic Bilbao at home on Sunday. Over the past two La Liga seasons, the only two teams that spent more time in possession at home have been Barcelona and Real Madrid.