DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday-Wednesday UCL Picks

MATCHES (EDT)

• Tuesday, 4:00 pm: Juventus vs. Atlético Madrid
• Tuesday, 4:00 pm: Manchester City vs. FC Schalke 04
• Wednesday, 4:00 pm: Barcelona vs. Lyon
• Wednesday, 4:00 pm: Bayern Munich vs. Liverpool

For detailed stats and odds, check out the DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday-Wednesday UCL Cheat Sheet.

FORWARDS

Lionel Messi, BAR v. OL ($10,800): No player on this week's slate has as high or reliable a floor as Messi, and he also has the highest upside, which somehow makes his price -- the highest on the slate -- seem too low. Barcelona are the second-biggest favorite with the second-highest implied goal total, but so much goes through Messi that it's easier to target him as opposed to picking your Manchester City poison. The numbers are simply ridiculous, as Messi has scored more than 10.00 fantasy points in 21 consecutive starts in La Liga and the Champions League, and his floor is high because he's averaging 5.75 shots, including 2.87 on target, 2.48 crosses and 2.09 fouls drawn per 90 minutes in La Liga play, as well as 6.98 shots, including 3.02 on target, 1.63 crosses and 1.63 fouls drawn per 90 in the Champions League. He also has the highest anytime goal scorer odds on the slate, which isn't surprising since he has six goals in five UCL appearances (four starts), as well as 26 goals and 12 assists in 25 La Liga appearances (23 starts). He is likely to be the highest-owned player in cash games and GPPs, and fading him will be more about making sure the guys you select over him go off as opposed to hoping he's a dud.

Leroy Sane, MCI v. S04 ($8,400): Sane didn't start the first leg, but he bagged a free kick goal off the bench on his only shot attempt. His playing time has been sporadic recently, with just 26 minutes in his last two games combined, but it's possible he was partially rested this past weekend against Watford to get him ready for the match against Schalke, his former club. Paying up for Messi doesn't mean you should avoid the biggest favorite on the slate, and Sane is just one avenue to Manchester City, with Sergio Aguero ($9,500) the most likely to score, Raheem Sterling ($9,200) coming off a hat trick this past weekend and Riyad Mahrez ($8,400) always a viable option for a team expected to score more goals than any other side. A full Manchester City stack is doable, though you'll most likely end up fading Messi in that scenario, not to mention Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo ($10,000), who is at home but will face the toughest defensive test among the elite options.

Nabil Fekir, OL at BAR ($6,600): Fekir was suspended for the first leg in France, a scoreless draw that saw teammate Memphis Depay ($6,200) score 7.50 fantasy points. Deciding between Fekir and Memphis is always difficult, but Fekir has been the more solid attacker of late, at least when he plays. Lining up against Barcelona in Spain doesn't lend itself to a ton of possession, but Fekir is dynamic enough, especially at this price, to warrant serious consideration. If you prefer a favorite, James Rodriguez ($7,100) of Bayern Munich could have a near monopoly of set pieces because Joshua Kimmich is suspended, and the former comes in with 11 shots, 37 crosses and 26 chances created in his last seven starts in all competitions, including 10.50 fantasy points in the first leg without a goal or assist.

MIDFIELDERS

Ilkay Gundogan, MCI v. S04 ($6,000): Gundogan is the least sexy of the potential starting Manchester City attackers, but his role on set pieces for the biggest favorite on the slate cannot be ignored, especially when he's more than $2,500 cheaper than the forwards. Rostering Gundogan doesn't mean you're getting the production of Kevin De Bruyne ($8,600), but the lower salary certainly helps set realistic expectations. Gundogan is in the same price tier as the Lyon attackers, so you'll get to decide whether it's better to focus on underdogs with usually higher floors or target the boring favorite (or grab them all).

Javi Martinez, BAY v. LIV ($3,900): Martinez was very useful in the first leg, scoring 7.00  points at a $3,300 salary to help fantasy players invest in other spots. While his salary is up from that match, he's still a very reasonable price for a player with a decent floor from mostly defensive work. That being said, he scored a goal in each of the next two games following the first Liverpool match, and while a goal is highly unlikely this week (he's +750 on bet365), we at least know it's a small possibility. But really, he's cheap and has a few paths to making value.

Philippe Coutinho, BAR v. OL ($7,900): Coutinho has generally been a disappointment with Barcelona, but he could have a chance to shine Tuesday in place of the injured Ousmane Dembele ($7,600, midfielder/forward). While Barcelona are big favorites, Coutinho is still a bit expensive for cash games because he isn't likely to have a monopoly of set pieces with Messi also on the pitch. Playing Coutinho with Messi in GPPs is always a possibility if you don't want to trust Luis Suarez ($8,100) in a Barcelona stack, but doing that ultimately takes you away from Manchester City exposure.

DEFENDERS

Trent Alexander-Arnold, LIV at BAY ($5,400): Alexander-Arnold has been taking most set pieces for Liverpool, and he remains their most active crosser on a consistent basis. Liverpool need either a win or a non-scoreless-draw to advance (technically they could advance with a scoreless draw if they win in extra time or penalties), and there's every reason to think Alexander-Arnold will be moving up in the attack when the times come. Unlike last week's UCL slate, there really aren't many defenders worth paying up for, and getting a set-piece taker, even one who is a slight underdog, at this price is pretty enticing.

Bastian Oczipka, S04 at MCI ($3,500): If cheap set pieces is a priority, here are the cheapest ones on the slate. Schalke aren't likely to have a plethora of set pieces against Manchester City, but Oczipka shouldn't have much competition for them, especially since Daniel Caligiuri is out with an ankle injury, and players like Nabil Bentaleb ($4,500, midfielder) and Sebastian Rudy ($3,500) haven't taken them in a while. He's also coming off one of his best games of the season, picking up one assist on five chances created, 10 crosses, two tackles won and three fouls drawn against Werder Bremen on Friday. And while we can focus on the fact Schalke are big underdogs, don't forget they scored twice in the first leg (also as big underdogs) and need to win by at least two goals to advance to the quarter-final.

Andrew Robertson, LIV at BAY ($4,200): Alexander-Arnold will get all the attention from those looking for Liverpool exposure, but Robertson has just as much GPP upside, even without set pieces. He created two chances in each of his last three matches, and while he's not as much of a crosser as Alexander-Arnold, you get a significant salary savings. As mentioned, there aren't many attacking defenders worth targeting, and Robertson could be the overlooked one who pays off by getting on the scoresheet because of how much he likes to move up in the attack.

GOALKEEPER

Alisson, LIV at BAY ($4,400): The Bayern Munich v. Liverpool match is the closest of the four on the slate, and goals will surely be at a premium after a scoreless draw in the first leg. You can pretty much make a case for any goalkeeper on the slate, but paying up for Ederson ($5,600) or Marc-Andre ter Stegen ($5,700) seems like a waste of resources, not to mention Wojciech Szczesny ($5,300), who is almost $1,000 more than Alisson. The saves should be there for the Liverpool keeper, who has 20 clean sheets in 37 Premier League and Champions League starts this season, and with Liverpool likely getting plenty of attention for the upset, paying down while still having some legitimate win upside seems to make the most sense.