DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday UCL Picks

For detailed odds and stats, check out the Fantasy Champions League: Wednesday Cheat Sheet.

MATCHES (EDT)

3:00 p.m: Atletico Madrid v. Club Brugge
3:00 p.m: PSV Eindhoven v. Inter Milan
3:00 p.m: Borussia Dortmund v. Monaco
3:00 p.m: Tottenham v. Barcelona
3:00 p.m: Napoli v. Liverpool
3:00 p.m: Porto v. Galatasaray

FORWARDS

Lionel Messi, FCB at TOT ($11,300): The decision to roster Messi likely means you're fading Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann ($10,400), who has a prime matchup at home against Club Brugge, while Messi has the tough task of playing Tottenham at Wembley. The $900 discount for those who have Griezmann can certainly help in other places, but it's really tough for me to essentially ignore that Messi has gotten on the scoresheet in five of his last six matches (five starts), scoring six goals on 28 shots, including 14 on goal, and assisting four on 23 chances created over that span while Griezmann has one goal on 16 shots, including nine on target, and three assists on 15 chances created over his last six. I think there are viable alternatives to Griezmann if you want exposure to the Atletico Madrid attack, especially since we just don't see many huge games out of Griezmann, while Barcelona alternatives to Messi may not be able to produce like he can against the Tottenham defense. Ousmane Dembele ($7,400) would theoretically be the cash-game target if he starts, but it seems like a wasted move when there are other players in that price range in better spots.

Christian Pulisic, BVB v. BRU ($8,100): Pulisic has been taking set pieces for Borussia Dortmund of late, but it hasn't stopped him from shooting, as he's taken five shots, including three on goal, while drawing eight fouls in his last three games. Dortmund come in with the second-highest implied goal total and win odds, putting Pulisic firmly in play for cash games and GPPs, though those focusing more on the latter could also look toward Marco Reus ($8,300), who has three goals on nine shots (six on goal) and two assists on six chances created over his last three Bundesliga matches.

Matteo Politano, INT at PSV ($7,200): Politano is the safest cash play for an Inter Milan side that's scored 15 goals in eight matches this season, including five times with at least two. Goals aren't what we're necessarily after for cash games, and while Politano scored his first of the season (on six shots) this past weekend against Cagliari, we're more focused on his average of 10.27 crosses per 90 minutes thanks to his shared role on corners. Most of Politano's fantasy points will come from these crosses, though his 2.99 shots per 90 minutes are solid too. And with Inter expected to win, there should be opportunities against a PSV side that looks good defensively because they've allowed only three goals in seven Eredivisie matches, but Inter are significantly better than anything they've faced domestically. The GPP upside certainly belongs to Mauro Icardi ($7,600), who is always a threat to score a goal, though he's not much of a volume shooter to help with his floor. Oh, and you always have to consider Antonio Candreva ($6,300) if he starts because he's never seen a ball he hasn't tried to cross.

MIDFIELDERS

Koke, ATL v. BRU ($6,800): This is pretty expensive for Koke, but he has a share of set pieces for the biggest favorite on the slate. He makes more sense for those who go with Messi over Griezmann, as I don't think an Atletico Madrid stack is really necessary, and choosing Koke also means you're not rostering Thomas Lemar ($7,600). This isn't to say that Lemar is a bad play, but at that price I'd want a monopoly of set pieces, which he won't have. Neither player shoots that much, which means their ceilings aren't that different, so the only reason to play Lemar is that you think Koke will be highly owned, except in cash games you want that higher-owned guy. This is much more of a play on the Atletico Madrid set pieces as a huge favorite than targeting Koke specifically.

Gaston Pereiro, PSV v. INT ($5,600): Pereiro shares PSV's set pieces with Hirving Lozano ($7,500, forward/midfielder), but he's still a solid open-play crosser who also takes shots (he is averaging 2.8, including 1.6 on target, per 90 minutes). This match will be a big conflict of styles, as PSV come in having scored 26 goals in seven Eredivisie matches while Inter have allowed just four in seven Serie A games. I'll side with the home team a bit, at least in terms of peripheral points, and while I like Lozano's opportunity as well, I'm not sure I'm ready to pay that much when I can get slightly less production for a big discount with Pereiro.

Aleksandr Golovin, MCO at BVB ($3,600): The Dortmund defense has been much better this season, and even after allowing two goals in last weekend's win over Bayer Leverkusen, they've given up only five in seven Bundesliga games, plus a 1-0 win over Club Brugge in their Champions League opener. Golvin's season got off to a slow start due to injury, starting just one of his three appearances, but he took a corner in last weekend's match and could be on set pieces for a Monaco side that's desperate for an attacking push. Golovin was a solid fantasy producer last season with CSKA Moscow, averaging 3.9 shots, including 1.7 on goal, 2.5 crosses, 2.6 fouls drawn and 1.5 tackles won per 90 minutes, and while a matchup against Dortmund is tougher than what he faced in Russia (and probably what he faces in Ligue 1), his minimal price sticks out as an interesting salary-saving opportunity. Golovin isn't quite as attractive a play if Youri Tielemans ($4,200) also starts, and I'd probably consider the latter at his price as well because of his role on set pieces, which we've actually seen on a consistent basis.

DEFENDERS

Alex Telles, POR v. GAL ($5,900): Given the recent exorbitant prices we've seen for high-end defenders, it's a gift to get Telles at less than $6,000. He has a set-piece monopoly for a Porto side that's the third-biggest favorite on the slate against a Galatasaray side that's scored just once goal in their last two Turkish Super Lig games. Don't overthink this one.

Kieran Trippier, TOT v. FCB ($5,500): Trippier isn't in the exact same situation as Telles, but it's fairly close. He's a defender with a majority of set pieces, and while he is a solid open-play attacker as well, the matchup against Barcelona is much tougher than being at home against Galatasaray. Even with that, Tottenham have shown to get good results in the Champions League, and they aren't going to back down just because Barcelona are in town.

Djibril Sidibe, MCO at BVB ($4,300): It's understandable to question why you should roster guys from a struggling Monaco side facing a high-flying Dortmund attack, but Sidibe's price has to put him in play. He's a solid contributor in the attack through crosses, and even if you're sitting there thinking "yeah, but how much of the ball will Monaco even have?" then I'll counter with Sidibe's 1.5 tackles won and 2.0 fouls drawn per 90 minutes over his last four starts, which included a match against Atletico Madrid when he took two shots, sent in five crosses, won one of five tackles and drew three fouls. Now, a big game from Sidibe is unlikely in Germany, and I still think paying up at both defender spots is the right way to go on this slate, but if you're paying down you could do much worse than the Monaco right-back.

GOALKEEPER

Jan Oblak, ATL v. BRU ($6,000): Paying down for Fernando Muslera ($3,800) might be worth the risk, as Porto will be without lead striker Vincent Aboubakar (knee), and you could even make a case for Hugo Lloris ($4,300) because Tottenham are at home and he could see a lot of shots. But Oblak is more of a sure thing than anyone else on the slate, and while he might not make a single save (it's unlikely that happens), a win and a clean sheet is a solid 10.00 points for this salary.