DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday UCL Picks

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

MATCHES (EST)

3:00 p.m: Viktoria Plzen v. Real Madrid
3:00 p.m: Lyon v. Hoffenheim
3:00 p.m: Juventus v. Manchester United
3:00 p.m: Bayern Munich v. AEK Athens
3:00 p.m: Manchester City v. Shakhtar Donetsk
3:00 p.m: Benfica v. Ajax

FORWARDS

Gabriel Jesus, MCI v. SHK ($7,900): Match lines and anytime goal scorer odds aren't everything, but if you had an opportunity to roster the striker for the biggest favorite on the slate, and he had the second-highest anytime goal scorer odds, would you do that at less than $8,000? That's what Jesus brings to the table if he starts ahead of Sergio Aguero ($9,600), who has been getting significantly more playing time than Jesus but could be due for a rest, especially with the Manchester derby coming up this weekend. Now, Bayern Munich are actually ever-so-slightly bigger favorites than Man City with an ever-so-slightly higher implied goal total, but you have to pay $10,600 for Robert Lewandowski, who oddsmakers are giving an 80 percent chance to score; then again, he has only scored more than one goal once this season. Even if Jesus doesn't start, getting a discount for Aguero is a gift, and I see no issue in pairing him with at least one other Manchester City forward like Riyad Mahrez ($8,500) or Raheem Sterling ($8,200) if they are in the first XI. It's kind of puzzling why the Manchester City options are cheaper than Lewandowski, Real Madrid's Gareth Bale ($10,400) or Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo ($10,200) and Paulo Dybala ($9,700), who need to have some kind of huge game to offset any Man City explosion.

Andrej Kramaric, TSG at OL ($7,100): The Hoffenheim set-piece situation is a bit cloudy, especially since their lineup has been a revolving door recently, but Kramaric makes for an interesting play if it becomes clear he'll be on set pieces. Lyon have been pretty poor defensively, and this game actually has the highest implied goal total on the slate, mirroring the situation when these teams played to a 3-3 draw in Germany two weeks ago. Kramaric bagged a brace in that one, and while he took five corners in his last league game, he was also rested this past weekend. Either way, the discount from the Lyon guys, Nabil Fekir ($8,700) and Memphis Depay ($8,500), puts Kramaric in the spotlight for me, though his similar price to the Man City guys means I'd probably try to find a way to pay up for them.

Cristiano Ronaldo, JUV v. MUN ($10,200): Ronaldo has been crushing Serie A this season, averaging 7.55 shots, including 2.91 on goal, per 90 minutes, and he's third in goals despite taking four games to score his first. His matchup against Manchester United isn't the easiest -- in fact, the match has the lowest implied goal total on the slate -- but given the game situation, and the fact that Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are heavy favorites, it could be a great GPP spot for Ronaldo, who still has the fifth-best anytime goal scorer odds among probable starters. Ronaldo is the Champions League all-time leading goal scorer but he hasn't found the back of the net this year, and a breakout against his old club wouldn't be the craziest outcome.

MIDFIELDERS

Hakim Ziyech, AJA at BEN ($8,300): The matchup away to Benfica isn't ideal, but it's also not something that should shy us away from Ziyech, who has shown to have the highest floor of anyone on the slate, scoring 17.00, 13.50 and 13.50 in his three Champions League starts, respectively, and none of those included a goal or an assist. His role on set pieces for a high-flying attack keeps him well involved, and Ajax can actually clinch a spot in the knockout round with a victory in Portugal. The price isn't cheap, but there really aren't many midfielders worth paying up for on the slate, unless you think Real Madrid can put it together with a relatively new manager and hope that Isco ($8,400) or Marco Asensio ($7,300) produces enough before being subbed off, or that they win enough set pieces for Toni Kroos ($7,100) to make value.

Pizzi, BEN v. AJA ($6,400): You never get overly excited about rostering Pizzi, but here he is as the main set-piece taker for a favored home side that will be eliminated from knockout round contention with a loss. He's not much of a shooter, so his upside is more from assists (only two players on the slate have created more chances in the Champions League this season), but he has a decent floor for cash games and a price that's a lot more attractive than many of the names higher up the salary list.

Petros Mantalos, AEK at BAY ($5,300): With Anastasios Bakasetas ruled out due to injury, Mantalos could have a monopoly of set pieces for AEK, who won...checks notes...one corner in the reverse fixture, which was in Greece. Nevertheless, Bayern are in a bit of a crisis right now and Mantalos could make for a very interesting contrarian GPP option with Viktor Klonaridis ($4,800, midfield/forward) also a long-shot punt against a side that has just one clean sheet in their last eight (then again, it was against AEK).

DEFENDERS

Yaroslav Rakitskiy, SHK at MCI ($3,100): No player on the slate has sent in more crosses during the Champions League than Rakitskiy, who has scored at least 6.00 fantasy points in all three starts despite not getting on the scoresheet or registering a clean sheet. His 9.00 against Manchester City in the reverse fixture was his season-high and was helped out by 10 crosses, and while Man City are likely to have plenty of possession again, especially at home, it's tough to shy away from Rakitskiy at this price.

Joshua Kimmich, BAY v. AEK ($7,200): Not paying up for Lewandowski doesn't mean fading Bayern Munich, especially with the possibility that Kimmich could have a monopoly of set pieces if James Rodriguez ($9,300, midfielder/forward) is unable to play. Kimmich played in the defensive midfield during last weekend's Bundesliga draw to Freiburg, which limited his open-play production, but a return to his regular right-back role could have him as the most popular defender in cash games because of his opportunity and strong clean sheet odds.

Alejandro Grimaldo, BEN v. AJA ($4,500): Grimaldo is an excellent all-around fantasy scorer thanks to his ability to win tackles as well as get involved in the attack. Facing a good Ajax team won't mean he can bomb forward at any opportunity, but the Eredivisie side is hardly a strong defensive outfit themselves. Rakitskiy and Kimmich will probably be very popular options in defense, but if you have a little more money to spend, Grimaldo has a better opportunity (Benfica have to win to stay in) than other guys in his range.

GOALKEEPER

Ederson, MCI v. SHK ($5,800): I totally understand not wanting to pay up for a goalkeeper on a Champions League slate, but if you have money left over, and I think it's possible that you do, Ederson makes for a very strong play, especially since the other high-priced goalkeepers all have major question marks. If paying up isn't your thing, Viktoria Plzen's Ales Hruska ($3,900) could be a decent option playing at home against a Real Madrid side that is still trying to figure themselves out after months of struggles and now a new manager.