This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EST)
2:45 p.m: Sevilla v. Manchester United
2:45 p.m: Shakhtar Donetsk v. Roma
FORWARDS
Alexis Sanchez, MANU at SEV ($12,500): Sanchez should be considered as the top play at the forward position. Both games on the slate should be tightly contested, so points should be hard to come by. You will have to pick and choose your spots wisely, and though it is not the best matchup for Alexis, his high work rate should result in some decent fantasy production.
Facundo Ferreyra, SHK v. ROMA ($8,000): Surprisingly, Ferreyra has the highest odds of scoring Wednesday. He is an Argentine striker who leads the line in front of three Brazilian playmakers, who look to create for Ferreyra. He will face a sturdy Roma backline, but if you want to play the odds, then he is the chalk value play at forward. However, do note that he does not provide much outside of goals.
Taison, SHK v. ROMA ($7,000):Taison is the cheapest of the three Shakhtar playmakers, but he still possesses the ability to blow past his value. He plays in the No. 10 spot for the Ukrainian side, which means he will start in between his compatriots, Marlos and Bernard. He is experiencing a bit of an off-year, but the knockout round offers a new start for the Brazilian to return to his 2016/17 form.
MIDFIELDERS
Bernard, SHK v. ROMA ($8,500):Bernard is one of Shakhtar's creators in the attacking unit. He shares set piece duties with Marlos, and he has lethal pace that is bound to get him in dangerous positions. The Brazilian also has the fitness to follow Roma's right-back all game, which should result in a few defensive stats.
Radja Nainggolan, ROMA v. SHK ($8,500): The Belgian is arguably the best box-to-box midfielder on the slate, outside of Paul Pogba, and that counts for a lot on FanDuel. He is sure to produce a reliable floor with his defensive production, and if Roma are able to steal a goal on the road, Nainggolan could be involved.
Marlos, SHK v. ROMA ($8,000):Marlos is the most consistent playmaker for Shakhtar, and his 67-point outbreak against Feyenoord is an indication of his sky-high ceiling. The Ukrainian side will need to get something out of this game if they are going to have a good chance of advancing to the next stage, so the pressure will be on Marlos to produce. His affordable price allows for room to pony up for the big plays on the slate, while his potential is still exciting. Roma have a strong defense, having allowed just 19 goals in 25 Serie A games, but Marlos' efforts alone could allow him to reach his ceiling.
DEFENDERS
Sergio Escudero, SEV v. MANU ($7,000): Escudero will be one of the most dangerous attacking weapons for Sevilla on Wednesday. He is commanded to get up the left side of the field on many occasions throughout a match, so his potential for attacking bonus is among the best of all Champions League full-backs. He also supplies an abundance of defensive stats, which gives him a reliable floor to go along with his high ceiling. The nature of the game should force Escudero forward more than usual because Manchester United's defensive shape will likely force Sevilla to commit more men in the attack in order to break through.
Aleksandar Kolarov, ROMA at SHK ($7,000): Kolarov has the mind of a winger or a striker, but he plays as a full-back. He is guaranteed to get involved in the attack on several occasions during a match, and his lethal left foot allows him to strike shots from distance and send crosses into the box from the left wing. This matchup should be very even, and each team should have a fair share of opportunities. Kolarov and Escudero are the top two attacking defenders on the slate.
Ismaily, SHK v. ROMA ($4,500):Ismaily is a defensive juggernaut who records a consistent supply of clearances, interceptions and tackles, giving him a solid floor at a reasonable price.
GOALKEEPER
David de Gea, MANU at SEV ($6,000): De Gea is, by far, the most talented goalkeeper on the slate, and he is in a favorable position to succeed. Although Sevilla are much stronger at home, its squad is not one that is full of goals. The Spanish side are in the bottom half in goals scored in La Liga, and the sturdy defense in front of de Gea should be hard to penetrate. Look for de Gea to collect a fair share of saves from long distance shots, which rarely get past the Spaniard. Additionally, head coach Jose Mourinho is sure to deploy a defensive unit for the first leg, which only helps de Gea's case.
