FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday UCL Targets

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

MATCHES (EST)

3:00 p.m: Borussia Dortmund v. Club Brugge
3:00 p.m: Paris Saint-Germain v. Liverpool
3:00 p.m: Napoli v. FK Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade)
3:00 p.m: PSV Eindhoven v. Barcelona
3:00 p.m: Porto v. Schalke
3:00 p.m: Tottenham v. Inter Milan

FORWARDS

Lionel Messi, BAR at PSV ($13,000): This is almost a perfect spot to spend up after Barcelona scored four in the first meeting, including three from Messi. In the two matches since he returned from injury, Messi has two goals, one assist, 11 shots and six chances created, and not only does he have the best odds to score on the slate, he also has the highest floor. Neymar ($13,500) has a thigh injury and is oddly priced above Messi with a tough matchup against Liverpool, while Harry Kane ($12,500) has no floor and did nothing against Inter in the first meeting.

Dries Mertens, NAP v. CRV ($10,000): Mertens is almost as easy as Messi because he has the second-best odds to score on the slate. Napoli are the biggest favorite with the most expected goals, and that's where Mertens comes in. He's averaging 2.15 shots on goal and 2.86 chances created per 90 minutes in league play, and his only two starts in the Champions League came against PSG, so the matchup with Crvena Zvezda should boost his UCL averages. The only other player I'm interested in near this price is Marco Reus ($9,500) because Roberto Firmino ($11,500) and Edinson Cavani ($10,500) are both goal dependent. If you want to go against everyone else, Jose Callejon ($9,000) is the play since he hasn't scored this season.

Moussa Marega, POR v. S04 ($8,500): If you want to save money on a forward, Marega makes the most sense because he's scored in each of the last three UCL matches. He's more of a GPP play because he has close to no floor, which we saw in the first meeting with Schalke when he had 6.5 fantasy points. However, Porto are favored in this one and if they score, it'll likely be through Marega. If you don't believe in Tottenham or want to go against Barcelona, Mauro Icardi ($9,000) and Luuk de Jong ($8,500) are also viable, but I'm not going near them.

MIDFIELDERS

Christian Eriksen, TOT v. INT ($9,500): This isn't the best matchup, but it's not the worst one considering Eriksen scored and had four chances created with three shots on goal in the first meeting. Even better is that he looked back to form following the international break, producing a couple assists against Chelsea. He's battled health all season but is still averaging 2.41 shots and 2.68 chances created per 90 minutes in league play, and while this is a difficult spot, there will be opportunities for Spurs. I'd rather spend up at forward than go with Mohamed Salah ($11,000) at PSG and the same goes for the inconsistent Angel Di Maria ($9,000).

Lorenzo Insigne, NAP v. CRV ($9,000): Here's another play on the biggest favorite, and Insigne almost comes too cheap for a player averaging more than 20 points in UCL action. Sure, he has close to no floor, but that shouldn't matter against a side that's given up 10 goals in their other two away matches. Napoli need to win this match, and Insigne has six shots on goal and 13 chances created in his last four starts. I don't feel as comfortable with anyone else near this price, whether that's Dele Alli ($8,500) or one of the Porto options like Hector Herrera ($8,000) and Jesus Corona ($8,500).

Jadon Sancho, DOR v. BRU ($6,000): I'm only slightly confused as to why Sancho is still this cheap. He's become a full-time starter for Dortmund, and while he isn't producing as much as he did off the bench, he's been on corners and is averaging 0.71 shots on goal and 2.98 chances created per 90 minutes in league play. Those numbers have dipped in recent performances because of a tougher schedule, but as one of the bigger favorites on the slate, Sancho and his teammates will be plenty active against a Brugge side that has been all over the place, losing 3-1 at Atletico but winning 4-0 at Monaco. Sancho has by far the most upside in this range, with the other options defensive midfielders like Jordan Henderson ($6,000) and Marcelo Brozovic ($6,000).

DEFENDERS

Alex Telles, POR v. S04 ($5,500): Telles continues to be underpriced for a defender who takes corners, and he even has decent odds for a clean sheet against Schalke. His floor has been around 15 fantasy points, but he also has as much upside as any other defender, as seen in his five chances created against Galatasaray. It makes close to no sense to spend on Thomas Meunier ($7,500) or Jordi Alba ($7,500) because neither has as good of a floor. Sure, both could be stretched for in GPP, but not in my lineups.

Serge Aurier, TOT v. INT ($4,500): All signs point to another start for Aurier with Kieran Trippier still battling injury. Aurier doesn't take corners like Trippier, but he's still plenty useful and much cheaper. In four league appearances, he's averaging 1.38 chances created, 2.42 tackles and 4.15 clearances per 90 minutes. That should lead to a floor of around 10 fantasy points, which he had in the first meeting against Inter, but since he also gets up the field, there is some upside. There are others with similar floors at this price, but none of them have the same upside. You could also take a chance on Daniel Schwaab ($4,000) and hope he gets another 13 clearances like he did against Tottenham.

Brandon Mechele, BRU at DOR ($3,500): Mechele will be in most of my lineups because he's the cheapest defender and has a floor of around 10 points, but he can also reach up to 20 from defensive stats alone, as seen in the trip to Atletico. He has 21 clearances and seven tackles in three starts and should be plenty busy against a Dortmund team that will be on the attack for most of the match. If you prefer to go against a bigger favorite, Srdjan Babic and Marko Gobeljic are the same price, though they are threats to be subbed early.

GOALKEEPER

David Ospina, NAP v. CRV ($4,500): In addition to being the biggest favorite, Napoli have the second-best clean sheet odds, so it's almost too easy to have Ospina as your goalkeeper. He had 19 fantasy points in the first meeting, which was a scoreless draw. If he can make a save or two and get the win, more than 20 points is likely. I'm not sure I'd trust anyone else given his price, but if you want to go against the grain, Inter-Tottenham has the lowest expected goal total on the slate, and that makes Samir Handanovic a good place to turn at the same price.