FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday UCL Targets

MATCHES (ET)

• 3:00 pm: Atlético Madrid vs. FC Porto
• 3:00 pm: Club Brugge vs. Paris Saint-Germain
• 3:00 pm: Inter Milan vs. Real Madrid
• 3:00 pm: Liverpool vs. AC Milan
• 3:00 pm: Manchester City vs. RB Leipzig
• 3:00 pm: Sporting CP vs. Ajax

For detailed stats and odds, check out the

FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday UCL Cheat Sheet

FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS

Kylian Mbappe, PSG at BRU ($23): This is a tough one. Lionel Messi ($24) and Neymar ($22) haven't played a competitive match for PSG together, and both were rested over the weekend after returning late from international duty. Messi has the best odds to score, but Mbappe may be more likely to go the entire way. If all three start, I still kind of like Mbappe the most because he's on the pitch to score. While Messi and Neymar are just as likely to score, they're on the ball more and better creators. Additionally, the presence of Messi in this squad could open up even more space for Mbappe unlike anything he's seen before. More so, Mbappe could be a reasonable pivot from Messi since it's likely he'll be the most popular player on the slate if in the starting XI. This selection is more of a preference, and you could go with two PSG players, but I think Mbappe has the best chance to brace or bag a hat trick if he's playing as the central forward for PSG.

Riyad Mahrez, MCI v. LEI ($18): Maybe more difficult than trying to decipher PSG is what Manchester City will do on a short week. Pep Guardiola has stuck with a similar starting XI the last couple league matches, but with Kevin De Bruyne ($23) and Phil Foden ($16) healthy again, there are even more questions. I'm still going out on a ledge and backing Mahrez to start despite him oddly getting benched since the opener. Even when he played with De Bruyne last season, he was still on some set pieces and often had just as good of a floor with more upside. That was most evident when he bagged a brace in the second leg against PSG in last season's UCL run. There's also the chance that because he's rested, he'll be more likely to go a full 90. As for De Bruyne and Foden, I don't think either are worth it coming off injury. Of course, everyone else is in play, as well: Gabriel Jesus ($21) has the best odds to score as the central forward, but Ferran Torres ($19) could also start up front. Jack Grealish ($17) may not be asked to go a full 90 again, while Raheem Sterling ($18) has as much upside as anyone else in the side. 

Luka Modric, RMA at INT ($3): Real Madrid scored five goals in two matches against Inter last season, including two in Milan in a match they created 13 chances in. Modric is priced like a defensive midfielder, and while that's kind of where he plays, he's on set pieces without Toni Kroos in the side. That may not lead to a ton of upside, as seen in the last league match when he had just 12.3 fantasy points despite Real Madrid scoring five goals. Still, he's cheap and he'll get you a floor of around 10 points with a touch of upside from set pieces. You won't find a ton of other set-piece takers in this range, and that's the main thing pushing him over guys like Rodri ($11) and Fabinho ($11). Ilkay Gundogan ($14) will get attention because of big matches last season, but he's not expected to take set pieces if De Bruyne is starting. 

Mohamed Salah, LIV v. ACM ($22): If you think Brugge will hold their ground against PSG and Leipzig will do enough to limit Man City, Liverpool are a reasonable place to turn as the third-biggest favorite on the slate. They look to be back at their best after a somewhat down season and face AC Milan, who have played away from home just once in the early campaign when they barely got past Sampdoria. I think that the Anfield crowd will be a lot to overcome for Milan, which points to more success for Liverpool's attacking trio. Salah is only a couple more bucks than Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane, so it only makes sense to grab the player most likely to hit the back of the net. Salah's been awesome in four league matches, notching eight shots on target and 13 chances created. Normally, Jota and Mane are decent pivots away from Salah, but this time, Salah is a pivot away from PSG and Man City. Liverpool aren't as big of a favorite as the others, but no one would be surprised if they won 3-0 and Salah featured in all three goals.

DEFENDERS

Neto, LIS v. AJA ($7): Because of the long list of expensive forwards, there's a long list of value defenders. My favorite might be Neto, partly because Ajax like to attack and force defensive stops. Plus, two seasons ago in the Europa League, Neto averaged roughly five clearances, two interceptions and two tackles per 90 minutes. Combine that with an upgrade in competition and he could be headed for a floor of 15 points in these games. I'd rather spend the extra dollar on him than teammate Ruben Vinagre ($6), who plays on the flank and won't see the same defensive opportunities. Otherwise, Felipe ($6) may be set for a clean sheet, but defensive stats are hard to rely on from the Atletico Madrid back line.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, LIV v. ACM ($15): Alexander-Arnold is always worth spending up for, it just depends on who you're going to fade at forward/midfield. If you're aiming for the Liverpool three-goal win stacked with Salah, it's a reasonable GPP method to fade the other top teams. Alexander-Arnold has been awesome in league play and would probably be closer to $20 if he wasn't a defender. He scored 19 fantasy points in all four league matches and surpassed 37 twice in games in which he had an assist. I'm not sure I'd spend on anyone else because Angelino's ($12) upside doesn't exist against Man City. Plus, on Champions League slates, you need upside and Alexander-Arnold has the most of the defenders.

GOALKEEPER

Antonio Adan, LIS v. AJA ($9): There aren't many situations when you'll be able to use three top players and one of the high-end goalkeepers. If you have money, Jan Oblak ($12) makes the most sense according to the odds, but Porto aren't an easy matchup and Atleti have had a slow start to the season in league play. My choice will probably be between Adan and Thibaut Courtois. I'm slightly on Adan because Sporting are home, and while Ajax love to attack, they aren't guaranteed to score, being held scoreless in half of their group matches last season. Courtois is also in play because while Inter have had success without Romelu Lukaku in league play, they didn't score at home with Lukaku against Real last season and that could easily happen again.