This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
For detailed odds and stats, check out the Fantasy Champions League: Tuesday Cheat Sheet
MATCHES (EDT
2:45 p.m: Napoli (Italy) v. Feyenoord (Netherlands)
2:45 p.m: Manchester City (England) v. Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)
2:45 p.m: Sevilla (Spain) v. Maribor (Slovenia)
2:45 p.m: Spartak Moscow (Russia) v. Liverpool (England)
2:45 p.m: Besiktas (Turkey) v. RB Leipzig (Germany)
2:45 p.m: AS Monaco (Monaco) v. FC Porto (Portugal)
2:45 p.m: Borussia Dortmund (Germany) v. Real Madrid (Spain)
2:45 p.m: Apoel Nicosia (Cyprus) v. Tottenham (England)
PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
GOALKEEPER
Artyom Rebrov, SPM v. LIV ($4,100): Any of the top three options from Sevilla, Manchester City or Napoli are playable if you want to pay for somewhat of a safety net, but the two biggest home underdogs have some appeal because they are cheap and likely to face a barrage of shots. A clean sheet against a potent Liverpool attack is unlikely, but if Rebrov is able to rack up some saves he can potentially offset any goals conceded and turn in a serviceable fantasy score.
Boy Waterman, APO v. TOT ($3,900): Waterman and APOEL were dealt a tough draw being drawn into a group with Real Madrid, Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund. After suffering a 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid in their Group H opener, Waterman now faces the difficult task of keeping Harry Kane and company in check. Similar to Rebrov, he's sure to see multiple opportunities to earn saves and is cheap enough that he won't kill your team if he concedes a goal or two.
DEFENDER
Faouzi Ghoulam, NAP v. FEY ($6,400): Ghoulam whipped in 15 crosses in Napoli's UCL opener, and he is coming off a one-goal, one-assist, 25-point performance in Serie A action this past Saturday. While he's one of the priciest defenders in the player pool, he has a share of set pieces on one of the heaviest favorites and is one of few defenders who regularly hovers around 20 fantasy points.
Alex Telles, POR at MCO ($5,000): Telles is another defender with set piece appeal, and he swung in 15 crosses against Besiktas to open the tournament. With Porto looking for their first point in a soft Group G, expect a determined effort at Monaco on Tuesday, with Telles producing fantasy points from both set pieces and open play.
Caner Erkin, BSK v. RBL ($4,000): Erkin supplied an assist in a 3-1 win over Porto and finished with eight fantasy points in their UCL opener. He takes an occasional corner and is capable of sending in crosses from open play too. With a competitive match versus RB Leipzig on deck, Erkin should be active once again and provides some salary relief at the defender slot.
MIDFIELDER
Lorenzo Insigne, NAP v. FEY ($9,300) and/or Jose Callejon, NAP v. FEY ($9,100): Both Napoli attackers are listed as both are in a good spot to turn up with a pile of fantasy points in a favorable home game against Feyenoord. Callejon comes with a slightly safer floor based on his share of set pieces, but Insigne has a nice floor too through a high volume of open play and crosses and shots. After sputtering to a 2-1 defeat in their UCL opener, Napoli will lean on their potent attack to get them back on track in Group F, with Insigne and Callejon likely to be involved.
Ricardo Quaresma, BSK v. RBL ($7,800): Quaresma had an assist and put in seven crosses in a 3-1 win over Porto, good for 14 fantasy points in his UCL opener. As the primary set piece taker for Besiktas, he should have plenty of opportunities to turn in another worthy fantasy performance as they look to keep their Group G lead in tact at home against Red Bull Leipzig.
Valon Ahmedi, MAR at SEV ($4,500): An away match at Sevilla presents a challenge for Ahmedi and Maribor, but given his role in the attack I think he's capable of flirting with double-digit fantasy points once again. He's sent in six crosses in two straight UCL games, topping 14 points each, and while more value plays could open up when lineups are announced, Ahmedi serves as a cheap set-piece taker with a seven-to-10-point floor.
FORWARD
Dries Mertens, NAP v. FEY ($10,300): I hesitated to include all three of Napoli's key attackers, but given the matchup against Feyenoord and Napoli's need for three points, all of them are in play. They each also carry multi-position eligibility, and in most lineup builds are more optimally used in the forward slot. If I had to rank them it would be Mertens first due to his ability to put up monster numbers when he's hitting on all cylinders, with Callejon second and Insigne a close third. Mertens logged just 30 minutes off the bench in their Group F opening loss to Shakhtar, but with Napoli desperate for a result, he should be back in the starting lineup. He's scored at least one goal in four consecutive domestic matches, and he has the best goalscoring odds of any player on a slate that includes the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Aguero and Harry Kane.
Radamel Falcao, MCO v. POR ($8,500): Falcao recorded his second straight brace Friday, and he continues to pile up the goals with 11 in seven Ligue 1 games. He failed to score in Monaco's Champions League opener but will look to open his UCL account against a Porto defense that shipped three goals to Besiktas in their first game. Falcao's fantasy value comes strictly from shots and goals, relegating him to a tournament only play with GPP-winning upside if he produces in bulk.
