DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday UCL Picks

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

MATCHES (EDT)

3:00 p.m: Hoffenheim v. Lyon
3:00 p.m: Roma v. CSKA Moscow
3:00 p.m: Ajax v. Benfica
3:00 p.m: Shakhtar Donetsk v. Manchester City
3:00 p.m: Manchester United v. Juventus
3:00 p.m: Real Madrid v. Viktoria Plzen

FORWARDS

Gareth Bale, RM v. PLZ ($10,200): Bale figures to be one of, if not the, highest-owned player on Tuesday's slate despite having the highest salary. He's the lead attacker for the side with, by far, the highest implied goal total, and he's averaging over 5.00 shots per 90 minutes this season. If there's a negative it's that he hasn't scored since Sept. 19 against Roma -- also in the Champions League -- but there's little doubt for the oddsmakers that he'll find the back of the net, giving him odds at nearly 75 percent to score one and more than 40 percent to score two. Pivoting to teammate Karim Benzema ($7,400) is an option if you want cheaper exposure to the Real Madrid attack, though he hasn't scored in the Champions League or La Liga since Sept. 1. You're specifically playing these guys with the expectation that they'll be the main goal scorers for Real Madrid, but what if I told you there was a player averaging 8.00 shots, including 3.22 on goal, per 90 minutes over nine games this season? Is that someone you'd be interested in? Does it help at all if he used to play for Real Madrid? That guy is obviously Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo ($10,000), who has made the scoresheet in six consecutive Serie A matches, scoring six goals on 49 shots, including 20 on goal, and assisting three others on eight chances created over that span. He now makes his long-awaited return to Old Trafford (for those unaware, he played for Manchester United from 2003 to 2009 before transferring to Real Madrid) as the all-time leading goal scorer in the Champions League. However, this match actually has the lowest implied goal total, though it seems it's more likely because Juventus have allowed two goals in their past seven games while Manchester have allowed multiple goals in three of their last four.

Edin Dzeko, ROM v. CSK ($9,600): With the expectation that this slate will be high scoring because it's a Champions League slate, I wouldn't be surprised to see most cash-game lineups with two high-priced forwards. Dzeko is definitely goal dependent because he has no role on set pieces, but like Ronaldo his shot volume cannot be ignored. Ronaldo's numbers are pretty ridiculous, but Dzeko is averaging 5.13 shots, including 1.75 on goal, during Serie A play this season, and he's been particularly voluminous of late, taking 19 shots, including 13 on goal, in his past three games, finding the back of the net four times in that span. Roma have the third-highest implied goal total on the slate, but it's easier to focus on Dzeko at the head of their attack instead of relying on which Manchester City attacker to trust, as they come in with the second-highest implied goal total playing away to Shakhtar Donetsk. You could certainly target the Manchester City guys in GPPs because they'll be lower owned, but they feel a bit risky in cash games.

Memphis Depay, OL at TSG ($7,800): Memphis fits the mold of a more traditional cash-game forward than Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo or Dzeko because he is likely to have a monopoly of set pieces. Lyon are away underdogs, but they play such an open style and Hoffenheim are hardly a strong defensive side. With Nabil Fekir ruled out through injury, Memphis will be Lyon's best attacker, a role we've seen him thrive in recently with one goal on seven shots, including five on goal, five chances created, 17 crosses and four fouls drawn in his past two games, one of which was a 5-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain. This match has the third-highest implied goal total, so GPP players could certainly pivot from Memphis to Moussa Dembele ($6,400), who has four goals on 18 shots, including 11 on target, in his last four starts, or even Bertrand Traore ($5,500), though his goal upside isn't as high.

MIDFIELDERS

Marco Asensio, RM v. PLZ ($7,900): If there's a hesitation about paying up for Bale and Benzema it's that Real Madrid have been awful, scoring two goals in their last six games and prompting wide-spread speculation that manager Julen Lopetegui will be sacked soon. So instead of relying on their goal-dependent forwards who aren't scoring goals, let's move to the set piece situation, which is usually dominated by Toni Kroos ($7,200), who leads the team in corners, though he trails Asensio by three in crosses, by 12 in shots and by five in shots on goal. Even if Kroos takes more of the free kicks, Asensio has shown plenty of ability to contribute in more attacking areas, a situation that also applies to Isco ($8,500), the second-most expensive midfield-only eligible player. Asensio and Isco, and Kroos for that matter, are certainly safer than Bale and Benzema, and if you think Real Madrid really pour it on, why not save a little from the Bale salary level for players with higher floors?

Lorenzo Pellegrini, ROM v. CSK ($6,300): As the main set-piece taker for Roma, the third-biggest favorite on the slate (and second-highest among home teams), Pellegrini should have plenty of ownership in cash games. He's not much of a volume shooter, but he sent in 21 crosses and assisted two goals on 16 chances created in his last three games. With the Manchester City set-piece situation pretty murky if Kevin De Bruyne ($8,600) makes his long-awaited return from injury, Pellegrini provides a little more security for team that's almost as favored to win. GPP players who want Roma exposure away from Dzeko could also consider Cengiz Under ($8,200), though at that price I'd probably prefer to play Ajax's Hakim Ziyech ($8,400) even if his production looks more like a cash-play than a tournament-winner. And speaking of cash plays in this range, Hoffenheim's Kerem Demirbay ($6,900) looks attractive after sending in 21 crosses, taking four shots, including three on goal, drawing nine fouls and winning six tackles in his last two Bundesliga matches.

Ivan Oblyakov, CSK at ROM ($3,900): The matchup is far from ideal, but Oblyakov's salary puts him in consideration against a Roma side that's been decent defensively but is hardly a fortress. Nikola Vlasic ($5,300, forward/midfielder) has been very good in two Champions League matches, but his price is kind of tough given they're away underdogs. Oblyakov has been solid in domestic play this season, averaging 1.9 shots, 3.5 crosses, 1.5 fouls drawn and 2.5 tackles won per 90 minutes, and while those stats would be great at his price, we should probably temper expectations given the matchup. Nevertheless, he's a solid salary saver who could do enough not to bust and help us pay up at other spots.

DEFENDERS

Yaroslav Rakitskiy, SHK v. MCI ($2,800): Yes, we're doing this again. Rakitskiy is one of Shakhtar's two starting centerbacks, and playing against Manchester City isn't exactly the easiest matchup. But, Shakhtar are at home and Rakitskiy has been taking their set pieces, so what's not to like at this salary? Even if he doesn't take many, or any, free kicks, the low salary allows us to spend up elsewhere. Plus, when everyone else has him and he bangs in a free-kick goal, you're going to feel pretty silly that you passed on him.

Marcelo, RM v. PLZ ($6,200): Arguably the best attacking fullback on the slate, Marcelo showed his upside in last weekend's match against Levante by scoring one goal on four shots, including one on target, and creating seven chances thanks to 12 crosses. He took four corners in that match, which was a bit unlike the regular rotation, and I wouldn't bet on those continuing Tuesday. Nevertheless, he has a great matchup against an outmatched Plzen side, and a clean sheet already starts him off with three points. Given the ability to pay down for Rakitskiy, there are likely to be plenty of fantasy players pairing him with Marcelo.

Daley Blind, AJA v. BEN ($3,400): Blind regularly plays centerback for Ajax, but with Nicolas Tagliafico ($5,300) questionable because of a hip injury, there's a possibility Blind plays out wide at left-back, a position that would give him significantly more fantasy upside. He has plenty of experience in the role, and there should be little hesitation using him if he starts there given his lower price and favorable matchup.

GOALKEEPER

Andriy Pyatov, SHK v. MCI ($3,900): You don't often get a home goalkeeper at less than $4,000, and while Pyatov fits that mold, it's obviously worth recognizing he's the third-biggest underdog on the slate. He also hasn't been particularly good in the Champions League, allowing two goals in both starts, but he has scored 4.00 and 7.00 fantasy points, respectively, because of his nine saves. The Manchester City attack is packed with good shooters, and if Pyatov can get his hands on enough balls, he could finish positively even while conceding. I don't think this is a slate where it's worth paying up for a goalkeeper because all of the top ones have question marks, though I wouldn't be surprised if Manchester United's David de Gea ($4,400) is highly owned for the Ronaldo-fade crowd.