This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
For detailed odds and stats, check out the Fantasy Champions League: Tuesday-Wednesday Cheat Sheet
MATCHES (EST)
Tuesday, 2:45 p.m: Benfica v. Borussia Dortmund
Tuesday, 2:45 p.m: Paris Saint-Germain v. Barcelona
Wednesday, 2:45 p.m: Bayern Munich v. Arsenal
Wednesday, 2:45 p.m: Real Madrid v. Napoli
PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
GOALKEEPER
Manuel Neuer, MUN v. ARS ($5,600): If you want the safety of the biggest home favorite on the slate, you'll have to pay up. Bayern have kept a clean sheet in two straight games and are generally tough to break down at home. While the Gunners have the attacking weapons to present a challenge, Neuer is arguably the best goalkeeper in the world and will look to help Bayern carry a healthy lead to London for the second leg.
Ederson Moraes, BEN v. DOR ($4,400): A visit from Borussia Dortmund will be no easy task, but Moraes is the cheapest home goalkeeper on the slate and is sure to be kept on his toes to keep Benfica in the game. As daunting as the Dortmund attack can be, they have scored just one goal in each of their last four games.
DEFENDER
Faouzi Ghoulam, NAP at RMD ($5,000): Despite a tough match at Real Madrid, Ghoulam is in play based on his share of set pieces in the Napoli attack. He has a combined 48 fantasy points across his last three Serie A matches, including a 23-cross outburst against Palmera just three games ago.
Daniel Carvajal, RMD v. NAP ($4,600): Carvajal did not play in Saturday's 3-1 win over Osasuna, but with Danilo suffering a leg injury he looks set to start opposite Marcelo. While both Real Madrid wing backs are strong plays at home against Napoli, the $700 savings Carvajal brings will come in handy trying to squeeze in the high priced studs.
Nelsinho, BEN v. DOR ($4,000):Nelsinho is second on the team with four assists and provides salary relief at just $4,000. He averaged nine fantasy points per game across six group stage matches, and with Benfica needing a result at home he's likely to be active on the wing once again.
MIDFIELDER
Neymar, BAR at PSG ($9,900): Of all the top-tier options, Neymar provides a relatively safe cash game floor. He takes the majority of corners for Barcelona, and is generally good for a heaping of points through shots, open play crosses, fouls drawn and interceptions.
Arjen Robben, MUN v. ARS ($7,200): Robben came off the bench over the weekend and scored a goal in just 16 minutes. He's a strong candidate to slot back into the starting XI against Arsenal, and he is able to pile up points in a hurry. He's the type of player who will cause fits for Arsenal, and if he's given a full complement of minutes, 15-20 points is within reason.
Pizzi, BEN v. DOR ($5,400): A quick glance at Pizzi's UCL game log reveals just one double-digit fantasy performance in six group stage games. However, he leads Benfica in shots, crosses and assists, and is second in goals. Value is difficult to come by on this slate, so with a $5,400 price, Pizzi is on the radar to help work the big guns into your lineup.
FORWARD
Lionel Messi, BAR at PSG ($11,200) or Cristiano Ronaldo, RMD v. NAP ($10,900): It's the never ending debate: Messi or Ronaldo? Per usual, both superstars are in play for fantasy purposes. Messi led all players with 10 goals in the group stage, scoring at least one goal in all five games while tacking on a pair of assists. He's been hot in league play, with a goal in seven of his last eight La Liga appearances. Ronaldo's UCL campaign has been a let down, by his standards, with two goals and four assists in six group stage games. He does have a goal in three straight games in all competitions, and has taken at least four shots in eight of his last nine games. Cash game builds are doable without either of the all-time top scorers in Champions League, but exposure in GPPs is a no-brainer. Both have the potential to go off for a monster score on any given match day, and with comparable pricing they should be viewed as interchangeable parts if multi-entering tournaments.
Robert Lewandowski, MUN v. ARS ($8,800): Lewandowski shares the highest goal-scoring odds on the slate with Ronaldo and has a juicy matchup at home against an Arsenal defense that conceded at least one goal in each of their three Group A road games. Coming in at over $2K less than the heavy hitters above, Lewandowski serves as a viable alternative with just as much potential to break out for a big fantasy score.
