This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EDT)
Tuesday, 2:45 p.m: Liverpool v. Roma
Wednesday, 2:45 p.m: Bayern Munich v. Real Madrid
FORWARDS
Cristiano Ronaldo, RMD at BAY ($10,600): On the road at Bayern in the first leg, Ronaldo doesn't pop off as a must-play, but he's been unstoppable in Champions League and comes in with a good track record against Bayern. He's scored seven goals in his last three games against the German giants, with a brace in each of his last two games in Munich.
Mohamed Salah, LIV v. ROM ($10,200): Speaking of unstoppable, Salah has been just that, and he carries the highest goal scoring odds of any player on the slate. He's also playing his former employer, and with Liverpool looking to get off to a good start at home it's hard to envision a scenario where Salah doesn't see multiple opportunities to increase his goal tally.
Roberto Firmino, LIV v. ROM ($8,300): After seeing what Roma did to Barcelona in the return leg of their quarterfinal in Italy, Liverpool know they'll need to put up goals at home in the first leg of the semifinal. On a two-game slate goals will be at a premium, and Firmino's eight UCL goals are actually tied with Salah for the team lead.
MIDFIELDERS
Sadio Mane, LIV v. ROM ($8,300): On a condensed slate it's pick-your-poison from the Liverpool attack. Mane is a boom-or-bust play, as seen by his 0.80 fantasy points in his last Champions League game after scoring 20 against Manchester City the game before that, so if we're firing some GPP bullets, try to work Mane in just in case he's the one who delivers Tuesday.
James Rodriguez, BAY v. RMD ($7,800): While the other game looks like a juicier matchup to target, there's some good value in the Bayern Munich attack. James finished with 14.5 fantasy points thanks to four shots and eight crosses in his last Champions League outing, taking the majority of set pieces. (James holds multi-position eligibility and would preferably be used as a second forward, but I listed him as a midfielder as to not write up three Liverpool players at one position.)
James Milner, LIV v. ROM ($6,600): Milner managed just one point in his last UCL outing, but he's back in strong consideration at home versus Roma in the first leg. Before the single-digit dud he scored at least 12 points in four straight Champions League appearances, and he's reasonably priced for having a share of Liverpool's set pieces.
DEFENDERS
Joshua Kimmich, BAY v. RM ($6,500): Kimmich is a luxury play at the defender position, but he usually gets involved enough to top double figures even if he doesn't score or assist. He's sent in at least eight crosses in three straight, and who can forget his 20-cross outburst at PSG earlier in the group stage of the competition?
Aleksandar Kolarov, ROM at LIV ($5,600): Kolarov missed Saturday's match against SPAL due to a muscle injury, but it doesn't sound serious and he should be back in the lineup for the first leg at Liverpool. He has a share of Roma's set pieces and is active in open play too, earning a combined 21 points through five shots and 17 crosses in two quarterfinal games against Barcelona.
Marcelo, RMD at BAY ($5,200): After Kimmich and Kolarov, Marcelo, and Trent Alexander-Arnold are the most attractive options at the position. While TAA has the appeal of playing at home, I'd probably rather find another $300 to pay up for Marcelo if it were between those two. Marcelo's five points in his last Champions League outing was the first time in eight appearances that he's scored fewer than 8.5.
GOALKEEPER
Loris Karius, LIV v. ROM ($5,700): Karius and Liverpool are the biggest favorite of all four teams on the slate, justifying him as the highest priced goalkeeper. He's kept a clean sheet in each of his last four Champions League games at home and scored at least seven points in five straight UCL appearances.
