DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday-Wednesday UCL Picks

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

MATCHES (EST)
Tuesday, 3:00 pm: Borussia Dortmund vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Tuesday, 3:00 pm: Real Madrid vs. Ajax
Wednesday, 3:00 pm: FC Porto vs. Roma
Wednesday, 3:00 pm: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Manchester United

FORWARDS

Kylian Mbappe, PSG v. MU ($11,300): There are two ways to view Mbappe's viability for Tuesday's slate: 1. he is not worth paying up for because Paris Saint-Germain already have a 2-0 aggregate lead and they're facing a Manchester United side dealing with a plethora of injuries or suspension so PSG won't have to attack at all; 2. Paris Saint-Germain are the biggest favorite on the slate, they have the second-highest implied goal total and no player has better anytime goal scorer odds than Mbappe, who had 20.75 fantasy points, including a goal, in the first leg. You can try to argue about PSG's motivation because they can lose by fewer than two goals and still advance, or you can argue the narrative that in order to be one of the greatest teams in the world they need to annihilate any team they play in the Champions League (including the most famous team in the world). Or you can simply pay up for the player with six goals on 23 shots, including 12 on target, in his last four games.

Marco Reus, BVB v. TOT ($8,200): Dortmund need to make up a three-goal deficit just to draw even with Tottenham, so there's no denying that they'll be attacking early and often. Reus isn't usually the safest fantasy play, at least from a floor perspective, but he's still managed to reach at least 7.25 in each of his last four Bundesliga matches, scoring three goals on 13 shots, including five on target, over that span. Any examination of his floor is moot, though, as you're playing him for the goal(s) he will be responsible for as Dortmund try to mount this massive comeback. Manchester United's Marcus Rashford ($8,700) is probably the safer play from a floor perspective, but his anytime goal scorer odds trail Reus by a significant margin; in fact, he has the same goal odds as Dortmund defensive midfielder Axel Witsel, who has taken 30 shots in 2,063 Bundesliga minutes this season (for perspective, Rashford has taken 61 in 1,715 Premier League minutes). But if you really want to emphasize floor, Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior ($8,700) might make the most sense in this range, as he comes in averaging 4.48 shots, including 1.81 on goal, 2.8 crosses and 1.94 fouls drawn in 15 appearances (eight starts) in La Liga this season, including an impressive 11 shots, including three on goal, seven crosses and four fouls drawn in his last two league games, one of which was against Barcelona. And if you want a piece of Dortmund but don't want to pay up for Reus, Mario Gotze ($6,000) or Paco Alcacer ($7,800) could work.

MIDFIELDERS

Hakim Ziyech, AJA at RM ($10,900): There is no safer player on the slate than Ziyech, who has scored at least 13.5 fantasy points in all six of his Champions League starts this season, including 19.75 with a goal in the first leg against Real Madrid. Ajax trail 2-1 on aggregate, which means they'll have to win by two goals in order to advance, giving us every reason to think Ziyech will be on the attack from the get-go. The only problem is that Real Madrid are heavily favored at home and paying up for Ziyech likely means you have to pay down in one forward spot, a situation that really isn't ideal on this slate given how expensive most of the options are, at least for cash games. Nevertheless, if it's safety your after, with some upside, Ziyech fits the bill.

Jadon Sancho, BVB v. TOT ($5,100): Sancho is likely to be one of the most popular cash-game plays because he has a role on Dortmund's set pieces and they need to attack as much as possible. He has a knack for getting on the scoresheet, but even his floor has been pretty good lately thanks to an uptick in crosses to go with his normal shots and fouls drawn. His price is relatively low versus many other midfielders on the slate in similar situations, which is why he's likely to be highly owned.

Andreas Pereira, MUN at PSG ($3,400): Pereira could draw the start Wednesday because of Manchester United's injury and suspension issues, though you could argue he deserves it regardless after he had one goal, one assist and five crosses during last weekend's Premier League win over Southampton. He occasionally has a role on corners, though that seems unlikely this week, but he's still a solid open-play attacker who will be lining up for a side desperate for goals as they try to make up a two-goal deficit. Manchester United have other cheap midfielders, but none of them have shown the attacking upside Pereira has of late.

DEFENDERS

Alex Telles, POR v. ROM ($6,100): The argument for Telles is always the same: he's a defender who takes nearly all set pieces for his side, and this time they are at home trying to make up a one-goal aggregate deficit. Porto did get an important away goal during the first leg, so a 1-0 win Wednesday would see them through, but that shouldn't be too much of a deterrent, especially since every scoreless minute that goes by puts more pressure on them to find the back of the net, which could provide more corner opportunities.

Raphael Guerreiro, BVB v. TOT ($6,100): Paying up at both defender spots could be a popular strategy in cash games this week because there are a variety of viable options. Guerreiro continues to be listed as a defender despite playing mostly as an attacking midfielder, and with Dortmund needing to make up a three-goal aggregate deficit, there's no denying that Guerreiro will be flying up the wing and sending in crosses or creating chances. Telles and Guerreiro will be popular, but Manchester United's Ashley Young ($5,200) is certainly an option because of his role on set pieces; then again, you're banking on United putting up enough of a fight to win those dead balls despite being the second-biggest underdog on the slate. And if you're looking for more upside, you're going to have to pay for it with Aleksandar Kolarov ($6,400), who has a clear path to tons of crosses and shots if Roma fall behind early.

Diogo Dalot, MUN at PSG ($4,000): Dalot could line up in an attacking position this week because of Man United's injury issues, and while they still aren't expected to win despite needing to score two goals just to draw level with PSG on aggregate, there is definitely upside with Dalot at a very reasonable price. He has no role on set pieces, and his upside is more dependent on chances created than shots (i.e. he's more likely to get an assist than score a goal), but he could be a real difference-maker at this price if he can make the scoresheet for a desperate United.

GOALKEEPER

David de Gea, MUN at PSG ($3,800): I can't think of any other time that de Gea was the cheapest goalkeeper on a slate, but here we are because Manchester United are the biggest underdog despite being expected to attack while trying to make up a two-goal deficit. PSG have forced the fourth-most saves in the Champions League (third-most among teams on the slate), and while the win and clean sheet are unlikely, it's important to remember that United could win this match and still not advance, something PSG would certainly take as long as they move onto the next round.