This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
For detailed odds and stats, check out the Fantasy Champions League: Wednesday Cheat Sheet.
MATCHES (EST)
3:00 p.m: Shakhtar Donetsk v. Lyon
3:00 p.m: Valencia v. Manchester United
3:00 p.m: Young Boys v. Juventus
3:00 p.m: Ajax v. Bayern Munich
3:00 p.m: Manchester City v. Hoffenheim
3:00 p.m: Benfica v. AEK Athens
FORWARDS
Nabil Fekir, OL at SHK ($8,600): The Shakhtar Donetsk v. Lyon match has the biggest implications, as Group G is the only one of the four Wednesday that hasn't had the top two spots locked in, including Groups E and H, which already have third place and fourth place decided. It's always tough to figure out motivations when teams don't have much to play for, but there's no discounting this match, with Shakhtar through to the round of 16 with a win, while Lyon need just a draw to finish second and there is a path to first place if they win. Choosing between Fekir and Memphis Depay ($8,100) is always tough, as Memphis is mostly responsible for Lyon's set pieces, which gives him more opportunities to cross, while Fekir takes more shots and draws many more fouls. With similar floors, you can try to side with the higher upside, which is presumably Fekir because he averages 6.20 shots, including 2.39 on goal, per 90 minutes this season in Ligue 1, as well as 4.68 and 1.93, respectively, in the Champions League versus Memphis' 3.16 and 1.43 in Ligue 1 and 2.64 and 0.96 in
For detailed odds and stats, check out the Fantasy Champions League: Wednesday Cheat Sheet.
MATCHES (EST)
3:00 p.m: Shakhtar Donetsk v. Lyon
3:00 p.m: Valencia v. Manchester United
3:00 p.m: Young Boys v. Juventus
3:00 p.m: Ajax v. Bayern Munich
3:00 p.m: Manchester City v. Hoffenheim
3:00 p.m: Benfica v. AEK Athens
FORWARDS
Nabil Fekir, OL at SHK ($8,600): The Shakhtar Donetsk v. Lyon match has the biggest implications, as Group G is the only one of the four Wednesday that hasn't had the top two spots locked in, including Groups E and H, which already have third place and fourth place decided. It's always tough to figure out motivations when teams don't have much to play for, but there's no discounting this match, with Shakhtar through to the round of 16 with a win, while Lyon need just a draw to finish second and there is a path to first place if they win. Choosing between Fekir and Memphis Depay ($8,100) is always tough, as Memphis is mostly responsible for Lyon's set pieces, which gives him more opportunities to cross, while Fekir takes more shots and draws many more fouls. With similar floors, you can try to side with the higher upside, which is presumably Fekir because he averages 6.20 shots, including 2.39 on goal, per 90 minutes this season in Ligue 1, as well as 4.68 and 1.93, respectively, in the Champions League versus Memphis' 3.16 and 1.43 in Ligue 1 and 2.64 and 0.96 in the Champions League, but it's actually been the latter who has two goals and six assists in his last five games, while Fekir has one goal and one assist in his last seven appearances. Playing both of them seems like too much, and the worst part about choosing between them is that I don't think you can go wrong with either in cash games or GPPs.
Cristiano Ronaldo, JUV at YB ($10,900): Juventus will top Group H if they beat Young Boys on Wednesday, but they will fall to second if they draw (or lose) and Manchester United win away to Valencia. In an almost-must-win match, many fantasy players will surely roster Ronaldo, who comes in with six goals on 51 shots, including 17 on goal, two assists on 16 chances created and 18 fouls drawn in his last nine matches in all competitions. He did not play Young Boys in the reverse fixture because of a red-card ban, a match that saw Paulo Dybala ($10,000) score a hat trick on seven shots, but there's every indication that Ronaldo will be a focal point of the attack for Juventus, who have the third-highest win odds and implied goal total. Dybala is certainly a viable pivot in GPPs, though you're hardly getting a break in salary, whereas Mario Mandzukic ($6,500) actually has higher anytime goal scoring odds than Dybala.
Taison, SHK v. OL ($6,600): Shakhtar absolutely need a win to make the round of 16, so it certainly makes sense to target some of their attackers. None of them have high enough floors to make them optimal in cash games, but Taison, who had two goals on four shots (three on target), one assist on three chances created and two fouls drawn against Hoffenheim in their last UCL match, and Junior Moraes ($6,400), who has three goals and one assist in his last two Ukrainian Premier League matches, should certainly get some consideration in GPPs. They aren't the only Shakhtar attackers worth considering, but they're the key ones who fill a forward spot on a slate that has plenty of elite options who may not play, or will play limited minutes, because their sides have already qualified for the next round.
MIDFIELDERS
Ilkay Gundogan, MCI v. TSG ($5,300): There are plenty of places to pay up for Manchester City attackers, but Gundogan could provide some pretty cheap exposure to a possible set-piece taker. His floor is relatively stable, though not overly high, and while Manchester City have clinched a spot in the round of 16, a win or draw Wednesday will win them the group. And while rotation is possible, Man City only have 15 fit first-team players, which could allow Gundogan to get back in the starting XI after coming off the bench in each of the last two. The only issue with Gundogan is that if he doesn't start, you'll likely need to go with a midfield/forward eligible player if you want to maintain access to Manchester City, with Riyad Mahrez ($9,100) and/or Leroy Sane ($8,500) the more reliable cash-game options.
Houssem Aouar, OL at SHK ($5,400): Aouar picked up one assist in three consecutive Champions League matches, including one against Shakhtar, before being held off the scoresheet against Man City two weeks ago, and while he doesn't have the upside of the strong attackers in front of him, he's shown a solid cash-game floor of late, with four shots, six fouls drawn and seven tackles won in his last three games. It's not big production, but he's playing in the most important match of the day, at least in terms of what's at stake, and there's little reason to think he won't be active trying to slow down the Shakhtar attack. More of that defensive work will likely fall to Tanguy N'Dombele ($4,200), who really hasn't been producing as much lately, and he's coming in questionable because of a thigh injury. If you want to focus on this match but want more attacking upside, flip to the other side to Marlos ($5,400), who doesn't really have much of a floor but did score a goal in his last domestic league appearance.
Paul Pogba, MUN at VAL ($6,400): It's pretty much impossible to consider rostering Pogba without thinking of some kind of narrative to build around, even though the stats back up his viability. Man United have booked their place in the round of 16, and while they are underdogs Wednesday, Pogba will have plenty to prove after getting just one start in United's last four matches in all competitions. His price makes him more GPP worthy, but don't ignore Pogba's solid averages of 3.17 shots, including 1.66 on goal, and 2.38 fouls drawn per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, and he leads the team in shots, shots on goal, chances created and fouls drawn.
DEFENDERS
Yaroslav Rakitskiy, SHK v. OL ($4,700): As mentioned above, Shakhtar need to beat Lyon on Wednesday to advance to the round of 16, and you can't win without scoring goals. Rakitskiy, who is battling a toe injury, is a starting centerback for the Ukrainian side, but he's their regular set-piece taker while also being a decent open-play crosser. His salary is much higher than we saw at the beginning of the season, but a sub-$5K price for a set-piece taker on a home favorite that needs to score is a pretty easy position to fill.
Joshua Kimmich, BAY at AJA ($6.800): The most expensive defender on the slate, Kimmich has been excellent of late, with three assists on seven chances created, 26 crosses and nine fouls drawn in his last three games. Additionally, all of those came with him playing as a central midfielder, so fantasy players who are concerned he won't cross as much while not playing his regular right-back spot shouldn't worry. Bayern are the fourth-biggest favorite on the slate and just need a draw to win the group, and while Ajax could attack a bunch because they will top the group with a win, the German side is still likely to come out on top.
Mattia De Sciglio, JUV at YB ($4,200): De Sciglio, who could get the start at right-back in place of the injured Alex Sandro ($5,600), is far from the level of attacking fullback that Sandro or Joao Cancelo ($5,900) are, but he's still a decent crosser and tackle-winner with a significantly lower salary while playing for the side with the third-best win odds on the slate. That being said, if you think Young Boys, who are locked into fourth place, decide to go all-out against Juventus, Kevin Mbabu ($4,400) has been solid during Champions League play, averaging 2.50 chances created, 5.00 crosses, 2.00 tackles won and 1.75 fouls drawn per 90 minutes over his four starts.
GOALKEEPER
Andre Onana, AJA v. BAY ($4,200): Ajax are home underdogs Wednesday, which makes sense against a Bayern Munich side that has scored multiple goals in nine of their last 10 matches in the Bundesliga or Champions League, but it's worth recognizing that Onana conceded just once while making three saves in a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture in Germany. Ajax need to win if they want to top the group, and while that doesn't necessarily benefit Onana in any serviceable way, no team on Wednesday's slate has forced more saves than Bayern Munich, while Onana has three clean sheets in five UCL matches this season.
