DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday UCL Picks

DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday UCL Picks

This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.

MATCHES (ET)

FORWARDS

Riyad Mahrez, MCI vs. BRU ($10,500): Manchester City are the biggest favorite on the slate and they have the highest implied goal total in a home matchup against Club Brugge. Mahrez has been great in the Champions League this season. He's been splitting set pieces, averaging more than five shots per game and he's played 90 minutes in all three of his starts. He scored two goals when Manchester City played away to Brugge two weeks ago. Mohamed Salah ($11,700) and Paulinho ($10,200) are the other two forwards with five-figure salaries and both seem a bit overpriced for their respective goalscoring odds. Edin Dzeko ($9,500) and Lautaro Martinez ($8,400) are more appealing GPP targets with Inter Milan in a nice spot away to Sheriff Tiraspol. 

Neymar, PSG at RBL ($7,900): PSG are underpriced for an away matchup against RB Leipzig. We've never seen Neymar this cheap and without Lionel Messi (knee/hamstring) in the lineup, his floor should be higher than it's been recently. He will likely split set pieces with Kylian Mbappe ($8,200) or Angel Di Maria ($7,300), both of whom are underpriced as well. You could make the argument that PSG have been underwhelming of late and that they didn't look great when the two teams met two weeks ago. However, they still scored three goals in that game and Wednesday's matchup has a total approaching 3.5. All three of them seem like bargains to me and it might even make sense to roster two of them based on the affordable salaries. Looking elsewhere, Raheem Sterling ($7,800) is a bit too cheap as well considering he's -115 to score anytime. Those are the fourth-best odds on the slate behind Salah, Mahrez and Dzeko. Further down, Angel Correa ($5,200) will likely take some set pieces with Antoine Griezmann (suspension) not in the squad. Away to Liverpool is a tough matchup but that game produced five goals two weeks ago. 

MIDFIELDERS

Pote, LIS vs. BSK ($6,700): Sporting Lisbon are favorites at home against Besiktas and they have an implied goal total north of two. Pote shares set pieces and has considerable open play value as well playing as an attacking winger. He had 16 floor points in the same matchup two weeks ago and based on his affordable, would be the first player in my lineup for Wednesday. Pablo Sarabia ($7,500) is similarly appealing in the same matchup. He will likely share set piece duty and probably will be on penalty kicks too after converting from the spot last time out. Looking elsewhere, Ilkay Gundogan ($7,400) would likely split set pieces with Mahrez if Kevin De Bruyne ($10,000) doesn't start. De Bruyne is of course viable too but his role has been more uncertain lately and $10,000 seems expensive when you consider the bargain pricing for PSG and Sporting Lisbon. Hakan Calhanoglu ($7,200) or Federico Dimarco ($7,700) would be viable as the set piece taker for second-biggest favorite Inter Milan but neither is likely to play 90 minutes. Calhanoglu has played more than 70 minutes in just three of nine starts this season. 

Rachid Ghezzal, BSK at LIS ($4,000): With Miralem Pjanic ruled out, Ghezzal is expected to have the majority of set pieces in an away matchup against Sporting Lisbon. He has open play upside too in his role as an attacking winger and he's put up 10 floor points in both of his previous starts in the Champions League this season. Sticking with the theme for this slate, Ghezzal is simply too cheap for this spot. Besiktas are underdogs but playing away to Sporting isn't a matchup to fear and for $4,000, there really doesn't need to be much thought when you have a set piece taker with open play upside.  

DEFENDERS

Trent Alexander-Arnold, LIV vs. ATL ($7,200): Alexander-Arnold is the top defender option just about any time he's on a slate and that's no different for Wednesday. His salary is expensive but it's more affordable when you consider the bargain pricing at forward and midfield. Andrew Robertson ($5,900) is always viable if you want to save salary but still have exposure to Liverpool set pieces. He's topped 14 fantasy points in all three Champions League games this season. Pedro Porro ($5,700) doesn't take corner kicks anymore but has plenty of open play value playing as a right wingback. Angelino ($5,400) was great against PSG two weeks ago. He continues to share set pieces and would be extra appealing if he lines up on the wing again. 

Oleksandr Zinchenko, MCI vs. BRU ($4,000): Zinchenko hasn't played since September 15th but he's expected to start at left back for a matchup in which Manchester City are massive favorites and have 51.5% implied clean sheet odds. He isn't always the most fantasy friendly, but $4,000 seems too cheap for any left back in this spot based on the clean sheet odds and the outside chance of an assist. Cristiano ($3,700) has been impressive for Sheriff. He loves to get forward and send in crosses. It's a tough matchup against Inter but he put up seven floor points against them two weeks ago and this time Sheriff are at home. Felix Passlack ($3,000) could start at left back for Dortmund, who are decimated with injuries at defense. He hasn't started since August but it might be worth taking a chance for only $3,000.  

GOALKEEPERS

Ederson, MCI vs. BRU ($5,900): Manchester City have the best clean sheet odds on the slate at 51.5%. That makes Ederson seem like the safest of the expensive options. Samir Handanovic ($5,800) and Antonio Adan ($5,700) are likely to be less popular but both have better than 40% odds and could be rostered for leverage in GPPs. 

Giorgos Athanasiadis, TIR vs. INT ($3,600): Athanasiadis is the cheapest home keeper and probably has the most save upside too. I'd feel more comfortable taking a chance on him rather than Simon Mignolet ($3,500) away to Manchester City. We rarely see Jan Oblak ($3,900) this cheap but Atletico are in a tough spot away to Liverpool. His 13.5% clean sheet odds are slim but they're considerably better than the other options in this range. 

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ryan Belongia
Ryan is the top-ranked DFS soccer player on RG, reigning King of the Pitch Champion at DraftKings and 2021 finalist for FSWA's Soccer Writer of the Year.
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