DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday UCL Picks

MATCHES (ET)

• 3:00 pm: Atlético Madrid vs. AC Milan
• 3:00 pm: Club Brugge vs. RB Leipzig
• 3:00 pm: Liverpool vs. FC Porto
• 3:00 pm: Manchester City vs. Paris Saint-Germain
• 3:00 pm: Sheriff Tiraspol vs. Real Madrid
• 3:00 pm: Sporting CP vs. Borussia Dortmund

For detailed stats and odds, check out the

DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday UCL Cheat Sheet 

FORWARDS

Karim Benzema, RMA at TIR ($11,200): Real Madrid have a 2.5-implied goal total on the road against Sheriff Tiraspol and Benzema has anytime goalscoring odds of -150. Both of those numbers are the highest on the slate by a significant margin. He had 14 floor points when the two teams met in September. Vinicius Junior ($10,200) had 15 floor points in that game. He's been in great form this season with 10 goals and five assists across 17 appearances in all competitions. The salaries are expensive, but Real Madrid are in the best spot on the slate. Looking elsewhere, Riyad Mahrez ($9,500) splits set pieces and has penalty-kick duty for Manchester City, who have the second-highest implied goal total, at home against PSG. 

Antoine Griezmann, ATL vs. ACM ($7,200): Atletico Madrid need to win and they're the third-biggest favorite, at home against AC Milan. Griezmann is affordably priced and has been taking a few set pieces recently. He also has four goals in his last six starts and has taken at least three shots in five of those games. Besides Benzema, the only other player on the slate that's a favorite to score is Luis Suarez ($7,500). He makes for an appealing GPP option in this range, as do Lionel Messi ($8,200) and Kylian Mbappe ($7,800). They won't see much of the ball against Manchester City, but they still have considerable goal equity and they're cheaper than we normally see. Looking cheaper, Donyell Malen ($4,800) is expected to lead the line for Dortmund. He scored over the weekend in the Bundesliga while taking four shots in 89 minutes. 

MIDFIELDERS

Toni Kroos, RMA at TIR ($7,500): Kroos has put up at least nine floor points in seven consecutive matches and he has a goal and two assists in his last two. Real Madrid should create plenty of chances against Sheriff and Kroos will have a near monopoly of set pieces. Ilkay Gundogan ($6,700) continues to split set pieces in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne. Emil Forsberg ($5,900) will take them for Leipzig if Dominik Szoboszlai isn't in the lineup. Lucas Vazquez ($5,800) would be a decent tournament option in this range if he lines up in the front three. 

Yannick Carrasco, ATL vs. ACM ($4,500): Carrasco took the majority of set pieces for Atletico over the weekend. He's started five consecutive matches and has played at least 88 minutes in four of them. The salary is quite cheap for a player who's scored at least 20 DK points in two of his last four. Looking elsewhere in this range, Noa Lang ($4,300) has goalscoring upside and takes some corners when Ruud Vormer ($4,800) isn't in the lineup. Vormer would be a viable option, but I don't see him in expected lineups. Casemiro ($4,000) is cheap and has added goal/assist equity with Real Madrid in such a good spot against Sheriff. 

DEFENDERS

Angelino, RBL at BRU ($5,700): Angelino will have a share of set pieces if Szoboszlai doesn't start. Even without them, he has considerable open-play value on the left wing against Brugge and he's played 90 minutes in five consecutive matches. Kostas Tsimikas ($6,200) takes the left-sided set pieces for Liverpool. He's scored at least 12 floor points in four of his five starts this season. With Trent Alexander-Arnold ($8,000) expected to rest, Neco Williams ($4,500) would be a decent option as his replacement, as would Ferland Mendy ($4,600) for the same price. Mendy scored over the weekend and has the best matchup on the slate. 

Sime Vrsaljko, ATL vs. ACM ($3,100): Vrsaljko sent in 10 crosses over the weekend in La Liga. He's started Atletico's last two matches and played at least 80 minutes in each of them. For just $3,100, he looks like the best value at the position. If he doesn't start, Clinton Mata ($3,600) is another full-back option in the cheap range, but I'd rather just roster a center-back who plays for a favorite instead. 

GOALKEEPERS

Thibaut Courtois, RMA at TIR ($5,900): Real Madrid have the best clean sheet odds on the slate at 45 percent. Pairing Jan Oblak ($5,600) with Vrsaljko makes sense, too. I usually don't spend up at keeper on bigger slates and it becomes even harder if you roster Benzema and Vinicius. On the other hand, if you fade the expensive strikers, paying up for a win and clean sheet from Courtois would be a good way to spend the savings. 

Giorgos Athanasiadis, TIR vs. RMA ($3,600): Athanasiadis made 10 saves when Sheriff beat Madrid back in September. He should face plenty of shots again in the rematch. Elsewhere in the cheap range, If Liverpool rest their starters, Diogo Costa ($4,300) would become more appealing.