FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday UCL Targets

MATCHES (EDT)

• 3:00 pm: Atalanta vs. Dinamo Zagreb
• 3:00 pm: Juventus vs. Atlético Madrid
• 3:00 pm: Manchester City vs. FC Shakhtar Donetsk
• 3:00 pm: Real Madrid vs. Paris Saint-Germain
• 3:00 pm: Red Star Belgrade vs. Bayern Munich
• 3:00 pm: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Olympiacos

For detailed stats and odds, check out the FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday UCL Cheat Sheet.

FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS

Gabriel Jesus, MCI v. SHK ($20): I could write about the best cash play on the slate, Robert Lewandowski ($23), but that's boring. The Bayern Munich striker made the score-sheet in every start this season and should be in your lineup if you want guaranteed points. Jesus is more intriguing to me because he's likely set for a full 90 in place of Sergio Aguero, but he comes at a decent discount since he hasn't been a regular in the starting XI. Jesus has made the score-sheet in five of six starts in all competitions and had a floor of 18.6 fantasy points when he didn't score or assist. Man City are the biggest favorite on the slate and Shakhtar Donetsk have given up five goals in their last two UCL matches. Raheem Sterling ($22) has been a much better fantasy player in UCL than league play and could be more popular because of that, but I'll take the cheaper forward who didn't play a full 90 on Saturday and has better odds to score.

Son Heung-Min, TOT v. OLY ($19): In kind of the same mold as Jesus, why spend up on Son's teammate who hasn't been as good? Harry Kane ($21) may have better odds to score, but he doesn't have a floor and often fails to hit 10 points when he doesn't score. Son is more than a goal poacher and has eight shots on goal and six chances created in his last three starts in all competitions. Cristiano Ronaldo hasn't shown enough upside to spend $22 on, and I'm staying away from expensive PSG and Real Madrid players because that's the most even match on the slate. PSG won the first meeting 3-0, but Real Madrid have allowed one goal in their last six matches in all competitions. I'd rather bank on big favorites than guessing between Neymar ($20), Karim Benzema ($19) and Kylian Mbappe ($19). Of course, the implied goal total is still about three, so stacking that trio in tournaments wouldn't be a bad idea.

Toni Kroos, MAD v. PSG ($14): I don't want to spend up in this match, but if Kroos is sitting at $14, it only makes sense to grab him. He's been rested in Real's last couple matches and if he starts, it's almost a free 10 points with upside. He had a floor of 8.2 points in the first meeting, and I think he can double that from chances created alone. Kroos is averaging 3.75 chances created per 90 minutes in four UCL starts, and if he makes the score-sheet, that's a bonus. While Bayern and Man City players like Kevin De Bruyne ($18), Serge Gnabry ($18) and Bernardo Silva ($16) have a tad more upside as bigger favorites, Kroos may be the safer play because of how many set pieces he takes. De Bruyne has a similar floor, but is he worth four extra bucks? If Kroos sits again, Luka Modric ($13) can slide into your squad and is a dollar cheaper.

Josip Ilicic, ATA v. DZG ($11): With Duvan Zapata ($16) still out because of injury, you can get a starting forward on a favorite at an almost minimal price. Both Luis Muriel ($11) and Ilicic have better odds to score than Paulo Dybala ($15), Riyad Mahrez ($17) and Neymar ($20), among others. Ilicic is plenty rested having sat the last couple league matches because of suspension, so a full 90 is possible. He's averaging 1.70 shots on goal and 2.54 chances created per 90 minutes in league play, and this is a perfect spot for him to capitalize. While Zagreb dominated the previous meeting between these teams, they've given up seven goals in their last three UCL matches, including three to Shakhtar. You can't find this upside at this price since most other options are defensive midfielders.

DEFENDERS

Nemanja Milunovic, CRV v. BAY ($12): Bayern Munich have forced the most clearances and blocks in the Champions League and a lot of those are from the first meeting between these teams. Milunovic had a floor of 33.8 points in that match, and while he won't hit those numbers again, his floor should be around 10 points, with at least 15 a good bet. You can save a few and go with teammate Marko Gobeljic ($9), who has hit 14 fantasy points in two of four matches. Otherwise, if you want to spend up, Joshua Kimmich ($15) has produced more as a defensive midfielder, so if he's a full-back, I'd avoid him. Dani Carvajal ($14) is another option who gets forward every match and has hit 16 fantasy points in all four UCL starts.

Mykola Matviyenko, SHK at MCI ($10): It's not the best slate for value defenders, but Matviyenko has been maybe the most consistent with at least 11 fantasy points in three of four matches. He's a center-back going against Manchester City, who have forced the fifth-most clearances in the Champions League and second-most in the Premier League. Ferland Mendy ($10) is also in play if he gets another start over Marcelo ($14). If you want to bank on a clean sheet, which is rarely a good idea at defender, Davinson Sanchez ($10), John Stones ($9) and Daniele Rugani ($9) are the best cheap bets.

GOALKEEPER

Paulo Gazzaniga, TOT v. OLY ($13): I stayed away from Tottenham's back line for a good period, but that didn't work the last couple UCL matches. Either way, Gazzaniga has the best odds for a clean sheet and has made at least three saves in five of his last six starts in all competitions. His price isn't too bad and a win may be enough, as Olympiacos have been brutal away, already losing 3-1 to Red Star Belgrade. If you don't believe in Atalanta, Dominik Livakovic ($11) is a reasonable play and the same goes for Wojciech Szczesny ($12) given Atletico Madrid's away struggles.