FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday UCL Targets

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

MATCHES (EDT)

3:00 p.m: Manchester City v. Lyon
3:00 p.m: Real Madrid v. Roma
3:00 p.m: Young Boys v. Manchester United
3:00 p.m: Viktoria Plzen v. CSKA Moscow
3:00 p.m: Benfica v. Bayern Munich
3:00 p.m: Valencia v. Juventus

FORWARDS

Gabriel Jesus, MCI v. LYON ($11,000): If Jesus starts over Sergio Aguero ($13,000), he's an easy play at forward. Jesus hasn't done much this season playing second fiddle to Aguero, but he usually produces when he's the top forward in City's attack, and in his lone league match in which he played at least 60 minutes he finished with five shots on goal and five chances created. As a huge favorite against Lyon, he'll get plenty of opportunities up front. Cristiano Ronaldo ($14,000) is getting shots every match for Juve, but I'm not sure he's worth the price on the road against Valencia. The same goes for Romelu Lukaku ($12,500) as a smaller favorite. If Aguero is in, I'd use him over both Ronaldo and Lukaku.

Gareth Bale, MAD v. ROMA ($11,000): Bale is close to a steal at this price, especially with Karim Benzema ($11,500) in the level above. Bale has a bigger role in Real's attack without Ronaldo, as he already has three goals and two assists in four starts, and he'll have plenty of chances up front against a Roma side that has allowed the second-most shots on goal (25) in Serie A. Outside of Jesus, I'm not touching any of the other forwards in this range because they're either smaller favorites or goal dependent.

Kevin Gameiro, VAL v. JUV ($7,000): In case you want to spend a little more in the midfield, Gameiro comes extremely cheaply even though he's not in a terrible spot. The Juve back line isn't as good as previous versions, especially with Wojciech Szczesny in net, as they've given up three goals in road trips to Chievo and Parma, two mediocre Italian clubs. As for Gameiro, he has five shots (two on target) and four chances created in his last two starts, and after playing a small role for Atletico Madrid the last few seasons, he should be a factor alongside Rodrigo Moreno ($9,000) in the Valencia attack.

MIDFIELDERS

David Silva, MCI v. LYON ($10,000): Teammate Raheem Sterling ($11,500) continues to be more expensive than Silva because of his higher upside, but Silva has the same floor, if not better. Sterling usually gets more opportunities on net, while Silva is creating more than four chances per 90 minutes in the early season. If Leroy Sane ($9,500) starts, I'd consider grabbing him over both Sterling and Silva because he's cheaper and took six corners last match in addition to two shots on goal and two chances created.

Arjen Robben, BAY at BEN ($9,500): This is a pretty good price for Robben if he makes the starting XI. He's started the last two for Bayern and averaged 1.25 shots on goal and 1.96 chances created per 90 minutes last campaign. There's little reason to spend the same salary on Paul Pogba or Luka Modric, as both play in deeper midfield roles. Robben works mostly on the wing and his biggest question is whether he'll play 90 minutes on a short week. Bayern Munich are on the road but still decent favorites with a high implied goal total. Meanwhile, Benfica were brutal in last year's group stages, losing all six matches by a combined 14-1 score line.

Miralem Sulejmani, YB v. MANU ($6,000): This is more of a punt in case you went big at forward. Young Boys aren't favored, but I'm still not willing to trust Manchester United even though they've won their last two. Playing at home, Young Boys should still find a goal. At a minimum, Sulejmani creates from the wing after 11 goals and seven assists in 32 league appearances last season. I'm not betting on him to score, but there aren't many more viable options in this range.

DEFENDERS

Ashley Young, MANU at YB ($6,000): Young has started two matches this season and has been great in each because he's taking most of United's corners. In addition to creating chances from those, he's avearging a combined six tackles, interceptions and clearances per match. Antonio Valencia ($6,500) is a little more, but he isn't taking corners. While I punted on a Young Boys midfielder, I expect United will have the ball on the attacking end a good portion of this match.

Jason Denayer, LYON at MCI ($4,500):Oleksandr Zinchenko ($4,500) is another good play if he starts, but he's 50/50 with Fabian Delph ($6,500, midfielder) to get the call at leftback. Instead, I'm looking to the other end of the field, as the Lyon centerbacks will get a ton of action. In league play, Man City have forced 96 clearances (third-most) and 22 blocks (most) to defenders and that's why I'm looking to Denayer, who partners with Marcelo ($5,500). Denayer started the last two matches for Lyon and finished with nine clearances and four blocks against weaker competition. Now against City, he should have even more work.

Lukas Hejda, PLZ v. CSK ($4,000): All of the Viktoria Plzen players are underpriced because there's little information about their league performances. Hejda missed the first month of the season, but he has started the last two and has been Viktoria's best scoring defender in recent seasons. He scored three and assisted once last campaign and scored seven in the 2016/17 season. That attacking ability is at least enticing, and Viktoria are slight favorites against CSKA. If you need to save money, there's no reason not to use Hejda.

GOALKEEPER

Matus Kozacik, PLZ v. CSK ($4,000): If you're going big at forward and midfielder, using the cheapest goalkeeper isn't as bad an option as one would think. Not only are Viktoria favored, but they're also in the match with the lowest implied goal total. They have allowed just one goal in four home matches in the Czech league, so that's at least a good sign. Otherwise, I'm not willing to spend $6,000 on a goalkeeper like Ederson ($6,000), who may not get any work. I'd rather go after Thibaut Courtois ($4,500) because Real give up shots and he's still a decent favorite for cheap.