FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday UCL Targets

MATCHES (EST)

• 3:00 pm: Liverpool vs. RB Leipzig
• 3:00 pm: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Barcelona

For detailed stats and odds, check out the

FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday UCL Cheat Sheet

FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS

Lionel Messi, BAR at PSG ($24): Barcelona need goals if they want a chance to advance, and that only means Messi. He converted a penalty in the first meeting en route to a mostly bad performance in Messi terms, as he had just one other shot in the 4-1 loss. Unless Barca accept the loss and don't play to win, Messi should have better overall numbers, assuming PSG don't completely lock him down again. Even then, it'll be hard to fade him on a two-game slate given that he has 15 goals and six assists in his last 13 appearances in all competitions. Ousmane Dembele ($18) had a higher floor in the first leg, though he has much less upside than Messi. Everything else kind of depends on what formation Barcelona use after going with a three-man back line the last two league matches. Antoine Griezmann (17$) seems to be out of form once again and should only be considered in GPPs, especially with a full 90 unlikely. Otherwise, Pedri ($13) and Frenkie de Jong ($12) are a tad too expensive for midfielders with limited floors.

Kylian Mbappe, PSG v. BAR ($22): There's a chance Mbappe will be as popular as Messi, mainly because of what he did in the first meeting, dominating the entire match en route to a hat trick. Mbappe isn't as consistent as Messi in league play, but he did whatever he wanted against Barca in the first meeting, totaling four shots on target and four chances created. Maybe more to his benefit is that Barcelona need to push in the second leg, which should lead to a lot of counter-attacks for PSG and a lot of favorable positions for Mbappe. While rostering Messi and Mbappe costs a lot, it may be the best move in cash games given the other match on the slate. Stacking PSG is another story, since Angel Di Maria ($15) probably isn't ready for a full 90 after recently returning from a thigh injury and Mauro Icardi ($18) hasn't scored in his last four starts in all competitions. You could get away with Leandro Paredes ($9) or Idrissa Gueye ($7) as value plays since they should get enough defensive work to hit a floor near 10 points.

Christopher Nkunku, RBL at LIV ($15): There were a combined five shots on target in the first leg and both Liverpool goals came because of Leipzig defensive miscues. Take away those miscues, and it was a mostly defensive scoreless draw with Nkunku having the highest floor because of set pieces. He remains fairly cheap despite reaching a floor of 19.6 fantasy points in that first game, and he's also playing better than at any other point this season, scoring four goals in his last five league starts. While he's not a true striker, he's plays as forward as anyone else on Leipzig unless Yussuf Poulsen ($16) starts. Unfortunately, there aren't a ton of other options because Nkunku will probably take the majority of set pieces without Angelino in the squad. Anyone is in play for a goal like Poulsen, Dani Olmo ($17) or Marcel Sabitzer ($13), but they may not be worth it in cash games when their floor doesn't hit five points. If anything, Amadou Haidara ($11) could be considered in the spot of Angelino; he had a floor of 19.7 fantasy points last league match from a variety of defensive stats with one shot on goal and two chances created.

Thiago Alcantara, LIV v. LEI ($9): There's a route to spending up on Liverpool forwards, but that's probably best left for GPPs. Mohamed Salah ($20), Sadio Mane ($18) and Diogo Jota ($17) are unlikely to have much of a floor, which was the case in the first leg when their only fantasy production came from fortunate goals. The other part is that you'd likely have to fade either Messi or Mbappe to get one of the Liverpool guys in your squad. As for Thiago, he saves salary and should be busy enough to come close to 10 fantasy points in the midfield against a Leipzig team that needs goals. Thiago isn't worth using in GPPs, but if you need to save money in your fourth forward/midfield spot, he's cheap.

DEFENDERS

Samuel Umtiti, BAR at PSG ($7): Umtiti is the cheapest projected defensive starter, but I wouldn't build your lineup around that happening. He went 45 minutes in the most recent league match, and there's a chance Barcelona return to a four-man back line. If Umtiti doesn't start, Lukas Klostermann ($8) is the next option and, as expected, he doesn't have much of a floor. However, you don't really have much of a choice if you want both Messi and Mbappe.

Nathaniel Phillips, LIV v. LEI ($10): There will be some who spend on Trent Alexander-Arnold ($15), but I'm not sure he's worth it unless Liverpool decide they want to run up the score. I'd rather take a center-back against one of the teams that needs to make up ground. That means Marquinhos ($14) and Presnel Kimpembe ($12) or whoever starts for Liverpool. Phillips is projected to be the starter and is somewhat cheap. His floor is rarely above 10 fantasy points in league play, but against a hungry Leipzig side, there may be more opportunities for defensive stats.

GOALKEEPER

Peter Gulacsi, LEI at LIV ($7): I wrote about Gulacsi in the first match and that didn't go to plan. Any of the goalkeepers are in play on this slate, and it's more about how much money you have left. It wouldn't be surprising if Leipzig didn't allow a goal, but similar to that last meeting, Gulacsi may not make a save and then allow a goal or two. On the other end, Alisson Becker ($13) should at least be set for saves, and a clean sheet is still on the table. It's hard to see Keylor Navas ($11) getting a clean sheet against Barcelona, but he's in play to make a ton of saves if Barca unleash shots for 90 minutes. As usual, that's hard to bet on, especially for the most expensive goalkeeper.