This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Soccer series.
MATCHES (EDT)
- 3:00 pm: Juventus vs. Lyon
- 3:00 pm: Manchester City vs. Real Madrid
FORWARDS
Cristiano Ronaldo, JUV v. LYN (€28): Ronaldo has the highest goal-scoring odds on the slate, yet he's available at a slight discount. With Juventus on the wrong side of a 1-0 aggregate score, look for the Champions League's all-time top scorer to be firing shots early and often to see the Italian side through to the quarter-finals.
Gonzalo Higuain, JUV v. LYN (€23): Juventus stacks will be popular, and on a two-game slate it's completely within reason to load up on their attack. For €2 more, Paulo Dybala (€25) comes with a safer floor, but he could be on a minutes limit if he returns after missing the last two games with a thigh injury. Higuain is mostly goal dependent, but that fits the game script with Juventus in need of goals.
Federico Bernardeschi, JUV v. LYN (€16): Bernardeschi is the discount option in the Juventus attack and a strong case can be made for pairing him with all of the names mentioned above. He's rattled off 11 shots and created six chances over his last three outings, and he figures to be involved again with Juventus chasing the series.
MIDFIELDERS
Toni Kroos, RMA at MCI (€29): Kroos is the highest-priced midfielder on the slate, mostly thanks to his high peripheral floor. He regularly flirts with double-digit fantasy points regardless of goals or assists, but with Real Madrid in need of at least two goals, he should be active on the attacking end.
Kevin De Bruyne, MCI v. RMA (€28): De Bruyne is coming off a record-breaking Premier League campaign, and he'll look to carry that form back over to Friday's UCL round-of-16 second leg. Madrid will be without key defender Sergio Ramos, and in what could be an open-ended affair, there's reason to think KDB continues to drive the Manchester City attack.
Juan Cuadrado, JUV v. LYN (€18): The Juventus winger is a cheap(ish) inlet to their attack considering he created three chances and drew six fouls in his last outing. With the Italian giants desperate for a result, we can expect Cuadrado to make his mark going forward.
DEFENDERS
Marcelo, RMA at MCI (€22): Marcelo is somewhat of a luxury spend at this price, but he comes with arguably the most attacking upside of any defender on the slate. Real Madrid have no other option but to throw numbers forward in search of goals, and the Brazilian left-back is no stranger to sending in crosses and rattling off shots.
Leonardo Bonucci, JUV v. LYN (€18): Bonucci is the cheapest of the projected Juventus starting defenders, and he makes perfect sense to pair with goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny if we're confident in clean sheet points. The big center-back is a threat on set pieces and will play a vital part in turning around a 1-0 aggregate deficit.
Eric Garcia, MCI v. RMA (€13): If Garcia starts, he would provide some much-needed salary relief with so many high-priced stars to pay up for on this slate. Manchester City are in pole position to advance, so defense will be priority, and even if he doesn't pick up a clean sheet, the opportunity will be there to grab some serviceable points on the defensive end.
GOALKEEPER
Wojciech Szczesny, JUV v. LYN (€18): Juventus are heavy favorites to turn around a 1-0 deficit and Szczesny has the best clean sheet odds by far compared to the other three goalkeepers on the slate. With pricing so tight among the goalkeeper pool, it's worth finding the extra euro or two to pay up for the comfort of rostering the Polish netminder.
