Yahoo DFS Soccer: Tuesday UCL Picks

MATCHES (EDT)

3:00 p.m: Hoffenheim v. Lyon
3:00 p.m: Roma v. CSKA Moscow
3:00 p.m: Ajax v. Benfica
3:00 p.m: Shakhtar Donetsk v. Manchester City
3:00 p.m: Manchester United v. Juventus
3:00 p.m: Real Madrid v. Viktoria Plzen

FORWARDS

Edin Dzeko, RMA v. CSK (€22): There are a plethora of forwards worth considering on Tuesday's slate, but Dzeko should be one of the more popular options because he's so much cheaper than the other elite plays. His shot volume has been really impressive of late, taking 19 in his last three game, including 13 on goal and four in the back of the net. CSKA Moscow are a decent side, but there's little reason to think Dzeko won't be able to break through given Roma have the third-highest implied goal total on the slate.

Cristiano Ronaldo, JUV at MUN (€32): Ronaldo is the most expensive player on the slate, but he's earned it by averaging 8.00 shots, including 3.22 on goal, per 90 minutes during Serie A play this season, and he now makes his return to Old Trafford to face a Manchester United side that's allowed multiple goals in three of their past four games. It's worth noting that this match has the lowest implied goal total on the slate, but Ronaldo's shot floor, especially his historical floor in the Champions League, makes it tough to pass him up. If you're going to do just that, pivoting to attackers on his old team is probably the way to go, with Gareth Bale (€27) coming in with the best anytime goal scorer odds while Madrid have the highest implied team total.

Memphis Depay, LYO at HOF (€14): Memphis is painfully underpriced for his recent production, as he has one goal on seven shots, including five on goal, four accurate crosses and four fouls drawn in his past two games, both of which were mostly without Nabil Fekir (€25), who will also miss this match. Hoffenheim are hardly a strong defensive side, and really the only negative to playing Memphis is that it takes away a potential forward/utility spot from someone like Dzeko, Ronaldo, Bale or Sergio Aguero (€30).

MIDFIELDERS

Lorenzo Pellegrini, RMA v. CSK (€10): If Memphis is painfully underpriced, Pellegrini is criminally underpriced. As the main set-piece taker for the third-biggest favorite on the slate, Pellegrini could find himself in plenty of good positions at home to CSKA Moscow. He's admittedly not much of a shooter, but he's had eight accurate crosses, won six tackles and created 16 chances in his last three games, which is absurd production for a player with a minimum salary. If you're looking for more GPP upside from Roma, Cengiz Under (€20) certainly fits the bill after taking 12 shots, including four on goal, in his last three games.

Marco Asensio, RMD v. CSK (€19): Asensio doesn't have the productive fantasy history of teammates Isco (€26) or Toni Kroos (€26), but he's a very good all-around attacker who takes shots, sends in crosses and draws fouls. With Real Madrid being such huge favorites, there should be little hesitation rostering an attacker at Asensio's price, whether in place of Isco and Kroos or alongside them.

Hakim Ziyech, AJA v. BEF (€22): Ziyech scored 7.70 and 11.80 fantasy points in his first two Champions League matches, respectively, which is pretty solid production without a goal or an assist. The home match against Benfica has pushed his salary up, but for a player averaging 5.7 shots, including 2.2 on target, 2.4 accurate crosses and 2.0 fouls drawn per 90 minutes in league play, he's still worth because of the savings opportunities elsewhere.

DEFENDERS

Sergio Ramos, RMD v. PLZ (€18): Given Real Madrid's huge win odds, it wouldn't be surprising to see some defensive stacks, which should certain include Ramos, who actually comes in with the same anytime goal scorer odds as players like Romelu Lukaku, David Silva and Paulo Dybala. Ramos will always do the dirty defensive work, but he's also taken multiple shots in six of his last nine games, putting at least one on goal in all but one of those six. It also doesn't hurt that he's on penalties for Real Madrid, which is probably what helps his goal scoring odds.

Yaroslav Rakitskiy, SDK v. MCI (€11): The clean sheet is highly unlikely, but Rakitskiy comes in having scored at least 6.40 fantasy points in both of his Champions League matches this season, neither of which included a clean sheet. His role on set pieces is a bit odd because he's a centerback, and while he may not get a plethora of dead ball opportunities against a Manchester City side likely to have plenty of possession, he should have opportunities to rack up the defensive stats.

Aleksandar Kolarov, RMA v. CSK (€18): Kolarov doesn't have his role on set pieces anymore, but that hasn't stopped his attacking upside, as evidenced by his two goals on four shots, including three on target, and one assist on five chances created in his last three games. Roma are expected to be on the front foot for most of their match against CSKA, and Kolarov is never one to shy away from moving up in the attack.

GOALKEEPER

Andre Onana, AJA v. BEF (€12): I am hesitant to spend up for Keylor Navas (€19) given how poor Real Madrid have been, posting one clean sheet in their past five games (a scoreless draw with Atletico Madrid), but I understand paying up for him given their ridiculously high win and clean sheet odds. Looking to save a little money, I side with Onana, who isn't as overwhelming a favorite but is still a decent play in the match with the second-lowest implied goal total.