This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
Welcome to our third Champions League coverage curtailed towards DraftKings contests. Your total available salary is $50,000 to build your best squad of eight players, which includes one goalkeeper, two defenders, two midfielders, two forwards and one FLEX. Points are awarded on DraftKings as follows:
Goal = +10 PTs
Assist = +6 PTs
Shot = +1 PTs
Shot on Goal = +1 PTs
Crosses = +1 PTs
Fouls Drawn = +0.75 PTs
Red Card = -1 PTs
Saves (GK) = +2 PTs
Goal Allowed (GK) = -2 PTs
Clean Sheet (GK, D) = +5 PTs
One Goal Allowed (GK, D) = +2 PTs
Win (GK) = +5 PTs
Penalty Kick Save (GK) = +3 PTs
With that out of the way, here are the available GPP contests for Champions League on Tuesday and Wednesday:
$8K Equalizer ($800 first prize), Entry Fee: $20
$6K Golden Boot ($2,000 first prize), Entry Fee: $200
$4.5K Nutmeg ($500 first prize), Entry Fee: $2
$3K Upper 90 ($1,000 first prize), Entry Fee: $100
$2.5K Equalizer ($600 first prize), Entry Fee: $20
$2K Nutmeg ($250 first prize), Entry Fee: $2
$2K Upper 90 ($700 first prize), Entry Fee: $100
$300 Quarter Arcade ($43.50 first prize), Entry Fee: $0.25
and many more…
The following games are included:
FC Basel at FC Porto
FC Schalke 04 at Real Madrid
Paris Saint-Germain at Chelsea
Shakhtar Donetsk at Bayern Munich
The Champions League is good as it gets in terms of club soccer. As always, projecting the starting lineups is guesswork until the starting lineups are announced, so be sure to check our UCL lineups page before kickoff. This week of Champions League features group winners hosting group runners-up in the decisive leg. If the aggregate score is tied at the end of 90 minutes, the winner is the team with the most away goals. If the away goal tiebreaker is tied, then we get extra time. If tied after extra time, then we go to penalties.
Goalkeepers:
Manuel Neuer ($5,600)
Nothing creative here, though you once again get him for a tad cheaper than Real Madrid's Iker Casillas. Bayern Munich was held to a shutout in the first leg, but don't count on that happening again. Neuer may not have much work to do, and for that reason isn't the highest-reward player, though in the same thought he definitely has the highest floor.
Thibaut Courtois ($5,200)
Courtois is the highest upside player offered because if he manages a clean sheet and a win, he'll have earned it with saves. PSG has an explosive offense and there will be shots on target. If they go in, Courtois is exposed for his risk, but if they're saved, Courtois steps up as the highest upside player in the week's games.
Fabiano ($4,900)
Fabiano saw one shot on target in the first leg; unfortunately it resulted in a goal. A little more action should be expected in the decisive leg, and his side is a very solid favorite at their home ground.
Other Option: If you have a strong opinion on a team, take the team's goalkeeper. No one offers incredible value, with PSG's Salvatore Sirigu ($4,000) representing the cheapest possible use.
Defenders:
Alex Sandro ($2,800)
Getting another shot at this price for Sandro is not to be passed up. Teammate Danilo ($4,900) stole the show last time out with his PK goal to equalize and is always a danger with his responsibility over free kicks and penalties, but I say again the price discrepancy between the two is insane (mostly because Sandro's price is ridiculously low).
David Alaba ($4,800) / Juan Bernat ($4,500) / Rafinha ($3,800)
Alaba, Bernat and Rafinha have all seen considerable action lately, either in their natural fullback position, at centerback, or in the midfield. Whoever goes out of the group, as long as they aren't put in the centerback position, is a good choice.
Marcelo ($5,700) / Dani Carvajal ($3,900)
Marcelo and Carvajal look like the most likely choices for Madrid's fullbacks. You can bet Schalke will be doing what they can to score, as they'll likely need a few to go through, and thusly Madrid's defense appears a tad overpriced and risky. There are safer places to go, but I must say Carvajal's price is good even risking a clean sheet.
Other Options: The game at Stamford Bridge brings an interesting dynamic. Chelsea may be pushing for a defensive push, as they go through with a clean sheet, whether they score or not. Manager Jose Mourinho is infamous for this tactic, whether it works or not is anybody's guess (and one PSG goal will result in a scrapping of that plan). PSG's Gregory Van Der Wiel ($3,800) gives you the most bang for your buck and without a doubt stands as the most prolific crosser in the game. Anyone who has followed Chelsea at all this season knows what Branislav Ivanovic ($5,000) has been doing. He's a very high-upside player with goal and assist capabilities, but he isn't the most prolific crosser and for that reason could be considered a slight risk. If you pick Courtois in goal, do yourself a favor and take Ivanovic. PSG's David Luiz ($4,200) breaks the centreback rule if he, well, doesn't start at centreback. He's gotten some action in the midfield lately, and deserves a look if this trend continues.
Midfielders:
Tranquillo Barnetta ($3,000)
You can still have Barnetta at the minimum price tag, who in limited playing time in the Bundesliga he has managed three goals and four assists. Barnetta has been seeing more play of late due to a great deal of injuries for Schalke, and he is a great play as his side faces a herculean task where they need at least two goals against the reigning champs Real Madrid. If you want another $3,000 option, Basel's Luca Zuffi is a reasonable direction. Behind Shkelzen Gashi, he's been about as productive as anyone on the Basel squad (one that'll need at least one goal).
Arjen Robben ($9,600)
Everybody who took the potent Bayern Munich offense in the first leg was deeply disappointed. Domestically their prowess and incredulous ability to tally huge score lines has continued with Robben at the center of everything. We saw his floor in the first leg; his ceiling is very, very high and approachable, as the German juggernauts will look to dominate their overmatched Ukranian foes. Franck Ribery ($9,400) may actually be a bit of a safer bet with his crossing and foul drawing capabilities, but his ceiling can't even see Robben's.
Eden Hazard ($8,900)
Hazard drew eight fouls the last time these two tangled, a crazy total. He's taken authority as Chelsea's primary offensive threat, he has a goal and an assist in his last two matches, and he should be the favorite to be behind any goal production from Chelsea on Wednesday.
Other Option: PSG has a young gun in Javier Pastore ($6,200) who is more than promising. His status is a starter is a major doubt, but if he does earn a sport in the starting lineup, he managed a goal and an assist on the weekend; and he did it in just 23 minutes.
Forwards:
Cristiano Ronaldo ($12,800)
Ronaldo knows when people are watching, and he knows the Champions League is watched the world over. His lowest fantasy-point total in his Champions League appearances this year is 17, and he's twice put up 34. It's Ronaldo, need I really say more For what it counts, his side doesn't need copious offensive production to go through, already with a 2-0 aggregate lead – the only angle you can play against selecting him.
Jackson Martinez ($8,300)
The Liga Portugal's top scorer will look to lead his squad in a favorable matchup against Basel. He will be one of the summer's most sought-after transfers, but as of now the Colombian will look to bring his top-notch form into the Champions League. A shutout would be enough for FC Porto to go through, but that's not their potent offensive style. Teammate Cristian Tello ($6,100) has scored all four of Porto's goals in the last two matches. They both score a lot, though Tello is the hot hand (foot) right now.
Shkelzen Gashi ($5,100)
Gashi was lacking potency in the last leg, but in a game where his side must score, he's the most likely to do so. In three games since the first leg, Gashi has three goals and has nine in his last ten games over all competitions.
Thomas Muller ($9,800)
Robert Lewandowski or not, Muller is preferred. When Lewandowski plays, Muller plays more of a midfield role, racking up crosses and assists. No Lewandowski results in Muller playing striker and scoring goals. He's designated to take penalties regardless of who plays.
Other Options: PSG's leading duo of Zlatan Ibrahimovic ($9,500) and Edinson Cavani ($9,200) hit defenses hard and often. Cavani has six goals in seven Champions League matches and scored the lone goal for PSG in the first leg, and very nearly scored a winner. Ibrahimovic needs little introduction, and his play in Ligue 1 has been getting better and better. Ibra has managed double-digit fantasy points in every Champions League outing this year. More goals, a few assists, lots of opportunities, good luck at getting a clean sheet with these two dynamic forwards, Chelsea. If you pull it off, you will have earned it.
