DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday UCL Picks

MATCHES (EDT)

• 3:00 p.m: RB Salzburg v. Genk
• 3:00 p.m: Chelsea v. Valencia
• 3:00 p.m:  Borussia Dortmund v. Barcelona
• 3:00 p.m: Benfica v. RB Leipzig
• 3:00 p.m: Ajax v. Lille
• 3:00 p.m: Napoli v. Liverpool

FORWARDS

Erling Haland, RBS v. GNK ($4,300): Haland leads the Austrian Bundesliga with 11 goals in seven matches, including a hat trick this past weekend against TSV Hartberg, and he'll lead the line for the second-biggest favorite on the slate. He's not a high-volume shooter, but his price makes that almost a non-factor given his high goal odds and Salzburg's expected goal total. Playing goal-dependent forwards in cash makes a little more sense in Champions League play because we generally see more goals than regular Premier League slates, and Haland's price will make him fairly popular in double ups and head-to-heads.

Dusan Tadic, AJA v. LIL ($9,300): Tadic is the most tilting player in the Champions League, as he puts up a dud when everyone seems to be on him and he explodes when no one dreams of touching him. That being said, he leads the line for the biggest favorite on the slate, and while he has basically no role on corners, he is on penalties. Paying this much for Tadic seems a bit nuts when guys like Lionel Messi ($11,100), Mohamed Salah ($9,500), Antoine Griezmann ($8,900), Sadio Mane ($8,600) and Luis Suarez ($8,400) are all in the salary range, but Barcelona's matchup away to Dortmund isn't that great, even if they are favorites, and it doesn't help that Messi hasn't played at all this season. Additionally, Liverpool have a tough away match against Napoli, and while they are favored as well, a plethora of goals isn't expected. Paying a little less for guys like Tammy Abraham ($7,700), Marco Reus ($7,500) or Dries Mertens ($7,200) make sense in theory, though the latter two are home underdogs and Abraham has a low floor (and, oh yeah, seven goals in his last three games). It's an odd slate when the big-name players aren't really optimal, but that's because we have value in lots of places, not to mention Ajax in a great spot for Tadic.

Anssumane Fati, BAR at BVB ($5,800): Getting access to the Barcelona attack, with a potential for set pieces, at less than $6,000 seems pretty attractive even if they're playing away. Fati's track record is short, which can happen when you're 16 years old, but here we are with Fati, who scored off the bench against Osasuna two matches ago and then had a goal and an assist in only 60 minutes against Valencia this past weekend. There are playing-time concerns with Fati, especially with Messi likely on the bench with Carles Perez ($6,000), who has also taken some corners this season, but you really don't need a lot of production out of Fati in order to pay off this salary. It's a bit of a leap of faith on a Champions League slate, but the upside is enticing.

MIDFIELDERS

Hakim Ziyech, AJA v. LIL ($10,400): Ziyech has the highest floor of any player on the slate, and it only helps that Ajax are the biggest favorite. He takes nearly all of their set pieces, and he's also a great open-play attacker, averaging 6.10 shots, including 1.60 on goal, 8.40 crosses and 4.00 shots assisted per 90 minutes during this season's Eredivisie. With plenty of cheaper players worth targeting, Ziyech is almost a free square despite the second-highest price on the slate.

Mason Mount, CHE v. VCF ($7,400): Mount has been Chelsea's most consistent player this season, with his near monopoly of set pieces helping him to average 3.21 shots, including 1.60 on goal, 5.61 crosses, 2.20 shots assisted and 1.40 tackles won per 90 minutes. There was some hesitation this past weekend that he could lose some set pieces to Willian ($8,100, midfielder/forward), but Mount ended up taking four of their five corners in the 5-2 win over Wolves, with one of those goals being scored by Mount, his third in five Premier League games. While Valencia are hardly a push-over, they did just get smoked 5-2 by Barcelona without Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, and recently fired their head coach despite him leading them to the Champions League last season.

Jadon Sancho, BVB v. BAR ($6,600): The matchup against Barcelona looks tough on paper, but with the Spanish giants possibly missing some of their best attacking players (one of whom is the best player in the world), we should definitely give Dortmund a shot, even if they are home underdogs. Sancho has been their primary set-piece taker this season, a role that has helped him assist one goal in each of their four Bundesliga games, two of which included goals of his own. He needs the set pieces for his crosses, but he's still a solid open-play attacker, creating eight chances this season, and he comes in at a very reasonable price given the game is in Germany. Consideration for Sancho because of his salary should also make you look at Pizzi ($6,500), who is mostly known for being Benfica's primary set-piece taker except he comes in with a completely unexpected six goals in five domestic league matches this season, including two penalties, and he missed another attempt. Not one usually considered for his upside, Benfica are slight home underdogs to RB Leipzig, who have conceded just three goals in four Bundesliga games.

Zlatko Junuzovic, RBS v. GNK ($5,600): Junuzovic has been Salzburg's primary set-piece taker when he's on the pitch, though we could get a great cost-saving opportunity if he's on the bench and we can get a chance to roster Dominik Szoboszlai ($3,000), who is minimum price among midfielders. Either player is worthy of consideration given Salzburg's expected control of the match, as both are solid chance creators who could be on set pieces. Junuzovic is the safer of the two if they both start, but Szoboszlai's salary should make him an attractive target for GPPs and cash games.

DEFENDERS

Patrick Farkas, RBS v. GNK ($4,600): Farkas and Andreas Ulmer ($5,700) are good attacking fullbacks who are expected to move up Tuesday against a Genk side that might be overloaded by how much Salzburg can get to goal. Ulmer is obviously more expensive, which could make him lower owned since he's only $300 less than Trent Alexander-Arnold and more expensive than other solid fullbacks like Raphael Guerreiro ($5,500), Nicolas Tagliafico ($5,200) and Faouzi Ghoulam ($5,100), to name a few.

Marcel Halstenberg, RBL at BEN ($3,600): Halstenberg and Lukas Klostermann ($2,900) are puzzlingly cheap for being wingbacks for a favored side, even one playing away. Making it even more surprising is that Halstenberg has a role on set pieces for Leipzig, taking 10 of their 18 Bundesliga corners this season, with midfielder Marcel Sabitzer ($6,000) the others. Don't let the price make you think you're punting with some random center-backs, Halstenberg and Klostermann are outside players who will move up.

Alejandro Grimaldo, BEN v. RBL ($4,600): Leipzig have allowed the fourth-most crosses in the Bundesliga this season, which should play well for Grimaldo, who is averaging nearly six crosses and two shots assisted in Primeira Liga this season. His price is close enough to the guys above, but a small role on set pieces could give him a decent floor even though Benfica are slight home underdogs.

GOALKEEPER

Cican Stankovic, RBS v. GNK ($5,500): Given how much value there is on the slate, paying up for a goalkeeper shouldn't be overly difficult, which isn't something we normally have for Champions League. Stankovic's save upside probably isn't as high as those of Andre Onana ($5,600) or Kepa Arrizabalaga ($5,300), but he has the best clean sheet potential and solid odds for a win.