DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday UCL Picks

MATCHES (ET)

• 3:00 pm: FC Porto vs. Liverpool
• 3:00 pm: Manchester City vs. Tottenham Hotspur

For detailed stats and odds, check out the DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday UCL Cheat Sheet.

FORWARDS

Sergio Aguero, MCI v. TOT ($8,400): Aguero had a penalty attempt saved in the opening leg, a poor result that now has Manchester City behind 1-0 on aggregate back to the Etihad. And while they lost last week, they are big favorites Wednesday, which will only prompt people to ask the always annoying question of "how much Manchester City do I need?" Unfortunately, the answer is likely "a lot." Manchester City need one goal to force extra time and two to win outright, but they'll really need to push if Spurs somehow score first, as they'll need to score three to advance to the semi-final. With Man City needing to score, surely there is an expectation that Aguero, Raheem Sterling ($8,700), Leroy Sane ($8,100) and Riyad Mahrez ($7,500), depending on who starts, will be firing off shots whenever possible. Tottenham aren't likely to completely sit back all game, but holding City out of the net guarantees they go through. Depending on a counter goal from Son Heung-Min ($7,100) is not a horrible strategy, and it's probably more likely to happen than Fernando Llorente ($6,600) latching onto someone's cross, but for cash games the Man City options are very much the play; it's just a matter of finding enough value to allow multiple pieces of the attack to be rostered.

Moussa Marega, POR v. LIV ($7,600): If there's a side that really needs to push it's Porto, who are back home after losing 2-0 to Liverpool at Anfield in the first leg. Marega was very active in that one, putting three of eight shots on goals, though his inability to score ended his Champions League goal streak at six games. He's likely to be the most popular Porto attacker because of that, though that could change if Jesus Corona ($6,700) overcomes his ankle injury enough to make the starting XI since he has taken on a share of set pieces. If you're looking for cheaper exposure, Tiquinho ($5,900) could grab a cheap goal for a team desperate to score, but his floor is close to zero.

Roberto Firmino, LIV at POR ($7,700): I don't put much into previous results, but I'll at least recognize that Liverpool beat Porto 5-0 in Portugal during last season's Champions League, and the two sides could actually start very similar lineups Wednesday. Sadio Mane ($7,400) was the big scorer in that one, firing in a hat trick on four shots while Mohamed Salah ($8,300) and Firmino each found the back of the net, with assists coming from James Milner, Georginio Wijnaldum and substitute Danny Ings. Despite coming in with the aggregate lead, there's little reason to think Liverpool will just sit back and let Porto attack them for 90 minutes, and the dangerous counter we've seen numerous times could really end Porto. All three front-line attackers should be considered, and while Salah is the most expensive, Firmino has surprisingly been the most consistent of late, making the scoresheet in four of his last five. With the Man City options likely soaking up a lot of ownership, the Liverpool attackers should be lower owned for a side that's still a favorite.

MIDFIELDERS

Kevin De Bruyne, MCI v. TOT ($7,800): One of the only reasons to potentially limit the number of Manchester City forwards you have is to ensure you have the salary space for De Bruyne, who is back to being an elite fantasy scorer thanks to his near monopoly of set pieces. He surprisingly didn't start the first leg, but there are plenty of indications he should be there from kickoff Wednesday. He doesn't have the goal upside of the forwards, but he probably has a better chance of making the scoresheet with an assist, and he costs less than all but Mahrez and Bernardo Silva ($7,000, midfielder/forward), whose floor is too low to consider for cash games and ceiling isn't all that great either. De Bruyne figures to be the highest-owned player at the position, so be prepared for that if you're looking to fade.

Victor Wanyama, TOT at MCI ($3,400): Paying up for a Man City stack will require some cheaper options, and Wanyama fits the bill, at least from a salary perspective. While he did score a goal in last weekend's Premier League win over Huddersfield, a repeat performance is highly unlikely against a Man City side that should have a majority of possession. However, Wanyama is a defensive midfielder who can pay off with tackles won, interceptions and fouls drawn; I know those aren't the sexiest ways to score fantasy points, but getting even five points at his salary should be enough, and you don't have to tilt the always frustrating Moussa Sissoko ($3,900). If you're going in thinking Spurs take it to Man City, Dele Alli ($5,700), who is questionable with a hand injury, has a pretty interesting price for a player who can certainly score a goal on anyone, while Lucas Moura ($6,000) is coming off a hat trick this past weekend.

DEFENDERS

Alex Telles, POR v. LIV ($4,900): The argument for Telles is pretty easy: he could have a monopoly of set pieces for a side that has to score two goals just to level their tie. He hasn't been the most productive defender in the Champions League, but he's still a solid crosser and chance creator with a salary that hardly limits you in other spots. He's going to be the highest-owned defender in cash games, and while he can be faded in GPPs, it brings up the question of how much you're really gaining if you do.

Benjamin Mendy, MCI v. TOT ($5,100): Mendy is a bit of a wildcard, as he's missed most of the season because of a few different injuries, but he was a great fantasy option before he got hurt. Manchester City don't cross much in open play as a team, but Mendy is their most active open-play crosser, and they're a side needing at least one goal. He's probably a bit too risky for a cash lineup, but he arguably has more upside than Telles.

Eder Militao, POR v. LIV ($3,200): Eder provides decent salary relief, and he's shown at times this season that he can be a solid contributor, scoring at least 5.50 fantasy points in three of his last four UCL starts. It's really the salary savings you're getting here, and if filling the spot with a cheap player who will be on the field is the only priority, you could always pay down further for Pepe ($2,900), who isn't as yellow-card happy as he was with Real Madrid, though it's always a concern.

GOALKEEPER

Iker Casillas, POR v. LIV ($4,300): Casillas is the cheapest home goalkeeper, and while he's still an underdog, it's Porto who have to press for two goals and not Liverpool. That makes it seem like he won't have many save opportunities, but it's possible for Liverpool to lose 1-0 and still advance to the semi-final, which would be perfectly fine with those who roster Casillas since he'll walk home with the win and clean sheet.