DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday UCL Picks

MATCHES (EDT)

• 4:00 pm: Liverpool vs. Atlético Madrid
• 4:00 pm: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Borussia Dortmund

For detailed stats and odds, check out the

DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday UCL Cheat Sheet

FORWARDS

Neymar, PSG v. BVB ($12,000): Paris Saint-Germain have to make up a one-goal deficit against a strong Borussia Dortmund attack, which means the home side should be pushing forward as normal. Neymar has the highest floor of any player on the slate, and his tremendous upside is the reason he is the most expensive. Teammates Kylian Mbappe ($11,300) and Angel Di Maria ($10,000) are the two next-highest priced, so it's not like you're saving considerable funds if you fade Neymar and get the other attackers. If anything, paying down for Edinson Cavani ($7,200) could be fruitful, at least from a per-dollar perspective, as he has the fifth-highest anytime goal scorer odds, trailing only Neymar, Mbappe, Mauro Icardi ($9), who isn't expected to start, and Erling Haaland ($9,900). The Dortmund forward is certainly a great option for those who expect PSG to allow a goal, as he's found the back of the net nine times in eight Bundesliga appearances (five starts) and scored a brace in the first leg.

Mohamed Salah, LIV v. ATL ($9,200): Liverpool lost the opening leg 1-0 in Madrid, which is certainly not an insurmountable lead, even against a decent Atletico Madrid defense (they aren't nearly as good as they have been the past few years). Though he failed to put either of his two shots on target in the reverse fixture, Salah has two goals on nine shots (five on target) in his last three games, and he'll likely be the most popular Liverpool attacker despite Sadio Mane ($8,600) and Roberto Firmino ($7,800) costing less. The difficulty with these guys is they aren't volume shooters, so you're paying this much for their goal upsides; but again, Liverpool are favored and expected to score.

Thorgan Hazard, BVB at PSG ($5,500): There aren't many great cheap forwards on the slate, which is pretty understandable given the firepower these clubs have and the fact we only have four teams. Hazard, Julian Brandt ($6,000) and Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix ($5,900) are pretty much the cheap pool, with Felix playing for the team with the lowest implied goal total that is trying to protect a 1-0 lead. He figures to be very low owned because of it, but he's certainly capable of finding the back of the net. Hazard and Brandt are more floor plays, even if their floors aren't that high anyway. The midfield pool isn't deep either, which leads me to believe more people will pay up for two forwards and try to save at midfield and defense (except for one guy).

MIDFIELDERS

Jadon Sancho, BVB at PSG ($7,100): Sancho has been taking a majority of Dortmund's set pieces, which is enough for many to consider him in the game with the highest total of the week. He's not really a high-volume crosser, but he takes a decent number of shots and creates chances, which obviously helps his floor. Then again, he also gets on the score-sheet quite a bit, with 14 goals and 15 assists in 23 Bundesliga appearances (21 starts), plus two goals and two assists in seven UCL games (six starts). He's not the easiest to fit in if you pay up at both forward spots, but Sancho's surely to get consideration because of his role on sets.

Julian Draxler, PSG v. BVB ($5,300): Draxler's spot in the starting XI is definitely not guaranteed, though he has an opportunity because Marco Verratti ($4,500) is suspended. It's tough to expect him to take corners since Neymar and Di Maria are probably going to split them (if Neymar says that's okay), but Draxler is a solid box-to-box midfielder who can get involved in the attack, especially in a match that could be high-scoring. I was really hoping that Naby Keita ($6,300) would be at least $1,000 cheaper, but that price makes him tough to justify given that he's really not much of a goal scorer.

Emre Can, BVB at PSG ($3,200): Can's low price is what will make some people consider him, even after his awful performance in the opening leg when he had 0.8 fantasy points. The difficulty is that the other pay-down options aren't that great, nor that plentiful, with teammate Axel Witsel ($3,500) a possibility if you want someone from the higher-scoring game. Otherwise, Thomas Partey ($3,800) and Georginio Wijnaldum ($3,900) help with the salary issue, though the former isn't even getting set pieces anymore now that Koke ($4,900) and defender Kieran Trippier ($5,300) are splitting them again. Or, you could always go back to the well with Saul Niguez ($4,200), though finding the back of the net again is pretty unlikely.

DEFENDERS

Trent Alexander-Arnold, LIV v. ATL ($7,500): Alexander-Arnold figures to be the most popular player in cash games and GPPs because he has a large majority of set pieces for a home favorite. He also has clean-sheet equity, which certainly needs to be considered since Liverpool have the highest clean sheet odds. In addition to Alexander-Arnold, Andrew Robertson ($5,800) could get some consideration in GPPs, though he doesn't work as well as a pivot from Alexander-Arnold as much as a complement.

Thilo Kehrer, PSG v. BVB ($2,900): A fullback under $3,000 in the game with the highest total will certainly lead to plenty of ownership, though it's worth recognizing that Kehrer is really just an out-of-place center-back if he does start out wide. Nevertheless, the salary savings and presumed ability to move up will make him owned, especially since all of the other players in his range are playing centrally and unlikely to accumulate many fantasy points.

Raphael Guerreiro, BVB at PSG ($4,300): Guerreiro has regained some corners recently, and while his attacking upside is still not as high as Achraf Hakimi's ($5,300), the considerable difference in price makes the decision tougher. In fact, Guerreiro is easier to play than Hakimi considering you could pay up a little bit for Robertson or spend the same on Trippier, who also has set pieces. A huge haul is unlikely, but Guerreiro probably makes value on his salary while allowing you to spend elsewhere.

GOALKEEPER

Jan Oblak, ATL at LIV ($3,800): Oblak is the cheapest keeper on the slate, and while he's an underdog in his match, it's the match with the lowest implied total. He should get enough save opportunities given that Liverpool need to fight back from a 1-0 opening leg loss, though another win and clean sheet surely can't be expected.