FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday UCL Targets

For detailed odds and stats, check out the Fantasy Champions League: Tuesday Cheat Sheet.

MATCHES (EDT)

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

FORWARDS

Edin Dzeko, ROMA v. CSK ($11,500): Dzeko isn't the best striker on the slate, but he's in a perfect spot, doesn't cost an overwhelming amount and no matter how the game goes, he's likely headed for a full 90 minutes. He has 19 shots (13 on target) in his last three home starts and faces a CSKA team that gave up two first-half goals in their last away trip to Vikotria Plzen. Cristiano Ronaldo ($13,000) has a higher floor and you have to pay for it, but Dzeko's upside makes up the difference, and the same goes for Sergio Aguero ($12,500), who is on the road and likely won't play more than 70. Gareth Bale ($11,500) would be in this spot, but he's another guy who may not play 90 minutes since he was already dealing with fatigue over the international break.

Memphis Depay, LYON at TSG ($9,000): Memphis didn't start in the last Champions League match and if that's the case again, Moussa Dembele ($8,500) is a fine replacement. In fact, Dembele has better goal-scoring odds, so if you want more upside, he's the better play. In cash games, it's hard to go against Memphis at this price given he's averaging 4.41 chances created and 1.64 shots on goal per 90 minutes in Ligue 1 play. If he starts, his floor could reach 20 fantasy points in what is expected to be one of the higher scoring matches, as both sides love to attack. Hoffenheim are at home, but they actually have more road points in the Bundesliga this season. In the same range, Stephan El Shaarawy ($8,000) is another useful play for Roma if he starts, and he may not be that popular because of a low average.

Dusan Tadic, AJA v. BEN ($9,000): There aren't a ton of mid-range options, though Nikola Vlasic ($9,500) will likely be a favorite after a great first couple matches with an average of 44 fantasy points. I feel better about Tadic, who is in a better spot playing for a surprising Ajax team that held Bayern to a draw last match. Now favored at home, Tadic should get plenty of opportunities up front, and more intriguing was that he played as the lone forward against Bayern, producing a couple shots in addition to three chances created. He's not a flashy option, but he could be a sneaky GPP play as the other players in this range will likely be more popular.

MIDFIELDERS

Toni Kroos, MAD v. PLZ ($9,000): If Kevin De Bruyne ($10,000) starts, I'd probably put him in this spot simply because it's good to have him back. And while there are Juventus and Manchester United players in this range, I'm avoiding both teams in what is the hardest match to predict and also has the lowest expected goal total. Isco ($9,000) will likely be more popular because he went off in his only UCL appearance, but he's another guy who probably won't play the full match since he just came back from injury and played 60 minutes this past Saturday. Kroos was fully rested following the international break and should be set for a ton of corners as the biggest favorite on the slate. Isco has better upside as a more attacking player, but with 20 fantasy points the floor for Kroos, he's a safe choice who is also due for an assist because he takes so many corners and free kicks.

Lorenzo Pellegrini, ROMA v. CSK ($8,000): This is another situation where you have to choose between two players on the same team. I liked Cengiz Under ($8,000) last match because Pellegrini was still getting implemented into the lineup, but that's no longer an issue because he started the last three matches. Pellegrini is taking the majority of corners for Roma, which has led to 16 chances created in those starts, and while he doesn't attack as much as Under, his floor is slightly safer. But like the other situations, if you want better goal-scoring odds and someone to use in GPP, Under is the better play because he had 12 shots in his last three starts (Pellegrini has two in that period).

Lubomir Fejsa, BEN at AJA ($6,000): If you need to save money, Fejsa provides the same kind of floor as most of the guys around $7,000 and $7,500. He doesn't have much of an upside, hence his price, but he's produced defensive stats no matter the matchup with 10 tackles in two UCL games. There's a chance this play blows up because tackles aren't guaranteed, but Ajax are favored and should have more of the possession. If you have more money, Lasse Schone ($7,000) plays more of an attacking role for Ajax, while Fernandinho ($7,000) will probably be too popular after he scored and assisted over the weekend.

DEFENDERS

Benjamin Mendy, MCI at SHK ($6,500): I don't usually spend up at defender, but Mendy is underpriced considering he's one of City's only healthy fullbacks. He has five assists and 10 chances created in his last six starts, and that's not including the combined five tackles, interceptions and clearances he gets each match. His upside is closer to that of Marcelo ($7,500) and that makes him a steal in a game Man City have a good chance to dominate given that Shakhtar have allowed two goals in each of their first two UCL matches.

Roman Hubnik, PLZ at MAD ($4,500): Viktoria Plzen were blasted 5-0 in their last group stage match, yet Hubnik still managed 19.5 fantasy points from seven interceptions and five clearances. He should see just as much work on the road against Real Madrid, who have allowed the most clearances (73) through two UCL matches and the third-most clearances in La Liga. There's no question Hubnik and the Viktoria back line will be busy, even against a struggling side. There are also plenty of other options in this range, including Jason Denayer and German Conti.

Mykola Matvyenko, SHK v. MCI ($4,000): This is my favorite kind of defender because he's the cheapest available expected starter as a large underdog. Of course, he's not guaranteed to start because he didn't feature in Shakhtar's last league match, and if he doesn't, I'd look at teammate Yaroslav Rakitskiy ($5,000), who is not only active defensively, but also a rare centerback who takes corners. As for Matvyenko, he had two clearances, six interceptions and five tackles against Lyon and could easily reach those numbers against a stronger opponent. Lukas Hejda ($4,000) is another defender in a similar spot with a road trip to Real Madrid.

GOALKEEPER

Robin Olsen, ROMA v. CSK ($5,000): Roma have the third-best odds to win and the second-best for a clean sheet, so Olsen will probably be the most-owned goalkeeper unless everyone has money to spend on Keylor Navas ($6,000). CSKA are leading the group, btu they struggled against Viktoria on the road and may have tired legs due to travel. They played in Kaspiysk (southern Russia) on Friday, 1,800 km away from Moscow, and now have the most travel on Tuesday with a 3,000 km trip to Rome. Ederson ($5,000) is at the same price but is on the road and doesn't make enough saves to reach value whenever he allows a goal.