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: Hoffenheim v. Shakhtar Donetsk
3:00 p.m: Manchester United v. Young Boys
3:00 p.m: Juventus v. Valencia
3:00 p.m: Bayern Munich v. Benfica
3:00 p.m: Lyon v. Manchester City
3:00 p.m: Roma v. Real Madrid

FORWARDS

Robert Lewandowski, BAY v. BEN ($13,500): This is as simple as it gets because Lewandowski has the best goal-scoring odds on the slate and you have to pay for it. He doesn't have much of a floor, but he already scored at Benfica and has 15 shots and six chances created in his last three matches in all competitions. The other options at this price aren't as desirable only because they aren't as likely to score. Edin Dzeko ($13,500) has had a couple huge matches in Champions League play, but he is hard to trust against Real Madrid, and while Cristiano Ronaldo ($13,000) has a slightly better floor, he is playing one of the best back lines in La Liga. Finally, if Sergio Aguero ($13,000) starts, there's a good chance he won't play more than 70 minutes.

Anthony Martial, MANU v. YB ($9,500): There's little reason to pay up for teammate Romelu Lukaku ($10,500) when Martial is on the ball more, which leads to a better floor. He's averaging more than one shot on goal and two chances created in his last eight starts, and that coincides with him becoming a full-time starter. Lukaku is goal-or-bust whereas Martial could reach a floor of 20 fantasy points in the most favorable match on the slate. Man United already beat Young Boys 3-0 away and could easily be set for another three goals in the rematch with first place in the group still up for grabs. No one else near this price has the same floor, as both Valencia and Real Madrid are on the road in difficult spots.

Joelinton, TSG v. SHK ($8,000): If Joelinton was a bigger name, he'd probably be on everyone's roster at this price. He has four goals and three assists in his last five matches in all competitions and is playing against a side that Hoffenheim already scored two goals against on the road. If you want to spend up on midfield, Joelinton is the easy play and I wouldn't be surprised if he finishes as a top-five forward. Hoffenheim have scored 21 goals in their last seven matches and Shakhtar won't stop them from scoring a few more. Meanwhile, Thomas Muller is more of a GPP play, while Memphis Depay won't have much of a floor against Man City.

MIDFIELDERS

Renato Sanches, BAY v. BEN ($7,500): I had Arjen Robben ($9,000) here, but I couldn't bring myself to back him as Sanches may have the same floor and is much cheaper. Sanches doesn't have much of a sample size, but he took corners this past Saturday and is averaging 2.58 shots and 1.29 chances created per 90 minutes in league play and scored against Benfica in the first meeting. Toni Kroos ($9,500) and Miralem Pjanic ($9,000) may be more popular due to their names, but I can't trust Real Madrid on the road, and Pjanic has made the score sheet in one of his last 11 starts. I'd be more inclined to roll with Raheem Sterling ($10,000) or David Silva ($9,000), but even then, you're betting on at least a goal.

Riyad Mahrez, MCI at LYON ($8,000): After playing 16 minutes this past weekend, Mahrez should return to the starting XI for the third straight UCL match. Whenever Mahrez starts, he produces, so it'd be hard to pass him at this price. He has three goals and four assists in his last five starts, and that comes from 14 shots and 12 chances created. There's no telling what could happen in this match, and if both teams play to win, it could get exciting. Even if Mahrez doesn't score, he's still shown a decent floor that would allow him to make value. For a few more bucks, Andrej Kramaric ($8,500) is waiting to be picked with five goals in his last five starts for Hoffenheim.

Kerem Demirbay, TSG v. SHK ($5,500): Demirbay is oddly one of the cheapest field players on the slate despite having 18 shots and 26 chances created in nine appearances this season. Not only should he have a floor near 15 fantasy points, but he's also a good bet to make the score sheet as the team's leading corner taker. No one else in this range has the same floor or upside, unless you think Marouane Fellaini ($6,000) is going to start and head in a hat trick.

DEFENDERS

Joshua Kimmich, BAY v. BEN ($6,000): Instead of reaching on a more expensive defender, Kimmich has as much upside as anyone else on the slate. His floor is around 12 fantasy points, but he could just as easily reach 30 as seen in the last two matches against AEK when he created 11 chances. Bayern should dominate this game in the same way and that will lead to plenty of attacking opportunities for Kimmich. If you prefer safety in the same range, Giorgio Chiellini ($6,000) has the best floor for Juventus, while Marcelo ($5,500) could be headed for close to 10 clearances for Lyon.

German Conti, BEN at BAY ($4,500): Conti didn't play in Benfica's last UCL match, but he's started their last two overall and should stay there against Bayern. He's had a floor of nearly 20 fantasy points in his two UCL starts and now faces a Bayern team that's forced the most clearances in the Bundesliga. Jardel ($5,500), who is suspended, started at center-back in the first meeting and had 18 fantasy points with the help of a shot on goal. Even without a shot, Conti should be near 15 due to defensive work. At the same price, Kevin Mbabu has been active for Young Boys and had 16 fantasy points in the first meeting with Man United; that's about it for this price as no one else has the same kind of floor.

Mykola Matvyenko, SHK at TSG ($4,000): I've gone with multiple Hoffenheim attackers, which means that should produce a lot of defensive stats for the Shakhtar back line. Matyvenko didn't play in the first meeting and can't be relied on for clearances, but he's had a floor just above 10 fantasy points in his last three matches. He even got forward for a few shots and chances created against Man City, which could also be the case against a Hoffenheim team that loves to attack. As the cheapest possible defender, he provides a floor with some upside.

GOALKEEPER

David De Gea, MANU v. YB ($5,000): De Gea may be the most popular goalkeeper, but there's no way around not using him. In addition to being one of the cheapest available, he has the best odds to win and secure a clean sheet on the slate. He may not make any saves, but that doesn't matter. If you need to go cheaper, Oliver Baumann ($4,000) is in a similar spot as a home favorite, though Hoffenheim have given up multiple goals in all four UCL matches.