FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday UCL Targets

MATCHES (EST)

• 3:00 pm: Barcelona vs. Borussia Dortmund
• 3:00 pm: Genk vs. Red Bull Salzburg
• 3:00 pm: Lille vs. Ajax
• 3:00 pm: Liverpool vs. Napoli
• 3:00 pm: RB Leipzig vs. Benfica
• 3:00 pm: Slavia Prague vs. Inter Milan

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

FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS

Lionel Messi, BAR v. DOR ($24): Messi doesn't have the best odds to score, but I wouldn't expect him to repeat what he did against Slavia Prague in his last Champions League match when he had no goals or assists. Including that match, he's made the score-sheet in nine of his last 10 appearances in all competitions, and he has five goals and two assists in his last two home league starts. Borussia Dortmund have allowed nine goals in their last three matches in all competitions and gave up two to Inter in their last UCL away game. You could stack Messi with Luis Suarez ($22) and hope they combine for three goals or test the waters with Liverpool. The Reds are the biggest favorite, but if you go with Sadio Mane ($22), it also makes sense to grab Mohamed Salah ($20) or Roberto Firmino ($19). While Mane has the better floor, Salah is more likely to score as the penalty taker. 

Timo Werner, LEI v. BEN ($20): Werner has the best odds to score on the slate, but there's a chance he isn't as popular as he should be given the options at Barcelona and Liverpool. That could make Werner a decent tournament play, as he has six goals and four assists in his last three starts. He scored a brace away from home in the previous matchup, and Benfica have allowed three goals in each of their away matches in Champions League play. It could be viable to save money and look elsewhere on Leipzig, but there's no telling where the rest of production will come because four players split set pieces. Christopher Nkunku ($8) is maybe the most intriguing if he starts since he played up front alongside Werner last league match. Otherwise, it's a guessing game between Emil Forsberg ($15), Marcel Sabitzer ($15) and left-back Marcel Halstenberg ($15).

Takumi Minamino, RBS at GNK ($14): It wouldn't be surprising to see a few stacks composed of Salzburg players after they scored six in the prior matchup. That won't happen again, and while Genk are struggling, they appointed a new manager last week, which will undoubtedly change how they play. Still, it'll be hard to pass on Minamino at this price. He's cheaper than Hwang Hee-Chan ($18) and Zlatko Junuzovic ($16) but has provided similar production, creating at least two chances in every UCL contest. The other move would be Patson Daka ($12), who should be set for another start, especially with Erling Haaland ($21) returning from injury. Similar picks in this range would be Ousmane Dembele ($14) or Yusuf Yazici ($10). Dembele returned to the starting XI in place of Antoine Griezmann ($17) over the weekend, while Yazici is oddly cheap as Lille's main set-piece taker.

Bryan Heynen, GNK v. RBS ($12): The Genk v. Salzburg match has the highest implied goal total for a reason. Salzburg are full-go no matter the opponent, which is why 22 goals have been scored in their four UCL matches. Salzburg have received more attention because of that six-goal outburst, but Genk shouldn't be ignored. That includes Heynen, who hit a floor of 17 points in both matches against Liverpool. He took four of five set pieces in those contests and if that happens again, his floor should be in the same range. If you prefer goals or want to stack Genk, Mbwana Ally Samatta ($12) is the goal poacher and has gone a full 90 in every UCL match. Outside of Yazici and Nkunku, there isn't much more upside in this range, with most of the other choices defensive midfielders.

DEFENDERS

Konstantinos Manolas, NAP at LIV ($12): You can stack any of the Napoli defenders including Nikola Maksimovic if he starts again because he's eight bucks. If it's Manolas, I'm fine paying up because the Napoli center-backs could each have a floor of 20 points. Liverpool have forced the third-most clearances in the Champions League and most in the Premier League. Kalidou Koulibaly ($13) is the other choice and also worth the money. Elsewhere, Joakim Maehle ($11) created four chances in the first meeting, while Ferro ($11) has hit 15 fantasy points in his two starts in which he went the full 90. The $15 defenders are all in play if you have the money and Andreas Ulmer ($13) is the GPP choice after he created five chances in the first matchup.

Sebastien Dewaest, GNK v. RBS ($9): A lot of lineups will focus around Dejan Lovren ($8) and Samuel Umtiti ($8), and while that can be a viable strategy, neither one of those guys has a guaranteed floor above 10 points, especially as home favorites. It's not the same for Genk, who are playing the most free-flowing team in the tournament. Dewaest has 19 clearances in two starts and if he can do that again, it'll be enough to hit 10 fantasy points and make value. If you want to be a little safer, Zeki Celik ($9) has at least 13 points in every UCL match and should get up the field against Ajax, who may be pushing for three points.

GOALKEEPER

Peter Gulacsi, LEI v. BEN ($12): None of the favorites have overwhelming odds for a clean sheet, so spending up at goalkeeper isn't the best move. Gulacsi is reasonably priced as the second-biggest favorite against Benfica, who have scored one goal in each of their two away UCL matches, both 3-1 losses. He may not secure a clean sheet, but he should finish in the positive with a likely win. Andre Onana ($13) and Samir Handanovic ($13) are away from home, but both have consistently made saves and are facing two teams that have struggled to score. Gaetan Coucke ($8) is worth a look if you need to save money because he's made 18 saves in four matches and Salzburg are unlikely to tally six again.