FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday UCL Targets

MATCHES (ET)

• 3:00 pm: Bayern Munich vs. Dynamo Kyiv
• 3:00 pm: Benfica vs. Barcelona
• 3:00 pm: Juventus vs. Chelsea
• 3:00 pm: Manchester United vs. Villarreal
• 3:00 pm: Red Bull Salzburg vs. Lille
• 3:00 pm: VfL Wolfsburg vs. Sevilla

For detailed stats and odds, check out the

FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday UCL Cheat Sheet

FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS

Robert Lewandowski, BAY v. DYK ($23): With -330 odds to score, Lewandowski should be closer to $30. Since he's not, he should be on the majority of rosters and there's no way around it. You could fade him and go with every other Bayern attacking player, but that would probably be a mistake. He was held off the score-sheet in league play over the weekend, the first time in a start since February, if that says anything. In his prior six starts this season, he scored nine goals from 16 shots on target. Everyone else on Bayern is viable, but it's not the same. Neither Serge Gnabry ($18), Thomas Muller ($21) nor Leroy Sane ($20) have shown the same kind of upside in the past year. If anything, you could save a few bucks on Joshua Kimmich ($15) and hope he makes the score-sheet, but even then, he's more of a stacking piece. He's scored three in the last two matches and usually has a floor that surpasses 10 points because of his role on set pieces. Since Bayern are such big favorites, it makes sense to use at least two of their players, with an implied goal total almost one full goal more than the next team, Manchester United.

Romelu Lukaku, CHE at JUV ($20): Chelsea are away and without a couple players, but I think they'll be fine. Juve's lone clean sheet this season came against Malmo, and they've allowed four goals in their last two matches against Sampdoria and Spezia. Lukaku only scored once in two matches against Juventus last season, but he'll be glad to see a former rival. Cristiano Ronaldo ($22) has better odds to score, but they have a tougher matchup and aren't playing as well. I think Lukaku is more likely to bag a brace, and because he's not at home like Ronaldo, he'll probably be less popular. I haven't seen anything to sway me from using Lukaku, as he's totaled four goals from 19 shots in his five starts not against Man City this season. There will be opportunities in this match and Lukaku is a reasonable pivot from the bigger names. Because of injuries, it's hard to look at anyone else in this match unless you expect Hakim Ziyech ($17), Kai Havertz ($17) or Timo Werner ($18) to go off. Even for Juventus, I'm not sure I'd use Federico Chiesa ($17) or Dejan Kulusevski ($16) against this back line.

Memphis Depay, BAR at BEN ($21): Since the majority of matches on this slate have an implied goal total below three, it makes sense to spend on the best players. That would be Depay, who should be set for a nice floor, having hit 17 fantasy points in all but the Bayern match this season. Barcelona should control possession and get plenty of corners, and it's also helpful that Depay is most likely to score for them. He scored 49 fantasy points with one goal over the weekend, and while Benfica will be a tough opponent, this could be a match where Barca pound the opposing goalkeeper, leading to a nice floor for Depay. The other high-priced options include Bruno Fernandes ($20), who probably won't be on penalties anymore, and underdog home forwards like Wout Weghorst ($19) and Roman Yaremchuk ($19). Again, there's not a ton going on in this slate, so you have to pick your spots.

Brenden Aaronson, RBS v. LIL ($14): Salzburg totaled eight shots on goal away to Sevilla, so there's no doubt they could hit that number home against Lille. This game isn't expected to be high scoring, but Salzburg are a team that loves to attack no matter the matchup, and that often leads to more goals than oddsmakers project. There isn't one player who stands out, so going with the cheapest of the starters makes sense. Aaronson is also in an attacking role, which is at least something. He had one shot on goal and four crosses against Sevilla, and should get more opportunities in this spot. Karim Adeyemi ($18) is most likely to score for Salzburg, but you have to pay for it. I'd rather save a few dollars and take Aaronson or Nicolas Seiwald ($15). If you think Salzburg go off for three goals in this spot, they could be a decent stack alongside Bayern players.

DEFENDERS

Bernardo, RBS v. LIL ($6): Bernardo didn't start the UCL opener, but he's been starting in league play and is the cheapest projected starter on the slate. That's about it. You need cheap defenders if you want Lewandowski, Ronaldo and Lukaku in your lineup. Oumar Solet started the first match at center-back and scored 25.6 fantasy points with the help of two shots on goal (he's now hurt). Bernardo probably won't get there, but if he can get to 10 points, that'd be enough. If he doesn't start, Jerome Onguene ($7) is also cheap and there are five other defenders at $7.

Alphonso Davies, BAY v. DYK ($12): I'm not sure there's much to spend on for defenders because of the low projected goal totals. Davies makes the most sense since he isn't too expensive, mainly because he's never had a great floor. He gets up and down the field and provides upside, but there are times when his floor doesn't surpass 10 points even in a game that Bayern score five goals in. Benjamin Pavard ($13) is the pivot if you have money, while Kyiv center-backs are the easiest play if you want to bank on defensive stats.

GOALKEEPER

Marc-Andre ter Stegen, BAR at BEN ($10): It won't be easy to find money to spend on Manuel Neuer ($14) unless you can find brace upside for $10 at the forward spot. Wojciech Szczesny ($8) and Geronimo Rulli ($7) are viable if you don't back the opposing forwards. ter Stegen is far from safe away from home, but Barcelona are on back-to-back clean sheets, and I'm not confident Benfica can score against them. Bono ($9) is actually an away favorite, but that match has scoreless draw written all over it, leaving you without points for a win.