This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Soccer series.
MATCHES (EDT)
- 4:00 pm: Juventus vs. Atlético Madrid
- 4:00 pm: Manchester City vs. FC Schalke 04
FORWARDS
Sergio Aguero, MCI v. S04 (€24): Aguero is expected to lead the line for the biggest favorite on the slate with the highest implied goal total, but he comes in cheaper than three other players, including €7 less than Cristiano Ronaldo, who is at home but will have to work against arguably the toughest defensive side in the world. Only Ronaldo has averaged more shots in the Champions League, and no one on the slate has averaged more shots on goal than Aguero, who didn't score in his last two starts but still managed eight shots, including four on target.
Raheem Sterling, MCI v. S04 (€24): Given Manchester City's overwhelming odds, pairing two of their forwards could be a popular strategy, whether it's Aguero and Sterling or one of them and Leroy Sane (€22) or even Gabriel Jesus (€20), if he starts. With the Juventus v. Atletico Madrid match expected to be very tight and low scoring, it only makes sense to target the match that should have goals in it. That being said, I'd probably still favor guys from the match in Turin, even if you can have Schalke forward Guido Burgstaller for only €10.
Alvaro Morata, ATM at JUV (€15): Expected to start against his former team, Morata comes in with three goals on six shots, including five on goal, and four fouls drawn in his last two starts. Targeting any Atletico Madrid attackers is likely to be contrarian, and while Antoine Griezmann (€28) is the obvious play from that team, he's just as goal dependent as Morata at €13 more.
MIDFIELDERS
David Silva, MCI v. S04 (€22): Continuing the trend of targeting Manchester City attackers, Silva has been excellent lately, picking up five assists on 19 chances created in his last seven starts while also adding 13 shots, including five on goal. Silva has had a fairly minimal role on set pieces this season, and Ilkay Gundogan (€18) could have a majority of them Tuesday, but the lack of that responsibility hasn't slowed Silva at all lately. For even cheaper exposure to the Man City attack, Bernardo Silva (€16) could be an option, but he's usually the last one to consider.
Thomas Lemar, ATL at JUV (€10): Lemar hasn't been the most reliable fantasy option for much of this season, but a starting attacking player at the minimum price can't be ignored, even away to Juventus. As mentioned before, this match doesn't figure to have many goals in it, but Lemar's salary can be very helpful in paying up at other spots, especially with how expensive the Manchester City options are Tuesday. Lemar is likely to have a small role on set pieces, with Koke (€19) likely having more of those opportunities, but anything at the minimum price is helpful. In a similar vein, Blaise Matuidi is also minimum priced and at least plays for the favored side.
Yevhen Konoplyanka, S04 at MCI (€16): Konoplyanka was an unused substitute in each of Schalke's last three games, but he could be a solid attacking wildcard if he gets the start Tuesday. Schalke need to win by at least two goals to advance, unless they score three times, and with the all-out attack necessary, an easy call would be to have Konoplyanka, who is averaging 3.15 shots, including 1.69 on target, 1.94 accurate crosses and 1.45 fouls drawn per 90 minutes in Champions League play, in the starting XI. It's certainly a more contrarian move given Schalke are the biggest underdog on the slate, but don't think they'll just sit back and get rolled because Man City are better.
DEFENDERS
Aymeric Laporte, MCI v. S04 (€17): Expected to return to the starting XI alongside Vincent Kompany (€12), Laporte is third in the Premier League in completed passes, averaging a solid 82.18 per 90 minutes, which dips slightly to 75.29 during Champions League play. And while he's had a few starts at left-back recently, he's had at least 90 completed passes as a center-back in four of his last five starts. Man City have solid clean sheet odds as well, and while Laporte is also a target on set pieces, he's more likely to be a solid floor players with a shutout bonus.
Bastian Oczipka, S04 at MCI (€10): You can forget about the clean sheet bonus here, but Oczipka offers some upside because he's expected to take most of Schalke's set pieces. Those opportunities won't be plentiful, but at least there's opportunity. It also doesn't hurt that he's minimum priced, nor that he's coming off an excellent performance against Werder Bremen last Friday when he had one assist on five chances created, seven accurate crosses, three fouls drawn and two tackles won.
Martin Caceres, JUV v. ATM (€10): Expected to start in the three-man back line in place of the injured Andrea Barzagli (€11), Caceres has a solid passing floor while still putting in some defensive work. There's not a ton of upside, but as another minimum-priced option on a slate that doesn't have many defenders outside of Manchester City worth paying up for, Caceres supplies value mostly because of his low price.
GOALKEEPER
Ederson, MCI v. S04 (€17): There were plenty of complaints from those who paid up for Ederson in Champions League or Premier League slates because it always felt like he gave up a goal, but he's actually posted clean sheets in four of his last six starts while conceding multiple goals just once in that span. Granted, that came against Schalke in the first leg, but with Manchester City heavily favored and with the highest clean sheet odds, there seems to be little reason to pick a side on the Juventus v. Atletico Madrid coin flip, especially since both starting goalkeepers in that match are just €1 less than Ederson.
