DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday UCL Picks

MATCHES (EDT)

• 3:00 pm: Club Brugge vs. Paris Saint-Germain
• 3:00 pm: Galatasaray vs. Real Madrid
• 3:00 pm: Juventus vs. Lokomotiv Moscow
• 3:00 pm: Manchester City vs. Atalanta
• 3:00 pm: Olympiacos vs. Bayern Munich
• 3:00 pm: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Red Star Belgrade

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

FORWARDS

Cristiano Ronaldo, JUV v. LKM ($10,300): There are six big clubs on Tuesday's slate, and each one has a very favorable matchup, even the three who are playing away. Juventus are the second-biggest favorite, and while they have the third-highest implied goal total, there's little reason to think Ronaldo will be low owned on a Champions League slate. He hasn't had a truly explosive game yet, either in the Champions League or Serie A, but he continues to be an excellent source of fantasy points, racking up four goals on 34 shots (14 on target) and one assist on 11 chances created in his last five games. It's a shot floor rarely seen, even among the world's best, and his matchup against Lokomotiv Moscow is just inviting that huge game, especially after Lokomotiv allowed 17 and 20 shots in their first two UCL games, respectively.

Erik Lamela, TOT v. CRV ($6,700): Tottenham have the second-highest implied goal total, and while we don't really have a problem filling forward spots on the slate, Lamela allows us to use one for a big favorite's set-piece taker. It's possible that Christian Eriksen ($8,000, midfielder) returns from dead leg, which would take away some corners from Lamela, but if Eriksen is on the bench then Lamela will surely be popular in cash games. Harry Kane ($10,100) obviously has the upside among Tottenham forwards, though his price makes it silly to roster him when you can have guys with similar goal odds for less. If you really think Tottenham win big, paying down for Son Heung-Min ($8,300) or Lucas Moura ($7,800) makes more sense than Kane. And if you need a different pay-down option, Federico Bernardeschi ($6,400) has been sharing set pieces for Juventus, though Real Madrid's James Rodriguez ($7,700) is probably the better call if Toni Kroos ($8,200, midfielder) doesn't start, even if he's more expensive.

Robert Lewandowski, BAY at OLY ($9,700): But wait, this is the Champions League, why are we thinking about floors so much? Lewandowski doesn't have an easy task playing away to Olympiacos, but it can't be ignored that Bayern are still decent favorites and Lewandowski has scored at least one goal in every match this season. It's pretty Ronaldo-esque what he's doing, scoring 15 goals on 55 shots (28 on target) in just 10 Bundesliga and UCL games, giving him a tremendous shot floor to go along with the fact that he has the highest anytime goal scorer odds on the slate. It's understandable to not want to play Bayern away when you can get Riyad Mahrez ($9,300) or Raheem Sterling ($9,600) for a little less, or Sergio Aguero ($10,500) for more, or you could go a little more off the grid with PSG's Kylian Mbappe ($9,400), who had one goal on four shots (one on target) and one assist on two chances created in seven minutes off the bench this past weekend. Then again, Angel Di Maria ($8,900) has become the perfect cash game-GPP hybrid this season, especially with Neymar out injured again, and he is coming in after a monster game against Nice, scoring two goals on four shots (two on target), creating eight chances and sending in 16 crosses.

MIDFIELDERS

Kevin De Bruyne, MCI v. ATA ($9,800): De Bruyne returned from injury this past weekend against Crystal Palace and looked like his regular self, taking one shot, creating two chances and sending in 13 crosses in their 2-0 victory. His dominant role on set pieces makes him an easy consideration when Manchester City are the biggest favorite, even when there are a few other high-priced midfielders worth considering such as Philippe Coutinho ($8,200) and Kroos.

Marko Marin, CRV at TOT ($5,200): Tottenham have been a bit of a mess recently, and while they are still big favorites at home against Red Star Belgrade, Marin's ability to contribute across the stat sheet makes him a solid play, particularly for cash games. Spurs continue to be without starting goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, and they've posted just one clean sheet this season in the Premier League or Champions League, including allowing multiple goals in four of their past six. Red Star aren't likely to score a bunch (if any), but Marin has shown time and again over the past two seasons that he can score fantasy points against even the best teams. His significant role on set pieces helps his floor, but he does plenty in open play to justify selection even if you don't think Spurs concede many dead balls. Given his relatively cheap price, don't be surprised if he's highly owned in cash games even with a bad matchup. Mathieu Valbuena ($6,400) fits this mold as well, though he's more expensive and has arguably a tougher matchup, a situation that also applies to Atalanta's Alejandro Gomez ($5,900), who has two goals on 12 shots (seven on target), 10 chances created and nine crosses in his last two Serie A matches. And if you want to go nuts, Hans Vanaken ($5,600) should be taking set pieces for Brugge against Paris Saint-Germain since Ruud Vormer is suspended.

Jean Michael Seri, GAL v. ROM ($4,300): Seri is about as boring as they come, a central midfielder who doesn't shoot much but happens to be on set pieces for a home team. On the plus side, he's scored at least 8.6 fantasy points in both UCL matches this season, including 14.6 against PSG without a goal or assist. Galatasaray are firmly not expected to win, but they technically have the highest win odds among the underdogs, and Real Madrid have allowed five goals in their last three games, including two to Club Brugge in their last Champions League match.

DEFENDERS

Joshua Kimmich, BAY at OLY ($6,000): A Champions League slate when Bayern are favored almost always means decent ownership for Kimmich, who has been lining up at right-back over the past few games while still taking set pieces. He sent in 13 crosses against Hoffenheim two games ago, though he was limited to just three this past weekend against Augsburg, a 2-2 draw. There are a lot of high-priced defenders who could have major impacts Tuesday, including Benjamin Mendy ($5,300) and Joao Cancelo ($5,500) for Manchester City, Danny Rose ($5,200) and Serge Aurier ($4,900) for Tottenham and Juve's Alex Sandro ($4,800), not to mention the Real Madrid pairing, but none are quite as safe as Kimmich because of the set pieces.

David Alaba, BAY at OLY ($4,400): Pairing Kimmich and Alaba might seem a little strong given Bayern aren't the biggest favorite on the slate, but individually they make for solid plays based on their prices. Alaba hasn't gotten a ton of playing time this season, but he's a solid chance creator when he's on the pitch, even if he doesn't cross a ton. His price range doesn't have a lot of options anyway, and you might be better off just paying down even further if you don't want this range, unless we get a UCL start for Alvaro Odriozola ($3,800).

Robin Gosens, ATA at MCI ($3,500): The matchup away to Manchester City is far from ideal, but Atalanta aren't going to just sit back and wait for the scoring to happen. Gosens is expected to once again line up as a left wing-back, and while he's not a high-volume crosser, he comes in with seven chances created and six shots (three on target) in his last two games. We're probably not getting a ton of points here, but a wing-back at a center-back price shouldn't be ignored.

GOALKEEPER

Milan Borjan, CRV at TOT ($3,700): Borjan had one of the best save upsides in the group stage last season, and he has a great opportunity to show that again Tuesday against a Tottenham side that's scored just one goal in it's past two games, which came away to Brighton and home to Watford. It's not for a lack of trying, as they took 20 shots over that span, but the finishing is simply not there. Despite losing to Brighton and drawing Watford, there's little chance Red Star win Tuesday, but Borjan's save potential and low price make him worth the risk.