DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday UCL Picks

MATCHES (EST)

• 3:00 pm: Atalanta vs. Liverpool
• 3:00 pm: FC Midtjylland vs. Ajax
• 3:00 pm: FC Porto vs. Marseille
• 3:00 pm: Manchester City vs. Olympiacos
• 3:00 pm: Real Madrid vs. Inter Milan
• 3:00 pm: Red Bull Salzburg vs. Bayern Munich

For detailed stats and odds, check out the

DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday UCL Cheat Sheet

THE CHALK

Kevin De Bruyne, MCI v. OLY ($10,900): Manchester City are the biggest favorite on the slate with the highest implied goal total, and De Bruyne takes a majority of their set pieces. It's worth considering that he might not start, as he's played 172 of a possible 180 minutes since returning from a muscular injury, and not having him in would drastically change lineup construction because of his high salary and the players likely to be considered if De Bruyne isn't in. Riyad Mahrez ($8,600) would probably see his popularity increase significantly in cash games if De Bruyne doesn't start, even with Ilkay Gundogan ($5,800) potentially taking some set pieces too, but Mahrez is much more of an attacker and fills a forward spot.

Joshua Kimmich, BAY at RBS ($8,200): If De Bruyne doesn't start, Kimmich is likely to be on many more teams, though the Bayern Munich set-piece taker will still be popular regardless of De Bruyne. Always considered more of a cash-game play because of those set pieces, Kimmich has made the score-sheet in all but one start this season, with two goals and five assists in seven Bundesliga and UCL starts. Despite playing away, Bayern are the second-biggest favorite with a similar implied goal total to Manchester City, so we'll certainly see people trying to fit them into their fantasy lineups.

FORWARDS

Robert Lewandowski, BAY at RBS ($11,200): Any time Bayern are huge favorites, fantasy players are going to be considering Lewandowski, whose -305 odds to score on DraftKings Sportsbook are by far the highest on the slate, putting him roughly 20 percentage points higher than any other player. He was rested this past weekend, but comes in with 10 goals on 28 shots, including 16 on target, and three assists on six chances created in four Bundesliga starts. He struggled in his two UCL matches, taking only six shots and creating only one chance in 173 minutes, but those aren't likely to push people away from him. His price, however, could be a reason, as teammates like Thomas Muller ($7,600), Kingsley Coman ($8,500), Leroy Sane ($7,900) and Serge Gnabry ($7,800, midfielder) are significantly cheaper. They also come with significantly lower anytime goal scorer odds, nor the goal total this season, but the $3K+ in savings could push Lewandowski's popularity down a bit.

Mohamed Salah, LIV at ATA ($8,400): Given that Manchester City and Bayern Munich are such big favorites, we could have people ignoring the Atalanta v. Liverpool match, which actually has the second-highest total on the slate, trailing only the Bayern game. Both teams are able to put up goals, though Liverpool have actually not been all that great in that aspect recently. Salah is a bit of an exception to that, with five goals on 18 shots, including 10 on target, in his last six games, and only three or four likely starters on the slate have higher anytime goal scorer odds. This is certainly a game worth stacking, though the salaries make it tough, as Atalanta's Duvan Zapata ($8,900) is more than Salah, but that happens when you have five goals on 21 shots (nine on target) and two assists on 10 chances created in your last six games in Serie A and UCL. Both players could be explosive in this match, but you'll obviously need to find some values to pair them with to make the salaries work.

Eden Hazard, RMA v. INT ($5,700): Paying up for Lewandowski likely means you're going to need a value player somewhere, and especially so if you want De Bruyne too, and Hazard provides a front-line player for the team with the fourth-highest implied goal total and desperate for points. Real Madrid currently sit last in Group B through two games, which included a shock loss to Shakhtar Donetsk at home two weeks ago, so they'll need to come out firing Tuesday to get back on track. Hazard's floor is incredibly suspect, so it takes a small leap of faith in cash games, but his low price and ability to get on the score-sheet could be enough for fantasy players to go with him. If you prefer a safer floor, Anders Dreyer ($7,000) is more expensive but is likely to take most set pieces for Midtjylland, who are facing an Ajax side missing a number of key contributors because of multiple positive COVID-19 tests.

MIDFIELDERS

Toni Kroos, RMA v. INT ($6,900): Kroos takes all set pieces for a favored home side, one with the fourth-highest implied goal total. Real Madrid are in desperate need of points, and if they're going to attack as much as they can, Kroos will surely be involved. His open-play responsibilities aren't overwhelming, but the set pieces are usually enough, especially at his somewhat reduced price versus other set-piece takers on the slate for decent favorites.

Marcelo Brozovic, INT at RMA ($3,800): The Inter lineup is very much in the air, but there's a somewhat realistic path to Brozovic taking set pieces. He's mostly a defensive midfielder, so you're unlikely to get many attacking points from him if he isn't on dead balls, but his salary is low enough to help alleviate that, even as an away underdog. If you're someone who just wants floor points and doesn't care how they come, RB Salzburg's Mohamed Camara ($3,000) scored 5.3 fantasy points against Lokomotiv Moscow and 8.1 away to Atalanta, mostly from fouls drawn and interceptions, and while Salzburg are unlikely to have much of the ball, he could do enough defensive work for that low price; just don't mix him up with Olympiacos' Mohamed Mady Camara ($3,400), who could start against Manchester City after recovering from COVID-19.

DEFENDERS

Trent Alexander-Arnold, LIV at ATA ($6,600): Liverpool are favored away to Atalanta, a team that is much more interested in attacking than defending, so while he may be forced to actually defend more, the attacking opportunities should be there for Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson ($6,900). Their salaries are difficult to fit in, mostly because there are midfielders and forwards worth paying up for and a few value defenders who are more likely to make value than the cheap midfielders, so they may not be that popular in cash games even as set-piece takers for a favorite.

Johan Mojica, ATA v. LIV ($2,500): Mojica is one of a few very cheap defenders who fantasy players could turn to as they look for any points to justify paying up elsewhere. Expected to start as a wing-back for a home side, Mojica had 8.1 fantasy points this past weekend against Crotone in Serie A action, which would be an extremely helpful return at his Tuesday price. Other cheap defenders who are likely to be considered include Porto's Wilson Manafa ($2,500) and Zaidu Sanusi ($3,600), while Ajax Daley Blind ($3,800) could be a possibility if it seems there's a clear path for set pieces due to their plethora of absences. Sticking in that game, how does a $3,500 fullback who sent in four crosses each against Atalanta and Liverpool sound against a team that's missing half its players due to COVID-19? If that's your kind of player to target, Eric Joel Andersson is there for the taking. It wouldn't be surprising if we saw fantasy players paying down at both defender spots in cash games in order to get the higher floor midfielders and attacking forwards.

GOALKEEPER

Mikkel Andersen, MCH v. AJA ($4,000): Andersen is the cheapest goalkeeper who isn't facing Bayern Munich or Manchester City, and given Ajax's COVID-19 issues, it's tough to expect a lot out of their attack. Because of that, Andersen could be extremely popular in cash games and GPPs, while paying up at the position for someone like Manuel Neuer ($5,700) or Ederson ($5,900) seems like a lineup build most will avoid.