DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday UCL Picks

MATCHES (EST)

• 3:00 pm: Atalanta vs. FC Midtjylland
• 3:00 pm: Atlético Madrid vs. Bayern Munich
• 3:00 pm: FC Porto vs. Manchester City
• 3:00 pm: Liverpool vs. Ajax
• 3:00 pm: Marseille vs. Olympiacos
• 3:00 pm: Mönchengladbach vs. Inter Milan

For detailed odds and stats, check out the

DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday UCL Cheat Sheet

THE CHALK

Alejandro Gomez, ATA v. MCH ($9,800): We're getting to the point of the group stage where some teams have already qualified for the round of 16 while others are close to booking their tickets, so we have to consider motivations. That fully applies to Atalanta, who are currently third in Group D but level on points with second-place Ajax, who play at Anfield on Tuesday. Midtjylland are already locked into last place, which contributes to Atalanta being the biggest favorite on the slate with the highest implied goal total. Gomez is back to splitting set pieces with Josip Ilicic ($8,600), but he's still an excellent crosser and chance creator who takes shots and draws fouls, giving him arguably the highest floor on the slate. He will certainly be popular in GPPs, and there's a decent chance he's the most popular player in cash games because of his role in an ideal matchup against the team he had 20.8 fantasy points against in the reverse fixture.

Andrew Robertson, LIV v. AJA ($6,200): Robertson didn't start last week's match against Atalanta before playing 90 this past weekend against Brighton, but it seems more likely that he'll be in the first XI for this match because Liverpool need three points to keep their spot atop Group D, especially with Atalanta playing Midtjylland. You could make the argument that Robertson will sit because Liverpool close out group play against Midtjylland and they play Wolverhampton this coming weekend, but he seems likely to be chalky if he does start. With Trent Alexander-Arnold (calf), James Milner (hamstring) and Xherdan Shaqiri (muscular injury) all ruled out, Robertson should get a majority of set pieces for the favored team in the game with the highest implied goal total.

FORWARDS

Duvan Zapata, ATA v. MCH ($9,100): Atalanta are the biggest favorite on the slate with the highest implied goal total and no player has higher anytime goal scorer odds than Zapata, who had one goal on five shots (three on target) and one assist on two chances created in the reverse fixture. He hasn't been shooting as much since Ilicic returned, but Zapata's upside is tough to match given the opponent. Ilicic is also a desirable option because he shares set pieces with Gomez, and pairing the two corner takers could be a popular strategy in cash games given how many opportunities they are expected to have. Those who don't want to be so heavily invested in Atalanta can easily pivot to Liverpool's Mohamed Salah ($9,700), who has the highest anytime goal scorer odds in the game with the highest total. Salah could also get his role on set pieces back if Robertson doesn't start, and he could be popular in cash games because of that.

Joao Felix, ATL v. BAY ($8,000): There is obviously going to be some hesitation about taking a player against Bayern Munich, but Atletico Madrid are favored because the German giants will be without Manuel Neuer, Robert Lewandowski, Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich and Alphonso Davies, among others, due to injuries or rest. Bayern have already clinched the top spot in Group A, so there's really nothing to play for in this match or their group stage finale against Lokomotiv Moscow next week. Atletico Madrid have the fourth-highest implied total on the slate, and only seven expected starters on the slate have higher anytime goal scorer odds than Felix, who is averaging 3.42 shots, including 1.11 on target, 1.57 chances created and 2.31 fouls drawn per 90 minutes in La Liga and the Champions League this season. There is certainly the issue that Madrid won't be trying to score that much because they only need to finish with one more than Bayern, but Felix is still their most likely goal scorer. If you don't want to be in this game, Lars Stindl ($9,000) is priced high enough that many people will overlook him against Inter Milan, though he's been excellent since taking over set pieces. For GPPs, Romelu Lukaku ($8,500) and Lautaro Martinez ($6,900) should be considered, and you may as well throw Marcus Thuram ($7,900), Alassane Plea ($9,400) and Breel Embolo ($7,600) into your game-stack considerations, though you won't get a lot of them because they're so expensive.

Kostas Fortounis, OLY at MAR ($6,200): With Mathieu Valbuena (hamstring) ruled out, Fortounis is likely to take set pieces for Olympiacos, like he did this past weekend in Greek Super League action when he picked up two assists (one off a set piece). It's tough to get overly excited about the underdog in the game with the lowest total on the slate, but Olympiacos still have a chance to advance to the round of 16, but they need all three points. They would certainly be content with a 1-0 victory over Marseille, who they beat by the same scoreline back in Greece, and Fortounis seems likely to be involved if that happens.

MIDFIELDERS

Kevin De Bruyne, MCI at POR ($10,200): Manchester City only need one point from their next two games to clinch the top spot in the group, so there's definitely a concern that they won't go all-out, especially because they've already secured their spot in the round of 16. De Bruyne is their primary set-piece taker and chance creator, and he's certainly going to be a target when Man City are favored. If he doesn't start, set pieces could move to Ilkay Gundogan ($5,200), though in that range you might just be better off with Bernardo Silva ($5,700) if he starts.

Douglas Costa, BAY at ATL ($5,800): Even though Bayern Munich will be playing a B-squad, that doesn't mean they'll be total pushovers. Costa is not a regular starter, but he does take a good number of set pieces when he does get in the first XI, which seems likely Tuesday. He is also eligible as a forward, but he could be a popular option as a midfielder if he's in, especially if Serge Gnabry ($6,600), who has been taking set pieces, is not. Then again, it might be more worthwhile focusing on the side of this game that needs a win, which surely puts Yannick Carrasco ($6,500) on the radar for cash games as their set-piece taker. Otherwise, you can try to get as much out of Dimitri Payet ($5,600) or Florian Thauvin ($6,400), who are favored at home against Olympiacos. Marseille cannot make the round of 16, but they do need three points against Olympiacos if they want a shot at the Europa League. If you don't want to trust the disappointing Marseille guys, Stefano Sensi ($4,600) could be a very interesting option as a potential set-piece taker for an Inter side that need three points to keep their hopes alive.

DEFENDERS

Hans Hateboer, ATA v. MCH ($4,300): Hateboer is an attacking wing-back starting for the biggest favorite on the slate, and he's the 20th-most expensive defender. We could get two cheap Atalanta wing-backs if Johan Mojica ($4,000) continues to start, though it seems more likely that Robin Gosens ($5,500) will get the call after recovering from a knee injury. Given the salary differences, it's pretty clear why Hateboer will be more popular even though his floor isn't significantly different.

Nicolas Tagliafico, AJA at LIV ($3,900): You probably can't expect much out of the Ajax fullbacks, though we don't often get Tagliafico and Noussair Mazraoui ($3,600) for less than $4,000. Being underdogs away to Liverpool certainly contributes to that, but they provide a hint of upside in the game with the highest implied goal total. If you want to lesser underdog, the Olympiacos duo of Rafinha ($4,000) and Jose Holebas ($3,800) isn't horrible.

GOALKEEPER

Jose Sa, OLY at MAR ($4,500): Sa is the cheaper goalkeeper in the game with the lowest implied total and coming off a 10-save match against Manchester City last week. Marseille have been pretty awful this season, but they need to score in this one if they want to qualify for the Europa League, which theoretically helps Sa's save upside. Otherwise, there could be plenty of people who pay down for Andre Onana ($4,100) so they don't negatively correlate by rostering Atalanta guys and Jesper Hansen ($3,600), though plenty of people will do that anyway and hope he makes enough saves to overcome the goals allowed.