DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday UCL Picks

MATCHES (ET)

• 3:00 pm: Barcelona vs. Benfica
• 3:00 pm: BSC Young Boys vs. Atalanta
• 3:00 pm: Chelsea vs. Juventus
• 3:00 pm: Lille vs. Red Bull Salzburg
• 3:00 pm: Malmö FF vs. Zenit St. Petersburg
• 3:00 pm: Sevilla vs. VfL Wolfsburg

For detailed stats and odds, check out the

DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday UCL Cheat Sheet 

FORWARDS

Memphis Depay, BAR vs. BEN ($10,500): Depay is far and away the top overall option on Tuesday's slate. Barcelona are home favorites against Benfica and have the highest-implied goal total. He has the top goalscoring odds at +100. He's been taking the majority of set pieces all season and he's played the full 90 minutes in 15 of 17 starts across all competitions. In those 17 games, he's failed to reach double-digit fantasy points only once and that was against Bayern Munich back in September. We aren't spoiled for options at any position and there is arguably no midfielder worth prioritizing. For cash games, roster Depay and move on. He's a great GPP option, as well. Elsewhere in this range, Duvan Zapata ($9,200) makes for a good tournament option. He has the second-best goalscoring odds and Atalanta have a favorable matchup away to Young Boys. 

Malcom, ZEN at MAL ($7,300): Malcom looks to have fully recovered from the muscle injury that caused him to miss some games in October. He had a goal and two assists over the weekend in the Russian league while playing 90 minutes. Zenit are in a nice spot against Malmo and Malcom will likely split set pieces. He took five shots and sent in nine crosses when the two teams met in September. Otherwise, Lucas Ocampos ($7,200) has scored in three of his last four matches and he's played 90 minutes in all of them. Looking for value, Burak Yilmaz ($5,900), Rafa Mir ($5,600) and Artem Dzyuba ($4,900) are too cheap for their respective goalscoring odds. 

MIDFIELDERS

Claudinho, ZEN at MAL ($7,100): As far as players who are only midfield eligible, no one stands out. Hakim Ziyech ($8,900) has been taking the majority of set pieces when he's on the pitch, but I don't see him in the expected lineups. Ruslan Malinovskyi ($8,300) takes set pieces for Atalanta but never plays 90 minutes and has only lasted 80 once all season. Claudinho can't be counted on for sets but has considerable open-play upside in a matchup against Malmo. He still has a decent floor even without corner kicks and his +135 goalscoring odds are among the best on the slate. I will probably be rostering forward eligible players in midfield spots. 

Nicolas Seiwald, RBS at LIL ($5,500): Seiwald usually takes the majority of set pieces for Salzburg and he's played 90 minutes in five of six Champions League games this season. Xeka ($5,000) would take set pieces for Lille if Renato Sanches is out, but he doesn't have much upside. Neither does Michel Aebischer ($5,100), who takes some corners for Young Boys. If you're looking for a cheaper punt, Joao Mario ($3,800) takes set pieces for Benfica, but the matchup away against Barcelona is tough. 

DEFENDERS

Marcos Acuna, SFC vs. WOB ($5,600): The Chelsea wing-backs are viable, but they're expensive and the matchup against Juventus doesn't seem like the greatest spot. Keep in mind that they haven't been taking set pieces when Hakim Ziyech starts. If he doesn't, of course they can be considered. Acuna takes the left-sided set pieces for Sevilla, who are home favorites against Wolfsburg and have the second-best clean sheet odds on the slate. He's sent in 25 crosses over his last three starts while playing at least 87 minutes in each. Jordi Alba ($6,100) is always a good option when Barcelona have the highest-implied goal total. He already has 5 assists in 12 games this season and has shown a higher floor than in previous seasons. Douglas Santos ($5,700) can be considered, too. He might take a few set pieces and has plenty of open-play value on the left side of midfield for favorite Zenit.  

Martin Olsson, MAL vs. ZEN ($2,900): Olsson takes left-sided corner kicks and plays left-back at home against Zenit. He can't be counted on playing 90 minutes, but he's only $2,900. That's really all you can say about him. It might be better to roster a center-back from a favorite, or find the salary for the likes of Gonzalo Montiel ($4,000) or Joakim Maehle ($3,900), who both have more open-play value and assist equity playing for favorites. Montiel is expected to fill in for the injured Jesus Navas, while Maehle will play on the left wing in place of injured Robin Gosens. 

GOALKEEPERS

Edouard Mendy, CHE vs. JUV ($5,400): Chelsea have been in great form and have the best clean-sheet odds on the slate at 44 percent. Mendy continues to put up incredible numbers. He's kept clean sheets in six of his last seven matches and Chelsea have won all six. Mendy and the Chelsea defense have been the best in Europe since the arrival of Thomas Tuchel. 

Wojciech Szczesny, JUV at CHE ($4,000): Juventus shut Chelsea out and Szczesny only faced one shot on target when the two teams met in September. If you'd rather target saves, Odisseas Vlachodimos ($3,900) should have at least a few to make away to Barcelona.