DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday-Wednesday UCL Picks

MATCHES (ET)

• Tuesday, 3:00 pm: Liverpool vs. Barcelona
• Wednesday, 3:00 pm: Ajax vs. Tottenham Hotspur

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

FORWARDS

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, LIV v. BAR ($3,700): Firstly, I don't think Oxlade-Chamberlain starts, but he could easily be the highest-owned player in cash games and GPPs if he does because he'll be playing for a side that needs to make up a three-goal deficit and is less than $4,000. If you want to consider that he's a very good peripheral-point scorer, that's fine too, but the salary is simply too low to pass on. With Mohamed Salah (concussion) and Roberto Firmino (groin) already ruled out, the Liverpool front line will look very different from what we've gotten used to this season. Divock Origi ($4,800), who scored off the bench this past weekend, is a more-likely option to start, though Daniel Sturridge ($5,500) is theoretically a possibility despite playing 90 minutes at Newcastle on Saturday. We also can't ignore Xherdan Shaqiri ($6,000), who picked up an assist off the bench Saturday, though he hasn't started a match since Jan. 30 (then again, Oxlade-Chamberlain has only featured once this season). All of the cheap Liverpool attacking options shouldn't necessarily shy you away from Sadio Mane ($8,000), who has actually been Liverpool's best player this season. Paying up for Mane makes sense in a vacuum because Liverpool need to score, but his floor isn't that much higher than Origi, Shaqiri, Sturridge or Oxlade-Chamberlain, and using that much salary on him in cash games may not be optimal for filling out the rest of the lineup.

Son Heung-Min, TOT at AJA ($7,000): Tottenham don't have to make up the three-goal deficit that Liverpool do, but they still have to score once to force extra time (if they win 1-0), and any goal Ajax score will need to be countered, though Spurs' will effectively count as double after the first one. Either way, they need to attack and Son will be returning after being suspended for the first leg, and he was sparingly used this past weekend because he was sent off with a straight red card against Bournemouth after just 43 minutes. He comes in with higher anytime goal-scorer odds than everyone except Lionel Messi ($10,000) and Sturridge, and while you could get access to the Spurs attack through Fernando Llorente ($6,600), Son is simply a much better player for only a little bit more salary.

Lionel Messi, BAR at LIV ($10,000): I guess we should talk about Messi, who scored 30.00 fantasy points in the first leg (the third time in his last four UCL games with at least that many) thanks to two goals on four shots (two on goal) and four fouls drawn. Rarely is Messi a bad play, and while he may not be that bad this week, there seems to be little reason to pay up for him when Barcelona don't have to attack much and there are lots of ways to use the salary savings to make up for the goal he could inevitably score. His ownership level will probably be lower than we're used to seeing, but it's not like you're going to end up with an 11-percent Messi against a banged up Liverpool (banged up in the front, not the back). That being said, it's still Messi and people will still roster him because they aren't paying up for Salah, but there are better places to go with that salary level.

MIDFIELDER

Hakim Ziyech, AJA v. TOT ($9,600): One obvious place for the Messi salary is Ziyech, who has scored double-digit fantasy points in every Champions League start this season. He has the highest and most consistent floor, and his fantasy points come from a variety of sources, so it's not like we have to only depend on set pieces (he has a share but not even a majority). Ajax may be leading the tie 1-0, but a Tottenham goal would put plenty of pressure on them to score, plus Ajax's pressing style just leads to attacking output anyway. Ziyech will easily be the highest-owned player in cash games, and while you could fade him in GPPs, it seems better to look elsewhere for differentiation.

Christian Eriksen, TOT at AJA ($7,500): A role on set pieces will always keep Eriksen involved, though admittedly his floor is deceivingly lower than many believe. His points generally come from shots (he is averaging 2.41 per 90 in the Champions League) and crosses (5.47 per 90), and with Tottenham needing to get at least one goal in regular time to extend the tie, Eriksen should be attacking quite a bit. Then again, he does fall back into the holding midfield enough where we've seen some disappointing games, such as the first leg when he had only 6.25 fantasy points after taking only one shots and sending in only three crosses. He seems like a fairly easy GPP fade because you can get Lucas Moura ($6,100) or Dele Alli ($5,800) for less and they have higher goal upside, but for cash games Eriksen makes more sense.

James Milner, LIV v. BAR ($6,400): The game script is certainly there for Milner, as he could be Liverpool's primary set-piece taker in a match they need to attack in while trying to make up a three-goal deficit. Milner's open-play value is actually not that high, but there could be a decent number of set-piece opportunities if Liverpool are able to wrestle possession from Barcelona. DFS players looking to roster Messi and Ziyech may not be able to afford the trio of Ziyech, Eriksen and Milner, but there aren't really any solid cheap midfielders on the slate, as you'll be left relying on scoresheet appearances from players like Jordan Henderson ($4,200), Moussa Sissoko ($4,100) or Georginio Wijnaldum ($3,600). Could it happen? Sure, but it's unlikely.

DEFENDERS

Trent Alexander-Arnold, LIV v. BAR ($5,000): Alexander-Arnold didn't start the first leg, as manager Jurgen Klopp opted for the more defensively-minded Joe Gomez ($3,400) at right-back. However, with a three-goal deficit to make up, it seems like it should be time for Alexander-Arnold, who has a role on set pieces when he starts, though he's also a very good open-play crosser. He provides more consistency than teammate Andrew Robertson ($4,500), though both are viable because of how much Liverpool need to attack.

Kieran Trippier, TOT at AJA ($5,100): Trippier is expected to share set pieces with Eriksen, and he follows the same mold as Alexander-Arnold in that he's a sub-par defender but has attacking upside while playing for a team that needs to attack. If you don't want to be dependent on set pieces, Danny Rose ($4,600) has consistently shown an ability to produce in open play, both on the attacking and defensive ends. And if you prefer a similar player but on the home favorite, Joel Veltman ($4,400) is the guy, though Nicolas Tagliafico ($4,800) isn't a bad option either since it's possible Veltman doesn't start.

Toby Alderweireld, TOT at AJA ($3,400): With enough reasonably priced fullbacks on the slate, there doesn't seem to be a reason to pay down for a center-back. However, if you're trying to jam in Messi, Ziyech, Eriksen and Mane, for example, you're going to be dumpster diving for defenders. Alderweireld has been a decent target on set pieces recently, with five shots in his last three starts when he's played more than 45 minutes. It's not a lot to go on, but if you're playing Eriksen and Trippier, putting in Alderweireld for a correlation play makes sense.

GOALKEEPER

Marc-Andre ter Stegen, BAR at LIV ($4,600): If there's one worry about ter Stegen it's that he could concede a goal and lose the game but Barcelona still advance. However, DFS players will be hoping he makes enough saves against the desperate Liverpool attack, one that will be without two of its top three attackers.