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MATCHES (EDT)
2:45 p.m: Barcelona v. Roma
2:45 p.m: Liverpool v. Manchester City
FORWARDS
Lionel Messi, FCB v. ROM ($11,400): Messi came off the bench to score a late equalizer in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Sevilla, marking the seventh consecutive game he's found the back of the net. Barcelona are heavy favorites at home against Roma, and if Messi's two-goal, one-assist haul versus Chelsea in Barca's last Champions League home game is any indication, he has the ability to rack up fantasy points in bulk no matter the opponent.
Mohamed Salah, LIV v. MCI ($9,500): Salah is having a dream campaign in his first season at Liverpool, with 36 goals over 37 games in all competitions. One of those came in Liverpool's 4-3 win over Manchester City back in January, and with the Reds pushing for goals in the first leg, there's little doubt that Salah will be firing at will anytime he gets a sniff of goal.
Luis Suarez, FCB v. ROM ($9,200): Suarez is always going to be in Messi's shadow, but we all know he has the ability to turn up with a hat-trick on any given slate. On a condensed slate, a guy like Suarez or Roberto Firmino ($7,700) could play spoiler, so be sure to mix-and-match if multi-entering tournaments.
MIDFIELDERS
Kevin De Bruyne, MCI at LIV ($8,900): De Bruyne garners a healthy share of Manchester City's set pieces, and he averaged nearly 14 fantasy points per game in six Champions League appearances leading up to the quarterfinals. Multi-position eligibility allows us to work KDB in around Messi and Salah, and while De Bruyne doesn't come with the goal scoring appeal that teammates Gabriel Jesus ($8,100) or Raheem Sterling ($7,500) carry, he's the safer play considering his role on set pieces.
Roberto Firmino, LIV v. MCI ($7,700): Firmino will be the lesser owned of the Liverpool strike force, which makes him a worthy play in tournaments with the masses flocking to Salah. Firmino also had his way in Liverpool's thrilling win over City just over two months ago, registering a goal and an assist, and he's shown before that he can emerge as the top Liverpool forward any given slate.
James Milner, LIV v. MCI ($5,900): Milner has been a fixture in Liverpool's UCL run, and I expect he'll be in the starting lineup Wednesday. He has a share of Liverpool's set pieces, and a quick glance over his game log shows he's been hitting double-digit points with ease in Champions League and is very reasonably priced in this spot.
DEFENDERS
Aleksandar Kolarov, ROM at FCB ($5,100): Kolarov is in a tough spot in an away fixture at Barcelona, but given his role on set pieces and the lack of standout defenders on the condensed slate, a case can be made for rolling him out here. It's almost a given that Barcelona will score, so Roma's going to have to push to salvage something to take back to Italy for the second leg.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, LIV v. MCI ($4,700): Alexander-Arnold should be penciled in at right-back with Joe Gomez ruled out through injury. He's averaged over 11 points across seven UCL appearances this season, and in a game that has the potential to shoot out, TAA could add to his two-goal, one-assist Champions League tally.
Virgil van Dijk, LIV v. MCI ($3,400): It's never fun recommending center-backs, but on a two-game slate with not much to get excited about elsewhere, a case can be made for pulling van Dijk out of the bargain bin. He's flirted with double digits on several occasions from defensive stats alone, and if we can get there with a center-back at near minimum price, I'd rather go that route than paying a thousand bucks more for a mediocre outside back.
GOALKEEPER
Marc-Andre ter Stegen, FCB v. ROM ($5,800): Barcelona are the biggest favorite by a landslide, and oddsmakers are pegging them at near 50 percent to pitch a clean sheet at home versus Roma. With the Liverpool/Manchester City match seemingly unpredictable and having the potential to be a shootout, I'm playing it safe and finding the funds to pay up for ter Stegen.
