DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday UCL Picks

MATCHES (ET)

• 3:00 pm: Ajax vs. Juventus
• 3:00 pm: Manchester United vs. Barcelona

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

FORWARDS

Lionel Messi, BAR at MU ($10,400): Messi is the most expensive player on Wednesday's slate, but there are plenty of reasons why he'll likely be the highest-owned player in cash games and tournaments. Not only are Barcelona the biggest favorite with the highest implied goal total, but Messi comes in with 13 goals on 47 shots (25 on goal), four assists on 17 chances created and 17 fouls drawn in his last eight games. The biggest question will be whether people try to play both Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo ($10,100), who is expected to start after sitting out the past four games with a thigh injury. There's no denying how great Ronaldo can be, especially in the Champions League, but Messi has to be considered safer given the injury issues of the former.

Federico Bernardeschi, JUV at AJA ($6,400): Bernardeschi is the cheap alternative to Ronaldo, albeit with not nearly as much upside. His floor is actually pretty similar because of his role on set pieces, and while his recent shot volume is mostly attributed to Ronaldo being out, his significantly cheaper price will surely push people his way in cash games. In fact, with the midfield player pool fairly weak in terms of high floor plays, Bernardeschi could be popular even with Ronaldo and Messi, especially since he offers more than just set pieces, unlike teammate Miralem Pjanic ($6,900, midfielder).

Anthony Martial, MU v. BAR ($6,200): Martial's playing time has been pretty inconsistent, partially because of a number of injuries, but he is a possibility to start Wednesday against a Barcelona back line that can have holes at times. Paying up for Marcus Rashford ($8,600) is probably a more contrarian move because of his higher price, though it may be worth the try in GPPs just because so many people will be interested in Ronaldo and Messi and any of their teammates, not to mention Ajax's Dusan Tadic ($9,600). Martial doesn't provide much of a floor, but he has two goals on six shots (five on target) and one assist on three chances created in his last two Premier League starts, and his price certainly fits with those looking for a cheaper attacking option on a home team.

MIDFIELDERS

Hakim Ziyech, AJA v. JUV ($9,400): No midfielder has a better floor than Ziyech, who has scored double-digit fantasy points in every Champions League start this season, including a goal in each leg against Real Madrid in the round of 16. Lining up against Juventus will be his toughest match of the season, but Ajax need a result at home because they are highly unlikely to get one back in Italy. That doesn't mean Ziyech will have a field day, but with the number of shots he takes and crosses he sends in, he remains an elite floor play with plenty of upside against a Juventus back line that's dealing with a number of injuries or players just returning from them.

Arturo Vidal, BAR at MU ($4,500): Vidal's attacking upside is pretty limited, and we're most likely only to get Barcelona's upside plays in Messi and Luis Suarez ($8,100, forward) unless Philippe Coutinho ($8,800) draw the start. Vidal has been shooting a bit more recently, but he's much more of a floor play thanks to his tackles won and fouls drawn. That isn't so bad at his salary, and it becomes even more important given how few pay-down options there are on a slate that will require at least one for those looking to pair Messi and Ronaldo.

Paul Pogba, MU v. BAR ($7,500): Pogba has admittedly been pretty poor of late, and a matchup against Barcelona isn't ideal, but it's tough to deny his GPP upside. He's shown plenty of that at times this season (he takes penalties for United, after all), and his salary is a bit tough for those who pay up for three elite attackers. Like Martial and Rashford, Pogba fits the more contrarian mold, but it could pay off handsomely if he can get on the scoresheet.

DEFENDERS

Joao Cancelo, JUV at AJA ($5,600): Cancelo is the most expensive defender on the slate, but he has arguably the highest floor because of his contributions in the attack and defense. Teammate Alex Sandro ($4,800) isn't a bad look either, and both certainly have more attacking upside than the Barcelona options. The clean sheet is possible, but you're really playing them for their crosses and fouls drawn; the biggest problem is whether you'll have salary for them if you're spending up elsewhere.

Joel Veltman, AJA v. JUV ($3,500): It's tough to get overly excited about a right-back playing against Juventus, and that's especially so if he's been out for a significant amount of time due to injury. Nevertheless, Veltman is cheap and will potentially start out wide, so how much can we really expect anyway? The most important thing he provides is salary relief at a position that isn't likely to have a major impact on cash games, and you're getting that without having to guess which center-back might find the back of the net.

Daniele Rugani, JUV at AJA ($2,900): That being said, if salary relief is really the only thing you care about, then Rugani has to get some attention, as he is expected to start in place of the injured Giorgio Chiellini ($3,900), and he plays for the side with the highest clean sheet odds on the slate. I still think Juventus shutting out Ajax is unlikely, but similar to Veltman, if there isn't that much of a difference between the top and bottom of the salary scale in terms of impact, why not just pay down as much as possible?

GOALKEEPER

David de Gea, MUN v. BAR ($4,300): Messi will always instill fear when you roster the goalkeeper against him, but there's no denying that de Gea could have plenty of save opportunities. Barcelona do have a history of road struggles in the latter stages of the Champions League, and while I think making decisions on past seasons isn't optimal, it is at least a somewhat encouraging data piece in favor of the cheapest goalkeeper on the slate.