FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday UCL Targets

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

MATCHES (EST)

3:00 pm: Borussia Dortmund vs. Tottenham Hotspur
3:00 pm: Real Madrid vs. Ajax

FORWARDS

Vinicius Junior, MAD v. AJA ($6,500): Vinicius should be on every roster (in cash games), there's no other way to put it. The 18-year-old has more often than not had a floor above 10 fantasy points thanks to 1.81 shots on goal and 1.69 chances created per 90 minutes in La Liga play. He was Real's best attacking option in their recent loss to Barcelona, taking six shots and creating three chances. It'd be a surprise if he were rested this match, especially since Gareth Bale ($11,000) hasn't started back-to-back games since December. At this price, you're getting a good floor but also some upside after he assisted in the first meeting with Ajax.

Karim Benzema, MAD v. AJA ($12,500): I rarely recommend two forwards on the same team, but on a two-game slate when one of them is only $6,500, it's not a terrible idea. Real Madrid are somewhat struggling, but part of that has to do with playing Barcelona. Los Blancos are still the biggest favorite on the slate, and while Ajax have played well defensively in the Champions League, they need to push forward in this one, already down 2-1 from the first leg. I prefer Benzema over Bale because he's a better bet to play a full 90 and overall a little safer. Bale had a floor of 18 points in the first leg, but I'm also not convinced he starts.

Harry Kane, TOT at DOR ($12,000): Since my top forward is $6,500, I'm fine with backing the two most expensive players on the slate. Tottenham may sit back and hold onto their lead, but Kane should get numerous opportunities on the counter. Down three goals, Dortmund will likely push the entire match, and that should leave Kane in a few 1-on-1 situations. He's also the one guy who's going to score for Tottenham, whereas Dortmund and Ajax have a slew of options. If Spurs score, Kane will be involved, as he has made the score sheet in 10 of his last 12 starts in all competitions. You could throw Dusan Tadic ($9,000) or Paco Alcacer ($8,000) into the mix, but they'd be a replacement for Vinicius.

MIDFIELDERS

Mario Gotze, DOR v. TOT ($7,500): Similar to Vinicius, Gotze is my favorite midfielder on the slate. He's been ineffective in this year's Champions League and that's why his price is so low, but he's turned that around in the last month. He had a floor of 12.5 fantasy points in the first meeting and, more importantly, has two goals and two assists in his last four Bundesliga starts, producing nine shots on goal and 13 chances created. If he returns to an attacking midfield role and Alcacer goes up front, I'm less confident, but Dortmund's numbers at home are hard to ignore. While Tottenham may sit back, they've never been an easy team to trust in UCL and Dortmund have scored 14 goals in their last four home matches in all competitions.

Hakim Ziyech, AJA at MAD ($8,500): There isn't one midfielder I want to spend up on because Christian Eriksen's ($9,500) UCL numbers are inflated and Toni Kroos ($9,000) isn't playing well after being subbed early against Barcelona due to ineffectiveness. Ziyech is an underdog, but he's been incredibly consistent at getting opportunities, as seen in his floor of at least 15 points in prior road trips to Benfica and Bayern Munich. He's averaging 2.33 shots on goal and 1.55 chances created per 90 minutes, but also a few tackles and interceptions to help his floor. You could throw money at Eriksen or Kroos, but both have similar floors and neither will be in attack mode the entire match.

Casemiro, MAD v. AJA ($7,500): If you have money to burn, Eriksen would be my choice, but maybe only if you're using Kane. I'd also keep an eye on Tottenham's lineup since Dele Alli could make his return, though I wouldn't roster him. I'm using Casemiro for defensive stats and that's it. His floor is consistently above 10 fantasy points, hitting at least 14 in five of his last six starts, including 14.7 in the first leg. If Ajax attack as expected, he should rack up a ton of defensive stats that will have his floor in that range again and possibly more if all goes well. You could either bank on a solid floor from Casemiro or spend on Eriksen with the hope he makes the score sheet on a counter.

DEFENDERS

Raphael Guerreiro, DOR v. TOT ($6,500): After coming off the bench in their last league match, my money is on Guerreiro to start. With Dortmund pushing the majority of the match, he should be plenty active, and no other listed defender plays as an attacking midfielder. He only played two minutes in the prior meeting, but his upside usually outweighs the possibility of getting subbed early, as he has four goals and three assists in his last nine starts, while also taking corners. It's a little less certain for the likes of Kieran Trippier ($7,000) and Daniel Carvajal ($7,000), who are usually more useful as attackers, but that won't be their main role Tuesday.

Davinson Sanchez, TOT at DOR ($5,500): It's kind of a guessing game between the three Tottenham center-backs, but Sanchez has been the safest with at least nine fantasy points in his last seven starts, averaging 1.39 tackles, 1.39 interceptions and 4.74 clearances per 90 minutes in Premier League play. With Dortmund likely to press the entire way, I'd want at least one of Tottenham's defenders in my lineup, and maybe one of them can reach a floor of 30 points if things go to plan. If you want to save a few bucks, both Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld are $500 cheaper.

Raphael Varane, MAD v. AJA ($4,500): The Tottenham defenders have slightly higher floors so they get the nod over Varane and Nacho ($5,500). Varane is cheaper and had at least 10 fantasy points in his last two La Liga starts, so there's some hope if Ajax attack as expected. While his floor hasn't been great this season, I think he could still see more action than Manuel Akanji and Dan-Axel Zagadou, who both cost the same but will only be forced into work when Tottenham go on the counter. I had both of those guys on my roster in my first run through, but I'm not confident in either reaching their usual floors.

GOALKEEPER

Thibaut Courtois, MAD v. AJA ($5,500): It's a weird slate for goalkeepers since these matches could go any number of ways. Dortmund could win, but also lose the tie. On the other end, Hugo Lloris ($6,000) could end up with 10 saves but lose and allow two goals, yet Tottenham would be fine with that. It's not that I trust Courtois to secure a clean sheet, more so that Real Madrid are most likely to win. And if you want to back Roman Burki ($5,000) or Andre Onana ($4,500), that's equally as difficult. Neither will get many save opportunities but could also allow multiple goals. Courtois has the best odds to win and since money isn't a huge factor, he's my pick.