FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday UCL Targets

MATCHES (EST)

• 3:00 pm: Barcelona vs. Paris Saint-Germain
• 3:00 pm: RB Leipzig vs. Liverpool

For detailed stats and odds, check out the

FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday UCL Cheat Sheet

FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS

Lionel Messi, BAR v. PSG ($24): There isn't anything that stands out in the odds between Tuesday's matchups, but it's Messi against a somewhat depleted PSG squad. He's the most expensive player on the slate, has the best odds to score and will be the most popular, but it won't be easy to fade him. He's in maybe his best form of the season, scoring eight goals in his last five league appearances, and while PSG are another level of competition, that didn't stop him from hitting at least 40 fantasy points in each of his four starts in the group stage. Most notable was the 3-0 loss to Juventus when he had seven shots on target and three chances created, producing a ridiculous floor of 47.9 points. He has the best floor on the slate and probably the best upside, making him viable in all formats. Unfortunately, production around him remains inconsistent. If you want to bank on a Barcelona win, Antoine Griezmann ($20) has made the score-sheet in four of his last six league starts, but he has almost no floor. Pedri ($15) has a higher floor but less upside, while Ousmane Dembele ($17) hasn't hit the back of the net since December despite having seven shots on target in that period. Frenkie de Jong ($11) is a reasonable value option as a defensive midfielder who could have a floor around 10 points, but he also has three goals and three assists in league play this season.

Christopher Nkunku, LEI v. LIV ($14): This isn't a true home game for Leipzig, but I'm not sure Liverpool should be favored on a neutral pitch. Liverpool have been outplayed in their last three Premier League matches, most notably a loss to Brighton, and there's no reason Leipzig can't do the same. Nkunku is at a surprising discount despite a consistent floor above 10 points because of a split role on set pieces. He's made the score-sheet in each of his last three league starts and was a safe bet for fantasy points no matter the situation in the group stage. Even in a 5-0 loss against Man United, he managed eight floor points. His other bonus is that he's more consistent than anyone else on Leipzig because of set pieces. Dani Olmo ($18) is oddly expensive for someone who has three goals in 17 league starts, while Yussuf Poulsen ($16) is even more boom or bust. While Leipzig are in form in league play, they don't have a ton of floor options and goal scoring is mostly inconsistent, which is why Nkunku is the best option, especially at a discount.

Sadio Mane, LIV at LEI ($19): I have to write about Liverpool because they're a favorite on a two-game slate, but you don't need one of their players to have success. I prefer Mane because he's cheaper than Mohamed Salah ($21) and will probably be less popular. Salah takes penalties and is more likely to score, but he's also had a minimal floor in league play and created just two chances in the last four matches. Mane isn't producing much either, but he's at least creating for his teammates every match and is still a threat to score, assuming Liverpool will get looks on net in this match. Some will be intrigued by a Liverpool stack, but given how they've played, that probably won't work. Roberto Firmino ($18) remains a GPP option, but his floor is often around five points. Someone like Thiago Alcantara ($9) may be a better option because he at least comes close to 10 fantasy points from defensive stats, and that may be enough for cash games if this match only has one or two goals. Liverpool aren't playing inspired right now and it's hard to be excited about any of their players in a midweek match played halfway across Europe in Budapest.

Kylian Mbappe, PSG at BAR ($22): I don't like PSG in this matchup, but Barcelona have allowed four goals in their last three league matches, so there will be opportunities. The absence of both Neymar and Angel Di Maria will likely be a bigger problem, and even in their most recent league match when PSG beat Nice, they had one fewer shot on target. Mbappe is the perfect GPP play because he has a ton of upside and not many will consider him on the biggest underdog of the slate. He doesn't have much of a floor, but he's always in play for goals and Barcelona also have injuries on the back line. When you combine injuries with the speed of Mbappe, that sometimes leads to goals. There's not much else to like from PSG unless you want to stack them and hope for Barcelona to collapse. Mauro Icardi ($19) and Moise Kean ($17) are in the same mold as Mbappe, and while they're cheaper, they're not as likely to hit the back of the net. If you want a defensive midfielder who will likely have a busy day against Messi, Idrissa Gueye ($8) is cheap and will surely rack up tackles.

DEFENDERS

Ozan Kabak, LIV at LEI ($8): There isn't a projected starting defender below $8, so bargain hunters will be stuck in this range. Kabak is my choice if he starts again because he's a center-back in a four-man back line. He also is familiar with Leipzig, having come over from Schalke in the  Bundesliga. The other choices at this price are Lukas Klostermann, Alessandro Florenzi and Oscar Mingueza, none of whom have a significant floor above the rest.

Angelino, LEI v. LIV ($14): Angelino correlates to the thinking that Leipzig shouldn't be an underdog. If you like Liverpool and have Salah or Mane, it makes more sense to go with Trent Alexander-Arnold ($15) or Andrew Robertson ($14). Angelino provides similar fantasy value in that he has a split role on set pieces, averaging 1.56 shots and 2.26 chances created per 90 minutes in league play. His UCL numbers are a bit outlandish, with three goals and three assists in six matches, but he can be worth the price, since he also produces consistent tackles and interceptions.

GOALKEEPER

Peter Gulacsi, LEI v. LIV ($9): If you're fading the Liverpool attack, Gulacsi makes the most sense at goalkeeper having secured seven clean sheets in his last 11 league starts. Liverpool's struggles have been mentioned, and while their attack isn't as bad as a month ago, they're still struggling to hit the back of the net at a consistent rate. Their lone goal against Man City came from the penalty spot, and they scored once from 15 shots in the loss to Leicester City. Marc-Andre ter Stegen ($13) has the best odds to win and secure a clean sheet, and he is the play if you aren't using Mbappe, Icardi or Kean.