This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EDT)
Tuesday, 2:45 p.m: Liverpool v. Roma
Wednesday, 2:45 p.m: Bayern Munich v. Real Madrid
GOALKEEPER
Loris Karius, LIV v. ROMA ($6,000): It's hard to find a likely clean sheet this week, as there are just the four best teams in Europe remaining in the competition. However, if there is going to be one then it is most likely going to be Roma that fails to score. It's hard to justify betting against Bayern Munich at home or Ronaldo & Company, so let's go with Karius, who is the keeper for an improved defense that kept Manchester City to just one goal in the last round.
DEFENDERS
Virgil van Dijk, LIV v. ROMA ($5,500): van Dijk is the player who has shored things up defensively at Anfield. He was among the most expensive defenders in the last round, so the discount should be enough to allow him to hit value. In three UCL matches, he has reached at least 14.5 fantasy points, and he has taken 18 shots in 17 competitions for Liverpool, scoring a goal in his team debut back in January.
Javi Martinez, BAY v. MAD ($5,500): Martinez is still listed as a defender, though he plays as a defensive midfielder, which gives him a reliable floor. He only costs $5,500 and is averaging 20.8 fantasy points through eight games, which is nearly 4x value.
Juan Jesus, ROMA at LIV ($4,500): Jesus is not guaranteed to start, but he was in the side when Roma pulled off the unthinkable against Barcelona in the last game. Thus, it is possible that he will make the starting XI, with manager Eusebio Di Francesco expected to make very few changes after an incredible performance. If he does start, Jesus averages nearly 18 fantasy points per game, and at a price of $4,500, that is a production rate that you just can't find elsewhere.
MIDFIELDERS
Mohamed Salah, LIV v. ROMA ($11,000): FanDuel has decided to keep Salah's price at $11,000 for some time, and, in my opinion, that is a laughable price as the third-highest priced player on the slate. The fact that teammate Roberto Firmino is $500 more and Sadio Mane is just $1,000 cheaper is simply shocking. The Egyptian has scored nine goals in the past six games, having scored in each one, and he has now scored 43 goals this season for Liverpool. He is also classified at the midfield position, which is an advantage because it's a position with little reliability.
James Milner, LIV v. ROMA ($8,000): Milner should be in the lineup for this one after starting for much of the tournament. He has contributed seven assists in eight UCL matches, and he even managed to reach 26.25 fantasy points in a game without a goal or an assist. He takes some the team's set pieces plays as a box-to-box midfielder, which allows him to collect both defensive and attacking stats.
Joshua Kimmich, BAY v. MAD ($7,500): Kimmich remains listed as a midfielder, while he has been playing at right-back for some time, but his production is fairly high relative to his price. In home games, he averages 26.4 fantasy points per match, and in a game that should be tightly contested, he should be directed to get up the field on many occasions.
FORWARDS
Cristiano Ronaldo, MAD at BAY ($13,000): It should be difficult to find dependable options that play on the road this round, but Ronaldo has proven time and time again that the setting is never too big. He has scored an astonishing 22 goals in his past 12 appearances, and, remarkably, he has not failed to score in a single game during that span.
Robert Lewandowski, BAY v. MAD ($11,000): There is quite a drop off after Ronaldo at the forward position, but Lewandowski comes the closest to the Portuguese superstar. Lewandowski has scored four goals in his last three appearances, so he is in scoring form heading into Wednesday's match. Although it will be a tough test against a strong Madrid defense, he has proven to be one of the elite strikers in the world.
Diego Perotti, ROMA at LIV ($8,000): It is not certain that Perotti plays after missing out on the miracle in Rome last round, but if he does, he will add a vital source of flair on the wing. He takes most of Roma's set pieces when in the side, so his floor is fairly high given his likelihood of creating some chances.
