FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday UCL Targets

MATCHES (EDT)

• 3:00 pm: Barcelona vs. Dynamo Kyiv
• 3:00 pm: Chelsea vs. Rennes
• 3:00 pm: Club Brugge vs. Borussia Dortmund
• 3:00 pm: Ferencvárosi TC vs. Juventus
• 3:00 pm: RB Leipzig vs. Paris Saint-Germain
• 3:00 pm: Sevilla vs. FC Krasnodar

For detailed stats and odds, check out the

FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday UCL Cheat Sheet

FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS

Lionel Messi, BAR v. DYK ($23): Messi has almost the exact scoring odds as Robert Lewandowski had Tuesday (he scored twice), which means he should be the most popular player Wednesday. Even in a somewhat down season, Messi has been stout and managed a 38.3-point floor last league match, producing five shots on target and four chances. Barcelona are the biggest favorite on the slate, playing a Dynamo Kyiv side that allowed two goals in each of their first two matches and are dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak. Their projected starting goalkeeper is an 18-year-old third stringer, which could lead to some problems against Barcelona. The Catalans may not be performing well in league play, but they've scored seven goals in two UCL matches and that's powered by Messi. The issue is deciding who to stack with Messi because everyone else on the team is mostly unreliable. Antoine Griezmann ($17) scored his first goal of the season over the weekend and Ousmane Dembele ($20) probably won't play more than 65 minutes. Anssumane Fati ($19) is probably the best option, producing at least one shot on target every start this season, totaling nine shots on target and 10 chances created in six starts. While both Messi and Fati supply upside as the biggest favorite, they also have great floors, meaning they're viable in every contest.

Cristiano Ronaldo, JUV at FCS ($22): Ronaldo returned from COVID-19 and bagged a brace in 34 minutes off the bench Sunday. He has eight shots on target in three appearances this season and faces Ferencvarosi, who already gave up five goals to Barcelona and two to Dynamo Kyiv. Juve need to rebound following their loss to Barca, and a matchup with Ferencvarosi should help. Similar to Messi, Ronaldo's action in front of net usually leads to a solid floor, while his goal-scoring prowess also leads to high-end upside. They're the most popular players in the world and will be popular on this slate, but they could also combine for 100 fantasy points against two weaker sides. Alvaro Morata ($19) has four goals and two assists in six starts this season, but in his lone start next to Ronaldo, he had 5.6 fantasy points and didn't record a shot on target. You could overlook that stat because they're playing Ferencvarosi, but it's something to keep in mind if you want to play someone else in that range.

Angel Di Maria, PSG at LEI ($16): PSG are underdogs because they're missing the majority of their starters, but that means Di Maria will be on every set piece. That isn't a guarantee for production, but at a reduced price, he'll be hard to pass up in cash games. In two starts without Neymar this season, Di Maria racked up five shots on target and 10 chances created. Both PSG and RB Leipzig already lost to Manchester United and will need to push for points. While Di Maria should be a solid floor play, I'm not sold on the upside of PSG because of their injuries. That means banking on another brace from Moise Kean ($14) is probably a bad idea. If you want to look at Leipzig because this match has the second-highest implied goal total, Yussuf Poulsen ($16) has the best odds to score and Christopher Nkunku ($15) has the highest floor, creating 15 chances in his last four appearances. But even with goals expected, neither one of these teams has consistent fantasy performers outside of the ones mentioned. So if you go with guys like Emil Forsberg ($15), Dani Olmo ($14) or Pablo Sarabia ($14), there's a decent chance they finish with fewer than 10 fantasy points.

Timo Werner, CHE v. REN ($20): I think the Rennes defense is being overrated going into this match because they held tight against Sevilla and Krasnodar. Of note, Sevilla managed 10 shots on target and 21 chances created against Rennes even though they've had trouble scoring against bottom-tier Spanish teams this season. As for Chelsea, they're cruising with seven goals scored in their last two matches. I'm not confident that Werner starts, but I'd take anyone who fronts Chelsea's attack because I think they're headed for a few goals. Werner has been the most reliant, though he's score-sheet-or-bust with four goals and two assists in his last five starts. Hakim Ziyech ($16) has been great in two matches, but he could be rested, while Mason Mount ($14) and Kai Havertz ($17) are the other options. I'm not confident in the secondary players making the score-sheet, but I think they'll do enough in the attack to warrant cash consideration, especially given all the opportunities Sevilla racked up against Rennes.

DEFENDERS

Evgeni Chernov, KRA at SEV ($5): Chernov doesn't have a high floor, but he takes set pieces and is the cheapest expected starting defender. If you want Messi and Ronaldo, you'll likely need Chernov or someone in this range in your squad. Unlike prior slates, none of these cheaper options have much of a floor, so take your pick. If you have a few more bucks, you could stack Leipzig defenders out of Ibrahima Konate ($9), Willi Orban ($9) and Benjamin Henrichs ($7), and hope they're on the defensive against PSG. 

Ben Chilwell, CHE v. REN ($14): I'd only use Chilwell if Ziyech and Reece James ($13) don't make the starting XI. If that's not the case, Chilwell probably isn't worth the money. However, if they're out, Chilwell will definitely be on sets and hope to get back to the form he had a couple weeks ago when he was hitting a floor of 20 points. Otherwise, I'm not huge on any of the top defenders, as Angelino ($15) doesn't have the floor to justify pricing. Instead, it may be better to focus on a couple underdog center-backs like Miha Blazic ($12) and Adnan Kovacevic ($9), who both scored at least 10 fantasy points in each of the first two matches.

GOALKEEPER

Edouard Mendy, CHE v. REN ($12): There are three goalkeepers more expensive than Mendy, who has five clean sheets in five starts. That's the only info I need to make him my top goalkeeper, but Rennes have also struggled in UCL, scoring one goal through two matches. If you're fading Di Maria and PSG's backups, Peter Gulacsi ($10) is in a nice spot to rebound following the drubbing at Man United. The issue is that they aren't a big favorite, so you may not be getting those extra seven points for a win. Otherwise, I think all of the goalkeepers who are more expensive than Mendy are in play, with Neto ($15) having the best odds to win and secure a clean sheet.