This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Soccer series.
MATCHES (EST)
3:00 pm: Liverpool vs. Bayern Munich
3:00 pm: Lyon vs. Barcelona
FORWARDS
Lionel Messi, BAR at LYN (€32): We rarely see salaries above €30, but there's little doubt that Messi deserves this price, as he comes in with 13 goals on 59 shots (32 on target) and three assists on 32 chances created in his last 11 games (10 starts). Barcelona are decently favored despite playing away to Lyon, and Messi, unsurprisingly, has the highest anytime goal scorer odds on the slate. With few midfielders worth paying up for, there likely won't be many fantasy players fading the Barcelona superstar Tuesday.
Memphis Depay, LYN v. BAR (€17): The absence of Nabil Fekir (€24) should give Depay all of Lyon's set pieces, though a plethora of dead-ball opportunities is somewhat unlikely against Barcelona. Nevertheless, Depay is an excellent all-around attacker, scoring at least 10.0 fantasy points in each of his last six starts, which included zero goals and one assist. If there's a knock against Depay it's that he doesn't get on the scoresheet enough for how many shots he takes and chances he creates, but his floor is solid enough to warrant plenty of consideration at his price, and grabbing a goal or an assist is just icing on the cake.
Luis Suarez, BAR at LYN (€24): Pairing Messi and Suarez is certainly a viable strategy because Barcelona have the highest implied goal total on the slate, and while Suarez doesn't have nearly the finishing ability of Messi, he's still a consistent shooter who also draws fouls. Rostering both Barcelona attackers likely means you're fading Mohamed Salah (€27) and Robert Lewandowski (€29), but with that match expected to be close, why not focus on the team that should win handily?
MIDFIELDERS
Leon Goretzka, FCB at LIV (€14): There are plenty of big-name players for Bayern Munich, but Goretzka has been arguably their best attacker of late, scoring four goals on 17 shots, including eight on target, and drawing eight fouls in the last five games. Lining up as either a central attacking or defensive midfielder, Goretzka's low price makes it easier to roster him even though he has a tough matchup away to Liverpool. The midfield pool is pretty weak for Tuesday's slate, so you aren't really missing out if you don't pay up that the position.
Philippe Coutinho, BAR at LYN (€29): Coutinho isn't expected to start Tuesday, but he makes for a fine play if he does because of Barcelona's implied goal total and his penchant for taking shots pretty much whenever he wants. He makes much more sense as part of a Barcelona stack as opposed to a replacement for Messi or Suarez or even Ousmane Dembele (€25), though if you just want a piece of the Barcelona midfield with some upside, you can't be faulted for going with Arturo Vidal at just €10. The same could be said about Kevin-Prince Boateng (€17), though he likely only starts if Suarez or Dembele sit, which isn't expected.
Martin Terrier, LYN v. BAR (€10): Terrier doesn't get many starts, though he could be in the first XI on Tuesday in place of the suspended Fekir. He actually grabbed a start this past weekend against Guingamp, scoring one goal on two shots (both on target) while adding three chances created and two tackles won, and he's actually taken multiple shots in three of his five starts this season. The upside is somewhat limited playing against Barcelona, but what can you ask for at minimum price?
DEFENDERS
Joshua Kimmich, FCB at LIV (€17): While his clean sheet chances are pretty low, Kimmich still figures to be a popular pick because he leads Bayern Munich in accurate crosses, chances created and fouls drawn. His role on set pieces surely plays a role in the former two categories, and while he doesn't take nearly enough shots to really expect any goal upside, it'll be a really tough fade if he gets on the scoresheet because of the expected high ownership.
Sergi Roberto, BAR at LYN (€13): Roberto is the cheapest path to the Barcelona defense, and while he has scored some big goals for the side, his attacking upside really isn't all that great. Instead, he provides relatively cheap access to the team with the best clean sheet odds, but even if they don't get it, it's tough to see a group of defenders out-performing so well that you need to pay up for them.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, LIV v. FCB (€16): The home defender with the highest attacking upside may very well be Alexander-Arnold, who is recently back from injury but could start against Bayern Munich. He has actually sat for other big games because he's more of an attacking player than a defender, but his role on set pieces could provide some much-needed upside at a position that's void of great options.
GOALKEEPER
Marc-Andre ter Stegen, BAR at LYN (€18): There's no denying that Lyon's Anthony Lopes (€12) has the highest save upside on the slate, but he's also the most likely to get lit up thanks to Barcelona's strong attack. Meanwhile, ter Stegen still has plenty of save upside because Lyon will still be attacking at home, but he comes in with the highest win and clean sheet odds. With few players to pay up for at both midfield and defense, there shouldn't be any problem paying up for the most expensive goalkeeper.
