DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday UCL Picks

MATCHES (EST)

• 3:00 pm: Ajax vs. Valencia
• 3:00 pm: Benfica vs. Zenit St. Petersburg
• 3:00 pm: Borussia Dortmund vs. Slavia Prague
• 3:00 pm: Chelsea vs. Lille
• 3:00 pm: Inter Milan vs. Barcelona
• 3:00 pm: Lyon vs. RB Leipzig

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

FORWARDS

Memphis Depay, OL v. RBL ($10,200): Lyon will finish atop Group G with a win over RB Leipzig, who they defeated 2-0 in Germany back in October, with Memphis scoring a goal, something he's done in all four of his Champions League starts this season. Despite the loss to Lyon two months ago, Leipzig have already qualified for the knockout round and need a draw Tuesday to top the group. Lyon also don't necessarily need a win to qualify themselves, as a draw and a Zenit St. Petersburg loss to Benfica in Portugal would also see them through, though in second. With the matches being played concurrently, there's every reason for Lyon to go for the win, and with Memphis playing a major role on their set pieces, not to mention excellent open-play production, he could be a very popular pay-up option, especially with Lionel Messi ($10,400) not joining Barcelona on their trip to face Inter Milan.

Thorgan Hazard, BVB v. SLP ($6,400): Plenty of fantasy players have lost lots of money while trying to rely on Borussia Dortmund to take care of business, and Tuesday gives us another opportunity to think this time they'll do us right. Level on points with Inter Milan in Group F, Dortmund simply need to earn more points than Inter on Tuesday to advance to the knockout round. Barcelona have already won the group and are not sending all of their top players to Italy for Tuesday's match, so Inter certainly have a chance to get all three points, which would knock Dortmund to the Europa League (Slavia Prague cannot finish above fourth). Hazard has been a regular set-piece taker, though it is not a monopoly, and his open-play work is certainly worth chasing at his salary, especially in a forward spot. Dortmund are the second-biggest favorite with the second-highest implied goal total, so Hazard could certainly get some ownership in cash games and GPPs.

Timo Werner, RBL at OL ($8,400): Leipzig only need a draw against Lyon to win the group, and it was already discussed that Lyon need a win, but Werner's form has to keep him in consideration. He's coming off another great game, scoring two goals on 10 shots (seven on target) against Hoffenheim, and he's now taken at least four shots in six consecutive starts, a span that has seen him score nine goals on 35 shots (18 on target) and pick up six assists on 13 chances created. Given other options on the slate, he's probably not a cash play, but there may not be a hotter player on the slate.

MIDFIELDERS

Hakim Ziyech, AJA v. VCF ($9,900): Ajax only need a draw to finish first in Group H, or they could finish first if they lose but Chelsea also lose to Lille, the latter of which has already clinched fourth place. Ziyech is one of the best floor players in the Champions League, and while you have to pay for that production, it's because he pretty much always delivers. He has been sharing set pieces with Quincy Promes ($8,500, forward) for much of the season, but Promes has been ruled out because of a muscular injury, which should give more dead-ball opportunities to Ziyech. Ajax are the third-biggest favorite on the slate, and while he's the second-most expensive player (not counting Messi), ownership will likely be high once again for Ajax's talisman.

Mason Mount, CHE v. LIL ($7,700): We have to pay up pretty significantly for Willian ($9,300, midfield/forward), which makes paying a decent amount less seem solid for Mount, who has been sharing set pieces with Willian lately. Chelsea will go through to the knockout rounds with a win, so their attackers are obviously very much in play, especially because they are the biggest favorite on the slate. A Chelsea stack is not out of the question either, and while Willian has shown a solid floor, Mount's is close enough to justify the reduced price, while the upside play is certainly more Tammy Abraham ($8,900, forward) than Willian. Pizzi ($7,500) and Dani Parejo ($8,000) could also get some consideration in this price range, but Benfica are barely home favorites against Zenit, while Valencia are actually underdogs away to Ajax.

Marcelo Brozovic, INT v. BAR ($5,200): Christopher Nkunku ($5,800) has been incredibly lately, scoring more than 20 fantasy points in each of his last three starts, and he even had an impressive 10.8 in only 24 minutes off the bench last weekend against Hoffenheim. His shared role on set pieces has certainly helped, and the only thing working against him Tuesday is that Leipzig only need a draw at Lyon to clinch first place in Group G. That isn't to say they won't try, and Nkunku's lower salary is certainly helpful, but they don't have to go for it quite like some other sides. One of those sides is Inter, who need to beat Barcelona to ensure they move on. Brozovic has a role on set pieces, one that could grow if Antonio Candreva ($6,800, midfield/forward) can't overcome the back issue that forced him out of last weekend's match at halftime. He's predominantly a defensive player, though he does enough that actually earns fantasy points where taking a shot on his set pieces can be worth it. There really aren't many great obvious pay-down options at midfield, though with a few teams already into the next round, or already out of that possibility, we could see some rotation that opens up a slot for a cheap play or two.

DEFENDERS

Douglas Santos, ZEN at BEN ($5,400): There are a few higher-priced defenders who should be in consideration, but Douglas sticks out because of his role on set pieces, one that could be bigger than it's been in previous Champions League matches if Sebastian Driussi ($5,700, midfield/forward) is unable to play because of a hamstring injury. The benefit of Douglas is that he does a lot of fantasy-relevant defensive work in addition to being able to join the attack, mostly through set pieces, and his price isn't overly high for exposure to a team that need a win to guarantee they advance to the next round (they technically get through if Lyon lose or draw if Zenit also draw). Alejandro Grimaldo ($5,500) also has a role on set pieces and is a slight home favorite against Zenit, so he could be in consideration, though Nicolas Tagliafico ($5,200) is a solid home favorite who doesn't rely on set pieces for his fantasy points (and, as such, isn't as safe for cash games). Then again, Reece James ($5,700) could certainly be the highest-scoring defender if Chelsea smoke Lille like they're supposed to.

Kenny Tete, OL v. RBL ($4,300): Tete is expected to get another start for Lyon, and it comes only days after he had a magnificent outing against Nimes in Ligue 1 action, finishing with 22.0 fantasy points thanks, in part, to one assist on four chances created, one shot, six crosses and four interceptions. Lyon should be attacking in a match they need to try to win, and Tete has shown plenty of attacking upside in his appearances this year and last.

Jeremy Pied, LIL at CHE ($3,200): Lille are stuck in fourth place and no way to get out, so we could see some rotation as they try to play spoiler at Stamford Bridge. They are the biggest underdog on the slate, so we can't expect much, but Chelsea have been far from solid defensively, and Pied has enough attacking upside through crosses to make him a consideration at a price normally reserved for center-backs. Domagoj Bradaric ($3,300) should be a thought too because of his crossing abilities, but again, we can't expect a whole lot in this match, which is why his price is also so low.

GOALKEEPER

Neto, BAR at INT ($4,000): How often do you get Barcelona's starting goalkeeper at only $4,000? Admittedly, they are away underdogs in a match that means nothing to them, but that shouldn't mean that their goalkeeper is priced only $400 more than Lille's, who is a +1500 underdog, or $200 more than Slavia Prague's, who is +1050 to win versus Neto's +425. Inter's attack has been excellent, scoring double-digit goals in 10 consecutive Serie A and Champions League matches before last weekend's scoreless draw with Roma, and while we may not be able to rely on the win (and certainly not the clean sheet) bonus for Neto, he should have enough shots coming his way to have a decent save floor.