FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday UCL Targets

MATCHES (ET)

• 3:00 pm: Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich
• 3:00 pm: Chelsea vs. Zenit St. Petersburg
• 3:00 pm: Dynamo Kyiv vs. Benfica
• 3:00 pm: Lille vs. VfL Wolfsburg
• 3:00 pm: Malmö FF vs. Juventus
• 3:00 pm: Villarreal vs. Atalanta

For detailed stats and odds, check out the

FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday UCL Cheat Sheet

FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS

Paulo Dybala, JUV at MFF ($20): Juventus are heavy favorites away to Malmo, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Juve stacks in GPPs. Dybala is expected to have a decent role on set pieces, which should allow him to create chances while still maintaining a decent shot floor. Alvaro Morata ($22) has the higher anytime goal scorer odds, and while pairing the two is expensive, it's still a strategy many could deploy. Juventus have a number of cheaper options who could pay off, including Manuel Locatelli ($8) and Rodrigo Bentancur ($13), though they're more likely to be decent floor players with potential upside only because they're on a big favorite (and most people seem likely to play Locatelli because he's so much cheaper).

Joshua Kimmich, BAY at BAR ($16): Kimmich's floor makes him more of a cash-game option, but his assist ability on set pieces shouldn't exclude him from GPP consideration. The matchup away to Barcelona certainly seems difficult on the surface, but we can't ignore that Bayern Munich are actually favored in the match with the highest combined goal total, by a wide margin. Kimmich's exclusive role on set pieces puts him in solid positions to create chances, though his lack of shooting obviously limits his goal upside. Robert Lewandowski ($22) is the obvious path to Bayern Munich's goals, with Leroy Sane ($18), Jamal Musiala ($16) and Leon Goretzka ($16) also potential options who are likely to be more popular than Thomas Muller ($21) if only because they are considerably cheaper. The other side of the match shouldn't be ignored, as Memphis Depay ($21) can be an excellent fantasy scorer, but he likely needs a goal to make value at his salary.

Mateo Kovacic, CHE v. ZNT ($11): We've buried the lede long enough: Chelsea are by far the biggest favorite on the slate with the highest implied goal total, and no player has higher anytime goal scorer odds than Romelu Lukaku ($23), the most expensive player. There could be plenty of Chelsea stacks depending on how they line up, with Mason Mount ($19) and Kai Havertz ($20) potential options to play with Lukaku. Unfortunately, and understandably, they're all pretty expensive, which is why some fantasy players could look to save money with Kovacic, who had a goal and an assist this past weekend and figures to be able to move forward if Chelsea are going to be as dominant as the odds suggest. We could also get some people interested in Jorginho ($14) if they think he could take penalties, though that role is unclear now that Lukaku is around.

Ruslan Malinovskyi, ATA at VIL ($18): With most fantasy players targeting Chelsea, Juventus, Bayern Munich and Barcelona, those who prefer to zag when others zig may benefit from focusing on the Villarreal v. Atalanta match, which actually has the second-highest goal total. Malinovskyi's role on set pieces helped him create eight chances in his last two appearances, which happened in only 105 total minutes. Teammate Duvan Zapata ($18) is the goal scorer of the group, while the other side has more floor-type players like Dani Parejo ($16), who should take set pieces and has a solid defensive floor, and Manu Trigueros ($11). Gerard Moreno ($19) has more goal upside for the home team and likely to be very overlooked.

DEFENDERS

Anel Ahmedhodzic, MFF v. JUV ($9): Ahmedhodzic could be the cheapest starting center-back for an underdog. There isn't anything exciting about Ahmedhodzic other than Juventus are likely to dominate possession and take lots of shots, which should open up plenty of opportunities for clearances and blocked shots. Oleksandr Syrota ($8) is another cheap option, though Benfica aren't likely to develop as many defensive opportunities as Juventus, so maybe fantasy players move to the biggest underdog and rely on Yaroslav Rakitskiy ($10) of Zenit for their defensive accumulations.

Juan Cuadrado, JUV at MFF ($15): There are actually a number of expensive defenders who could have big impacts, including Cuadrado because of his attacking upside for a big favorite. That theoretically also applies to Reece James ($13) and Ben Chilwell ($12), though they don't shoot that much and are probably reliant on set pieces to get an assist. Then again, if Marcos Alonso ($15) starts, he could be a viable pay-up option. If you'd rather get a more well-rounded defensive scorer with attacking upside, Benfica's Alejandro Grimaldo ($14) is a fun option who's likely to be overlooked because of the Juve and Chelsea guys.

GOALKEEPER

Denys Boyko, DYK v. BEN ($7): Boyko is the home goalkeeper in the match with the lowest implied goal total. Granted, he's an underdog, but his very cheap price certainly allows fantasy players to spend elsewhere. Opposing keeper Odisseas Vlachodimos ($12) is nearly twice the price, and high enough that you may as well take the better win and clean sheet odds with Edouard Mendy ($14).