Yahoo DFS Soccer: Tuesday UCL Picks

Yahoo DFS Soccer: Tuesday UCL Picks

This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Soccer series.

MATCHES (EST)

3:00 p.m: Monaco v. Borussia Dortmund
3:00 p.m: Inter Milan v. PSV Eindhoven
3:00 p.m: FK Crvena Zvezda v. Paris Saint-Germain
3:00 p.m: Club Brugge v. Atletico Madrid
3:00 p.m: Barcelona v. Tottenham
3:00 p.m: Liverpool v. Napoli

FORWARDS

Neymar, PSG at CRV (€28): The second-most expensive player on the slate, there should be little hesitation in paying up for Neymar, with Paris Saint-Germain needing a win to solidify their spot in the round of 16. He's been out for the past week because of a groin injury, but a full return to training this weekend has him ready to go. He was in excellent form before getting hurt, as he had three goals on 10 shots (six on target), one assist on five chances created and 11 fouls drawn in his last three games, and his Champions League averages this year are ridiculous: 4.28 shots, including 2.85 on goal, 5.29 fouls drawn and 1.43 corners won per 90 minutes. FK Crvena Zvezda have been strong defensively at home, shutting out both Napoli and Liverpool, but PSG's attack is on another level, and it doesn't hurt that Neymar scored 50.15 fantasy points against them in the reverse fixture thanks to a hat trick.

Matteo Politano, INT v. PSV (€17): Teammate Mauro Icardi (€26) is the upside play, as we saw when he had one goal on nine shots, including four on target, against PSV in the Netherlands, but Politano gives us access to a set-piece taker at a price level much lower than the elite options. Then again, he isn't an elite option, but with PSV already eliminated from even Europa League contention and Inter Milan needing a win to possibly make the round of 16, the Italian giants should be attacking early and often, with Politano pulling the strings.

Maximilian Philipp, BVB at MCO (€10): Borussia Dortmund have already clinched a spot in the round of 16, and while they still have a chance to win the group, there is going to be heavy rotation Tuesday, which could push Philipp into the starting XI. His playing time has been very limited this season, with Paco Alcacer (€20), Mario Gotze (€15, midfielder) and Marco Reus (€24, midfielder) getting most of the starts up front, but he has a great opportunity to lead the line Tuesday against a Monaco side that is in absolute shambles. And if the lack of playing time worries you, at least know that Philipp averaged 3.28 shots, including 1.12 on target, 1.42 tackles won and 1.86 fouls drawn per 90 minutes in 20 appearances (15 starts) in the Bundesliga last season. Oh, and he's minimum priced.

MIDFIELDERS

Christian Eriksen, TOT at BCN (€22): Barcelona have already clinched the top spot in Group B while Tottenham need a win Tuesday to secure their place in the round of 16. As a result, the matchup isn't nearly as one-sided as it would look in a vacuum, and with Kieran Trippier (€16, defender) ruled out due to injury, Eriksen could have a near monopoly of Spurs' set pieces. His shot volume hasn't been as high this season, though his 3.10 accurate crosses per 90 minutes in the Champions League are the most among players on the slate (not counting Trippier). It feels a little crazy rostering Eriksen ahead of Coutinho (€24), who is at home and actually favored, but with Barcelona's biggest priority to keep everyone healthy, Eriksen's motivation pushes him ahead.

Marko Marin, CRV v. PSG (€17): Taking an attacking midfielder from the biggest underdog on the slate isn't always the best path, but Marin has shown he can hang with the big boys, scoring a goal in the reverse fixture and then grabbing two assists against Liverpool and another against Napoli. FK Crvena Zvezda can still qualify for the Europa League with a win, so it's not like they're just going to roll over and let PSG stomp all of them (PSG may still stomp all over them, but they aren't going to let them do it easily). The midfield pool is kind of light in impact players, and the PSG defense is hardly one that needs to be feared, particularly in Serbia.

Mahmoud Dahoud, BVB at MCO (€11): The Dortmund lineup is likely to provide a number of value plays, and while Dahoud plays mostly as a defensive midfielder, he's still a big part of the way BVB play, as evidenced by the 124 passes he completed against Club Brugge in their last UCL match. The upside option is someone like Christian Pulisic (€21), and there will definitely be people who convince themselves that Mario Gotze (€15) can finally break out even though he's taken more than one shot once this season, but Dahoud and Julian Weigl (€14) will be the important pivots, with Dahoud's price making him an excellent salary saver with a somewhat decent floor if Dortmund can control possession, as expected.

DEFENDERS

Sime Vrsaljko, INT v. PSV (€14): With Inter Milan heavily favored at home, Vrsaljko could be an important piece of the attack, even as a starting right-back. He's not much of a shooter, but he does create chances from his crosses, as he had six accurate ones in his last three starts. It's not huge upside, but with Inter expected to win with the second-best clean sheet odds on the slate, Vrsaljko makes plenty of sense over the other starting defenders who don't move up as much in the attack, limiting their upsides.

Diego Godin, ATL at CLUB (&euro16): Club Brugge are locked into third place, giving them little motivation against an Atletico Madrid side that can win the group with a victory. Godin is always a threat on set pieces, as seen by the fact he scored a goal in each of this last two starts, and while he's been sidelined with a leg injury of late, he's expected back in the starting XI on Tuesday. Not only are they strong favorites despite playing away, but Atletico Madrid also have the third-best clean sheet odds, partially because of what Godin can do to opposing attacks.

Raphael Guerreiro, BVB at MCO (€17): Guerreiro's role on set pieces gives him an upside few defenders on this slate have, and it also doesn't hurt that Dortmund should win against a Monaco side that has been crumbling of late. Dortmund will likely push knowing they still have a shot at winning the group, and while Guerreiro's defensive work leaves plenty to be desired, you're really rostering him with the hope that he gets on the scoresheet as part of a Dortmund rout.

GOALKEEPER

Samir Handanovic, INT v. PSV (€16): The top-level goalkeepers are all priced pretty similarly, but Handanovic has the advantage of being a dominant favorite playing at home, and his side actually needs to win. He's made at least three saves in six straight games, and while PSV did get one by him in the reverse fixture, they now have nothing to play for while Inter will be pressing to score and win.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Andrew M. Laird plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: kingmorland, DraftKings: andrewmlaird, Yahoo: Lairdinho.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrew M. Laird
Andrew is a former RotoWire contributor. He was the 2017 and 2018 FSWA Soccer Writer of the Year. He is a nine-time FSWA award finalist, including twice for Football Writer of the Year.
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