DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Champions League Quarterfinal

This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.

Goal = +10 PTs
Assist = +6 PTs
Shot = +1 PTs
Shot on Goal = +1 PTs
Crosses = +1 PTs
Fouls Drawn = +0.75 PTs
Red Card = -1 PTs
Saves (GK) = +2 PTs
Goal Allowed (GK) = -2 PTs
Clean Sheet (GK, D) = +5 PTs
One Goal Allowed (GK, D) = +2 PTs
Win (GK) = +5 PTs
Penalty Kick Save (GK) = +3 PTs


With that out of the way, here are the best available GPP contests for Champions League soccer Tuesday and Wednesday:



$6K Equalizer ($1,200 first prize), Entry Fee: $27
$4K Golden Boot ($2,000 first prize), Entry Fee: $200
$4K Striker ($300 first prize), Entry Fee: $3
and many more…




The following games are included:
Tuesday
Real Madrid at Atletico Madrid
Monaco at Juventus

Wednesday
Barcelona at Paris Saint-Germain
Bayern Munich at FC Porto

The first legs of the Champions League quarterfinals are set, and the matchups are mouthwatering. The Madrid derby probably takes the cake, with reigning champions Real Madrid being the ever so slight favorite – at a margin of 1/20 of a point, the game might as well be a toss-up. The other three games have fairly clear favorites, and it is likewise a good decision to keep your defensive selections within the bounds of Juventus, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. With games taking place over two days, having a backup plan if a player you have for the Wednesday games happens to not get the start is a wise decision. I often use the flex position for a player under this classification, so if needed, he can be subbed for a player from any position. With a litany of fitness questions, being sure to pick players in the starting XI is essential. There is a bit of guesswork in projecting until the lineups are actually announced, so every recommendation comes with the same warning label: check the starting lineups upon their announcement approximately one hour prior to kickoff.

Goalkeepers

Gianluigi Buffon ($5,500)
Juventus are the clearest favorites from the quartet of games and are matched up with what is clearly the most impotent offense of the eight teams remaining. Juventus is near unbeatable at home, and it seems Monaco's heroic run to get this far is in the tournament ends here (well, at least the end begins here, as it is actually the first leg). As long as he steers clear of any mistakes, the veteran Buffon should be in the position to take home both the clean sheet and the win.

Buffon is clearly the top choice, and if you want to go elsewhere you'll still do well to not cheat yourself and take one of the other top priced keepers in Manuel Neuer ($5,600) or Marc-Andre Ter Stegen ($5,000). If you are hell-bent on going against the grain, Jan Oblak ($4,300) of Atletico Madrid will be in goal against a Real Madrid side that Atletico has somehow had the upper-hand over this season.

Defenders

Patrice Evra ($3,900)
First, let me say I fancy both of the Juve fullbacks, with Evra's partner being Stephan Lichsteiner ($4,600). This price for Evra is simply spectacular, and thusly I feel he deserves to be front and center. The Juventus fullbacks complement the team's offense extremely well, and serve a very important role out wide as the team doesn't play with any traditional wingers. Evra and Lichsteiner should both get healthy offensive stat lines to accompany the defensive bonus likely headed their way.

Adriano ($3,500)
With a suspension to Dani Alves, Adriano figures to fill in at the right-back position for a discount price. It's a tad unclear what to expect from Adriano, but normal starter Alves averages six crosses per game and had a couple assists in his first six Champions League bouts. Adriano is a high upside play as a component in the volatile Barcelona offense that readily pushes their fullbacks forward.

Jesus Gamez ($3,300)
Gamez saw action in both of Atletico's ties against Bayer Leverkusen in the Round of 16, and figures to get the start once again. He is now averaging seven crosses and one foul drawn per 90 minutes in the Champions League, enough production to be valuable even without defensive bonuses (though it is certainly not unthinkable for Atletico to hold Real to less than two goals).

Philipp Lahm ($4,000)
Lahm is finally back in action after being out since early November with injury. He wasn't put into the World's Top XI for nothing – he's seriously talented. Best of all, he actually see's most of his action in the midfield despite being listed as a defender. Lahm has the ability to rack up stats in every scoring category and stands to pick up a defensive bonus as long as his side holds FC Porto under two goals.

As always, it is wise to match at least one defender with your goalkeeper. Both defenders is good, but taking a discount option or two (as all three defenders listed above come in at $4,000 or below) could allow for some differentiation and extra salary for all of the great offensive positions this slate of games offers.

Midfielders

Oliver ($3,000)
There is an amazing amount of quality among the midfielders, but there is a miraculous amount of quality in the forwards pool. Oliver is a talented young midfielder on loan from Atletico Madrid and he'll likely be a welcome addition back to that squad once the loan runs out. Oliver, while being a talented offensively-gifted young player, provides a way to spend some serious mullah on the delectable array of striking options.

Xabi Alonso ($4,900)
Alonso is often an afterthought in the potent Bayern Munich midfield, but with injuries to Franck Ribery (ankle), Arjen Robben (abdomen) and Bastian Schweinsteiger (illness), he should have some extra offensive responsibility. Mario Gotze ($8,900) also sees an even more offensive role now, and is undoubtedly the more potent offensive threat; but at almost half the price, Alonso certainly deserves equal if not greater consideration.

Andrea Pirlo ($5,400)
The veteran Pirlo is a fitness concern, so first and foremost, he needs to be monitored on that front. But, in the situation he does go, he stands a strong candidate as the midfield's most important cog with Paul Pogba (hamstring) confined to the sidelines. Pirlo is an old favorite who still manages to produce stats across the board with an ability to cross the ball that is very surprising from a player that is, frankly, kind of slow.

There are some expensive options that are more than viable with names like Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez, but my intentions are clear to save maximum cap space for the forward positions (hopefully filling the utility position with a forward as well).

Forwards:

The world's best are showcased here, so there's no reason to dig too deep. You'll recognize these names, try to go with who's in-form and enjoy.

Cristiano Ronaldo ($12,800)
The best player in the world.

Lionel Messi ($12,500)
Arguably the best player in the world, technically second.

Carlos Tevez ($8,500)
The Argentinian is the best offensive threat Italy has to offer.

Luis Suarez ($9,400)
The Uruguayan club-teammate of Messi, on a complete goal-scoring tear of late.

Thomas Muller ($9,500)
Leading goal scorer for the best Germany has to offer.

I think there's a trend here: some of these forwards are kind of good. Plus, I didn't even name the likes of Neymar, Karim Benzema, Robert Lewandowski, and Edinson Cavani. The pool of forwards to choose from is ridiculous.

I will offer one discount option: Alvaro Morato ($5,900), who starts alongside Tevez, and the two have complemented each other extremely well with assists and goals often being shared between the two. Go where your opinion, or even where your heart lies. Trying to pick who to use among this group is like trying to pick the best song; there are many great options but it really depends on the day and mood. All things considered, I expect to rock out with some Tevez after a gentle soiree to some Baroque Bach-oriented Muller to go with my night of Messi-ng with a Suarez tango while ending the night with a Ronaldo pectoral flex to the agile Taekwondo motion of Ibrahimovic – and lastly a ice cold shower to sober up the fool who would craft such a sentence. Happy drafting.