Below is a brief summary of each match-up  as well as my initial targets & picks. However, the real key to making money is the adjustments in the hour before kick-off, after lineups are released. Our VIPs have access to our staff in Slack Chat during this pivotal time. Become a DFS Army VIP and use code SNIPER for a 10% discount! 

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Initial Thoughts

One big change to take note of this week is DraftKings will no longer be offering a 2-day, 4-game slate. They will turn to the FanDuel model and offer a two-game slate on each day. Most people will like the change though I will slightly miss that added element of strategy. However, the prize pools seem pretty healthy so getting two slates increases our potential profit. I’ll breakdown all four games in one article, the first two games are for the Tuesday slate and the second two games will be played on Wednesday. Good luck and don’t forget to check the VIP Slack Chat on match day!  Become a DFS Army VIP and use code SNIPER for a 10% discount! 

AS Roma vs. Shakhtar Donetsk

Unlike last week, we have multiple ties that are incredibly close after the first-leg. If you’re new, the UCL knockout stage is two matches [called legs] with each team hosting one. Roma returns home after a 2-1 defeat on the road in which they controlled the action in the first half before Shakhtar came roaring back in the second 45 minutes. Overall, Roma will be my top team to target on the Tuesday slate even if Manchester United is a slightly larger favorite. I think there’s a slightly larger gap in skill between these two teams than in the other match and it’s a little easier to predict where the fantasy goodness will come from. With a two game slate there’s a whole host of targets that I’ll list below but Aleksander Kolarov is a cash game lock for me and Radja Nainggolan is on a run of good form, including two assists in his last league match. I’ll also probably be rostering plenty of the Roma keeper Alison, which makes my interest in Shakhtar pretty limited but Facundo Ferreyra is your GPP-goal target while Taison is in play as a midfielder who offers some salary relief. For FanDuel you can also look at the Shakhtar center backs who should be plenty busy in this matchup.

Targets
AS Roma: Aleksander Kolarov, Radja Nainggolan, Diego Perrotti, Cengiz Under, Edin Dzeko, Alisson
Shakhtar Donetsk: Taison, Facundo Ferreyra (GPP)

Manchester United vs. Sevilla

The second game on Tuesday is heading back to Old Trafford scoreless despite a promising performance from Sevilla in which they unleashed 24 shots, 8 of which were on goal. That performance, along with a couple injuries has me a little wary of how high the line is, though I have to agree that Manchester United is the more likely team to move on. The most appealing pieces to me as a cash player are the Manchester United fullbacks, specifically Ashley Young. I don’t hate paying up for Alexis Sanchez despite his miserable performance in the first-leg. The fact is that he’s the only stud on the slate and if enough value opens up Tuesday afternoon, he’s probably worth a play. If it doesn’t, I’ll be rolling out a balanced lineup. Romelu Lukaku is just way too goal dependent for my liking but I can’t knock you for playing him in GPP. If you’re a believer in form, Marcus Rashford is coming off of a Premier League brace on Saturday. Ever Banega is an accumulator who is firmly in play on the Sevilla side as he doesn’t need a point to reach value (assuming Sevilla see enough of the ball). Similar to him, and a little cheaper, is Pablo Sarabia while the biggest goal scoring threat is clearly Wissam Ben Yedder, though he’s boom-or-bust.  If you can’t pay up for both Young and Kolarov, Sergio Escudero is a decent enough pivot in the defender spot.

Targets
Manchester United: Ashley Young, David de Gea, Alexis Sanchez
Sevilla: Ever Banega, Pablo Sarabia, Sergio Escudero, Wissam Ben Yedder (GPP)

Besiktas vs. Bayern Munich

The first game on Wednesday is one that will be hard to give analysis for. Sorry. Bayern Munich beat the you know what out of Besiktas, 5-0 in the first leg. They are heavy favorites again….but the problem is we don’t know who is going to start or rest and worse, if a regular does start, when will they get subbed out? For those reasons, I’ll be pretty heavy on the second game, which is tied at 1-1. Obviously on a two game slate you can’t ignore one game so this is where I’ll be looking for value. Hopefully there’s a rotated starter (spot start if you’re new) on the Bayern Munich side. There’s also a chance that someone in the front three fits nicely into my constructions and I’m always interested in Joshua Kimmich on defense.  Besiktas will be cheap and at home with my favorite target being Ricardo Quaresma. I will also be giving heavy consideration this slate to Fabricio as a goalkeeper punt on the road. He’s live for saves if Bayern attacks or a shutout if Besiktas (I’m assuming) doesn’t have someone sent off early again along with a possibly more defensive Bayern Munich. That’s about as far as I want to dive in without having lineups at my disposal.

Targets
Bayern Munich: Joshua Kimmich, any rotated forward or midfielder
Besiktas: Ricardo Quaresma, Fabricio

Barcelona vs. Chelsea

Here’s the game I’ll be taking the studs from for the Wednesday slate. Chelsea performed well at home in the first leg and we head to Spain at 1-1. Lionel Messi is the absolute lock and load play for cash games and Luis Suarez is your GPP pivot. There should also be some value on the Barcelona side with Iniesta unlikely to play in the midfield because of injury. Sergio Busquets is the first name that comes to mind as a cheap midfield option to open up salary. The fullbacks on both teams are in play but you have to lean towards the heavily favored home side with Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto. It’s also worth noting that Marcus Alonso for Chelsea is still listed as a defender on FanDuel and has been playing in the midfield. In GPPs, I will look to fit in Willian on the Chelsea side. His form has been great, he’s scoring, creating chances, and has become the most crucial part of the Chelsea attack. I’m writing this before salaries have been posted on DraftKings so make sure to jump in Slack Chat for some more insight when salaries come out.

Targets
Barcelona: Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto, Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Chelsea: Willian, Marcus Alonso, Cesc Fabregas, Davide Zappacosta

Extra Time

Just one more reminder that the real key to making money in DFS Soccer is making adjustments in the hour before kick-off, after lineups are released. Our VIPs have access to our staff in Slack Chat during this pivotal time. Become a DFS Army VIP and use code SNIPER for a 10% discount!