DraftKings Soccer: Champions League DFS Helper for Tuesday 10/19/21

This week in the Champions League, we’ll get to see teams face the last remaining opponents they have yet to play in the group. Here’s Tuesday’s main slate games, with odds from Soccer odd:

Forwards to Target

Erling Haaland ($10,300): The Norwegian goal-scoring machine was at it again on the weekend for Dortmund. Haaland bagged a brace in their Bundesliga win on Saturday. That brought his career scoring record to 49 goals in 49 Bundesliga games. His goal rate is even better in the Champions League, with 21 goals in 17 games. This makes him one of the most dangerous strikers on any slate he is on.

This game against Ajax is not an easy matchup, but it could be a back-and-forth affair between two attack-minded teams. He’s a great tournament play with the potential for multiple goals, and Haaland might not be super popular with all of the other options on the slate.

Lionel Messi ($9,500): Messi hasn’t really gotten going yet for PSG, but we shouldn't worry. He got his first UCL goal for his new club in the last European game against Manchester City, and he had a game versus Rennes where he put up 11.4 DraftKings points without a goal or assist. He seems to be finding his feet with his new team, and could do damage on Tuesday.

PSG will take on RB Leipzig, who aren't the same team that we've seen in the past. They lost their manager and some key players and sit fifth in the Bundesliga. Also, when they've played big teams in Bayern Munich and Manchester City, they lost both games and conceded 10 total goals.

Messi is a whopping -155 favorite to score at any time, the biggest on the slate. That makes him a value at $9,500.

Rodrygo ($5,700): Rodrygo is a talented young Brazilian who should get the start for Real Madrid. He had a hat trick in the 2019 Champions League and hasn't gotten a lot of opportunities in the competition since then. He did get a chance off the bench against Inter on Matchday 1 and was able to score. With Real Madrid missing players, he should get the start.

Rodrygo will likely play as a winger or a wide forward. This will give him chances to get crosses into the box. With Real Madrid being decent favorites, they should be able to dictate the tempo of this game, allowing Rodrygo to use his skill on the ball. At $5,700, he stands out as value forward.

Others to consider: Kylian Mbappé ($9,100), Edin Dzeko ($8,700), Luis Díaz ($4,500)

Midfielders to Target

Hakan Çalhanoğlu ($7,600): Çalhanoğlu crossed the Milan divide in the summer, making the switch from AC Milan to Inter. He's been a set-piece specialist throughout his career, and that has continued with his new club. He has taken about half the corner kicks and has averaged slightly more than six crosses per 90 minutes because of that. Çalhanoğlu also has taken two shots and created two chances per 90, giving him a solid floor.

Inter Milan are solid favorites against Sheriff Tiraspol at home. Sheriff did pull off a shocking upset of Real Madrid on the last matchday, but they got dominated in most metrics. Real Madrid had 75% possession, 31 shots and 13 corner kicks. If Inter get anything close to that, it will be hard for Çalhanoğlu to not reach his floor.

Toni Kroos ($6,500): Kroos finally made his first start of the season for Real Madrid on Saturday. He took back his normal duties, taking all five corner kicks when he was on the pitch. Kroos has always been an accumulator of fantasy points through set pieces and creating chances, and he should be able to do that in this game against Shaktar. Using $6,500 for a player with the ability to get double-digit DraftKings points without scoring a goal is usually a good value, and it applies to Kroos today.

Ryan Gravenberch ($5,400): Gravenberch is an exciting young midfielder who likes to get involved in the attack. He's been on a share of set pieces for Ajax in the first two games of the group stage. He's recorded at least 10 DraftKings points in both of those games, but his salary is still just $5,400. He's a great midfield play because he has a floor/ceiling combination that you rarely find around this salary range.

Others to consider: Ivan Perišić ($6,600), Yannick Carrasco ($5,500), Vitinha ($3,600)

Defenders to Target

Nacho ($4,200): Nacho has been an acceptable fill-in for Marcelo at left-back for Real Madrid. Defender is likely a position where you want to save salary on this slate with all of the forwards that we'll want to roster. Nacho is a good way to do that, as he's been solid in two games in the Champions League this season. He should be able to have another good game in this spot against Shaktar, even if he isn't the most attacking full-back that we'll see on Tuesday.

Fodé Ballo-Touré ($3,400): Ballo-Touré played his first full 90 minute game for AC Milan on Saturday and had four crosses. He averaged more than five crosses last season for Monaco and is generally an attacking full-back. His salary is low since he hasn't yet started in the Champions League, but he'll get his opportunity in this game. Porto are a good team, but they're the weakest team Milan will face in this group. This is a chance for Ballo-Touré to show what he's about for his new team, and he's a good player to take a shot on for this salary.

Nico Schulz ($3,300): Schulz is another value option at full-back. He possesses great pace and loves to get forward. For just $3,300, he's a fine piece to add to a lineup, and you can play him and Fodé Ballo-Touré to completely punt at defender.

Others to consider: Trent Alexander-Arnold ($8,100), Kieran Trippier ($4,000), Wendell ($3,500)

Goalkeepers to Target

Samir Handanović ($5,900): Handanović and Inter are by far the biggest favorites on the slate, yet his salary is just $100 more than Gianluigi Donnarumma's and $200 more than Thibaut Courtois'. It's worth using the extra salary on Handanović, who has -110 clean sheet odds.

Jan Oblak ($4,600): It's always tempting to go for Oblak, even against a good team like Liverpool. Atlético Madrid are one of the best defensive teams in the world, conceding just 25 goals in La Liga last season. Oblak is an elite talent, so him giving up a soft goal is less of a risk than it is with most keepers. For $4,600, Oblak is a keeper you can play at home in this matchup.

Nicholas Vazquez is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Nicholas Vazquez also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username hbyanksman. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he/she may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his/her personal account. The views expressed in his/her articles are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.