The Champions League resumes on Tuesday with a pair of quarterfinal first legs. It starts with a showdown between Juventus and Monaco, which will be followed up with the highly anticipated clash between Spanish rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
Finding the best value for a starting 11 in DraftKings daily fantasy leagues isn’t easy but here is a look at some of the names that should be considered.
GK: Gianluigi Buffon, Juventus
The clash between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid could be very high scoring, so it makes sense to stick with this tactical showdown to find the best value for a starting goalkeeper. While Monaco did some damage versus Arsenal in the round of 16, they can expect a much tougher test against Juventus. The Serie A’s lone remaining representative conceded just a single goal versus Dortmund in the Round of 16 and with Buffon still playing at an elite level, it makes sense to take him in this spot. All signs point to this being a low-scoring affair.
D: Dani Alves, Real Madrid
Jordi Alba might be the best bet in terms of potential production in the Real Madrid midfield but Alves is another decent option that is available at a cheaper price. Alves isn’t afraid to join the attack and he brings a lot to the table as a solid value play here. He might get on the score sheet too.
D: Patrice Evra, Juventus
Sticking with the theme of Juventus keeping the Monaco attack in check, it makes sense to take a pair of defenders and both Evra and Stephan Lichsteiner fit the mold as two starting fullbacks that should produce solid fantasy stat lines with a potential clean sheet bonus in play for this game.
M: Raul Garcia, Atletico Madrid
Finding the best value on the board is important in order to save money for other positions and Garcia represents an excellent option. He’s a winger that loves to push the attack and push balls in to the box. Raul is a solid fit as a quality contributor available at the right price.
M: Arda Turan, Atletico Madrid
Turan is another Atletico winger that has high offensive upside and loves to put the ball in the box. The two Spanish teams should combine for their fair share of goals, so it makes sense to have two reasonably priced midfielders that both have the potential to contribute at a high level.
M: Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco, Monaco
Even though there is a greater likelihood there will be more goals in the other game, it’s also important not to completely forget about having at least a pair of Monaco players in the lineup and Ferreira-Carrasco is a solid fit along with Kurzawa. Ferreira-Carrasco should get the start and regardless of goals, he should be able to show off his crossing abilities and draw at least a couple of fouls.
F: Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid
The money saved elsewhere will allow you to invest in the most dangerous player available for Tuesday. While he costs a heavy price at $12,800, there is every reason to pay it in order to have an elite superstar scorer like Ronaldo in your starting lineup. Anything can happen in two games but if there is one player more likely to make a difference than any other, it is Ronaldo so make sure to grab him if you can fit him under your cap.
F: Antoine Griezmann, Atletico Madrid
Mario Mandzukic is the more expensive option but Griezmann could be the better bet as the better value play for Atletico’s tandem of strikers up front. The clash of La Liga rivals has the obvious potential of being the higher scoring game, so it makes sense to take one option on each side and hope for a ton of goals.
Other Notables
D: Stephan Lichsteiner, Juventus
D: Layvin Kurzawa, Monaco
M: Paul Pogba, Juventus
