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UCL DFS Breakdown – Tuesday 9/17/2019

By Vince Dray

WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 14: Tammy Abraham of Chelsea applauds fans as he holds the match ball following scoring a hatrick during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea FC at Molineux on September 14, 2019 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Chelsea Football Club/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 14: Tammy Abraham of Chelsea applauds fans as he holds the match ball following scoring a hatrick during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea FC at Molineux on September 14, 2019 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Chelsea Football Club/Chelsea FC via Getty Images) /
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ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – SEPTEMBER 1: Hakim Ziyech of Ajax celebrates 0-2 with Dusan Tadic of Ajax, Quincy Promes of Ajax, Joel Veltman of Ajax, Daley Blind of Ajax during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Sparta v Ajax at the Sparta Stadium Het Kasteel on September 1, 2019 in Rotterdam Netherlands (Photo by Erwin Spek/Soccrates/Getty Images)
ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – SEPTEMBER 1: Hakim Ziyech of Ajax celebrates 0-2 with Dusan Tadic of Ajax, Quincy Promes of Ajax, Joel Veltman of Ajax, Daley Blind of Ajax during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Sparta v Ajax at the Sparta Stadium Het Kasteel on September 1, 2019 in Rotterdam Netherlands (Photo by Erwin Spek/Soccrates/Getty Images) /

UCL DFS – Top-Tier Forwards/Midfielders

Dusan Tadic (Lille @ Ajax, $20) – Somehow Tadic is a whole $5 cheaper than the most expensive player.  Here we have one of the hottest players with one of the best matchups.  Last year in the Eredivisie, Ajax was an absolute goal-scoring juggernaut, and that seems to be no different this year.  They have 19(!) goals in just five games this year.  Tadic has a goal (5) or assist (5) on more than 50% of those goals.  Ajax is the biggest favorite on the slate playing at home against Lille who will be playing in their first UCL game in several years.  I’m all over Tadic, and Ajax in general, here.  Last year they were not chalky despite their potential for big performances, and I doubt that changes much this year.  Hakim Ziyech ($19) is my other go-to Ajax attacker.  He has four goals and two assists of his own this year, and he’s taking over five shots per game as well.  Quincy Promes ($14) is a great value option if you’re looking for a secondary Ajax piece.

Tammy Abraham (Valencia @ Chelsea, $20) – Speaking of players coming into this game in form, did you know Abraham is leading the whole EPL in goals this season with seven?  All seven of those goals have come in Chelsea’s last three games including a hat trick this past Saturday in a tough matchup against Wolves.  Chelsea will take on a Valencia team that is significantly different from last year when they earned UCL qualification.  More than a few of their top player are no longer on the team.  They’ve only kept one shutout this season and Barcelona just hung five goals on them this weekend.  I think people will favor top-tier guys like Antoine Griezmann ($25), but I would much rather save the money and take a white-hot Abraham instead.  Pedro ($18) and Mason Mount ($17) are good plays as well with the fact that Valencia is a mess currently.

Paco Alcacer (Barcelona @ Borussia Dortmund, $18) – Alcacer led all of the Bundesliga in shots per game last season, and he’s off to another hot start this year with five goals and an assist with 2.8 shots per game.  Barcelona do not have things figured out on defense yet this year with seven goals allowed in just four games including two to Real Betis, Valencia, and Osasuna.  Alcacer, along with Jadon Sancho ($16) and Marco Reus ($17), will provide a much more difficult test than any of those teams.  Combined, those three attackers have 10 goals and five assists already this year, and they will likely go under-owned on Tuesday.

Dries Mertens (Liverpool @ Napoli, $18) – I think Dries Mertens has one of the safer floors from a top-tier forward on this slate.  He’s taking nearly five shots per game, he creates a good number of chances, and he’s always a threat to score or provide an assist.  Napoli will want to take advantage of this game at home, and Mertens is often involved when Napoli do well.  He takes corner kicks for Napoli and has a role in set pieces, which only adds to his strong floor.  He’s another player that will go overlooked if people flock towards the superstars.