Tuesday kick-starts the second set of Champions League last sixteen matches and presents another opportunity to sign up and win big cash prizes with DraftKings.
The process is simple: Register a new account on DrafTKings.com and make a minimum deposit of $5 then you will get your free entry to a paid contest. You are then well on your way to selecting your eight-man squad.
DraftKings have set up another exclusive Fantasy Football Scout contest for this round of matches – the FFS League is free to play with a $500 prize pot.
Select your eight-man squad and register your account to get free entry to our League. Cash prizes are available right down to 128th place.
These is also a huge $20,000* in total prizes available in the DraftKings “Clean Sheet” Champions League contest. The top manager will have an opportunity to claim a $3,000* cash prize and prizes will be given from 1st to 140th place.
“Saramek”, a UK-based DraftKings manager from Congleton, got involved and claimed top spot in last week’s $25k Valentine’s Day Special Champions League contest.
His winning line-up (below) included no less than five of Bayern Munich’s star performers from their 5-1 drubbing of Arsenal, helping him to a $5000 prize.
If you’re new to DraftKings, we’ve got a handy strategy guide which will introduce you to basics of squad selection.
For further assistance, here’s our selection of player picks over Tuesday and Wednesday’s matches to form the core of your squad.
Tuesday Player Picks
Fixtures
Manchester City vs Monaco
Bayer Leverkusen vs Atletico Madrid
Jan Oblak – Atletico Madrid – $5,000 – G
Having recovered faster than expected from a shoulder injury, the Slovenian is back in training ahead of Atletico’s trip to Germany.
Oblak conceded just a single goal in the six group matches and should get the nod if fit, though deputy Angel Moya ($4,900) has been a respectable stand-in – he’s registered 11.3 Fantasy Points Per Game (FPPG) in DraftKings over eight matches, which included 24 saves and five clean sheets.
Benjamin Mendy – Monaco – $4,200 – D
A strong return of 77 crosses (worth 0.75 points each) in nine DraftKings matches has helped the Monaco man build an FPPG of 14.1 this term.
Priced favourably, Mendy still looks a very viable option ahead of a trip to Manchester City – the raiding left-back has racked up seven assists in 19 Ligue 1 and Champions League outings so far.
Raheem Sterling – Manchester City – $7,600 – M/F
While an injury to Gabriel Jesus has left City reeling, Sterling’s recent form raises his stock as Pep Guardiola’s men welcome Monaco to the Etihad.
The winger is far kinder on the budget than Kevin De Bruyne ($9,000, M/F) and Sergio Aguero ($9,200, F) and has markedly upped his consistency in recent matches, producing a goal or assist in eight of the last ten league outings.
Yannick Carrasco – Atletico Madrid – $7,900 – M/F
Atletico travel to a Bayer Leverkusen side that have underperformed this season, drawing four group stage ties and losing more matches than they’ve won in the Bundesliga.
While we were tempted by Antoine Griezmann ($8,300), Carrasco is our preferred pick from Diego Simeone’s side. He had 11 goals, four assists, 55 crosses and 20 interceptions in 31 DraftKings appearances. That showcases his all-round ability, while a goal and an assist against Celta Vigo last weekend emphasises the Belgian’s current form.
Karim Bellarabi – Bayer Leverkusen – $5,500 – M/F
With playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu banned for the rest of the season due to a contract dispute, his fellow wide man offers a cut-price route into a Leverkusen attack that has scored at least twice in four successive home matches across all competitions.
Bellarabi has bagged three assists in his last two home outings, including two in a weekend win over Eintracht Frankfurt, where he also supplied six crosses from his role on the right.
Wednesday Player Picks
Fixtures
Porto vs Juventus
Sevilla vs Leicester City
Sergio Rico – Sevilla – $5,600 – G
The Sevilla number one boasts an impressive 10.3 FPPG ahead of a visit from goal-shy Leicester City next Wednesday.
Rico has produced 12 clean sheets and 88 saves in 26 outings across all competitions and will fancy his chances of shutout number 13 against a Foxes outfit that has scored a single goal in their last eight Premier League matches.
Dani Alves – Juventus – $5,000 – D
The summer signing from Barcelona gets the nod due to his DraftKings points potential at both ends of the pitch. Flourishing as a right wing-back in Juventus’ 3-5-2 set-up, Alves has provided 80 crosses over 21 appearances in all competitions, with an average of 1.9 crosses per Serie A match more than any team-mate.
However, it’s the Brazilian’s encouraging defensive actions that set him apart ahead of the trip to Porto. A total of 45 tackles won (each provide +1 Point in DraftKings) and 33 interceptions (+0.5 points) make Alves a prime candidate for inclusion in our rosters.
Wilfred Ndidi – Leicester City – $4,400 – M
Leicester’s dire domestic forms makes it difficult to recommend any of the Foxes attackers, though the ball-winning ability of their winter signing from Belgian side Gent could prove value for money.
Averaging 8.8 FPPG, Ndidi made more tackles and interceptions than any other player in the group stages of the Europa League before making his way to the King Power, suggesting that Claudio Ranieri may have finally found his replacement for N’Golo Kante in the centre of the park.
Gonzalo Higuain – Juventus – $8,500
The Argentinian has settled seamlessly in Turin after a controversial switch from Napoli over the summer.
Higuain may be the third most expensive forward on offer for the midweek matches yet his record since arriving at the Old Lady is hard to overlook. Three goals in five Champions League group stage appearances and 18 strikes in 24 Serie A outings makes him our go-to option for the trip to Porto.
Andre Silva – Porto – $6,800 – F
Four goals and two assists over the group stages underlines Silva’s importance to Porto ahead of the showdown with Juventus.
A single goal against in their last six in all competitions shows that the Serie A side will be a tough nut to crack but if their hosts are to stand any chance of progressing, Silva – with an FPPG average of 15.5 – will surely be key.
Getting Started
- 1 – Sign up for a free DraftKings account
- 2 – Draft your 8-man lineup
- 3 – Enter the free Fantasy Football Scout League with a prize pot of $500
Click here to get involved. All teams must be drafted by Tuesday at 7:45 PM
Users from outside the UK, USA and Canada are now able to sign up for new accounts.
You’ll be directed automatically to the US site and asked to register – and then DraftKings will be in touch when your option to play is up and running.
You must be over 18 years of age, and of legal capacity to register with DraftKings and open an account. If you sign up, always play responsibly.
As a contributor at Fantasy Football Scout, I play DraftKings using my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also choose different players and strategies than recommended above.
*All figures are subject to exchange rate fluctuations.
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