FanDuel Fantasy: Champions League Week 1 Under-the-Radar Player Picks

The Champions League makes its welcome return this week—and it brings with it the opportunity for you to try the next generation of fantasy football.

FanDuel is just like regular fantasy, except all the action takes place on a single matchday. Using a £100 million budget, you pick a starting XI of players who feature during one matchday. Then, you take on your friends and aim to win big cash prizes.

You may have already tried your hand at FanDuel on a Premier League matchday, but this season you will also be able to test your continental prowess under the lights on Champions League nights.

Be sure to check out the “£3,500 Champions League Kick Off” contest—there are £3,500 in prizes available, it’s only £5 to enter and over 190 teams will win cash.

Much like the fantasy game you are used to, Fan Duel is all about maximising points per pound of budget spent. Hence, in order to put some “box office” names in your team, you’ll need to get value from some lesser-known stars. Take a look at our five under-the radar player picks from Tuesday evening’s games:

Arkadiusz Milik, Napoli (Forward)
Value: £7.9 million
Opponent: @ Dynamo Kiev

Arek Milik enjoyed a superb season with Ajax in 2015-16, earning 21 goals. Of course, success in Holland doesn’t always translate to other leagues, but the Polish striker is filling Gonzalo Higuain’s shoes rather nicely at Napoli: On his full debut, he scored twice.

On Tuesday, Milik is facing a Dynamo Kiev side who have conceded on their last four outings, and we know he is used to performing on the big stage thanks to his status as the top scorer in qualification for the most recent European Championship (13 goals).

At £7.9 million, his price tag is nearly half that of the most expensive player in Tuesday evening’s round of games: his Polish strike partner Robert Lewandowski.

Gaston Pereiro, PSV Eindhoven (Forward)
Value: £6.8 million
Opponent: Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid aren’t exactly renowned for their leaky defence, and their knockout-stage meeting with PSV last season resulted in a pair of 0-0 draws. However, energetic winger Gaston Pereiro will be looking to make his mark against the Spanish giants.

The 21-year-old Uruguayan is off to a flying start this season in the Eredivisie, with two goals and an assist in his first two games. He is strong in aerial duels (something that will be useful against Atleti’s back line) and he spends plenty of time on the ball (a trait that the Madrid side tend to encourage in their opponents, and which can lead to an accumulation of FanDuel fantasy points).

Pereiro is priced at just £6.8 million on Tuesday. If you’ve already spent a combined £27 million on Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, the PSV man could be the undervalued star to complete your South American attacking front line.

Raffael, Borussia Monchengladbach (Forward)
Value: £7.2 million
Opponent: @ Manchester City

This may be the first round of games in the Champions League, but Raffael already has four goals in this season’s competition: The Brazilian was in rude health in Borussia Monchengladbach’s two-legged qualifier against Young Boys.

The 31-year-old is in fine form this season, having had three shots on target in Gladbach’s Bundesliga opener against Leverkusen—remember, those are worth five points each on FanDuel.

Raffael is facing a Manchester City side that hasn’t conceded at home in the competition in four games, but the last time their net was breached was against Gladbach—and Raffael scored that night.

At just £7.2 million, he is worth considering if you are in need of a lower-priced option.

Nelson Semedo, Benfica (Defender)
Value: £7.8 million
Opponent: Besiktas

FanDuel uses Opta stats to reflect every player’s true on-field contribution. Hence, when picking a defender, it is often wise to think about a full-back who will earn points for defending and attacking when he pushes further up the field. Assists are worth seven points, and chances created are worth three—and a defender who can provide these is often invaluable.

Benfica’s 22-year-old right-back Nelson Semedo likes to get forward. He gets the odd goal in Liga NOS and had some shots on target in last season’s Champions League too.

The Portuguese giants are hosting a Besiktas side who have scored seven in their last three outings, so Semedo should also get the opportunity to score points with tackles and interceptions, too.

He’ll cost you just £7.8 million on FanDuel, which may prove to be tremendous value.

Jonathan Cafu, Ludogorets (Forward)
Value: £5.9 million
Opponent: @ Basel

Bulgarian champions Ludogorets are making their fourth appearance in the Champions League, where they will hope to make a ripple in a group featuring Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Tuesday’s opponents Basel.

Their best hope of finding the net will be winger Jonathan Cafu, listed as a forward on FanDuel. The Brazilian, who signed from Sao Paolo for just €2 million in 2015, scored twice in the qualifying rounds and has already far exceeded the expectations of his price tag.

Cafu is one of the cheapest strike options in the game for Tuesday at just £5.9 million. Basel have conceded in six of their last seven Champions League outings, and they may represent Ludogorets’ best option of getting anything out of Group A. In other words, this might be Cafu’s time to shine.

To start playing the next generation of fantasy football, head over to FanDuel.co.uk now to to sign up. Use the code “BLEACHER” and you’ll get your first entry refunded as entry credit up to £10 if you don’t win.