Our Champions League DFS picks 3 November cover a seven-match Tuesday slate, with the first kickoff at 20:00 UTC. The projections are lopsided. BAR is the clear favourite, ASK is the second-strongest side, and most of the other matches are close to coin flips. We lead with Fanteam, then cover DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo.
BAR has a 76.23% win chance against AVL and a projected 2.95 goals, the highest total on the board. ASK is next at 68.18% and 2.48 goals against SLV. PSG (58.3%), BOD (52.91%) and INT (51.45%) are favoured but less comfortably. FCB against ATM looks like the tightest game, at 40.56% to 35.3% with 1.81 and 1.68 projected goals.
Champions League DFS picks 3 November: Fanteam captains
On Fanteam the budget is 118, you pick 11 players, and no more than three can come from one club. The captain’s points are doubled, so the armband matters more than any single slot.
Our safe captains are all BAR: Raphinha (7.62 projected, 15.0 salary, 54.4% to score), Lamine Yamal (6.86, 15.5) and Anthony Gordon (5.65, 13.9). All three are expected starters, and Raphinha leads the slate by a wide margin. The gap to the next-best projection is also large.
Captain options, 3 November
| Type | Player | Team | Opp | Salary | Proj | Ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safe | Raphinha | BAR | AVL | 15.0 | 7.62 | 16.6 |
| Safe | Lamine Yamal | BAR | AVL | 15.5 | 6.86 | 14.8 |
| Safe | Anthony Gordon | BAR | AVL | 13.9 | 5.65 | 12.9 |
| Upside | Carlos Augusto | INT | FEY | 9.3 | 4.20 | 11.9 |
| Upside | Achraf Hakimi | PSG | VIL | 9.5 | 3.64 | 10.1 |
| Upside | João Cancelo | BAR | AVL | 10.7 | 3.87 | 9.9 |
For a big-swing pick, our data points to three defenders whose best games sit far above their averages. Carlos Augusto (INT, 9.3) projects at 4.2 with an 11.88 ceiling and a 23.3% chance to score. Achraf Hakimi (PSG, 9.5) and João Cancelo (BAR, 10.7) sit at 3.64 and 3.87 projected, with ceilings of 10.07 and 9.86. These are tournament captains. They are not the pick if you want a steady floor.
Stacks to build around
BAR dominates the stack list, and our own lineups lean the same way. With a three-per-club limit, the BAR attack uses every slot you are allowed.
Best stacks, 3 November
| Stack | Team | Salary | Proj | In our lineups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raphinha + Lamine Yamal | BAR | 30.5 | 14.5 | 9 of 15 |
| Raphinha + Anthony Gordon | BAR | 28.9 | 13.3 | 7 of 15 |
| Anthony Gordon + Lamine Yamal | BAR | 29.4 | 12.5 | 7 of 15 |
| Bruno Fernandes + Bryan Mbeumo | MUN | 21.6 | 8.7 | 3 of 15 |
| Dani Olmo + Anthony Gordon | BAR | 28.0 | 10.7 | 2 of 15 |
Raphinha with Yamal is the headline pair: 30.5 combined salary, 14.5 projected points, and it appears in 9 of our 15 lineups. Raphinha with Gordon (28.9, 13.3) is cheaper by 1.6 and shows up in 7. Gordon with Yamal is the third combination (29.4, 12.5), also in 7.
Dani Olmo is the awkward one. His projection is 5.05, but our start probability for him is only 0.5. The Olmo and Gordon pairing is in just 2 of 15 lineups for that reason.
Outside BAR, the cheapest stack is MUN’s Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo, at 21.6 combined and 8.7 projected, in 3 of 15 lineups. It frees up salary but gives up a lot of projection.
Our best lineup projects 60.8 points with the captain doubled. It uses Raphinha as captain, Yamal as vice-captain and a BAR trio with Gordon, and spends exactly 118.0. It runs a 3-4-3 shape: Augusto, Dibango and Sjøvold at the back, Raphinha, Yamal, Gordon and Manzambi in midfield, and Adeniran, Kane and Mikautadze up front.
Value by position
Goalkeeper: Clean sheet chances are low everywhere. ASK is highest at 33.22% and BAR is next at 32.06%, and nothing else tops 25%. Joan García (BAR, 10.8) leads at 3.95 projected, but the price is steep. Tjark Ernst (FEY, 5.7) projects 3.10 and Zion Suzuki (AVL, 4.6) projects 2.77. Our best lineup goes cheaper still with Péter Gulácsi (VIL, 5.3, 2.9) to fund the BAR stack.
Defence: Carlos Augusto is the best projection (4.2) at a lower price than Cancelo (3.87, 10.7). Fredrik Sjøvold (BOD, 8.6) at 3.36 and Federico Dimarco (INT, 9.1) at 3.39 are the next-best prices. Yvan Dibango (ASK, 11.2) projects 3.6 with ASK holding the best clean sheet chance on the slate.
Midfield: Johan Manzambi (AVL, 5.4) is the standout. He projects 4.46, has a 10.33 ceiling and a 24.1% chance to score, which is the best value on the slate at 0.83. Others in the 5.2 to 5.4 range are Suleiman Su.Camara (SLV, 3.27), Tigran Barseghyan (SLV, 3.11) and John McGinn (AVL, 3.05).
Forward: Samuel Adeniran (ASK, 14.0) projects 5.19 and Sasa Kalajdzic (ASK, 14.2) 5.12, but both come with start doubts. Harry Kane (FCB, 12.7) projects 4.98 with a 39.3% chance to score, the best on the slate. Marcus Thuram (INT, 12.5) is at 4.43.
Underdogs worth a look
Underdog attackers can pay off if you want to differ from the BAR-heavy lineups.
- Georges Mikautadze (VIL, 7.1): 4.36 projected and a 32.0% chance to score, even though VIL has only a 20.85% win chance against PSG.
- Donyell Malen (ROM, 10.6): 4.1 projected, 31.8% to score, with ROM at 33.96% to win at MUN.
- Soriba Diaoune (LOSC, 8.0): 3.87 projected, with LOSC at 24.42% to win.
- Anis Hadj Moussa (FEY, 7.5): 3.75 projected, with FEY at 25.65% to win at INT.
Mikautadze is the one we use. His projection is within 0.62 of Kane’s for 5.6 less salary. Manzambi, with AVL at just 10.08% to win, is the other cheap route into a game that is mostly about BAR.
Who to watch before lock
Several useful players carry start risk in our data. Confirmed lineups usually appear about an hour before kickoff.
Players to watch before lock
| Player | Team | Salary | Proj | Chance of starting | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samuel Adeniran | ASK | 14.0 | 5.19 | 68% | Possible |
| Piotr Zielinski | INT | 11.4 | 3.42 | 68% | Possible |
| Ibrahim Mbaye | AVL | 5.2 | 3.30 | 68% | Possible |
Adeniran is the key one: a 0.68 start probability with a 5.19 projection, one of the best forward numbers on the slate. Piotr Zielinski (INT, 3.42) and Ibrahim Mbaye (AVL, 3.3) are also at 0.68. On Fanteam, if a player of yours does not start, the closest-priced cheaper teammate in the same position who does start takes his place. A player who only comes on as a substitute scores nothing for you, so do not lean on late appearances.
Keep the stacking penalty in mind as well. It applies when several goalkeepers or defenders from one team are in your lineup and all earn clean sheet points, so loading up on one back line has a cost.
Champions League DraftKings picks
DraftKings Classic uses 8 players (1 GK, 2 D, 2 M, 2 F, 1 UTIL) and a $50,000 cap. Goals and assists pay most, with shots, chances created, crosses, tackles and interceptions adding points. The BAR attack leads the projections: Raphinha at 17.95 for $11,600 and Yamal at 17.94 for $12,200. Gordon is listed F/M at $8,000, projects 13.94, and is the best value among the top scorers at 1.74 points per $1,000. Kane (13.72) and Malen (12.79) follow.
The cheapest value plays are midfielders: Pablo Barrios (ATM, $3,400, 8.72, 2.56 value), Santi Comesana (VIL, $3,100, 7.8) and Pape Gueye (VIL, $4,100, 9.85). Carlos Augusto is the top defender at $5,600 and 12.07.
Lineup note: a Raphinha, Yamal and Gordon core costs $31,800, leaving $18,200 for five slots, or about $3,640 each. That is why the cheap midfielders matter here.
DraftKings value plays, 3 November
| Player | Team | Pos | Salary | Proj | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pablo Barrios | ATM | M | 3400 | 8.72 | 2.56 |
| Santi Comesana | VIL | M | 3100 | 7.80 | 2.52 |
| Pape Gueye | VIL | M | 4100 | 9.85 | 2.40 |
| Youri Tielemans | MUN | M | 5000 | 11.38 | 2.28 |
| Mason Mount | MUN | M | 3700 | 8.34 | 2.25 |
| Carlos Augusto | INT | D | 5600 | 12.07 | 2.16 |
Champions League FanDuel picks
FanDuel uses 7 players (1 GK, 2 DEF, 4 FWD/MID), a $100 cap and a maximum of 4 per team. Goals and shots on target pay most, and defensive actions are worth a lot, which lifts defenders and busy midfielders. Raphinha leads at 30.43 projected for 22.0, followed by Yamal (28.17, 23.0), Kane (24.03, 24.0), Gordon (23.35, 19.0) and Malen (22.56, 22.0).
The value is at the back. Marc Pubill (ATM, 8.0, 18.0 projected, 2.25 value), Robin Le Normand (ATM, 7.0, 14.91) and David Hancko (ATM, 9.0, 19.1) all come from ATM, while Gerard Martin (BAR, 8.0) projects 16.96. Harry Maguire (MUN) projects 16.09 for 8.0.
Lineup note: with only four FWD/MID slots, three BAR attackers cost 64.0 and leave 36.0 for the goalkeeper, both defenders and one more attacker. The four-per-team limit still leaves room for a BAR defender alongside the three attackers.
FanDuel value plays, 3 November
| Player | Team | Pos | Salary | Proj | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marc Pubill | ATM | DEF | 8.0 | 18.00 | 2.25 |
| Robin Le Normand | ATM | DEF | 7.0 | 14.91 | 2.13 |
| Gerard Martin | BAR | DEF | 8.0 | 16.96 | 2.12 |
| David Hancko | ATM | DEF | 9.0 | 19.10 | 2.12 |
| Harry Maguire | MUN | DEF | 8.0 | 16.09 | 2.01 |
| Jonathan Tah | FCB | DEF | 8.0 | 14.66 | 1.83 |
Champions League Yahoo picks
Yahoo uses 11 players (1 GK, 3 D, 4 M, 2 F, 1 UTIL), a cap of 200 and a maximum of 6 per team. Goals and assists pay most, with shots, passes, crosses, tackles, interceptions and blocks adding points. Raphinha again leads at 13.38 for 30.0, then Yamal (11.92, 35.0), Kane (10.11, 37.0), Gordon (9.9, 19.0) and Mikautadze (9.3, 25.0).
Gordon at 19.0 is a good price against Kane and Yamal. The best value numbers sit lower: Adeniran (ASK, 10.0, 6.92, 0.69 value), Thuram (INT, 13.0, 8.57) and Pubill (ATM, 10.0, 6.55). Lennart Karl (FCB, 12.0) and Hakan Calhanoglu (INT, 14.0) both project near 7 to 8 points.
Lineup note: the six-per-team limit allows a deep BAR stack, but the cap is tight. Mixing in Thuram and Calhanoglu from INT is a cheaper way to chase value.
Yahoo value plays, 3 November
| Player | Team | Pos | Salary | Proj | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samuel Adeniran | ASK | F | 10.0 | 6.92 | 0.69 |
| Marcus Thuram | INT | F | 13.0 | 8.57 | 0.66 |
| Marc Pubill | ATM | D | 10.0 | 6.55 | 0.66 |
| Gerard Martin | BAR | D | 13.0 | 7.57 | 0.58 |
| Lennart Karl | FCB | M | 12.0 | 6.92 | 0.58 |
| Hakan Calhanoglu | INT | M | 14.0 | 7.94 | 0.57 |
Final checks before lock
Our projections update until lock, so treat everything here as the current view. Check the confirmed lineups and any late team news before the deadline, especially for Adeniran, Kalajdzic, Olmo, Zielinski and Mbaye. If a BAR starter is missing, the stack math changes quickly, and the cheap AVL and VIL plays depend on who actually takes the field.
The plan is simple. Build around Raphinha as captain with Yamal or Gordon, use Augusto at the back, and find the savings with Manzambi and Mikautadze.
Full, sortable projections for every player, with a CSV download for your own optimizer, are on our Champions League DFS projections page, with tabs for Fanteam, DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo.