This article is part of our DraftKings League of Legends series.
Week Two comes after a bit of a surprising first week in the European LCS. Origen finds themselves at 0-2, ROCCAT and Elements are 1-1 and FORG1VEN actually carried some games! Thursday's slate has some tough matchups to navigate, including UoL vs OG and Fnatic vs H2k. Vitality and Gamers2 are considered the heaviest favorites of the day while the ROCCAT/Elements game is a bit of a coin flip.
Daily Player Recommendations:
Top Lane:
Cabochard - VIT vs. SPL ($6,700): Vitality is the heaviest favorites on the day, facing off against a Splyce team who are still trying to find themselves in the LCS. In Vitality's win last week, they played well around Cabochard's Fiora and I would expect Cabo to play a similar role on Thursday as his lane opponent, Wunderwear finished Week One with eight deaths.
Other Suggestions: Kikis (G2 vs. GIA, $6,800) and Vizicsasci (UoL vs. OG, $5,700)
Top Lane Player to Avoid:
sOAZ - OG vs. UoL ($6,500): Tough start to the LCS for sOAZ as the French top laner died eleven times in Origen's two losses in Week One. They face a tough matchup on Thursday against UoL who have started off the sesaon very well. Origen could certainly win this game, but sOAZ is a risk to use at this price.
Jungle:
Trick - G2 vs. GIA ($6,200): Trick looked very good roaming the jungle for G2 in Week One as the newly promoted European LCS side started the new season 2-0. He finished with six kills and twenty-one assists in G2's two games and it doesn't look like his aggressive style will stop anytime soon, making his fantasy upside tantalizing in a good match up Thursday.
Other Suggestions: Diamondprox (UoL vs. OG, $5,300) and Shook (VIT vs. SPL, $6,000)
Jungle Player to Avoid:
Amazing - OG vs. UoL ($5,900): Like sOAZ it was also a tough start for Amazing in the first week of the season. Origen fell behind early in both games during week one making Amazing's early game week and he was ineffective as the games moved into the mid and late game. The team also struggled, conceding the most deaths during the first week of the season. He's the third highest-priced jungler Thursday in a game that is tough to pick and as such I think the risk involved isn't worth his price, especially in cash games.
Middle Lane:
Fox - UoL vs. OG ($6,600): Fox dominated his lane opponents in both Week One games, bullying and out-farming his opposition in the mid lane and picking up nine kills and six assists in the process as UoL went 2-0. Considering Fox was used as a split pusher last week, there is a chance he could be given another shot to create 1 vs 1 matchups, making for more kill opportunities on Thursday. PowerOfEvil has also looked shaky and while this pick may be a bit risky, it should provide good value.
Other Suggestions: Nukeduck (VIT vs. SPL, $7,600) and Betsy (ROC vs. EL, $7,200)
Middle Lane Player to Avoid:
PowerOfEvil - OG vs. UoL ($7,400): PoE is pretty expensive today for a player that struggled in Week One. His upside remains high, but at this price point and against a good UoL team I don't think this is the week to be use PoE. It doesn't help that he will be going up against Fox, who has the ability to solo kill anyone in lane as well.
ADC:
Emperor - G2 vs. GIA ($8,300): Emperor is the most expensive player on the day, but I think he'll live up to his price in a great matchup. The GIA bot lane looked pretty bad last season and, at least in Week One, seemed to display more of the same ineptitude, so I think G2 should, and likely will, take advantage through their aggressive Korean ADC.
Other Suggestions: FORG1VEN (H2k vs. FNC, $7,400) and Hjarnan (VIT vs. SPL, $8,100)
ADC Player to Avoid:
Rekkles - FNC vs. H2k ($7,500): If Fnatic wins this game, Rekkles may not have a huge say in it. FORG1VEN proved me wrong last week as the H2k marksman dominated in Week One, and he could have his way in Week Two as well, particularly in the farming category. If the teams line up in a standard 2 vs 2 in the bottom lane Rekkles may struggle to farm in lane against FORG1VEN. As a result he may be used more as a damage chunking source in team fights, picking up more assists than kills if FNC ends up with a win on Day Three.
Support:
Hylissang - UoL vs. OG ($5,000): I love Hylissang's price in what should be a close game. Even if UoL doesn't win, he should outperform his low salary as he's the third cheapest support on the day and by far the cheapest support in a good matchup. The savings used from Hylissang can also help you pay up for carries in your lineup.
Other Suggestions: Hybrid (G2 vs. Elements, $6,100) and kaSing (VIT vs. SPL, $6,000)
Support Player to Avoid:
Mithy - OG vs. UoL ($5,800): This is more about Mithy's price than anything else. Origen struggled during Week One and though they should be in line for a bounceback, their Day Three game against UoL looks to be a close one. I'd rather use a support who's $800 cheaper in the same matchup so I can fit more carries in with favorable matchups.
Team:
Unicorns of Love vs. Origen ($3,800): I never pay up for my team choice and UoL appears to be the best cheap option in a game that they have a real chance to win. Use the savings from UoL to pay up for carries in good matchups to help stack your lineup.
