League of Legends: IEM San Jose Daily Fantasy Picks
League of Legends DFS returns this weekend as Intel Extreme Masters hosts a six team tournament in San Jose. Teams were voted in by fans from their respective regions for the right to compete for the $175,000 prize pool. While we’re still in the League Championship Series offseason and some teams are still finalizing their roster ahead of the 2016 season, there’s no reason to expect anything other than the high level play we’re used to seeing with significant money on the line.
Invited Teams and Format
IEM San Jose welcomes six teams from around the world for what will be a very quick tournament. The tournament lasts just two days with the potential for some teams to play as little as two games before they return home. The six voted-in teams are as follows with expected starting lineups:
Counter Logic Gaming (NA) – HuHi, ZionSpartan, Xmithie, Aphromoo, Stixxay
Team Solo Mid (NA) – Doublelift, Svenskeren, kaSing, Bjergsen, Hauntzer
Origen (EU) – PowerOfEvil, sOAZ, Amazing, Niels, mithy
Unicorns of Love (EU) – Steelback, Fox, Vizicsacsi, Hylissang, Gilius
LGD Gaming (CN) – Acorn, GODV, imp, TBQ, Pyl
Jin Air Green Wings (KR) – SoHwan, Winged, Kuzan, Pilot, Chei
Possible changes from these linups would include TBQ being benched for xiaoxi as his performances have been quite poor.
The biggest thing you may notice from these teams is that Doublelift is now on TSM. He’s departed CLG this offseason to partner up with Bjergsen and form what may be the strongest North American team to date.
Origen and Jin Air Green Wings both have a bye into the semifinals which leaves us with two best of threes on Saturday. The winner of each series moves onto the semifinals for another best of three on Sunday. Winners of those two series will face off Sunday evening in the Grand Final, a best of five.
TSM (+153) vs. LGD – Winner faces Origen.
CLG vs. UOL (+125) – Winner faces JAGW.
Saturday Targets
imp, ADC ($7,800) and Pyl, Support ($5,900) – As we know, pairing an ADC and a Support from the same team in a game where they are favored is typically going to be a go to option. While I love what TSM has done this offseason in completely remaking their roster, it’s barely been a week since it was finalized. This is simply not enough time for Doublelift and new lane mate kaSing to gel. I’m not expecting a steamroll from LGD in this series, but it would be quite an upset for a team that has had this little time to prepare to be able to top a pairing with as much experience as imp and Pyl.
For CLG vs UOL it’s difficult to recommend any one player. This is the game I’d look at stacking one team or the other. Both teams have gone through significant roster changes and there’s immense unpredictability in this series. I like UOL for the small upset. They’ve put together a strong roster and have always been a team that can play well when considered the underdog.
Sunday Targets
Pilot, ADC (JAGW) – There’s no salaries for Sunday’s contests as we don’t know who Origen and Jin Air Green Wings will face yet, but I like Pilot regardless of price and matchup. I’m expecting Jin Air to win this tournament and that runs through Pilot.
PowerOfEvil, Mid (OG) – The former Unicorns of Love Mid laner has moved up in the world and joined Origen to replace underperformer Xpeke. PowerOfEvil was a big part of the reason that UOL had as much success as they did and should step right into Origen as both a leader and a playmaker. I have no doubt he will make an immediate impact on this team.