LoL Fantasy Grind Down: Sunday, March 20th
Welcome to the RotoGrinders LoL Grind Down! These articles will cover everything you need to know for playing League of Legends fantasy including defense vs position, projections, vegas odds, and detailed analysis.
Also included is the RotoGrinders original statistic pace — a higher pace means bloodier games, so when two teams with high pace play, expect a bloodbath!
Note: As always, if you want to try a new DFS site, be sure to click through a RotoGrinders link and use our DraftKings promo code and AlphaDraft promo code to receive the best perks in the industry.
For live game tracking and other eSports news RotoGrinders recommends Instant Esports. Get the app for iOS or Android.
CLG vs. Dignitas
| CLG | Dignitas | |||||||||||
 | Record | 11-5 |  | Record | 4-12 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | -350 | Vegas Sprd | +271 | |||||||||
| Avg. KP | 66.5 | Avg. KP | 64.8 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 0.89 | Team Pace | 0.77 | |||||||||
| Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks | Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks | |||||||||||
| DvP Rks | Top | Jng | Mid | Supp | ADC | DvP Rks | Top | Jng | Mid | Supp | ADC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Darshan | Xmithie | Huhi | Aphromoo | Stixxay | Players | BillyBoss | Kirei | Shiphtur | KiWiKiD | Apollo | |
| Opp. Season | 5 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | Opp. Season | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
While CLG are sometimes a team that we avoid given their tendency to stick with their split pushing style, this may be a time to consider hopping on them when they may be lower owned than some other favored teams. CLG are in the midst of a playoff push and are trying to lock down a top seed, while Dignitas would certainly like to avoid finishing in dead last. Something worth considering with CLG is that their tactical style has shown weaknesses as teams have seen more and more of it, so they have to be considering looking for more styles that they can bring out in the playoffs. The final game of the season would certainly be a good time to experiment with a more aggressive playstyle.
Dignitas do have the longest average game time in North America and jungler Kirei is a surprisingly effective pest, which makes him worth a look and also pushes his opponents to fight. All in all, I think this game has a chance to be more interesting and kill heavy than many may be expecting.
CLG
Elite Plays
Stixxay (DK $8,100, AD $8,400) – In most weeks I do prioritize HuHi to Stixxay, but the latter does have the superior matchup here in the lane portion of the game. That and Stixxay’s game ending quadra kill on Saturday can’t hurt his confidence.
Secondary Plays
Xmithie (DK $7,000, AD $7,800) – Xmithie’s offensive resurgence was somewhat overblown, but he’s still been an improved player and is arguably the best priced jungler on the slate.
Dignitas
Elite Plays
None.
Secondary Plays
Kirei (DK $4,900, AD $7,000) – As mentioned above, Kirei’s been effective enough out of the jungle to make it interesting against most opponents and should find enough room to pay off these cheap prices.
Shiphtur (DK $6,000, AD $7,500) – Although I prefer Kirei if I am one offing a member of Dignitas, the team’s mid laner is their best player and if they are able to push CLG, he will be scoring the kills.
Team SoloMid vs. NRG eSports
| Team SoloMid | NRG eSports | |||||||||||
 | Record | 9-7 |  | Record | 7-8 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | -125 | Vegas Sprd | +103 | |||||||||
| Avg. KP | 66.6 | Avg. KP | 74.6 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 0.94 | Team Pace | 0.84 | |||||||||
| Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks | Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks | |||||||||||
| DvP Rks | Top | Jng | Mid | Supp | ADC | DvP Rks | Top | Jng | Mid | Supp | ADC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Hauntzer | Svenskeren | Bjergsen | YellOwStaR | Doublelift | Players | Impact | Moon | GBM | KonKwon | Altec | |
| Opp. Season | 8 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 8 | Opp. Season | 9 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 9 | |
After giving up First Blood to CLG inside a minute and eventually being beaten without CLG having to break a sweat, NRG will be wondering what happened after their strong performances last week. I expect them to bounce back strongly after the defeat as another poor performance and loss would be very defeating with the playoffs about to begin. This team has too much talent and the loss to CLG was a bit flukey with CLG having a massive lead before the game even reached 10 minutes.
Of course, TSM are in a similar position. All season long they’ve been this so called super team with several players who could be considered in the upper tier of their position, but essentially none of that has proven true. It might seem silly, but whoever wins this game will have to be feeling positive about their chances in the playoffs, so expect a very hard fought game.
Team SoloMid
Elite Plays
Doublelift (DK $7,200, AD $8,000) – In a game that should see at least 20 kills, I’ll be hoping we’re lucky enough to get Doublelift on the Kogmaw, with his team building around his success. Regardless of what champion he plays, the upside is immense.
Secondary Plays
Bjergsen (DK $7,200, AD $7,900) – Earlier in the season we would have been locking in Bjergsen at this price without question. TSM’s struggles have prevented that, but against NRG and as a favorite, we have to be considering this in all formats.
NRG eSports
Elite Plays
None.
Secondary Plays
Impact (DK $7,200, AD $7,400) – Pricing isn’t giving us much of a break on NRG players today. All of their players are just a hair below their TSM counterparts and it can be tempting to simply go with the TSM player. Still, this game could go to NRG and potentially in a big way, so consider their high-Impact players.
GBM (DK $6,900, AD $7,800) – Just $100 cheaper than Bjergsen on AD, yet still can’t be ignored. Explosions in points haven’t come nearly as often as we would have expected from GBM, but are always possible.
Team Impulse vs. Immortals
| Team Impulse | Immortals | |||||||||||
 | Record | 5-11 |  | Record | 15-1 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | +622 | Vegas Sprd | -1000 | |||||||||
| Avg. KP | 69.0 | Avg. KP | 69.6 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 0.83 | Team Pace | 1.10 | |||||||||
| Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks | Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks | |||||||||||
| DvP Rks | Top | Jng | Mid | Supp | ADC | DvP Rks | Top | Jng | Mid | Supp | ADC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Feng | Procxin | Pirean | Gate | Mash | Players | Huni | Reignover | Pobelter | Adrian | WildTurtle | |
| Opp. Season | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Opp. Season | 7 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 6 | |
Oh, boy. The books are calling this the most lopsided game of the season, with Immortals coming in as a -1000 favorite. They’re such a large favorite that I’d almost be tempted to be on Team Impulse if they hadn’t been such a poor team all season long. This game can’t be viewed too differently than most other games that feature a top team taking on a weak one. The question simply comes down to whether the game will last long enough or be enough of a challenge for Immortals in order for their players to reach value. My guess is that it will not and I will likely be looking to avoid this game.
Team Impulse
Elite Plays
None.
Secondary Plays
None.
Immortals
Elite Plays
None.
Secondary Plays
Huni (DK $7,700, AD $8,100) – Huni is too expensive and is pretty easy to avoid. However, I won’t be completely off of him. He’s shown the ability on a number of occasions to have GBM-like fantasy explosions. He picks on his lane opponents even against good teams, which Impulse is not. Top lane plays can be hard to find, so it’s not a total stretch to pay up for Huni.
Renegades vs. Echo Fox
| Renegades | Echo Fox | |||||||||||
 | Record | 3-13 |  | Record | 6-9 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | +136 | Vegas Sprd | -166 | |||||||||
| Avg. KP | 69.4 | Avg. KP | 75.2 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 0.75 | Team Pace | 0.68 | |||||||||
| Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks | Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks | |||||||||||
| DvP Rks | Top | Jng | Mid | Supp | ADC | DvP Rks | Top | Jng | Mid | Supp | ADC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Seraph | Crumbzz | ninja | Hakuho | Freeze | Players | kfo | Hard | Froggen | BIG | KEITH | |
| Opp. Season | 4 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | Opp. Season | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | |
After Seraph came out and said he believes Renegades is the second best team in North America, Renegades came out and played a relatively competitive game against the league’s worth team in Team Impulse. Renegades did win, and with monster fantasy scores, but the idea that they are the second best team in the region remains as laughable as ever. They are, however, significantly improved from where they were for most of the season. The additions of Seraph and Ninja have made a major difference and give them genuine hope of beating Echo Fox, and it would likely be in fantasy-boom fashion.
On the other side of the Rift, Froggen and Echo Fox are certainly the favorite, even if Seraph won’t buy it. Fox, too, are a very fantasy friendly team. They like to fight and tend to play long games. It wouldn’t be a surprise if whichever team gains the early lead is unable to close with ease, which is what can lead to games that feature 25 or more kills.
Renegades
Elite Plays
Seraph (DK $5,900) – Elite status is going to be reserved for DraftKings with Seraph, where his price is more manageable.
Secondary Plays
Seraph (AD $7,500) – Seraph, as well as most of his teammates, are priced above where I would feel comfortable having significant exposure to them. Lack of top lane options keeps him as a secondary play on AD, though.
Freeze (DK $6,700) – Keith and BIG aren’t an easy matchup, but I’m definitely focusing on Freeze in this game more so than Renegades’ mid laner Ninja.
Echo Fox
Elite Plays
Froggen (DK $7,400, AD $7,700) – This is one of the more obvious and likely higher owned plays of the day. Froggen plays for the favored team and is the best player in this game. He’s not going to get 700 CS again, but 30+ fantasy points are a distinct possibility.
Secondary Plays
Hard (DK $6,400, AD $7,300) – Sunday’s slate is more difficult with junglers as it typically is, as there are either overwhelming favorites like Reignover, or games that could go either way. Hard is fairly priced on both sites and is a better option than he usually is.
Team Liquid vs. Cloud 9
| Team Liquid | Cloud 9 | |||||||||||
 | Record | 8-8 |  | Record | 11-5 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 0.0 | Vegas Sprd | 0.0 | |||||||||
| Avg. KP | 74.3 | Avg. KP | 66.3 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 0.83 | Team Pace | 1.02 | |||||||||
| Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks | Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks | |||||||||||
| DvP Rks | Top | Jng | Mid | Supp | ADC | DvP Rks | Top | Jng | Mid | Supp | ADC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Lourlo | Dardoch | FeniX | Matt | Piglet | Players | Balls | Rush | Jensen | Hai | Sneaky | |
| Opp. Season | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | Opp. Season | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 3 | |
This is the game that I am most interested in today. Cloud9 is my favorite team to watch in North America and Team Liquid is the mid tier team that I believe can make a big step in the Summer Split. I won’t make playoff predictions just yet, but I do think that it’s likely that Liquid will fall early on, as they simply aren’t playing a high level consistently enough to beat top North American teams in a Best of 5 series. A win here could change that perception, though.
Cloud9 do need this win more than Liquid, as they are still alive for a bye in the first round. Almost any player on C9 could be argued as an elite play in a game that is highly likely to go north of 25 total kills. It will be interesting to see if either team decides to allow play to come to them given that they know full well that their opponent loves to attack. Regardless of who takes the lead, this is a very high upside game.
Team Liquid
Elite Plays
Dardoch (DK, $5,400, AD $7,400) – There is a pretty large pricing difference between AlphaDraft and DraftKings here, but Dardoch’s floor and upside are high enough that I’m willing to call him elite on both sites.
Piglet (DK $6,500 AD $7,700) – Dardoch has received a lot of attention throughout the split as potential Rookie of the Split, but Piglet has been the horse and will have to have a monster performance to beat Sneaky and C9.
Secondary Plays
None.
Cloud 9
Elite Plays
Jensen (DK $7,700, AD $8,100) – C9’s mid lane beast faces off with FeniX, who is tough, but not tough enough for Jensen. Expect an early lead, which only increases his potential through the mid game, especially if he’s once again on an assassin champion.
Secondary Plays
Rush (DK $6,600 AD $7,900) – Rush is very close to elite in this game, but upset potential and Dardoch’s ability to mess with his opposing jungler’s early game do bump him down a bit. Quite affordable on DK in particular.
Still need more data to help set your lineups? Check out our eSports daily research tools!