LoL Grind Down: NA - Saturday, July 16th

Welcome to the RotoGrinders League of Legends Grind Down. In this all-encompassing preview of the upcoming LCS action, every game will be broken down statistically, with several key elements highlighted in our charts.

We provide Defense versus Position data for each team, along with the RotoGrinders original stat, Pace. Every game is also broken down, providing an overview of the game and a selection of players to consider from each match.

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Echo Fox vs. TSM

Echo Fox TSM
Article Image Vegas Sprd +1152 Article Image Vegas Sprd -3000
Avg. Pts. 9.1 Avg. Pts. 15.9
Avg. Pts./W 17.8 Avg. Pts./W 17.9
FB% 37% FB% 64%
Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks
DvP Rks Top Jng Mid Supp ADC DvP Rks Top Jng Mid Supp ADC
Players kfo Hard Froggen Big Keith Players Hauntzer Svenskeren Bjergsen Biofrost Doublelift
Opp. Season -5.81% -15.39% -8.78% -16.50% -7.49% Opp. Season 10.86% 14.64% 18.84% 21.05% 20.37%

Don’t look now folks, but this one could get ugly. Echo Fox is decidedly the worst team in North America and TSM is well, TSM. This iteration of the team perfectly fills the shoes of the domestic powerhouse franchise that has been a part of the scene since the beginning. Sure, Echo Fox was able to pull out a cheeky win against TSM and push the series to the limit in their last matchup, but both teams are even further on opposite ends of the spectrum at this point. The salaries on TSM players are quite steep ,but I want at least one of them to build around and I’m looking at Bjergsen, who I value a bit higher than Doublelift due to the kill participation being about five percent higher for Bjerg. Both of them will likely be fantasy studs, so I have no problem with either of them. TSM is also the obvious choice in the team slot because they have the highest likelihood of getting the bonus for finishing a game in under 30 minutes, a feat they have accomplished five times this summer. Again, you can’t really go wrong with anyone on the TSM squad, but you will likely only be able to grab one or two at the very most.

Echo Fox

Elite Plays

- None

Secondary Plays

- None

TSM

Elite Plays

-Bjergsen (DK $8,400, AD $8,500) – Bjergsen is the undisputed best mid laner in North America and the safest DFS option on the planet when it comes to the LCS. He is averaging about five kills and 6.5 per game, and he has even had a few where he pops off for seven or more. He won’t cost you with those pesky death numbers either and he only has 7 deaths in his past 6 games. The ceiling his as insanely high as his floor.

Secondary Plays

-Doublelift (DK $8,400, AD $8,400) – This isn’t a bad consolation prize if you don’t go for the Bjergsen sweepstakes and its quite possible that Doublelift has an ever better day. I just trust Bjergsen more and I like the ADC pool a bit more so it really comes down to that more than the individual players. He is another player who won’t hurt you with deaths and the kills and assists are among the top in the league at his position. Nothing but profit is what you’re looking at here.

NRG vs. Team Envy

NRG Team Envy
Article Image Vegas Sprd +240 Article Image Vegas Sprd -305
Avg. Pts. 10.1 Avg. Pts. 14.1
Avg. Pts./W 18.4 Avg. Pts./W 20.3
FB% 45% FB% 39%
Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks
DvP Rks Top Jng Mid Supp ADC DvP Rks Top Jng Mid Supp ADC
Players Quas Santorin GBM KiWiKiD Ohq Players Seraph Procxin Ninja Hakuho LOD
Opp. Season 12.41% 10.64% 14.41% 21.39% 11.02% Opp. Season -37.26% -38.60% -31.64% -30.59% -41.66%

NV has been on quite a slide for a while now but I think this is the week where they bounce back. Their recent string of losses have come against the likes of CLG, Team Liquid, Cloud 9 and TSM which is basically like the entire top half of the league. NRG, while improving, is still not nearly the threat the teams I just listed are. NV is also suited decently for the current meta and they have lost several very close games where they looked competitive even against stronger opponents. I think this is a good, not great matchup for fantasy for both teams but I can’t trust NRG as far as I can throw GBM’s bowtie with my hands behind my back. NV has some potential value and it lies primarily in their solo laners. I like Procxin, Ninja and Seraph all to some degree but I won’t be heavily playing this game in my lineups and it will just be a one-off type of game.

NRG

Elite Plays

- None

Secondary Plays

-Ohq (DK $6,600, AD $7,400) – Ohq is on the lower end of ADC’s I’m willing to go with so I feel it’s important to throw him in here as a flex consideration. I don’t expect this series to be incredibly fantasy lucrative but Ohq does have some boom potential as seen in his last game against C9 where he finished with 11 kills and 9 assists. He is extremely boom or bust so proceed with caution and he is only a really a flex or GPP option for me.

Team Envy

Elite Plays

- None

Secondary Plays

-Seraph (DK $6,700, AD $7,400) – This is a matchup play for me more than anything. NRG and Quas in particular are known for giving up kills to their opponents in bulk and Quas is 3rd among all players in deaths per game. Seraph fits the carry meta we see right now and I think this is where he and NV turn their season around and head in the right direction.

Cloud9 vs. Apex

Cloud9 Apex
Article Image Vegas Sprd -405 Article Image Vegas Sprd +307
Avg. Pts. 13.2 Avg. Pts. 12.4
Avg. Pts./W 18.2 Avg. Pts./W 21.5
FB% 58% FB% 41%
Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks
DvP Rks Top Jng Mid Supp ADC DvP Rks Top Jng Mid Supp ADC
Players Impact Meteos Jensen Bunny Fufu Sneaky Players Ray Shrimp Keane Xpecial Apollo
Opp. Season 6.12% 6.07% 4.72% 3.46% 9.38% Opp. Season -25.79% -28.20% -30.71% -32.28% -25.84%

The demise of Cloud 9 has been greatly exaggerated. They are still one of the top teams in the region and if they can get out of their own way, they could be a legitimate force heading into playoffs. They have a lineup with arguably just as much individual skill as each team ahead of the in the standings but the team play is hit or miss. Apex is a team that hasn’t been able to punish teams for those mistakes which is one of the reasons I really like C9 on this slate. The strategy for Apex has been pretty clear: Try to get Ray ahead and play around him. If it works, it looks awesome. The problem is that every team knows this by now. I think Ray is still capable of having a game where he puts up big numbers but over the course of a series it just won’t be enough. C9 stack is an AD play I really like and I’ll be slotting in a few players in my DK lineups as well.

Cloud9

Elite Plays

-Sneaky (DK $7,700, AD $8,200) – Sneaky is my ADC play of the week and I think a lot of people will be off of him due to some recent minor struggles which puts me even further on the hype train. He is still in the top 2 in kills, assists, and kill participation and he thoroughly destroyed Apex in their last meeting. He has secured at least 7 kills in 9 of the teams 30 games this split so the upside is pretty massive. He’s also had at least 7 assists in 10 of those 30 games as well.

Secondary Plays

-Meteos (DK $6,600, AD $7,700) – On DraftKings the jungle pool has pretty distinct tiers with the top players being Sven and Dardoch. Meteos is in the tier that follows and that’s where I want to be in cash games for this slate. The kill participation % is still lacking for him but he is right up there with Sven in assists per game which is the key stat for junglers. He had 31 assists in the 3 game set against Apex before and I think we can expect a similar statline. Even if he falls short he will still be a value play.

Apex

Elite Plays

- None

Secondary Plays

-Ray (DK $5,800 Only) – With the strategy I am running where I prioritize getting a C9 stud and/or a TSM stud in my lineup, you have to punt somewhere and Ray might be the ideal punt for me. Sure he has fallen off a good bit from the early summer form where he single-handedly carried games, but he still has that potential to go off for a game or 2 and exceed the value you pay for him. In 6 of the team’s 13 wins he has 5 or more kills so if Apex can pull out a game, he has solid potential. Still a risky play but worth consideration for the punt.

Phoenix1 vs. Team Liquid

Phoenix1 Team Liquid
Article Image Vegas Sprd +554 Article Image Vegas Sprd -850
Avg. Pts. 9.6 Avg. Pts. 12.2
Avg. Pts./W 18.3 Avg. Pts./W 18.0
FB% 49% FB% 60%
Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks
DvP Rks Top Jng Mid Supp ADC DvP Rks Top Jng Mid Supp ADC
Players Zig Zentinel Slooshi Gate Mash Players Lourlo Dardoch FeniX Matt Piglet
Opp. Season -36.55% -38.77% -27.71% -35.10% -36.28% Opp. Season 31.28% 18.01% 18.44% 8.40% 15.45%

This game won’t turn too many heads, but I’m intrigued by P1. They are coming off a couple of strong victories in which they just look like the better team and while TL is another team that has risen up over the past few weeks, this Phoenix1 squad cannot be overlooked. Pirean and Mash have been the primary carries they have needed and while I don’t love them from a fantasy aspect, they get to play spoiler in this game. I’m not too keen on paying up for Team Liquid players not named Dardoch at this point. The top of each position is just too competitive and you don’t want to risk paying up for a team that could be pushed to their limits and I wouldn’t rule out P1 being able to win this series. It could definitely be a series where the kill totals shoot up but do I really trust that to happen for TL? Not to the point where I want to pay the salaries that they are listed at. FeniX has been a player that has been impressive lately but I’d just rather have several other mid laners instead of him and I think Jensen at a couple hundred cheaper is a much better play. Fade on TL and watchout for the upset here. If you’re feeling lucky, I wouldn’t even rule out P1 in the team slot and saving big on salary.

Phoenix1

Elite Plays

- None

Secondary Plays

- None

Team Liquid

Elite Plays

-Dardoch (DK $7,200, AD $8,000) – I’m not going to pay up for Svenskeren so if I build a lineup with a higher end jungler, Dardoch is almost certainly the must-have play. He has been massive for Team Liquid with the most jungle kills despite having played in only 26 games this split. The solo lanes for P1 are their weak spots, in particular the jungle/top combo which is where Dardoch thrives. I expect a big series from him.

Secondary Plays

- None

Still need more data to help set your lineups? Check out our eSports daily research tools!

About the Author

Airbudgoldenrec
Airbudgoldenrec

Robert “AirBud” Marshall has been following the League of Legends competitve scene for over 3 years across all 4 major regions. He started his website “DFS League of Legends” during Worlds 2015 with the introduction of Esports on DraftKings. Prior to that, Robert was an avid fantasy football, baseball, and basketball player in both season long and daily formats. Follow him on Twitter: @Airbudgoldenrec