Fantasy Love/Hate: Spring 2016 Week 9
It all comes down to this. Week 9 will make fantasy owners across the country burst into uncontrollable fist pumps or tears (and maybe even both). This is the last week for all 2016 Spring Split Fantasy LCS leagues and it's time to crown the victors.
There's no room for sentimentality or future-planning this week. If your stud has an awful matchup, drop them without remorse. If there's a low-tier player with great matchups on the Trade List, snatch them up immediately. The only thing that matters now is how much they'll score this week.
With that in mind, I'm going to skew this week's picks towards players that are more on the fence. You might have them stashed on your bench or they may even be available for pickup in some leagues. Everyone knows to start IMT players by now -- these less obvious plays will be the clutch decisions that make or break your Fantasy LCS dreams this week. Good luck!
For Fantasy Week 9, We Love...
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Seraph (vs. TIP, FOX)
You can't ignore Seraph any longer. He's showed up big in most of his substitute games in the LCS this Split, and REN are looking very hot right now.
Seraph, in particular, was the #5 top laner last week with almost 40 total points (just a little below the two REN carry players' scores). He's a bold player that loves carry champions and always threatens to take over the game if the enemy team doesn't deal with him. Fantasy translation: big point potential.
Even better, top laners were consistent against both TIP and FOX last week. Their final records against Feng were 2/2/7 and 3/2/7 and against KFO, they were 4/0/6 and 6/0/6. I love all of those numbers and think Seraph has just as many tools to reach similar stats this week.
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Soaz (vs. GIA, FNC)
This one's risky with PowerofEvil stepping back into the mid lane for OG, but you have to be eager to start anyone playing against GIA after their collapse last week (The highest total score for any player on their team last week was 6 points!).
Soaz is also the most likely OG player to be unclaimed and available for pickup. He's burned a lot of owners this year with his up-and-down score totals, but he scored 17 points against GIA last time around and should be able to easily get that again, if not more.
FNC has looked strong lately, but Gamsu was definitely not the key part of FNC's resurgence. They've been playing hard around mid lane, which should give Soaz (a historically swingy player who does well in bursts) plenty of room to carry his momentum over from their Day 1 match against GIA.
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Moon (vs. TSM, CLG)
Like Soaz, Moon has received criticism for not being at the same level of his teammates. But he had some great plays on Elise against TL and IMT (like stealing Baron), which made him the #4 jungler overall in Week 8 and should have given him a much-needed boost of confidence.
If Moon can play at that same level again this week, he could lead NRG through two very important upsets. TSM has been struggling in recent weeks -- and the some of the best fantasy-point games of the Split have come from super messy TSM matches (like their Week 4 near-loss to REN with 46 total deaths). CLG is more intact, but is definitely struggling to align their split-push style with the current meta that really wants to force Darshan onto a tank.
If their opponents continue to falter and Moon steps up, this could be his best Fantasy week of the entire Split.
But We Hate...
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Kobbe (vs. VIT, G2)
I'm sad that Splyce never really found their groove this Split. They've shown some signs of greatness but, for fantasy owners, it's time to give up on them -- at least for this Split. Even the worst possible matchups for your first-pick AD carry will give you better odds than Kobbe will today. Yes, even Doublelift against IMT and NRG.
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Froggen (vs. C9, REN) For fantasy purposes, Echo Fox's season ends one week early. They have very unfortunate timing to face the previously struggling REN team right as they're surging. Combined with the unstoppable C9 squad, this is a brutal lineup.
And no lane will be more challenged than Froggen in mid. The farm-loving veteran scores incredibly well when his team wins, but has also seen his points drop quite low in losses.
Both REN and C9 have dominated mid lane in particular lately. Ninja went 2/0/8 on Lissandra last week while handing Bjergsen one of his worst games of the season (1/2/2 on Lulu). Jensen has a combined 29/9/19 record in his last 4 games and has really only allowed Ninja to succeed in lane against him during that time.
Froggen shouldn't be breaking any new world records this week.
Josh Augustine's favorite champion is Teemo, he's never enjoyed a Darius, and he will always go for the kill, even when he knows he shouldn't. He currently works as a game designer at Daybreak Games. He’d love to talk with you on Twitter.
