DraftKings LoL: Thursday LPL/LCK Cheat Sheet

LPL/LCK Games (EDT)

• 2:00 a.m. APK Prince vs. Afreeca Freecs (LCK)
• 2:00 a.m. LGD Gaming vs. Team WE (LPL)
• 4:00 a.m. Hanwha Life vs. DAMWON Gaming (LCK)
• 5:00 a.m. Rogue Warriors vs. Bilibili Gaming (LPL)
• 7:00 a.m. KT Rolster vs. DragonX (LCK)
• 7:00 a.m. Suning vs. Top Esports (LPL)

LPL - LGD (2-7) vs. WE (5-4)

LGD played a really good game against EDward Gaming, but as we know by now objectives are a big thing in the LPL since nobody plays around them. LGD is really hard to gauge because this team really relies on their early game and tempo to win games. It's a team built with plenty of veterans who know how to snowball leads once they have them, but the majority of the players simply aren't as good as they used to be. WE, on the other hand, have been able to play an early and late game style with the players they have. WE are more proactive around the map using a variety of expert pathing, map awareness and team decisions --- basically all things teams in the LPL have trouble picking up on. This is going to be a good game to target in a DFS perspective. 

Prediction: 2-1

Bets: N/A

WE Players to target: Beishang (JNG $7,800), Teacherma (MID $8,200) 

RW (3-6) vs BLG (3-6)

There is a motto that I always go with: don't play members of Rogue Warriors when they start Haro, who is their new jungler. He hasn't had any synergy with this team for the last two years, and it is evident that trend is going to continue. Bilibili Gaming, on the other hand, took it to WE and ended up winning the game. Don't let the record fool you, BLG are the better team lane for lane. Their macro and objective control is one of the best in the league, and a high variance team like Rogue Warriors will have a tough time against them.

Prediction: BLG 2-0

Bets: N/A

BLG Players to target: Meteor (JNG $7,200), Fofo (MID $7,800), Jinjiao (ADC $7,600)

SN (4-6) vs TES (6-3)

Top Esports finally are getting into form and it couldn't come at a better time thanks to the recent news that star ADC, Jackeylove, will come back to replace current starter Photic. Jackeylove was on the Invictus Gaming world championship team in 2017, and his Kaisa performance is something to watch. He is not going to start for TES on Thursday, but he really makes this team a worlds contender now compared to just a playoff team in the LPL. With that said, Suning is not drafting well, as Huanfeng has been put on the same champion seven out of the last eight games; a furious dilemma considering it drastically limits his upside along with the team. If SN doesn't make any sort of drafting decisions, they will get destroyed by TES.

Prediction: TES 2-0

Bets: N/A

TES Players to target: Karsa (JNG $7,400), Knight (MID $8,000), Photic (ADC $8,000)

LCK - APK (3-9) vs AF (6-6)

In my last article about SANDBOX Gaming, I said that APK Prince were handed a win on a silver plate. This team's thought process is to fight and hope to win those skirmishes while trying to snowball teams. AF played a good game against KT Rolster, and while they still have growing pains right now, this team is too good to lose to a team like APK. I really like this for a DFS perspective.

Prediction: AF 2-0

Bets: N/A

Players: FLY (MID $7,400), Mystic (ADC $7,800), Jelly (SUP $5,400)

HLE (4-8) vs DWG (5-7)

Hanwha Life Espors and DAMWON Gaming are in the same boat as they come off the break looking better than their records would indicate. HLE is a team who beat DragonX (8-5), but that was more of a byproduct of capitalizing on their opponents mistakes than anything else. DWG has had a tough schedule so far, facing off against KT Rolster (8-5), Gen.G (11-2) and then beating APK (3-9). DWG are a very talented team, and I think they are finally looking to play through different carries other than Nuguri. They have seemed to slow the tempo down and play towards objectives more, and it almost paid off in that Gen.G game. I can see them controlling this game against a wildcard team in HLE.

Prediction: Damwon 2-0

Bets: N/A

Damwon Players to target: Nuguri (TOP $6,800), Canyon (JNG $6,400), Showmaker (MID $7,600)

KT (7-5) vs DRX (9-4)

DragonX went 2-1 against SANDBOX Gaming (4-9) on Tuesday, and in that second game SB got the early advantage and just utterly ran away with the contest. However, DRX was proactive in the other two wins, locking up the early game to eventually secure a satisfying series victory. It should be noted, DRX only seems to come out ahead when they get ahead, using the early game to snowball into victory. It's almost as if they have to follow a script in order to succeed, otherwise they will falter and eventually lose the game. Not saying that they can't overcome adversity, just that the few games they have struggled early they were unable to do anything well from behind. KT Rolster, on the other hand, have looked good in every facet of the game. It's just a bunch of solid veterans who know how to play this type of meta, and I assume they will be able to give DRX a run for their money. Aiming has been playing out of his mind right now, and I wouldn't be surprised if he keeps it up as these champions are some of his comfort pick. 

Prediction: KT 2-1

Bets: KT ML (+155)

KT Players to target: Aiming (ADC $6,200), Tusin (SUP $4,000) 

STACKS TO CONSIDER

Cash: BLG/DWG, DWG/TES, AFS/WE

GPP: KT/WE, KT/TES, KT/BLG