We're only weeks away from the playoffs in both the North American and European League of Legends Championship Series, and that means Fantasy LCS leagues will be wrapping up before you know it.
So whether you have a shot at winning it all, or you're just trying to avoid the embarrassment of last place, there's still something to fight for. Let's get your team lined up right for Week 8 with our picks and passes.
Picks
Felix "Betsy" Edling, mid lane, ROCCAT
For the second week in a row, ROCCAT will play two games (along with Origen), making them the team to look toward for pickups and spot starts. Betsy has one of the best matchups, as he'll line up against Giants and their mid-lane matchup that ranks second easiest in the EU LCS. The other game will be against Fnatic, which isn't all that easy, but Betsy should hold his own. Kim "Wadid" Bae-in is the other ROCCAT player to consider, as Giants are also the second-best matchup for supports in EU.
Choi "Huhi" Jae-hyun, mid lane, Counter Logic Gaming
If you're in a shallower league, you may find that you don't need to pick up Betsy because Huhi is still on waivers. On the free-agent list in over 30 percent of leagues and started in less than half, Huhi will lane against Echo Fox and FlyQuest this week, giving him a pair of great matchups. The Foxes allow the second-most points per game to mid laners this split, while FlyQuest are on a sharp decline and should allow Huhi plenty of opportunities. He's a must-add and must-start this weekend.
Alex "Xpecial" Chu, support, Team Dignitas
Call it the "Coach Cop" effect if you'd like, but as Dignitas soars up the standings, Xpecial's value in fantasy does, too. After finishing a series against Echo Fox with three straight games of double-digit assists, he'll now join his Dignitas teammates in matchups against Team Liquid and Team Envy this week. Dignitas should win both and Xpecial should pick up several assists along the way. TL is a particularly good matchup for supports, ranking as third best across both regions this split.
Passes
Everyone from Origen
This split has been difficult enough for Origen, so it's not easy to be this straightforward about it, but ... they don't belong in your fantasy lineups, even with a two-match week ahead. Splyce and Vitality are mediocre matchups across the board from a fantasy perspective and I don't see any players on OG who will stand out and offer better numbers than anyone from NA or from ROCCAT.
Eugene "Pobelter" Park, mid lane, Immortals
I've been wrong about IMT's mid laner multiple times this year, as he has been mired in an inconsistent and disappointing season, so this week I'm going in the other direction. Matchups with top-three opponents Cloud9 and Phoenix1 will be tough for Pobelter and his Immortals teammates, and there are better options out there in most leagues. In fact, I'd shy away from every IMT player outside of Joshua "Dardoch" Hartnett, who can carry both his team and your fantasy team against anyone at any time.
Yiliang "Doublelift" Peng, AD carry, Team Liquid
In deeper leagues, you absolutely still have to start Doublelift, but if there are better options you should definitely pursue them. Team Liquid will face Team Dignitas and Phoenix1 this week, meaning he'll face an improving team with a solid bot lane and a top-three team with the best ADC in North America. Doublelift's inconsistent play thus far in a TL shirt doesn't earn him must-start status yet; that will have to wait for his likely return to TSM next split. Consider his lane opponent Benjamin "LOD" deMunck if he's on waivers in your league.