Geoff Gillingham is on hand to offer his recommendations for this week
Fantasy tips, Round 18: Navigating the festive schedule
Fantasy Challenge
9 Минутное чтение
I know, I know… You were expecting to see Javier Gancedo or maybe even Frankie Sachs in this column, right? Well, as the calendar throws us a curveball and the EuroLeague schedule tightens, it’s my turn to step in. Think of me as the sixth man off the bench, ready to provide a spark when it’s needed most.
This is a strange week for EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge managers, with the competition going into full end-of-year mode. We have seven games on Tuesday, December 23, followed by just three on Friday, December 26. With that in mind, what I’ve tried to do – at least for guards and forwards – is offer one recommendation for Turn 1 (Tuesday) and another for Turn 2 (Friday). So, without further ado, let’s unwrap this week’s fantasy picks.
McKinley Wright, Dubai Basketball (14.4 credits)
Sometimes the smartest move is simply to ride the hot hand. McKinley Wright has been on fire lately, posting fantasy scores of 30.8, 42.0 and 38.5 over the last three rounds. Facing EA7 Emporio Armani Milan at Coca-Cola Arena, a venue where he has been particularly impressive, Wright looks primed for another big performance. If you’re searching for a reliable spark, he ticks all the boxes.
Luca Vildoza, Virtus Bologna (9.3 credits)
Do you believe in revenge games? Because I certainly do. Luca Vildoza racked up 27.0 fantasy points last week on the road at Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, one of his former clubs. On Friday, the Argentinian guard comes up against another of his former employers in Olympiacos Piraeus. For just 9.3 credits, Vildoza offers strong value – and late-December EuroLeague nights have a habit of adding a little extra drama.
Joel Parra, FC Barcelona (6.7 credits)
History has a funny way of repeating itself, and Joel Parra could be in line for another memorable showing on the road at Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. Last season, Barcelona’s masked man – currently wearing protective gear once again – delivered a career-high 26 PIR, along with 15 points and a career-best 12 rebounds, as the Blaugrana escaped with a win. Having logged more than 30 minutes in each of Barcelona’s last two games, Parra looks excellent value at 6.7 credits.
Jaylen Hoard, Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (15.1 credits)
He may sit at the higher end of the price range, but Jaylen Hoard remains one of the safest bets in the game. His importance to Oded Kattash’s team is clear, and he enters Round 18 averaging 21.5 fantasy points across his last four outings. With Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade enduring a difficult stretch – including a 20-point home loss in Round 16 and a 41-point defeat on the road in Round 17 – Hoard could pile on the pressure once again. In a round full of uncertainty, sometimes boring is beautiful.
Richaun Holmes, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (10.9 credits)
For the first time in months, Ergin Ataman has all three of his centers available following Richaun Holmes’s return from injury. In his first game back, Holmes played 26 minutes and scored 19 points in a Greek League win over the weekend, suggesting he could see solid minutes on the road at Zalgiris Kaunas. Listed as available for Round 18, Holmes could prove a major differentiator if he reestablishes himself as Panathinaikos’s first-choice center ahead of Kenneth Faried and Omer Yurtseven – something I’m expecting to see.