ESPORTS

CS:GO Daily Fantasy Helper: DreamHack Masters Spring, Thursday 5/21/20

Two matches on today's slate and some of the world's best players in action. Can you fade the chalk on a small slate?

With traditional sports on hold for now, esports has taken the front seat in DFS, and we now have Counter-Strike: Global Offensive to play on FanDuel. Affectionately known as CS:GO, two teams of five players compete on each map until one team reaches 16 rounds. Most series are played as a best-of-three and will feature teams from the DreamHack Masters Spring 2020 in North America, the CIS region, and Europe.

If you are new to esports DFS or CS:GO DFS, take a look at the introduction piece with a rundown of format and scoring. All matches are best-of-three, and players will receive a bonus for completing a 2-0 sweep.

Another week and another CS:GO starting, which means we have a new set of matchups to breakdown. The DreamHack Masters Spring event is in action today, with a European series and a North American series.

MVP Considerations

device, Astralis ($12,200)

device is one of the best players in the world and the hardy carry of Astralis -- which means plenty of fantasy points to capture. Over his last 20 maps, device is averaging 22.55 kills per map and has posted fewer than 20 kills only five times. On those same 20 maps, device has finished with a negative kill-to-death differential only three times. He posted 25 kills or more seven times during this 20 map stretch and will continue to have one of the highest ceilings.

Astralis are up against G2 Esports -- who they have beaten in a 2-0 sweep in each of their last two matchups. The sweep bonus is firmly on the table for Astralis and device, which will only increase his potential ceiling of fantasy points. He should be one of the top options on the slate and a great candidate for the MVP spot.

NEXA, G2 Esports ($12,100)

Despite being the largest underdog on the slate, G2 Esports have a few options you want to consider for your lineups. They hold an implied win total of 39.2% but can still be looked towards for some upside, specifically, NEXA -- who is in great form lately. He is averaging 20.5 kills per map over his last 20 maps -- with a high of 33 kills, two separate times.

NEXA is only $100 cheaper than device -- who should be the chalkier option -- presenting himself as a leverage option. device is the safer play, but if G2 Esports are able to win this series -- NEXA could pay off big time in the MVP spot. High risk, high reward.

KSCERATO, FURIA Esports ($12,000)

KSCERATO is a fantastic MVP option today and could be the ideal combination of floor and upside. FURIA are looking strong as of late and we are seeing strong performances from KSCERATO along the way. Over his last 20 maps, KSCERATO has averaged 20.95 kills per map -- with a high of 34 kills.

In this 20 map stretch, KSCERATO finished with a negative kill-to-death differential only five times -- none of which came against Team Liquid. Speaking of Team Liquid, KSCERATO has been amazing consistent against them recently -- posting 20 kills or more in each of the last four maps he played them. He simply checks all the boxes today and should be in the MVP conversation for this slate.

Players

twistzz, Team Liquid ($9,500)

Despite being the higher-ranked team, Team Liquid are the underdogs versus FURIA today but still have viable fantasy options. twistzz comes in as the second-cheapest player on today's slate and opens up the possibility of going with a stars and scrubs lineup build.

With his lower price tag, it shouldn't come as a surprise that twistzz is averaging fewer kills per map -- 18.65 -- over his last 20 maps compared to some of the top options, but maintains a similar ceiling with 27 kills being his most. He has played FURIA on four maps in this last 20 map sample, finishing with a positive kill-to-death differential on three of those maps.

arT, FURIA Esports ($9,900)

arT is a good role player for FURIA and that is reflected in his price and his production. He is the second-cheapest player on his team and comes in averaging 18.9 kills per map in his last 20 maps played. While that is a modest amount, he comes in with double-digit assists in nine of the last 10 series he has played -- boosting his floor he lacks from pure kills.

He's not going to go out and drop 30 kills -- he hasn't hit that level once in his last 50 maps played -- but his point-per-dollar value is strong and helps ease roster construction today.

dupreeh, Astralis ($10,100)

dupreeh is the type of player you never have to worry about in terms of actual CS:GO, but you're also not jumping up and down to play in DFS. That comes from the fact he is a role player for Astralis and isn't relied on to post massive numbers on a map-by-map basis. We can look at his last 28 maps played and see he is averaging 18.5 kills per map.

That is a modest amount, but we see him with +54 kill-to-death differential in that time and picking up a kill or an assist (KAST) in 71.0% of his rounds played. The kills aren't always there for him, but he doesn't die (negative fantasy points) too much and adds in a ton of assists. Overall, a strong mid-tier option and can be used confidently today.

Team

FURIA Esports ($6,700)

FURIA are taking on Team Liquid today in what should be a very high-quality match. FURIA are the ninth-ranked team in the world, Team Liquid are the sixth-ranked team -- setting us up for all three maps. FURIA have beaten Team Liquid in each of the last three series they have played -- with two of them being via a 2-0 sweep.

FURIA have an implied win probability of 57% in this matchup, and given their recent success against Team Liquid, they make a clear option for the team spot today.