The 2021-22 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season has arrived at Round 14. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are ahead of the pack, leading the standings with 11-2 records. Both teams face each other in what promises to be one of the best and most exciting El Clasicos in recent times.
It is one of the most highly-anticipated games of the season and, of course, it should have an impact on the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge. It is important not to hold on to certain players just because their teams are in a big game. Sergio Llull was the last player to get a PIR of 30 or more in an El Clasico back in 2017. It is a very unpredictable game as both teams know each other very well.
We are not saying that none of the players in El Clasico could become MVP. Of course, it can happen – last season, Nikola Mirotic recorded a PIR of 24 against Real and Edy Tavares posted a PIR of 29 versus Barcelona. Those players are this season’s October and November MVPs, respectively. Still, to make sure you enjoy the game and focus on the whole picture instead of individual performances, we are recommending that you focus on players from other teams, from cheap players on the rise to established stars who are in great form right now.
Without further ado, here are some players to think about choosing in EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge this week:
Lorenzo Brown, UNICS Kazan (12.0 credits) – UNICS is rising in the standings, currently ranked seventh with a 7-6 record despite a 1-4 start. One of its main players is playmaker Lorenzo Brown, who has been rock-solid lately. Brown reached the 20-point mark twice in the last three games and is averaging 17.0 points on 19-of-26 two-point shooting, 4.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists in that span. Wow!
Will Clyburn, CSKA Moscow (14.4 credits) – CSKA continues to have injury problems; Toko Shengelia, Daniel Hackett and Johannes Voigtmann were all out in Round 13. Clyburn stepped up and saved the day, leading his team with 16 points and 9 fouls drawn off the bench. Clyburn has scored at least 16 points in each of CSKA’s last three games, averaging a PIR of 20.3. Great numbers coming off the bench!
Georgios Papagiannis, Panathinaikos OPAP Athens (11.7 credits) – Panathinaikos has been up and down lately, but starting center Georgios Papagiannis has stepped up big in the last couple of games. Against Zenit and CSKA, Papagiannis made 14-of 18 two-point shots, averaging a double-double of 16.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and a PIR of 25.5. Good reasons to add him to your team.
Augustine Rubit, FC Bayern Munich (9.8 credits) – With Darrun Hilliard sidelined, the whole Bayern team had to step up on offense against LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in Round 13. Rubit got the message and posted great numbers in his 100th EuroLeague game: 19 points and 12 rebounds for a PIR of 24. Expect him – and Vladimir Lucic – to play a leading role against Anadolu Efes Istanbul, too.
Christ Koumadje, ALBA Berlin (5.3 credits) – The backup center position has been an issue for all fantasy managers. It looks like Marek Blazevic of Zalgiris was the top teams’ only choice, as he was cheap and efficient. Koumadje, however, has been sensational lately, averaging 10.7 points on 10-of-13 two-point shooting, 7.0 rebounds and a PIR of 17.3. He should keep improving as the season goes on.
