Updated 28 September 2026, 23:22 — refreshed with the latest betting lines and projections.
Round 2 is built around uneven turns and a long injury list. Our EuroLeague Fantasy Round 2 tips start with a 100-credit lineup projected for 183.7 points, captained by Moses Wright. It leans on Partizan value and uses cheap Panathinaikos depth to cover the thinner second day. The disagreements with the wider consensus are where the real decisions are, so we spend time on those too.
EuroLeague Fantasy Round 2 tips: the optimal lineup
The model uses 99.7 of the 100 credits. Five of the ten players go in the first turn. The bench comes from the Panathinaikos–ASVEL and Maccabi–Besiktas games in the second turn.
| Player | Pos | Team | Opp | Turn | Credits | Proj | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moses Wright | C | MIL | VIR | 1 | 13.7 | 24.4 | Captain |
| Carlik Jones | G | PAR | PBB | 1 | 14.5 | 22.4 | Starter |
| Dwayne Bacon | F | DUB | BAR | 1 | 13.5 | 21.5 | Starter |
| Chris Duarte | G | KBA | VBC | 1 | 10.0 | 21.4 | Starter |
| Nicola Akele | F | MIL | VIR | 1 | 4.0 | 7.5 | Starter |
| Tonye Jekiri | C | PAR | PBB | 1 | 8.6 | 19.0 | Sixth man |
| Yam Madar | G | MTA | BJK | 2 | 9.1 | 14.8 | Bench |
| Marc-owen Fodzo Dada | G | ASV | PAO | 2 | 5.3 | 10.9 | Bench |
| Eleftherios Mantzoukas | F | PAO | ASV | 2 | 4.8 | 10.5 | Bench |
| Konstantinos Mitoglou | F | PAO | ASV | 2 | 5.9 | 9.4 | Bench |
| Zeljko Obradovic | HC | PAO | ASV | 2 | 10.3 | 16.6 | Coach |
The core pairing is Partizan. Carlik Jones and Tonye Jekiri together cost 23.1 credits and project for 41.4 points. Jones was the headline act of the opening round. The broader consensus is split on him, mostly because of the schedule, and some analysts point new buyers toward TJ Shorts instead. We keep Jones because the projection supports it. The turn structure matters, but it doesn’t outweigh 22.4 projected points.
Dwayne Bacon is the volatile piece. Opinion elsewhere is unanimous on buying him, with the caveat that his minutes could shrink once Dubai’s rotation fills out. For this round that caveat carries less weight. Dzanan Musa and Mam Jaiteh are both listed as out, which should leave Bacon plenty of room against Barcelona.
The bench logic
Panathinaikos are missing a lot of players. Kendrick Nunn, Nigel Hayes-Davis, Kostas Sloukas and Moustapha Fall are all out, and Nikos Rogkavopoulos is doubtful. That is why Mantzoukas and Mitoglou both make the team at under 6 credits each. Some analysts expect Rogkavopoulos’s return to eat into Mantzoukas’s minutes. Treat that as the main thing to monitor. If Rogkavopoulos is confirmed active, Mantzoukas’s 10.5 projection is the one most at risk.
Captain picks
| Player | Team | Opp | Credits | Proj |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonas Valanciunas | ZAL | OLY | 15.9 | 25.37 |
| Moses Wright | MIL | VIR | 13.7 | 24.36 |
| Dan Oturu | HTA | CZV | 14.9 | 23.73 |
| Sasha Vezenkov | OLY | ZAL | 17.6 | 23.12 |
| Elijah Bryant | HTA | CZV | 15.3 | 22.7 |
Valanciunas has the highest projection, and the reasoning is straightforward. Nikola Milutinov is doubtful for Olympiacos, which weakens the frontcourt Valanciunas faces. Zalgiris are also short at guard, with Nigel Williams-Goss out and Saben Lee doubtful, so more of the offence should run through him. There has also been talk of a facial knock. Treat it as unconfirmed and check it before you commit the armband.
We still captain Wright. The gap is about one point. He costs 2.2 credits less, and those credits are what fund Duarte and Jekiri. He also sits in our rising-role and rising-price lists, so his usage is trending up, not just holding.
Vezenkov is the main point of friction. Across the research he is the default captain for owners, and some analysts refuse to sell him on principle because getting him back later is hard. Our model ranks him fourth among captains and makes him the most expensive of the five. Holding him for the long term is a reasonable decision. Captaining him this round against Zalgiris is harder to justify on the numbers.
Best bargains
| Player | Team | Credits | Proj | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tonye Jekiri | PAR | 8.6 | 19.04 | 2.21 |
| Eleftherios Mantzoukas | PAO | 4.8 | 10.51 | 2.19 |
| Chris Duarte | KBA | 10.0 | 21.4 | 2.14 |
| Mario Saint-supery | VBC | 4.9 | 10.16 | 2.07 |
| Marc-owen Fodzo Dada | ASV | 5.3 | 10.92 | 2.06 |
Duarte is where our view is strongest compared with the consensus. Elsewhere he gets a mild mention as an alternative guard around 10 credits. We project him for 21.4, close to Jones at 4.5 credits less, and he tops our rising-price list with 9.45 room to grow. The price rise alone makes him worth owning.
Jekiri is one of the few names both sides agree on. The research case is that he is better value than Aleksander Balcerowski at a similar price. Our numbers go further: he is the best value on the slate, and second in room to grow at 8.71.
Saint-Supery misses our optimal team but is a sensible hold. Some analysts like his next two fixtures more than Dada’s. Watch Valencia’s news too. Nikola Mirotic is doubtful, and if he sits there are more minutes available in that rotation.
Where we disagree with the consensus
- Mfiondu Kabengele. With Josh Nebo out for Barcelona, Kabengele has become a popular buy for Dubai’s home game. Our projection has him well short of what his price requires. The matchup looks appealing on paper, but we pass.
- Donta Hall. The research view is to wait until Round 3 because of the Valanciunas matchup. Our model disagrees. He costs 11.0 credits, leads our rising-role list at 20.29, and is fourth for price growth. If you have the room, buying now avoids paying more later.
- Iffe Lundberg and Derrick Alston Jr. Both are getting another round from some analysts on bounce-back grounds. Our projections are bleak for both. We would free the credits.
- Nikos Rogkavopoulos. He is popular as a cheap forward upgrade, but he is listed as doubtful. Don’t buy a player who may not suit up.
- Mike James. Some analysts are avoiding him over concerns about his minutes. Our projection is more generous than that concern suggests, but his high price keeps him out of our lineup regardless.
Coach
Obradovic projects for 16.59, well ahead of Saras Jasikevicius at 12.62 and Xavi Pascual at 10.85. The consensus agrees that he is the obvious pick. Fenerbahce fans should note that Shane Larkin and Marcus Bingham are both doubtful.
Injury notes to monitor
- Garrison Mathews (MIL) is doubtful. That could mean slightly more minutes for Akele and Wright’s supporting cast.
- Joffrey Lauvergne (PAR) is doubtful, which reinforces Jekiri’s role.
- Tyty Washington (ASV) is doubtful. If he returns, Dada’s projection is the one to recheck.
- Josh Nebo, Yoan Makoundou and Tosan Evbuomwan are all out for Barcelona, thinning their frontcourt against Bacon’s Dubai.
FAQ
Who should I captain in Round 2?
We captain Moses Wright at a 24.36 projection and 13.7 credits. Valanciunas projects slightly higher at 25.37 but costs 15.9, and his fitness is worth confirming before you pick him.
Should I sell Sasha Vezenkov?
Holding him long term is defensible. For this round, though, our model ranks him behind three cheaper captain options. If you need the credits, selling him for Round 2 makes sense.
Which cheap players are safest?
Jekiri and Duarte offer the best mix of value and price growth. Mantzoukas is strong value, but his minutes depend on Rogkavopoulos’s status.
Check the latest injury news before the round locks, especially for Valanciunas, Rogkavopoulos and Washington.
For always-updated projections, the optimal team for any budget, and full player stats: see our EuroLeague Fantasy Tips & Projections page.