Round 8 is a double week, and the squeeze between legs makes squad structure matter more than usual. Our EuroLeague Fantasy Round 8 tips start from the projections: a 100-credit lineup projected for 153.8 points using 99.9 credits, a captain call that runs against popular opinion, and a handful of value plays that free up money for the expensive spots.
The central argument is simple. You do not need the two most popular premium names to post a big score this round. The credits are better spent spread across a strong middle tier.
Our optimal team for EuroLeague Fantasy Round 8 tips
| Player | Pos | Team | Opp | Turn | Credits | Proj | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elijah Bryant | G | HTA | EFS | 2 | 17.2 | 23.5 | Sixth man |
| Moses Wright | C | MIL | PAO | 1 | 14.5 | 20.8 | Captain |
| Theo Maledon | G | RMB | KBA | 1 | 11.9 | 17.1 | Starter |
| Aliou Diarra | C | VIR | ZAL | 2 | 9.8 | 15.3 | Bench |
| Collin Malcolm | F | EFS | HTA | 2 | 8.8 | 13.9 | Bench |
| Mbaye Ndiaye | F | OLY | BJK | 2 | 8.9 | 13.5 | Bench |
| Clement Frisch | F | KBA | RMB | 1 | 5.0 | 8.3 | Starter |
| Arijan Lakic | F | PAR | ASV | 2 | 4.0 | 6.4 | Bench |
| Alvaro Cardenas | G | VBC | FBT | 1 | 4.3 | 6.0 | Starter |
| Nikola Djurisic | G | CZV | MTA | 1 | 4.4 | 5.4 | Starter |
| Zeljko Obradovic | HC | PAO | MIL | 1 | 11.1 | 15.9 | Coach |
Elijah Bryant is the most expensive piece at 17.2 credits and also our highest projection of the round at 23.5. Against his former club Efes, his size as a big guard looks like a genuine mismatch, a point some analysts also make. The concern worth noting is that Amir Coffey’s arrival has been linked to a dip in Bryant’s minutes. Our numbers still have him clear at the top.
Theo Maledon at 11.9 is the efficiency play of the backcourt. He is coming off a poor shooting night, which is exactly why his price is soft, and a weakened Baskonia sits in front of him.
The bottom of the roster is deliberately thin. Frisch, Lakic, Cardenas and Djurisic cost 17.7 credits combined. That is what pays for Bryant, Wright and a premium coach.
Captain picks
| Player | Team | Opp | Credits | Proj |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moses Wright | MIL | PAO | 14.5 | 20.76 |
| Mfiondu Kabengele | DUB | PBB | 15.6 | 19.11 |
| Jordan Nwora | CZV | MTA | 13.2 | 17.33 |
| Theo Maledon | RMB | KBA | 11.9 | 17.14 |
| Mathias Lessort | PAO | MIL | 16.1 | 17.06 |
Wright tops the list at 20.76. Kabengele is the closest alternative at 19.11 and has a home game against a Paris side that, by general agreement, concedes across the board. If you want the safer, more widely held captain, Kabengele is the one. We are sticking with the higher number.
Nwora is the quiet option. Both of his games are at home, and at 13.2 credits he projects above Lessort, who costs nearly three credits more.
Best bargains
| Player | Team | Credits | Proj | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clement Frisch | KBA | 5.0 | 8.31 | 1.66 |
| Tyson Ward | OLY | 7.7 | 12.61 | 1.64 |
| Collin Malcolm | EFS | 8.8 | 13.93 | 1.58 |
| Aliou Diarra | VIR | 9.8 | 15.34 | 1.57 |
| Mbaye Ndiaye | OLY | 8.9 | 13.47 | 1.51 |
This is where our model and the wider market agree most. Diarra is close to a consensus hold, and his rising price backs that up. One thing to monitor: there is talk that a teammate’s return and the Valanciunas matchup could trim his minutes.
Frisch is the cheapest value on the board, but his case depends on Baskonia’s frontcourt staying short. Tadas Sedekerskis is out and Rodions Kurucs is listed as doubtful. If Kurucs plays, Frisch’s ceiling shrinks.
Tyson Ward does not make our optimal lineup but is an excellent swap for anyone already holding Ndiaye-type money. Olympiacos are without Evan Fournier and Tyler Dorsey, with Jean Montero doubtful, and that pushes minutes to the wings.
Where we disagree with the consensus
Moses Wright as captain
This is the biggest split of the round. Wright does not appear on any buy list we cross-checked, and he collects avoids. The reasoning is that Panathinaikos defend every position well and could hold him down. That is a fair concern. Our projection still has him at 20.8, the top captain figure, with the second-highest rising role score in the data at 4.9 and 4.37 credits of room to grow. We think the market is pricing the opponent and ignoring the role.
Skipping Vezenkov and Carlik Jones
Sasha Vezenkov and Carlik Jones are the most backed names in the research, often described as close to essential. Our numbers do like them: Vezenkov projects 23.3 and Jones 17.2. The problem is cost. Vezenkov at 18.4 credits projects slightly below Bryant at 17.2. Jones at 14.8 projects almost identically to Maledon at 11.9. Those three credits go a long way elsewhere.
Obradovic over Pascual
Xavi Pascual is the popular coach pick, and the logic is sound: Dubai at home to a weak Paris. Our model gives him 11.66 at 8.2 credits. Obradovic projects 15.85 at 11.1. That is roughly four extra points for under three credits, which we will take. Ibon Navarro, another favourite, projects 8.1.
Nunn and Shorts
Kendrick Nunn is a captain pick in some circles. We have him at 12.4, which is nowhere near captain territory while his role settles alongside a returning Sloukas. The reverse case is TJ Shorts. Most analysts are selling him against Fenerbahce’s defence. We project 16.7 at 16.3 credits and a rising role score of 3.4. We would not buy him this week, but existing owners do not need to panic.
Milutinov
Nikola Milutinov projects 20.6 at 14.7 credits with 4.0 room to grow, which looks strong on paper. Some analysts are holding off after another hit to his back. We share the caution. The number is good, but it relies on him being healthy.
Rising prices and roles to track
Beyond the lineup, Cory Joseph shows the sharpest rising role trend at 5.7, at just 5.4 credits. Bonzie Colson (4.6) and Jaime Pradilla (3.4) are also gaining ground. On price, Wright, Diarra, Bryant, Milutinov and Malcolm all show room to grow above 3.8 credits, which supports holding them past this round.
Injury watch
Several listed absences directly shape this round. Mike James and Georgios Papagiannis are out for Efes, which helps explain Malcolm’s growing workload. Olympiacos are without Fournier and Dorsey, with Montero and Bryant Dunston doubtful. Baskonia list Chris Duarte, Kobi Simmons and Kurucs as doubtful. Dubai’s Tornike Shengelia and Thomas Walkup are both doubtful. Treat any of these as situations to monitor, not settled facts.
FAQ
Who is the best captain for EuroLeague Fantasy Round 8?
Our projections favour Moses Wright at 20.76, ahead of Mfiondu Kabengele at 19.11. Kabengele is the lower-risk option if the Panathinaikos matchup worries you.
Is Sasha Vezenkov worth 18.4 credits this round?
He projects 23.3, which is excellent, but Elijah Bryant projects slightly higher for 1.2 credits less. We prefer spreading that money across the roster.
Which cheap players offer the best value?
Clement Frisch, Tyson Ward, Collin Malcolm, Aliou Diarra and Mbaye Ndiaye all score 1.51 or better on value. Frisch’s case depends on Baskonia’s injuries holding.
With a double round and quick turnarounds, rotations can change late. Check the latest injury news before the round locks, especially for Baskonia, Olympiacos and Dubai.
For always-updated projections, the optimal team for any budget, and full player stats: see our EuroLeague Fantasy Tips & Projections page.