How the LCS Would Look If Player Rankings Decided Rosters

What if player rankings were used to form LCS rosters? How different would NA League of Legends look in 2020 if similarly ranked players were thrown on a team together?

In the preview pieces for each LCS team during preseason, I talked a lot about the relative rankings of every player in their position. This then got me thinking, what if each player that had the same rating was placed on the same team?

Let’s take a look as if that were the case and see how each roster would fare in a new ratings-based LCS:

Rank 10 Team

Top Lane: sOAZ
Jungle: Grig
Mid Lane: Ryoma
AD Carry: Altec
Support: Keith

The worst-rated players in the LCS combine to make up this team.

Although, it does seem strange to rate four-time EU LCS winner and two-time Worlds runner-up sOAZ as the tenth best top laner in NA

I can’t imagine this roster doing well at all. It simply doesn’t have the player quality required to resemble anything more than a top tier Academy roster.

I think this team would finish 10th in the LCS if they fielded this roster.

Rank 9 Team

Top Lane: Viper
Jungle: Closer
Mid Lane: Eika
AD Carry: FBI
Support: Aphromoo

This team looks a little more put together than the previous roster, I think the thing that they lack is experience.

Aphromoo does have some LCS stage time, but everyone else has a year, or less time as an LCS starter with just two players never playing in the LCS before.

This roster definitely has some potential, but maybe in a year, or two, not in 2020.

Rank 8 Team

Top Lane: Kumo
Jungle: Santorin
Mid Lane: Goldenglue
AD Carry: Johnsun
Support: Stunt

I would call this another team of unproven talent and underperformers.

Kumo and Johnsun are pretty much rookies in their first split as starters in the LCS. Stunt hasn’t been a starter outside of Academy in two-plus years. Goldenglue is a decent player but is outclassed by a lot of mid laners in North America. Santorin has ups and downs, and is a capable starter, but not a star player.

This team could have some potential to make the playoffs, but it would have to outperform their stats and rankings to get there.

Rank 7 Team

Top Lane: Ruin
Jungle: Meteos
Mid Lane: Jiizuke
AD Carry: WildTurtle
Support: Hakuho

This team has some recognizable names, the only problem is they aren’t the star players they used to be.

WildTurtle and Metos aren’t top tier like they once were, and Jiizuke is coming off a disappointing year in the LEC. Granted they still are experienced and should hold that advantage over the less established rosters on this list.

Rank 6 Team

Top Lane: Broken Blade
Jungle: Blaber
Mid Lane: PowerOfEvil
AD Carry: Stixxay
Support: Smoothie

This team is solid but has a few question marks surrounding it. No doubt, this is a capable LCS roster, but a lot of them are simply outshined by better players in the league.

Blaber might be the exception as, while he hasn’t seen much LCS starting time, fans and analysts are singing his praises and betting on him to be the next great NA player. Expect him to rise up the rankings and secure a place on a better team this year.