NRL Fantasy Scout, Wicky & Kyle Bedford will be bringing you the most important news every week to help you with your NRL Fantasy teams!

This week, we cover our key players to buy, hold & sell + recapping how our teams went in Round 12 & key notes from the 10 teams playing in Round 13.

Buys/Ones to Watch/Holds/Sells

Buys

Jack De Belin (MID, $726K)

• De Belin is an interesting one – he was looking like a really good option with Sele out for 6 weeks, and then with Su’A going to Origin as well.
• The team lists however haven’t done JDB too many favours, with Dragons naming a 4-forward bench, as well as JDB playing prop as opposed to lock
• If JDB was at lock, and there was a bench utility, JDB would probably be an incredible option, playing around 60-65 mins
• At prop however, and with the composition of the bench, 50-55 mins seems more likely. All of this isn’t to say he’s a bad option, just that he potentially doesn’t have much value as he could’ve
• He will likely average low 50s and maintain his value, so he is still a decent buy, but just keep in mind that he’ll probably have to be upgraded to a top-tier gun later on down the line

David Armstrong (WFB, $444K)

• Armstrong has been a bit of a risky option ever since he debuted, given we didn’t know if he would hold his spot
• He has hit the ground running however, and is in great form, averaging 51.3 in his first 4 first grade games
• You would assume now that he has the fullback spot locked down until Ponga returns. This provides him with a -18 breakeven this week
• Despite already rising 214k in price, he looks set to make another 200k or so if he can average in the low to mid 40s
• Probably the last week to jump on before he doesn’t become worth it anymore

Max King (MID, $675K)

• Max King looks a good option for overall players in need of bye coverage for R13 and R16
• With King, it’s simple – If he’s getting the mins, he’ll score well. At his projected 50-55 mins, there’s not a huge amount of value in King, however the cover he gives throughout the byes may be enough to consider buying, as he’s a fairly safe/consistent option in a tricky position at the moment
• If he manages to play 55+ mins, then he should be able to rise in price as well, averaging 50+ pts

Jacob Preston (EDG, $629K)

• With Kikau out, Preston has finally won back his starting role. Preston’s scores have been quite impressive, being able to maintain close to a 50 avg despite playing significantly less minutes than usual
• He looks set to now play a 65-80 min role on a consistent basis, which provides him with some nice value
• The only real issue with Preston is that a lot of people own a lot of Bulldogs assets already, and with their Round 15 bye coming up, it might be hard to add another

Euan Aitken (EDG/CTR, $750K)

• Aitken is a near must-have. Averaging 55.1 Pts and with the CTR DPP, he’s the highest scoring CTR in the game
• He also plays all major bye rounds, making him a great option, especially for overall players
• He’s a genuine keeper and provides great cover for your side. Just beware he’s on the bye next week and you’ll need to field 17 players

James Tedesco (WFB, $679K)

• Tedesco is a keeper WFB and has missed out on Origin selection. With so many guns out due to Origin, Teddy is one of the few that you can pick up this week
• He’s probably still underpriced too, making him a great buy. Just beware he’s on the bye next week and you’ll need to field 17 players, along with the risk of Teddy making his way back into the Origin side

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Ones to Watch

Naufahu Whyte (EDG, $458K)

• Whyte was very impressive last week, scoring 62 in 68 mins
• If he keeps the role he’s great value, but with the Roosters having a bye next week, and then in Round 15 their Origin contingent + Watson will return, we think it’s best to hold off for now.

Brendan Hands (HOK/HLF, $230K)

• Hands has the starting spot with Lussick relegated to the reserves. With Brad Arthur gone, this may be a change that sticks
• Hands is clear value if this role sticks. If you don’t mind a risk, he could be a buy this week, but we prefer to wait and see if he keeps the spot next week

Mitchell Moses (HLF, $733K)

• Moses returns from injury and could be a handy option over the Origin period (if not selected in game 2/3)
• He’d be a decent option as a keeper HLF too so worth keeping an eye on over the next couple weeks

Kelma Tuilagi (EDG, $297K)

• Tuilagi appears to have won a starting edge role at Parra, with Lane now playing through the middle
• At $297k he represents incredible value, but it’s still unknown whether he’ll keep the spot

Connelly Lemuelu (EDG, $530K)

• Lemuelu has finally been named to start on the edge in the initial team lists, after being named on the bench and then moving into the starting lineup 1 hour before kick off for the last month or so
• He is averaging 48 ppg so far this season in games where he’s played 70 or more minutes on the edge
• Probably more of a Round 15 option, however, given the Dolphins bye next week

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Holds

Jaeman Salmon (EDG/MID, $481K)

• Salmon was great last week, scoring a 65 with 2 tries. This will keep his price moving up for now
• Add to this the injury to Kikau and the handy DPP + bye coverage, Salmon looks like a great hold, especially until R16

Sam Hughes (MID, $440K)

• Hughes money making appears to be close to an end, making a $-5k loss last week
• However, he is still getting pretty decent mins, and of course plays this week. Hold for this round and then re-assess next

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Sells

Angus Crichton (EDG, $855K) 

• Angus has made the Blues side which will see him miss a few games for the Roosters. Factoring in Origin + byes, Angus will miss R13, R14, R16, R19, R23
• He may also miss R17 and R20 if the Chooks decide to rest him rather than backing up after Origin
• Given their depth, this is a real possibility. So Angus will miss between 4-6 of the next 8 rounds. $855K is a lot of cash for a guy missing so many rounds

Shawn Blore (EDG, $616K)

• Blore hasn’t lived up to the hype since getting the starting edge role, with his price now going backwards. Jump off before he drops even more

Top Captaincy Options

• J.Tedesco
• R.Mahoney
• E.Aitken
• J.De Belin
• D.Brown
• M.King
• K.Weekes

Team Recaps

Kyle – Baby Face Leota

RD 12 Score – 804

Overall Rank – 924

General Thoughts

Unfortunately another rank drop last week. The Hynes injury as captain hurt. But apart from that, the rest of the side did decently.

The trade-ins of King and Aitken did really well so can take some positives from good trades.

Trade Thoughts

I’m able to field a full 13 this week without trades, so I’m debating whether to make no trades this week.

I currently have 12 trades remaining so that may be the way to go.

Tedesco looks a nice option but may cause troubles with the bye next week.

If I do make a trade, it’ll likely be Hughes, Crichton or Strange out for one of Teddy/Preston.

Alessandro – NRL Fantasy Scout

RD 12 Score – 882

Overall Rank – 7917

General Thoughts

Finally a really good week, which saw me push up a lot of ranks. Pretty much everything went well other than Hynes, but he is very highly owned so didn’t affect me too much.

Really happy with my Max King trade in last week. Bye planning is going swimmingly, I’ll likely have 14 green dots this week after trades.

Feels like everything is starting to come together, hopefully I can continue moving up the overall ranks.

Trade Thoughts

I don’t necessarily have to make trades this week, as I have a full team already, but there’s some moves that I wouldn’t mind.

I feel as if Armstrong is a must have given his breakeven, if he gets another 50 this week he could jump another 80k in price.

De Belin is under consideration, but I’m still 50/50 on him. Tedesco is another player I’m keen on, but I’m probably not gonna get him this week as I don’t want to have 4 players on bye next week incase of Origin restings/Koula not being back/other players being unavailable.

Teddy will be a target for me in Round 15 most likely. Will definitely be selling Angus Crichton amongst my Origin contingent, with Cotter also being under consideration as a sell.

I am of the opinion that Hynes is a hold at this stage, given how important trades are and how it would likely cost 2 trades minimum just to trade him back in.

Hughes and Strange will also likely be sold soon.

I always post my team and trades to my story before the round starts, so if you want to see what I do every week check out my page – @NRL Fantasy Scout on Instagram.

 

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