2018 NRL.com Fantasy thread part 2

White Lightning wrote:Alvaro is a decent pick & just as good as any other frf but the only negative is that the Eels use a 4 prop rotation so decent minutes are a problem. He averaged 37 minutes in 2017 & I can't see him playing more than 40 minutes. However he has a ppm of 1.05 & is a tackle demon averaging 29 tackles in 2017 & his average run metres are 93 per game so you have decent base stats.

Those average minutes were affected by Scott and Matagi starting and Mannah playing unusually high minutes at the beginning of the season. As the season progressed, Mannah's minutes went from 50 to 30, Matagi's did the same and the Scott-Brown swap also affected him

Alfie wrote:

Surely he will average at least ten points above what he's priced at.

Well 2017 was a poor year for Evans so there is certainly some room to improve.

But unless he shows a massive increase on what he has shown for the past 4 years I don't think he'll justify being in my team. Certainly if he stayed at the Roosters I wouldn't be touching him. He might show a higher potential at Parra, but for now I am still skeptical.

Also, Parra ran with a four prop bench for most of the year. Will Smith is likely to get in the 17 as a utility

FRF is where I am saving a lot with Lodge, Evans and Latu. I figure they will all increase and I will make up any points by spending the money elsewhere. This seems to be the year of the middies, with a lot of value potentially in players like Cook and Lichaa if they get 80 minute roles and previously solid players like Inglis if he goes to fullback. The only two players I currently have from the top 20 last year are Smith and Brown and I am instead taking a punt on others like Croft, Leilua and Ponga.

critterjg wrote:FRF is where I am saving a lot with Lodge, Evans and Latu. I figure they will all increase and I will make up any points by spending the money elsewhere. This seems to be the year of the middies, with a lot of value potentially in players like Cook and Lichaa if they get 80 minute roles and previously solid players like Inglis if he goes to fullback. The only two players I currently have from the top 20 last year are Smith and Brown and I am instead taking a punt on others like Croft, Leilua and Ponga.

I had Croft as well until I read an article where Bellamy said Croft will get rotated as he's only played 5 games of nrl & he didn't want to burn him out. Croft will start the season but someone like Jacks could play as well. Even Smith could possibly start there if needed.
I also have a frf pod that no one has mentioned. His season average was 32 but he did start 7 games as prop where he averaged 37 in 39 minutes. I think he will start as prop in 2018 & I am expecting him to play 45-50 minutes.

First 5 rounds (minutes)

Matagi 47, 42, 49, 37, 53
Mannah 51, 34, 42, 40, 31
Scott 47, 49, 53, 47, 47
Alvaro 25, 37, 33, 40, 27
Brown 46, 54, 56, 60, 68

Last 5 rounds

Matagi 34, 36, 21, 35, 47 (affected by Alvaro injury)
Mannah 30, 48, 37, 32, 43 (ditto)
Alvaro 48, 48, 47, 46, 5 (Injury affected)
Brown 77, 73, 49, 63, 80 (ditto)

White Lightning wrote:

I had Croft as well until I read an article where Bellamy said Croft will get rotated as he's only played 5 games of nrl & he didn't want to burn him out. Croft will start the season but someone like Jacks could play as well. Even Smith could possibly start there if needed.
I also have a frf pod that no one has mentioned. His season average was 32 but he did start 7 games as prop where he averaged 37 in 39 minutes. I think he will start as prop in 2018 & I am expecting him to play 45-50 minutes.

Scotty Drinkwater and Jahrome Hughes are highly rated as well

White Lightning wrote:

I had Croft as well until I read an article where Bellamy said Croft will get rotated as he's only played 5 games of nrl & he didn't want to burn him out. Croft will start the season but someone like Jacks could play as well. Even Smith could possibly start there if needed.
I also have a frf pod that no one has mentioned. His season average was 32 but he did start 7 games as prop where he averaged 37 in 39 minutes. I think he will start as prop in 2018 & I am expecting him to play 45-50 minutes.

I assume its Herman Ese'ese. We did talk about him in the last thread. Could be a good smokey, but I just want to see what is going on with a brand new knights pack before I commit to something like that.

White Lightning wrote:

I had Croft as well until I read an article where Bellamy said Croft will get rotated as he's only played 5 games of nrl & he didn't want to burn him out. Croft will start the season but someone like Jacks could play as well. Even Smith could possibly start there if needed.
I also have a frf pod that no one has mentioned. His season average was 32 but he did start 7 games as prop where he averaged 37 in 39 minutes. I think he will start as prop in 2018 & I am expecting him to play 45-50 minutes.

Well, bugger. Options for the cheaper dominant kickers halves are few and far between. I might have to run with the hope that I can cover with either Cartwright or Cleeland/Croker/Hastings/Brown.

I was looking at Ese'ese as well and if he gets a start I will be hard pressed not to include him if Evans doesn't get the start over Mannah or Alvaro.

critterjg wrote:

Well, bugger. Options for the cheaper dominant kickers halves are few and far between. I might have to run with the hope that I can cover with either Cartwright or Cleeland/Croker/Hastings/Brown.

I was looking at Ese'ese as well and if he gets a start I will be hard pressed not to include him if Evans doesn't get the start over Mannah or Alvaro.

Have u thought about one of Watson, Cronk, Townsend, JRey, Moylan or just going with a gun half like Munster or DCE and downgrading elsewhere

Alfie wrote:

Have u thought about one of Watson, Cronk, Townsend, JRey, Moylan or just going with a gun half like Munster or DCE and downgrading elsewhere

I already have DCE locked in and am trying to pick my second. Those guys don't interest me TBH (except potentially Watson) as I can't see much in the way of upside. I have managed to squeeze in ARey in the hopes Souths fix their attack and he slots an extra goal or two per game.

critterjg wrote:

I already have DCE locked in and am trying to pick my second. Those guys don't interest me TBH (except potentially Watson) as I can't see much in the way of upside. I have managed to squeeze in ARey in the hopes Souths fix their attack and he slots an extra goal or two per game.

He's one of the most injury prone players in the NRL I must remind you

Happy New Year guys.

NRLF sucks, VSDT rules . . . IMO. hehe

https://www.nrlfantasyfanatics.com/t596-2018-nrl-dream-team-virtual-sports-sports-deck-vsdt-part-1

I'll be over there watching the tumbleweeds roll by, if anyone wants to drop by and say hello.   haha
.

critterjg wrote:

I already have DCE locked in and am trying to pick my second. Those guys don't interest me TBH (except potentially Watson) as I can't see much in the way of upside. I have managed to squeeze in ARey in the hopes Souths fix their attack and he slots an extra goal or two per game.

Would you start with Cogger if he was starting HB for the dogs?

Apparently Suli has come back to pre season training 18kg over weight (yes that is not a typo) & has been training with the reserve grade squad.
Fonua has been training on the wing & has been training very hard.
fb Lolohea - left edge Naiqama/Fonua - right edge Milne/Nofo
also Naiqama has been alternating between ctr & fb

I read this on nrlsupercoachtalk from someone in the know re Wests backline in pre season training.

18kg overweight? Did he just come back from a holiday in Columbia?

critterjg wrote:FRF is where I am saving a lot with Lodge, Evans and Latu. I figure they will all increase and I will make up any points by spending the money elsewhere. This seems to be the year of the middies, with a lot of value potentially in players like Cook and Lichaa if they get 80 minute roles and previously solid players like Inglis if he goes to fullback. The only two players I currently have from the top 20 last year are Smith and Brown and I am instead taking a punt on others like Croft, Leilua and Ponga.

Croft and Leilua are still pretty big risks given their prices. Croft (rotation and competition for spot) and Leilua (just general dumb c*** play and suspension worry). Not sure they are worth gambling on for all three of Lodge, Evans and Latu in your team (probably all average between 30-35 realistically at best). This could be 20 points behind some FRF each game. I will probably only have three FRF's in my squad so realistically will only be room for 1 of Lodge, Latu and Evans. Probably all hit about 10 points above their price.

White Lightning wrote:Apparently Suli has come back to pre season training 18kg over weight (yes that is not a typo) & has been training with the reserve grade squad.
Fonua has been training on the wing & has been training very hard.
fb Lolohea - left edge Naiqama/Fonua - right edge Milne/Nofo
also Naiqama has been alternating between ctr & fb

I read this on nrlsupercoachtalk from someone in the know re Wests backline in pre season training.

Thanks for the info. Very helpful

Warriors wrote:

Croft and Leilua are still pretty big risks given their prices. Croft (rotation and competition for spot) and Leilua (just general dumb c*** play and suspension worry). Not sure they are worth gambling on for all three of Lodge, Evans and Latu in your team (probably all average between 30-35 realistically at best). This could be 20 points behind some FRF each game. I will probably only have three FRF's in my squad so realistically will only be room for 1 of Lodge, Latu and Evans. Probably all hit about 10 points above their price.

Can't see BJ being a big risk mate, certainly went far below what he is capable of fantasy wise last year and funilly enough his fantasy average alternates year on year....

2013 - 36
2014 - 40
2015 - 30
2016 - 48
2017 - 33

Some of those were in horrible knights teams as well

Only real risk with BJ is being stuck with a mid ranger and wasting a trade I reckon

on the Alvaro debate, he will be a suck it and see, been stung with back end season minute hikes before in the LAM chronicles.... I like Napa to rebound this year i think he carries little risk with potential to go back to being a 40+ scorer (priced at 30)

SST is intriguing me, kid is an animal but another whose minutes and role I need to see before taking the plunge