Fantasy market watch - round 16
Sticking with ‘Libba’, replacing Watson and an affordable Eagle
Tom Liberatore [MID, $422,900] is leading the AFL in clearances and has been a consistent fantasy performer this season.
Liberatore is averaging 88 fantasy points for the year and had a season-high 144 against Melbourne in round 14.
A score of 66 against Greater Western Sydney last weekend was a letdown, but you can tip 'Libba' will bounce back against the Bombers – particularly without their best inside midfielder in captain Jobe Watson.
Trade
Richmond youngster Nick Vlastuin [MID/DEF, $321,000] has been a worthy fantasy selection this season, but, lately, he looks to be running out of steam.
Vlastuin finished with a season-low score of just 30 last weekend, following a mediocre 32 the week before.
Pearce Hanley [DEF, $366,000] is well underpriced and is coming off a 125-point game against Gold Coast. An upgrade is in order.
Invest
It's been a love/hate relationship with Matthew Leuenberger [RUC, $396,500] for most of this year, and (for now) it's all love.
The Brisbane Lions ruckman registered a season-high 122 points last weekend, and has slowly been building into some solid form.
Injuries slowed him in the first half of the year, but look for Leuenberger to finish the season with a rush.
That hurts
Essendon captain Jobe Watson [MID, $433,500] is out for up to six weeks with a broken collarbone he sustained against Port Adelaide.
Watson has averaged 95 fantasy points for the year (101 before his 16 points against Port Adelaide) and has become a fantasy staple.
Sam Mitchell [MID, $432,800] and Joel Selwood [MID, $451,800] are two of the likely replacements for the 2012 Brownlow medallist.
Surprise packet
Extended opportunities don't come around too often in the AFL, but West Coast's Bradd Dalziell [MID, $317,400] is certainly making the most of his.
Dalziell has quietly strung together scores of 113 and 124 in his past two games, but the fact remains – he is very affordable.
Injuries to key players, namely Scott Selwood, has given the 26-year-old the opportunity in the Eagles midfield, and he is running with it.