Melbourne could be the NRL frontrunners this season and they have no shortage of Fantasy prospects in their ranks, led by the best in the business in Cameron Smith.
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Fantasy guns
Cameron Smith (HOK, $631,000): The best of the best. When picking your starting squad, there's nothing wrong with making the Storm skipper your first man picked (and then making him your team captain). Smith scored more than 66 points per game last season, scoring better than 50 points 22 times in 24 games during the regular season – more than any other player. He scores points in just about every Fantasy category and is as durable and reliable as they get.
Jesse Bromwich (FRF, $482,000): He may have trailed behind the likes of Andrew Fifita and Ryan James last season but Bromwich remained one of just a handful of front-rowers to score more than 50 Fantasy points a game. The New Zealand skipper didn't miss a match either. He's a little cheaper than the top-priced props and could be worth a shot as a cut-price keeper.
Tohu Harris (2RF, $496,000): Melbourne's Mr Fix-It played at centre and five-eighth at times last year (and wore the No.6 for New Zealand in the Four Nations final) but his specialty is playing the full 80 in the second row, where he has a knack for running the right lines off Cooper Cronk. Harris scored an impressive eight tries last season and ran for at least 200 metres three times, finishing with 52 Fantasy points a game. With fellow second-rower Kevin Proctor now at the Titans, Harris could be sent the ball more often in 2017.
Wildcard
Cameron Munster (WFB, $481,000): Munster was the second-best fullback in Fantasy last season behind Tigers star James Tedesco, in what was a sensational individual campaign. Asked to step into Billy Slater's role from Round 2, Munster ensured the minor premiers didn't miss a beat. A tackle-breaking ball runner who can score and set up tries, Munster is likely to shift to five-eighth if Slater returns as expected in 2017 – but how that affects his scores is anyone's guess. His tackle counts will go up, but his run metres and tackle breaks could drop significantly.
Cash cow
Billy Slater (WFB, $212,000): A modern great of the game, Slater is traditionally a strong Fantasy scorer for a fullback but he starts this season at a cheap $212,000 price after playing just the one game last year before having his season ended by injury. If he can remain fit he's definitely good value with a break even of around 22 – but the veteran remains a big injury concern.
2017 NRL Fantasy prices
Cameron Smith (HOK, $631,000)
Tohu Harris (2RF, $496,000)
Jesse Bromwich (FRF, $482,000)
Cameron Munster (WFB, $481,000)
Dale Finucane (2RF, $445,000)
Cooper Cronk (HLF, $441,000)
Jahrome Hughes (WFB, HLF, $359,000)
Cheyse Blair (CTR, $325,000)
Kenneath Bromwich (2RF, $321,000)
Josh Addo-Carr (WFB, $305,000)
Tim Glasby (FRF, $304,000)
Suliasi Vunivalu (WFB, $300,000)
Jordan McLean (FRF, $296,000)
Nelson Asofa-Solomona (2RF, $294,000)
Will Chambers (CTR, $288,000)
Brodie Croft (HLF, $236,000)
Young Tonumaipea (WFB, $228,000)
Billy Slater (WFB, $212,000)
Felise Kaufusi (FRF, $203,000)
Slade Griffin (CTR, $201,000)
Christian Welch (FRF, $189,000)
Jeremy Hawkins (CTR, WFB, $143,000)
Vincent Leuluai (2RF, $143,000)
Mark Nicholls (2RF, $143,000)
Curtis Scott (CTR, $143,000)
Ryley Jacks (HLF, $138,000)
Joe Stimpson (2RF, $134,000)
More NRL Fantasy guides for 2017
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