St George Illawarra could have the highest-scoring Fantasy performer in 2021.
They may also have another couple of bargains in their midst this season, amid a host of others worth taking a look at.
Players to watch
Cameron McInnes
The new six-again rule led to a faster game and benefitted players who were able to get through plenty of tackles in the middle of the park without getting fatigued.
There are no better in that department than Dragons skipper McInnes, whose Fantasy average of 72.5 was easily the best of his career and just 0.1 behind 2020's best Fantasy scorer Nathan Cleary.
More encouragingly, McInnes split his time between hooker and lock last year and scored particularly well at hooker with 75 points per game. The early word is new coach Anthony Griffin is planning to use McInnes at dummy-half with Ben Hunt to revert to the halves, giving McInnes a genuine chance of toppling Cleary as Fantasy's No.1 scorer.
2021 NRL Fantasy Price announcement - Zac Lomax
Jack Bird
He's been cruelled by injury in recent seasons but Jack Bird is back at his junior club at last and has the potential to be a real money-maker (and possible keeper) in the centres if he stays fit and gets back to his best.
With a $374,000 price tag, Bird with start the year with a break even around 28, despite averaging 43.6 in his most recent season in 2019. There is clear value there, and a centre who scores more than 40 points a game is worth holding onto all year.
The downside is the injury risk – Bird hasn't played a game of first-grade since round 9, 2019, and he won't be much use to your Fantasy team if he spends the bulk of 2021 on the sidelines.
Jack Bird's 'special feeling' about Dragons return
Zac Lomax
Speaking of keepers in the centres, there was none better in Fantasy than Zac Lomax last season.
A popular buy at the start of the year due to his low price tag and the promise of a switch to fullback, Lomax instead found himself on the wing in round two and the centres a week later – where he had an incredible knack of posting good scores almost every week in a position where consistent scoring is usually hard to come by.
The two downsides to Lomax are his price – at $627,000 he's the most expensive centre in the game – and the risk that his scoring drops if he can't match last season's excellent return of 13 tries in 20 matches.
Jackson Ford
The departure of Tyson Frizell to the Knights has freed up a spot in the Dragons back row and with Jacob Host now at Souths, it could be time for Ford to make a starting spot his own.
A dual-position edge/middle forward, Ford started in four games last season – all at lock – for scores of 49, 41, 50 and 39. In 2019 he started three in the second row and scored 63, 28 and 32.
Priced as a 33-point player, there is plenty of upside for Ford if he does get a starting spot in round one, and the extra versatility he provides would make him a handy option to have on your bench.
Analysing the Dragons' 2021 draw
2021 NRL Fantasy player prices
Cameron McInnes HOK, MID $972,000
Ben Hunt HLF, HOK $738,000
Paul Vaughan MID $679,000
Corey Norman HLF $645,000
Zachary Lomax CTR $627,000
Blake Lawrie MID $603,000
Matt Dufty WFB $575,000
Tariq Sims EDG $507,000
Josh Kerr MID $481,000
Mikaele Ravalawa WFB $474,000
Jordan Pereira WFB $462,000
Jayden Sullivan HLF $445,000
Jackson Ford EDG, MID $441,000
Adam Clune HLF $427,000
Trent Merrin MID $391,000
Jack Bird CTR $374,000
Cody Ramsey WFB $342,000
Tyrell Fuimaono EDG $339,000
Kaide Ellis MID $316,000
Daniel Alvaro MID $296,000
Poasa Faamausili MID $293,000
Billy Brittain HOK $246,000
Brayden Wiliame CTR $246,000
Eddie Blacker MID $246,000
Max Feagai CTR $246,000
Matthew Feagai CTR $228,000
