It's looking like a season in which the Dragons may blood a bunch of new talent and hand bigger roles to younger players, which for Fantasy owners represents a huge opportunity.
Nine players who were on the roster last year are no longer at the Red V, while Corey Allan, who is one of four off-season recruits, has already been ruled out for the season with a ruptured ACL.
That leaves new coach Shane Flanagan with a lack of experienced depth and the likely scenario of at least a couple of Fantasy value buys popping up in his squad, with the Couchman brothers, Toby and Ryan, likely to take on bigger roles and rookies like Sione Finau a good chance of getting chances in the top grade.
Couchman scores debut NRL try
Another to watch is EDG Dan Russell, who even at $557k to start the year could still be underpriced, but at the other end of the scale traditional favourite Jack Bird is a no-go due to his injury issues and the fact that he has lost dual position status and is no longer listed as a CTR.
Dragons 2024 NRL Fantasy guide
The big gun
Jack de Belin is a super consistent scorer who has excellent job security in a Dragons pack which is lacking star power overall. You can expect him to average in the mid-50s in 2024 and while he lacks the high ceiling of MIDs like Payne Haas or Isaah Yeo, he's a point of difference player currently owned by less than three percent of teams. Starting the year below $800k, for me the Dragons' veteran is close to a must have.
The bargain
It's been a while since Kyle Flanagan has been relevant on the Fantasy front (his last season averaging over 40 points was 2021), but he's on track to have a big resurgence in the upcoming campaign. With Talatau Amone off the roster and the planned signing of Ronald Volkman falling through, Flanagan has no obvious challenger for the No.6 jersey right now. He won't be the dominant half while Ben Hunt is around, but at $349k he doesn't need to be in order to make some good cash in Fantasy, and there's still a path to him hitting 40s, especially if he can take the goal kicking duties off Zac Lomax.
Bye round outlook
Rounds 11, 16 and 20. Just one bye during the big Origin-impacted rounds (Rounds 13, 16 and 19) and another a month later when plenty of state reps will be in doubt due to backing up from Origin III. A clean run from Round 21 onwards means Dragons players are good bets for the final stretch of the season and finals in head-to-head leagues.
2024 full player price list
- Jack de Belin: MID, $793,000
- Ben Hunt: HLF, $696,000
- Blake Lawrie: MID, $657,000
- Jack Bird: EDG, $642,000
- Jaydn Su'A: EDG, $633,000
- Zac Lomax: CTR, $591,000
- Dan Russell: EDG, $557,000
- Jacob Liddle: HOK, $536,000
- Mikaele Ravawala: WFB, $514,000
- Francis Molo: MID, $470,000
- Tyrell Sloan: WFB, $465,000
- Mosese Suli: CTR, $458,000
- Hame Sele: MID, $450,000
- Michael Molo: MID, $441,000
- Max Feagai: CTR, $432,000
- Raymond Faitala-Mariner: MID/EDG, $426,000
- Tom Eisenhuth: EDG, $424,000
- Ryan Couchman: EDG, $415,000
- Toby Couchman: MID/EDG, $395,000
- Ben Murdoch-Masila: MID/EDG, $353,000
- Kyle Flanagan: HLF, $349,000
- Corey Allan: WFB, $326,000
- Mathew Feagai: WFB, $309,000
- Paul Turner: HLF, $298,000
- Sione Finau: WFB, $250,000
- Alec Tuitavake: MID, $230,000
- Viliami Fifita: MID, $230,000
- Savelio Tamale: CTR, $230,000