Draft night; an absolute minefield of statistics, brinkmanship, psychology and sheer panic. 2 hours seem to fly by in a blur, and no matter what, all logic seems to go out of the window when you see your all-time favourite but injury ridden centre appear on the draft window; after all, this could be his year!
On so many occasions, preparation and planning seems to go out of the window after that first round; as the old saying goes, “no plan survives first contact”. But I want to help, I really do, and with Gallagher Premiership draft nights starting to gather pace on Fantasy Rugby Draft ahead of the season kick-off on Friday 31st August, here are FRG’s thoughts on the busts, sleepers and deep sleepers on the Fantasy Rugby Draft rankings to help you pick up some genuine value picks as well as dodging some players who on paper look like brilliant picks but in reality could cause you some serious headaches throughout the season.
So, without further ado…
SLEEPERS
Joe Simmonds – Fly Half – Exeter – FRD Ranking: 35
Joe Simmonds made a massive breakthrough at the end of last season, following in the trail that his brother had blazed all season. Grabbing his run in the first team with both hands and keeping Gareth Steenson out of the team in the process (even being the first choice in the final), Rob Baxter will surely be handing Simmonds more game time this season. Simmonds made just 8 appearances last season, but in that time recorded in the regular season a try, 24 successful kicks, 2 assists, 17 defenders beaten and 47.26 metres gained per 80 minutes in several all-action performances. In Fantasy Rugby Draft last season he averaged a Points Per Minute (PPM) rate of 0.26, up there with the best in the league. He’s only going to get better, so would be well worth a 2nd round pick. With a smart strategy potentially being handcuffing him with Gareth Steenson, who has had an Average Draft Position (ADP) of 112, so can be saved to pick up in the latter rounds.
Josh Bassett – Outside Back – Wasps – FRD Ranking: 55
One of the most underrated players in the league and a hugely consistent performer over the years. Despite the depth of talent in the Wasps backline, Josh Bassett is always a regular name on the teamsheet and can always be relied upon when the likes of Elliot Daly are away on England duty (although he himself may well soon be in consideration for England honours). Blessed with lightning pace and finishing ability even in the tightest space, he could be an extremely shrewd 4th round pick. With an average Points Per Game (PPG) last season of 14.96 and a total points haul of 269.3, he rarely fails to deliver.
James O’Connor – Midfielder – Sale – FRD Ranking: 75
Beyond the likes of Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Joe Marchant and Elliot Daly, the Midfielder (aka “Centres” to us lot up North) bracket is lacking depth of big fantasy scorers. However, despite an injury shortened and disappointing first year in the Premiership, James O’Connor has potential to provide great returns to those willing to take a risk. He has re-classified from a Fly Half to a Midfielder which will further increase his value. His attacking ability has never been in doubt and he is an able deputy on the kicking tee in the absence of AJ McGinty. He will be shaping up in a lethal looking Sale backline and Sale fans will be desperate to see him fulfill the potential that we know he is capable of.
Bath Front Row – Front Row – Bath – FRD Ranking: 85
While the Saracens Front Row is quite understandably the 1st Ranked “entity” in the Official Rankings, don’t despair if you don’t pick them up, there is surprising depth in the Front Row bracket. Leicester Front Row and Wasps Front Row have always been dependable and should continue to be so. Harlequins Front Row also occasionally have Dave Ward popping up in the back row, providing an extra man in your team. Gloucester Front Row, bolstered by ex-Lions Front Row (Consider the Lions Front Row to be the Super Rugby equivalent of the Saracens Front Row when it comes to Fantasy Rugby Draft points scoring…) star Ruan Dreyer, should be high scorers too. But when you consider ex-Lions Front Rowers, one new arrival to the Premiership who is made for big points is one Jacques Van Rooyen, the new man at Bath. He’ll be linking up with the top performing Tom Dunn, and brings big carrying metres and devastation to the opposition’s scrum. Bath Front Row will punch higher than their ranking suggests. There is one other Front Row we recommend, but we’ll save that for the Deep Deep Deeeep Sleepers…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33rW2ZjmQpA
Bryn Evans – Lock – Sale – FRD Ranking: 136
One of the most consistent yet underrated fantasy players in the Premiership, Bryn Evans once again seems underrated at 136 in the rankings. The Lock bracket, now shorn of the re-classified Don Armand, now looks to only have a handful of top fantasy points scorers. Evans contributes in all aspects, setting up tries, dangerous in the lineout, contributing with carries, industrious in the tackle and also grabbing the occasional try. He was the top scoring Lock in the game last season, and he’s always been a hugely consistent player and I’m certain that will continue this season. Good alternatives in the Lock position include newcomer to the Prem, Franco Mostert and the Leicester-bound Will Spencer.
DEEP SLEEPERS
Byron McGuigan – Outside Back – Sale – FRD Ranking: 151
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u1ck3N8Jps
Byron McGuigan may find opportunities slightly harder to come by this season with so much competition in the Sale back line and his re-classification from Midfield to Outside Back will also hurt, however with a ranking of 151, the versatile centre/winger represents great value. He had a sensational season last year when not injured, scoring 12 tries in just 15 appearances and also recording a huge metres run average of 71.03m per 80. His Fantasy Rugby Draft output was excellent last season, with an excellent PPG 14.82 and PPM of 0.23. While he may not be first choice, he will surely get opportunities, and if he does, he is capable of brilliance.
Santiago Cordero – Outside Back – Exeter – FRD Ranking: 152
It took Santi Cordero some time to get up to speed last season, linking up with the Chiefs in the latter stages of the season. He has proven himself to be a lethal finisher both in Super Rugby and on the world stage and it is only a matter of time before he begins to carve up in the Premiership. There will be plenty of competition amongst the Exeter back three with Woodburn, Nowell, Cuthbert, Short, Dollman and Turner all fighting for places, but given the chance, ranked 152, Cordero could be a risk with plenty of upside in the 12th-14th rounds.
Jamie Gibson – Loose Forward – Northampton – FRD Ranking: 153
Only missing 116 minutes of rugby last season, Jamie Gibson was an immensely consistent and effective points scorer last season and is instrumental to Northampton’s success. An industrious defensive talent, Gibson made 251 tackles last season and missing just 16 (a highly impressive tackle success rate of 94%), as well as turning over the ball 19 times through the season. He was in the top 10 top scoring Loose Forwards last season and Mr Consistency should record similar stats again this season.
Don Armand – Loose Forward – Exeter – FRD Ranking: 157
For many a year, Don Armand was a fantasy gem, classified as a Lock but usually lining up as a barnstorming back rower, this was a loophole that many shrewd Fantasy Rugby Draft managers took full advantage of. You wouldn’t need to even consider a backup Lock with Armand in your team. Armand has now been re-classified as a Loose Forward, and as such he is less of a valuable asset, and accordingly his ranking has dropped. However this masks that fact that he remains an tremendous asset to fantasy teams. Last season he closed his account with 6 tries to his name, almost 20 metres carried per match and some huge tackle stats. If he’s still available in the later rounds, snap him up.
Nic White – Half Back – Exeter – FRD Ranking: 196
Just squeaking into the 200 place Fantasy Rugby Draft rankings is Nic White. First choice scrum-half for Exeter and capable of moments of brilliance, he seems quite underrated being ranked that low. With two tries and several assists to his name last season, he presents a tremendous attacking threat. His ADP is currently at 146, a good 50 places above his ranking, so don’t expect him to be around in the final few rounds of drafting.
DEEP DEEP DEEEEP SLEEPERS
Nick Isiekwe – Lock – Saracens – FRD Ranking: Not Ranked
Last season was the breakthrough season for Nick Isiekwe who belied his years with some hugely impressive and measured performances. One of Isiekwe’s great strengths is his versatility, comfortable either in the second row or in the back row, and this means that he will often line up as a loose forward while being classified as a Lock, which can be extremely beneficial from a fantasy perspective. His ADP has been 125 thus far, making it clear that most players will be snapping him up comfortably before the final rounds.
Bristol Front Row – Front Row – Bristol – FRD Ranking: Not Ranked
As mentioned above, there are some great front row options this year, but a not quite so obvious pick is the Bristol Front Row. Harry Thacker never really was given an extended shot at Leicester working as Tom Youngs’ understudy and so now is his chance to fulfill the potential shown in some of his barnstorming tries in the past. He’ll be a great danger in the loose, as will John Afoa, who has in the past provided significant contributions from a fantasy perspective.
Dave Ewers – Loose Forward – Exeter – FRD Ranking: Not Ranked
Dave Ewers has had no luck with injuries in the last few years, but he made a return to the team at the end of last season, and in those games showed all those attributes that propelled him to the cusp of international selection in 2016. He has it all in his locker, tries, assists, strong and effective with ball in hand and an industrious tackler. Ewers is a great pick up for the later rounds of the draft.
Jonathon (Jono) Ross – Loose Forward – Sale – FRD Ranking: Not Ranked
Known to most of us as Jono Ross, but in the game as Jonathon Ross (not that guy…), Ross was an ever-present in the Sale team last term making 22 appearances and in that time he made a huge impact. Sale fans will be hoping for more of the same this season. A fearsome tackler, averaging 19 successful tackles per 80. Well worth a gamble in the final rounds.
Perry Humphreys – Outside Back – Worcester – FRD Ranking: Not Ranked
While Perry Humphreys will be behind Josh Adams and Bryce Heem in the Worcester winger pecking order, if he gets selected then he represents excellent value. He showed great promise last season in his limited appearances. He was only given 5 full matches to show his stuff last season, and in that time he scored 4 tries. He’s still very young and surely will gain further opportunities to continue his growth this season.
BUSTS
Jaco Kriel – Loose Forward – Gloucester – FRD Ranking: 18
I could live to regret this one as I know full well what Jaco Kriel is capable of in Fantasy Rugby Draft, however a ranking of 18 feels just too high for a player who has played limited rugby over the last 18 months, after suffering a severe shoulder injury that has required multiple operations. This, coupled with the need to adapt to the Premiership, suggests that Kriel may be a risky pick this high in the draft. On his day he is truly unstoppable and definitely fantasy gold, but you are safest looking elsewhere and seeing how he recovers from injury and adapts to the English game.
Jimmy Gopperth – Fly Half – Wasps – FRD Ranking: 46
With the arrival of Lima Sopoaga, Jimmy Gopperth‘s days as first choice kicker at Wasps may be over. His kicking prowess, plus his attacking abilities resulted in him being many people’s first pick over the last two years. With him off kicking duty and without Danny Cipriani inside to him to allow him to flourish, his returns may well be greatly diminished this season. While he remains a class act, he no longer represents the value of old. His current ADP reflects this, as he has tended to be drafted at 92 so far, a long way off his ranking of 46.
Joe Cokanisiga – Outside Back – Bath – FRD Ranking: 48
Unquestionably an awesome physical specimen, Joe Cokanisiga showed glimpses of being a great talent last season, however, more often than not he flattered to deceive and in several games contributed little. His PPM was 0.16, which was the 40th best Outside Back PPM last season. It remains to be seen how well he adapts to a new club in Bath and I hope I eat my words, but there are far better Outside Back options further down the rankings.
Manu Tuilagi – Midfielder – Leicester – FRD Ranking: 83
Ah Manu. Manu Tuilagi, the enigma, capable of inflicting so much damage but sadly we have seen little evidence of that in recent years. His injury woes are well documented and there is nothing more that most of the English rugby community would like to see more, than a fit Manu Tuilagi firing on all cylinders. Still just 27 years old and in what should be the peak of his career, his injury record alone makes him a massive risk to be drafted in the Top 100.
James Haskell – Loose Forward – Northampton – FRD Ranking: 176
James Haskell is one of those players that, despite being an excellent performer, does not translate to fantasy points. I have no doubt that in the final rounds of the draft, when the player names become less familiar, people will see the Hask, with his experienced international credentials, and pick him up (his ADP of 159, 17 places above his ranking would suggest this). Put simply, he averaged just 1.14 PPG last year despite being a regular for Wasps. Steer away from the temptation!
So there you go! Mark these guys on your draft lists and best of luck with your draft nights! If you have never played Fantasy Rugby Draft before, you can check it out at http://www.fantasyrugbydraft.com/, and if you need a bit more insight as to how the game works, check out our overview here.
If you are playing Fantasy Rugby Draft and are looking for a helping hand for your Fantasy Rugby Draft team, the good guys over at FRD have a hugely useful Manager Pro feature (what is Manager Pro you ask? Look no further…)
You can buy Manager PRO here for a bargain price of just NZ$27.00 (Roughly GBP £14), an absolute steal, so make sure you get on it; it’s a gamechanger.
In addition, if you are looking to take your league to the next level, I’d highly recommend you and your league mates all chipping in to get League Pro. League Pro allows you to configure your league’s draft order, configure the make up of your league’s pools and above all else let’s you crown the Wooden Spoon winner aka the winner of the Sacko Bracket, by having bracket for the worst performing teams in the league. It’s an awesome addition that really keeps all the players in your league fully committed for the whole season. League PRO is available for NZ$34.00, which works out as NZ$3.40 or GBP£1.75 per player in the league.
Love Stash???
In addition to stocking all of the kit for the new season, Lovell Rugby are currently running some great weekly deals, where there are some amazing bargains to be had, as well as the remainder of their end of season sale with up 80% off all kinds of great kit including rugby boots, international & club rugby shirts, protection, coaching, training, nutrition and rugby leisurewear. Don’t sleep on these amazing deals and get over to Lovell Rugby!
Looking for more Fantasy Rugby insight and Resources?
If you want some more sources to help you finalise your decisions, go to our resources page where you’ll find all this year’s Gallagher Premiership fantasy games, all the stats sources, injury news, team news, fantasy relevant rugby betting odds and tons of other useful information.
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