The latest instalment of our weekly pre-match updates where we analyse the weekend’s lineups, crunch the stats and see what the bookies are thinking to help you optimise your lineups for peak performance this weekend! By the time you finish this article you should have all the insight you need to score big fantasy points this weekend.
Potential mismatches
With the Six Nations well underway, the Aviva Premiership sides are still shorn of the top international talent, but the stakes remain high as we enter the home straight of teh league season. There are some very exciting match-ups lined up this week including several games with the potential for big fantasy returns. In the eyes of the bookies, there are two stand out fixtures in Round 16 with the potential for a big victory.
In Paddy Power’s eyes the most nailed on games this weekend with a projected winning margin greater than 10 is…
- Exeter to beat Northampton with a margin of 15 points
- Saracens to beat Leicester with a margin of 13 points
Elsewhere, Bath welcome Sale to The Rec and should let their considerable home advantage tell, with the bookies giving them a 7 point advantage. Quins welcome Newcastle to The Stoop and will be looking to put an end to their recent woeful form, the booking agree handing Quins a 3 point winning margin. Worcester visit London Irish and are expected to record a marginal victory while Gloucester and Wasps at Kingsholm is simply too close to call with the bookies unable to separate them.
Top 5 most likely to score (Odds via Paddy Power)
- 1= Nathan Earle (Saracens) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 1.67
- 1= Chris Wyles (Saracens) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 1.67
- 3 Olly Woodburn (Exeter) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 1.83
- 4= Ian Whitten (Exeter) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 2
- 4= Charlie Sharples (Gloucester) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 2
- 4= Henry Trinder (Gloucester) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 2
- 4= Christian Wade (Wasps) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 2
Expected to go well
*Players who are starting favourably out of position (i.e. Hooker in back row, Centre on wing, etc.)
Recommended captain pick in bold
FRONT ROW
Richard Barrington (Saracens)
Alec Hepburn (Exeter)
Schalk Brits (Saracens)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter)
Beno Obano (Bath)
LOCKS
Don Armand* (Exeter)
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens)
Sam Skinner (Exeter)
Matt Garvey (Bath)
BACK ROW
Jamie Gibson (Northampton)
Jackson Wray (Saracens)
Ruan Ackermann (Gloucester)
Thomas Young (Wasps)
Thomas Waldrom (Exeter)
Zach Mercer (Bath)
SCRUM-HALF
Ben Spencer (Saracens)
Nic White (Exeter)
Francois Hougaard (Worcester)
FLY HALF
Gareth Steenson (Exeter)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
Alex Lozowski (Saracens)
CENTRES
Ian Whitten* (Exeter)
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins)
Ryan Mills (Worcester)
Ben Tapui (Bath)
OUTSIDE BACKS
Olly Woodburn (Exeter)
Nathan Earle (Saracens)
Cooper Vuna (Bath)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Christian Wade (Wasps)
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 Aviva 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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