It’s a bye round in NRL this week, so we’ve done a special write up for the international week (NRL-Rep-Round), that should mean I’ve had more time to scan through the stats and find some good buys, but to be honest I contemplated retiring on top after the Parker call.

This week we are just looking for that upgrade target – maybe you are downgrading one player and upgrading another, or maybe you just have some spare cash burning a hole through your SC pocket.

Last week I said that I thought this player had turned the corner, but may still go down in price a little bit. Well he had turned the corner and got 140+ which sent his price up by just under $10k. Don’t be deterred though, even based off his current average of 106 he will continue to go up in value as a defender – and I think that average will rise. He started the season slow with an 87 then a 74, but in the last 4 weeks he has managed to get 129, 70, 132 and that 143.
He is in around 38% of teams already, but if you don’t have Heath Shaw, then the time to buy is now.
He has Freo and Gold Coast to come in the next couple of weeks which he scored 145 and 126 respectively, the last time he played them – but let’s face it Heath Shaw is a gun and can do well against anyone.

As always the format :
POSITION Name (CLUB) – current price (expected increase) – AVERAGE

DEFENDERS
Rookies:
DEF Darcy Tucker (FRE) - 117k (+27k) - AVG=51 (If Freo play their rookies then Tucker could be an option as a downgrade)
DEF Thomas Lee (STK) - 124k (+42k) - AVG=67 (Didn’t play last week, but could be a good downgrade target)

Keepers:
DEF Courtenay Dempsey (ESS) - 292k (+34k) - AVG=93 (Will Dempsey keep this up? If you think so then he could be a cheap option after his first two games)
DEF Heath Shaw (GWS) - 562k (+15k) - AVG=106 (Buy of the Week – if you upgrade one player this week, bring him in).

Midfielders
Rookies:
MID Josh Smith (COL) - 102k (+64k) - AVG=84 (Looks like a great downgrade target)
MID Josh Dunkley (WBD) - 117k (+24k) - AVG=47 (Another downgrade option if he is named)

Keepers:
MID Bryce Gibbs (CAR) - 470k (+23k) - AVG=100 (Got 130 last week and 121 the week before – but that was against two easier opponents – he could be a good buy, but not without its risks)
MID Callan Ward (GWS) - 587k (-4k) - AVG=118 (Ward is flying under the radar of most coaches and only in ~5% of teams – could be a good POD if you need one)
MID Luke PARKER (SYD) - 596k (+18k) - AVG=130 (He should really already be in your team, but it’s not too late)
MID Gary Ablett (GCS) - 596k (-13k) - AVG=118 (Ablett is still Ablett and a worthy pick nonetheless)
MID Joel Selwood (GEE) - 598k (+13k) - AVG=117 (You’d be happy if you picked him in your starting line-up, could still be an upgrade target but there are probably safer options)
MID Daniel Hannebery (SYD) - 627k (-2k) - AVG=121 (Another Sydney midfielder doing well)
MID Patrick Dangerfield (GEE) - 645k (+4k) - AVG=129 (Is Danger the new Ablett?)

Rucks
Rookies:
R/F Mason Cox (COL) - 117k (+48k) - AVG=71 (A great story, but will he keep his spot? 2 goals against the Eagles should ensure he is named this week)
RUC Sam GRIMLEY (ESS) - 124k (+13k) - AVG=38 (Easily the worst of the 3 options this week)
RUC Daniel Currie (GCS) - 163k (+29k) - AVG=62 (Has waited a long time to play AFL football, will he finally keep his spot?)

Keepers:
RUC Nic Naitanui (WCE) - 569k (+12k) - AVG=118 (due to a poor game Goldy has dropped off the list, but NicNat is going from strength to strength at the moment)
RUC Max GAWN (MEL) - 620k (+1k) - AVG=119 (still a good buy if you need a ruck)

Forwards
Rookies:
FWD Dougal Howard (PTA) - 124k (+29k) - AVG=54
FWD Tim O’Brien (HAW) - 170k (+20k) - AVG=59 (No longer on the bubble and playing in a losing Hawthorn team, rookies like O’Brien may find themselves the first to be dropped)
FWD Peter Wright (GCS) - 187k (+51k) - AVG=88 (A bit more expensive, and only got 24 last week - I missed this game, did he get injured, or was he a one game wonder?)
FWD Daniel MENZEL (GEE) - 347k (+33k) - AVG=93 (That dreaded mid-range option – will Menzel become a keeper, or will he disappoint)

Keepers:
M/F Dayne Zorko (BRL) - 565k (-3k) - AVG=118 (Amazing a Brisbane forward can be going so well…)
FWD Jarrad Waite (NTH) - 575k (-4k) - AVG=126 (This man just keeps going – only in 6% of teams though)

Still a week away:
DEF Jason Castagna (RIC) - 117k - AVG=37
DEF Aliir Aliir (SYD) - 124k - AVG=36
MID Ben Keays (BRL) - 117k - AVG=59
MID James Polkinghorne (ESS) - 124k - AVG=52
MID Kieran Lovell (HAW) - 126k - AVG=44
MID Connor Blakely (FRE) - 160k - AVG=44
MID David Zaharakis (ESS) - 508k (-12k) - AVG=109
M/F McKenzie Willis (GCS) - 117k - AVG=32
M/F Christian Petracca (MEL) - 124k - AVG=63
FWD Allan CHRISTENSEN (BRL) - 372k (-12k) - AVG=69
M/F Zac Merrett (ESS) - 499k (-18k) - AVG=102
FWD Eddie Betts (ADE) - 505k (-18k) - AVG=100

So that’s Best Buys for this week.
Good luck to all with your trades and hopefully some wins on the weekend. For all your trade discussion feel free to join us in the comments section below.

Cheers
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