<p style='font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 16.363636016845703px;]This week has been a harsh one in fantasy football, with many teams' backlines looking in all sorts of trouble and the upgrade season starting to get into full swing. As usual there are a few surprise inclusions, a few nice rookie options and some very nice names on the waiting list.
<p style='font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 16.363636016845703px;]Michael Hibberd is the Best Buy for this week, and if the photo's are anything to go by the Dons may have taken things a bit too far with the sports science side, but the results on-field are certainly there. Yes I am joking, as far as I know anyway, and while Hibberd may not in fact have two extra arms he does have a very nice SC average at a great price.
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Now onto the Best Buys.



DEFENSE

ROOKIES




Rory Laird (ADE) DEF 115.9k 57 +44k

Laird has joined the growing list of Rory's getting around the AFL these days, and is on the bubble for the crows and looking at a decent boost to his price after his next game. His average isn't particularly impressive, but so far has been getting the job done.





Sam Docherty (BRI) DEF 115.9k 54 +40k

Docherty is in a similar position to Laird, as his job security remains fairly unknown and his average not much over 50, but at this stage with only limited rookies coming through just getting named may see him end up in a few more squads after this week.




MID-PRICERS




Charlie DIXON (GCS) DEF 477.6k 115

Cheerable Charlie bounced back with a great game on the weekend, slotting 6 and helping himself to a 140+ score. Admittedly it was against GWS, but he still looks to be a great pick-up this season and at still under 500 grand is well worth the price. Now in around 21,000 teams.





Michael HIBBERD (ESS) DEF 470.9k 102

Hibberd has now moved above Heppell on averages for the season, and is looking like an excellent pick for the coaches that started the year with him, and a good pick for those that didn't. Currently in around 10,000 teams Hibberd looks set to remain a POD this year, as the coaches with Goddard and Hep generally won't want 3 Dons in the backline.





Dyson HEPPELL (ESS) DEF 488.9k 101

While Heppell is no longer the best defensive mid-pricer at Essendon, he's still good value in the backline and a solid selection. His scoring this season has been somewhat inconsistent as he gets used to being tagged from time to time, but an average of 101 for under 500 grand still looks good to me. His almost 80,000 selections show that there's a lot of confidence in him going around, but Hibberd may still wind up the better pick.




PREMIUMS




Grant Birchall (HAW) DEF 566.2k 118

Birch had the low game that many thought was coming on the weekend, unfortunately for those that bought him in last week like I did. He is still however averaging 118 for the year and priced at under that, and if his season low is 80 then not many will be complaining. Hopefully will bounce back with a big one this week.





Hamish Hartlett (PTA) D/M 538.1k 113

Hartlett still looks good value in the backline, averaging a healthy 113 and spending his time through the middle. Looking likely to rise around 32 grand this week if his current average doesn't improve then he'll probably be overpriced, so now's a great time to grab him as 46,000 already have.





MIDFIELD

<strong style='font-size: 13.63636302947998px;]MID-PRICERS[/b]




Steele Sidebottom (COL) MID 533.8k 112

Sidey had a big game last outing, managing a 136 and working solidly the entire match. His average of 112 for the season is looking fairly good, but now what you're after with a near-premium priced mid. If he can keep up the 130's he's excellent value, but you'd need to be fairly confident that he can. A decent POD in only 7,000 teams.





Travis Boak (PTA) MID 544.7k 113

Boak is looking likely to drop a bit in price this week, but probably not enough to make it worth waiting if you're thinking of bringing him in. Playing North in Tassie it's likely to be a reasonably close game with a fair bit if congestion so I for one wouldn't be too surprised to see him have a big one. In under 10,000 teams.





Tom LIBERATORE (WBD) MID 471.7k 107

Libba has kept on, for the most part, with his great early season form and is still looking like a great mid-priced pick. Now in just over 10,000 teams he is still priced a decent amount below his average and looks great value. Boyd's impact will still need to be monitored though really.





PREMIUMS




Gary Ablett (GCS) MID 680.1k 136

Gazza is sitting on just over 680 grand, and will probably rise around 10 grand this week. The defensive worries may see a few of those that haven't yet got him in have to wait another week, but if you can manage it then now is likely going to be the time to grab him.





Kane Cornes (PTA) MID 585.7k 129

Kornes has now had his down game, and it will be interesting to see from here whether he can bounce back to the big numbers or whether he will be pumping out spuddy scores like that on a regular basis once again. Still in only 11,000 teams if he can bounce back those that took the risk may be well rewarded.





Scott Pendlebury (COL) MID 640.3k 129

Pendles is likely to drop in value this week, but after a down game from the Pies last week and his post-match comments he will be looking to have a big match this time around. Currently in around 91,000 teams, he will be a popular upgrade target in the coming weeks.





Trent Cotchin (RIC) MID 630.4k 125

Cotch had another ripper on the weekend, belting out a 140+ and extending his lead in the Cotch/Lids battle. He will probably drop around a grand this week, but a Saturday night game against the in-form Cats may see him put in another blinder. His 85,000 odd selections will only grow.





Dane Swan (COL) MID 638.6k 125

Swanny has continued his form, averaging 125 and looking likely to increase in price by another 16 grand after his next game. The Pies will all be looking for a big match this weekend, and Swan can be expected to lead from the front with Pendles.





Jobe Watson (ESS) MID 611.8k 124

Jobe is looking pretty good value around now, his price will start rising again after his next game and in his last game he managed a nice 126. So far it's looking like a lot of the elite&amp;rdquo; selections starting the year have dropped a bit in price, and those that have been waiting to bring them in are being rewarded. Last year's Brownlow medallist currently finds himself in around 60,000 teams.





Joel Selwood (GEE) MID 600.1k 118

Ducky had a relatively quiet game by his standards last match, scoring an 87 to drop his season average to 118. That's still a very nice average, and since he's only in about 38,000 teams he's still a pretty decent POD and his price is around what you'd expect for his average.




RUCK

ROOKIES




Max GAWN (MEL) RUC 115.9k 82 +77k

Melbourne big-man Max Gawn was on a lot radars when he was first picked up by the club, and he looked a likely replacement for Jamar who's form has left something to be desired for some time now. However a serious injury saw him quickly relegated to the shadows until he made his comeback this year. Averaging 82 as a rookie ruckman on the bubble, if he can keep getting games he looks like great value, and will likely rise almost 80 grand after his next match and give his 8,000 odd coaches a smile.





Majak DAW (NM) RUC 115.9k 36 +17k

The hype machine continues to get a lot of attention, in both fantasy and normal AFL circles, but has so far been pretty disappointing by the numbers. As a KPF he will probably fluctuate a fair bit with his scoring, and his concussion certainly didn't help either, but as he only looks like rising around 17 grand this week it may be worth holding off another week to assess further. Already in almost 90,000 teams!




MID-PRICERS




Jonathon Griffin (FRE) RUC 484.1k 101

Griffin has been enjoying the number one ruck spot in Sandi's absence, while not generally starring his 123 point game on the weekend bumped his average up over the 100 mark. A solid pick and still well priced, Griffin is in around 8,000 squads and looks good value.




PREMIUMS




Will Minson (WBD) RUC 534k 114

Big Will has kept on with his break-out season form, and is averaging 114 and likely to stay steady in price this week. The Bulldogs have put in some good efforts this season, even though they haven't managed many wins, and will hopefully remain competitive through-out the year. In under 10,000 teams Wilbur is one of the leading ruck scorers going around currently.





Todd Goldstein (NM) RUC 517.5k 108

Goldy has been in good form this season, averaging 108 and still priced unders he hasn't been drastically affected by Daw and seems to be pretty safe in the number one ruck role at North. Currently in around 27,000 teams he should have a solid weekend against Port's inexperienced big men.





FORWARD

<strong style='font-size: 13.63636302947998px;]ROOKIES[/b]




Marco Paparone (BRI) M/F 114.5k 50 +36k

Paparone has been getting a bit of the ball, but generally butchering it when he does. As a rookie this isn't a huge concern, he doesn't need to score 100's to be useful, but it will worry a fair few potential coaches. Set for a 35 grand price rise after his next game, he will need to pick up his form a bit to remain in the Lions 22.





Sam Kerridge (ADE) M/F 115.9k 49 +34k

Kerridge was discussed a fair bit last year, where his DPP status was seen as pretty enticing, however he failed to get games and is going back around again this season as a rookie. Averaging 49 in his first 2 games the injuries at the Crows may be why he's getting games, so job security is a decent concern.





Thomas Lee (StK) FWD 115.9k 38 +19k

Tom Lee looked pretty solid over the pre-season, but has only managed to average 38 out of his 2 games this year so far. If he can keep getting game-time and the Saints can get a few more wins on the board then he could be worth a sneaky selection.





MID-PRICERS




Angus Monfries (PTA) M/F 451.3k 101

Monfries has continued to perform, backing up his excellent early season form with some decent enough scores to keep his average over the 100 mark. Priced very well at only just over 450 grand, his 48,000 coaches are growing by the week.





PREMIUMS




Andrew Walker (CAR) M/F 518.4k 115

Walks put in another great game over the weekend, scoring 124 and giving him the title of Best M/F playing in DEF&amp;rdquo;. If his role continues the same, and opposition teams continue to not use the hard tag on him, then he is a great pick-up and in the leading forward scorers so far. His price is still reasonably under-value, and his 27,000 odd selections make him a decent POD.





Nick Riewoldt (StK) FWD 549.8k 114

NRoo turned back the clock in New Zealand, showing why he was the face of the games promotion over there and pumping out a 152. His price is just under 550 grand, and for his average is looking pretty good, but as always consistency will be an issue, which likely explains his under 10,000 current selections.





Steve Johnson (GEE) M/F 527.4k 111

Stevie J has been good since his return, averaging 111 and looking set to rise by another 20 grand this week, although he did pump out a 160 on the weekend. Still in only 11,000 teams he offers great POD value, but will also be a popular choice over the upgrade period.





Tom Rockliff (BRI) M/F 511.3k 105

Rocky is now sitting at a bit over 500 grand, and a 105 average. With almost 90,000 selections to date he is one of the more popular forwards going around, and is still offering decent value for the coaches who haven't grabbed him yet. With the Lions playing the Swans at the SCG, I'd be expecting the forwards to possibly not score that well, but he has been used off halfback from time to time.





WAITING LIST

Josh Saunders (StK) D/M 109.5k 29*

Justin Westhoff (PTA) FWD 577.3k 123 -9k then -18k

Dean Cox (WCE) R/F 623k 117 -25k

Josh P. Kennedy (SYD) MID 601.1k 116 -24k

Brett Deledio (RIC) MID 604.8k 114 -21k

Ben McEvoy (STK) RUC 584.2k 113 -17k

Travis Cloke (COL) FWD 552.7k 112 +16k then -24k

Scott Thompson (ADE) MID 565k 105 -18k

Ivan Maric (RIC) RUC 565.6k 104 -22k

Jimmy Bartel (GEE) M/F 530.2k 106 -14k

Dustin MARTIN (RIC) M/F 525.5k 104 -7k

Lance Franklin (HAW) FWD 564.6k 94 -31k then -32k

Matt Priddis (WCE) MID 525.8k 86 -53k then -47k

Matthew Boyd (WBD) MID 605.8k -40k then -20k

Sam Jacobs (ADE) RUC 498.4k 91 -28k




That's all from me for another week, but as always feel free to join us in the comments section below for all your selection dilemmas.