IT WAS thoughtful of Tom Jonas (DEF, $246,000) to come out on Monday and acknowledge the pain his long-term suspension will cause AFL Fantasy coaches.
However, it's fair to say we'll cope. Even the 0.49 per cent of the competition who, for some reason, have Jonas in their backline.
What's far more concerning for coaches is how much damage Jonas has done to Andrew Gaff's (MID, $490,000) head.
Numbers are down for the West Coast midfielder this year, but he looks the best of the sub-$500,000 players right now, assuming Tom Rockliff's hamstring still can't be trusted.
Gaff has lost $89,000 in value since the start of the year, $31,000 of it this week after scoring only 44 in Adelaide due to Jonas' high hit.
Look at his numbers though, and you'll see the No.3 draft pick remains one of the most consistent Fantasy options. Apart from a 74 against the Pies in round six, he'd notched over 87 in every game until last week's injury-affected score. That includes five scores over 100.
The Eagles are certainly the team to load up on this week, after they shed the 'road flops' tag last week against Port.
Adam Simpson's men face the listless Suns at Domain Stadium this week. If Josh Kennedy (FWD, $482,000) can put seven past Port at an away ground after catching a late flight (due to his partner's pregnancy), imagine what he can do on his home deck as a new dad!
Another Eagle projected to shine this week is in-form Matt Priddis (MID, $507,000) who is slated to score 106 by Champion Data, which is a conservative estimate. Luke Shuey (MID, $482,000) is similarly worth a look with a projection of 97.
Then there's Scott Lycett (FWD/RUC, $456,000), whose 136 against Port was comfortably his highest Fantasy score, and only the fourth time he's topped the century mark in his career.
The fact that he did it alongside Nic Naitanui (RUC, $459,000), who scored 109 himself, shows the ruck tandem is working for the team from the west.
Apart from a tricky round 11 clash against the Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium, the Eagles have a top-notch draw ahead, facing Adelaide in Perth, the Lions in Brisbane, then a bye, before they get the chance to beat up on the Dons, again at home.
So check the injury reports on Gaff closely this week, and trade in as many of the boys in blue and gold leading into the bye rounds as you possibly can.
By the time Tom Jonas is playing again, you should be rolling in Fantasy points.
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Top five price rises
- Daniel Currie (RUC, Gold Coast) +$49,000: $260,000
- Heath Shaw (DEF, Greater Western Sydney), +$38,000: $614,000
- Christian Petracca (FWD/MID, Melbourne), +$36,000: $324,000
- Connor Blakely (MID, Fremantle), +$36,000: $214,000
- Jackson Trengove (DEF, Port Adelaide), +$34,000: $304,000
Top five price falls
- Sam Mitchell (MID, Hawthorn), -$48,000: $513,000
- Kane Lambert (MID, Richmond), -$33,000: $321,000
- Max Gawn (RUC, Melbourne), -$33,000: $504,000
- Ty Vickery (FWD, Richmond), -$32,000: $263,000
- Scott Thompson (MID, Adelaide), -$31,000: $483,000
Get 'em in
Bailey Williams (DEF/MID, $167,000): His spot has been all but confirmed by Luke Beveridge for the near future so he's the perfect dual-position trade-down target.
Rhys Mathieson (MID, $169,000): Copped some heat for knowing how to win a free kick, but Fantasy coaches won't care if he keeps bringing in the points. Likely to get an extended run in the Lions' decimated midfield.
Tom Liberatore (MID, $452,000): Scoring freely again and he's got a monster record at the MCG where he faces Collingwood this week.
Bye for now
Tom Mitchell (MID, $517,000): His success as a tagger against namesake Sam Mitchell means his 119 breakeven against North this week looks unlikely. Move him on.
Tom Lynch (FWD, $408,000): He remains a gun player but the Suns are right on the nose at the moment and he's copping too much attention for Fantasy relevance.
Darcy MacPherson (MID, $205,000): Hurt his medial ligament against the Crows and won't be seen for some time so trade down now.
