Each week, we rely on our AFL Fantasy Projections (available to members of The Keeper League) to identify some of the best captain options for your team.
While there are always some obvious captain options, we try to dig a little deeper to find less popular options due to the widespread nature of players in keeper leagues. However, if you have Uber premium players, please don’t take this article as advice not to put the captaincy on them.
In addition to the top captain options, we’ll also look at some streamer options who may not be automatic selections in your side but have a history of performing well against their opponents. These options are worth considering if you’re looking for a differential advantage in your matchup.
Captains
Sean Darcy performed poorly last week, which leaves me hoping the ruck-split experiment is over. However, this week he is up against a West Coast Eagles team that essentially lacks a ruck. In the last derby, Darcy scored 147, and he could potentially repeat that effort.
Despite having a subpar performance last week, I am still betting on Sam Docherty to do well against Greater Western Sydney. In his previous three games against them, Docherty has averaged 105 AFL Fantasy points. He has also performed exceptionally well at Giants Stadium, averaging 103 from his last three games there.
Max Gawn will be out for the next month, so I am predicting that Brodie Grundy will make a ‘Ruck Pig’ comeback. Grundy has an average of 117 against Sydney from his last three matchups and is likely to dominate against “Pistol Pete” Ladhams.
Jake Lloyd has had a consistent start to the season and is facing a Melbourne team that can be prone to leaking points in defense. In his last three games against Melbourne, Lloyd has averaged 108, making him my “smokey” option this week. (Sorry Kaes).
Jarrod Witts has been averaging an astonishing 110 points (after two rounds), and this week he is up against a depleted Geelong ruck division. When they last met, Witts had 102 points against them, and he has maintained a healthy rolling average against them.
Vice-Captain
Bailey Smith has been the only Bulldog midfielder who has not been Bevo’d this season. Smith had an impressive score of 126 against the Brisbane Lions last season, making him an outstanding vice-captain (VC) option this week.
Scott Pendlebury could be a ‘risk vs reward’ choice this week as he faces a heavily depleted Richmond team. Richmond tends to concede points in the midfield, and considering Pendlebury’s rolling average of 97 against the Tigers, he could be a great VC option.
Jordan De Goey is another Collingwood midfielder to consider this week. With Richmond having no one who can match up with him, De Goey could potentially score big.
Toby Nankervis is currently the third-highest averaging ruck option in AFL Fantasy, with an early-season average of 109. Despite averaging 94 against Collingwood in their recent matchups, he still makes for a great VC target.
Josh Dunkley will be out to prove a point against his former club, and with the Western Bulldogs struggling at the moment, I expect him to excel.
Streamers
Max Holmes has been getting a good mix of centre bounce attendances (CBAs) this season and is up against a weak Gold Coast Suns team. He scored 90 against the Suns last season, and I can see him replicating that effort in Round 3.
Jack Gunston is settling into his role at the Brisbane Lions and could potentially score 80 or more this week against a Western Bulldogs team that has been conceding a lot of inside 50s. Gunston had 84 against the Dogs in their last encounter and has a rolling average of 87 against them.
Harris Andrews is my streamer of the week option, as he has averaged 85 in his last three games against the Bulldogs. Additionally, the Bulldogs have been conceding points to intercept defenders this season, making Andrews an even more attractive option.
Kane Farrell will benefit from Ryan Burton’s two-week suspension and should be on the field for fantasy owners this week. Farrell scored 85 against the Adelaide Crows last season and is expected to perform just as well this week.
Aaron Naughton is a key forward playing on Thursday night, making him an excellent loop option. He has averaged 77 in his last three games against Brisbane and is coming off a respectable score of 79.
Want more projections? View the top 20 projected scores of the round here…
