0
0
This isn’t a list of the top 10′ or the best keeper league players. Rather it’s a combination of players that I believe are the most valuable keeper league options. Here are my keeper league MVPs.
Tim Taranto
Finding midfielders capable of averaging 100 isn’t super difficult in keeper leagues. But finding ones that have a proven capacity of 110+ is rare. At just 23 years old, Tim Taranto has another 8+ seasons of premium territory footy.
Matt Rowell
Like another player I’ll write about later, Matt Rowell is one of the most hyped players in keeper leagues and understandably. His handful of AFL games showed his dominance, and he’ll only get better as time goes on. Lock him in and throw away the key.
Jake Lloyd
At 27 years old, Jake Lloyd is one of the oldest players on my MVP list. But why does he make the MVP? Simple! He’s got positional security as a top end premium. To own a clear top tier forward or defender that retains that position annual is near impossible. More often, the players ‘breakout’ year coincides with them moving into the midfield full time. For example, from 2020, it was Christian Petracca or Jy Simpkin.
With Lloyd, you get premium midfield scoring in the backline and with the Swans still trying to fit Isaac Heeney and Callum Mills into the midfield; you can breath easy that Lloyd will retain defensive status. To have these scores for another 4-5 seasons should keep your keeper side in the finals run annually.
Reilly O’Brien
It feels like Reilly O’Brien is a scoring clone of Brodie Grundy. While there might only be 12 months difference in age, the range of where ‘ROB’ gets drafted makes him more valuable to me. Why? Because I believe the scoring gap between the 2 is minimal. You will probably have to draft him anywhere between 1-2 full rounds later; it provides you with potential more value and upside.
Lachie Whitfield
At 26 years old, Lachie Whitfield isn’t the young ‘up and comer’ from a few seasons ago. Now he’s a genuine premium after delivering well over the past 3 years. In that time, he’s been eligible as a forward, defender and midfielder. The beauty of Lachie is that regardless of where he plays, he scores. And even if he spends more time through the midfield, you can argue that his scoring capacity increases, so you don’t lose.
Sam Walsh
This shouldn’t be too difficult to understand. He’s 20 years old and has shown since day one that he’s got a premium midfielder written all over. If you were in a new keeper league, he’s a genuine candidate for the #1 pick overall. If you manage to snag him outside of the first round, consider yourself a big winner.
Josh Dunkley
OK, this one is controversial, so let me explain. Josh Dunkley has huge fantasy footy scoring proven potential. A look across his 2018 and 2019 seasons should remind us all of that. But the hesitation coaches have with him is around his role predictability.
But think of it more broadly, what’s the potential upside and downside? Upside, he plays midfield and scores enough to be pushing for the top scoring midfielder year in and year out. Downside? He spends a bulk of time inside forward 50 and has his average hover around 80. In that case, you get a regular forward who has the potential to pop a 100+ monster depending ion the week. Honestly, you can’t lose in this option.
Clayton Oliver
Always durable, always consistent, and last year Clayton Oliver showcased his ceiling. The emergence of Christian Petracca actually helped him. With ‘CP5’ viewed as more dynamic and influential, opposition teams would often clamp down more on him. That would allow Oliver to be less accountable outside of the stoppage and be used more in general play.
23 year olds who have 3 years averaging 105+ and haven’t missed a game of footy and super rare! It’s why he makes this list. It’s the perfect combination—high scoring and durability.
