Fantasy MLR: Round 2 Takeaways

By: John Fitzpatrick
Feb 27, 2023 - 10:30am

The first week of The Fantasy Ruckers league saw some fantasy managers score nearly 100 points.

Numbers that were previously unheard of.

Counting more stats this season helps, but credit to the fantasy managers who pulled off some savvy draft maneuvers and waiver wire picks.

How did fantasy managers do this weekend? And what players made fantasy managers happy or sad?

Let's find out as we highlight key performers from Round 2.

Takeaway 1: Trust the process. As I mentioned last week, there's no need to panic if your top players did not perform in Round 1. Give it two or three weeks before you begin to draw any reasonable conclusions.

Takeaway 2: That said, don't be afraid to tinker around the margins and make waiver wire pickups. But it's a spectrum - you can be big spender like Ruck'N'Roll and drop a third of your FAAB on free agents who may give you an early edge, or take a wait-and-see approach and conserve those valuable dollars for later in the season. Either approach works. It all comes down to your risk tolerance.

Takeaway 3: Load up on Chicago and D.C. players in the waiver wire this week because both clubs return to action and feature guys who put up big fantasy performances in Round 1.

Seattle 28 - 22 Atlanta

Key Performers:

Seattle Seawolves

• Jordan Chait, Flyhalf - Chait continued his strong start to the season by kicking 2/3 conversions and adding 3/4 penalties.

• Riekert Hattingh, No.8 - it was only a matter of time before Hattingh hit paydirt, and he did it twice against Atlanta. Eagles Overseas has to be feeling better about taking him second overall in the fantasy draft.

• Ryno Herbst, Lock - after scoring 11.7 fantasy points in Round 1, Herbst received a yellow card in Round 2.

• JP Smith, Scrumhalf - after a quiet Round 1, Smith rewarded fantasy managers with a try in Round 2.

Rugby ATL

• Revita Biddle, Center - Biddle was bottled up in Round 2, but still contributed from the tee, adding two conversions and a penalty.

• Alex Maughan, Loosehead prop - scored a try in Round 1 and scored a try in Round 2. In NBA Jam parlance, he's heating up.

• Johan Momsen, Flanker - scored a try to rebound from a modest 5 fantasy points in Round 1.

• Tiaan Erasmus, Hooker - scored a try in a solid 59 minutes, then his replacement (Ben Strang) scored a try, too.

Utah 33 - 25 Dallas

Key Performers:

Utah Warriors

• Paul Lasike, Center - a one-man wrecking ball on Saturday, Lasike scored a try and kicked a grubber for another en route to a big Round 2.

• Caleb Makene, Fullback - Makene looked great at fullback and rewarded fantasy managers with another try.

• Bailey Wilson, Flanker - Scored a try and racked up some tackles this weekend after a modest fantasy performance in Round 1.

• Joey Mano, Wing - Mano has scored in nine straight games. Can he make it 10-in-a-row in Round 3? Rugby Morning certainly hopes so 😄

• Zion Going, Scrumhalf - Going entered in the 59th minute and provided a little extra spark, scoring a try and nearly getting another. Could we see him get the starting nod on a short week in Round 3?

Dallas Jackals

• Eric Napoksi, Wing - the second-year player scored two tries, one on a nasty double move, to provide fantasy managers with some big points in Round 2.

• Juan Pablo Zeiss, Prop - scored a try after a modest 3.7 fantasy points in Round 1.

• Jerónimo Gómez Vara, Flanker - scored a try in Round 2, and may be someone to target in the waiver wire for Round 3.

Houston 35 - 14 New Orleans

Key Performers:

Houston SaberCats

• Dom Akina, Center - filled in for the injured Louritz van der Schyff and scored a try. Not sure how long van der Schyff will be out, but Akina may be in the starting role for a few rounds.

• Christian Dyer, Center - scored a try for the second straight week. You know it - he's a "must start" on a serious title contender.

• Gideon van Wyk, No.8 - scored two tries in his first action of the 2023 MLR season. May have played himself into more starting minutes in Round 3.

• Davy Coetzer, Flyhalf - tallied up points from the boot with four conversions in Round 2.

• Vereniki Tikoisolomone, Wing - a whooping 17.3 fantasy points in Round 2 guarantees this wing will be a priority on the waiver wire this week.

NOLA Gold

• Tom Florence, Flanker - the flanker scored two tries to tally just over 22 points in Round 2. He's putting together an impressive season so far from a fantasy perspective.

New York 39 - 3 Toronto

Key Performers:

New York Ironworkers

• Dylan Fawsitt, Hooker - after a solid 8 points in Round 1, Fawsitt dotted down a double in Round 2.

• Kaleb Geiger, Hooker - Fawsitt's backup entered in the 54th minute and scored a try as well.

• Fa’asiu Fuatai, Center - after a modest Round 1, Fuatai scored a try in Round 2.

• Sam Windsor, Flyhalf - Windsor followed up a strong performance in Round 1 with another solid outing, adding three conversions and a penalty.

Toronto Arrows

• Kobe Faust, Wing - added a penalty on a rough outing for the Toronto Arrows.

San Diego 29 - 12 New England

Key Performers:

San Diego

• Nate Augspurger, Wing - perhaps Augspurger should've been playing out on the wing all along. The former scrumhalf scored two tries in Round 2.

• Sama Malolo, Hooker - Malolo had a strong fantasy performance in Round 1, contributing 11.5 points, and scored a try in Round 2 as San Diego cemented itself as legitimate contender in 2023.

• Josh Henderson, Flyhalf - After a stellar fantasy performance in Round 1, Henderson filled up the stat sheet again, scoring a try and adding points off the tee.

New England

• Joe Johnston, Flanker - after a modest 4.6 points in Round 1, Johnston jumped on a loose ball to score a try in Round 2.

• Semisi Paea, Loose Forward - came off the bench in Round 2, but rewarded fantasy managers with a try late in the game against San Diego.