The forward position has been a dry and desolate positional group in AFL fantasy for a few years now! Gone are the days of locking up a Michael Barlow or a Steve Johnson in his earlier days. You’ll find the forward position has been a little more volatile in recent years. That’s why we’re here to help you find the best guys you should be targeting upfront for your fantasy side in the upcoming 2022 season! Below are four guys I think should be the first names on every coach's teamsheet should you have access to them, let's get into the reasons why.
Tim Taranto
The bull is deservedly the name everyone has on the tip of their tongue when talking forwards in fantasy this year. In 24 games last year he put up the following numbers 26 disposals, 5 marks, 5 tackles and 1.1 free kicks per game. I can’t see his usage diminishing in 2022 unless his usage by foot continues to decline. Taranto ranked 4th in total clangers on the season in 2021, but that is literally his only knock! He should definitely be a lock in your team if you’re lucky enough to snag him up!
Adam Treloar
We’ve got him locked and loaded as a forward for fantasy but I think we’re all expecting Adam Treloar to work his way into the midfield rotation for the Bulldogs in 2022. The doggies have the greatest depth at position in the midfield league-wide for me with the likes of Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae, Josh Dunkley, Tom Liberatore, Bailey Smith and Lachie Hunter but at Collingwood Treloar was one of the best mids in the game on his day. In 2019 as Collingwood's major ball winner he averaged 33 disposals, 5 tackles and 4 marks. Eye-watering numbers for a ball magnet who is still working out his role at the doggies - Let him off the leash!
Mitch Duncan
Mitch Duncan is a jet, it doesn’t take a footy rocket scientist to figure that out. However, can the poor bloke stay on the park? He hasn’t played a full season since 2019, including last year which was miserable for him, only booting up 10 times. There’s just no denying how electric he is when he is healthy though. In those 10 games, Duncan averaged 24 disposals, 7 marks and attracted 1.2 free kicks per game. You can't discount him because he just is so good but just be wary of those injury woes.
Zak Butters
I feel like I have written about Zak Butters approximately 12 times already this pre-season but as we get closer and closer to the season, I find myself falling more and more in love with him! He only played 12 games last year but in those 12 games, he averaged 18 touches, 4 marks and 3 tackles a game, these are numbers considering he had very limited midfield time and was hobbling for most of those games! I firmly believe we see Butters become one of the more elite forward fantasy options this year!
These are the locked and loaded options I feel the most comfortable setting and forgetting up forward for me this year. Do you think that I have left somebody out? Lets us know down below and don’t forget to get #gameday ready!
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