With just 240 stars to spend and some highly-priced premium fantasy options, it's likely a significant portion of your overall budget will alread be taken. Looking around the lower-priced players, there is still a huge amount of value to be had, so today we are looking at 5 bargain options priced at 13 stars or less to allow you to spend big elsewhere on your team.
First up and available for 13 stars is Wales’s Back 3 option, Jenny Hesketh. Hesketh has been tearing it up in the PWR this season for the Bristol Bears, where she has recorded the third highest total in the league this season for metres carried: 1,092m, in just 9 starts. Typically lining up at fullback, Hesketh is a lethal runner, not only in terms of metres carried but also in terms of defenders beaten, with 28 defenders left in her wake this season. Hesketh is a former England U20 captain and will be looking to make a big impact for Wales in this year’s Championship. At 13 stars she’s a great value option to slot into your fantasy Back 3.
One player who quietly impressed in 2023 was the Italian second row Isabella Locatelli (12 stars). Locatelli, who often lines up in the back row, began Italy’s first two matches in 2023 on the bench and was quickly installed into the starting XV after making a making a big impact off the bench. The versatile Colorno forward was instrumental for the Italian pack last year, recording 33 tackles over the course of the tournament, as well as 6 breakdown steals and 3 lineout steals, which was the most of any player in the 2023 Championship. These are the kind of stats that perform well in the fantasy scoring and if Locatelli continues this form in 2024 she will prove to be excellent value.
Another versatile member of the Italian pack is Silvia Turani (10 stars). The Harlequins front rower is a dynamic option who is equally adept at Loosehead Prop or Hooker (indeed she’s started at both positions for Quins this season). Turani endured a frustrating Guinness Women’s Six Nations in 2023, coming off injured after 32 minutes of Italy’s opening game against France, which was the end of her campaign. Since returning from injury, she has been in great form this season in the PWR and is one of the top-carrying front row players in the league, with 483m carried and 19 defenders beaten. She’s also been a menace at the breakdown with 3 breakdown steals (3rd equal highest in the league) and also has 84 tackles to her name. Available for an absolute bargain 10 stars, she’ll definitely enable you to spend more of your budget on the more expensive players elsewhere!
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While many of the England line-up can be costly, there are still bargains to be found, especially if some surprises are made in the selection process. One potential steal can be found in England’s centres with Sydney Gregson (11 stars). If selected, the Saracens flyer can potentially make a huge impact in the fantasy game. Gregson has proven to be one of the most lethal runners within the PWR this season. Not only does she have 6 tries to her name, but she has also carried for 1,154 metres over the course of the season (the second highest of any player in the league) and she has beaten 42 defenders in 11 appearances from outside centre. Also solid in defence with 82 tackles made, Gregson has a big challenge to make the matchday squad, but if she gets in, she’s great value and even on the bench could be a great Supersub option.
Finally, Ireland will be hoping for a better Guinness Women’s Six Nations in 2024, and if they are going to achieve this, a lot of responsibility will be in the hands of Sam Monaghan (12 Stars). Ireland’s co-captain is another versatile option, able to cover second row and back row, and is a good all-round option offering impact in attack, defence and in set pieces. Last year, Monaghan carried for 302 metres and made 66 tackles over the course of the tournament (behind only the tackling phenomenon Neve Jones in the Irish squad), and also registered 2 breakdown steals. In addition she has been in similar form domestically for Gloucester-Hartpury this season, with 3 tries, 4 lineout steals, 93 tackles and 294 metres carried.
As always, make sure that players are starting before selecting them, but these options show that, despite a tight budget of 240 stars, there are still plenty of gems in the lower price brackets to help you balance your team selection with the pricier options
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