AFL FANTASY coaches are astute people. The most selected players in the tens of thousands of teams being put together since the game opened in January feature a mix of bargains and rolled gold premium performers.

At the top of the list are the must-haves.

Richmond's premiership hero Marlion Pickett (MID, $170,000) is the most picked player alongside No.1 NAB AFL Draft pick Matthew Rowell (MID, $270,000). In contract, third on the list is the most expensive player in the competition, Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy (RUC, $906,000).

Also in the top 10 are heavily discounted premiums Tom Mitchell (MID, $671,000) and Sam Docherty (DEF, $563,000).

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Defenders

Value is where it's at for the back six (and bench).

All players who appear in more than 20 per cent of teams, except for Jake Lloyd (DEF, $795,000), are either sub-$300k cash cows, discounted or predicted to increase their output this season.

Dan Houston (DEF/MID, $596,000) has shot up the ownership charts off the back of confirmation that he'll be playing in the midfield this season and his impressive Marsh Community Series.

As with every season, we aren't too sure on the job security of the rookies, but it's hard to see all of the popular bargain rookies all playing. There could be a shuffle come lockout.

Midfielders

Lock away the bargains has been the mantra of coaches and the midfield is no different.

Stephen Coniglio (MID, $769,000) is a star and following his 149-point game in the final Marsh hitout, he's been locked into almost a third of squads. He offers value as priced are based on their 2019 average and considering he was injured on zero, he is priced at an average of 104 rather than the 111 he was going at prior to his season ending.

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The midfield is where we'll see a range of different players picked. It's a chance to find a point of difference with no real standout premium selections, apart from possibly Jack Macrae (MID, $858,000). Even Patrick Cripps (MID, $753,000) is only in one of every five teams.

Rucks

It's Gundy and then a mid-priced ruckman at R2 in Sam Jacobs (RUC, $514,000) or Sam Naismith (RUC, $284,000).

Jacobs is the preferred option, but the $230,000 saved by going to Naismith, who looks to be the Swans' No.1 ruckman, could help improve another position.

Forwards

Spending up for Lachie Whitfield (MID/FWD, $844,000) is sensible due to his massive ceiling. It can be argued that he's somewhat discounted due to a couple of injury-affected games last season. Take those out, and his lowest score was 95. The kid is a Fantasy point scoring machine!

Andrew Brayshaw (MID/FWD, $516,000) is the mid-priced/breakout player of choice over Hugh Greenwood (MID/FWD, $581,000) and Christian Petracca (FWD, $563,000) but at least two, if not all three, of them are appearing in a lot of teams.

Most popular Fantasy Classic squad

Using the ownership data, here's a squad made up of the most selected players. Call it team vanilla if you like.

The structure is on point with what a lot of coaches are doing. Some may think it's a bit light on down back, but the star power in the midfield makes up for it.

There's $210,000 left in the bank.

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