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Fantasy Rugby: Maverick picks you must consider for your 2018 team

So, you've signed up to ESPN Fantasy Rugby 2018 and you're plotting which players should make up your XV.

Some players pick themselves -- here's a list of the brightest stars in each team -- but you won't beat the competition if you select the same players as everyone else.

So, where is the value in this year's game? ESPN looks at four players who might have gone under the radar with most managers but could yet rack up points over the next six weeks.

Bundee Aki (Ireland)

New Zealand-born centre, Aki, will add a physical presence to the Ireland midfield over the next month and a half. The Connacht man, 27, made his international debut last November and made an immediate impact as Joe Schmidt's side beat South Africa and Argentina.

Aki is yet to score his first Test try, but the sheer amount of work that the powerful centre gets through means that he is all-but guaranteed to contribute points to your Fantasy team. In his two appearances for Ireland thus far he has put in 31 tackles -- under the current scoring system that would net you a not too shabby six points. If he can add a few tries or assists, he would become a must-have selection.

Rob Evans (Wales)

Evans has established himself as an integral member of the all-Scarlets Wales front row and heads into the Six Nations in scintillating form having played a pivotal role in his region's qualification for the Champions Cup quarterfinals.

The Scarlets prop, 25, should start every game for Wales -- injury permitting -- and he is as close as you will come to finding a front row player who is guaranteed to make at least five tackles a game. In a low-scoring position, were Evans to provide you with the 15-20 points that his consistency suggest he will, then he could just tip the balance -- not to mention some Apple tech -- your way.

Denny Solomona (England)

Solomona's England career, which started in encouraging fashion in Argentina last June, appeared to be in jeopardy as he was sent home from a preseason training camp. However, he has knuckled down at Sale and injuries to Mike Brown, Elliot Daly and Semesa Rokoduguni mean that he looks set to start against Italy in Rome on Sunday.

A prolific finisher at club level, Solomona, 24, would clearly relish the opportunity to make his Six Nations debut against Italy and you would not bet against him adding to his sole Test try. In fact, it is not inconceivable that he would score more than one and that fact means that he is worth a punt on the opening weekend, at the very least.

Jacob Stockdale (Ireland)

Another emerging Irish talent that burst onto the Test scene in November, Stockdale, 21, has been largely overlooked by Fantasy managers despite scoring four tries in as many international appearances. And with eight tries in just 13 appearances for Ulster this season, he is clearly a man who knows where the line is.

Stockdale is carrying a knock ahead of Ireland's championship opener in Paris, which may have put some of you off, but Joe Schmidt is confident he will recover in time to face France. If he is passed fit to play at the Stade de France, you should not be surprise if he pops up with a couple of tries and assists.

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