Rugby Fantasy Picks: Best Starts, Sits & Value Plays — 2026-05-23

Welcome back to The Scrimmage Line, your weekly DFS playbook from SportsPulse.com! Last week delivered some absolutely wild scorelines, highlighted by the Minnesota Lynx putting up a century mark. Identifying the right plays in such volatile environments is key, so let's cut through the noise and get you winning.

Top 3 Players to START This Week

1. Liam "The Rocket" O'Connell (Winger, Minnesota Lynx): O'Connell was an absolute fantasy monster in the Lynx's astonishing 100-72 demolition of the Toronto Tempo. He crossed the whitewash four times and contributed a try assist, racking up a monstrous 90+ DraftKings points. His pace and finishing ability are unmatched, and against a Tempo defense that clearly struggles, he's primed for another massive haul. Don't overthink this one; O'Connell is a must-start. 2. Finnian "The Maestro" Wallace (Fly-Half, TBV Lemgo): Even in a nail-biting 38-34 victory over ThSV Eisenach, Wallace was the steady hand. He converted all five of Lemgo's tries and slotted three crucial penalties, demonstrating his floor and ceiling. With over 30 points from kicking alone, his reliability for goal kicks, combined with his playmaking ability, makes him an elite fantasy option weekly. He's safe, he's consistent, and he’s got the keys to a high-scoring attack. 3. Jamal "The Truck" Williams (Number 8, Toronto Tempo): Despite the Tempo’s brutal 100-72 loss, Williams was a lone bright spot, crashing over for two tries and making an incredible 25 tackles. His defensive work rate and consistent attacking threat from the back of the scrum are invaluable. He's a guaranteed fantasy contributor regardless of the scoreboard, offering a high floor from tackle points and a high ceiling from try-scoring.

1. Klaus Richter (Flanker, ThSV Eisenach): Richter is a solid player, but Eisenach’s 34-38 performance against Lemgo saw them struggle for attacking flow, limiting Richter's try-scoring opportunities. While his tackle count is respectable, his fantasy upside is capped by his team's lower-scoring output. At his price point, you need more than just defensive grunt. 2. Alex "The Anchor" Davies (Hooker, Minnesota Lynx): While the Lynx scored 100 points, Davies’ individual fantasy contribution was modest. Most of the points came from the backs. Unless he's crossing for multiple tries, a hooker's fantasy output is highly dependent on lineout success and consistent tackling, neither of which he dominated last week. Don't chase the team score; look for individual certainty.

1. Sam "The Scrapper" Jenkins (Scrum-Half, Toronto Tempo): At a bargain salary, Jenkins still managed a try assist and 15 tackles in the Tempo's high-scoring defeat. He's involved in everything, distributing quickly and often. His price doesn't reflect his consistent involvement, making him a fantastic cap-saver who can still hit 20+ points. 2. Mikael Lindgren (Centre, TBV Lemgo): Lindgren scored a try and broke the line three times in Lemgo's tight win. His attacking threat is undervalued, and he's often involved in the build-up play that leads to tries. For a mid-tier price, he offers significant breakout potential if Lemgo’s attack continues to fire.

Dieter Schmidt (Lock, ThSV Eisenach): Schmidt had a quiet week against Lemgo, but he's a powerhouse forward known for his breakdown work and lineout steals. Managers will likely shy away from Eisenach players after their recent struggles. However, Schmidt often delivers 15-20 tackle points and a few lineout wins, giving him a solid floor for a very low ownership percentage. He's due for a big defensive game and could surprise with a try from a driving maul.

Good luck this week, and may your lineup be green!

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