Kalyn Ponga, David Klemmer and Mitchell Pearce remain the big names at the Knights but a new coach and emerging young guns could bring much-needed success in 2020.
We're previewing the notable NRL Fantasy buys and revealing all player prices for each club as the days tick down towards the start of the new season.
Lachlan Fitzgibbon
Second-rower, $575,000
A strong edge-running second-rower, Fitzgibbon simply has to return to his 2018 numbers to be a great buy after a disappointing 2019 campaign.
While his run metres remained steady his defensive workload dropped and crucially so did his impact in attack – after making 12 line breaks and scoring nine tries in 2018 he made just a couple of breaks and scored five tries last season.
His Fantasy average dropped from 50 to 38 in the process; if he can get back to the high 40s or better he'll be a handy high-scoring cash cow with the potential to be a keeper.
Five key match-ups of the Eels' 2020 draw
Bradman Best
Centre, winger/fullback, $325,000
One of the most promising juniors to come out of Newcastle in recent years, Best averaged 26 Fantasy points in three games last year but is priced as a 22-point player at the start of 2020.
A specialist centre, Best had sub-20 scores in two heavy defeats (46-4 to Tigers, 54-10 to Panthers) and scored 43 including a try on the wing in a 38-4 win over the Titans.
He should get his chance in the first-grade side with Jesse Ramien and Shaun Kenny-Dowall no longer at the club. Centres usually score just under 30 points per game but the teenager has the tackle-breaking potential needed to take his scores into the mid-to-high 30s.
Phoenix Crossland
Half, $246,000
Hyperbole alert: in some reports, Crossland has already been compared to Darren Lockyer. Let's face it, he probably won't be the next Lockyer but at rookie price he doesn't need to be in order to be a quality Fantasy buy.
Despite the presence of Connor Watson, Kurt Mann and Mason Lino in their squad the Knights are still yet to pin down a full-time halves partner for Mitchell Pearce and new coach Adam O'Brien could turn to the 19-year-old.
Crossland had six tries and four try assists in 15 Canterbury Cup games last season, averaging 33 Fantasy points per game, and if he could hit 30+ points a game at NRL level (and keep his spot ahead of Watson and co) he'd be a handy cash cow option in the halves.
Knights starting prices in 2020
| David Klemmer | $773,000 | FRF |
| Kalyn Ponga | $737,000 | WFB |
| Connor Watson | $654,000 | HLF |
| Mitchell Pearce | $647,000 | HLF |
| Mitchell Barnett | $608,000 | 2RF |
| Jayden Brailey | $585,000 | HOK |
| Lachlan Fitzgibbon | $575,000 | 2RF |
| Tim Glasby | $543,000 | FRF, 2RF |
| Herman Ese'ese | $524,000 | FRF |
| Mason Lino | $522,000 | HLF |
| Aidan Guerra | $498,000 | 2RF |
| Daniel Saifiti | $465,000 | FRF |
| Sione Mata'utia | $426,000 | 2RF, CTR |
| Edrick Lee | $407,000 | WFB |
| Hymel Hunt | $388,000 | CTR, WFB |
| Kurt Mann | $350,000 | HOK, HLF |
| Bradman Best | $325,000 | CTR, WFB |
| Gehamat Shibasaki | $324,000 | CTR, WFB |
| Josh King | $312,000 | FRF |
| Enari Tuala | $300,000 | CTR |
| Tautau Moga | $285,000 | CTR |
| Jacob Saifiti | $246,000 | FRF |
| Pasami Saulo | $246,000 | FRF |
| Phoenix Crossland | $246,000 | HLF |
| Brodie Jones | $228,000 | 2RF |
| Beau Fermor | $228,000 | 2RF |
| Chris Randall | $228,000 | HOK |
| Starford To'a | $228,000 | WFB |
