Is the Value in Dallin Watene-Zelezniak a Mirage?

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak comes into 2026 priced at his 2025 average of 24.3 Points. Many are looking at his 2024 season average of 35.7 points along with his 2023 average of 41.4, and jumping at the perceived value on offer. But is that value real or just a mirage?

Season Averages Filtered to Wing Games

Firstly a look at 2023... The key difference being Shaun Johnson at halfback in what many consider as his greatest season. On the surface, Johnson led the Warriors to 4th in the Regular Season Race. The Warriors produced 100 Tries across the Regular Season. In Comparison they produced 90 in 2024 and 91 in 2025. SJ and the Warriors were not able to maintain the rage in 2024, his body also started to fail him as the season wore on. Digging deeper, the best of Dallins scoring was always heavily reliant on Shaun Johnsons halfback play.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Wing Games with Shaun Johnson

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Wing Games 2024/25 without Shaun Johnson

The biggest difference lies in the Warriors Attacking Shape. In 2023, Warriors averaged 2.1 Tries a game credited to their Right Edge Attack and just 1.1 Tries a game credited to their Left Edge Attack. Taking a look at 2025, completely without Shaun Johnson, they were back to 1.67 Tries a game coming via their Right Edge vs 1.6 Tries via their Left Edge. Shaun Johnsons own halfback play favored going right a lot more. Heres a look at Dallins Career Wing Games without SJ.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Career Wing Games without Shaun Johnson

Now the picture is looking a lot more like a 25-30 Average expectation would be realistic. Warriors opening 6 Rounds will be without Luke Metcalf, and also include home games against Roosters and Raiders Rds 1 and 2, along with Away games vs Sharks and Storm in Rds 5 and 6. The final nail in the coffin for astute fantasy players is caution with Wingers who produce break-even killer floor scores. Looking at Dallins WIng games without SJ, almost 10% are scores less than 10 and around 35% have been under 20. Theres nothing wore than trying to realise cash value out of a player who keeps producing these low scores whenever their BE is finally moving well in the right direction.

Their is no likely FOMO level value on offer here, if any real tangible early value at all. He should be a Hard Pass!

Published on 31-Jan-2026