The first of the big bye rounds means a large portion of Fantasy's best are missing in action this week, but there's also a bevy or cheapies on offer to coaches.
Remember that in Rounds 12, 13, 15, 16, 18 and 19 only your starting 13 players score points. This means you don't have try and scrape together a bench this week while there are only five games on instead of the usual eight.
NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 12
Bulldogs v Dolphins, Thursday at Accor Stadium
Bulldogs: The club's three top Fantasy prospects are all either out injured, suspended or on Origin duty, but there's still a couple of players of interest here. Viliame Kikau is tracking nicely as a second-tier EDG prospect who is averaging 51.9 per game, while DPP forward Josh Curran is back in the frame this week after serving his suspension. While they aren't good options in Classic, Harry Hayes and Bailey Hayward are decent Draft pickups if they are available in your league, with both starting this week.
Dolphins: Following Tom Gilbert's pec injury last week, which is expected to sideline him for around three months, Connelly Lemuelu (EDG, $447k) and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (EDG, $515k) now have really good job security in this Dolphins pack. Isaiya Katoa is the second best HLF in Fantasy on recent form, with a last three game average of 71 per game which is bettered only by Nathan Cleary. Herbie Farnworth is on fire and could be a trade-in target this week for those missing talent due to Origin.
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Eels v Sea Eagles, Friday at CommBank Stadium
Eels: WFB Josh Addo-Carr has quietly been on a very nice run of form, with four-straight games under his belt in which he has scored at least 50 points. With just 2.2 percent ownership right now, the Foxx shapes as a point of difference option for the middle of the season. Kitione Kautoga produced big time for owners with a 58-point showing, and he's going to be an important cover player over the Origin period thanks to his status as both a CTR and EDG. HOK Ryley Smith is named to start despite an injury scare last week.
Sea Eagles: With Daly Cherry-Evans out on Origin duty, there isn't a heap of Fantasy-relevant talent in this Sea Eagles side, although both Reuben Garrick (CTR/WFB, $601k) and Haumole Olakau'atu (EDG, $639k) have top tier potential in their respective positions when it all comes together for them. Jake Arthur comes in at halfback and could be a useful streaming pickup for HLF needy teams in Draft leagues. Lachlan Croker makes his long-awaited injury return on the bench and could become an underpriced HOK option over the next month if his break even climbs during some limited-minute games.
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Panthers v Knights, Saturday at Carrington Park, Bathurst
Panthers: Of Penrith's top six Fantasy players by average points, only MID Lindsay Smith will actually take the field in Round 12. There are a heap of cheapies named to play as a result, but few that demand a trade-in in Classic leagues. Those who held onto Thomas Jenkins can look forward to another price rise from the WFB, with a break even of 17 which should be fairly manageable for him.
Knights: High-performing DPP Fletcher Sharpe moves back to fullback to fill the void created by Kalyn Ponga's Queensland selection, and it's easy to see him having a big game there against a depleted Panthers side. Dylan Lucas is set to go in the second row this week after filling in at centre in Round 11, with Kyle McCarthy the new man in the backline for coach Adam O'Brien.
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Roosters v Sharks, Saturday at Industree Group Stadium, Gosford
Roosters: Robert Toia owners weren't expecting to be without him this week, but despite a surprise Origin call up he's a player that's worth holding if you can (CTRs who average 40+ and were available at the price you would have purchased him at don't grow on trees). Mark Nawaqanitawase moves to the centres to cover for him after scoring 67 on the wing in Round 11. With a stack of players out on representative duty, there are a number of good Draft pickups within the Roosters' 17 this week. Hugo Savala (HLF, $389k) is continuing to make money but will need a big game within the next couple of weeks to avoid a pause in value rises.
Sharks: KL Iro (CTR, $691k) continued his incredible 2025 record of scoring a try in every one of his games with another four-pointer last week, and with just two percent of teams owning him right now he looks a point of difference option for coaches who don't want to go with a player like Herbie Farnworth. Addin Fonua-Blake went huge in Round 11 and registered an 80, which was a nice reward for teams that have stuck with him through a bit of an up-and-down season (by his lofty Fantasy standards).
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Warriors v Raiders, Sunday at Go Media Stadium
Warriors: Luke Metcalf is creeping towards having a presence in nearly a fifth of all teams now and will be a useful option for people over the Origin period while the likes of Nathan Cleary, Cameron Munster and Mitchell Moses are missing in action. Erin Clark didn't lose minutes, or points, with the return of James Fisher-Harris last week and he's now easily the best HOK around when it comes to last three game form. Leka Halasima continues to perform nicely as a cut-price EDG, with a 48 last week setting him up with a 25 break even.
Raiders: Even with Hudson Young away on Origin duty there are plenty of Fantasy-relevant forwards available in this Canberra team, led by MID Joseph Tapine who has a good chance of being his position's top player this week. Corey Horsburgh being overlooked for the Maroons is a nice surprise for his Fantasy owners, while popular Round 11 pickup Zac Hosking's 52 last week ended up actually being a bit disappointing considering he scored a try and played 68 minutes.
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