With several teams opting to name their Origin players on extended benches this week, coaches face a nervous wait to see who actually backs up from Wednesday night's state decider.
There's good news on the injury front though with a number of Fantasy-relevant players being named to return in Round 19, while a couple of potential late-season money makers have also been handed more prominent roles.
NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 19
Sharks v Dolphins, Friday at Sharks Stadium
Sharks: Those not wanting to risk having a big-name MID take the field for them (or not take the field for them as may be the case) post-Origin might want to consider the in-form Addin Fonua-Blake, who has a last three game average of 61.3. EDG Briton Nikora continues to exist under the radar despite being almost a 60-point player in recent weeks. Nikora is owned by just 4.19 percent of teams.
Dolphins: With Kodi Nikorima sidelined by a hamstring injury, Sean O'Sullivan comes into the 17 for the first time since Round 9 and becomes a streaming option in Draft leagues for HLF-needy teams. Herbie Farnworth is a captaincy consideration again this week, with a projected score of 66 which has him estimated to be the second-best player in Round 19. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is named to back up from Origin and has become a WFB of interest in recent weeks, with a L3 average of 54.7.
This article contains content that is only available on ljmpta.com
Knights v Storm, Saturday at McDonald Jones Stadium
Knights: Fletcher Hunt (WFB, $232k) gets first crack at replacing Kalyn Ponga at fullback, and with no Fletcher Sharpe (injured) on the scene he looks a good bet to keep the role and become a cash cow. His prior form this year has been up-and-down, with three scores under 20 being followed by a 32 and 29, however with the increased workload at fullback he should have a higher floor going forward. Jackson Hastings has averaged 54.5 in his two NRL games this year, but at $644k he's a bit too expensive to be a POD, especially considering those scores are probably about his ceiling. Greg Marzhew returns from injury on the wing.
Storm: Maroons reps Cameron Munster, Trent Loiero and Harry Grant have been included in the reserves and are no certainty to back up, so owners will need to be prepared with replacement options. Fantasy's second most owned fullback, Ryan Papenhuyzen, is named to start after being a late out against the Cowboys with a dodgy calf. That means Nick Meaney moves from fullback to the centres after racking up 85 points while filling in at the back in Round 18.
This article contains content that is only available on ljmpta.com
Dragons v Roosters, Saturday at Jubilee Stadium
Dragons: Valentine Holmes is named to back up from Origin III at this stage, while popular cheapie MID Hamish Stewart also returns from concussion. Lyhkan King-Togia is projected to beat his break even of 25 this week, but owners should be ready to potentially lose money on the young HLF if things don't go to plan for him against the Tricolours.
Roosters: High-performing cash cow Hugo Savala keeps a spot in the halves despite the return of Sam Walker from his latest injury, and having averaged 60 points across his last three appearances the $585k HLF is a good bet to make money again in Round 19. Mark Nawaqanitawase, who is owned by 21.3 percent of teams, is on fire right now and based on form he sits as Fantasy's best WFB and second-best CTR. All of their Origin reps are named to back up, with the most Fantasy relevant of them being CTR Rob Toia.
This article contains content that is only available on ljmpta.com
Cowboys v Bulldogs, Saturday at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Cowboys: Highly-owned WFB Scott Drinkwater has returned to form over the past fortnight and produced back-to-back scores over 60. Jake Clifford looks like he has a permanent spot in the halves once again and can be considered in Draft leagues as a depth option at HLF. With no player averaging over 49 this season and only two players with L3 averages over 50, there isn't a lot to like about North Queensland from a Fantasy point of view right now.
Bulldogs: Jacon Preston's 29 last week came out of nowhere and was his first <50 score since Round 1. You can expect him to bounce back immediately, and owners should have no concerns. Viliame Kikau presents as a possible point of difference option at EDG after averaging 66 over his past three games, and at $674k he's reasonably affordable too.
This article contains content that is only available on ljmpta.com
Warriors v Wests Tigers, Sunday at Go Media Stadium
Warriors: Tanah Boyd (HLF, $497k) comes in to replace Luke Metcalf on the back of his season-ending knee injury. Boyd is awkwardly priced so probably isn't a consideration outside of Draft leagues. Taine Tuaupiki is set for a few games at fullback now, filling in for the injured Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, while Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is a surprise early inclusion after time out with an ankle injury. Leka Halasima owners will be watching closely to see if Kurt Capewell ends up coming into the 17 and potentially bumping him back to the bench.
Wests Tigers: Latu Fainu is travelling nicely as a late-season money-maker and on the back of his 63 last week has a break even of -5. His brother Samuela is also in good form and is a handy cash down option (although not super cheap at $468k) who can cover both MID and EDG for you, with a last three game average of 64. Jarome Luai is named to make the trip across the Tasman on the back of Origin III. Terrell May is projected to be the equal best scorer in Round 19, with an estimated haul of 71 on the back of last week's 73-point effort.
This article contains content that is only available on ljmpta.com
Eels v Panthers, Sunday at CommBank Stadium
Eels: HLF Dean Hawkins is enjoying a decent run in Fantasy right now with a L3 average of 57.3, and on form he's Parra's best Fantasy player available this week. Kitione Kautoga is rewarding those who kept hold off him through a rough patch mid-season, with his recent run of form making him a serviceable starting CTR. Tallyn Da Silva (HOK, $230k) has a spot on the bench this week and while he has limited appeal as a Fantasy prospect himself, it's bad news for the eight or so percent who still have Ryley Smith, with Da Silva likely to eat into his minutes for the remainder of the season.
Panthers: Nathan Cleary and all of his fellow Penrith state reps have been named in the extended reserves, which will be hugely distressing news to Fantasy owners, with Cleary (36.64 percent ownership) and Isaah Yeo (14.58 percent) being key players for a large chunk of teams. The Panthers playing in the second to last game of the round is not at all helpful either and means that (assuming they remain in the squad up until the one-hour update) coaches needing to make an emergency trade to get them out will be left with only Titans or Broncos players to trade in. It's likely though that news will break before that as to the role those two in particular will play, so for now it's a wait and see.
This article contains content that is only available on ljmpta.com
Titans v Broncos, Sunday at Cbus Super Stadium
Titans: Jayden Campbell makes his return from concussion. Some might make a move for the $677k DPP star this week, while others will hope for a quiet game back and for Campbell to fall short of his 82 break even, which would see him become available for a bargain price ahead of Round 20. MID Tino Fa'asuamaleaui backed up well from Origin I (51 points) but was terrible on the back of Origin II (24 points) due mostly to hugely reduced minutes. If you own him then he should be in your scoring 13 this week, but you can be forgiven for feeling a bit nervous about it.
Broncos: Payne Haas is named to back up alongside his other Fantasy-relevant Origin teammates Patrick Carrigan and Gehamat Shibasaki. Haas was out-of-this-world in his return to club footy after Origin II, producing a 101-point effort in just 58 minutes on the field, so you'd be silly not to consider him a captaincy choice if you don't want to go with the crowd and pick Terrell May. The return of Ben Hunt (HLF, $435k) at hooker is intriguing from a Fantasy point of view.
This article contains content that is only available on ljmpta.com