The Origin consequences are still being felt a week on from the Decider, with two of Fantasy's biggest names being rested this week.
A new cash down option has appeared though with Joash Papalii's promotion to the Parramatta halves, while a couple of underpriced keeper options are there for the taking ahead of Round 20 as well.
NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 20
Dolphins v Cowboys, Thursday at Suncorp Stadium
Dolphins: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow returns to the lineup after missing Round 19 following Origin III. At $661k 'Hammer' could be a popular WFB target for the run home, with a last three game aberage of 54.7. Outstanding CTR Herbie Farnworth is now creeping towards being owned by a quarter of all teams. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki is out of action with a broken thumb, so Connelly Lemuelu (EDG, $424k) starts in the pack.
Cowboys: Braidon Burns ($486k), who on his day is a really good Fantasy player, keeps a spot in the centres and comes with DPP status as both a CTR and WFB. John Bateman and Jake Clifford both remain sidelined by injury. It's strange that Jaxon Purdue, who moves back to the halves this week, still sits in almost 19 percent of teams, given his last three game average of 25 which makes him an absolute stay away in terms of your scoring 17 if you can help it.
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Sharks v Roosters, Friday at Sharks Stadium
Sharks: No changes for the Sharks this week, with Nicho Hynes likely to get some attention on the Fantasy front after his last-up 93. On his day Hynes has shown he is still capable of the odd elite score, but there are much better HLFs available this season, so it's a no from me. HOK Blayke Brailey on the other hand is playing really well and now has a L3 average of 62.7 which makes him the top player in his position on form. Addin Fonua-Blake's 33 in Round 19 was his second straight <50 performance.
Roosters: Outstanding cash cow Hugo Savala is set to miss the next 2-3 weeks with a wrist injury and that means it is probably time to cash him out. With a break even of 43 once he returns, there's a chance the HLF, who has climbed $369k in value this season, has hit peak price anyway. Following back-to-back scores of 81 and 78, Mark Nawaqanitawase came back to earth with a 29 last week.
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Panthers v Rabbitohs, Friday at CommBank Stadium
Panthers: Fantasy favourites Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo have both been rested this week, which shapes as a disaster for coaches who own both. With Liam Martin (wrist) also sidelined, Penrith's three most popular players are all red dots for Round 19. Thomas Jenkins remains a serviceable WFB when he gets in on the try-scoring, as he did last week, but ideally he's a loop option for you, not a starter.
Rabbitohs: Latrell Mitchell is back on deck at fullback, while Keaon Koloamatangi, who is easily South Sydney's most popular player at 23.21 percent ownership, starts at prop. Keaon bounced back with a 55 in his last game pre the Round 19 bye, after scaring owners with a 36 back in Round 17. It's hard to get too excited about trading in a Rabbitohs player at this point, knowing they have another bye to come in Round 26 when most head-to-head leagues will have a preliminary final or grand final happening.
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Raiders v Eels, Saturday at GIO Stadium
Raiders: With consecutive scores of 68 and 94 to his name, there's point of difference potential in fullback Kaeo Weekes, who comes with the added benefit of DPP status as both a WFB and HLF. Currently Weekes sits in only 5.5 percent of teams. Josh Papalii's minutes have gone up pretty significantly over the past month and his Fantasy scores have jumped as a result. Named to start at prop again this week, he'd be a cash down candidate if his $490k tag was just a little bit lower.
Eels: After naming Joash Papalii at five-eighth again this week, Eels coach Jason Ryles has signaled the direction he is likely to go in for the remainder of the season, which makes the $230k WFB an excellent cash down option ahead of Round 20. Ryley Smith (HOK, $550k) returns from suspension and starts at hooker, but with Tallyn Da Silva in the mix for minutes, owners will need to keep a close eye on how his scores go over the next week or two. Handy CTR option Kitione Kautoga is sidelined by an ankle injury and is a sell, with his $572k price tag too much to have sitting in your reserves for more than a week.
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Bulldogs v Dragons, Saturday at Accor Stadium
Bulldogs: Lachlan Galvin returns to the starting side at the expense of Toby Sexton, but with both players sitting at under three percent ownership, neither is particularly Fantasy relevant anyway. WFB Jethro Rinakama retains a spot on the wing after managing 31 on debut last week. At $242k he is a low level cash down option, but job security is a concern. Jacob Preston has a break even of 71 this week which he is unlikely to reach, so coaches may want to prepare to make a move for him in coming weeks, with a good chance that he finishes the year in the elite EDG conversation.
Dragons: With only five percent ownership right now, Valentine Holmes has POD potential as a CTR, boasting a L3 average of 54.3. MID Hamish Stewart is on the bench, but after hitting only 13 last up he has a break even of 65 and is a sell if you don't want to see him lose all of the value you previously accumulated during his good run.
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Storm v Sea Eagles, Saturday at AAMI Park
Storm: Ryan Papenhuyzen's availability is starting to become a concern, with the WFB again ruled out due to calf tightness. Given he hasn't been setting the world on fire with his Fantasy scores lately anyway, he could be a sell this week. Popular HLF Cameron Munster (9 percent ownership) returns to the lineup. Jahrome Hughes has a hit a purple patch in recent weeks to average 67.3 across his last three games, but with 13.24 percent of teams already owning him, he's out of the POD discussion.
Sea Eagles: Those who jumped on Tom Trbojevic when his price bottomed out a few weeks ago are laughing now, with the WFB averaging 52.3 across his last three and seemingly relishing a move to the centres. With a break even of 5 and his price still at just $459k, there's still time to jump on his as a cash down option who can probably safely be left in your scoring 17 right now. With representation in a whopping 26.71 percent of teams, Reuben Garrick is the game's most popular WFB and CTR.
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Wests Tigers v Titans, Sunday at Leichhardt Oval
Wests Tigers: There's another May on the team sheet, with Taylan named in the centres and to be added to Fantasy during the week. Depending what price he comes through at, there could be some value in picking him up given his tackle breaking ability. Adam Doueihi moves to lock and should score well again on the back of a two-try performance that delivered 85 against the Warriors. At $576k Doueihi isn't cheap, but his designation as a CTR in Fantasy makes him an interesting POD candidate. Latu Fainu had a quiet week with a 27 in Round 19, but owners should remain patient, with his break even of 17 likely to be easily met against the Titans.
Titans: Plans to move for a cut-price Jayden Campbell this week have changed on the back of his last-up 35, which means he has a Round 20 break even of 79 and can he held off on. Despite a couple of poor scores lately, he's a player worth looking at for the final couple of months of the Fantasy season, especially if he's available for $600k or less, which now looks likely. MID Tino Fa'asuamaleaui returns to the starting side after managing 49 off the bench in Round 19.
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Knights v Warriors, Sunday at McDonald Jones Stadium
Knights: The loss of Dylan Lucas to a foot injury is a cruel blow for Fantasy coaches, with the DPP EDG/CTR sitting in close to 20 percent of teams. Bradman Best was massive on his way to 70 in Round 19 and is currently owned by under 4 percent of teams. WFB Dom Young also caught fire and produced his first score over 55 for the season (scoring 63 thanks to a couple of tries). While days like that won't be too common, he's a bit underpriced at $476k if you think he can start to average in the mid 40s to low 50s. Dane Gagai (CTR, $586k) starts at fullback after hitting 64 in the position last week.
Warriors: Taine Tuaupiki starts at fullback again, on the back of scoring 63 in Round 19, while young EDG Leka Halasima, who sits in 14.21 percent of teams, keeps a starting role after scoring a try on his way to 66 against the Wests Tigers. HLF Tanah Boyd managed 56 in his first outing of the year and looks a bit undervalued at $512k, especially if he is going to keep topping his scores up with excellent goalkicking like last week.
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