It's time for another bye round, with the absence of all Origin stars along with the likes of Issac Luke and James Graham and eight NRL clubs hitting NRL Fantasy teams hard.
Congratulations if your team has dodged the injury and Origin havoc – those who can get close to a full side together in the bye rounds should climb up the overall points ladder this week. Again, if you're focused more on a head-to-head league, this is the time to plan long-term with an eye on your planned final 17, so don't worry too much about a low weekly score.
Again, you can make up to three trades this week, so spend them wisely.
Wests Tigers v Rabbitohs
Wests Tigers: Keith Galloway starts in place of Blues prop Aaron Woods, while David Nofoaluma and Tim Simona return from injury in the centres, meaning cheapies Delouise Hoeter and Nathan Milone drop out. Hoeter is a sell, while fellow cash cow Kyle Lovett starts in the back row again. James Tedesco and Martin Taupau are the best scorers for the bye rounds at the Tigers, who will also play in Round 17, although those who have held onto Mitchell Moses are also getting good value out of the cheap half.
Rabbitohs: Issac Luke is out with a medial ligament injury in a major blow for those Fantasy coaches who have held onto him for the bye rounds, with Cameron McInnes starting at hooker, while John Olive debuts on the wing as Alex Johnston covers Maroons star Greg Inglis at fullback. Luke should be back in a couple of weeks for Souths' next game and will still play in the next major bye round (Round 17), but an upgrade this week or next looks tempting. George Burgess remains on the bench but he's outscoring starting props Tom Burgess and Dave Tyrell from the pine anyway. Dylan Walker got his groove back with a super 76 on the weekend and is a handy bye-round option in the centres.
Warriors v Roosters
Warriors: Sam Tomkins has again been named to return, forcing a reshuffle with backline utility Tui Lolohea back to the bench, Nathan Friend starting at hooker and Siliva Havili dropping out. Konrad Hurrell is also back at centre in place of Jonathan Wright, while Raymond Faitala-Mariner and Charlie Gubb replace Origin forwards Ryan Hoffman and Jacob Lillyman. Warriors and Kiwis skipper Simon Mannering is, suitably, the safest captaincy option available this week. Shaun Johnson didn't get much to do against Souths and scored just 11 last weekend, but expect him to get amongst the points again.
Roosters: Blues Mitchell Pearce, Michael Jennings and Boyd Cordner are out, along with Maroons forward Aidan Guerra, with Blake Ferguson returning in the centres, Brendan Eliot coming in on the wing, and Matt McIlwrick and Willie Manu joining the bench. Popular Fantasy buy Sio Siua Taukeiao starts in the back row after scoring 54 at the weekend, while cheapie Jackson Hastings will fill in for Pearce at halfback. Hastings is still just $128,000 but with an average of 7 he's not likely to make any money this season. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is now owned by more than 30,000 Fantasy teams and after a quiet performance last week could spark up against the club he'll be joining next season.
Titans v Bulldogs
Titans: Kane Elgey is out with an ankle injury, meaning Daniel Mortimer covers halfback with Kierran Moseley starting at hooker and Matt Robinson on the bench. Nate Myles and Dave Taylor are replaced in the 17 by Matt White and Mark Ioane. Lachlan Burr is still making cash and James Roberts is still scoring tries while Ryan James has peaked in price and is again on the chopping block.
Bulldogs: James Graham is out with the hamstring injury that forced him off early at the weekend, with the Bulldogs facing a big reshuffle with the Morris brothers, Trent Hodkinson, Josh Jackson and David Klemmer all on NSW duty. Moses Mbye starts at halfback for Hodkinson, and his success in the halves at the weekend could spell dramas for Michael Lichaa's minutes down the track, with Mbye, Lichaa, Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds set to share three positions amongst them this season. Aidan Tolman costs less than $400,000 and is a decent replacement for Graham.
Storm v Eels
Storm: The Big Three are out along with Queensland's Origin I standout Will Chambers, with Ben Hampton, Kurt Mann and Young Tonumaipea joining the Storm side. Again, Tohu Harris has been named to play at centre as he did in his 30-point score at the weekend, with rookie Richard Kennar again playing on the wing. Harris's positional switch comes after a string of mid-range scores, making him look less and less like a long-term keeper despite a great start to the year. Hampton is set to cover for the injured Cronk for the next three weeks. Jesse Bromwich is averaging 50 and is a trade option for James Graham.
Eels: Bureta Faraimo replaces NSW winger Will Hopoate in the backline, with Darcy Lussick returning from suspension on the bench. Manu Ma'u (judiciary) and Tim Mannah (concussion) are in doubt. Nathan Peats is proving to be one of the best bye round options of the season, especially after Issac Luke's injury, while Semi Radradra is the only winger/fullback in Fantasy averaging more than 50 points a game this year.
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