The answers to this week's big NRL Fantasy questions, from NRL.com's resident Fantasy guru the Lone Scout.
The Hayne plane has crashed, who should we be looking at to replace him this week or is it better to try and salvage the ship?
From Reuben Claypole
Jarryd Hayne's ankle injury, set to rule out the Titans fullback for four to six weeks, is a disaster for most Fantasy coaches. But it doesn't quite make him a must-sell. Still cheap at $204,000 and with a break-even of 24, Hayne only needs to score in the mid-30s when he comes back to make around $100,000 in price rises. His potential is huge – he averaged more than 60 points a game for the Eels in 2014 – and while he's unlikely to regain that kind of form he can still easily be a mid-30s scorer.
The problem is with so many big "outs" this week, a lot of Fantasy teams are scrambling to get a decent 17 on the park and Hayne looms as one of the best trade-out options. If you can afford to leave him in your squad and still score well, I'd do it, but if you need a new scorer at the back he's not a bad trade.
Lots of cash cows in the backs this week... who's your top picks for job security and money-making potential?
From Blair Crawford
With so many team lists changes this week, below are my rough pros and cons for each cash cow candidate.
Brad Abbey (Bulldogs WFB, $138,000)
Pros: Price, fullback, goal-kicker, could keep his spot for 4-6 weeks with Will Hopoate and Kerrod Holland out.
Cons: Could lose his spot to the likes of Reimis Smith if he struggles, and could be bumped out of the fullback role by Brett Morris.
Verdict: Good option.
Marcelo Montoya (Bulldogs WFB, $138,000)
Pros: See Abbey, minus the fullback and goal-kicking.
Cons: See Abbey.
Verdict: Could become a tackle breaking gem, but would be a gamble. Abbey's a safer bet.
Robert Jennings (Rabbitohs CTR/WFB, $164,000)
Pros: Dual position player, with a negative break-even. Scored 48 last week.
Cons: He came into the side in place of Siosifa Talakai, who was dropped reportedly for poor defensive reads – but then Jennings had some poor defensive reads of his own against Manly. If that continues, Jennings could be dropped himself down the track. Not minimum price.
Verdict: He's a bit pricier than the rest but Jennings's impressive first appearance for Souths suggests he could make some fast money.
Kalyn Ponga (Cowboys WFB, $148,000)
Pros: Freakish talent, who will play his favoured position of fullback with Lachlan Coote out. A natural tackle-breaker capable of posting big scores. Could potentially nab a spot on the wing down the track, although he is behind Javid Bowen in the pecking order. Could play one or two games in the Origin period.
Cons: Coote is only expected to miss a couple of weeks with a calf injury, making Ponga's job security pretty weak. He won't be making money if he's not in the team. Not base price either.
Verdict: Will probably score pretty well in the next two weeks, but disappear again after that. I suggest avoiding if you don't have him already.
Tyler Cornish (Titans WFB/HLF, $138,000)
Pros: Dual position player, giving you flexibility if you need a cheap half. Could get a prolonged run in the team with Jarryd Hayne out for 4-6 weeks.
Cons: The Titans have signed Dale Copley so Cornish's time in the top side could be very limited, with Copley likely to move into a reshuffled backline.
Verdict: Had looked a good option, now a big risk with the Copley news.
Tyronne Roberts-Davis (Titans WFB, $138,000)
Pros: Already has a good score to his name (37) but still comes at rookie price after being added to the game at the end of Round 2. That means he should get a hefty price rise this week. Replacing the injured Anthony Don, who is set to miss at least a few weeks, and could potentially keep Will Zillman out of the side after that.
Cons: Rookie wingers aren't known for reliable scores. The Titans' signing of Copley could also potentially hurt Roberts-Davis's job security.
Verdict: A pretty good option, just behind Abbey and Jennings in my eyes.
Dylan Edwards (Panthers WFB, $171,000)
Pros: Scored a terrific 52 last week.
Cons: Isn't base price, but more importantly is set to lose his spot to the returning Dallin Watene-Zelezniak – potentially as soon as this week.
Verdict: Avoid.
Coen Hess looks like a Fantasy gun, yet he has scored a try in his last two outings. Is he still a target if the tries dry up?
From David L Venner
He does look great after last week's 74, but the key factor for him will be game time. He played 75 minutes last week after the Cowboys copped three injuries, but just 34 minutes in Round 1. He'll also scored tries in both rounds – something no back-rower can keep up every week.
So best case scenario: his minutes rise during the season (especially in the next two weeks with the Cowboys missing the suspended Jason Taumalolo) and his scores stay around the 45-50 mark, making him a cut-price borderline keeper. Worse case scenario: he returns to 35 minutes a game in a few weeks, and scores about 35 points a week (what he would have scored in Round 1 if not for his try). He's a bit of a gamble, but one that could pay off if you've got a trade to spare this week.
What's your strategy with Kane Elgey? Tempted to trade him out this week, but his BE is still pretty low so a couple of decent games could make some quick cash. If trading him out, who would you bring in for around $300k?
From Iain Stanmore
At $306,000 and with two scores in the 40s, Brock Lamb is your obvious alternative if you want to trade Elgey this week. Lamb has already jumped $24,000 in value and that's going to keep rising. Elgey's not a must-trade though – his scores haven't been good but he only needs to cut down his missed tackle count or get a few attacking stats to score 30+ and get some good price boosts. If he manages a genuinely good score of 50 that should carry his price up for a few weeks.
Is it time to get rid of Kenny Bromwich? If so for who? Hess is an option but is actually going to be decent in the long run?
From Ben Vernon
Like Elgey, Kenny Bromwich is a "cash cow" who isn't really making cash – his price tag pretty much matches his scores so far. If you are going to trade, Hess is your man this week. But again, if Bromwich can manage one or two good scores (and keep in mind both of Melbourne's games have been played in the wet so far this year) he can make a bit of money and make your initial purchase of him worthwhile.
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