We're here, at the last round of the regular season and the final round of NRL Fantasy Classic in 2017. We still have the Finals Fantasy game coming up, but before that here are my answers to this week's questions.
H2H grand final this week, trade out Hayne for Roberts or Ferguson? (Hoping Roosters put a cricket score on the Titans.) - From Scott Roberts
James Roberts ($362,000), has been a good scorer all year, averaging 42 for the season and scoring 60 against this week's opponents North Queensland back in Round 2. He's a good option, particularly with the Broncos fired up and desperate to bounce back after being embarrassed at home by the Eels last week.
Blake Ferguson is a riskier bet, with an average of just 32. He has had a couple of big scores this season but made just 18 against the Titans in Round 1.
Obviously the Titans are much weaker now than they were then, with Jarrod Wallace suspended and the likes of Ryan James, Nathan Peats and Tyrone Roberts in the casualty ward, so Ferguson is a chance of getting among the tries. But that also goes for Latrell Mitchell, who at $358,000 is more expensive than Ferguson but cheaper than Roberts. Mitchell is a bit of a hot-and-cold Fantasy scorer but made 68 against the Titans earlier in the year and has seven scores above 50 this season, one more than Roberts. He'd be my pick in that price bracket.
Rapana, Mansour or Slater? - From David Brickell
Jordan Rapana scored 70 last week to bring his season average up to 50, but could be kept quiet by a rampant Melbourne Storm team this week. He scored only 20 against the Storm in Round 20, and that was in Canberra, so expecting a monster score from a winger in Melbourne (who doesn't play for Melbourne) could be a big ask.
Josh Mansour is in great touch, scoring 76, 71 and 49 in the last few weeks. He did score tries in all those games but is also scoring well through tackle breaks and run metres.
Billy Slater made 70 last week in Melbourne's demolition of the Rabbitohs, but it was his only score above 40 in the last month.
I'd go Mansour.
Who to trade for Edwards? Already have Teddy and RTS - From Tim Wood
Cameron Munster if you can afford his big $472,000 asking price, otherwise Tom Trbojevic ($394,000), Josh Mansour or Latrell Mitchell if you want to gamble. Of course there are a lot of other WFBs who could post a big one-off score this week, so take a look over the fixtures and if you predict a one-sided result somewhere take a look at their Fantasy prospects in the outside backs.
Hey LS, one trade left before the final this week. Who to get out of Taumalolo, Pearce or Fifita? - From Nathan Sheaff
I'd go Taumalolo.
That's it from my Q&A articles for 2017. I'll still be around to offer my advice on the Fantasy Finals Match Day games in the next four weeks, and might also have an article or two about proposed changes to NRL Fantasy in 2018. (If you've got suggestions for the game next year, jump on to my Facebook page and let me know.)
Best of luck to your team this week,
LS.
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