NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 5

The key team changes and NRL Fantasy form guide for all 16 clubs heading into the fifth round of the Telstra Premiership season.

All kick-off times in AEST unless otherwise specified.

NRL Fantasy team news

Broncos v Wests Tigers, Thursday 7:50pm at Suncorp Stadium

Broncos: A two-game suspension to Tevita Pangai jnr means David Fifita moves to lock with Patrick Carrigan to debut on the bench. Both Payne Haas returning from suspension and James Roberts (Achilles) are listed in the reserves. Cheapie Thomas Flegler at this stage remains in the 17. A shift to the edge resulted in try-boosted 53 for Matt Gillett last week while Andrew McCullough has been a touch underwhelming but is ideally a hold. Jack Bird let a big score slip through his fingers last week but is still making cash. Corey Oates's score has plummeted every week this year but surely bottomed out at last week's -2.

Wests Tigers: Elijah Taylor drops to the reserves with Josh Aloiai starting at lock and cheapie Thomas Mikaele recalled on the bench. Robbie Farah is the highest-scoring player in Fantasy through four rounds. Ryan Matterson (59) scored something other than 51 for the first time this year thanks to a try. Alex Twal (56 in 53 minutes with zero demerits) remains a PPM beast.

Titans v Panthers, Friday 6pm at Cbus Super Stadium

Titans: Max King replaces the suspended Moeaki Fotuaika on the bench. As expected AJ Brimson's bench role was nothing to worry about for Mitch Rein, who has played 80 minutes in every game Nathan Peats has missed since Rein has been at the club. Jai Arrow's round three 29 was just a blip in the radar. Bryce Cartwright's score unsurprisingly dipped from his round three 52 partly thanks to five missed tackles but he retained an 80-minute role.

Panthers: Dylan Edwards has paid the price for a raft of handling errors and been shifted to the wing where he is a definite sell, while Dallin Watene-Zelezniak takes over at fullback. DWZ is available at a huge discount to his starting price but it is worth waiting at least a week. Hame Sele pumped out 48 in 35 minutes last week but is a hold rather than a buy. Nathan Cleary's below-par 34 against Wests Tigers included almost no kick metres in general play due to a groin niggle but he should come good.

Cowboys v Storm, Friday 7.55pm at 1300SMILES Stadium

Cowboys: Javid Bowen is dropped with Ben Hampton moving to the unfamiliar wing role and Enari Tuala called up at centre. Michael Morgan is the go-to man in attack and has gained over $100k so far. Jordan Kahu has now eked out $43k in gains and has a little further to go but can be safely sold for a better cash cow.

Storm: Josh Addo-Carr returns but Suliasi Vunivalu is serving a one-game suspension. Cameron Munster has been the third-best HLF this year. Cameron Smith had a rare off day with seven missed tackles taking his score down to 42 but remains a top-drawer captaincy option. Dale Finucane has a three-game average of 57.

Rabbitohs v Warriors, Saturday 3pm at Sunshine Coast Stadium

Rabbitohs: With Greg Inglis still out and Jacob Gagan listed in the reserves as he goes through HIA protocol, Kyle Turner has been named at centre. Liam Knight returns from suspension on the bench. A grinding game and golden point boosted Damien Cook (70) and Cameron Murray (64) to their best scores of the year. Murray has a try or line break in every game so far this season. Sam Burgess (44) scored yet another try but still had his quietest game of the season Fantasy-wise. Adam Reynolds is putting up keeper numbers but cheapie Corey Allan (22) has yet to recapture his Charity Shield form in two starts so far.

Warriors: Reserve hooker Karl Lawton is likely to play 80 minutes if Jazz Tevaga is unsuccessful at the judiciary on Tuesday night. Adam Blair starts with Isaiah Papali'i dropping to the bench. Chanel Harris-Tavita shapes as the buy of the week after a superb 56 on debut. The Lachlan Burr train has rumbled on longer than most of us expected with $154k in price rises so far and a break-even of five this week. Tohu Harris bounced back from 23 in 80 minutes in round three with a try and 70 against the Titans. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is the top-scoring WFB after four rounds.

Knights v Sea Eagles, Saturday 5:30pm at McDonald Jones Stadium

Knights: James Gavet returns with Mitch Barnett dropping to the bench and Josh King out. Kalyn Ponga's return to fullback yielded immediate results and he is a buy this week for those with no more pressing issues, or next week. David Klemmer's 66 pushes his average up to 57.5, behind only Andrew Fifita among FRFs. Mitch Pearce scored his first 50, boosted by nearly 600 kick metres and may be a cut-price keeper if he can start stringing scores together after dropping over $100k.

Sea Eagles: Brendan Elliot takes over from the luckless Tom Trbojevic at fullback while Moses Suli returns from a one-game club suspension at centre. Daly Cherry-Evans has a three-game average over 73, Martin Taupau has three straight scores over 55, Api Koroisau is an urgent sell with Manase Fainu taking his minutes while cheapies Reuben Garrick and Corey Waddell are both a hold for a little longer (but ideally not in your top 17).

Sharks v Roosters, Saturday at 7:35pm at Pointsbet Stadium

Sharks: Shaun Johnson is back from a quad strain with Kyle Flanagan dropping out. Paul Gallen returns from a rib injury while Aaron Woods is out with a foot injury. Bronson Xerri was encouraging with 35 on debut and looks safe for at least five weeks or so, meaning this is the week to get him if you want him. Andrew Fifita top scored round four after two slightly below-par scores. Kurt Capewell is still making steady cash and averaging almost 40 while second-row partner Briton Nikora's price is still sky-rocketing.

Roosters: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is back from a rib injury but Jake Friend is still out, leaving Victor Radley at hooker. Angus Crichton ended up starting the past two games but has actually been named there this week and his price has bottomed out at a $160k discount making him a great pick-up this week or next. James Tedesco has a three-round average of nearly 64 since his quiet round one.

Dragons v Bulldogs, Sunday at 4:05pm at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium

Dragons: Tyson Frizell starts this week with Jacob Host dropping back to the bench. Luciana Leilua joins the bench for Korbin Sims (fractured arm). Unforeseen injuries have helped ensure Blake Lawrie turned out to be a far better cash cow than Host, who is a sell this week or next (with a break-even of 14 it's not yet urgent). Cameron McInnes is back to being one of the top three hookers now that Gareth Widdop is injured and he has returned to an 80-minute role. Mikaela Ravalawa's price is trending upward after consecutive mid-30s scores.

Bulldogs: Dylan Napa made over $100k in a fortnight but is now a sell after suffering a six-week syndesmosis injury. Ofahiki Ogden starts with Sauaso Sue recalled. Jadyen Okunbor has a break-even of -22 but has already made $92k while his centre partner Kerrod Holland is coming off a 73. Lachlan Lewis still looks a keeper despite a season-low 43 while Nick Meaney has now scored 34 and 45. Josh Jackson is averaging 55 since moving from an edge to the middle. Aiden Tolman's minutes were inflated by the Napa injury but he has proven an astute buy thus far.

Raiders v Eels, Sunday at 6:10pm at GIO Stadium

Raiders: Joe Tapine returns from a thumb injury replacing Corey Horsburgh on the bench in the only change. John Bateman scored 'only' 52 last week. The 'Leipana' combo was firing with Joey Leilua and Jordan Rapana each passing 50 against the Cowboys in round four. Nick Cotric is currently available at a $117k discount on his starting price and coming off 40 – his best score of the year so far boosted by his first try.

Eels: Unchanged. Shaun Lane's scores are on the slide and he is probably a sell. Mitch Moses racked up 80 in a dominant performance against the Sharks and his only sub-50 score this year was against the Roosters. The injury to Dylan Brown, which moved Jaeman Salmon to five-eighth, didn't help Salmon much with just 21 points in 80 minutes. However Reed Mahoney benefitted from the four-forward bench with 52 in 80 minutes. Blake Ferguson is alternating great scores with mediocre ones. Marata Niukore is up $89k so far.