NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 7 – WFB chaos

Panthers: No changes, although Paul Momirovski is facing a potential three-match suspension at the judiciary on Tuesday night.

Nathan Cleary's incredible season continued with a monster score of 124 against Brisbane – two points short of his own all-time record – and even though he's now the most expensive player in NRL Fantasy history his price tag is still on the rise.

Momirovski (42) continued his super-consistent start to life as a Panther and will be a borderline hold even if he cops a ban, while Brian To'o (76) is leading the league in tackle breaks and averaging a superb 60 points a game on the wing.

Knights: Star To'a replaces Hymel Hunt on the wing in Newcastle's only change.

Kalyn Ponga (101) was just about perfect in a match-winning display for Newcastle last week despite being clearly affected by illness. His price is on the rise although attacking stats could be tough to come by against the team with the best defensive record in the league.

Tyson Frizell (92) is coming off his best score of the year so far – producing season-highs for tackles (49) and tackle breaks (5) against the Sharks as well as his first try assist.

There was more of the same for early-season standouts Connor Watson (61) and Jayden Brailey (60) last week while Bradman Best (29) could see his price slide in the next few weeks if he doesn't get across the tryline once or twice.

Titans: Tino Fa'asuamaleaui has copped a two-match suspension for a shoulder charge and looks a sell after scores of 22 and 33 in recent weeks. Moeaki Fotuaika starts at prop, while Anthony Don replaces Jonus Pearson on the wing and Sam McIntyre joins the bench.

Tyrone Peachey (33), Jamal Fogarty (32) and AJ Brimson (22) were all underwhelming in last week's shock loss to Manly, while David Fifita (52) survived unscathed with five tackle busts and four offloads.

Rabbitohs: Latrell Mitchell (69) is suspended this week – and potentially for the next four weeks if he is unsuccessful at the judiciary on Tuesday night. He's a hold if he gets his suspension downgraded to one week but a sell if he fails.

In his absence Alex Johnston moves to fullback, Dane Gagai to the wing and Steven Marsters to centre, while Jaxson Paulo also starts on the wing with Josh Mansour (hamstring) sidelined.

Cash cow Keaon Koloamatangi is back in the starting side with Jacob Host out of the 17.

A try helped Cameron Murray (81) to his best score of the year against the Tigers while Damien Cook (55) managed a good score without any real attacking stats.

Eels: Dylan Brown returns in the halves for Will Smith who moves to the bench.

Reed Mahoney (91) and Isaiah Papali'i (88) are both looking like the real deal this season, although Papali'i's scores have been boosted by four tries in the past three rounds and a starting spot he could lose whenever Ryan Matterson recovers from his concussion symptoms.

Still, Papali'i remains a terrific points-per-minute player from the bench so could be a keeper regardless this year, and one who is now available at both the middle and edge positions after being awarded dual-position status.

Mitchell Moses (73) is now $83k cheaper than he was at the start of the season due to his injury-affected score of 18 in round 3, so looks good value at $684k especially for overall points players targeting the first bye round.

Broncos: New recruit Danny Levi has immediately been put into the side on the bench, which could impact on the game time of starting hooker Jake Turpin (55). Herbie Farnworth is also back at centre in place of Richie Kennar, while John Asiata drops off the interchange.

Tevita Pangai jnr (65) grabbed a try and was a standout in an edge role for a much-improved Brisbane side against Penrith and looks likely to keep cash cow Jordan Riki (28) out of the starting side.

Payne Haas (56) could be $100k cheaper than his starting price by next week despite solid scores of 53, 77 and 56 this season.

Sharks: Shaun Johnson has been named to make his return off the bench, with Matt Moylan and Chad Townsend remaining Cronulla's starting halves combination for at least one more week.

Townsend (60) has earned $222k in price rises and still has a fairly low break even, but looms as a sell as soon as next week with Johnson set to regain the goal-kicking and much of the kicking in general play.

Josh Dugan's return means Teig Wilton returns to the starting pack with Jack Williams going to the bench. New signing Will Chambers is also available after being named in the reserves.

Jesse Ramien (72) has scores of 32, 48 and 72 this season with just the one try so far and is looking like a keeper option in the centres.

Bulldogs: Jack Hetherington has copped a five-week ban for his latest on-field indiscretion and is a definite sell for those who still have him.

Dylan Napa and Luke Thompson are named at prop with Chris Smith into the back row, Renouf Atoni back to the bench and Brad Deitz, Ava Seumanufagai and Matt Doorey the new faces on the interchange.

After a poor start to the season, Jake Averillo has bounced back in the past fortnight with scores of 63 and 48 and looks to be ahead of Lachlan Lewis in the pecking order again, with Lewis named in the reserves this week.

After averaging a stunning 64 points from his first three games of the season Adam Elliott has reverted to a more typical 47 points a game in his last three.

Cowboys: No changes, with Jason Taumalolo sidelined with his second broken hand of the season.

Ben Hampton's run as Cowboys halfback is looking promising so far, scoring 51 and 46 including try assists and good kick metre numbers in both his last two games. He's still fairly cheap at $339k and looks a good CTR/WFB cash cow option as long as he holds onto the No.7 jersey – although it may be worth keeping in mind those scores have come in the Cowboys' only two wins of the year so far.

Five Cowboys notched 50 points or more in the win over the Bulldogs, including Val Holmes (56).

Raiders: When it rains, it pours. On one of the few rounds where Bailey Simonsson's 32,112 Fantasy owners would be putting the Canberra winger into their starting side, he's been ruled out after a failed HIA last week.

Josh Hodgson (calf, round 9-10), Joseph Tapine and Sia Soliola are also out, with Tom Starling at hooker, Ryan Sutton at lock, Sebastian Kris on the wing, Ryan James at prop and Josh Papalii back to the bench. Corey Harwira-Naera and Corey Horsburgh have been added to the interchange.

Despite a poor result against the Eels last week there were typically strong scores from the likes of Papalii (54), Jordan Rapana (40) and Hudson Young (55).

Wests Tigers: Asu Kepaoa (ACL) is replaced in the centres by Michael Chee Kam, while Alex Seyfarth replaces Thomas Mikaele on the bench.

Jake Simpkin (54) looks a must-have cash cow for anyone who didn't pick him up last week after making 58 tackles on debut, while James Roberts (15) is coming off two poor scores in a row.

Stefano Utoikamanu (39) has more money to make after being promoted to the starting side last round and Daine Laurie (51) keeps getting the job done at the back.

Sea Eagles: Manly have named the same team they did last Tuesday, with Martin Taupau and Haumole Olakau'atu in the starting pack after the pair were switched to the bench before kick-off against the Cowboys on Saturday.

Tom Trbojevic (67) was back with a bang last week, shaking off any hamstring injury concerns to lead his out-of-form team to a shock thrashing of the Titans with a try and two try assists. It's still debatable whether he'll stay injury-free all year or whether he's a keeper on the level of the top Fantasy WFBs, but at $503k he's at least set to earn a few quick price rises in the coming weeks.

Also earning good money is Lachlan Croker (48) while Daly Cherry-Evans (32) and Jake Trbojevic (40) didn't have too much to do with Tom Turbo wreaking havoc.

Roosters: Sam Verrills makes his long-awaited return from injury at hooker and is a juicy cash cow option at $246k, although he's unlikely to play the full 80 minutes straight away with Ben Marshcke on the bench.

Siosiua Taukeiaho (ribs) and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (shoulder) have both been named to play despite failing to finish last week's match against Melbourne, although one or both could still be late withdrawals before Sunday's game. Victor Radley is also aiming to avoid a suspension at the judiciary on Tuesday night.

Those injuries and a tough opponent in Melbourne didn't help Sam Walker (24) last round, and James Tedesco (36) and Angus Crichton (38) also had quiet games. Tedesco has now dropped $106k on his starting price.

Dragons: Blake Lawrie returns in place of Trent Merrin in the front row, while Ben Hunt is named in the reserves and could be a late inclusion.

Jack Bird (49) looks a keeper at centre if he stays fit and is still affordable at $448k. Daniel Alvaro (42) still has a bit of money to make, as does Tyrell Fuimaono (40), with neither losing any minutes to new signing Josh McGuire (46) last round.

Storm: In a big blow to Fantasy coaches – especially those who have also lost Latrell Mitchell this round – superstar fullback Ryan Papenhuzen is out with a shoulder injury. He's a hold but could really test the depth for some Fantasy teams.

Nicho Hynes starts at fullback and Dale Finucane makes a welcome return via the bench.

Last week's win over the Roosters led to good scores for Jahrome Hughes (85), Cameron Munster (69), Brandon Smith (67), Tui Kamikamica (62) and Christian Welch (55), while Harry Grant scored 59 in 46 minutes off the bench.

Warriors: With Peta Hiku and Adam Pompey joining the Warriors' lengthy injury list, David Fusitu'a returns on the wing and Jack Murchie shifts to centre with Bailey Sironen returning on the bench.

Josh Curran (66) made 50 tackles and 142 metres in 80 minutes last week and is a potential cash cow on an edge at $292k if he can hold a starting spot. His main competition is Sironen, who started in the second row in the opening two rounds before being sidelined with injury. The talented Eliesa Katoa could also play his way back into the side from reserve grade.

Tohu Harris scored a try and had six busts on the way to 83 points against the Dragons and is yet to score below 61 this season. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (69), Kodi Nokiroma (67) and Jazz Tevaga (57) also got amongst the points in the win over St George Illawarra, but cash cow halfback Sean O'Sullivan (19) had by far his worst game of the season with five missed tackles and three errors.