A couple of potential cash cows have been named for Round 5, while a gun MID is set to overcome injury and take the field.
Here are the key takeaways from a Fantasy point of view for all 16 clubs taking the field this week.
NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 5
Roosters v Eels, Thursday at Allianz Stadium
Roosters: Sam Walker has been the Tricolours' best Fantasy player through their first three games, averaging 52.7. Their two most owned players, James Tedesco and Brandon Smith, have been underwhelming on the Fantasy front so far though, and could be sells if they fail to score well against the Eels.
Eels: HLF/HOK Brendan Hands is the cash cow of the week after being named on the bench for the second straight game. A try last up helped him to 42, and he should be good for around 30 minutes on the park again, with Josh Hodgson appearing to be struggling with the pace of the game over long periods. Parramatta boast the most Fantasy relevant back-row and lock pairing going around right now, with Bryce Cartwright, J'maine Hopgood, and after his 68-point return last week, Ryan Matterson, all performing well.
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Raiders v Panthers, Friday at GIO Stadium
Raiders: Matt Frawley ($375k) has beaten Brad Schneider to the No.6 jersey made vacant my Jack Wighton's two-game suspension. CTR Matthew Timoko is averaging 46 this year and is available at $531k.
Panthers: Zac Hosking has kept his starting spot in the second row, with Liam Martin still missing due to a calf complaint, and in his first game of the year last week was outstanding on his way to 94 points. As good as he's been, there is very little job security for Hosking so he's a stay away in Classic, but one to grab in Draft. Popular HOK Soni Luke is out after failing a HIA last week, which gives Tyrone Peachey a chance to come off the bench.
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Rabbitohs v Storm, Friday at Accor Stadium
Rabbitohs: Keaon Koloamatangi ($782k) is named in the second row, but he could make a late move to the middle as he did last week, which resulted in his second lowest score of the year with a 56. Latrell Mitchell has a break even of 75 after scoring 25 points in the golden point win over the Sea Eagles last week and he could dip below $700k after this weekend.
Storm: Josh King continues to produce keeper scores even with some key forwards returning for the Storm, and at $656k he's still cheaper than other elite MID options. Eliesa Katoa ($598k) is tracking to be a borderline keeper at EDG, with a season average of 54.8.
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Sea Eagles v Knights, Saturday at Glen Willow Oval
Sea Eagles: The return of Lachlan Croker sees Karl Lawton drop out of the squad, dashing hopes that he could be a handy cash cow after scoring 56 last week. Daly Cherry-Evans is the second best HLF by average score after registering 69 in Round 4 with the help of a length of the field try. Good form on the field is not translating to good Fantasy scores for Josh Schuster, who had 30 last up.
Knights: Greg Marzhew keeps his spot on the wing after an impressive club debut last week and is an intriguing option at $571k. Even without his two tries last week, the powerful Kiwi had 47 points from metres gained and tackle busts alone, and with his game built on those areas it's easy to see them remaining reasonably consistent. Those who started the year with Lachlan Miller look like having themselves a cut-price keeper at WFB, with his 72 last week making him the second highest total points scorer in that position through four rounds.
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Dragons v Dolphins, Saturday at WIN Stadium
Dragons: A surprise late move to the bench, and a subsequent score of 32, wasn't what Jack Bird owners needed, but it's too early to panic and he's a hold after being named to start at lock. WFB Tyrell Sloan's 27 last week was his first score under 40 for the year. MID Blake Lawrie continues to be the surprise Fantasy leader at the Dragons, with a season average of 55.3.
Dolphins: Rookie wing Jack Bostock has been named to replace Tesi Niu and will be added to Fantasy this week. Bostock scored a try in both Pre-season Challenge games earlier this year and averaged 26 Fantasy points, and he could have the job for at least three weeks with Niu not expected back until Round 8. EDG/CTR Connelly Lemuelu ($466k) was good in his start last week, scoring 48.
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Broncos v Wests Tigers, Saturday at Suncorp Stadium
Broncos: Payne Hass ($839k) and Patrick Carrigan ($763k) are both top five MIDs this year. CTR/WFB Selwyn Cobbo looks to be back on track after clocking up 93 over the past two weeks and he is available at the reduced price of $499k.
Wests Tigers: After being relegated to a bench spot last week, Daine Laurie is out of the 17 altogether, with Adam Doueihi again named in the No.1 jersey. That's bad news for his owners, and after a 39 last week, with no indication of a return to the halves coming, he might be a sell. John Bateman was excellent last week on his way to a 74, and at $760k he's still cheaper than elite EDG players like teammate Isaiah Papali'i and South Sydney's Keaon Koloamatangi. Junior Tupou ($343k), who is listed at CTR in Fantasy, keeps a spot on the wing and is a decent option averaging 32.6.
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Sharks v Warriors, Sunday at PointsBet Stadium
Sharks: Nicho Hynes was incredible in his first game back from a calf injury, getting straight to it with a 98 to take his price up over $1m. The scary part is that with a break even of 51 he's set to go up again ahead of the club's bye in Round 6. If you held onto Braydon Trindall, he stands to make some more money after being named on the bench, with a break even of -10.
Warriors: Popular MID Tohu Harris is named after failing to play most of the second half last week due to a knee injury, but it would pay to have a good emergency player at the ready, and he certainly shouldn't be captained given the uncertainty. Wayde Egan returns after a week off due to a head knock and is averaging 60.7, at a price of just $684k. Shaun Johnson is averaging 61.8 points per game and should have even bigger base stats this week with Te Maire Martin out.
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Bulldogs v Cowboys, Sunday at Accor Stadium
Bulldogs: With luckless utility Fa'amanu Brown dislocating his elbow last week, club favourite Josh Reynolds ($250k) is named to make his first appearance of the year off the bench. Reynolds wasn't a great Fantasy prospect in the past and will likely have a limited role, so isn't someone to consider at this stage. Fullback Hayze Perham ($409k) continues to be a solid WFB option and scored 43 last week.
Cowboys: $448 EDG Heilum Luki is named to start in place of the suspended Jeremiah Nanai, having averaged 27.5 off the bench so far this year. Tom Chester is the fullback again and has a healthy price rise coming his way after a 48 last week set him up with a -8 break even.
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