Crucial Fantasy calls to make: Round 9

What to do with a wounded former Fantasy gun is high on the agenda this week, while we're also running an eye over a couple of cheapies who now have key roles for their sides. 

Crucial Fantasy calls for Round 9

Punt on Ponga?

Kalyn Ponga is yet to play 80 minutes in any of his three appearances this year, which means his season average of 24 isn't an accurate snapshot of his capabilities right now.

But last week's 58-minute cameo showed enough to suggest he could be good value at $445k, or potentially cheaper if you choose to wait another week, with his break even set at 46. 

He is expected to actually start at five-eighth this week after coming off the bench in Round 8, so his base stats should get a nice bump, while he's going to be good for a line break assist or try assist most weeks.

Don't expect him to set the world on fire on the Fantasy front, and he's likely going to be involved in Origin and miss some club time, but at his price there's upside there, especially if you are cashing down to him to save some money for elsewhere in your squad. 

Stack that cash

If you're planning to bring in a big-money player in the next couple of weeks, this is a good time to start cashing down a couple of players in order to build up your bank account.

For starters, popular cash cows like Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Will Warbrick and Paul Alamoti have probably peaked in terms of making money now, meaning they will be trade outs for many teams in the next week or so anyway. 

There are also a couple of handy players available right now at below $250k, with that list headed up by Wests Tigers WFB Jahream Bula ($247k) who had 32 on debut last week at fullback, and $220k HLF Josh Reynolds, who has the No.6 jersey at the Bulldogs following the dropping of Kyle Flanagan. 

Next week the likes of Mitchell Moses, Angus Crichton, Damien Cook and Cameron Murray are set to be available at reduced prices, while Nicho Hynes should reach his value ceiling in Round 9 too, so there'll be plenty of options to consider. 

Time to say bye to Turbo

Over 16 percent of Fantasy teams have Tom Trbojevic right now and he's a player many, including yours truly, thought was a potential cut-price keeper at the start of the year.

But this Turbo isn't that Turbo.

Whether it's the changes to his running mechanics he's made to try and avoid further hamstring woes, or he's battling more serious injuries than we know of, Trbojevic doesn't appear to be at doing anything at full speed right now, and his scores are relying heavily on try involvements. 

The injury worry is also a serious factor now, and while he's named to play this week there is no telling how long this groin problem could linger for. There are other better WFB options around right now for roughly the same price. 

Fantasy draft free agent of the week

Few Draft players jumped on Jahream Bula ahead of his NRL debut last week, but that is likely to change heading into Round 9, so make sure you get to him first. Even if you don't think he will end up outscoring any of your current WFBs (he had 32 last week on debut), they are so hard to find in Draft and given he appears to have a starting fullback role for the foreseeable future, Bula is worth bringing in.