There is plenty of good news this week with a glut of Fantasy big guns returning from injury and suspension.
As owners look to sharpen up their side for the run home, there are a couple of handy cash down options to consider ahead of Round 21 as well.
NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 21
Dragons v Wests Tigers, Thursday at WIN Stadium
Dragons: Billy Burns (EDG, $410k) retains a starting back row spot alongside Dan Russell (EDG, $235k), who had 24 points on debut last week. Burns scored 67 last week and with a break even of -3 could be an attractive cash down option. Jack Bird, who was once the best CTR option in Fantasy, is named on the bench and is a definite stay away.
Wests Tigers: Jahream Bula ($544k) bounced back in a big way after a run of <40 scores with a 69-point showing. He shapes as a potential keeper for the run home, or at the very worst a reliable back up WFB option. Daine Laurie (WFB, $486k) is named to play five-eighth this week, with Will Smith dropping out of the squad. Shawn Blore (EDG, $590k), who averages 52 over his past five games, is named to start at lock.
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Warriors v Raiders, Friday at Go Media Stadium
Warriors: The return of Marata Niukore from suspension shouldn't have too much of an impact on Fantasy-relevant players, but owners of Jackson Ford might be best to consider moving on from him in the next week or so. He was a useful MID/EDG cover option through Origin, who has also scored well in recent weeks, but is likely to average just below what you'd want from a keeper going forward. Shaun Johnson (HLF, $835k) continues to star, and with the Warriors facing just one side currently in the top eight on the run home, he is an excellent option.
Raiders: Corey Horsburgh returns to the line up and looks like being one of the top MID prospects for the back end of the season, with the Raiders having already had all their bye rounds. Matthew Timoko (CTR, $567k) has averaged 57 points over his past three games and is among the best options around in that position.
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Rabbitohs v Broncos, Friday at Sunshine Coast Stadium
Rabbitohs: There are a heap of Fantasy-relevant inclusions this week, headed up by WFB Latrell Mitchell ($742k), who is back for the first time since Round 12 and will be a popular target trade for the final stretch. You can probably afford to wait a week if you are bringing him in, with a break even of 88 meaning he is unlikely to go up in price after Round 21. Campbell Graham (CTR, $571k) and Jai Arrow (MID/EDG, $625k) also return from injury and are set to start straight away, but unlike Latrell they are both chances of reaching their break even this week.
Broncos: Reece Walsh returns from suspension this week and over the next couple of rounds will likely end up in over a quarter of all teams, as owners look for a reliable option at WFB. Elite MID Payne Haas returns from an ankle injury in what is a huge boost for the 23 percent of teams who own him. Cash cow Brendan Piakura (EDG, $350k) retains his starting back row spot after scoring 51 last week and setting himself up with a break even of 2.
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Titans v Roosters, Saturday at Cbus Super Stadium
Titans: The return of AJ Brimson at fullback means Jayden Campbell is a definite sell if you have him, with the livewire dropping back to his normal reduced-minute bench role. Klese Haas (EDG, $393k) keeps his starting second row spot for the time being, but with Joe Stimson included in the reserves after missing last week with a head knock he's not guaranteed to start. After scoring a point per minute in his 60-minute NRL debut in Round 19, Jacob Alick (EDG, $274k) has a spot on the bench.
Roosters: James Tedesco is back after being rested in Round 20, which means Joey Manu moves back to the centres. Billy Smith hit 47 in his first game back from a head knock and is part of a backline full of decent Fantasy prospects. A 34 for Sandon Smith last week has kept him with a single digit break even and he is worth keeping for at least another week, with more cash to come. While Jake Turpin is set to keep the starting hooker role, it's time to sell him if you haven't already, after he scored only 24 last week while sharing minutes with Brandon Smith.
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Knights v Storm, Saturday at McDonald Jones Stadium
Knights: Newcastle have two of the highest-ceiling WFB options on the market in Kalyn Ponga ($701k) and Greg Marzhew ($700k), with the pair coming off scores of 80 and 73 respectively. At $595k and owned by less than three percent of teams, Bradman Best could be a point of difference CTR option for the run home.
Storm: Five-eighth Cameron Munster ($723k) presents as a point of difference HLF if you think he can bump his season average up by a few points. Harry Grant is still the best HOK option across the season and has tries in his last two games.
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Cowboys v Eels, Saturday at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Cowboys: After being restricted to just 36 minutes from the bench on the back of Origin III, Reuben Cotter returns to his starting lock role and should get back to his normal level of scoring. Scott Drinkwater has now gone up over the $800k mark after hitting 57 last week, and from a Fantasy point of view everything he touches right now seems to turn to gold. On recent form Reece Robson is a long way off the elite HOK options and his $632k price reflects that this week.
Eels: Bryce Cartwright was outstanding last week with a 74-point showing. HOK Brendan Hands looks set to keep his big-minute role after confirmation Josh Hodgson will miss the remainder of the campaign due to a neck injury. Mitchell Moses had, by his recent standards, a quiet day at the office last week with a 42, but remains one of the best HLF options around for the run home.
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Panthers v Bulldogs, Sunday at BlueBet Stadium
Panthers: Nathan Cleary is named to make his return from a hamstring injury and after being a late withdrawal last week is expected to be good to go against the Bulldogs. His break even of 101 is highly unlikely to be reached, so you can afford to wait a week before bringing him in, with his price likely to drop a bit. All of the Origin contingent are back on deck after being rested in Round 20. After making $237k in Cleary's absence, Jack Cogger drops back to 18th man and can be cashed out. CTR Izack Tago is on fire right now, with a last three game average of 78.7 and he is available at $698k this week.
Bulldogs: Viliame Kikau is included in the reserves and could return for the first time since Round 4, which might be bad news for high-performing rookie Jacob Preston, but will more likely see Jackson Topine lose minutes. With Toby Sexton ruled out after suffering a head knock last week, Kyle Flanagan ($429k) gets a run at halfback alongside Matt Burton. An injury to Braidon Burns opens the door for Paul Alamoti, who is still owned by 18 percent of teams, to return at centre.
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Sharks v Sea Eagles, Sunday at PointsBet Stadium
Sharks: Connor Tracey (CTR/WFB, $496k) is named to play in the centres, with Siosifa Talakai reverting to the bench. As can be expected in a team which only scored 12 points last weekend, Nicho Hynes' 61 was his lowest score since Round 10, but expect him to bounce back. The return of Dale Finucane bumps Cameron McInnes to the bench after back-to-back scores in the 50s as a starting lock.
Sea Eagles: HOK Lachlan Croker is in good form and averages just under 60 in last three appearances, which includes a 69 last week. Daly Cherry-Evans ($712k) is now owned by only 7 percent of teams and that could drop again this week, with the once high-scoring HLF now very much a second-tier option. Mid-season signing Matthew Lodge (MID, $473k) has been included on the bench, along with Dean Matterson who scored 24 on debut in Round 20.
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