There's plenty of good news for Fantasy coaches ahead of Round 7, but still no sign of the man everyone was waiting for, Nathan Cleary.
While the Fantasy great will have at least another week on the sidelines with his hamstring injury, another big gun in Kalyn Ponga has shaken off a knock and is set to play, while there's a few handy injury returns as well.
Here's all the team list news you need to know from an NRL Fantasy perspective.
NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 7
Roosters v Storm, Thursday at Allianz Stadium
Roosters: Angus Crichton keeps his place in the second row after consecutive scores of 59 and 61. If you don’t have Crichton already, there’s still time to buy him and get some value, with the EDG starting this week at $477k. Terrell May’s monster run to start the year continued with a 71 last week and he’s fast approaching $200k in value earned already.
Storm: Those who have held onto Joe Chan might get a bit more money from him after this week, with the $295k EDG named on the bench for the Storm, but with Shawn Blore still the preferred starter after his impressive 70 in Round 6. Ryan Papenhuyzen, who is now in almost half of all teams, still managed 48 last week with a stint in the sin bin.
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Dragons v Warriors, Friday at WIN Stadium
Dragons: With Jack Bird out under the concussion protocol Zac Lomax, who had been scoring well as a winger, moves to centre and Christian Tuipulotu comes in on the wing. Kyle Flanagan (HLF, $454k) ticked over the $100k mark in value gained after last week’s 43 and he’s proven to be a handy cover option during a difficult period for coaches at HLF.
Warriors: Shaun Johnson is the form player in Fantasy right now with a whopping 76-point average over the past three weeks, while fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad shapes as a bargain at $630k on the back of scores of 65 and 69 over the last fortnight.
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Eels v Dolphins, Friday at TIO Stadium, Darwin
Eels: A glimmer of hope for Blaize Talagi owners with the cheapie named on the bench and a chance of continuing to make some money in Round 7. HOK Joey Lussick halted a scoring slump with a 52 last week and is the only hooker named in the side once again so should get 80 minutes.
Dolphins: Trai Fuller is named to replace the injured Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow at fullback and will be added to Fantasy this week. With ‘Hammer’ expected to miss a month with a hamstring issue, and his style of play relying so much on dynamic movements, he might be a trade out. Euan Aitken continues to be a reliable CTR option, with a season average of 49.
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Panthers v Wests Tigers, Saturday at Carrington Park, Bathurst
Panthers: Nathan Cleary will miss at least another week with his hamstring, in what is a huge blow for those who have held him since he suffered the injury in Round 3. It means Brad Schneider (HLF, $513k) gets another run in the No.7 jersey. $890k MID Isaah Yeo has been outstanding this year, with his lowest score being a 57.
Wests Tigers: Joy for the almost 71,000 teams who own Lachlan Galvin, with the cash cow back in action following a two-game suspension. EDG John Bateman returns from a week out with concussion and with a break even of 72 he could be available at a handy price next week. Brent Naden takes the place of Solomona Faataape at centre.
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Titans v Sea Eagles, Saturday at Cbus Super Stadium
Titans: David Fifita (EDG, $807k) looks a decent buy this week after being included in the run-on side, having come off the bench last week and scored 55 points in 67 minutes. Jayden Campbell has been left out after suffering a knee injury in Round 6, with his spot taken by the returning Phillip Sami. The Tanah Boyd ride is officially over, with the $581k HOK/HLF again overlooked in favour of AJ Brimson, who is a player of interest now he’s out of the centres.
Sea Eagles: Reuben Garrick (CTR/WFB, $605k) is back from a week out with concussion and is joined in the backline by WFB Jason Saab, who will play his first game since suffering a hamstring injury in a 48-point performance in Round 1. Daly Cherry-Evans is the second-best player in Fantasy on recent form, with a 71.7 point average over his past three games.
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Broncos v Raiders, Saturday at Suncorp Stadium
Broncos: Popular cash cow Xavier Willison (MID/EDG, $366k) has set himself up with a handy break even of -4 after hitting 56 points last up. Another game at halfback awaits Jock Madden with Adam Reynolds still laid up with injury. Madden had 40 last week and is a nice stream option in Draft leagues if you don’t have a decent HLF. Reece Walsh was fairly quiet in his return from a facial injury and had only 34 points, leaving him a break even of 67 which will likely mean he drops in value this week.
Raiders: A shoulder injury which is set to sideline him for multiple weeks makes Zac Hosking a sell, with $341k MID Ata Mariota taking his spot in the second row this week. Five tries in three games so far have helped James Schiller emerge as a handy money maker and with no sign of Albert Hopoate (arm burns) again he keeps a spot on the wing with a break even of 0. Possible cash cow Chevy Stewart had 26 on debut last week and should easily reach his break even of 10 in Round 7.
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Bulldogs v Knights, Sunday at Accor Stadium
Bulldogs: It’s time to move off Blake Taaffe if you haven’t already, with the $373k WFB losing his spot at fullback and instead named on the bench, where history shows his scores are poor. A pair of line breaks and try assists last week helped Bronson Xerri to a season-high 59, while centre partner Jacob Kiraz was impressive with a 55. Josh Curran starts at lock once again with cash cow Jaeman Salmon in the second row where he scored 42 in Round 6.
Knights: Huge news with Kalyn Ponga included despite playing through injury last week, and with a projected score of 67 for Round 7 he’ll be a popular captaincy pick. Jayden Brailey has bottomed out in price this week at $461k and if you think he can get back to being a 50-point player later in the year he is good value right now.
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Sharks v Cowboys, Sunday at PointsBet Stadium
Sharks: The return of Braden Hamlin-Uele marks another step towards Cameron McInnes’ scores likely dropping, but he still managed 58 last week with Toby Rudolf back on deck. Nicho Hynes has a projected score of 69 this week but coaches will be nervous to hand him captaincy given his somewhat up and down Fantasy form (by his lofty standards) to start the year.
Cowboys: $377k WFB Tom Chester now looks to have a centre spot nailed down and is a bargain pickup if he can consistently hit scores like last week’s 44. Scott Drinkwater crashed back down to earth somewhat with a 41 last week but remains a good WFB prospect, while Kulikefu Finefeuiaki has a bit more money to make yet with a break even of 22.
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