With four of the top five HLFs in Fantasy currently out injured, Nicho Hynes has emerged as a potential saviour after being named to return from a week off with a calf complaint.
A positional switch for a Sea Eagles flyer meanwhile represents an opportunity for coaches, while there's some underpriced forwards floating around the competition too ahead of Round 11.
A reminder that Magic Round means the first game is on Friday night this week rather than Thursday night.
NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 11
Raiders v Bulldogs, Friday at Suncorp Stadium
Raiders: The return of Jordan Rapana from injury probably kills off any chance Chevy Stewart had of seeing more NRL action anytime soon. Over 18 percent of teams jumped on the rookie WFB when he was named to take over at the back in Round 6, but got just three games out of him and a measly $34k in price rises. Ethan Strange, who is the game's second most selected player, is probably done making money for now, but he could be a nice option to hold over the major bye rounds anyway given he provides cover at both HLF and CTR.
Bulldogs: Jaeman Salmon keeps his starting back row job for the time being, with Jacob Preston on the bench. After a slow start to the season MID Sam Hughes has ended up being a decent money maker. He's up to $429k but will probably stop making money after this week, with his break even creeping up. Josh Curran hasn't been able to reach elite scores this season and is on the bench in Round 11.
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Sea Eagles v Broncos, Friday at Suncorp Stadium
Sea Eagles: The move of Tolutau Koula (CTR/WFB, $458k) to fullback is intriguing, with Tom Trbojevic set to sit out the next two months injured. Koula has a big appetite for running metres as it is and a move to a high involvement position could see his scoring shoot up too. Karl Lawton gets another run at hooker with no sign of Lachlan Croker in the squad. HLF Luke Brooks had his first score over 30 since Round 5 last week, with a 65 rewarding the five percent of teams who still have him.
Broncos: Almost a quarter of all teams are stuck with pre-season favourite Brendan Piakura, who is performing terribly in Fantasy and managed just eight points last week in a 52-minute stint (with six missed tackles for -12 points not helping). At $361k he's not worth selling, so just hold him and keep your fingers crossed it improves. Jock Madden returns from injury at halfback and while he's set for a long run there, there's not really any value in him because he's already appropriately priced for his scores at $526k. Tyson Smoothy, who averages 30.3 this season, gets a go in the No.9 jersey with Billy Walters out injured.
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Titans v Knights, Saturday at Suncorp Stadium
Titans: A glut of injuries in last week's win over the Cowboys means it's a pieced together Titans side for Magic Round. From a Fantasy perspective the big loss is AJ Brimson (groin), who has averaged 61.3 through his last three games. David Fifita is in devastating form right now but currently still sits in under six percent of teams.
Knights: A real worry for Kai Pearce-Paul (EDG, $650k) owners, with the Englishman named on the bench after moving back there last week and having his minutes halved to 40, resulting in a score of 32. It's good news though for Dylan Lucas, who starts in his place and has POD potential with just one percent owning him right now. Jack Cogger returns to the halves and should have a spot for the long-term now, with Tyson Gamble set for a lengthy spell out with a foot injury.
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Sharks v Roosters, Saturday at Suncorp Stadium
Sharks: The naming of Nicho Hynes at halfback is a massive boost for coaches grappling with a HLFs crisis this week. There's a chance the Sharks rest him again if they aren't confident his calf is good to go, so make sure you have an auto emergency lined up and a good vice captain if you're planning to give him the 'C' in Round 11. A 62 last week has set Daniel Atkinson up with a -11 break even, but with Braydon Trindall named in the reserves and a chance to return and take his place at five-eighth, he's a stay away if you don't already have him.
Roosters: Brandon Smith makes his return after a week off with injury which will likely have an impact on Connor Watson's minutes and score this Saturday. A 78 last week means Angus Crichton's last three game average is bordering on 90 points, putting him second only to Nicho Hynes in terms of being the form player in Fantasy right now. If you take away his -12 from the Round 5 game in which he was sent off, Dom Young (WFB, $556k) has just one score under 40 all season.
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Rabbitohs v Cowboys, Saturday at Suncorp Stadium
Rabbitohs: Alex Johnston returns from injury in the backline, but Jack Wighton remains at centre which means another run looms for $241k HLF Dion Teaupa. MID Davvy Moale has taken on an elevated role since Ben Hornby took over as coach and is exceeding his current price tag of $365k, with consecutive scores in the 40s.
Cowboys: if you haven't done so already, it's time to sell EDG Kulikefu Finefeuiaki after he was replaced in the run-on side by Heilum Luki and scored just 23 last week, leaving him with a break even of 35 which he's highly unlikely to reach off the bench in Round 11. Scott Drinkwater (WFB, $670k) comes off a season-worst 28 and now has a break even of 65, which means he's likely to drop in value after this weekend for those interested in making a move for the North Queensland No.1.
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Warriors v Panthers, Sunday at Suncorp Stadium
Warriors: With Shaun Johnson sidelined by a pectoral injury, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad moves from fullback into the halves to partner Te Maire Martin. That move is unlikely to help his scores at all, with most of CNK's points coming from big run metre stats which simply won't be available at five-eighth. Ali Leiataua (WFB, $300k) comes in at centre and could get a decent run there with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck set to miss several weeks with a hamstring injury, while Taine Tuaupiki, who averaged 40 points across three games earlier in the season, gets another run at fullback.
Panthers: Jack Cole (HLF, $230k) gets a shot at partnering Jarome Luai in the halves with both Nathan Cleary and Brad Schneider out injured. Cole isn’t a cash cow contender at this stage unless Schneider ends up being out long term, in which case he definitely becomes a likely money maker. Scott Sorensen has been included in the wider squad and could make his return from a knee injury, which would signal an end to Luke Garner’s nice run of scoring. Izack Tago returns from suspension in the centres.
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Storm v Eels, Sunday at Suncorp Stadium
Storm: Sua Fa'alogo registered a modest 19 in his first game taking over from the injured Ryan Papenhuyzen at fullback and is likely to continue being a low floor, high ceiling option due to his lack of big running stats. He's very capable of racking up dynamic stats in attack, which will likely happen sooner rather than later, so if you have him just be patient and try to loop him where possible. Eliesa Katoa had 63 last week and is now a keeper at EDG, albeit without the ability to hit regular monster scores like a David Fifita or Angus Crichton.
Eels: No sign of Mitch Moses, who many coaches had hoped would make his return from injury this week and become a possible replacement for Nathan Cleary or Shaun Johnson, but there is a change in the halves with Ethan Sanders punted in favour of Daejarn Asi. Blaize Talagi was excellent in a Fantasy context last week as a fullback, hitting 57 to set himself up to make some money in coming weeks while Clint Gutherson is out injured.
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Wests Tigers v Dolphins, Sunday at Suncorp Stadium
Wests Tigers: Rookie HLF Lachlan Galvin, who sits in 38 percent of all teams, is shaping to be a crucial player this week for plenty of Fantasy coaches given the injury crisis in his position right now. With Isaiah Papali'i and John Bateman out, Alex Seyfarth and Alex Twal come into the run-on side, with one of them likely to have a bigger role for the foreseeable future with Bateman expected to miss a fair chunk with his pectoral injury.
Dolphins: The Trai Fuller experience pauses this week with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow returning from injury and bumping him out of the 17. But if you have Fuller he’s a definite hold, with a break even of 20 and a few more opportunities to start at fullback likely to come his way through the Origin period, with the Dolphins playing in all three of the major bye rounds this year. Euan Aitken has been an excellent pick up for those who got him early, with his 53.4 point average making him the second best CTR eligible player in the game right now.
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