With all eyes on who backs up from Origin I this week, it's a mixed bag with some clubs opting to take a conservative approach and one particularly Fantasy-relevant player already confirmed to be rested.
Some elite-potential MIDs return to the Warriors, while a bargain WFB looks set to miss out at the Titans as he works his way back from injury.
NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 14
Dragons v Wests Tigers, Friday at WIN Stadium
Dragons: Ben Hunt, Zac Lomax and Jaydn Su'A are all included in the wider reserves right now and may not be risked on a 48-hour turnaround from the Origin I. Jack de Belin has hit scores over 50 in his last three games and is available at $724k this week.
Wests Tigers: Given their current injury woes in the second row, both Samuela Fainu and Alex Seyfarth have value attached to them and are named to start this week. Lachlan Galvin has gone from being a cash cow to an out and out keeper at HLF, with his last three game average of 60.3 making him the sixth-best player in his position on recent form.
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Titans v Rabbitohs, Saturday at Cbus Super Stadium
Titans: Jayden Campbell is back from injury but at this stage looks set to have to work his way back through the lower grades after being listed in the reserves, with Keano Kini (WFB, 378k) keeping the fullback role on the back of his starring performance in Round 12 that saw him score 80 in Fantasy. If David Fifita isn't going to play for the Maroons this year then he's a great pickup now who plays in both of the remaining big bye rounds. Tanah Boyd, who is a handy player this year due to his designation as both a HLF and HOK, is listed among the reserves as he works his way back from injury.
Rabbitohs: Latrell Mitchell hasn't scored under 50 since he returned from suspension in Round 10 and his current last three game average of 63 means he's underpriced at $719k. The return of Cody Walker bumps rookie HLF Dion Teaupa back out of the 17. Damien Cook is still available at under $700k this week if you think he can be an elite HOK for the second half of the season.
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Cowboys v Warriors, Saturday at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Cowboys: All six of their Origin representatives have been named in the wider reserves for the time being, so keeping an eye on NRL Late Mail closer to kick-off will be important for those who own impacted players. Coaches who jumped on Tom Mikaele (MID, $346k) last week got unlucky when he only played 16 minutes (still scoring 15 points mind you), but he's worth keeping after being named to start again and with more opportunities likely to come in the next couple of weeks. Tom Chester is set to make his injury return from the bench.
Warriors: Still no sign of Shaun Johnson (pectoral), which is good news for Te Maire Martin (HLF, $490k) who is averaging 60 without SJ beside him. Addin Fonua-Blake and Tohu Harris return and are elite-range MIDs who play in Round 16 as well. $774k EDG Jackson Ford is named at prop this week, after spending a fair bit of time in the middle in Round 12, but it remains to be seen what impact that could have on his scores.
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Broncos v Sharks, Saturday at Suncorp Stadium
Broncos: All of the Origin reps are named to back up, while Kotoni Staggs (CTR, $474k) returns from injury in the centres too. While they are set to play, there is a good chance Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan could see reduced minutes, so they are probably ones to avoid in terms of captaincy.
Sharks: As he continues to work through an ongoing calf concern, Nicho Hynes won't be risked by the Sharks and hasn't been named in their 22-man squad. That means another start for Braydon Trindall and Daniel Atkinson in the halves this week. Cameron McInnes is named to back up though and at this stage will start.
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Storm v Knights, Sunday at AAMI Park
Storm: Harry Grant is named to back up from Maroons duty but will be a good chance of seeing reduced minutes, with Bronson Garlick included on the bench this week as likely cover at hooker. At $423k Tyran Wishart remains a handy pickup who has DPP status as both a WFB and HLF.
Knights: David Armstrong (WFB, $489k) had his equal-lowest score of the season with a 26 last week but remains well placed to keep making money. After fears he might be set for a drop off and to lose his starting role long-term, EDG Kai Pearce-Paul is again in the run-on side and comes off scores of 50 and 54.
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Panthers v Sea Eagles, Sunday at BlueBet Stadium
Panthers: Dylan Edwards, Fantasy's top WFB with a season average of 63.3, has been included in the wider reserves after withdrawing from Origin I with a quad injury and it's likely Penrith will opt to take a cautious approach given how important he is. The rest of the Origin contingent are named, with Jarome Luai set to team up with Jack Cole, not Brad Schneider, in the halves this week. Paul Alamoti (CTR, $510k) is in good form and looks to have that centre spot nailed down now.
Sea Eagles: With Tom Trbojevic still another month away, it looks like there could be some money-making potential in Lehi Hopoate, who appears to have nailed down the fullback spot for the time being. Hopoate (WFB, $246k) had 32 on debut and has a break even of seven this week. Daly Cherry-Evans, Jake Trbojevic and Haumole Olakau'atu are all named to back up from Origin I.
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Bulldogs v Eels, Monday at Accor Stadium
Bulldogs: Toby Sexton (HLF, $476k) is the new halfback in town, having now overtaken Drew Hutchison in the No.7 pecking order. If you've got Jaeman Salmon purely as a money maker then it might be time to move off him this week, with a break even of 33 likely to be hard to reach. Captain Stephen Crichton will be a very good chance of backing up given the five-day turnaround, while playmaker Matt Burton won't be in any doubt unless he's called in from 18th man for the Blues.
Eels: Brendan Hands (HLF/HOK, $273k) shapes as the buy of the week on the back of his 55 last week and he's again the only hooking option in the 17 for Parra. As mentioned above, the five-day turnaround from Origin I should mean J'maine Hopgood backs up if he gets through his Maroons debut unscathed. Bailey Simonsson's season-ending knee injury has brought Blaize Talagi back into Fantasy relevancy, with the $411k CTR named to start at centre, with Sean Russell shifting out to the wing.
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