A change of positions for a popular CTR makes things interesting this week, while it's time to farewell a Fantasy favourite who is set for a lengthy stint in the recovery ward.
Here's all the NRL Fantasy news you need to know following the release of the team lists for Round 11 of the NRL Telstra Premiership.
NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 11
Knights v Eels, Friday at McDonald Jones Stadium
Knights: Popular WFB Greg Marzhew is missing due to a knee injury, so Fletcher Hunt gets a debut on the wing in his place. It's still not clear how long Marzhew will miss, but he could be a sell for those who don't have more urgent needs this week. Dylan Lucas has returned well from injury and looks like being a 60-point player most weeks. With a break even of 43 he's set to jump in price again after this week. The mini resurgence from Kalyn Ponga proved short lived, with the WFB managing just 22 in Round 10.
Eels: HOK Ryley Smith now has back-to-back scores above 50 to his name and is available for $435k this week, with no clear sign of competition for minutes on the bench. A couple of try assists for Isaiah Iongi helped him to a 53, which sets him up with a break even of 21 for Round 11. High-performing CTR/WFB Zac Lomax returns from injury on the wing. Kitione Kautoga came through with a 55 following two below-par weeks, and while he's not a set and forget CTR option, he's a player worth keeping as a loop option given Parra play first this round.
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Bulldogs v Roosters, Friday at Accor Stadium
Bulldogs: Jacob Kiraz is still climbing in value after scoring a try on his way to 57 last week. The decision on whether to move for him now though will depend on whether or not you think he plays in Origin I. Those who have Jaeman Salmon can move off him following confirmation he will miss up to 10 weeks due to a fractured ankle suffered in Round 10.
Roosters: James Tedesco is still in just six percent of teams and shaping as a point of difference WFB for over the Origin period. A number of coaches moved off Robert Toia last week while the Roosters were on a bye, but there's still quite a bit of money to be made on the $502k CTR thanks to a break even of three this week. Sandon Smith is good to go after picking up an early head knock back in Round 9 which resulted in a score of -2.
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Dolphins v Warriors, Saturday at Suncorp Stadium
Dolphins: Those set to lose CTR-eligible players over the Origin period will be scraping together enough money to try and get Herbie Farnworth, with the English centre in brilliant form and coming off a last-up 70 in Fantasy. Speaking of in-form players, Isaiya Katoa is travelling very nicely with a last three game average of 61. At $708k he's a good option who is unlikely to play Origin. With Jeremy Marshall-King still out of action, Kurt Donoghoe and Harrison Graham will share the duties at dummy-half.
Warriors: James Fisher-Harris is named to return from injury in the middle of the park. While it remains to be seen if it changes the minutes Erin Clark gets, owners of the high-performing DPP have no need to panic right now. Leka Halasima retains a starting role in the second row after scoring 40 last week, while DPP forward Mitchell Barnett is really starting to find some form now and would be a bargain buy of interest if not for the looming Origin series which he is set to be part of. Luke Metcalf is now a keeper-level HLF and if you've had him since Round 1 when he cost just $441k, then you got yourself a heck of a good deal.
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Cowboys v Sea Eagles, Saturday at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Cowboys: A move from the centres to five-eighth could be really good news for Jaxon Purdue's Fantasy prospects, with more touches on the ball and opportunities in attack likely to mean an uptick in points. He could be particularly valuable given he'll retain CTR status and potentially pick up eligibility as a HLF if he stays there long term. Right now he can be yours for $555k. That move comes as Jake Clifford is punted from the side completely to be 18th man. After a strong run of form in recent weeks Scott Drinkwater's 44 was disappointing for owners.
Sea Eagles: There's nothing to love about Manly on the Fantasy front right now, with just one player (captain Daly Cherry-Evans) who is averaging over 50. Like many of the second-tier EDG players this season, Haumole Olakau'atu isn't hitting consistent keeper-level scores and is a tough player to rely on. Jazz Tevaga has been playing increased minutes of late and producing some decent scores, which included a 41 in Round 10.
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Sharks v Storm, Saturday at Sharks Stadium
Sharks: KL Iro is a certified Fantasy gun who can't stop scoring tries on the field (he has scored in every single game he's played this season, including a double in Round 2). Coaches have been steadily moving towards Blayke Brailey in recent weeks, with the $636k HOK emerging as a fairly safe 50-point scorer in a position which has a heap of unpredictability attached to it in Fantasy.
Storm: Melbourne's skill players had a field day against the Wests Tigers and in many cases came up with Fantasy scores to match, led by 100-point man Ryan Papenhuyzen who sits in almost 23 percent of teams. Harry Grant is named in the wider squad and could return from injury, but he's a stay away given his average Fantasy form this year and the fact that Origin is just around the corner. Popular HLF Cameron Munster's 72 in Round 10 will provide him with a nice price hike ahead of some coaches moving off him before the representative period.
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Broncos v Dragons, Sunday at Suncorp Stadium
Broncos: Brendan Piakura (EDG, $339k) is all of a sudden a player of interest after registering 112 points across his last two games. He's named to come off the bench against the Dragons but is a good chance of starting ahead of Xavier Willison (as was the case last week). Ezra Mam comes in for his first game of the season and could be a value pickup at $450k.
Dragons: What a run of form EDG Dylan Egan is on, with $389k in value now gained across seven games. While it's too late to jump on him and get much in the way of value for money, existing owners can look forward to another price rise this week thanks to his break even of 26. Fellow cheapie Hamish Stewart is also travelling well on the back of a Round 10 score of 50. High-performing DPP Toby Couchman is a borderline hold after news came through that his shoulder injury is expected to keep him out until about Round 14.
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Raiders v Titans, Sunday at GIO Stadium
Raiders: Joseph Tapine (MID, $786k) is on fire right now and riding an L3 average of 67.7. With the likes of Payne Haas, Isaah Yeo, and possibly Terrell May, set to miss time over Origin, the Canberra big man is a great investment at the minute. Fellow MID Corey Horsburgh returns to action following a week out with concussion. After an excellent run in which he climbed $229 in value, EDG Matty Nicholson is an immediate sell after being ruled out for around three months with an ankle and lower leg injury. That injury also means Zac Hosking becomes a real player of interest once again, with the EDG available at just $592k this week.
Titans: Jayden Campbell didn't miss a beat in his return from injury last week (63 points) and is a player who can be traded back in immediately if you want him. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui is proving a handy point of difference up front, with a 73 last week lifting his season average to 58.8. WFB Jaylan De Groot is finally starting to make some money and went up $19k this week thanks to a season-high 39 achieved in Round 10.
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Wests Tigers v Rabbitohs, Sunday at Campbelltown Sports Stadium
Wests Tigers: While there was very little to like about the club's on-field performance in Round 10, Terrell May continued his perfect run of >50-point games with a 64 which was far from a disaster for the large chunk of coaches who captained him. Star To'a, who is averaging 45 across the season, returns in the centres in what will be a big boost for the seven percent who own him.
Rabbitohs: There will be some movement on Latrell Mitchell this week on the back of his 87 in Round 10, but it is important potential buyers look at his full season record so far to understand the player they'll be getting. The WFB has position-leading potential on his day, but he also has a score in the 30s in him. Lachlan Hubner looks like he has peaked in value now and he can be moved off either this week or next. Jye Gray had his minutes slashed in Round 10 (leading to a score of three) and looks an immediate sell also.
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