After a few big injuries and some monster scores, there are a lot of questions on the minds of NRL Fantasy coaches heading into Round 2. Here are my answers to the big ones.
This has to be one of the biggest questions of the week for fantasy Q&A – hold Jesse Bromwich to save a trade since long term he is a keeper so doesn't matter what his price / BE does? Or sell and make some money on fact he'll drop in price and pick him up when price has bottomed out?
From Rachael-Robert Jane
Generally speaking, a two-week injury is a hold in Fantasy. So the short answer is he's probably a hold – especially if you have other players you want to trade out of your squad this week. The only reason I'd be considering selling is if there are value buys in the forwards you want to snap up now before their prices rise – someone like Jarrod Wallace, Felise Kaufusi, Suaia Matagi, etc.
Bromwich averaged 50.9 points a week last season which makes him a Fantasy keeper (although only just) so if you want him in your final team there's no point trading him out now and trading him in later. And as you say, if you rate him as a keeper then his price and break even doesn't matter. But he's not an elite gun in the Andrew Fifita/Ryan James bracket so if the rest of your squad is rock solid I can see an argument in using a trade now to bring in a cash cow, who could help you get a better scorer than Bromwich down the road.
Hey mate I'll join the long line of people asking should I trade Jesse Bromwich or hold. If I trade I like Josh Papalii... smart?
From Micheal Nickolls
I'm not convinced about Papalii yet. Yes he scored big on the weekend but he only averaged 44 last season (Bromwich averaged 50) and I tend to put more stock in a season's worth of scores than one week. If you're trading Bromwich I'd prefer one of the top-level guns (who cost a lot) or a cash cow who will also score well.
Hi LS, I'm the guy who traded out Tedesco because it was pouring in Sydney. As a backup plan I kept enough money to bring him in – do you think Cody Walker to Tedesco is a justifiable trade? I know Walker got 50 which is pretty good for a fullback.
From Röhit Đwiveđi
Hard to say. Tedesco will be the best WFB this year like he was in 2016 – but we all knew that before the season started. It's all about whether you splash out on him now or later. The Tigers have a tough few games coming up in the next few weeks against the Panthers, Raiders and Storm so there's no guarantee he'll score big in those games. But then again he's an elite Fantasy scorer, so who knows.
The smart move is probably to consider whether you think Walker is a keeper – if it's a yes, then keep him and upgrade a cash cow to Tedesco later. Keeping him saves you a trade, rather than switching one gun for another now then spending another trade bringing in another gun later on. If anything, Walker will only become a more important attacking player for the Rabbitohs now that Greg Inglis is out for the long haul, so his Fantasy scorers should stay around that 50-point mark.
Hi LS, I read somewhere that James Tamou was going to be a 50 scorer this year at Penrith. His 32 points in 46 minutes was pretty underwhelming. Do you think it was his lack of fitness in the first round or insufficient minutes played? Do you think he'll come good or is not really in the elite class?
From Tim Hendrie
Tamou was always a bit of a risk as he was a mid-40s scorer at the Cowboys so there's no guarantee that will improve at the Panthers. On the other hand, the Panthers all scored poorly in their Round 1 drubbing at the hands of the Dragons so there's still every chance Tamou improves against Wests Tigers this week.
Was Yates 48 minutes and 33 points in part to Barnett's head knock (replaced him) and if so will Barnett normally play 80 which could also knock Yates's minutes down? Buhrer played 80, Sione played 80... the front 3 got breaks that means what in their rotation?
From Jason Kelly
I expect Yates's minutes to drop a little, but I'm not convinced Barnett will play 80 minutes each week. Not many locks – with the exception of Simon Mannering – play 80 minutes in the middle these days. Doesn't mean Barnett won't be a gun anyway though.
Hey LS, what's your opinion on Daniel Saifiti? I know its only Round 1 but he only managed 19 points off 40 minute, would you: a) keep him and hope makes some good cash; b) trade him for someone cheaper playing more minutes; or c) straight upgrade to Jack de Belin?
From Nathan Sheaff
Yeah I'd probably go for option B, with several decent buys around the $200,000-mark in the forwards who will make some fast cash at the start of the season.
Can't believe this is relevant but is Clint Gutherson a potential gun this year? He rounded out the end of last season in decent form and looked superb on the weekend.
From Troy James
Yep, as I wrote in my Eels Fantasy guide http://www.nrl.com/eels-2017-nrl-fantasy-guide/tabid/10874/newsid/103035/default.aspx Gutherson averaged 43 points a week when playing in the halves last season and he's shown he is capable of improving on that this season. He's a quality buy, especially as a dual position player.
Who is the best non-Cam Smith hooking option? I have Lichaa but he scored terribly in Round 1.
From Peter Savage
Cameron McInnes, who played the full 80 minutes last week despite the presence of Jai Field on the bench.
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