NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 20 - SJ gone

Roosters: Yet more injury dramas for the Tricolours with centre Billy Smith (foot, season) and winger Matt Ikuvalu (ankle, finals) both sidelined this week. Josh Morris and Adam Keighran are the new centre pairing with Mr Fix-It Joey Manu switching to the wing. Siosiua Taukeiaho is named to replace Fletcher Baker on the bench.

James Tedesco (88), Sitili Tupouniua (87), Manu (73) and Angus Crichton (64) all excelled in Friday's win over Newcastle, and even cheapie Sam Verrills (45) did pretty well in his first 80-minute game at hooker for the year. For Tedesco it was his best score of what has been a slightly underwhelming season by his usual standards, and suggests he could be hitting top form for the run home.

Eels: There's still no sign of Mitchell Moses (back) this week. Tom Opacic returns for Will Penisini in the centres and Bryce Cartwright replaces Marata Niukore (knee) on the bench.

Isaiah Papali'i (66) bounced back from a mediocre score a week earlier to be Parramatta's top scorer last week ahead of Ryan Materson (64) and Reed Mahoney (60). Mahoney actually hasn't played the full 80 minutes since round 10, with Will Smith getting a stint at dummy-half late in games since then.

Wests Tigers: Luke Garner (ankle) and Alex Seyfarth (knee) are out for extended periods, with base-price rookie Shawn Blore getting his chance in the starting pack for the first time. Tom Mikaele is also out, Moses Mbye replaces Junior Pauga at centre, Joe Ofahengaue starts at lock, while Alex Twal, Tom Amone and Michael Chee-Kam join the bench.

Adam Doueihi (72) is thriving in his return to the five-eighth role, averaging 72 points through his past three games. Luke Brooks (64) and Jacob Liddle (63) also scored well in last week's loss to Manly.

Warriors: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has played his final game for the Warriors, receiving an early release to make his switch to rugby union. He's not the only player missing with Addin Fonua-Blake (finger), Matt Lodge (suspended), Jack Murchie (head knock), Chad Townsend and Leeson Ah Mau out.

Peta Hiku and Sean O'Sullivan form a new halves partnership, Taniela Otukolo starts at hooker, Ben Murdoch-Masila and the returning Jamayne Taunoa-Brown are at prop and Kodi Nikorima and Jazz Tevaga are on the bench.

There were tries galore in last week's 60-22 loss to Souths, but while Reece Walsh (32) struggled to make his usual impact Josh Curran (59) still managed to get through 51 tackles.

Broncos: Keenan Palasia replaces Tom Flegler (suspension) at prop, Jake Turpin is named at hooker despite a broken thumb, Danny Levi replaces Cory Paix (ankle) on the bench and TC Robati joins the interchange.

Payne Haas (106) was back to his best with a monstrous 14 tackle breaks against Penrith, Jordan Riki (59) remains in good form and Tyson Gamble (58) now has five straight scores above 50. Dual-position forward Kobe Hetherington (48) is again one of the better cashout options available although his price has climbed to $313k.

Cowboys: Jake Granville remains at fullback in an unchanged starting side, while Ben Hampton replaces Daejarn Asi on the bench.

Jason Taumalolo's brief patch of good form came to a halt against the Storm, despite North Queensland being well in the contest, with just 33 points from 59 minutes.

Dragons: Another week, another reshuffle for the suspension-hit Dragons with several players – including gun Fantasy centre Jack Bird – out of action.

Tyrell Sloan replaces Matt Dufty at fullback, Corey Norman and Talatau Amone replace Gerard Beale and Cody Ramsey (wrist) in the centres, Poasa Faamausili replaces Blake Lawrie at prop, and Billy Burns and Tyrell Fuimaono replace Bird and Josh McGuire in the back row.

Jayden Hunt, Jackson Ford and Kaide Ellis join the bench, with Jack de Belin out and Jamayne Taunoa-Brown recalled by the Warriors.

Ben Hunt (63) and Bird (50) had good numbers in the loss to the Titans while $322k rookie Mathew Feagai (62) had two line breaks and eight tackle breaks and is a cashout option available at centre.

Rabbitohs: Campbell Graham is back in place of Taane Milne while Jai Arrow starts at lock for the suspended Cameron Murray. Blake Taaffe and Liam Knight join the bench with Braidon Burns dropping out.

Damien Cook (101) was one of last weekend's centurions with Jaydn Su'A (84), Keaon Koloamatangi (75), Tom Burgess (69 with two tries), Latrell Mitchell (67) and Murray (61) all scoring highly in the 60-22 win over the Warriors.

Knights: Bradman Best returns to the backline with Enari Tuala switching to the wing and Dominic Young dropping out. David Klemmer returns on the bench in place of Jack Johns while Mitchell Pearce could be a late inclusion from the reserves.

Newcastle capitulated against the injury-hit Roosters last week but still managed to get some quality Fantasy scores through Saifiti brothers Jacob (81) and Daniel (57) as well as usual suspects Connor Watson (69), Jayden Brailey (58) and Tyson Frizell (56).

It was Brailey's best score since round 10 and only his second score above 50 in that time.

Raiders: Jack Wighton returns for Matt Frawley at five-eighth, Elliott Whitehead replaces Ryan Sutton (chest) in the back row and Hudson Young shifts to lock.

Jordan Rapana (102) was a revelation at fullback in last week's win over Parramatta with a try and 15 tackle breaks, and at $550k he's still reasonably priced if you need cover at centre or winger/fullback. Back-rowers Corey Harawira-Naera (71), Joe Tapine (71) and Young (65) all scored well in that game, with Harawira-Naera in particular in red-hot form.

Storm: Cameron Munster returns in place of Cooper Johns while Nicho Hynes holds on to the No.1 jersey with Ryan Papenhuyzen again named on the bench. Papenhuyzen replaced Johns in the second half last week so it remains to be seen whose place he'll take on Saturday night.

Felise Kaufusi and Dale Finucane are also back, with Trent Loiero and Nelson Asofa-Solomona out and Tui Kamikamica benched. Harry Grant is some chance of returning via the reserves.

They only managed a narrow win last week but that didn't stop Jahrome Hughes (76), who notched his highest tackle count of the season against the Cowboys and took on some more playmaking without Munster.

Panthers: Brian To'o (ankle, six weeks), Tyrone May (knee), Isaah Yeo (concussion) and James Fisher-Harris (family reasons) are out and Nathan Cleary still isn't in the 21, with Matt Burton moving into the halves, Brent Naden and Robert Jennings joining the backline, Liam Martin and Matt Eisenhuth into the starting pack and Izack Tago and J'maine Hopgood on to the bench.

Burton (23) didn't get a try against the Broncos and struggled for points but should get a big boost through kick metres this week, while Fisher-Harris (67), To'o (55), Viliame Kikau (53) and Stephen Crichton (51) did well.

Bulldogs: Luke Thompson (88) is facing a three-match ban after notching his best Fantasy score, while in other changes Corey Allan switches to fullback with Nick Meaney on the wing, Kyle Flanagan replaces Lachlan Lewis in the halves, Adam Elliott returns to the pack and Matthew Doorey joins the bench with Joe Stimson and Renouf Atoni dropping out.

Jake Averillo (40) had six missed tackles but saved his score with a try.

Titans: Esan Marsters replaces the suspended Patrick Herbert at centre in the only change to the 17. David Fifita (103) is named to start but is likely to come off the bench as he did to great effect last week, producing his best score of the year with 13 tackle breaks, five offloads and his fourth try in as many games.

It was another bad round for bench utility Tyrone Peachey (24) while AJ Brimson (57), Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (57) and debutant halfback Toby Sexton (72) all scored well.

Sharks: Shaun Johnson (hamstring) is out with Connor Tracey replacing him in the halves, although Matt Moylan could be a late inclusion in jersey 18. Will Chambers returns in the centres, Aiden Tolman starts at prop, Toby Rudolf moves to lock, Jack Williams shifts to the bench and Mawene Hiroti drops out.

Sione Katoa (81), Briton Nikora (72), Toby Rudolf (65) and Siosifa Talakai (64) were Cronulla's best last week.

Sea Eagles: Karl Lawton and Curtis Sironen replace Josh Aloiai (suspended) and Sean Keppie on the bench.

In a week of big scores there were none bigger than Daly Cherry-Evans (119), who now costs a whopping $928k but is nevertheless a tempting option for those who have been saving cash with the idea of buying Nathan Cleary. DCE is averaging 88 across his past five games, with two hundreds in that time.

Tom Trbojevic (83) and Morgan Harper (88) were Manly's other big winners last week.