NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 21 - Cleary a chance

Knights: It's a short four-day turnaround for the Knights but they welcome back Mitchell Pearce at halfback, with Phoenix Crossland dropping out, while Chris Randall replaces Jayden Brailey (head knock) at hooker. Connor Watson is named at lock after coming off the bench last week.

Mitch Barnett (72) and fit-again centre Bradman Best (54) were both excellent in Sunday's win over Canberra but questions remain over the scoring consistency of Watson (22), who was admittedly moved around to cover for Brailey and Kalyn Ponga (59) at times during that match.

Ponga has dropped $200k on his starting price and has already hit 100 once this season so is a great pickup if you're in the market for a new fullback. He'll also captain the Knights this week.

Broncos: Kotoni Staggs (knee) is out for the season and Jake Turpin (ankle) will miss a few weeks, with Jesse Arthars named at centre and Danny Levi at hooker. TC Robati returns on the bench.

Jordan Riki (97) is in great form and was terrific against the Cowboys while Tyson Gamble (71) has turned into a legitimate keeper in the halves this year. Payne Haas (59) remains a captaincy option despite a slightly underwhelming score last week.

Raiders: Corey Harawira-Naera (33) has been benched after being outplayed by Hudson Young (69) last week, with Ryan Sutton returning at lock, while Matthew Timoko replaces Sebastian Kris at centre and Elijah Anderson replaces Sia Soliola on the interchange.

It was another good week for Jordan Rapana (54) who remains a decent point-of-difference option at centre or winger/fullback.

Dragons: Yet more changes for the Red V this week with Ben Hunt (fractured arm) out for a month, Jack Bird back from suspension at fullback, Zac Lomax making a long-awaited return at centre and Mikaele Ravalawa back on the wing.

Blake Lawrie, Josh McGuire and Jack de Belin also return from suspensions, Adam Clune replaces Hunt at halfback, Corey Norman replaces Jayden Sullivan at five-eighth, Tyrell Fuimaono picked up a suspension last round while Gerard Beale (suspended), Josh Kerr (suspended), Tyrell Sloan, Poasa Faamausili and Jackson Ford drop out.

Billy Burns (62) was their best scorer against Souths, with rookie Mat Feagai (17) coming back to earth after a couple of big scores on the wing.

Eels: Mitchell Moses makes his long-awaited return from a back injury at halfback for Jake Arthur, while Reagan Campbell-Gillard (groin) is repaced at prop by Oregon Kaufusi. Bryce Cartwright and Marata Niukore are on the bench with Ray Stone dropping out.

Isiah Papali'i (72) continues to have an an incredible Fantasy season while Clint Gutherson (61) and Junior Paulo (60) both picked up good scores despite Parramatta's disappointing loss to the Roosters.

The Eels have arguably the toughest schedule in the league coming up, which could be bad news for their attacking players' Fantasy scores.

Rabbitohs: Cameron Murray returns at lock, pushing Jai Arrow to the second row and Jaydn Su'A to the bench. Benji Marshall and Tevita Tatola also return on the interchange, with Blake Taaffe, Patrick Mago and Davvy Moale dropping out.

Latrell Mitchell (93) was almost unstoppable against the Dragons with Adam Reynolds (80), Arrow (78), Cody Walker (76), Keaon Koloamatangi (69) and Tom Burgess (50) all getting amongst the points in the big win.

Warriors: Chanel Harris-Tavita returns at five-eighth, with Peta Hiku shifting to centre in place of Adam Pompey. Addin Fonua-Blake and Matt Lodge are also back at prop in place of Jamayne Taunoa-Brown and Ben Murdoch-Masila (foot), Josh Curran is back at lock and Jazz Tevaga starts at hooker for Taniela Otukolo (knee). Eli Katoa drops to the bench with Euan Atiken holding his spot in the second row.

That terrific two-try performance from Atiken (93) against the Tigers gave him the best Fantasy score of his career and he's a POD centre option at less than $500k and ownership of just 0.4% of teams. With 41 tackles and 163 metres, he made 57 points in base stats alone last week.

Reece Walsh (45) was looking like a possible sell until some late updates boosted what was shaping up to be a mediocre score. The Warriors are down on troops these days but the young fullback could still be worth hanging on to with the chance to hit some attacking stats against the Bulldogs, Broncos, Raiders and Titans in the run home.

Sharks: Jesse Ramien returns after being a late scratching due to an ear infection on Monday, so Siosifa Talakai shifts back to the pack with Toby Rudolf out of the side. Aiden Tolman replaces Luke Metcalf on the bench.

It's Braydon Trindall's (87) turn to cash in on what has been a magic Sharks No.7 jersey this season, with the stand-in halfback picking up two tries and a career-high 488 kick metres against the Sea Eagles.

Roosters: Josh Morris (hamstring) could miss the rest of the regular season, with Dale Copley joining the backline. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is facing a possible ban at the judiciary on Tuesday night.

Joey Manu (70) ran for a staggering 331 metres against Parramatta and has now scores tries in each of his past four games, for scores of 63, 75, 73 and 70. Sam Walker (59) and James Tedesco (57) were both strong in that Eels win while Angus Crichton (41) was quiet by his usual standards.

Panthers: There are some big ins for Penrith this week but the really interesting news is the sight of Nathan Cleary in the No.21 jersey. He's still rated an unlikely starter but is some chance of playing.

Elsewhere Api Koroisau and Isaah Yeo return, new signing Tevita Pangai jnr will make his club debut off the bench, and Paul Momirovski and Kurt Capewell replace Stephen Crichton (suspended) and Robert Jennings in the backline with Brent Naden shifting from centre to the wing.

Matt Burton (47) was solid in the halves last week while Scott Sorensen (52) was the only Panther to pass 50 in the loss to Melbourne.

Sea Eagles: Josh Aloiai replaces Curtis Sironen on the bench in Manly's only change after Monday's big win over the Sharks.

Tom Trbojevic (137) has been staggeringly good this season, averaging 78 points a game and scoring a try in every match but one. It is worth noting his two worst scores (31 against Newcastle, 50 including a try against Penrith) have come in the only two losses he's played in this season, so think twice about captaining him against an in-form Storm side.

Storm: Felise Kaufusi is suspended while Jahrome Hughes (calf) and Kenny Bromwich (head knock) have been named at this stage despite injury concerns. Nicho Hynes remains at fullback with Ryan Papenhuyzen on the bench.

Harry Grant (75 in 59 minutes), Jesse Bromwich (62), Hughes (59) and Cameron Munster (55) were Melbourne's best scorers against the Roosters, while Papenhuyzen (38) did well in 46 minutes. Hynes (29) was hampered by an ankle injury but did return to the field and could potentially shift to the halves this week if Hughes is ruled out.

Bulldogs: Jayden Okunbor and Kyle Flanagan are out, replaced by Falakiko Manu and Bailey Biondi-Odo in the starting side, while Ava Seumanufagai starts at prop, Dylan Napa goes to the bench and Sione Katoa replaces Renouf Atoni on the interchange.

Josh Jackson (70) got through a ton of work in Monday's loss to the Titans while Jake Averillo (45) had his best score in five weeks.

Wests Tigers: Daine Laurie (broken leg) is out for the season, with Moses Mbye moving to fullback and Michael Chee Kam to centre. James Tamou and Tom Mikaele return in the forwards, pushing Alex Twal and Joe Ofahengaue to the bench and Tom Amone and Tuki Simpkins out of the side. Zach Cini rejoins the side on the interchange.

Adam Doueihi (79) now has four tries in his past four games, and scores of 65, 79, 72 and 79. Alex Twal (75) and Luciano Leilua (74) both went big in Sunday's loss to the Warriors while $228k cheapie Shawn Blore (53) did well in his first 80-minute game in the back row and looks the best cashout option of the week.

Titans: Tyrone Peachey is suspended this week, with Erin Clark joining the bench, while Patrick Herbert replaces Esan Marsters at centre.

Rookie half Toby Sexton (71) has made a terrific start to his Fantasy career with back-to-back 70s, with coach Justin Holbrook hinting he may even hold that spot with Jamal Fogarty available to return from a finger injury this week.

Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (62) and Brian Kelly (56) both grabbed tries against the Bulldogs while David Fifita (43) was kept fairly quiet with just two tackle breaks off the bench.

Cowboys: Val Holmes is back in the side at fullback with Jake Granville on the bench. Ben Hampton replaces Kane Bradley (broken hand) in the backline while there are some big reshuffles in the pack, with Jason Taumalolo and Heilum Liki forming a new second-row pairing, Coen Hess starting at lock and Tom Gilbert starting at prop.

Taumalolo (47) continues to underwhelm this season so it'll be interesting to see how he performs on an edge, while playmakers Tom Dearden (62) and Scott Drinkwater (50) were North Queensland's best in the loss to Brisbane.