The best player in Fantasy is missing in action to start the year, but there is plenty of good news when it comes to potential cash cows who have been figures of interest this pre-season.
With all 16 teams now named for Round 1 (and remember, the Dragons have a bye first up), it's time for Fantasy owners to get busy in what shapes as the most important week of the year for those playing for overall points or with head-to-head leagues kicking off on Thursday.
NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 1
Eels v Storm, Thursday at CommBank Stadium
Eels: Good news for the nearly 33 percent of teams who already own J'maine Hopgood, with the $453 EDG named to start at lock after an impressive pre-season campaign which saw him rack up big scores for the Indigenous All Stars and Eels. If you're looking for cheapies at EDG then the Eels are your team, with Bryce Cartwright and Matt Doorey, who are both $250k, named to start in the second row.
Storm: Will Warbrick is named to start on the wing and shapes as a handy cash cow who should have a spot for at least the first month and a half of the competition. Eliesa Katoa ($448k) hit a 46 in Melbourne's second Pre-season Challenge clash and will start in the second row.
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Warriors v Knights, Friday at Sky Stadium
Warriors: The big Fantasy news here is Jackson Ford being named to start in the second row ahead of Josh Curran. At $340k and coming off Pre-season Challenge scores of 46 and 40, Ford shapes as someone who at the very least you can make some cash off. Five-eighth Te Maire Martin ($313k) is the club's most popular player, currently selected in 20 percent of all Fantasy teams.
Knights: New signing Lachlan Miller starts at fullback and shapes as popular WFB at $426k., while former No.1 Kalyn Ponga is in the halves but awkwardly priced at $532k, given it's unclear how his scores might change with the move. MID Adam Elliott, who had a purple patch in Fantasy last year that included hitting a score of 71, is named on the bench.
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Panthers v Broncos, Friday at BlueBet Stadium
Panthers: The big names are all set to start Round 1, but it's a couple of the newer faces that have Fantasy interest here. Expect plenty of moves to be made for Fijian flyer Sunia Turuva ($448k), who gets first shot at the vacant right wing spot. There's cash cow potential in Soni Luke too, who is available at $250k and appears to have beaten Tyrone Peachey to the role of back-up hooker to Mitch Kenny.
Broncos: No Reece Walsh (facial fracture) means Selwyn Cobbo $623k gets a run at fullback, and given he's listed as a CTR/WFB he might be a popular option. Patrick Carrigan is owned by almost 27 percent of Fantasy teams already and comes off a 2022 season in which he averaged 50.1 points.
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Sea Eagles v Bulldogs, Saturday at 4 Pines Park
Sea Eagles: Tom Trbojevic is back, and if you think he can rediscover his best Fantasy form in 2023 he's well priced at $638k. With popular EDG/HLF option Josh Schuster sidelined, Cooper Johns ($372k) teams up with Daly Cherry-Evans in the halves. It's good news that Kaeo Weekes (HLF/WFB, $250k) has impressed enough to earn a bench spot, but from a Fantasy perspective it doesn't make him an attractive buy for now.
Bulldogs: A couple of cheapies to consider in this side, starting with Hayze Perham who has earned first crack at fullback and is available at $298k with a break even of 21. Rookie Paul Alamoti is basement price and a good chance of nailing down a centre spot long term after being named there for Round 1. Matt Burton ($718k) shapes as a popular choice in the halves, currently in 15 percent of teams.
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Cowboys v Raiders, Saturday at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Cowboys: No surprises here, with Todd Payten naming all of his Fantasy big guns. Jeremiah Nanai is the club's most selected Fantasy player right now, having been picked up by 15.3 percent of owners.
Raiders: Sebastian Kris ($523k) has won the battle for the vacant fullback spot, and is an intriguing option given he is listed as a CTR in Fantasy. At $319k Danny Levi is a cut-price starting hooker, while there's likely some value in Corey Harawira-Naera, who is $517k and has the starting lock role. There was plenty of talk about Harley Smith-Shields this pre-season, and he has earned a start at centre with a bargain price tag of $250k.
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Sharks v Rabbitohs, Saturday at PointsBet Stadium
Sharks: The best player in Fantasy last year, Nicho Hynes, is out with a calf injury and replaced by Braydon Trindall ($250k) at halfback. Teig Wilton ($536k), who was an excellent Fantasy player when he started last year, is named in the back row, with veteran Wade Graham occupying a bench spot.
Rabbitohs: WFB Izaac Thompson, who averaged 40.5 Fantasy points across two appearances last year, is named on the wing, although it's worthy noting that his job isn't super secure, with Taane Milne's suspension over after Round 1. Damien Cook (HOK, $945k) Cam Murray (MID, $904k) shape as being two of the top Fantasy players once again in 2023.
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Dolphins v Roosters, Sunday at Suncorp Stadium
Dolphins: Huge news with rookie Isaiya Katoa winning the race for the No.6 jersey ahead of Anthony Milford, making him one of the top potential cash cows to start the year. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow ($372k) shapes as an underpriced WFB and will start at fullback for Wayne Bennett, while Euan Aitken is a stay away after being named in the centres rather than the back row.
Roosters: Joey Manu (facial fracture) won't play, which opens up a chance for Corey Allan ($362k) in the centres. Egan Butcher gets the nod to assume the vacant second row spot and is priced at $561k. A couple of cheapies have been named on the bench, with Naufahu Whyte and Terrell May both priced under $300k.
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Wests Tigers v Titans, Sunday at Leichhardt Oval
Wests Tigers: No John Bateman, with the back-rower left out due to only arriving in Australia last week from the UK. Cheapie Shawn Blore ($250k) gets a start in the second row, while there'll be interest in Asu Kepaoa's inclusion on the interchange, with the former winger set for life as a born-again second-rower. Charlie Staines ($372k) takes over from the injured Ken Maumalo on the wing.
Titans: Possible cash cow Alofiana Khan-Pereira, who is available at basement price, is named to start on the wing after a pair of brilliant Pre-season Challenge games for the Titans, while Tanah Boyd ($479k), who is listed as a HLF/HOK in Fantasy, will partner Kieran Foran in the halves. Erin Clark who is listed as a HOK, looks set to play a middle forward role, albeit off the interchange.
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