The early signs are good that some of Fantasy's biggest names will back up from Origin duty, but there's a major blow that comes via an absent Eel.
Run through all of the big team news from a Fantasy point of view ahead of Round 17.
NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 17
Bulldogs v Sharks, Friday at Accor Stadium
Bulldogs: Jeral Skelton (WFB, $379k) gets another run on the wing after hitting 56 in his first game of the year last week. But be careful if you're running him in your team, with the presence of Stephen Crichton in the reserves meaning a late backline reshuffle is possible. Jacob Preston, who shapes as a possible POD for the run home, could be back from a foot injury this week after being named as Canterbury-Bankstown's replacement player.
Sharks: Nicho Hynes returns to action off the bye with a round-high break even of 113, which means that barring something ridiculous he'll be available at a significant discount in coming weeks. Teig Wilton has been included in the wider reserves and could return from injury, which would bump Siosifa Talakai out of the second row.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Warriors v Broncos, Saturday at Go Media Stadium
Warriors: With Shaun Johnson gone for at least a month, Chanel Harris-Tavita, who replaces him this week and should have a safe job until Luke Metcalf returns (still indefinite), shoots up in value. His past performances in an 80-minute role suggest he won't be a keeper, but at $261k he's a good cash down option. When you lose by 60 points like the Warriors did last week most players aren't going to score well, so it's not time to panic on the likes of Addin Fonua-Blake just yet.
Broncos: With all three of their Origin players named among the wider reserves for the time being, Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan are both no-go captaincy options unless something changes between now and lockout. For the time being it means a start for Brisbane's most popular Fantasy player, Xavier Willison (MID/EDG, $417k).
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Knights v Eels, Saturday at McDonald Jones Stadium
Knights: Will Pryce (HLF/WFB, $400k) gets his first go at NRL level and looks to have earned the spot through form, with Jack Cogger listed in the reserves this week. But at that price point (excuse the pun) there probably isn't much sense in bringing the Englishman in unless he sets the world on fire against Parra. Kai Pearce-Paul is back from injury but is named to return via the bench which is bad news for the 18,000 who own him. Fletcher Sharpe will jump in price again after Round 16 thanks to a break even of -14.
Eels: A major blow for 20 percent of all teams, with popular EDG/MID player J'maine Hopgood not named in the 22-man squad as he continues to work through a back injury. Mitch Moses is named to back up from Origin duty, while Brendan Hands (HOK, $366k) once again starts at hooker but could lose minutes to rookie Matt Arthur who is set to make his NRL debut from the bench. Blaize Talagi will need a decent game in order to achieve another price rise, with the rookie having a Round 17 break even of 31.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Storm v Raiders, Saturday at AAMI Park
Storm: Harry Grant is named to start on the back of Origin II and given that game will also be played in Melbourne, he's a good chance of playing club footy this week if he emerges unscathed. With a 74 last week Jahrome Hughes jumped into the top five for form players right now, with a last three game average of 69.3 Ryan Papenhuyzen was excellent in his return from injury last week but had very modest numbers Fantasy-wise. Had it not been for his try and a try save the $554k WFB would have finished on just 20 points, so until his base numbers come back up there's no rush to move on him.
Raiders: Even in a well beaten side last week Kaeo Weekes performed well in Fantasy, with a 48 that gives him a chance at another price rise in Round 17 (break even of 42). Given the number of red dots there'll likely end up being this week, he's a definite hold who covers both HLF and WFB for you. Joseph Tapine was massive last week with 74 and he has POD potential as a MID, with under seven percent of teams owning him right now.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Dragons v Dolphins, Sunday at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Dragons: Zac Lomax remains a very handy Fantasy player this year and has the fifth-best L3 score of any WFB right now. Ben Hunt, who had 69 points backing up from Origin I, and Jaydn Su'A are both named to play after their involvement with Queensland on Wednesday night.
Dolphins: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is the main player of concern here for Fantasy coaches and has been named to back up for the time being, with Trai Fuller in the reserves. Jamayne Isaako hit his fourth score of 60 or above last weekend, but he's just too inconsistent to be a frontline WFB option right now, especially when he costs $549k.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Panthers v Cowboys, Sunday at BlueBet Stadium
Panthers: Rookie HLF Jack Cole gets another run and with it a chance to smash that break even of -6 and make some more cash, while all of Penrith's Origin reps are named to start for the time being. Jarome Luai has been brilliant in Fantasy lately and has a L3 average of 73.7 which ranks first among HLFs on form.
Cowboys: All of the Origin reps bar Jeremiah Nanai have been included in the wider reserves for the time being, so anyone who owns those impacted players will need to keep a close eye on NRL.com Late Mail closer to kick-off on Sunday. There isn't a whole lot of other Fantasy relevant players in North Queensland's line-up right now, with WFB Scott Drinkwater the best of their non-Origin reps.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Roosters v Wests Tigers, Sunday at Allianz Stadium
Roosters: Terrell May was everything you'd want from a Fantasy MID last week, playing the full 80 minutes and averaging over a point per minute on his way to 84. While he probably won't do the full game this time around, he's named to start again and could be in for another score above 50. Angus Crichton is set to start along with fellow Blues rep Connor Watson, but owners would be wise to keep a close eye on NRL.com Late Mail to check they actually take the field. Now that he's not in the Origin arena, James Tedesco (WFB, $729k) looks a nice pick up for the run home.
Wests Tigers: John Bateman, who had been scoring very well prior to his injury back in Round 10, has been included in the reserves and could come back into the side. $547k EDG/MID Samuela Fainu continues to be an unsung hero in Fantasy, with his Round 16 score of 58 taking him to $203k in total price rises, with more to come this week thanks to a break even of 24. After hitting 63 in his return to the NRL side last week, Adam Doueihi keeps his spot in the centres with Justin Olam listed among the reserves.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com