Fantasy by the numbers: Round 24

An untimely injury to this week's overwhelming captaincy favourite Nathan Cleary stopped many from reaching a big score in Round 24, but there was plenty to like from a handful of other Fantasy favourites. 

A look back at the week that was in NRL Fantasy, through the key numbers. 

NRL Fantasy by the numbers: Round 24

MIDs run riot

It was a round in which MIDs dominated in scoring, a fact which is reflected in six of them making the Fantasy team of the week. 

While it was a WFB and a HLF who had the two top scores, MIDs accounted for the next four best and all up players from that positional group occupied seven of the top 20 spots on the scoring chart for Round 24.

Lindsay Smith (0.82 percent ownership) and Oregon Kaufusi (2 percent ownership) were the surprise packages, while big guns Issah Yeo, Cameron Murray, Keaon Koloamatangi and Addin Fonua-Blake starred as well. 

Right team, wrong co-captain

The Penrith co-captain was the right choice as captain in Round 24, but unfortunately for 35.9 percent of Fantasy coaches they got the wrong one.

An injury meant Nathan Cleary managed just over an hour on the field and scored only 96 as captain, while his teammate Isaah Yeo instead ran up a score which would have totaled 164 if he was your skipper. 

Yeo was the top vice captain selection in Round 24, with 8.2 percent of his owners having him as second in line on their list, while just 4.1 percent had him as captain.

With Cleary now gone for the rest of the regular season, plenty will be reaching for Yeo as the next man up, especially given his scores have historically taken a jump when he’s stepped in and done more ball playing in the absence of his superstar No.7.

Ill Iro a huge blow

A majority of Fantasy coaches felt the full impact of Kayal Iro’s absence through injury last week, with the Cronulla CTR being the second most owned player in the game.

It was made worse by the fact that plenty of coaches either weren’t carrying a third CTR in their squad – or were but had Kotoni Staggs or Jesse Arthars out on a bye – leaving them a player short for the round.

While Iro is expected to return to action this Sunday, it’s not an easy round to field two CTRs again due to Valentine Holmes, who had 75 points in Round 24, being out on a bye.

Round 24 Fantasy Team of the Week

1. James Tedesco (WFB) – 69 points
2. Dominic Young (WFB) – 86 points
3. Valentine Holmes (CTR) – 75 points
4. Jacob Kiraz (WFB, CTR) – 73 points
5. Scott Drinkwater (WFB) – 61 points
6. Jake Clifford (HLF) – 84 points
7. Matt Burton (HLF) – 71 points
8. Isaah Yeo (MID) – 82 points
9. Damien Cook (HOK) – 69 points
10. Cameron McInnes (MID) – 78 points
11. Keaon Koloamatangi (EDG, MID) – 73 points
12. Hudson Young (EDG) – 70 points
13. Cameron Murray (MID) – 83 points
14. Lindsay Smith (MID) – 77 points
15. Oregon Kaufusi (MID) – 71 points 
16. Ben Hunt (HLF) – 70 points
17. Addin Fonua-Blake (MID) – 68 points