NRL Fantasy Q&A: Round 2

The Round 1 NRL Fantasy scores tossed up plenty of questions for coaches, with new cash cows emerging and a couple of potential trade outs popping up.

• NRL Late Mail: Round 2
• NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 2

This week we dive into the Jamie Humphreys job security debate, give a verdict on Luke Metcalf and discuss the players worth using trades on this week.

Don't forget to join the conversation and follow along on the NRL Fantasy Facebook page and Instagram.

NRL Fantasy Q&A: Round 2

Who are the players worth burning an early trade or two on this week?

It will depend on your situation and the job you did putting together your initial roster, but in theory anyone you see as a significantly underpriced keeper or a cash cow who still has at least $100k to make is a worthwhile trade. 

Players who fit into that first category for me include Tom Gilbert, who right now looks like scoring at a rate otherwise reserved for players at least $150k more expensive than him.

Gilbert, who is $529k and eligible as both an EDG and MID, had 65 points in 56 minutes in Round 1, with 59 of those coming from tackles alone.

At WFB Ryan Papenhuyzen ($562k) looks far too cheap given he's likely to rack up dynamic stats with regularity in that Melbourne side, provided he can stay healthy.

In terms of cash cows worth burning a trade on, Sandon Smith is about the only one who has total job security right now, and while he needed a late try to climb into the 40s last week, with a break even of 2 the path has been set for him to make some coin in coming weeks.

Others possibly worth burning a trade on include Robert Toia, whose -12 break even is the lowest around, and Jamie Humphreys who had 75 in Round 1 and looks like being a Fantasy darling with his ability to stack up base stats from kick metres. However, both of them have legitimate positional rivals sitting in the extended reserves for their respective teams this week, so proceed with caution. 

Time to move on from Metcalf already?

Almost a quarter of all teams invested in Luke Metcalf to start the season, believing the Warriors playmaker could either produce keeper scores or be a money maker.

A 24 in Round 1 suggests both of those outcomes are unlikely now, and with a break even of 38 there's very good chance he actually loses value at the conclusion of the Sea Eagles game on Friday night. 

That being said, he failed to register a single dynamic attacking metric in Las Vegas and lost 16 points to demerits (-4 from a couple of errors and -12 from six missed tackles). That combination shouldn't happen most weeks, but even if they don't, he's not tracking to be a keeper or money maker of significance.

If there's a trade that works for you this week, pull the trigger and get rid of him. 

Why doesn't Brimson have DPP status as a HLF?

A quirk of the game means that Brimson missed out on gaining dual-position player status in Round 1, when a stack of others did, because the Titans had a bye.

Had they played last week with him named in the halves then he would have gained designation as a HLF, but for now he remains just a WFB.

The good news is, if he keeps being named and playing there then he should get DPP status when the next lot of updates drop in Round 6.

Is Humphreys safe now Dodd is back and in the reserves?

When it comes to trying predict what Wayne Bennett is thinking, your guess is as good as mine.

After serving a suspension in Round 1, Dodd is back in the Rabbitohs' 22-man squad, which you'd expect to be the case for a side currently without Jack Wighton and any other recognised halves cover – not to mention the fact that they signed Dodd from the UK for a reason, and it wasn't to be dedicated reserve-grade player.

If I had to make a call on the No.7 jersey this week, I'd say Humphreys is safe. South Sydney won last week, Humphreys played pretty well and Dodd is yet to play a competition game since arriving Down Under.

But if you own Humphreys, and especially if you are buying him this week, you should be watching NRL.com Late Mail closely and thinking about a Plan B.

Cleary, Haas or AFB as captain this week?

Out of that trio, Nathan Cleary has easily the best path to a mega score in Round 2.

He's playing a Roosters team that leaked points like they were going out of fashion in Round 1, with the opposing halfback that day – Adam Reynolds – hitting 65 points.

Cleary has a much bigger scope for Fantasy points than Reynolds does and a halves partner who will command less ball than Ben Hunt did last week, so the outlook is great for the Penrith gun.

No player in the game is projected to score more than Cleary's 69 forecasted points in Round 2.

If you don't have Cleary, then Addin Fonua-Blake would be next pick. Fresh off a first-up 68, it's not difficult to see him beating up on a Cowboys side who got battered last week. He's also a decent pick to grab another try too.