Fantasy Q&A: Round 16

An injury cloud, and possible cause for trade, lingers over one of Fantasy's best forwards, while a heavily favoured captaincy choice for Round 16 has coaches seeking a point of difference. 

• NRL Late Mail: Round 16
• NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 16

From Keaon to Herbie and what to do with Toby, here are the answers to some of your burning NRL Fantasy questions. 

Fantasy Winners & Losers: Round 16

What should I do with Koloamatangi?

I wouldn't be trading him out this week unless you absolutely have to.

Despite initial fears of a long-term injury, the Rabbitohs have confirmed Keaon Koloamatangi doesn't require surgery on his face and have included him in their wider squad for Round 16. Even if he doesn't play, that suggests he's a very good chance of being available for the following week.

The Bunnies play the next three weeks, which includes the last of the big bye rounds, and the $832k MID/EDG is an elite option in both of those positions right now and someone you definitely want in your best 17.

If you feel you can't risk him not playing this week then I like Dylan Lucas as an EDG or Erin Clark as a MID (if you're not one of the 86,000 who already have him). If Jacob Preston wasn't out on a bye, he'd be a great shout too.

Who's the best captain that's not May this week?

I really like Herbie Farnworth as a point of difference against a Knights side that the Dolphins could really punish out wide.

The English CTR has been outstanding all year and was a lone point off hitting triple digits last week. He's playing with confidence and so are the rest of his teammates, which bodes well for a back who already boasts his ability to rack up base stats.

Given I don't like the idea of captaining any Origin players on the back of a mid-week game and travel back from Perth (with the exception of the Dolphins and Knights who play in the Western Australian city this weekend), my next bet would be Jayden Campbell.

He's a decent POD option as captain most weeks anyway, and against a depleted Parramatta side on Sunday it's not hard to see him having some success running the ball.

Campbell had 75 in Round 15 and could easily reach that again if he can get in on the scoring.

Time to move on from Couchman?

If Toby Couchman continues to play on an edge, rather than as a full-time middle, it's likely that his average scores drop down to the low 50s or high 40s from here.

That's lower than what you want from a keeper at MID, but in the less reliable EDG spot he's sitting on the cusp of being a keeper still.

Working in his favour is an excellent bye schedule after Round 16, which sees the Dragons play each of the remaining 11 regular season rounds. That means Couchman will be a very useful player to have over the last major bye round, and while popular players in his positions like Hudson Young (Rounds 19, 24) and Keaon Koloamatangi (Rounds 19, 26) are out on byes. 

Definitely upgrade him if you have the cash reserves and trade numbers to do so, but it's not going to be a disaster if you hold him for the time being.