Lone Scout's Fantasy Q&A: Round 21

Several Fantasy favourites are facing long stints on the sidelines, meaning there are lots of big decisions to be made this week.

With finals now underway for Fantasy leagues, Lone Scout is here to offer his advice for the most important part of the season. 

Lone Scout's Fantasy Q&A: Round 21

Is Reuben Cotter a buy? - @isaacdownling_

Unless he is a late inclusion in the starting side, which is a good possibility, then I’d say not this week. Cotter got through 38 minutes for a score of 32 last week, and while his time on the field will likely increase against the Bulldogs this Sunday, it’s a good chance of still being below the big minutes he was getting before his injury. He also has a break even of 68 which he is unlikely to meet, meaning Cotter should be a bit cheaper if you pick him up next week.

Who should I trade in for Nathan Cleary? - @junz183

There are a number of ways you could go with this, so here are the leading options as I see them (assuming you already have Nicho Hynes):

• Storm star Cameron Munster is $777k and has a last three game average of 61.3. The bonus with him this week is that he plays the last-placed Titans, who Melbourne could put a bit of a score on, and with Nick Meaney out he’s a good chance of being the Storm’s goalkicker as well.
• While he has shot up in price since making his return from injury, Jamal Fogarty is still pretty good value at $670k and has averaged 59.3 in his last three games. He has plenty of potential for base stats and usually earns double digit scores from his general play kicking alone, and with points from goalkicking and tackles added to that he should score in the 50s or above most weeks.
• At $639k Sean O’Sullivan is easily the cheapest keeper quality half around right now, and barring injury he should be the No.7 at Penrith for the rest of the regular season and do most of the general play kicking. He does come with a bit more risk than the other two, but I think he’s a solid trade.

Is Dylan Brown worth picking up with Moses out? - @daniel__harrison11

Mitchell Moses has played every game so far in 2022 so it’s hard to know how much of the chief playmaking responsibilities, and in particular general play kicking, will fall to Dylan Brown in his absence. While the ceiling for Brown over the next few games is unknown, we can safely assume he will pick up more points from kicking and will command more of the ball in try-scoring situations, so should have a jump in Fantasy scoring. At $623k he is reasonably cheap and I think there is enough upside there to justify a trade.

Is Jack Bird a sell? - @twin_karan

After scoring 29 last week as an actual on-field centre for the Dragons, Bird is set to lose money this week with a break even of 54. When he is playing in the pack in the NRL he is a good CTR option in Fantasy, but right now he doesn’t justify his $573k price tag, which you could probably put to use elsewhere. Seems like a decent move to me.

Is Ezra Mam a sell? - @tyson_dempsey

Without his somewhat freakish try last week, Ezra would have only scored 18 points, and there is a track record of scores in the 30s there. When you were making money off him you could cop the inconsistency, but his break even is 41 this week and he will likely drop in value, so I’d be selling.  

Should I hold or sell Reuben Garrick? - @cindy.tsomm

If you’ve got the trades to do it, then I’d sell. Garrick isn’t a keeper-quality WFB in Fantasy, and while he is capable of some big scores, he’s equally capable of finishing up in the 30s, as has been the case in the past fortnight. At the same time if you are low on trades, it’s not a disaster if he’s in your 17.

Should I sell David Klemmer? - @jayprice17

The Knights this week left Klemmer out of their team and in last Sunday’s match against the Bulldogs. Your guess is as good as mine as to what that means for his role in the next few weeks, but if you have someone to cover him then I’d hold him this week and see what happens. With a season average of 54.7, he’s a reliable middle forward option.

Who should I captain this week? - @jerichocaffery_

It’s between Nicho Hynes or Damien Cook for me. Both are coming up against sides outside of the top eight who they are expected to beat, so have the potential for points from dynamic stats in attack and are reliable elite scorers.

Who's a good, cheap centre for the run home? - @joel_scarli87

There aren’t many good centre options in Fantasy, and the ones who are good aren’t cheap. You get what you pay for here, but if I had to take a punt on a cheap option who could score well this week, I’d go Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow at the Cowboys. He plays the Bulldogs in round 21 who he could have some attacking luck against and he should have a wing spot for the next two weeks while Kyle Feldt is out. But it’s a short-term fix and he comes with no guarantees.