A couple of big gun forwards make their injury return in Round 25, but a popular WFB could be kept on ice in what will be a major blow for owners.
Here's everything you need to know about the NRL Fantasy implications from the Round 25 NRL Telstra Premiership team lists.
NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 25
Rabbitohs v Dragons, Thursday at Accor Stadium
Rabbitohs: Tallis Duncan (MID/EDG, $588k) hit 69 points last week thanks in part to a double, but a move back to a starting centre role this week means he is a risky option to have in your scoring 17. The return of Keaon Koloamatangi is a nice surprise after initial fears were circulated that his season may have been over when he suffered an ankle injury recently, but with a Rabbitohs bye still to come, he's a stay away despite his Fantasy pedigree. Early-season cheapie Lachan Hubner is back and starts at lock.
Dragons: Last week's horror run with head knocks means Fantasy-relevant forwards Hamish Stewart and Jack de Belin are both sidelined, along with Hame Sele. A 56 for Lyhkan King-Togia last week makes him a strong loop prospect for Round 25, especially given they open the round on Thursday night.
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Panthers v Raiders, Friday at Glen Willow Oval
Panthers: Isaah Yeo returns to action after two games out with a shoulder injury. It's a huge relief to those who have held onto him, but a week too late for many who made the tough call to jump off the $697k MID ahead of Round 24. A last up 78 for Nathan Cleary should be enough to ensure he's the most captained player this week, with the Penrith supremo having not dipped under 60 points since way back in Round 8.
Raiders: The Raiders return to action after a bye last week with all of their Fantasy big guns available. CTR Matthew Timoko is in fine touch, boasting a 58.7 last three game average. While he relies on tries to hit those levels, he's a decent POD option who is only owned by 3.3 percent of teams. Popular Canberra MID Joseph Tapine's Fantasy form has dipped a bit of late to sit at a L3 average of 48, which leaves him outside the top 15 in terms of form players in his position.
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Storm v Bulldogs, Friday at AAMI Park
Storm: Ryan Papenhuyzen has been included in the wider reserves as he eyes a return from concussion, with Cameron Munster the No.1 for the time being. Given they got the job done last week, and Papenhuyzen's injury history, you'd think Craig Bellamy would lean on the side of caution and not play him this week, but you never know. Those hoping for a classic Cameron Munster fullback game last week were left underwhelmed by a 35. Helped along by his stunning game-winning try, Harry Grant topped the HOK position with 71 in Round 24. Joe Chan (EDG/CTR, $330k) moves to the back row to replace Shawn Blore and becomes a decent CTR option in Draft leagues.
Bulldogs: Last week was a tough one for the Bulldogs on the Fantasy front, with nobody managing over 48 points. The biggest disappointment was Jacob Kiraz, who sits in almost 22 percent of teams, who finished with only 31 to his name. Jacob Preston's Fantasy form has dropped off a bit, with his L3 average now down at 53, but he remains a player you want in your 17, with a big game likely not far away.
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Sea Eagles v Dolphins, Saturday at 4 Pines Park
Sea Eagles: Reuben Garrick, who somehow still sits in 22 percent of teams despite his horrible recent run of form, is now out injured, with Tommy Talau his replacement in the backline. Ben Trbojevic had a decent return last week with a 54, while Tolutau Koula had 59 to leave his last three game average at 50.3.
Dolphins: After an impressive cameo at fullback in which he scored 55 points, Trai Fuller drops back to the bench. Jeremy Marshall-King had 64 for the second time in three weeks, while Kurt Donoghoe got back into the 50s after a disappointing 37 recorded in Round 23. The Dolphins' most-popular player, HLF Isaiya Katoa, has endured a rough few weeks, with his 34 in Round 23 leaving him with a L3 average of 42.7. Katoa currently sits in 23.88 percent of teams.
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Titans v Warriors, Saturday at Cbus Super Stadium
Titans: Sam Verrills continues to present as a nice POD option for the final few games of the season, with less than one percent of teams currently on him and a L3 average of 63.3 to his name. Jayden Campbell tends to score well against the Warriors and could be a Round 25 captaincy option for those looking to zag while the rest of the pack zigs. A 48 for Tino Fa'asuamaleaui marked a decent injury return and owners can expect him to find another level this week against an injury-ravaged Warriors pack.
Warriors: Last week's top scorer, Jackson Ford, is out suspended, which means Demitric Vaimauga starts. The loss of Ford could mean Erin Clark picks up more minutes in the middle of the park. Cheapie CTR option Kurt Capewell ($382k) returns from concussion and starts in the pack. A move back to the bench this week means Leka Halasima is probably best left in your reserves or utilised as a looping option.
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Eels v Roosters, Saturday at CommBank Stadium
Eels: Popular WFB Isaiah Iongi was good in his return from injury, scoring a try on his way to a 58 which marked his best score since Round 12. Joash Papalii remains at five-eighth, but should be left out of scoring 17s if possible this week, with the Roosters being a very tough matchup.
Roosters: Sam Walker remains one of the best point of difference options around for the back end of the season, with less than two percent of coaches owning him right now. James Tedesco has returned to form nicely in recent weeks and is a good player to have while the Roosters are playing like they are, with a heap of opportunities around for him to set up and score tries. Connor Watson's 18 in Round 24 was a horror score for owners, especially given he played 54 minutes, but if you own him then he's a hold this week.
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Knights v Broncos, Sunday at McDonald Jones Stadium
Knights: Phoenix Crossland returns from injury at hooker, which means late-season cheapie Jayden Brailey drops back to the bench. The positional change isn't likely to result in a huge change in scoring for Crossland, who is averaging 39.8 across a season in which he's played both hooker and lock. Kai Pearce-Paul (EDG, $722k) is still owned by less than 10 percent of teams and has a L3 average of 56.3.
Broncos: 24 points from tackle breaks alone helped propel Reece Walsh to a season-best 94 in Round 24, with the $619k WFB also benefitting from picking up the goalkicking duties from the injured Adam Reynolds. Payne Haas scored 83 points for the second-straight week and rewarded those who opted to captain him, while lowly-owned CTR Kotoni Staggs had 62. MID Patrick Carrigan is travelling OK with a 55.6 point average across the season, but he hasn't managed to find that next level he's had in previous seasons and showed glimpses of earlier this year.
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Wests Tigers v Cowboys, Sunday at Leichardt Oval
Wests Tigers: Taylan May was a difference maker across Fantasy last week, with the touch over three percent of teams who own him benefitting hugely from a 70-point effort. Adam Doueihi continues to deliver in a more hands-on role, with a 62 leaving his last three game average at 64.3. Terrell May was below his best in Round 24, and while his 59 points were hardly a disaster, it meant coaches dropped 40 points on rivals who had Nathan Cleary or Payne Haas as skipper instead.
Cowboys: The Scott Drinkwater experience wouldn't be complete without a round-topping 102-point effort. He got that last week, providing a reward to the 17 percent who own him and have endured a hugely inconsistent season from the $613k WFB. What he does this week is anyone's guess and it's probably fair to say that those who own him and are opposing him in Round 25 will be feeling equal amounts of nerves. Braidon Burns continues to be a good Fantasy option who comes with both CTR and WFB eligibility, but it hasn't translated to ownership, which for him sits at 0.7 percent this week.
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