Fantasy NRL: Smith not such an automatic choice

The retun of Sonny Bill Williams from suspension will bring welcome options in the back row. Photo / Getty Images

Everyone is dispensable - even last year's fantasy hero.

After causing havoc amongst our leaderboards in round four, Melbourne Storm skipper Cameron Smith has been named to play this weekend - but is he still an automatic pick for your squad?

Smith's last-minute withdrawal from the Storm's match against the Bulldogs last weekend has added to existing concerns over whether last year's stand-out fantasy stud is still worth owning.

It was a rare sight in 2013 to see Smith post a fantasy score under 50 points. So far this season the opposite is true, with Smith averaging just 44 points per game. He is down in almost every category year on year while his usually sound kicking skills have taken a severe dive - down to a mediocre 53 per cent.

Add a nagging back injury to the statistical dive and I'm proposing something I never thought I would say this year - drop Cameron Smith from your squads, at least for the time being.

With Corey Parker ($327,000), Robbie Farah ($311,000), Trent Merrin ($212,000), Andrew McCullough ($371,000) and Sam Burgess ($410,000) all averaging more than 50 points per game, with cheaper price tags, Smith is now officially replaceable.

In team news this week, the big addition to the game is Sonny Bill Williams ($352,000) who returns from suspension to add to a healthy array of back-row options in the game.

Fellow Rooster Jared Waerea-Hargreaves will miss this weekend through suspension.

Shaun Fensom has been named to play for the Raiders despite missing much of his side's recent defeat of the Rabbitohs with an elbow injury.

Warriors-loving fantasy owners might find that this is their week to shine. A visit to the Sharks may provide some big scores for offensive-minded players like Konrad Hurrell ($369,000) and Sam Tomkins ($157,000).

The Titans and Albert Kelly may find their fantasy points-scoring spree come to an end against the usually stingy Melbourne Storm on Sunday afternoon - it may be time to sell high on the livewire Kelly.

Likewise, the Bulldogs face the Roosters who are conceding the least amount of fantasy points per game in 2014. Trent Hodkinson ($207,000) has been a top-three option in the halves so far this year but I'm expecting a dip in performance tonight.

The position providing the most variation in scoring week by week is in the back row. Last year there were four or five consistent performers in the back row that were hard to look past as your go-to option. In 2014 a host of players have been averaging more than 40 points and there's big value to be had. Of note are three Cowboys players: Tariq Sims ($206,000), Jason Taumalolo ($200,000) and Gavin Cooper ($249,000). Cooper is the surprise points leader in the back row so far in 2014 but I prefer the former two as long-term options for your squad.

Top picks:
Sonny Bill Williams, Roosters
Nathan Peats, Eels
Konrad Hurrell, Warriors

Value picks:
Jason Taumalolo, Cowboys
Trent Merrin, Dragons

On the bench:
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Roosters (suspended 1 week)
Jerome Ropati, Warriors (out 6-12 weeks)
Glenn Stewart, Sea Eagles (50/50 to play)