The Hurricanes are resting Beauden Barrett, Ben Franks and Julian Savea while Nehe Milner-Skudder has been benched and Ardie Savea is out for 4-6 weeks with injury.
Other fantasy stars that have already been ruled out include Tevita Kuridrani, Ihaia West, Lolagi Visinia, Patrick Lambie, James Lowe and Willie le Roux while Quade Cooper returns as a possible impact player for the struggling Reds.
To compound these injuries, rested stars and suspensions we're also entering a tricky phase of bye rounds where, after the coming weekend, six teams are on the bye over two weeks.
While Brumbies players take a break this weekend, the following will see Force, Waratahs and Highlanders players on the bye, followed by the Chiefs, Hurricanes and Rebels the week after.
You will likely need to use your full allocation of trades over this period and put any thoughts of strategic money-making temporarily on the backburner.
Below are a few great pickups that are highly likely to take the field over the next three weeks.
Warren Whiteley, Lions, $145,300
This week could be the cheapest you'll be able to get Whiteley after a slow start to the season. The only way is up for him while the only danger is a possible enforced rest.
Jessie Kriel, Bulls, $115,600
Kriel has proven to be a big earner for astute owners over the past month and he'll continue to gain value over these next few weeks.
Siyabonga Ntubeni, Stormers, $54,800
Ntubeni is due for a price rise if he posts even a below average score this coming weekend.
Francois Uys, Cheetahs, $71,000
After a disappointing opening round, Uys has posted three straight 15+ efforts and is a safe bet to keep performing in a solid fashion.
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On the bench:
Beauden Barrett, Hurricanes (rested)
Julian Savea, Hurricanes (rested)
Ben Franks, Hurricanes (rested)
Blade Thomson, Hurricanes (out 1-2 weeks)
Ardie Savea, Hurricanes (out 4-6 weeks)
Nehe Milner-Skudder, Hurricanes (benched)
Saia Fainga'a, Reds (benched)
Marco Kotze, Reds (benched)
Liam Gill, Reds (suspended 1 week)
Campbell Magnay, Reds (dropped)
Chris Feauai-Sautia, Reds (benched)
Ben Tapuai, Reds (benched)
Jaco van der Walt, Lions (out indefinitely)
Courtnall Skosan, Lions (dropped)
Marnitz Boshoff, Lions (benched)
Faf de Klerk, Lions (benched)
Armand van der Merwe, Lions (benched)
Danie Mienie, Cheetahs (benched)
Torsten van Jaarsveld, Cheetahs (benched)
Coenie Oosthuizen, Cheetahs (rested)
Carl Wegner, Cheetahs (benched)
Oupa Mohoje, Cheetahs (out 8-12 weeks)
Tian Meyer, Cheetahs (benched)
Francois Venter, Cheetahs (rested)
Willie le Roux, Cheetahs (rested)
Tevita Kuridrani, Brumbies (out 8 weeks)
Dom Shipperley, Rebels (out 4-6 weeks)
Bismarck du Plessis, Sharks (suspended 4 weeks)
Hika Elliot, Chiefs (suspended 1 week)
Josh Bekhuis, Blues (out 1 week)
Luke Braid, Blues (benched)
Ihaia West, Blues (rested)
Lolagi Visinia, Blues (dropped)
Lappies Labuschagne, Bulls (out 1 week)
Grant Hattingh, Bulls (benched)
Marcel van der Merwe, Bulls (benched)
Dean Greyling, Bulls (benched)
Kurt Coleman, Stormers (benched)
Louis Schreuder, Stormers (benched)
Duane Vermeulen, Stormers (rested)
Wyatt Crockett, Crusaders (benched)
Codie Taylor, Crusaders (benched)
Matt Todd, Crusaders (benched)
Colin Slade, Crusaders (benched)
Lopeti Timani, Rebels (rested)
Jonah Placid, Rebels (benched)
Jamie Mackintosh, Chiefs (dropped)
Siate Tokolahi, Chiefs (benched)
James Lowe, Chiefs (dropped)
Andrew Horrell, Chiefs (benched)
Patrick Lambie, Sharks (rested)
Cobus Reinach, Sharks (rested)
Marcell Coetzee, Sharks (rested)
Top pick:
Israel Folau, Waratahs
Cheap pickups:
James Broadhurst, Hurricanes
Damian McKenzie, Chiefs
Frank Halai, Blues
