Fantasy NRL: Beware of the bye round

Greg Inglis is one of a number of big names who are on Origin duty this weekend. Photo / Getty Images

It's a crucial week of Dream Team Fantasy NRL as the first bye week of the season and State of Origin takes its toll on the pool of top class fantasy players.

State of Origin squads were named on Tuesday and all players involved will be hard to rely on for your fantasy side for the next six weeks.

The key fantasy players missing through Origin duties in our game (owned by over 20% of teams) will include: Cameron Smith, Corey Parker, Trent Merrin, Anthony Watmough, Jonathan Thurston, Greg Inglis, Jarryd Hayne, Michael Jennings and Billy Slater.

In addition to players involved in State of Origin, the following teams all have a bye this weekend: Panthers, Sea Eagles, Dragons, Eels, Storm and Knights.

This double-whammy of missing players will hurt a lot of teams if they hadn't planned ahead and used their transfers wisely. However, fear not, I am here to help you find the best options for you in a round fairly scarce of super stars.

In the front row, the obvious elite choice is Sam Burgess ($427,000) who has a juicy matchup with the Sharks on Monday night followed by a clash with the Dragons next week - a team giving up the most fantasy points per game of any side. His brother George ($393,000) is also a solid pickup for these rounds.

Back rower Shaun Fensom ($351,000) doesn't quite have as good matchups as the Burgess brothers but will be the elite choice in his position over the next two weeks.
Warriors captain Simon Mannering ($276,000) is also a strong play while Fijian international Tariq Sims ($210,000) is my pick for the best value play.

Sims will play alongside the talented, but unpredictable, Jason Taumalolo ($197,000) who will see increased minutes after Gavin Cooper was ruled out with injury. Taumalolo is the big risk/reward play of back rowers over the next two weeks.

While the loss of Jonathan Thurston to Origin is a blow to many sides, there are still a number of great halves available to pick up.

Wade Graham ($235,000) is a great one-week pickup as is Albert Kelly ($257,000) who returns from injury to lead the Titans around the paddock against the Warriors.

Perhaps the best halves option, though the most expensive one, is John Sutton ($410,000) who joins the Burgess brothers on the Rabbitohs' cushy fantasy schedule.

In the backs, Konrad Hurrell ($380,000) is quietly averaging the most points of any player in his position and is a must-play the next two rounds.

Mitch Aubusson ($515,000) has been shifted from the back row to the centres this weekend, which stunts his value. Pat Richards ($134,000) is a great play against the Broncos on Saturday night while Jarrod Croker ($263,000) and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck ($305,000) will be solid contributors over the next two rounds.

Top pickup:
Sam Burgess, Rabbitohs
Value pickup:
Tariq Sims, Cowboys

On the bench:
Boyd Cordner, Roosters (out indefinitely)
Gavin Cooper, Cowboys (out 12+ rounds)
Aiden Sezer, Titans (out 13+ rounds)
Todd Carney, Sharks (out indefinitely)
Beau Ryan, Sharks (out indefinitely)