Draft targets: Overperforming vs underperforming

• DRAFT PICK UPS: Waiver-wire options for Round 5
• SQUAD BREAKDOWN: Round 5 team insights

It was good to see another week where some underperforming and overperforming predictions came off.

I am still confident in the previous underperformers and overachievers, but my confidence in Ryan Papenhuyzen has taken a dent, especially with Cam Munster taking on a lot of attacking runs.

Let’s take a look at the options to target in trade for Round 5.

*Scroll down to the bottom of the page for a key on all SuperCoach relevant abbreviations.

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UNDERPERFORMING PLAYERS

William Hopoate (CTW)

Hoppa is averaging 48PPG in a lacklustre Bulldogs side.

Coach Pay has shifted him to fullback where he should see a lot more ball and will be involved in most of their attacking plays.

The horse may have bolted for Hoppa in most of your leagues, but you could always use the threat of Pay shuffling the team again in your negotiations.

This is a double edged sword as there’s a good chance he is rotated back to centre at some point in the season, but he will be getting better ball off Kieran Foran than what he did at the start of the season.

Addin Fonua-Blake (FRF)

AFB has had a modest start to the year currently averaging 54PPG, well under his breakout season in 2019 of 66PPG.

He is slightly down from his minutes last year, but nothing too alarming and I don’t see him getting reduced minutes with a lack of forward depth at Manly.

What makes me excited about AFB is that he is currently averaging more BPG than last year, 53BPG compared to 49BPG.

We are just waiting for the attacking stats to boost his average and they will come.

He is still looking for the offload and it is only a matter of time before he is involved in a number of attacking plays.

Esan Marsters (FLB)

Marsters is currently averaging 53PPG at right centre for the Cowboys.

Without Michael Morgan, the Cowboys have been attacking through Scott Drinkwater and Val Holmes on the left.

Once Morgan comes back, Marsters will have more involvement and his scores will go up accordingly.

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OVERPERFORMING PLAYERS

Tohu Harris (2RF)

Harris is coming off two enormous games scoring 79 and 87 points.

Most of his points have come from pure base, playing 80 minutes as the lock for the Warriors.

Over the years Kearney has consistently shuffled his pack around.

Once Jazz Tevaga is healthy or even after a bad loss, there’s a good chance Harris gets shifted back to an edge and his scores go back to what we saw at the start of the year.

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Jamayne Isaako (CTW/FLB)

Isaako isn’t exactly setting the world on fire with a 48PPG average and with only 14 points last game.

He is on this list because his position looks under threat from rookie Tesi Niu.

Last week we saw Niu come off the bench into the fullback role, pushing Isaako to the middle.

I would be nervous with Isaako in my team and the current Broncos trend.

See if you can get some value out for him.

Jahrome Hughes (HFB/FLB)

Hughes is another that isn’t exactly scoring great with a 46PPG average.

He is currently out for a few weeks with a broken hand.

This is a bit of controversial, but I am not sure he has nailed down that halfback role for the Storm.

He looked great in the trials and patches this year, and I think Bellamy loves him.

However, he can play well in a number of positions including at centre and off the bench and his versatility may hurt him.

SUPERCOACH TERMINOLOGY KEY

MPG = Minutes per game

PPG = Points per game

PPM= Points per minute

BPG = Base per game (point accrued in tackles + runs + missed tackles)

POD = Point of difference

3RA = Three round average

5RA = Five round average

BREAKEVEN (B/E) = The score a player must record to earn a price rise.

*Please note all our stats are taken from the geniuses at nrlsupercoachstats.com