Fantasy Rugby: Returning Cruden a risky option

After spending the past six rounds on the sideline, Aaron Cruden looks set to return to the starting XV for the Chiefs. Photo / Getty Images

All Blacks first five Aaron Cruden returns to action to highlight a busy weekend in Dream Team Fantasy Super Rugby.

After spending the past six rounds on the sideline, Cruden has been named to play on for Chiefs against the Hurricanes but it will be from the bench.

After signalling that Cruden would likely start from the number 10 position this weekend, coach Dave Rennie instead opted to keep Gareth Anscombe as the starting five eighth.

The move puts a damper on both players' values as Anscombe scores more fantasy points when playing at fullback while Cruden will not play anything close to 80 minutes.

Moving forward, Cruden should be solid play at five eighth while Anscombe, if he's shifted back to fullback, will receive a boost in value.

After sitting out with the bye week last weekend the Chiefs, as well as the Blues and Bulls return to action to bolster fantasy teams.

While the Chiefs' matchup with the Hurricanes looks likely to generate plenty of fantasy points, the Blues and Bulls face opponents that tend to suck the life out of your squad.
Luke Braid ($6,210,000) returns to captain the Blues against the Sharks but is not the greatest play against a team that concedes the least fantasy points of any side in the game.

Likewise, Bulls captain Flip van der Merwe returns to action but faces the Brumbies who are also very stingy with allowing big fantasy scores. The only players I'd trust from their squad are Jacques du Plessis ($3,450,000) and Jacques-Louis Potgeiter ($7,600,000).

The Waratahs have a great matchup with the Rebels tonight where I'm predicting big games from Tatafu Polota-Nau ($3,180,000), Nick Phipps ($5,880,000) and Bernard Foley ($8,470,000).

In injury news, Quade Cooper has been ruled out for the rest of the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. Cooper had been a solid option for many fantasy teams so far this season, sitting in fourth place overall in our first-five rankings, and will likely be replaced by Mike Harris ($7,080,000) as the Reds' starting five eighth.

Harris could be a great value play once the current round is over - he flashed potential with more playing time last weekend, scoring 36 points against the Rebels.

Charles Piutau and Piri Weepu are out of action this weekend to add to the reasons to hold fire on picking up any Blues players.

Rebels halfback Luke Burgess will miss up to two months of Super Rugby after suffering a knee injury against the Reds while the Lions have sufferd a triple injury blow with three starters ruled out of the rest of their overseas campaign - Lionel Mapoe, Courtnall Skosan and Derick Minnie.

Get the latest fantasy advice from Dr Stats Thursdays at 6.25pm on Radio Sport with D'Arcy Waldegrave.

Top pickup:
Bernard Foley, Waratahs

Value pickup:
Nick Phipps, Waratahs

On the bench:
Quade Cooper, Reds (out for season)
Charles Piutau, Blues (out indefinitely)
Piri Weepu, Blues (out indefinitely)
Luke Burgess, Rebels (out up to 8 weeks)
Lionel Mapoe, Lions (out indefinitely)
Courtnall Sosan Lions (out indefinitely)
Derick Minnie, Lions (out indefinitely)