NRL Cowboys vs Knights Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Finals Week 1, 2024
Last updated: Sep 14, 2024, 9:24AM | Published: Sep 11, 2024, 9:24AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Cowboys vs Knights Finals Week 1 DFS contest commences at 7:50pm AEST on September 14, 2024, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player in the game to help you build winning line-ups.
A handy Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial for NRL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you assemble your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to make some of the strongest DFS projections in the world.
With the latest NRL fantasy insights and DFS strategies from Fantasy Insider, you're set to win in more NRL fantasy contests.
Cheat Sheet and Projections
We've reviewed players from each team in the North Queensland Cowboys vs Newcastle Knights match-up to help you make the best picks on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kalyn Ponga (NEW, OB/FLEX) | $20,130 | 55.4 | 2.8 |
| Value | Jack Cogger (NEW, FLEX/HH) | $10,780 | 47.3 | 4.4 |
| Fade | Dane Gagai (NEW, OB/FLEX) | $18,580 | 52.4 | 2.8 |
| Cheapie | Daniel Saifiti (NEW, FWD/FLEX) | $9,400 | 40.2 | 4.3 |
According to Fantasy Insider's DFS model, our "stud" is the highest projected scorer across the slate, while "value" picks offer the most "bang for your buck," meaning they're expected to perform well relative to their salary.
Conversely, a "fade" is a player considered to offer lower value for money, based on their expected score relative to their salary. For those needing to stay under the salary cap, "cheapie" options highlight the best value players at lower price points not already mentioned.
In fantasy sports, understanding value—assessing a player's potential output against their salary—is crucial, as players scoring high relative to their cost are key in crafting the optimal line-up.
The "Pts/$1K" metric shows the predicted points for every $1,000 of a player's salary. A higher number indicates better value, making it easier to spot players who could outperform their cost.
Positional Breakdown
OB (Outside Back)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kalyn Ponga (NEW) | $20,130 | 55.4 | 2.8 |
| Value | Murray Taulagi (NQL) | $9,750 | 35.2 | 3.6 |
| Fade | Dane Gagai (NEW) | $18,580 | 52.4 | 2.8 |
| Cheapie | Viliami Vailea (NQL) | $8,700 | 29 | 3.3 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jake Clifford (NQL) | $11,740 | 49.2 | 4.2 |
| Value | Jack Cogger (NEW) | $10,780 | 47.3 | 4.4 |
| Fade | Reece Robson (NQL) | $15,310 | 48.7 | 3.2 |
| Cheapie | Phoenix Crossland (NEW) | $8,000 | 31.4 | 3.9 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Reuben Cotter (NQL) | $14,570 | 52.3 | 3.6 |
| Value | Jeremiah Nanai (NQL) | $10,610 | 45.8 | 4.3 |
| Fade | Dylan Lucas (NEW) | $15,000 | 45.2 | 3 |
| Cheapie | Daniel Saifiti (NEW) | $9,400 | 40.2 | 4.3 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Cowboys vs Knights Finals Week 1 teams, consider starting with a value player like Jack Cogger. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Kalyn Ponga is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, take a look at our cheapie options, including Daniel Saifiti.
On the other hand, according to our model, Dane Gagai is one of the lowest value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Cowboys vs Knights slate closes at 7:50pm AEST on Saturday. ENTER NOW!
As with all NRL DFS contests, whether you start with our studs or build around our value picks, leveraging Fantasy Insider's data-driven NRL fantasy news and strategies, combined with your own research, can enhance your chances of winning in the NRL Cowboys vs Knights Finals Week 1 slate. The unique insights here can give you an edge when you make your NRL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised NRL Cowboys vs Knights line-ups, check out the Fantasy Insider Cruncher on Draftstars! It's free to use when you're logged in.
For more on this game, dive into our full North Queensland Cowboys vs Newcastle Knights prediction, where you will find the latest odds and tips for the main betting markets.
Please note that if you use our DFS tips for betting purposes, ensure you gamble responsibly and keep track of your money. For free and confidential support, call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
