NRL Full Round Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 18, 2024
Last updated: Jul 4, 2024, 9:23AM | Published: Jul 3, 2024, 9:23AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Round 18 DFS contest starts at 7:50pm AEST on July 4, 2024, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player on the slate to help you make winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for NRL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you assemble your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 18.
Featured NRL Games
Draftstars' NRL Full Round slate features the following match-ups:
- Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs New Zealand Warriors
- Parramatta Eels vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
- Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs Gold Coast Titans
- Brisbane Broncos vs Penrith Panthers
- Canberra Raiders vs Newcastle Knights
- Sydney Roosters vs St. George Illawarra Dragons
- North Queensland Cowboys vs Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
- Wests Tigers vs Melbourne Storm
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to come up with 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 every player from every team to help you find the best picks on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nicholas Hynes (CRO, HH/FLEX) | $22,370 | 72.1 | 3.2 |
| Value | Will Pryce (NEW, FLEX/HH) | $8,570 | 43.2 | 5 |
| Fade | Teig Wilton (CRO, FWD/FLEX) | $12,030 | 24.9 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | Izack Tago (PEN, FLEX/OB) | $9,870 | 47.2 | 4.8 |
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 budget-conscious strategies, "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 | James Tedesco (SYD) | $19,320 | 66.8 | 3.5 |
| Value | Izack Tago (PEN) | $9,870 | 47.2 | 4.8 |
| Fade | Kaeo Weekes (CAN) | $18,710 | 39 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | Grant Anderson (MEL) | $8,000 | 38.1 | 4.8 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nicholas Hynes (CRO) | $22,370 | 72.1 | 3.2 |
| Value | Will Pryce (NEW) | $8,570 | 43.2 | 5 |
| Fade | Cody Walker (SOU) | $15,480 | 42.8 | 2.8 |
| Cheapie | Jake Simpkin (MAN) | $9,880 | 43.2 | 4.4 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | David Fifita (GOL) | $21,120 | 67.3 | 3.2 |
| Value | Griffin Neame (NQL) | $8,000 | 34.8 | 4.3 |
| Fade | Teig Wilton (CRO) | $12,030 | 24.9 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | Nelson Asofa-Solomona (MEL) | $8,000 | 33.4 | 4.2 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Round 18 teams, consider starting with a value player like Will Pryce. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Nicholas Hynes is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, check out our cheapie options, including Izack Tago.
On the other hand, according to our model, Teig Wilton is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Full Round slate closes at 7:50pm AEST on Thursday. 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 Round 18 contest. The unique insights here can help you balance star power, value and budget management when you make your NRL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised NRL Full Round line-ups, check out the Fantasy Insider Cruncher on Draftstars! It's free to use when you're logged in.
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.
