NRL Full Round Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 26, 2024
Last updated: Aug 29, 2024, 9:22AM | Published: Aug 28, 2024, 9:23AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Round 26 DFS contest begins at 7:50pm AEST on August 29, 2024, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player on the slate to help you make 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 and improve your Supercoach team for Round 26.
Featured NRL Games
Draftstars' NRL Full Round slate includes the following matches:
- Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
- North Queensland Cowboys vs Melbourne Storm
- Sydney Roosters vs Canberra Raiders
- Dolphins vs Brisbane Broncos
- Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
- Newcastle Knights vs Gold Coast Titans
- Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs New Zealand Warriors
- Parramatta Eels vs St. George Illawarra Dragons
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to produce some of the best 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 selections on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | James Tedesco (SYD, OB/FLEX) | $21,430 | 67.3 | 3.1 |
| Value | Sean O'Sullivan (DOL, FLEX/HH) | $8,000 | 40.9 | 5.1 |
| Fade | Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (WAR, OB/FLEX) | $12,370 | 28.4 | 2.3 |
| Cheapie | Siosifa Talakai (CRO, OB/FLEX) | $9,230 | 42.6 | 4.6 |
According to Fantasy Insider's DFS model, our "stud" is the highest projected scorer across the slate, while "value" picks provide the most "bang for your buck," meaning they are 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) | $21,430 | 67.3 | 3.1 |
| Value | Siosifa Talakai (CRO) | $9,230 | 42.6 | 4.6 |
| Fade | Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (WAR) | $12,370 | 28.4 | 2.3 |
| Cheapie | Jeral Skelton (BUL) | $8,770 | 40.2 | 4.6 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Adam Reynolds (BRI) | $17,440 | 63.9 | 3.7 |
| Value | Sean O'Sullivan (DOL) | $8,000 | 40.9 | 5.1 |
| Fade | Daly Cherry-Evans (MAN) | $19,730 | 52.2 | 2.6 |
| Cheapie | Phoenix Crossland (NEW) | $8,680 | 36.4 | 4.2 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Isaah Yeo (PEN) | $20,030 | 66.4 | 3.3 |
| Value | Dylan Lucas (NEW) | $10,240 | 49.8 | 4.9 |
| Fade | Keaon Koloamatangi (SOU) | $17,340 | 45.8 | 2.6 |
| Cheapie | Alec MacDonald (MEL) | $9,490 | 42.3 | 4.5 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Round 26 teams, consider starting with a value player like Sean O'Sullivan. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, James Tedesco 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 Siosifa Talakai.
On the other hand, according to our model, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is one of the lowest value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering 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 26 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 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.
