NRL Full Round Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 3, 2025
Mar 19, 2025, 8:22AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Round 3 DFS contest kicks off at 8:00pm AEDT on March 20, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player on the slate to help you create winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for NRL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 3.
Featured NRL Games
Draftstars' NRL Full Round slate features these matches:
- Parramatta Eels vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
- Brisbane Broncos vs North Queensland Cowboys
- Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
- Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles vs Canberra Raiders
- New Zealand Warriors vs Sydney Roosters
- Melbourne Storm vs Penrith Panthers
- Gold Coast Titans vs Newcastle Knights
- Dolphins vs Wests Tigers
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to deliver 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 choices on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN, HH/FLEX) | $25,280 | 78.2 | 3.1 |
| Value | Brodie Jones (NEW, FWD/FLEX) | $8,000 | 46 | 5.8 |
| Fade | Tyran Wishart (MEL, FLEX/HH) | $11,020 | 15.2 | 1.4 |
| Cheapie | Siosiua Taukeiaho (MAN, FWD/FLEX) | $9,540 | 47.5 | 5 |
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'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 refer to 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) | $20,660 | 64.6 | 3.1 |
| Value | Blake Wilson (BUL) | $8,720 | 42.5 | 4.9 |
| Fade | Jack Wighton (SOU) | $14,660 | 34 | 2.3 |
| Cheapie | Brian Kelly (GOL) | $9,400 | 41.2 | 4.4 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN) | $25,280 | 78.2 | 3.1 |
| Value | Bailey Hayward (BUL) | $8,000 | 39.2 | 4.9 |
| Fade | Tyran Wishart (MEL) | $11,020 | 15.2 | 1.4 |
| Cheapie | Jack Cole (PEN) | $9,930 | 42 | 4.2 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Terrell May (WST) | $20,230 | 71.2 | 3.5 |
| Value | Brodie Jones (NEW) | $8,000 | 46 | 5.8 |
| Fade | Max Plath (DOL) | $17,070 | 33.6 | 2 |
| Cheapie | Siosiua Taukeiaho (MAN) | $9,540 | 47.5 | 5 |
Conclusion
In NRL DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your NRL Round 3 teams, consider starting with a value player like Brodie Jones. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Nathan Cleary is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, take a look at our cheapie options, including Siosiua Taukeiaho.
On the other hand, according to our model, Tyran Wishart 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 8:00pm AEDT 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 3 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.
