AFL Bombers vs Crows Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 21, 2026
Last updated: Aug 2, 2026, 5:59AM | Published: Jul 29, 2026, 9:38AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Bombers vs Crows Round 21 DFS contest starts at 4:40pm AEST on August 2, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player in the game to help you make winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and enhance your Supercoach team for Round 21.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to come up with some of the most reliable DFS projections available.
With the latest AFL fantasy insights and DFS strategies from Fantasy Insider, you're set to win in more AFL fantasy contests.
Cheat Sheet and Projections
We have reviewed players from each team in the Essendon vs Adelaide Crows match-up to help you find the best picks on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jordan Dawson (ADEL, MID) | $17,840 | 113.1 | 6.3 |
| Value | Archer Day-Wicks (ESS, FWD) | $6,000 | 47.4 | 7.9 |
| Fade | Hugo Hall-Kahan (ADEL, DEF) | $11,120 | 63.5 | 5.7 |
| Cheapie | Zak Johnson (ESS, DEF) | $7,490 | 59.2 | 7.9 |
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
DEF (Defender)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zach Merrett (ESS) | $15,740 | 107.3 | 6.8 |
| Value | Zak Johnson (ESS) | $7,490 | 59.2 | 7.9 |
| Fade | Hugo Hall-Kahan (ADEL) | $11,120 | 63.5 | 5.7 |
| Cheapie | Andrew McGrath (ESS) | $9,490 | 72.2 | 7.6 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jordan Dawson (ADEL) | $17,840 | 113.1 | 6.3 |
| Value | Will Setterfield (ESS) | $10,980 | 85.7 | 7.8 |
| Fade | Dyson Sharp (ESS) | $10,710 | 61.5 | 5.7 |
| Cheapie | Jaxon Prior (ESS) | $8,930 | 65.2 | 7.3 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Alex Neal-Bullen (ADEL) | $11,290 | 74.1 | 6.6 |
| Value | Archer Day-Wicks (ESS) | $6,000 | 47.4 | 7.9 |
| Fade | Riley Thilthorpe (ADEL) | $10,950 | 69.1 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Isaac Kako (ESS) | $6,000 | 44.8 | 7.5 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Lachlan McAndrew (ADEL) | $13,050 | 84.8 | 6.5 |
| Value | Peter Wright (ESS) | $10,110 | 70.6 | 7 |
Conclusion
When building your AFL Bombers vs Crows Round 21 teams, consider starting with a value player like Archer Day-Wicks. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Jordan Dawson is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, explore our cheapie options, including Zak Johnson.
On the other hand, according to our model, Hugo Hall-Kahan is one of the worst value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building out multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Bombers vs Crows slate closes at 4:40pm AEST on Sunday. ENTER NOW!
As with all AFL DFS contests, whether you start with our studs or build around our value picks, leveraging Fantasy Insider's data-driven AFL fantasy news and strategies, combined with your own research, can enhance your chances of winning in the AFL Bombers vs Crows Round 21 slate. The unique insights here can help you balance star power, value and budget management when you make your AFL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised AFL Bombers vs Crows 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 Essendon vs Adelaide Crows 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.
