AFL Bulldogs vs Giants Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 1, 2026
Last updated: Mar 14, 2026, 1:35AM | Published: Mar 11, 2026, 8:33AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Bulldogs vs Giants Round 1 DFS contest kicks off at 1:15pm AEDT on March 14, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player in the game to help you make winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is a must for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and enhance your Supercoach team for Round 1.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to produce 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 Western Bulldogs vs GWS GIANTS match-up to help you find the best choices on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Marcus Bontempelli (WB, MID) | $16,560 | 116 | 7 |
| Value | Sam Davidson (WB, MID) | $7,330 | 57.7 | 7.9 |
| Fade | Connor Budarick (WB, DEF) | $10,670 | 68.3 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Jesse Hogan (GWS, FWD) | $8,980 | 68.5 | 7.6 |
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'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
DEF (Defender)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Lachie Whitfield (GWS) | $15,290 | 110.5 | 7.2 |
| Value | Michael Sellwood (WB) | $6,330 | 48.3 | 7.6 |
| Fade | Connor Budarick (WB) | $10,670 | 68.3 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Buku Khamis (WB) | $6,530 | 48.8 | 7.5 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Marcus Bontempelli (WB) | $16,560 | 116 | 7 |
| Value | Sam Davidson (WB) | $7,330 | 57.7 | 7.9 |
| Fade | Stephen Coniglio (GWS) | $11,590 | 74.9 | 6.5 |
| Cheapie | Ryan Angwin (GWS) | $9,210 | 65.2 | 7.1 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Toby Greene (GWS) | $12,430 | 88.6 | 7.1 |
| Value | Jesse Hogan (GWS) | $8,980 | 68.5 | 7.6 |
| Fade | Stephen Coniglio (GWS) | $11,590 | 74.9 | 6.5 |
| Cheapie | Max Gruzewski (GWS) | $6,000 | 45.2 | 7.5 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Tim English (WB) | $16,420 | 113.2 | 6.9 |
| Value | Tim English (WB) | $16,420 | 113.2 | 6.9 |
Conclusion
When building your AFL Bulldogs vs Giants Round 1 teams, consider starting with a value player like Sam Davidson. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Marcus Bontempelli 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 Jesse Hogan.
On the other hand, according to our model, Connor Budarick is one of the lowest 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 Bulldogs vs Giants slate closes at 1:15pm AEDT on Saturday. 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 Bulldogs vs Giants Round 1 contest. 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 Bulldogs vs Giants 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 Western Bulldogs vs GWS GIANTS 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.
