AFL Cats vs Bombers Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 22, 2026
Last updated: Aug 8, 2026, 5:36AM | Published: Aug 5, 2026, 9:52AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Cats vs Bombers Round 22 DFS contest commences at 4:35pm AEST on August 8, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
A reliable Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 22.
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 best DFS projections in the world.
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 Geelong Cats vs Essendon match-up to help you make the best selections on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL, MID) | $18,180 | 119.5 | 6.6 |
| Value | Vigo Visentini (ESS, RK) | $6,000 | 52.7 | 8.8 |
| Fade | Shannon Neale (GEEL, FWD/RK) | $10,840 | 65.2 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Jaxon Prior (ESS, DEF/MID) | $8,210 | 63.9 | 7.8 |
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 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 | Archie Roberts (ESS) | $13,600 | 92.7 | 6.8 |
| Value | Jaxon Prior (ESS) | $8,210 | 63.9 | 7.8 |
| Fade | Tom Stewart (GEEL) | $12,790 | 79.5 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Zak Johnson (ESS) | $8,200 | 59.5 | 7.3 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL) | $18,180 | 119.5 | 6.6 |
| Value | Jaxon Prior (ESS) | $8,210 | 63.9 | 7.8 |
| Fade | Oliver Dempsey (GEEL) | $12,530 | 76.6 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Mark Blicavs (GEEL) | $8,130 | 60.8 | 7.5 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Gryan Miers (GEEL) | $12,840 | 83.5 | 6.5 |
| Value | Archie Perkins (ESS) | $7,820 | 60.4 | 7.7 |
| Fade | Shannon Neale (GEEL) | $10,840 | 65.2 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Nate Caddy (ESS) | $7,790 | 58.1 | 7.5 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Peter Wright (ESS) | $10,080 | 70 | 6.9 |
| Value | Vigo Visentini (ESS) | $6,000 | 52.7 | 8.8 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Cats vs Bombers Round 22 teams, consider starting with a value player like Vigo Visentini. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Bailey Smith 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 Jaxon Prior.
On the other hand, according to our model, Shannon Neale 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 Cats vs Bombers slate closes at 4:35pm AEST 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 Cats vs Bombers Round 22 slate. The unique insights here can give you an edge when you make your AFL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised AFL Cats vs Bombers 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 Geelong Cats vs Essendon 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.
