AFL Giants vs Cats Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 18, 2026
Last updated: Jul 10, 2026, 2:40AM | Published: Jul 8, 2026, 9:45AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Giants vs Cats Round 18 DFS contest begins at 4:15pm AEST on July 11, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player in the game to help you make winning line-ups.
A handy 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 18.
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 most accurate DFS projections available.
With the best 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 GWS GIANTS vs Geelong Cats match-up to help you make the best choices on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL, MID) | $17,740 | 121 | 6.8 |
| Value | Jack Ough (GWS, MID) | $6,000 | 56 | 9.3 |
| Fade | Lachie Ash (GWS, DEF) | $16,030 | 102.9 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Harry Rowston (GWS, MID) | $8,610 | 67.9 | 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 | Max Holmes (GEEL) | $15,360 | 104.4 | 6.8 |
| Value | Sam Taylor (GWS) | $6,740 | 52.7 | 7.8 |
| Fade | Lachie Ash (GWS) | $16,030 | 102.9 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Jack Henry (GEEL) | $6,000 | 46.3 | 7.7 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL) | $17,740 | 121 | 6.8 |
| Value | Jack Ough (GWS) | $6,000 | 56 | 9.3 |
| Fade | Patrick Dangerfield (GEEL) | $10,950 | 71.2 | 6.5 |
| Cheapie | Harry Rowston (GWS) | $8,610 | 67.9 | 7.9 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Toby Greene (GWS) | $13,190 | 87.5 | 6.6 |
| Value | Oliver Wiltshire (GEEL) | $6,000 | 47.1 | 7.9 |
| Fade | Patrick Dangerfield (GEEL) | $10,950 | 71.2 | 6.5 |
| Cheapie | Jack Henry (GEEL) | $6,000 | 46.3 | 7.7 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kieren Briggs (GWS) | $11,640 | 77.1 | 6.6 |
| Value | Mark Blicavs (GEEL) | $8,400 | 62.4 | 7.4 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Giants vs Cats Round 18 teams, consider starting with a value player like Jack Ough. 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, take a look at our cheapie options, including Harry Rowston.
On the other hand, according to our model, Lachie Ash 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 Giants vs Cats slate closes at 4:15pm 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 Giants vs Cats Round 18 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 Giants vs Cats 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 GWS GIANTS vs Geelong Cats 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.
