AFL Saints vs Lions Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 3, 2026
Last updated: Mar 28, 2026, 12:42AM | Published: Mar 25, 2026, 8:40AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Saints vs Lions Round 3 DFS contest commences at 12:35pm AEDT on March 28, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player in the game to help you make winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 3.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to deliver some of the strongest DFS projections in the world.
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've reviewed players from each team in the St Kilda vs Brisbane Lions match-up to help you find the best picks on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jack Sinclair (STK, DEF) | $15,410 | 110.3 | 7.2 |
| Value | Sam Draper (BL, FWD/RK) | $8,780 | 75.1 | 8.6 |
| Fade | Max Hall (STK, FWD/MID) | $11,230 | 71.6 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Mattaes Phillipou (STK, MID) | $8,540 | 69.4 | 8.1 |
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 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 | Jack Sinclair (STK) | $15,410 | 110.3 | 7.2 |
| Value | Jack Carroll (STK) | $7,460 | 56.1 | 7.5 |
| Fade | Darcy Wilmot (BL) | $13,510 | 85.8 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Liam Stocker (STK) | $6,770 | 51.1 | 7.5 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Josh Dunkley (BL) | $16,070 | 109 | 6.8 |
| Value | Mattaes Phillipou (STK) | $8,540 | 69.4 | 8.1 |
| Fade | Max Hall (STK) | $11,230 | 71.6 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Mason Wood (STK) | $9,240 | 69.4 | 7.5 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zac Bailey (BL) | $12,670 | 85.2 | 6.7 |
| Value | Sam Draper (BL) | $8,780 | 75.1 | 8.6 |
| Fade | Max Hall (STK) | $11,230 | 71.6 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Rowan Marshall (STK) | $9,530 | 73.7 | 7.7 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Tom De Koning (STK) | $12,860 | 87.8 | 6.8 |
| Value | Sam Draper (BL) | $8,780 | 75.1 | 8.6 |
Conclusion
When building your AFL Saints vs Lions Round 3 teams, consider starting with a value player like Sam Draper. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Jack Sinclair is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, explore our cheapie options, including Mattaes Phillipou.
On the other hand, according to our model, Max Hall is one of the lowest value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Saints vs Lions slate closes at 12:35pm 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 Saints vs Lions Round 3 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 Saints vs Lions 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 St Kilda vs Brisbane Lions 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.
