AFL Saints vs Magpies Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Opening Round 2026
Last updated: Mar 5, 2026, 4:46AM | Published: Mar 5, 2026, 2:49AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Saints vs Magpies Opening Round DFS contest kicks off at 7:20pm AEDT on March 8, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you assemble your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Opening Round.
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 strongest 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 St Kilda vs Collingwood match-up to help you find the best selections on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (STK, MID) | $17,800 | 116 | 6.5 |
| Value | Angus Anderson (COLL, MID) | $6,000 | 51.2 | 8.5 |
| Fade | Marcus Windhager (STK, MID/DEF) | $13,770 | 84 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Rowan Marshall (STK, RK/FWD) | $9,800 | 80.2 | 8.2 |
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) | $15,070 | 107.6 | 7.1 |
| Value | Tobie Travaglia (STK) | $6,510 | 51.5 | 7.9 |
| Fade | Marcus Windhager (STK) | $13,770 | 84 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Harry Perryman (COLL) | $8,200 | 64.1 | 7.8 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (STK) | $17,800 | 116 | 6.5 |
| Value | Angus Anderson (COLL) | $6,000 | 51.2 | 8.5 |
| Fade | Marcus Windhager (STK) | $13,770 | 84 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Mason Wood (STK) | $9,150 | 71.7 | 7.8 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Rowan Marshall (STK) | $9,800 | 80.2 | 8.2 |
| Value | Rowan Marshall (STK) | $9,800 | 80.2 | 8.2 |
| Fade | Mattaes Phillipou (STK) | $11,860 | 74.9 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Bobby Hill (COLL) | $7,090 | 57.6 | 8.1 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Darcy Cameron (COLL) | $14,690 | 101.7 | 6.9 |
| Value | Rowan Marshall (STK) | $9,800 | 80.2 | 8.2 |
Please note that we will update our AFL Draftstars tips as soon as teams are officially announced.
Conclusion
When building your AFL Saints vs Magpies Opening Round teams, consider starting with a value player like Angus Anderson. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, check out our cheapie options, including Rowan Marshall.
On the other hand, according to our model, Marcus Windhager is one of the lowest value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Saints vs Magpies slate closes at 7:20pm AEDT 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 Saints vs Magpies Opening Round 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 Saints vs Magpies 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 Collingwood 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.
