AFL Suns vs Cats Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Opening Round 2026
Last updated: Mar 5, 2026, 10:32PM | Published: Mar 5, 2026, 2:49AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Suns vs Cats Opening Round DFS contest begins at 8:05pm AEDT on March 6, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player in the game to help you build winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is essential 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 deliver 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 Gold Coast SUNS vs Geelong Cats match-up to help you make the best picks on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL, MID) | $16,200 | 113.4 | 7 |
| Value | Leonardo Lombard (GC, FWD) | $6,510 | 51.2 | 7.9 |
| Fade | Lawson Humphries (GEEL, DEF) | $11,950 | 76.8 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Oliver Henry (GEEL, FWD) | $6,310 | 49.3 | 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 are 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 | John Noble (GC) | $13,730 | 91 | 6.6 |
| Value | Zeke Uwland (GC) | $7,250 | 51.9 | 7.2 |
| Fade | Lawson Humphries (GEEL) | $11,950 | 76.8 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Jack Henry (GEEL) | $7,730 | 54.9 | 7.1 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL) | $16,200 | 113.4 | 7 |
| Value | Jhye Clark (GEEL) | $7,490 | 55.7 | 7.4 |
| Fade | Wil Powell (GC) | $12,590 | 84.7 | 6.7 |
| Cheapie | Mitch Knevitt (GEEL) | $7,830 | 57.5 | 7.3 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Touk Miller (GC) | $14,060 | 97.7 | 6.9 |
| Value | Leonardo Lombard (GC) | $6,510 | 51.2 | 7.9 |
| Fade | Shaun Mannagh (GEEL) | $12,680 | 85.1 | 6.7 |
| Cheapie | Oliver Henry (GEEL) | $6,310 | 49.3 | 7.8 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jarrod Witts (GC) | $13,610 | 94.7 | 7 |
| Value | Mark Blicavs (GEEL) | $10,760 | 76.4 | 7.1 |
Conclusion
When building your AFL Suns vs Cats Opening Round teams, consider starting with a value player like Leonardo Lombard. 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, explore our cheapie options, including Oliver Henry.
On the other hand, according to our model, Lawson Humphries is one of the worst 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 Suns vs Cats slate closes at 8:05pm AEDT on Friday. 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 Suns vs Cats 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 Suns 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 Gold Coast SUNS 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.
