AFL Tigers vs Blues Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 17, 2026
Last updated: Jul 1, 2026, 5:43PM | Published: Jul 1, 2026, 9:40AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Tigers vs Blues Round 17 DFS contest begins at 7:35pm AEST on July 4, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each 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 assemble your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and enhance your Supercoach team for Round 17.
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 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've reviewed players from each team in the Richmond vs Carlton match-up to help you find the best picks on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Sam Walsh (CARL, MID) | $15,710 | 100.1 | 6.4 |
| Value | Josh Smillie (RICH, MID) | $6,000 | 55.2 | 9.2 |
| Fade | Jagga Smith (CARL, MID) | $13,430 | 79.9 | 5.9 |
| Cheapie | Kaleb Smith (RICH, DEF) | $6,160 | 55.5 | 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 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 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 | Nic Newman (CARL) | $14,260 | 94.9 | 6.7 |
| Value | Kaleb Smith (RICH) | $6,160 | 55.5 | 9 |
| Fade | Billy Wilson (CARL) | $11,190 | 67.8 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Jordan Boyd (CARL) | $7,220 | 57.5 | 8 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Sam Walsh (CARL) | $15,710 | 100.1 | 6.4 |
| Value | Josh Smillie (RICH) | $6,000 | 55.2 | 9.2 |
| Fade | Jagga Smith (CARL) | $13,430 | 79.9 | 5.9 |
| Cheapie | Ben Camporeale (CARL) | $6,000 | 51.6 | 8.6 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Harry McKay (CARL) | $12,150 | 76.6 | 6.3 |
| Value | Noah Roberts-Thomson (RICH) | $6,000 | 52.6 | 8.8 |
| Fade | Ben Ainsworth (CARL) | $12,060 | 73.9 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Zane Peucker (RICH) | $6,000 | 51.7 | 8.6 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Toby Nankervis (RICH) | $12,170 | 83.4 | 6.8 |
| Value | Liam Reidy (CARL) | $6,850 | 60.8 | 8.9 |
Please note that we will update our AFL Draftstars tips as soon as teams are officially announced.
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Tigers vs Blues Round 17 teams, consider starting with a value player like Josh Smillie. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Sam Walsh 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 Kaleb Smith.
On the other hand, according to our model, Jagga Smith is one of the lowest value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Tigers vs Blues slate closes at 7:35pm 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 Tigers vs Blues Round 17 contest. The unique insights here can give you an edge when you make your AFL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised AFL Tigers vs Blues 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 Richmond vs Carlton 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.
