NRL Cowboys vs Knights Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 24, 2025
Last updated: Aug 17, 2025, 5:31AM | Published: Aug 13, 2025, 9:25AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Cowboys vs Knights Round 24 DFS contest kicks off at 4:05pm AEST on August 17, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player in the game to help you build winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for NRL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests and enhance your Supercoach team for Round 24.
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 strongest DFS projections in the world.
With the best NRL fantasy insights and DFS strategies from Fantasy Insider, you're set to win in more NRL fantasy contests.
Cheat Sheet and Projections
We've reviewed players from each team in the North Queensland Cowboys vs Newcastle Knights match-up to help you make the best selections on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kai Pearce-Paul (NEW, FWD/FLEX) | $17,400 | 56.1 | 3.2 |
| Value | Semi Valemei (NQL, OB/FLEX) | $8,000 | 34.2 | 4.3 |
| Fade | Harrison Edwards (NQL, FWD/FLEX) | $11,920 | 29.7 | 2.5 |
| Cheapie | Connor Votano (NEW, OB/FLEX) | $8,000 | 33.6 | 4.2 |
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 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
OB (Outside Back)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bradman Best (NEW) | $14,160 | 50.6 | 3.6 |
| Value | Semi Valemei (NQL) | $8,000 | 34.2 | 4.3 |
| Fade | Braidon Burns (NQL) | $15,200 | 43.7 | 2.9 |
| Cheapie | Connor Votano (NEW) | $8,000 | 33.6 | 4.2 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Tom Dearden (NQL) | $16,920 | 52.8 | 3.1 |
| Value | Jack Cogger (NEW) | $11,540 | 45.5 | 3.9 |
| Fade | Jake Arthur (NEW) | $14,360 | 40.5 | 2.8 |
| Cheapie | Karl Lawton (NQL) | $8,000 | 17.9 | 2.2 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kai Pearce-Paul (NEW) | $17,400 | 56.1 | 3.2 |
| Value | Jermaine McEwen (NEW) | $11,760 | 49.7 | 4.2 |
| Fade | Harrison Edwards (NQL) | $11,920 | 29.7 | 2.5 |
| Cheapie | Jordan McLean (NQL) | $9,030 | 30.4 | 3.4 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Cowboys vs Knights Round 24 teams, consider starting with a value player like Semi Valemei. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Kai Pearce-Paul 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 Connor Votano.
On the other hand, according to our model, Harrison Edwards is one of the lowest value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Cowboys vs Knights slate closes at 4:05pm AEST on Sunday. ENTER NOW!
As with all NRL DFS contests, whether you start with our studs or build around our value picks, leveraging Fantasy Insider's data-driven NRL fantasy news and strategies, combined with your own research, can enhance your chances of winning in the NRL Cowboys vs Knights Round 24 slate. The unique insights here can give you an edge when you make your NRL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised NRL Cowboys vs Knights 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 North Queensland Cowboys vs Newcastle Knights 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.
