NRL Cowboys vs Panthers Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 17, 2026
Last updated: Jun 27, 2026, 7:26AM | Published: Jun 24, 2026, 9:24AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Cowboys vs Panthers Round 17 DFS contest starts at 5:30pm AEST on June 27, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for NRL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL 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 most accurate DFS projections available.
With the latest NRL fantasy insights and DFS strategies from Fantasy Insider, you're set to win in more NRL fantasy contests.
Cheat Sheet and Projections
We have reviewed players from each team in the North Queensland Cowboys vs Penrith Panthers match-up to help you make the best picks on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN, FLEX/HH) | $26,430 | 88.4 | 3.3 |
| Value | Brian To'o (PEN, FLEX/OB) | $12,450 | 49.8 | 4 |
| Fade | John Bateman (NQL, FWD/FLEX) | $10,210 | 10.4 | 1 |
| Cheapie | Zac Laybutt (NQL, OB/FLEX) | $8,000 | 30.1 | 3.8 |
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 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 | Dylan Edwards (PEN) | $17,360 | 50.3 | 2.9 |
| Value | Brian To'o (PEN) | $12,450 | 49.8 | 4 |
| Fade | Luke Garner (PEN) | $10,440 | 25.4 | 2.4 |
| Cheapie | Zac Laybutt (NQL) | $8,000 | 30.1 | 3.8 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN) | $26,430 | 88.4 | 3.3 |
| Value | Reed Mahoney (NQL) | $11,870 | 42.3 | 3.6 |
| Fade | Freddy Lussick (PEN) | $12,630 | 33.6 | 2.7 |
| Cheapie | Soni Luke (NQL) | $8,000 | 18.6 | 2.3 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Isaah Yeo (PEN) | $17,660 | 56.6 | 3.2 |
| Value | Lindsay Smith (PEN) | $12,930 | 47.4 | 3.7 |
| Fade | John Bateman (NQL) | $10,210 | 10.4 | 1 |
| Cheapie | Scott Sorensen (PEN) | $8,980 | 31.7 | 3.5 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Cowboys vs Panthers Round 17 teams, consider starting with a value player like Brian To'o. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Nathan Cleary is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, take a look at our cheapie options, including Zac Laybutt.
On the other hand, according to our model, John Bateman 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' NRL Cowboys vs Panthers slate closes at 5:30pm AEST on Saturday. 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 Panthers Round 17 contest. 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 Panthers 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 Penrith Panthers 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.
