NRL Cowboys vs Storm Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 18, 2025
Last updated: Jul 5, 2025, 9:22AM | Published: Jul 2, 2025, 9:23AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Cowboys vs Storm Round 18 DFS contest begins at 7:36pm AEST on July 5, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is a must for NRL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 18.
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 most reliable DFS projections available.
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 have reviewed players from each team in the North Queensland Cowboys vs Melbourne Storm match-up to help you find the best picks on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jahrome Hughes (MEL, HH/FLEX) | $19,170 | 70.8 | 3.7 |
| Value | Tyran Wishart (MEL, FLEX/HH) | $8,020 | 61.1 | 7.6 |
| Fade | Nelson Asofa-Solomona (MEL, FWD/FLEX) | $13,000 | 31.7 | 2.4 |
| Cheapie | Kai O'Donnell (NQL, FWD/FLEX) | $8,000 | 36.8 | 4.6 |
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'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 | Scott Drinkwater (NQL) | $14,770 | 45.7 | 3.1 |
| Value | Nick Meaney (MEL) | $9,560 | 43.3 | 4.5 |
| Fade | Braidon Burns (NQL) | $12,140 | 31.2 | 2.6 |
| Cheapie | Joe Chan (MEL) | $8,000 | 34.4 | 4.3 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jahrome Hughes (MEL) | $19,170 | 70.8 | 3.7 |
| Value | Tyran Wishart (MEL) | $8,020 | 61.1 | 7.6 |
| Fade | Jake Clifford (NQL) | $15,530 | 40.9 | 2.6 |
| Cheapie | Thomas Duffy (NQL) | $8,000 | 36 | 4.5 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Eliesa Katoa (MEL) | $16,760 | 56.4 | 3.4 |
| Value | Kai O'Donnell (NQL) | $8,000 | 36.8 | 4.6 |
| Fade | Nelson Asofa-Solomona (MEL) | $13,000 | 31.7 | 2.4 |
| Cheapie | Tui Kamikamica (MEL) | $8,000 | 35.6 | 4.5 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Cowboys vs Storm Round 18 teams, consider starting with a value player like Tyran Wishart. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Jahrome Hughes is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, explore our cheapie options, including Kai O'Donnell.
On the other hand, according to our model, Nelson Asofa-Solomona is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Cowboys vs Storm slate closes at 7:36pm 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 Storm Round 18 contest. The unique insights here can help you balance star power, value and budget management when you make your NRL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised NRL Cowboys vs Storm 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 Melbourne Storm 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.
