NRL Dolphins vs Panthers Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 7, 2026
Last updated: Apr 16, 2026, 10:24AM | Published: Apr 15, 2026, 9:25AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Dolphins vs Panthers Round 7 DFS contest begins at 8:00pm AEST on April 17, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers 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 put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests and enhance your Supercoach team for Round 7.
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 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 Dolphins vs Penrith Panthers match-up to help you find the best selections on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN, FLEX/HH) | $23,670 | 85.9 | 3.6 |
| Value | Luke Garner (PEN, FWD/FLEX) | $8,940 | 45.5 | 5.1 |
| Fade | Trai Fuller (DOL, OB/FLEX) | $10,550 | 5 | 0.5 |
| Cheapie | Scott Sorensen (PEN, FLEX/FWD) | $8,000 | 31.1 | 3.9 |
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 | Herbie Farnworth (DOL) | $18,500 | 62 | 3.4 |
| Value | Izack Tago (PEN) | $10,220 | 44.3 | 4.3 |
| Fade | Trai Fuller (DOL) | $10,550 | 5 | 0.5 |
| Cheapie | Selwyn Cobbo (DOL) | $9,880 | 29.3 | 3 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN) | $23,670 | 85.9 | 3.6 |
| Value | Blaize Talagi (PEN) | $8,660 | 33.6 | 3.9 |
| Fade | Isaiya Katoa (DOL) | $16,210 | 54.3 | 3.3 |
| Cheapie | Jack Cogger (PEN) | $8,000 | 13.6 | 1.7 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Isaah Yeo (PEN) | $17,460 | 55.3 | 3.2 |
| Value | Luke Garner (PEN) | $8,940 | 45.5 | 5.1 |
| Fade | Thomas Flegler (DOL) | $12,610 | 34.2 | 2.7 |
| Cheapie | Scott Sorensen (PEN) | $8,000 | 31.1 | 3.9 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your NRL Dolphins vs Panthers Round 7 teams, consider starting with a value player like Luke Garner. 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 Scott Sorensen.
On the other hand, according to our model, Trai Fuller is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building out multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Dolphins vs Panthers slate closes at 8:00pm AEST on Friday. 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 Dolphins vs Panthers Round 7 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 Dolphins 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 Dolphins 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.
