NRL Dragons vs Bulldogs Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 25, 2026
Last updated: Aug 19, 2026, 12:28PM | Published: Aug 19, 2026, 9:28AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Dragons vs Bulldogs Round 25 DFS contest begins at 7:35pm AEST on August 22, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player in the game to help you make winning line-ups.
A handy Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for NRL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you assemble your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests and enhance your Supercoach team for Round 25.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to produce some of the best 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 have reviewed players from each team in the [St. George Illawarra Dragons vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs](https://www.statsinsider.com.au/sport-hub/nrl/schedule/2024_25_St. George Illawarra Dragons_cby) match-up to help you make the best choices on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Ryan Couchman (STG, FWD/FLEX) | $20,810 | 65.9 | 3.2 |
| Value | Jacob Liddle (STG, HH/FLEX) | $10,400 | 47.1 | 4.5 |
| Fade | Damien Cook (STG, HH/FLEX) | $11,090 | 13.7 | 1.2 |
| Cheapie | Bronson Xerri (BUL, FLEX/OB) | $9,100 | 38.7 | 4.3 |
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 budget-conscious strategies, "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 | Jacob Kiraz (BUL) | $12,600 | 45.1 | 3.6 |
| Value | Bronson Xerri (BUL) | $9,100 | 38.7 | 4.3 |
| Fade | Daniel Atkinson (STG) | $16,180 | 29.1 | 1.8 |
| Cheapie | Tyrell Sloan (STG) | $8,360 | 31.2 | 3.7 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Lachlan Galvin (BUL) | $17,710 | 60.4 | 3.4 |
| Value | Jacob Liddle (STG) | $10,400 | 47.1 | 4.5 |
| Fade | Damien Cook (STG) | $11,090 | 13.7 | 1.2 |
| Cheapie | Lyhkan King-Togia (STG) | $8,780 | 36 | 4.1 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Ryan Couchman (STG) | $20,810 | 65.9 | 3.2 |
| Value | Jacob Preston (BUL) | $15,450 | 56.6 | 3.7 |
| Fade | Josh Curran (BUL) | $11,290 | 21.9 | 1.9 |
| Cheapie | Emre Guler (STG) | $9,610 | 33.5 | 3.5 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your NRL Dragons vs Bulldogs Round 25 teams, consider starting with a value player like Jacob Liddle. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Ryan Couchman 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 Bronson Xerri.
On the other hand, according to our model, Damien Cook is one of the lowest value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Dragons vs Bulldogs slate closes at 7:35pm 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 Dragons vs Bulldogs Round 25 slate. The unique insights here can help you maximize points while adhering to the salary cap when you make your NRL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised NRL Dragons vs Bulldogs 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 St. George Illawarra Dragons vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 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.
