NRL Dragons vs Cowboys Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 5, 2026
Last updated: Apr 3, 2026, 1:23PM | Published: Apr 1, 2026, 8:41AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Dragons vs Cowboys Round 5 DFS contest begins at 5:30pm AEDT on April 4, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player in the game to help you make winning line-ups.
A reliable 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 improve your Supercoach team for Round 5.
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 have reviewed players from each team in the [St. George Illawarra Dragons vs North Queensland Cowboys](https://www.statsinsider.com.au/sport-hub/nrl/schedule/2024_5_St. George Illawarra Dragons_nql) match-up to help you make the best picks on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Heilum Luki (NQL, FLEX/FWD) | $16,840 | 59.1 | 3.5 |
| Value | Reed Mahoney (NQL, HH/FLEX) | $9,880 | 44.4 | 4.5 |
| Fade | Harrison Edwards (NQL, FLEX/FWD) | $10,930 | 10.5 | 1 |
| Cheapie | Clinton Gutherson (STG, FLEX/OB) | $8,640 | 35.1 | 4.1 |
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 refer to 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 | Braidon Burns (NQL) | $14,660 | 51 | 3.5 |
| Value | Christian Tuipulotu (STG) | $10,310 | 44.5 | 4.3 |
| Fade | Moses Suli (STG) | $13,530 | 42 | 3.1 |
| Cheapie | Clinton Gutherson (STG) | $8,640 | 35.1 | 4.1 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Tom Dearden (NQL) | $15,530 | 58.1 | 3.7 |
| Value | Reed Mahoney (NQL) | $9,880 | 44.4 | 4.5 |
| Fade | Jacob Liddle (STG) | $10,400 | 30.2 | 2.9 |
| Cheapie | Soni Luke (NQL) | $8,000 | 14 | 1.8 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Heilum Luki (NQL) | $16,840 | 59.1 | 3.5 |
| Value | Sam McIntyre (NQL) | $11,030 | 43 | 3.9 |
| Fade | Harrison Edwards (NQL) | $10,930 | 10.5 | 1 |
| Cheapie | Matthew Lodge (NQL) | $8,000 | 28.6 | 3.6 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Dragons vs Cowboys Round 5 teams, consider starting with a value player like Reed Mahoney. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Heilum Luki is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, explore our cheapie options, including Clinton Gutherson.
On the other hand, according to our model, Harrison Edwards is one of the lowest value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Dragons vs Cowboys slate closes at 5:30pm AEDT 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 Cowboys Round 5 slate. 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 Dragons vs Cowboys 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 North Queensland Cowboys 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.
