NRL Dragons vs Wests Tigers Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 18, 2026
Last updated: Jul 4, 2026, 7:28AM | Published: Jul 1, 2026, 9:28AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Dragons vs Wests Tigers Round 18 DFS contest starts at 5:30pm AEST on July 4, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player in the game to help you make winning line-ups.
A reliable Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial 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 18.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to make some of the strongest DFS projections in the world.
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 [St. George Illawarra Dragons vs Wests Tigers](https://www.statsinsider.com.au/sport-hub/nrl/schedule/2024_18_St. George Illawarra Dragons_wst) match-up to help you find the best picks on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Terrell May (WST, FWD/FLEX) | $23,040 | 69 | 3 |
| Value | Sunia Turuva (WST, FLEX/OB) | $8,870 | 37.8 | 4.3 |
| Fade | Lyhkan King-Togia (STG, FLEX/HH) | $10,830 | 3.5 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Kyle Flanagan (STG, HH/FLEX) | $8,900 | 36.8 | 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 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 | Jahream Bula (WST) | $11,200 | 41.8 | 3.7 |
| Value | Sunia Turuva (WST) | $8,870 | 37.8 | 4.3 |
| Fade | Setu Tu (STG) | $11,850 | 40.7 | 3.4 |
| Cheapie | Valentine Holmes (STG) | $9,550 | 37.6 | 3.9 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Adam Doueihi (WST) | $18,240 | 65.2 | 3.6 |
| Value | Kyle Flanagan (STG) | $8,900 | 36.8 | 4.1 |
| Fade | Lyhkan King-Togia (STG) | $10,830 | 3.5 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Latu Fainu (WST) | $8,000 | 19.1 | 2.4 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Terrell May (WST) | $23,040 | 69 | 3 |
| Value | Dylan Egan (STG) | $14,260 | 55.3 | 3.9 |
| Fade | Luciano Leilua (STG) | $12,340 | 22.4 | 1.8 |
| Cheapie | Bunty Afoa (WST) | $8,050 | 28.4 | 3.5 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your NRL Dragons vs Wests Tigers Round 18 teams, consider starting with a value player like Sunia Turuva. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Terrell May is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, explore our cheapie options, including Kyle Flanagan.
On the other hand, according to our model, Lyhkan King-Togia is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Dragons vs Wests Tigers 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 Dragons vs Wests Tigers Round 18 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 Dragons vs Wests Tigers 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 Wests Tigers 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.
