NRL Eels vs Cowboys Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 23, 2025
Last updated: Aug 10, 2025, 5:22AM | Published: Aug 6, 2025, 9:23AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Eels vs Cowboys Round 23 DFS contest begins at 4:05pm AEST on August 10, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player in the game to help you build winning line-ups.
A handy 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 enhance your Supercoach team for Round 23.
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 most accurate DFS projections available.
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've reviewed players from each team in the Parramatta Eels vs North Queensland Cowboys match-up to help you find the best picks on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Mitchell Moses (PAR, HH/FLEX) | $17,040 | 56.8 | 3.3 |
| Value | Joash Papalii (PAR, FLEX/OB) | $8,000 | 35.9 | 4.5 |
| Fade | Kelma Tuilagi (PAR, FWD/FLEX) | $14,900 | 29.2 | 2 |
| Cheapie | Luca Moretti (PAR, FWD/FLEX) | $8,290 | 33.7 | 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 | Zac Lomax (PAR) | $14,410 | 50.5 | 3.5 |
| Value | Joash Papalii (PAR) | $8,000 | 35.9 | 4.5 |
| Fade | Braidon Burns (NQL) | $13,950 | 36.7 | 2.6 |
| Cheapie | Zac Laybutt (NQL) | $9,100 | 35.5 | 3.9 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Mitchell Moses (PAR) | $17,040 | 56.8 | 3.3 |
| Value | Dean Hawkins (PAR) | $11,720 | 43.3 | 3.7 |
| Fade | Ryley Smith (PAR) | $10,050 | 26.3 | 2.6 |
| Cheapie | Tallyn Da Silva (PAR) | $8,000 | 25 | 3.1 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Reuben Cotter (NQL) | $13,270 | 50.7 | 3.8 |
| Value | Luca Moretti (PAR) | $8,290 | 33.7 | 4.1 |
| Fade | Kelma Tuilagi (PAR) | $14,900 | 29.2 | 2 |
| Cheapie | Kai O'Donnell (NQL) | $8,000 | 22.1 | 2.8 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Eels vs Cowboys Round 23 teams, consider starting with a value player like Joash Papalii. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Mitchell Moses 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 Luca Moretti.
On the other hand, according to our model, Kelma Tuilagi is one of the worst 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 Eels vs Cowboys slate closes at 4:05pm AEST on Sunday. 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 Eels vs Cowboys Round 23 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 Eels 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 Parramatta Eels 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.
