NRL Eels vs Cowboys Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 24, 2026
Last updated: Aug 13, 2026, 2:28PM | Published: Aug 12, 2026, 9:40AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Eels vs Cowboys Round 24 DFS contest starts at 5:30pm AEST on August 15, 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 improve your Supercoach team for Round 24.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to come up with some of the best 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 Parramatta Eels vs North Queensland Cowboys match-up to help you find the best choices on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Heilum Luki (NQL, FWD/FLEX) | $17,780 | 58.9 | 3.3 |
| Value | Murray Taulagi (NQL, OB/FLEX) | $9,250 | 40.6 | 4.4 |
| Fade | Reed Mahoney (NQL, HH/FLEX) | $11,630 | 36.3 | 3.1 |
| Cheapie | Josh Addo-Carr (PAR, FLEX/OB) | $8,060 | 33.1 | 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 are 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) | $14,750 | 54.9 | 3.7 |
| Value | Murray Taulagi (NQL) | $9,250 | 40.6 | 4.4 |
| Fade | Will Penisini (PAR) | $11,700 | 41 | 3.5 |
| Cheapie | Josh Addo-Carr (PAR) | $8,060 | 33.1 | 4.1 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Mitchell Moses (PAR) | $16,120 | 55.3 | 3.4 |
| Value | Tallyn Da Silva (PAR) | $10,810 | 43.3 | 4 |
| Fade | Reed Mahoney (NQL) | $11,630 | 36.3 | 3.1 |
| Cheapie | Soni Luke (NQL) | $8,000 | 21.5 | 2.7 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Heilum Luki (NQL) | $17,780 | 58.9 | 3.3 |
| Value | Griffin Neame (NQL) | $8,000 | 32.8 | 4.1 |
| Fade | Jack Williams (PAR) | $17,600 | 56.5 | 3.2 |
| Cheapie | Kai O'Donnell (NQL) | $8,000 | 31.2 | 3.9 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Eels vs Cowboys Round 24 teams, consider starting with a value player like Murray Taulagi. 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, check out our cheapie options, including Josh Addo-Carr.
On the other hand, according to our model, Reed Mahoney is one of the lowest 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 Eels vs Cowboys 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 Eels vs Cowboys Round 24 slate. The unique insights here can give you an edge 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.
