NRL Eels vs Panthers Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 21, 2026
Last updated: Jul 23, 2026, 10:00AM | Published: Jul 22, 2026, 9:31AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Eels vs Panthers Round 21 DFS contest kicks off at 7:50pm AEST on July 23, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player in the game to help you build winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is a must 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 21.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses 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've reviewed players from each team in the Parramatta Eels vs Penrith Panthers match-up to help you make the best choices on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN, FLEX/HH) | $24,950 | 82.2 | 3.3 |
| Value | Jaxen Edgar (PEN, FLEX/OB) | $8,000 | 40.4 | 5 |
| Fade | Kelma Tuilagi (PAR, FWD/FLEX) | $12,360 | 23 | 1.9 |
| Cheapie | Jack De Belin (PAR, FLEX/FWD) | $8,000 | 31.4 | 3.9 |
According to Fantasy Insider's DFS model, our "stud" is the highest projected scorer across the slate, while "value" picks offer 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 | Thomas Jenkins (PEN) | $13,980 | 50.6 | 3.6 |
| Value | Jaxen Edgar (PEN) | $8,000 | 40.4 | 5 |
| Fade | Brian Kelly (PAR) | $11,230 | 30.7 | 2.7 |
| Cheapie | Josh Addo-Carr (PAR) | $8,970 | 27.2 | 3 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN) | $24,950 | 82.2 | 3.3 |
| Value | Tallyn Da Silva (PAR) | $11,500 | 43.2 | 3.8 |
| Fade | Ronald Volkman (PAR) | $13,660 | 38.1 | 2.8 |
| Cheapie | Billy Scott (PEN) | $8,000 | 12.9 | 1.6 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Isaah Yeo (PEN) | $17,440 | 53.8 | 3.1 |
| Value | Jack De Belin (PAR) | $8,000 | 31.4 | 3.9 |
| Fade | Kelma Tuilagi (PAR) | $12,360 | 23 | 1.9 |
| Cheapie | Luca Moretti (PAR) | $9,290 | 35.6 | 3.8 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your NRL Eels vs Panthers Round 21 teams, consider starting with a value player like Jaxen Edgar. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Nathan Cleary 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 Jack De Belin.
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 entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Eels vs Panthers slate closes at 7:50pm AEST on Thursday. 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 Panthers Round 21 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 Panthers 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 Penrith Panthers 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.
