NRL Eels vs Sea Eagles Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 18, 2026
Last updated: Jul 5, 2026, 3:48AM | Published: Jul 1, 2026, 9:28AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Eels vs Sea Eagles Round 18 DFS contest commences at 2:00pm AEST on July 5, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each 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 put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 18.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to come up with 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 have reviewed players from each team in the Parramatta Eels vs Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles match-up to help you make the best selections on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jamal Fogarty (MAN, FLEX/HH) | $18,830 | 64 | 3.4 |
| Value | Jake Simpkin (MAN, FLEX/HH) | $10,050 | 49.2 | 4.9 |
| Fade | Clayton Faulalo (MAN, OB/FLEX) | $12,090 | 34.1 | 2.8 |
| Cheapie | Sam Tuivaiti (PAR, FWD/FLEX) | $8,000 | 33.6 | 4.2 |
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 those needing to stay under the salary cap, "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 | Reuben Garrick (MAN) | $11,040 | 46.2 | 4.2 |
| Value | Reuben Garrick (MAN) | $11,040 | 46.2 | 4.2 |
| Fade | Clayton Faulalo (MAN) | $12,090 | 34.1 | 2.8 |
| Cheapie | Jordan Samrani (PAR) | $8,030 | 29.9 | 3.7 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jamal Fogarty (MAN) | $18,830 | 64 | 3.4 |
| Value | Jake Simpkin (MAN) | $10,050 | 49.2 | 4.9 |
| Fade | Ronald Volkman (PAR) | $13,510 | 39.7 | 2.9 |
| Cheapie | Jonah Pezet (PAR) | $8,680 | 33.1 | 3.8 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Ben Trbojevic (MAN) | $15,860 | 55 | 3.5 |
| Value | Sam Tuivaiti (PAR) | $8,000 | 33.6 | 4.2 |
| Fade | Jake Trbojevic (MAN) | $12,350 | 38.1 | 3.1 |
| Cheapie | Kobe Hetherington (MAN) | $8,930 | 35.7 | 4 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Eels vs Sea Eagles Round 18 teams, consider starting with a value player like Jake Simpkin. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Jamal Fogarty 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 Sam Tuivaiti.
On the other hand, according to our model, Clayton Faulalo is one of the lowest value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Eels vs Sea Eagles slate closes at 2:00pm 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 Sea Eagles Round 18 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 Eels vs Sea Eagles 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 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 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.
