NRL Eels vs Wests Tigers Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 5, 2026
Last updated: Apr 4, 2026, 2:22PM | Published: Apr 1, 2026, 8:41AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Eels vs Wests Tigers Round 5 DFS contest commences at 4:05pm AEST on April 6, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every 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 enhance your Supercoach team for Round 5.
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 strongest DFS projections in the world.
With the best 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 Wests Tigers match-up to help you find the best selections on Monday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Adam Doueihi (WST, HH/FLEX) | $19,880 | 67.7 | 3.4 |
| Value | Joash Papalii (PAR, FLEX/OB) | $8,000 | 36.1 | 4.5 |
| Fade | Jack De Belin (PAR, FWD/FLEX) | $12,770 | 15.8 | 1.2 |
| Cheapie | Jonah Pezet (PAR, FLEX/HH) | $9,450 | 34.6 | 3.7 |
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 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 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 | Josh Addo-Carr (PAR) | $11,580 | 40.3 | 3.5 |
| Value | Joash Papalii (PAR) | $8,000 | 36.1 | 4.5 |
| Fade | Jahream Bula (WST) | $12,160 | 38.1 | 3.1 |
| Cheapie | Heamasi Makasini (WST) | $9,570 | 32.1 | 3.3 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Adam Doueihi (WST) | $19,880 | 67.7 | 3.4 |
| Value | Jonah Pezet (PAR) | $9,450 | 34.6 | 3.7 |
| Fade | Ryley Smith (PAR) | $12,240 | 36.5 | 3 |
| Cheapie | Tallyn Da Silva (PAR) | $8,000 | 17.5 | 2.2 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Terrell May (WST) | $19,670 | 57.6 | 2.9 |
| Value | Dylan Walker (PAR) | $11,460 | 39.3 | 3.4 |
| Fade | Jack De Belin (PAR) | $12,770 | 15.8 | 1.2 |
| Cheapie | Sam Tuivaiti (PAR) | $8,870 | 29.1 | 3.3 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Eels vs Wests Tigers Round 5 teams, consider starting with a value player like Joash Papalii. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Adam Doueihi 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 Jonah Pezet.
On the other hand, according to our model, Jack De Belin 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 Wests Tigers slate closes at 4:05pm AEST on Monday. 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 Wests Tigers Round 5 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 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 Parramatta Eels 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.
