NRL Friday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 17, 2025
Last updated: Jun 27, 2025, 7:22AM | Published: Jun 25, 2025, 9:22AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Friday Round 17 DFS contest commences at 6:00pm AEST on June 27, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player on the slate to help you make winning line-ups.
A handy Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial 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 17.
Featured NRL Games
Draftstars' NRL Friday slate includes these match-ups:
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 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 every player from every team to help you make the best selections on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Terrell May (WST, FLEX/FWD) | $21,740 | 76.8 | 3.5 |
| Value | Tallyn Da Silva (WST, FLEX/HH) | $8,000 | 41.3 | 5.2 |
| Fade | Brodie Jones (NEW, FLEX/FWD) | $11,210 | 26.4 | 2.4 |
| Cheapie | Jeral Skelton (WST, FLEX/OB) | $8,360 | 40.4 | 4.8 |
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 | Bradman Best (NEW) | $15,340 | 50.9 | 3.3 |
| Value | Jeral Skelton (WST) | $8,360 | 40.4 | 4.8 |
| Fade | Starford To'a (WST) | $16,380 | 41.4 | 2.5 |
| Cheapie | Heath Mason (WST) | $8,310 | 38 | 4.6 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jamal Fogarty (CAN) | $17,570 | 61.1 | 3.5 |
| Value | Tallyn Da Silva (WST) | $8,000 | 41.3 | 5.2 |
| Fade | Jake Simpkin (MAN) | $10,990 | 30.2 | 2.7 |
| Cheapie | Latu Fainu (WST) | $9,560 | 41 | 4.3 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Terrell May (WST) | $21,740 | 76.8 | 3.5 |
| Value | Simi Sasagi (CAN) | $8,050 | 37.7 | 4.7 |
| Fade | Brodie Jones (NEW) | $11,210 | 26.4 | 2.4 |
| Cheapie | Corey Waddell (MAN) | $8,850 | 40.9 | 4.6 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your NRL Friday Round 17 teams, consider starting with a value player like Tallyn Da Silva. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Terrell May is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, take a look at our cheapie options, including Jeral Skelton.
On the other hand, according to our model, Brodie Jones is one of the worst 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 Friday slate closes at 6:00pm AEST on Friday. 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 Friday Round 17 contest. The unique insights here can give you an edge when you make your NRL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised NRL Friday line-ups, check out the Fantasy Insider Cruncher on Draftstars! It's free to use when you're logged in.
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.
