NRL Friday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 21, 2026
Last updated: Jul 24, 2026, 7:32AM | Published: Jul 22, 2026, 9:32AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Friday Round 21 DFS contest starts at 6:00pm AEST on July 24, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player on the slate to help you build winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for NRL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests and enhance your Supercoach team for Round 21.
Featured NRL Games
Draftstars' NRL Friday slate features the following matches:
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to make 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've reviewed every player from every team to help you find the best picks on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Dylan Lucas (NEW, FLEX/FWD) | $20,310 | 61.8 | 3 |
| Value | Cody Hopwood (NEW, FWD/FLEX) | $8,570 | 40.4 | 4.7 |
| Fade | Kyle McCarthy (NEW, FLEX/OB) | $10,550 | 3.3 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Francis Manuleleua (NEW, FWD/FLEX) | $8,370 | 38.1 | 4.6 |
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 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 | Sualauvi Faalogo (MEL) | $16,030 | 53.6 | 3.3 |
| Value | Jack Wighton (SOU) | $8,000 | 32.3 | 4 |
| Fade | Kyle McCarthy (NEW) | $10,550 | 3.3 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Nick Meaney (MEL) | $9,680 | 36.7 | 3.8 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Harry Grant (MEL) | $17,940 | 57.3 | 3.2 |
| Value | Tyran Wishart (MEL) | $13,650 | 53.4 | 3.9 |
| Fade | Connor Watson (SYD) | $12,210 | 30.3 | 2.5 |
| Cheapie | Brandon Smith (SOU) | $8,260 | 28.5 | 3.4 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Dylan Lucas (NEW) | $20,310 | 61.8 | 3 |
| Value | Cody Hopwood (NEW) | $8,570 | 40.4 | 4.7 |
| Fade | Naufahu Whyte (SYD) | $15,560 | 47.8 | 3.1 |
| Cheapie | Francis Manuleleua (NEW) | $8,370 | 38.1 | 4.6 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Friday Round 21 teams, consider starting with a value player like Cody Hopwood. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Dylan Lucas 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 Francis Manuleleua.
On the other hand, according to our model, Kyle McCarthy is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering 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 21 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 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.
