NRL Friday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 23, 2026
Last updated: Aug 6, 2026, 8:47PM | Published: Aug 5, 2026, 10:12AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Friday Round 23 DFS contest commences at 6:00pm AEST on August 7, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player on the slate to help you create winning line-ups.
A handy Draftstars cheat sheet is a must for NRL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 23.
Featured NRL Games
Draftstars' NRL Friday slate includes these matches:
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to deliver 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've reviewed every player from every team to help you find the best choices on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN, FLEX/HH) | $26,400 | 76.9 | 2.9 |
| Value | Luke Metcalf (WAR, HH/FLEX) | $10,100 | 47.9 | 4.7 |
| Fade | Taine Tuaupiki (WAR, FLEX/OB) | $11,630 | 3.8 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Salesi Foketi (SYD, FWD/FLEX) | $8,130 | 38.6 | 4.7 |
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 | Mark Nawaqanitawase (SYD) | $12,420 | 51.7 | 4.2 |
| Value | Izack Tago (PEN) | $8,970 | 39.3 | 4.4 |
| Fade | Taine Tuaupiki (WAR) | $11,630 | 3.8 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Jaxen Edgar (PEN) | $8,000 | 33.7 | 4.2 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN) | $26,400 | 76.9 | 2.9 |
| Value | Luke Metcalf (WAR) | $10,100 | 47.9 | 4.7 |
| Fade | Connor Watson (SYD) | $11,890 | 29.4 | 2.5 |
| Cheapie | Sam Healey (WAR) | $8,000 | 19.4 | 2.4 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Isaah Yeo (PEN) | $18,000 | 60.4 | 3.4 |
| Value | Salesi Foketi (SYD) | $8,130 | 38.6 | 4.7 |
| Fade | Sitili Tupouniua (BUL) | $13,940 | 25.6 | 1.8 |
| Cheapie | Spencer Leniu (SYD) | $9,810 | 34.6 | 3.5 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your NRL Friday Round 23 teams, consider starting with a value player like Luke Metcalf. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Nathan Cleary is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, check out our cheapie options, including Salesi Foketi.
On the other hand, according to our model, Taine Tuaupiki is one of the worst 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 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 23 slate. The unique insights here can help you maximize points while adhering to the salary cap 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.
