NRL Friday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 27, 2026
Last updated: Sep 4, 2026, 7:19AM | Published: Sep 2, 2026, 10:08AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Friday Round 27 DFS contest begins at 6:00pm AEST on September 4, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player on the slate to help you make winning line-ups.
An accurate 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 27.
Featured NRL Games
Draftstars' NRL Friday slate consists of the following match-ups:
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to produce some of the best DFS projections in the world.
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 | Herbie Farnworth (DOL, FLEX/OB) | $17,840 | 71.6 | 4 |
| Value | Lindsay Collins (SYD, FWD/FLEX) | $8,540 | 40.2 | 4.7 |
| Fade | Matthew Dufty (SOU, FLEX/OB) | $13,080 | 7.2 | 0.6 |
| Cheapie | Adam Elliott (SOU, FLEX/FWD) | $8,000 | 34.8 | 4.3 |
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'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 budget-conscious strategies, "cheapie" options refer to 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 | Herbie Farnworth (DOL) | $17,840 | 71.6 | 4 |
| Value | Brian Pouniu (DOL) | $11,330 | 51.4 | 4.5 |
| Fade | Matthew Dufty (SOU) | $13,080 | 7.2 | 0.6 |
| Cheapie | Jack Wighton (SOU) | $8,090 | 32 | 4 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Isaiya Katoa (DOL) | $16,890 | 63.7 | 3.8 |
| Value | Benaiah Ioelu (SYD) | $9,440 | 39.6 | 4.2 |
| Fade | Bradley Schneider (DOL) | $12,030 | 7.3 | 0.6 |
| Cheapie | Reece Foley (SYD) | $8,000 | 33.1 | 4.1 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (GOL) | $18,940 | 60.9 | 3.2 |
| Value | Lindsay Collins (SYD) | $8,540 | 40.2 | 4.7 |
| Fade | Connelly Lemuelu (DOL) | $14,770 | 11.9 | 0.8 |
| Cheapie | Adam Elliott (SOU) | $8,000 | 34.8 | 4.3 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your NRL Friday Round 27 teams, consider starting with a value player like Lindsay Collins. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Herbie Farnworth 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 Adam Elliott.
On the other hand, according to our model, Matthew Dufty is one of the lowest 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 27 slate. 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.
