NRL Friday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 9, 2026
Last updated: Apr 30, 2026, 11:22AM | Published: Apr 29, 2026, 9:43AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Friday Round 9 DFS contest starts at 6:00pm AEST on May 1, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player on the slate to help you build winning line-ups.
A reliable Draftstars cheat sheet is a must 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 9.
Featured NRL Games
Draftstars' NRL Friday slate consists of 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 deliver some of the most accurate DFS projections available.
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 every player from every team to help you make the best selections on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Herbie Farnworth (DOL, OB/FLEX) | $19,210 | 68.3 | 3.6 |
| Value | Bradley Schneider (DOL, HH/FLEX) | $8,140 | 40.5 | 5 |
| Fade | Cooper Clarke (MEL, FWD/FLEX) | $10,380 | 8.7 | 0.8 |
| Cheapie | Reed Mahoney (NQL, HH/FLEX) | $9,720 | 39.9 | 4.1 |
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 those needing to stay under the salary cap, "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) | $19,210 | 68.3 | 3.6 |
| Value | Stephen Crichton (BUL) | $11,240 | 44.7 | 4 |
| Fade | Enari Tuala (BUL) | $13,840 | 32.6 | 2.4 |
| Cheapie | Bronson Xerri (BUL) | $9,590 | 37.6 | 3.9 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Matt Burton (BUL) | $18,140 | 60.1 | 3.3 |
| Value | Bradley Schneider (DOL) | $8,140 | 40.5 | 5 |
| Fade | Jake Clifford (NQL) | $16,960 | 49.4 | 2.9 |
| Cheapie | Reed Mahoney (NQL) | $9,720 | 39.9 | 4.1 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Stefano Utoikamanu (MEL) | $16,750 | 58.2 | 3.5 |
| Value | Tom Gilbert (DOL) | $13,100 | 46.6 | 3.6 |
| Fade | Cooper Clarke (MEL) | $10,380 | 8.7 | 0.8 |
| Cheapie | Kurt Mann (BUL) | $8,920 | 30.4 | 3.4 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your NRL Friday Round 9 teams, consider starting with a value player like Bradley Schneider. 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, explore our cheapie options, including Reed Mahoney.
On the other hand, according to our model, Cooper Clarke is one of the lowest 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 9 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.
