NRL Full Round Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Preliminary Finals, 2026
Last updated: Sep 25, 2026, 9:23AM | Published: Sep 23, 2026, 9:22AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Preliminary Finals, 2026 DFS contest begins at 7:50pm AEST on September 25, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player on the slate to help you create winning line-ups.
A reliable Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for NRL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests.
Featured NRL Games
Draftstars' NRL Full Round slate features 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 make 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 have reviewed every player from every team to help you make the best picks on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN, HH/FLEX) | $22,040 | 74.5 | 3.4 |
| Value | Sandon Smith (NEW, FLEX/HH) | $11,070 | 44.3 | 4 |
| Fade | Jake Averillo (DOL, FLEX/OB) | $13,520 | 3.4 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Mitch Kenny (PEN, FLEX/HH) | $9,720 | 35.9 | 3.7 |
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'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 | Herbie Farnworth (DOL) | $18,580 | 59.1 | 3.2 |
| Value | Kalyn Ponga (NEW) | $13,960 | 51 | 3.7 |
| Fade | Jake Averillo (DOL) | $13,520 | 3.4 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Daniel Tupou (SYD) | $8,830 | 30 | 3.4 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN) | $22,040 | 74.5 | 3.4 |
| Value | Sandon Smith (NEW) | $11,070 | 44.3 | 4 |
| Fade | Kurt Donoghoe (DOL) | $12,750 | 32.4 | 2.5 |
| Cheapie | Mitch Kenny (PEN) | $9,720 | 35.9 | 3.7 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (DOL) | $16,730 | 56.8 | 3.4 |
| Value | Liam Henry (PEN) | $12,060 | 43.6 | 3.6 |
| Fade | Dylan Lucas (NEW) | $18,060 | 26.3 | 1.5 |
| Cheapie | Morgan Knowles (DOL) | $8,940 | 31.6 | 3.5 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Preliminary Finals, 2026 teams, consider starting with a value player like Sandon Smith. 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 Mitch Kenny.
On the other hand, according to our model, Jake Averillo is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Full Round slate closes at 7:50pm 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 Preliminary Finals 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 Full Round 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.
