NRL Full Round Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 20, 2026
Last updated: Jul 16, 2026, 9:38AM | Published: Jul 15, 2026, 9:26AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Round 20 DFS contest begins at 7:50pm AEST on July 16, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player on the slate to help you make winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial for NRL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you assemble your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 20.
Featured NRL Games
Draftstars' NRL Full Round slate includes these match-ups:
- Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos
- [New Zealand Warriors vs St. George Illawarra Dragons](https://www.statsinsider.com.au/sport-hub/nrl/schedule/2024_20_war_St. George Illawarra Dragons)
- Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs Wests Tigers
- Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs Newcastle Knights
- Gold Coast Titans vs Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
- Sydney Roosters vs Melbourne Storm
- Dolphins vs North Queensland Cowboys
- Canberra Raiders vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
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 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 make the best picks on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN, HH/FLEX) | $25,540 | 85.1 | 3.3 |
| Value | Cody Ramsey (SYD, OB/FLEX) | $8,280 | 40.8 | 4.9 |
| Fade | Tevita Naufahu (DOL, FLEX/OB) | $14,710 | 2.7 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Francis Manuleleua (NEW, FWD/FLEX) | $8,000 | 38.6 | 4.8 |
According to Fantasy Insider's DFS model, our "stud" is the highest projected scorer across the slate, while "value" picks offer 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) | $18,260 | 63.5 | 3.5 |
| Value | Cody Ramsey (SYD) | $8,280 | 40.8 | 4.9 |
| Fade | Tevita Naufahu (DOL) | $14,710 | 2.7 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Mathew Feagai (STG) | $8,000 | 34 | 4.2 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN) | $25,540 | 85.1 | 3.3 |
| Value | Sean O'Sullivan (BUL) | $8,000 | 38.1 | 4.8 |
| Fade | Lyhkan King-Togia (STG) | $10,790 | 3.3 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Trent Toelau (MEL) | $8,000 | 33.8 | 4.2 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Alex Twal (WST) | $21,710 | 69.4 | 3.2 |
| Value | Francis Manuleleua (NEW) | $8,000 | 38.6 | 4.8 |
| Fade | Eddie Ieremia-Toeava (WAR) | $10,760 | 12.3 | 1.1 |
| Cheapie | Griffin Neame (NQL) | $8,140 | 36.3 | 4.5 |
Conclusion
In NRL DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your NRL Round 20 teams, consider starting with a value player like Cody Ramsey. 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, take a look at our cheapie options, including Francis Manuleleua.
On the other hand, according to our model, Tevita Naufahu 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 Full Round slate closes at 7:50pm AEST on Thursday. 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 Round 20 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 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.
