NRL Knights vs Dolphins Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 18, 2026
Last updated: Jul 2, 2026, 5:28PM | Published: Jul 1, 2026, 9:28AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Knights vs Dolphins Round 18 DFS contest kicks off at 4:05pm AEST on July 5, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player in the game to help you make winning line-ups.
A reliable Draftstars cheat sheet is essential 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 18.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to come up with some of the most reliable 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 have reviewed players from each team in the Newcastle Knights vs Dolphins match-up to help you make the best selections on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Herbie Farnworth (DOL, OB/FLEX) | $21,270 | 65.1 | 3.1 |
| Value | Bradley Schneider (DOL, HH/FLEX) | $10,670 | 50 | 4.7 |
| Fade | Jamayne Isaako (DOL, FLEX/OB) | $14,870 | 41.8 | 2.8 |
| Cheapie | Fletcher Hunt (NEW, OB/FLEX) | $8,180 | 31.4 | 3.8 |
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 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) | $21,270 | 65.1 | 3.1 |
| Value | Fletcher Hunt (NEW) | $8,180 | 31.4 | 3.8 |
| Fade | Jamayne Isaako (DOL) | $14,870 | 41.8 | 2.8 |
| Cheapie | Brian Pouniu (DOL) | $8,000 | 12.7 | 1.6 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Dylan Brown (NEW) | $17,740 | 52.2 | 2.9 |
| Value | Bradley Schneider (DOL) | $10,670 | 50 | 4.7 |
| Fade | Kurt Donoghoe (DOL) | $12,110 | 34.9 | 2.9 |
| Cheapie | Harrison Graham (NEW) | $9,480 | 29.5 | 3.1 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Dylan Lucas (NEW) | $20,150 | 64.3 | 3.2 |
| Value | Jacob Saifiti (NEW) | $11,000 | 40.6 | 3.7 |
| Fade | Tom Gilbert (DOL) | $12,740 | 37.1 | 2.9 |
| Cheapie | Tyson Frizell (NEW) | $9,760 | 33.1 | 3.4 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Knights vs Dolphins Round 18 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 looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, check out our cheapie options, including Fletcher Hunt.
On the other hand, according to our model, Jamayne Isaako 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 Knights vs Dolphins slate closes at 4:05pm AEST on Sunday. 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 Knights vs Dolphins Round 18 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 Knights vs Dolphins line-ups, check out the Fantasy Insider Cruncher on Draftstars! It's free to use when you're logged in.
For more on this game, dive into our full Newcastle Knights vs Dolphins prediction, where you will find the latest odds and tips for the main betting markets.
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.
