NRL Knights vs Panthers Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 8, 2026
Last updated: Apr 23, 2026, 12:24AM | Published: Apr 22, 2026, 9:23AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Knights vs Panthers Round 8 DFS contest kicks off at 2:00pm AEST on April 26, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
A handy 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 8.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to deliver 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 Penrith Panthers match-up to help you make the best selections on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN, FLEX/HH) | $24,440 | 86 | 3.5 |
| Value | Luke Garner (PEN, FWD/FLEX) | $9,030 | 43.3 | 4.8 |
| Fade | Kyle McCarthy (NEW, FLEX/OB) | $10,830 | 3.6 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Francis Manuleleua (NEW, FWD/FLEX) | $8,000 | 38.5 | 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 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 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 | Dylan Edwards (PEN) | $12,920 | 52.9 | 4.1 |
| Value | Dylan Edwards (PEN) | $12,920 | 52.9 | 4.1 |
| Fade | Kyle McCarthy (NEW) | $10,830 | 3.6 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Fletcher Hunt (NEW) | $9,640 | 31.7 | 3.3 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN) | $24,440 | 86 | 3.5 |
| Value | Freddy Lussick (PEN) | $10,180 | 39.6 | 3.9 |
| Fade | Phoenix Crossland (NEW) | $13,580 | 46 | 3.4 |
| Cheapie | Blaize Talagi (PEN) | $9,450 | 35.3 | 3.7 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Isaah Yeo (PEN) | $17,760 | 54.4 | 3.1 |
| Value | Luke Garner (PEN) | $9,030 | 43.3 | 4.8 |
| Fade | Mat Croker (NEW) | $11,580 | 38.2 | 3.3 |
| Cheapie | Francis Manuleleua (NEW) | $8,000 | 38.5 | 4.8 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your NRL Knights vs Panthers Round 8 teams, consider starting with a value player like Luke Garner. 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 Francis Manuleleua.
On the other hand, according to our model, Kyle McCarthy is one of the worst value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Knights vs Panthers slate closes at 2:00pm 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 Panthers Round 8 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 Panthers 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 Penrith Panthers 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.
