NRL Panthers vs Broncos Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 9, 2025
Last updated: May 4, 2025, 5:22AM | Published: Apr 30, 2025, 9:23AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Panthers vs Broncos Round 9 DFS contest kicks off at 4:05pm AEST on May 4, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
A handy Draftstars cheat sheet is a must for NRL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests and enhance your Supercoach team for Round 9.
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 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've reviewed players from each team in the Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos match-up to help you find the best picks on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN, HH/FLEX) | $20,440 | 70.4 | 3.4 |
| Value | Luke Garner (PEN, OB/FLEX) | $8,240 | 38.8 | 4.7 |
| Fade | Cory Paix (BRI, FLEX/HH) | $10,970 | 22.5 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | Ben Hunt (BRI, HH/FLEX) | $9,540 | 34.2 | 3.6 |
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 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 | Dylan Edwards (PEN) | $17,660 | 53.2 | 3 |
| Value | Luke Garner (PEN) | $8,240 | 38.8 | 4.7 |
| Fade | Jesse Arthars (BRI) | $10,250 | 26 | 2.5 |
| Cheapie | Thomas Jenkins (PEN) | $8,940 | 27.3 | 3.1 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN) | $20,440 | 70.4 | 3.4 |
| Value | Ben Hunt (BRI) | $9,540 | 34.2 | 3.6 |
| Fade | Cory Paix (BRI) | $10,970 | 22.5 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | Billy Walters (BRI) | $9,880 | 32.7 | 3.3 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Payne Haas (BRI) | $24,160 | 70.4 | 2.9 |
| Value | Isaiah Papali'i (PEN) | $11,970 | 43.4 | 3.6 |
| Fade | Jordan Riki (BRI) | $15,570 | 36.4 | 2.3 |
| Cheapie | Brendan Piakura (BRI) | $9,100 | 29.4 | 3.2 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Panthers vs Broncos Round 9 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 looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, check out our cheapie options, including Ben Hunt.
On the other hand, according to our model, Cory Paix is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Panthers vs Broncos 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 Panthers vs Broncos Round 9 contest. 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 Panthers vs Broncos 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 Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos 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.
