NRL Panthers vs Sharks Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 2, 2026
Last updated: Mar 12, 2026, 5:26AM | Published: Mar 11, 2026, 8:23AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Panthers vs Sharks Round 2 DFS contest starts at 7:35pm AEDT on March 14, 2026, 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 assemble your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests and enhance your Supercoach team for Round 2.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to produce some of the strongest DFS projections in the world.
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 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks match-up to help you make the best choices on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN, FLEX/HH) | $23,770 | 78.6 | 3.3 |
| Value | Jesse Colquhoun (CRO, FLEX/FWD) | $10,110 | 39.9 | 3.9 |
| Fade | Izack Tago (PEN, FLEX/OB) | $10,550 | 4.1 | 0.4 |
| Cheapie | Blaize Talagi (PEN, FLEX/HH) | $9,810 | 32.8 | 3.3 |
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 | KL Iro (CRO) | $15,690 | 47.6 | 3 |
| Value | Casey McLean (PEN) | $10,010 | 38.3 | 3.8 |
| Fade | Izack Tago (PEN) | $10,550 | 4.1 | 0.4 |
| Cheapie | Chris Vea'ila (CRO) | $8,800 | 2.4 | 0.3 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN) | $23,770 | 78.6 | 3.3 |
| Value | Mitch Kenny (PEN) | $10,980 | 42.2 | 3.8 |
| Fade | Jack Cogger (PEN) | $10,490 | 13.9 | 1.3 |
| Cheapie | Blaize Talagi (PEN) | $9,810 | 32.8 | 3.3 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Isaah Yeo (PEN) | $17,200 | 58.3 | 3.4 |
| Value | Jesse Colquhoun (CRO) | $10,110 | 39.9 | 3.9 |
| Fade | Siosifa Talakai (CRO) | $10,090 | 23.1 | 2.3 |
| Cheapie | Toby Rudolf (CRO) | $8,890 | 28.1 | 3.2 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Panthers vs Sharks Round 2 teams, consider starting with a value player like Jesse Colquhoun. 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, explore our cheapie options, including Blaize Talagi.
On the other hand, according to our model, Izack Tago is one of the worst value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Panthers vs Sharks slate closes at 7:35pm AEDT on Saturday. 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 Sharks Round 2 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 Panthers vs Sharks 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 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 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.
