NRL Raiders vs Knights Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 21, 2025
Last updated: Jul 27, 2025, 3:22AM | Published: Jul 23, 2025, 9:23AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Raiders vs Knights Round 21 DFS contest begins at 2:00pm AEST on July 27, 2025, 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 build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 21.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses 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 Canberra Raiders vs Newcastle Knights match-up to help you make the best selections on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Hudson Young (CAN, FLEX/FWD) | $17,420 | 65.2 | 3.7 |
| Value | Jayden Brailey (NEW, FLEX/HH) | $11,480 | 46.1 | 4 |
| Fade | Jackson Hastings (NEW, HH/FLEX) | $17,350 | 15.3 | 0.9 |
| Cheapie | Xavier Savage (CAN, FLEX/OB) | $8,240 | 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 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 | Matthew Timoko (CAN) | $12,050 | 45.5 | 3.8 |
| Value | Xavier Savage (CAN) | $8,240 | 31.4 | 3.8 |
| Fade | Kaeo Weekes (CAN) | $16,130 | 39.6 | 2.5 |
| Cheapie | Fletcher Hunt (NEW) | $8,000 | 27.3 | 3.4 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jamal Fogarty (CAN) | $19,590 | 64 | 3.3 |
| Value | Jayden Brailey (NEW) | $11,480 | 46.1 | 4 |
| Fade | Jackson Hastings (NEW) | $17,350 | 15.3 | 0.9 |
| Cheapie | Owen Pattie (CAN) | $8,000 | 20.3 | 2.5 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Hudson Young (CAN) | $17,420 | 65.2 | 3.7 |
| Value | Jermaine McEwen (NEW) | $10,280 | 39.4 | 3.8 |
| Fade | Zac Hosking (CAN) | $16,660 | 51.7 | 3.1 |
| Cheapie | Jacob Saifiti (NEW) | $9,840 | 36.3 | 3.7 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Raiders vs Knights Round 21 teams, consider starting with a value player like Jayden Brailey. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Hudson Young is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, take a look at our cheapie options, including Xavier Savage.
On the other hand, according to our model, Jackson Hastings is one of the worst 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 Raiders vs Knights 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 Raiders vs Knights Round 21 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 Raiders vs Knights 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 Canberra Raiders vs Newcastle Knights 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.
