NRL Raiders vs Storm Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 7, 2026
Last updated: Apr 17, 2026, 7:23AM | Published: Apr 15, 2026, 9:24AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Raiders vs Storm Round 7 DFS contest begins at 6:00pm AEST on April 17, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
A reliable 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 7.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to make 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've reviewed players from each team in the Canberra Raiders vs Melbourne Storm match-up to help you find the best selections on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jahrome Hughes (MEL, FLEX/HH) | $16,620 | 59.6 | 3.6 |
| Value | Manaia Waitere (MEL, FLEX/OB) | $8,000 | 33.5 | 4.2 |
| Fade | Daine Laurie (CAN, HH/FLEX) | $10,360 | 4.5 | 0.4 |
| Cheapie | Alec MacDonald (MEL, FLEX/FWD) | $8,590 | 33.2 | 3.9 |
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 | Simi Sasagi (CAN) | $15,100 | 50.3 | 3.3 |
| Value | Manaia Waitere (MEL) | $8,000 | 33.5 | 4.2 |
| Fade | Sualauvi Faalogo (MEL) | $15,990 | 46.2 | 2.9 |
| Cheapie | Nick Meaney (MEL) | $9,780 | 32.5 | 3.3 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jahrome Hughes (MEL) | $16,620 | 59.6 | 3.6 |
| Value | Tom Starling (CAN) | $11,010 | 39.9 | 3.6 |
| Fade | Daine Laurie (CAN) | $10,360 | 4.5 | 0.4 |
| Cheapie | Tyran Wishart (MEL) | $8,000 | 24 | 3 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Stefano Utoikamanu (MEL) | $18,270 | 58.3 | 3.2 |
| Value | Alec MacDonald (MEL) | $8,590 | 33.2 | 3.9 |
| Fade | Joe Roddy (CAN) | $10,700 | 5.5 | 0.5 |
| Cheapie | Ata Mariota (CAN) | $8,000 | 30.1 | 3.8 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your NRL Raiders vs Storm Round 7 teams, consider starting with a value player like Manaia Waitere. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Jahrome Hughes is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, explore our cheapie options, including Alec MacDonald.
On the other hand, according to our model, Daine Laurie 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 Raiders vs Storm slate closes at 6:00pm AEST on Friday. 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 Storm Round 7 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 Raiders vs Storm 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 Melbourne Storm 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.
