NRL Raiders vs Wests Tigers Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 21, 2026
Last updated: Jul 25, 2026, 4:35AM | Published: Jul 22, 2026, 9:31AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Raiders vs Wests Tigers Round 21 DFS contest kicks off at 3:00pm AEST on July 25, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player in the game to help you build 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 21.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses 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've reviewed players from each team in the Canberra Raiders vs Wests Tigers match-up to help you find the best selections on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Terrell May (WST, FWD/FLEX) | $19,930 | 66.9 | 3.4 |
| Value | Ethan Roberts (WST, FLEX/FWD) | $8,000 | 35.9 | 4.5 |
| Fade | Matty Nicholson (CAN, FLEX/FWD) | $12,110 | 14.6 | 1.2 |
| Cheapie | Jahream Bula (WST, FLEX/OB) | $8,020 | 33.6 | 4.2 |
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 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 | Simi Sasagi (CAN) | $14,730 | 53.6 | 3.6 |
| Value | Jahream Bula (WST) | $8,020 | 33.6 | 4.2 |
| Fade | Matthew Timoko (CAN) | $12,580 | 47.6 | 3.8 |
| Cheapie | Xavier Savage (CAN) | $8,000 | 31.8 | 4 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Ethan Sanders (CAN) | $16,400 | 52.7 | 3.2 |
| Value | Tom Starling (CAN) | $9,690 | 40.4 | 4.2 |
| Fade | Daine Laurie (CAN) | $10,930 | 25.2 | 2.3 |
| Cheapie | Javon Andrews (WST) | $8,000 | 32.5 | 4.1 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Terrell May (WST) | $19,930 | 66.9 | 3.4 |
| Value | Ethan Roberts (WST) | $8,000 | 35.9 | 4.5 |
| Fade | Matty Nicholson (CAN) | $12,110 | 14.6 | 1.2 |
| Cheapie | Morgan Smithies (CAN) | $9,640 | 39.2 | 4.1 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Raiders vs Wests Tigers Round 21 teams, consider starting with a value player like Ethan Roberts. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Terrell May is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, explore our cheapie options, including Jahream Bula.
On the other hand, according to our model, Matty Nicholson is one of the lowest value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Raiders vs Wests Tigers slate closes at 3:00pm AEST 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 Raiders vs Wests Tigers Round 21 contest. The unique insights here can help you balance star power, value and budget management when you make your NRL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised NRL Raiders vs Wests Tigers 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 Wests Tigers 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.
