NRL Roosters vs Cowboys Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 16, 2025
Last updated: Jun 22, 2025, 5:22AM | Published: Jun 18, 2025, 1:24PM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Roosters vs Cowboys Round 16 DFS contest commences at 4:05pm AEST on June 22, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player in the game to help you build winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial for NRL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you assemble your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 16.
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 accurate 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 Sydney Roosters vs North Queensland Cowboys match-up to help you make the best picks on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | James Tedesco (SYD, OB/FLEX) | $17,060 | 55.7 | 3.3 |
| Value | Karl Lawton (NQL, FLEX/HH) | $8,000 | 33.5 | 4.2 |
| Fade | Jeremiah Nanai (NQL, FWD/FLEX) | $12,230 | 29.7 | 2.4 |
| Cheapie | Zac Laybutt (NQL, FLEX/OB) | $8,760 | 32.8 | 3.7 |
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 | James Tedesco (SYD) | $17,060 | 55.7 | 3.3 |
| Value | Zac Laybutt (NQL) | $8,760 | 32.8 | 3.7 |
| Fade | Scott Drinkwater (NQL) | $15,990 | 47.7 | 3 |
| Cheapie | Billy Smith (SYD) | $9,130 | 33.8 | 3.7 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Hugo Savala (SYD) | $14,860 | 53.8 | 3.6 |
| Value | Karl Lawton (NQL) | $8,000 | 33.5 | 4.2 |
| Fade | Connor Watson (SYD) | $16,560 | 45.2 | 2.7 |
| Cheapie | Zach Dockar-Clay (SYD) | $8,640 | 23.9 | 2.8 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Siua Wong (SYD) | $16,990 | 54.1 | 3.2 |
| Value | Sam McIntyre (NQL) | $10,790 | 41 | 3.8 |
| Fade | Jeremiah Nanai (NQL) | $12,230 | 29.7 | 2.4 |
| Cheapie | Lindsay Collins (SYD) | $9,570 | 35.1 | 3.7 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Roosters vs Cowboys Round 16 teams, consider starting with a value player like Karl Lawton. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, James Tedesco 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 Zac Laybutt.
On the other hand, according to our model, Jeremiah Nanai is one of the lowest value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Roosters vs Cowboys 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 Roosters vs Cowboys Round 16 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 Roosters vs Cowboys 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 Sydney Roosters vs North Queensland Cowboys 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.
