NRL Roosters vs Dolphins Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 9, 2025
Last updated: Apr 30, 2025, 2:23PM | Published: Apr 30, 2025, 9:22AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Roosters vs Dolphins Round 9 DFS contest begins at 8:05pm AEST on May 2, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player in the game to help you make winning line-ups.
A handy Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for NRL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests and enhance your Supercoach team for Round 9.
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 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 Sydney Roosters vs Dolphins match-up to help you find the best selections on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | James Tedesco (SYD, OB/FLEX) | $18,550 | 57.5 | 3.1 |
| Value | Hugo Savala (SYD, HH/FLEX) | $11,020 | 44.8 | 4.1 |
| Fade | Kurt Donoghoe (DOL, FLEX/HH) | $10,110 | 21.4 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | Spencer Leniu (SYD, FWD/FLEX) | $9,450 | 36.2 | 3.8 |
According to Fantasy Insider's DFS model, our "stud" is the highest projected scorer across the slate, while "value" picks provide 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) | $18,550 | 57.5 | 3.1 |
| Value | Billy Smith (SYD) | $11,340 | 42.1 | 3.7 |
| Fade | Jake Averillo (DOL) | $12,660 | 35.1 | 2.8 |
| Cheapie | Jack Bostock (DOL) | $8,100 | 29.6 | 3.6 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Connor Watson (SYD) | $16,770 | 56.6 | 3.4 |
| Value | Hugo Savala (SYD) | $11,020 | 44.8 | 4.1 |
| Fade | Kurt Donoghoe (DOL) | $10,110 | 21.4 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | Zach Dockar-Clay (SYD) | $8,000 | 17.4 | 2.2 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Angus Crichton (SYD) | $16,920 | 50.5 | 3 |
| Value | Victor Radley (SYD) | $11,740 | 46.8 | 4 |
| Fade | Ray Stone (DOL) | $12,480 | 30 | 2.4 |
| Cheapie | Spencer Leniu (SYD) | $9,450 | 36.2 | 3.8 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Roosters vs Dolphins Round 9 teams, consider starting with a value player like Hugo Savala. 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 Spencer Leniu.
On the other hand, according to our model, Kurt Donoghoe is one of the lowest value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Roosters vs Dolphins slate closes at 8:05pm 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 Roosters vs Dolphins Round 9 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 Dolphins 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 Dolphins 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.
