NRL Roosters vs Panthers Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 3, 2026
Last updated: Mar 20, 2026, 6:23AM | Published: Mar 18, 2026, 8:25AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Roosters vs Panthers Round 3 DFS contest begins at 6:00pm AEDT on March 20, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player in the game to help you build winning line-ups.
A reliable 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 3.
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 Sydney Roosters vs Penrith Panthers match-up to help you find the best picks on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN, HH/FLEX) | $24,740 | 75.7 | 3.1 |
| Value | Mitch Kenny (PEN, HH/FLEX) | $10,360 | 41.9 | 4 |
| Fade | Izack Tago (PEN, FLEX/OB) | $10,330 | 3.9 | 0.4 |
| Cheapie | Scott Sorensen (PEN, FWD/FLEX) | $9,880 | 29.3 | 3 |
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 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 | James Tedesco (SYD) | $16,760 | 54 | 3.2 |
| Value | Casey McLean (PEN) | $10,110 | 37.5 | 3.7 |
| Fade | Izack Tago (PEN) | $10,330 | 3.9 | 0.4 |
| Cheapie | Cody Ramsey (SYD) | $8,000 | 3.7 | 0.5 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN) | $24,740 | 75.7 | 3.1 |
| Value | Mitch Kenny (PEN) | $10,360 | 41.9 | 4 |
| Fade | Jack Cole (PEN) | $10,860 | 5.1 | 0.5 |
| Cheapie | Freddy Lussick (PEN) | $8,000 | 6.7 | 0.8 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Isaah Yeo (PEN) | $17,220 | 56.5 | 3.3 |
| Value | Siua Wong (SYD) | $12,690 | 47.5 | 3.7 |
| Fade | Luke Garner (PEN) | $10,530 | 17.5 | 1.7 |
| Cheapie | Scott Sorensen (PEN) | $9,880 | 29.3 | 3 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your NRL Roosters vs Panthers Round 3 teams, consider starting with a value player like Mitch Kenny. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Nathan Cleary is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, explore our cheapie options, including Scott Sorensen.
On the other hand, according to our model, Izack Tago is one of the worst value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Roosters vs Panthers slate closes at 6:00pm AEDT 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 Panthers Round 3 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 Roosters vs Panthers 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 Penrith Panthers 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.
