NRL Roosters vs Storm Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 20, 2026
Last updated: Jul 16, 2026, 12:27AM | Published: Jul 15, 2026, 9:26AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Roosters vs Storm Round 20 DFS contest kicks off at 8:00pm AEST on July 17, 2026, 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 20.
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 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 have reviewed players from each team in the Sydney Roosters vs Melbourne Storm match-up to help you find the best selections on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Stefano Utoikamanu (MEL, FWD/FLEX) | $16,610 | 57.2 | 3.4 |
| Value | Cody Ramsey (SYD, OB/FLEX) | $8,280 | 40.8 | 4.9 |
| Fade | Connor Watson (SYD, HH/FLEX) | $11,520 | 31.4 | 2.7 |
| Cheapie | Trent Toelau (MEL, FLEX/HH) | $8,000 | 33.8 | 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'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 budget-conscious strategies, "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 | Mark Nawaqanitawase (SYD) | $13,080 | 49.7 | 3.8 |
| Value | Cody Ramsey (SYD) | $8,280 | 40.8 | 4.9 |
| Fade | Sualauvi Faalogo (MEL) | $16,560 | 48 | 2.9 |
| Cheapie | Nick Meaney (MEL) | $9,530 | 33.9 | 3.6 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Daly Cherry-Evans (SYD) | $14,890 | 54.8 | 3.7 |
| Value | Tyran Wishart (MEL) | $11,040 | 49 | 4.4 |
| Fade | Connor Watson (SYD) | $11,520 | 31.4 | 2.7 |
| Cheapie | Trent Toelau (MEL) | $8,000 | 33.8 | 4.2 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Stefano Utoikamanu (MEL) | $16,610 | 57.2 | 3.4 |
| Value | Oryn Keeley (MEL) | $8,870 | 37.3 | 4.2 |
| Fade | Josh King (MEL) | $13,760 | 41 | 3 |
| Cheapie | Spencer Leniu (SYD) | $9,130 | 35.7 | 3.9 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Roosters vs Storm Round 20 teams, consider starting with a value player like Cody Ramsey. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Stefano Utoikamanu 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 Trent Toelau.
On the other hand, according to our model, Connor Watson 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 Storm slate closes at 8:00pm 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 Roosters vs Storm Round 20 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 Roosters 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 Sydney Roosters 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.
