NRL Roosters vs Storm Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 21, 2025
Last updated: Jul 24, 2025, 9:22AM | Published: Jul 23, 2025, 9:22AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Roosters vs Storm Round 21 DFS contest commences at 7:50pm AEST on July 24, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
A handy Draftstars cheat sheet is essential 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 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've reviewed players from each team in the Sydney Roosters vs Melbourne Storm match-up to help you make the best picks on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jahrome Hughes (MEL, HH/FLEX) | $18,720 | 60 | 3.2 |
| Value | Tyran Wishart (MEL, HH/FLEX) | $11,200 | 45.2 | 4 |
| Fade | Siua Wong (SYD, FLEX/FWD) | $15,300 | 32.5 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | Ethan King (SYD, FLEX/OB) | $9,200 | 32.6 | 3.5 |
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 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 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 | James Tedesco (SYD) | $17,700 | 51.8 | 2.9 |
| Value | Robert Toia (SYD) | $12,160 | 44.2 | 3.6 |
| Fade | Jack Howarth (MEL) | $11,310 | 35.2 | 3.1 |
| Cheapie | Ethan King (SYD) | $9,200 | 32.6 | 3.5 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jahrome Hughes (MEL) | $18,720 | 60 | 3.2 |
| Value | Tyran Wishart (MEL) | $11,200 | 45.2 | 4 |
| Fade | Sam Walker (SYD) | $15,780 | 48.3 | 3.1 |
| Cheapie | Bronson Garlick (MEL) | $9,070 | 16.1 | 1.8 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Eliesa Katoa (MEL) | $17,180 | 51.8 | 3 |
| Value | Spencer Leniu (SYD) | $9,980 | 34.4 | 3.5 |
| Fade | Siua Wong (SYD) | $15,300 | 32.5 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | Lindsay Collins (SYD) | $9,940 | 30.5 | 3.1 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Roosters vs Storm Round 21 teams, consider starting with a value player like Tyran Wishart. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Jahrome Hughes is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, explore our cheapie options, including Ethan King.
On the other hand, according to our model, Siua Wong 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 Roosters vs Storm slate closes at 7:50pm AEST on Thursday. 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 21 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.
