NRL Saturday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 24, 2026
Aug 12, 2026, 9:41AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Saturday Round 24 DFS contest kicks off at 3:00pm AEST on August 15, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player on the slate to help you create 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 24.
Featured NRL Games
Draftstars' NRL Saturday slate consists of these games:
- Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs Canberra Raiders
- Parramatta Eels vs North Queensland Cowboys
- Brisbane Broncos vs New Zealand Warriors
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to come up with some of the most accurate 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 every player from every team to help you make the best choices on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nicho Hynes (CRO, HH/FLEX) | $20,770 | 68.2 | 3.3 |
| Value | Morgan Smithies (CAN, FLEX/FWD) | $8,810 | 41 | 4.7 |
| Fade | Taine Tuaupiki (WAR, OB/FLEX) | $11,620 | 4.8 | 0.4 |
| Cheapie | Murray Taulagi (NQL, FLEX/OB) | $9,250 | 40.6 | 4.4 |
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 | Reece Walsh (BRI) | $16,030 | 57.7 | 3.6 |
| Value | Murray Taulagi (NQL) | $9,250 | 40.6 | 4.4 |
| Fade | Taine Tuaupiki (WAR) | $11,620 | 4.8 | 0.4 |
| Cheapie | Josh Addo-Carr (PAR) | $8,060 | 33.1 | 4.1 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nicho Hynes (CRO) | $20,770 | 68.2 | 3.3 |
| Value | Tallyn Da Silva (PAR) | $10,810 | 43.3 | 4 |
| Fade | Daine Laurie (CAN) | $10,370 | 28.9 | 2.8 |
| Cheapie | Billy Walters (BRI) | $9,760 | 35.4 | 3.6 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Payne Haas (BRI) | $18,340 | 65.1 | 3.6 |
| Value | Morgan Smithies (CAN) | $8,810 | 41 | 4.7 |
| Fade | Billy Burns (CRO) | $12,000 | 25.7 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | Griffin Neame (NQL) | $8,000 | 32.8 | 4.1 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Saturday Round 24 teams, consider starting with a value player like Morgan Smithies. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Nicho Hynes is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, take a look at our cheapie options, including Murray Taulagi.
On the other hand, according to our model, Taine Tuaupiki 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 Saturday slate closes at 3:00pm AEST on Saturday. 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 Saturday Round 24 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 Saturday line-ups, check out the Fantasy Insider Cruncher on Draftstars! It's free to use when you're logged in.
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.
