NRL Sharks vs Knights Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 26, 2025
Last updated: Aug 27, 2025, 10:23PM | Published: Aug 27, 2025, 9:23AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Sharks vs Knights Round 26 DFS contest kicks off at 2:00pm AEST on August 31, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player in the game to help you build winning line-ups.
A reliable Draftstars cheat sheet is a must for NRL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 26.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to deliver 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 have reviewed players from each team in the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs Newcastle Knights match-up to help you make the best picks on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nicholas Hynes (CRO, FLEX/HH) | $18,130 | 60.7 | 3.3 |
| Value | Billy Burns (CRO, FLEX/FWD) | $8,850 | 43.7 | 4.9 |
| Fade | Siosifa Talakai (CRO, FLEX/OB) | $10,040 | 24 | 2.4 |
| Cheapie | Jesse Colquhoun (CRO, FWD/FLEX) | $8,610 | 39.6 | 4.6 |
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 | KL Iro (CRO) | $15,010 | 50.7 | 3.4 |
| Value | Sione Katoa (CRO) | $13,210 | 47.1 | 3.6 |
| Fade | Siosifa Talakai (CRO) | $10,040 | 24 | 2.4 |
| Cheapie | Fletcher Hunt (NEW) | $8,000 | 14.1 | 1.8 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nicholas Hynes (CRO) | $18,130 | 60.7 | 3.3 |
| Value | Jack Cogger (NEW) | $11,000 | 42.6 | 3.9 |
| Fade | Jayden Brailey (NEW) | $11,620 | 30.4 | 2.6 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kai Pearce-Paul (NEW) | $16,310 | 54 | 3.3 |
| Value | Billy Burns (CRO) | $8,850 | 43.7 | 4.9 |
| Fade | Mat Croker (NEW) | $12,180 | 32.9 | 2.7 |
| Cheapie | Jesse Colquhoun (CRO) | $8,610 | 39.6 | 4.6 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your NRL Sharks vs Knights Round 26 teams, consider starting with a value player like Billy Burns. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Nicholas Hynes is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, take a look at our cheapie options, including Jesse Colquhoun.
On the other hand, according to our model, Siosifa Talakai 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 Sharks vs Knights slate closes at 2:00pm AEST on Sunday. 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 Sharks vs Knights Round 26 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 Sharks vs Knights 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 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs Newcastle Knights 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.
