NRL Storm vs Bulldogs Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 22, 2026
Last updated: Jul 31, 2026, 9:33AM | Published: Jul 29, 2026, 9:36AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Storm vs Bulldogs Round 22 DFS contest commences at 8:00pm AEST on July 31, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
An accurate 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 improve your Supercoach team for Round 22.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to make some of the strongest DFS projections in the world.
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 Melbourne Storm vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs match-up to help you find the best choices on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Lachlan Galvin (BUL, HH/FLEX) | $17,730 | 57.6 | 3.2 |
| Value | Trent Toelau (MEL, FLEX/HH) | $8,000 | 38.2 | 4.8 |
| Fade | Josh Curran (BUL, FLEX/FWD) | $11,570 | 21.8 | 1.9 |
| Cheapie | Hayden Watson (MEL, FLEX/HH) | $8,000 | 35.6 | 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 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 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 | Sualauvi Faalogo (MEL) | $16,180 | 46.5 | 2.9 |
| Value | Manaia Waitere (MEL) | $8,000 | 33 | 4.1 |
| Fade | Matt Burton (BUL) | $14,580 | 42.4 | 2.9 |
| Cheapie | Connor Tracey (BUL) | $9,600 | 35.7 | 3.7 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Lachlan Galvin (BUL) | $17,730 | 57.6 | 3.2 |
| Value | Trent Toelau (MEL) | $8,000 | 38.2 | 4.8 |
| Fade | Tyran Wishart (MEL) | $18,300 | 53 | 2.9 |
| Cheapie | Hayden Watson (MEL) | $8,000 | 35.6 | 4.4 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Stefano Utoikamanu (MEL) | $17,680 | 56.7 | 3.2 |
| Value | Oryn Keeley (MEL) | $10,120 | 39.6 | 3.9 |
| Fade | Josh Curran (BUL) | $11,570 | 21.8 | 1.9 |
| Cheapie | Alec MacDonald (MEL) | $9,110 | 30.5 | 3.4 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Storm vs Bulldogs Round 22 teams, consider starting with a value player like Trent Toelau. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Lachlan Galvin is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, explore our cheapie options, including Hayden Watson.
On the other hand, according to our model, Josh Curran is one of the lowest 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 Storm vs Bulldogs 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 Storm vs Bulldogs Round 22 slate. The unique insights here can help you balance star power, value and budget management when you make your NRL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised NRL Storm vs Bulldogs 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 Melbourne Storm vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 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.
