NRL Storm vs Rabbitohs Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 8, 2026
Last updated: Apr 23, 2026, 12:23AM | Published: Apr 22, 2026, 9:23AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Storm vs Rabbitohs Round 8 DFS contest starts at 8:10pm AEST on April 25, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player in the game to help you build 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 8.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to make some of the most accurate 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've reviewed players from each team in the Melbourne Storm vs South Sydney Rabbitohs match-up to help you find the best selections on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Latrell Mitchell (SOU, FLEX/OB) | $21,420 | 64.7 | 3 |
| Value | Alec MacDonald (MEL, FWD/FLEX) | $8,420 | 33.3 | 4 |
| Fade | Euan Aitken (SOU, FLEX/FWD) | $14,200 | 9 | 0.6 |
| Cheapie | Nick Meaney (MEL, OB/FLEX) | $9,990 | 38.6 | 3.9 |
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 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 | Latrell Mitchell (SOU) | $21,420 | 64.7 | 3 |
| Value | Matthew Dufty (SOU) | $10,980 | 42.5 | 3.9 |
| Fade | Campbell Graham (SOU) | $10,400 | 28.5 | 2.7 |
| Cheapie | Nick Meaney (MEL) | $9,990 | 38.6 | 3.9 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jahrome Hughes (MEL) | $17,460 | 62.8 | 3.6 |
| Value | Jahrome Hughes (MEL) | $17,460 | 62.8 | 3.6 |
| Fade | Jamie Humphreys (SOU) | $14,150 | 43.7 | 3.1 |
| Cheapie | Tyran Wishart (MEL) | $8,000 | 23.4 | 2.9 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Stefano Utoikamanu (MEL) | $18,010 | 55.9 | 3.1 |
| Value | Alec MacDonald (MEL) | $8,420 | 33.3 | 4 |
| Fade | Euan Aitken (SOU) | $14,200 | 9 | 0.6 |
| Cheapie | Brandon Smith (SOU) | $9,180 | 33.9 | 3.7 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Storm vs Rabbitohs Round 8 teams, consider starting with a value player like Alec MacDonald. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Latrell Mitchell is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, check out our cheapie options, including Nick Meaney.
On the other hand, according to our model, Euan Aitken is one of the worst 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 Rabbitohs slate closes at 8:10pm 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 Storm vs Rabbitohs Round 8 contest. 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 Rabbitohs 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 South Sydney Rabbitohs 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.
