NRL Storm vs Raiders Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 9, 2025
Last updated: Apr 30, 2025, 2:23PM | Published: Apr 30, 2025, 9:23AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Storm vs Raiders Round 9 DFS contest starts at 6:25pm AEST on May 4, 2025, 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 crucial 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 9.
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 strongest DFS projections in the world.
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 Melbourne Storm vs Canberra Raiders match-up to help you find the best choices on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Hudson Young (CAN, FWD/FLEX) | $21,440 | 61.7 | 2.9 |
| Value | Sualauvi Faalogo (MEL, FLEX/OB) | $10,100 | 40.8 | 4 |
| Fade | Zac Hosking (CAN, FLEX/FWD) | $14,530 | 35.4 | 2.4 |
| Cheapie | Bronson Garlick (MEL, HH/FLEX) | $8,540 | 31.7 | 3.7 |
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 budget-conscious strategies, "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 | Ryan Papenhuyzen (MEL) | $15,910 | 45.5 | 2.9 |
| Value | Sualauvi Faalogo (MEL) | $10,100 | 40.8 | 4 |
| Fade | Kaeo Weekes (CAN) | $10,100 | 26.8 | 2.7 |
| Cheapie | Xavier Savage (CAN) | $8,000 | 26.4 | 3.3 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jamal Fogarty (CAN) | $21,270 | 59.7 | 2.8 |
| Value | Bronson Garlick (MEL) | $8,540 | 31.7 | 3.7 |
| Fade | Cameron Munster (MEL) | $17,090 | 52.4 | 3.1 |
| Cheapie | Owen Pattie (CAN) | $8,000 | 19.1 | 2.4 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Hudson Young (CAN) | $21,440 | 61.7 | 2.9 |
| Value | Matty Nicholson (CAN) | $18,090 | 58 | 3.2 |
| Fade | Zac Hosking (CAN) | $14,530 | 35.4 | 2.4 |
| Cheapie | Tui Kamikamica (MEL) | $8,000 | 23.6 | 3 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your NRL Storm vs Raiders Round 9 teams, consider starting with a value player like Sualauvi Faalogo. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Hudson Young is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, explore our cheapie options, including Bronson Garlick.
On the other hand, according to our model, Zac Hosking 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 Storm vs Raiders slate closes at 6:25pm 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 Storm vs Raiders Round 9 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 Raiders 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 Canberra Raiders 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.
