daily fantasy sports articles

Two massive NRL games on Friday night gives us plenty of possibilities for our teams in DFS. We kick things off with the Sharks hosting the Roosters, followed up by the Sea Eagles hosting the Storm at Brookvale. There will be plenty of star power across the paddock in both games, so let’s delve into the slate and find some diamonds in the rough for your DFS teams.

Draftstars has numerous contests, with the biggest being a $12,000 total prize pool in the Sea Eagles vs Storm contest. Don’t forget the $8,000 Sharks vs Roosters contest, with the winner pocketing a cool $876. There’s also a $5,000 contest involving both Friday Night matchups, with a first prize of $679. Whatever your style, there’s a contest for you this Friday night, so let’s dive in and find some value selections.

Team News

The Sharks are off the bye, however, have made a couple of changes in their forward pack. Dale Finucane (suspension) is out, replaced at lock by Cam McInnes, with Wade Graham joining the bench. Toby Rudolf picked up a long-term injury in the Sharks’ last game, and is replaced by Royce Hunt in the run-on side, with Oregon Kaufusi named on the bench. In the only other change, Braydon Trindall drops to 18th man, with Thomas Hazelton promoted to the bench.

The Roosters welcome back James Tedesco, pushing Joey Manu back to the centres, and Drew Hutchinson to the bench. Naufahu Whyte and Matt Lodge also join the bench, with Jake Turpin, Corey Allan, and Fletcher Baker all making way.

The Sea Eagles lose Reuben Garrick (head knock), with Ray Tuaimalo-Vaega coming onto the wing. Kaeo Weekes drops to the bench, with Cooper Johns named to start at five eighth. Aaron Woods and Toafofoa Sipley join the bench, with Karl Lawton and Sean Keppie dropping out.

Finally, the Storm lose Nick Meaney in a big loss, with Cam Munster moving to fullback and Jonah Pezet recalled to five eighth. No other changes expected from the team that beat the Roosters 28-8 last weekend.

Betting Markets

Cronulla Sharks ($2.15) vs Sydney Roosters ($1.71)

Points total – 40.5 points

Manly Sea Eagles ($2.50) vs Melbourne Storm ($1.54)

Points total – 42.5 points

Overview

This should be an absolute cracker, with both teams having shown amazing form at points through the early part of the season, whilst also showing they have vulnerabilities that need to be fixed. Despite this, the Roosters have a tremendous recent record against the Sharks, and if Nicho Hynes is kept relatively quiet by the Roosters defence, I believe the Roosters will get the job done at Shark Park.

In the second game, the alarm bells have to be ringing on the northern peninsula, with the Sea Eagles being held to a draw in round 5 by the Knights, before being destroyed by the Panthers last week. This week they get a Storm team that appear to be back to their best, after solid wins over the Rabbitohs and Roosters the past two weeks. All signs point towards an easy Storm win, but I’m predicting the Sea Eagles to keep this one close.

Love It – Tom Trbojevic - $18,580

Tommy Turbo hasn’t really taken flight yet this season, but boy do the Sea Eagles need him to take off this week. He’s been up and down in terms of his DFS form, with 3 scores under 45, a 57.6 and an 82.1. The floor has been a concern, in particular last week against a Panthers side that is brilliant at taking out an opponents’ best player. The Storm have always been known for that, but I like Trbojevic to look good this week. He’s at a slight discount given his poor game last week, and if I can get him for $1,400 less than James Tedesco, I have to have a nibble.

Love It – Harry Grant - $23,670

Some quality Half/Hooker options in this slate, with the like of Hynes, DCE, Hughes, and Walker all commanding serious coin. I’ll take the chance to talk up Harry Grant though. The Storm hooker had his lowest score of the season last week, scoring 43.7 in the Storm’s 28-8 win over the Roosters. With his tackles and minutes down, Grant wasn’t really needed in the win, with his job being get the ball to Munster. With Munster shifting to fullback, I fully expect Grant to be more involved in the attacking structure of the Storm this week. With a floor close to 50, and a ceiling upwards of 100, he’s a set and forget every single week.

Love It – Victor Radley - $13,560

Radley continues to live at a discount based on his uncanny ability to not finish football games. He is a walking suspension, and appears to be concussed once a month. But in games he has managed to finish this season, he’s averaging 47.5 points per game, all the while producing ZERO attacking stats. We all know Radley has attacking statistics in him, but his base stats have been really solid this year. If he finishes the game, expect a 40+ score without any attacking stats. If he can manage an attacking stat, a minimum 50+ is something you can expect.

Hate It – James Tedesco - $19,990

Teddy has continued to struggle this season in DFS, but it hasn’t seen his price drop all that much. Averaging less than 35 to start the season, I don’t understand how he can still cost near enough $20,000. Of course, Tedesco can come out and score three tries this weekend and make me look silly, but from what I’ve seen this season I just don’t see the point in giving up 20% of my salary on a guy who hasn’t sniffed the try line this season. 

Hate It – Nicho Hynes - $26,760

Two of the best players in not only the NRL, but historically in DFS, and I’m fading them both this week. Hynes has as high an upside as anyone in the game, but I’m picking the Roosters to shut him down, relatively speaking, this week. Hynes is involved in everything that is good for the Sharks, and if the Sharks are to have any chance against the Roosters, their new million-dollar man needs to step up. Last year, Hynes was heavily involved against the Roosters, but couldn’t get any big attacking stats. At this price tag, you want 70 at a minimum, and I believe there’s a chance the Roosters can once again keep Hynes quiet and ruin a lot of people’s DFS line-ups. 

Who Knows – Joey Manu - $18,390

Manu has been consistent, if not a little underwhelming in DFS this year. Last week, he got the start at fullback for Tedesco, and I for one believed he would score massive. It didn’t happen, with Manu solid, but unspectacular on his way to 46 points. He, like Tedesco, is being priced on his performances from years past. Whilst it appears Manu has fixed his floor in DFS, which used to be an issue, he hasn’t quite reached the levels we have been used to seeing from him over the past two seasons. There’s every chance he has a huge game this week, and could make Sio Talakai look awful in defence, but if the Roosters continue looking elsewhere for their points, then Manu may have to go looking for work to score enough to justify his price tag this week.

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