FootyBets.aiAI DraftStars Lineup Builder & AFL DFS Cheat Sheet
Our AI analyses every player, matchup, salary and projected fantasy score so you can build smarter DraftStars teams. Open a match page to lock players, exclude fades and generate a custom lineup, or browse each round’s published lineup cards.
Your AI-Powered DraftStars Cheat Sheet
The DraftStars hub combines custom lineup building with round-by-round AFL DFS research. Free signed-in users can generate custom builds each week, while round pages collect the published lineup cards and match analysis for the slate.
- Custom lineup builder — lock must-have players, exclude fades and rebuild alternatives
- Round lineup cards — browse top lineups and slate previews by AFL round
- Salary cap optimised — every lineup fits within the DraftStars salary cap
- Captain recommendations — AI captain picks based on projected ceiling and floor
- Value plays highlighted — budget-friendly players projected to outperform their salary
How It Works
- Player projections — XGBoost models project disposals, marks, tackles, goals and more for every rostered player
- DraftStars point conversion — Projections are converted to DraftStars points using the official scoring system
- Lineup optimisation — An optimiser builds the best possible lineups within the salary cap, factoring in position requirements
- Diversification — Multiple lineups are generated with varied player selections to reduce risk in GPP contests
DraftStars Strategy Tips
Captain Selection
Your DraftStars captain scores 2x points, making captain selection the most important decision in daily fantasy AFL. Our AI captain picks prioritise players with the highest projected ceiling — typically premium midfielders with high disposal counts and consistent scoring floors.
Salary Cap Allocation
Effective DraftStars salary cap strategy means finding the right balance between premium players and value plays. Our AI identifies underpriced players projected to outperform their salary, freeing up cap space for premium selections elsewhere.
Value Plays & Low Ownership
In GPP (guaranteed prize pool) contests, differentiating your lineup is key. Our DraftStars value plays highlight players with low projected ownership but high upside — the kind of picks that can vault you up the leaderboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is DraftStars?
DraftStars is Australia’s leading daily fantasy sports (DFS) platform. For AFL, you build a team of players within a salary cap and score points based on their real-game stats. Contests range from free entries to large guaranteed prize pools.
How are custom lineups generated?
Our AI uses XGBoost machine learning models to project each player’s stats, converts those projections to DraftStars points, then builds a salary-cap-valid lineup around your locks, fades and strategy setting.
How do I pick a captain on DraftStars?
Your captain scores double points on DraftStars. We recommend selecting the player with the highest projected ceiling — typically a premium midfielder projected for 30+ disposals. Our lineups include captain recommendations for each build.
Are these lineups free?
Round lineup cards are free to browse. Free signed-in users can generate 3 custom lineup builds each week, while Premium users get unlimited custom builds.
How often are lineups updated?
DraftStars lineups are regenerated every time team announcements are made. Late changes, including ins and outs from the extended bench, are factored into updated projections.