BBL Heat vs Stars Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for January 2, 2026
Last updated: Jan 2, 2026, 1:59AM | Published: Jan 2, 2026, 12:00AM
Draftstars Australia's BBL Heat vs Stars DFS contest begins at 7:15pm AEDT on January 2, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player in the game to help you make winning line-ups.
A reliable Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial for BBL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you assemble your fantasy teams for Draftstars' BBL contests and improve your season-long fantasy line-ups on Friday and beyond.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to produce some of the most reliable DFS projections available.
With the latest BBL fantasy insights and DFS strategies from Fantasy Insider, you're set to win in more BBL fantasy contests.
Cheat Sheet and Projections
We have reviewed players from each team in the Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Stars match-up to help you make the best choices on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Glenn Maxwell (MLS, BAT/BOW) | $18,500 | 69.3 | 3.7 |
| Value | Ollie Patterson (BRH, BOW) | $8,000 | 41.5 | 5.2 |
| Fade | Sam Harper (MLS, BAT) | $14,700 | 28.3 | 1.9 |
| Cheapie | Sam Hain (MLS, BAT) | $8,000 | 28.1 | 3.5 |
According to Fantasy Insider's DFS model, our "stud" is the highest projected scorer across the slate, while "value" picks provide 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
BAT (Batsman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Glenn Maxwell (MLS) | $18,500 | 69.3 | 3.7 |
| Value | Glenn Maxwell (MLS) | $18,500 | 69.3 | 3.7 |
| Fade | Sam Harper (MLS) | $14,700 | 28.3 | 1.9 |
| Cheapie | Sam Hain (MLS) | $8,000 | 28.1 | 3.5 |
BOW (Bowler)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Glenn Maxwell (MLS) | $18,500 | 69.3 | 3.7 |
| Value | Ollie Patterson (BRH) | $8,000 | 41.5 | 5.2 |
| Fade | Xavier Bartlett (BRH) | $18,000 | 50.1 | 2.8 |
| Cheapie | Thomas Balkin (BRH) | $9,800 | 33 | 3.4 |
Conclusion
When building your BBL Heat vs Stars teams, consider starting with a value player like Ollie Patterson. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Glenn Maxwell 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 Sam Hain.
On the other hand, according to our model, Sam Harper is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' BBL Heat vs Stars slate closes at 7:15pm AEDT on Friday. ENTER NOW!
As with all BBL DFS contests, whether you start with our studs or build around our value picks, leveraging Fantasy Insider's data-driven BBL fantasy news and strategies, combined with your own research, can enhance your chances of winning in the BBL Heat vs Stars contest. The unique insights here can help you maximize points while adhering to the salary cap when you make your BBL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised BBL Heat vs Stars line-ups, check out the Fantasy Insider Cruncher on Draftstars! It's free to use when you're logged in.
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.
