BBL Heat vs Thunder Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for January 10, 2026
Last updated: Jan 10, 2026, 4:59AM | Published: Jan 9, 2026, 10:59PM
Draftstars Australia's BBL Heat vs Thunder DFS contest commences at 4:01pm AEDT on January 10, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
A handy Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for BBL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' BBL contests and improve your season-long fantasy line-ups on Saturday and beyond.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to deliver some of the most accurate DFS projections available.
With the best 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 Sydney Thunder match-up to help you find the best choices on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Daniel Sams (SYT, BOW/BAT) | $20,500 | 53.4 | 2.6 |
| Value | Zaman Khan (BRH, BOW) | $8,000 | 40.1 | 5 |
| Fade | Matthew Gilkes (SYT, BAT) | $14,800 | 35.6 | 2.4 |
| Cheapie | Cameron Bancroft (SYT, BAT) | $8,800 | 35 | 4 |
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
BAT (Batsman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Daniel Sams (SYT) | $20,500 | 53.4 | 2.6 |
| Value | Cameron Bancroft (SYT) | $8,800 | 35 | 4 |
| Fade | Matthew Gilkes (SYT) | $14,800 | 35.6 | 2.4 |
| Cheapie | Jimmy Peirson (BRH) | $9,500 | 22.4 | 2.4 |
BOW (Bowler)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Daniel Sams (SYT) | $20,500 | 53.4 | 2.6 |
| Value | Zaman Khan (BRH) | $8,000 | 40.1 | 5 |
| Fade | Jack Wildermuth (BRH) | $18,900 | 49.4 | 2.6 |
| Cheapie | Ryan Hadley (SYT) | $8,000 | 30.2 | 3.8 |
Conclusion
When building your BBL Heat vs Thunder teams, consider starting with a value player like Zaman Khan. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Daniel Sams is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, take a look at our cheapie options, including Cameron Bancroft.
On the other hand, according to our model, Matthew Gilkes is one of the worst value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' BBL Heat vs Thunder slate closes at 4:01pm AEDT on Saturday. 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 Thunder 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 Thunder 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.
