BBL Sixers vs Thunder Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for January 16, 2026
Last updated: Jan 16, 2026, 7:59AM | Published: Jan 15, 2026, 10:59PM
Draftstars Australia's BBL Sixers vs Thunder DFS contest begins at 7:15pm AEDT on January 16, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
An accurate 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 January 16 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 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 Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunder match-up to help you make the best choices on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Steve Smith (SYS, BAT) | $21,500 | 64.5 | 3 |
| Value | Ryan Hadley (SYT, BOW) | $8,000 | 33.8 | 4.2 |
| Fade | Lachlan Shaw (SYS, BAT) | $11,000 | 15.9 | 1.4 |
| Cheapie | Benjamin Manenti (SYS, BOW) | $8,900 | 29 | 3.3 |
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 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
BAT (Batsman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Steve Smith (SYS) | $21,500 | 64.5 | 3 |
| Value | Babar Azam (SYS) | $12,500 | 46.2 | 3.7 |
| Fade | Lachlan Shaw (SYS) | $11,000 | 15.9 | 1.4 |
| Cheapie | Sam Konstas (SYT) | $9,100 | 29.1 | 3.2 |
BOW (Bowler)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Mitchell Starc (SYS) | $18,500 | 51 | 2.8 |
| Value | Ryan Hadley (SYT) | $8,000 | 33.8 | 4.2 |
| Fade | Sean Abbott (SYS) | $16,700 | 44.8 | 2.7 |
| Cheapie | Benjamin Manenti (SYS) | $8,900 | 29 | 3.3 |
Conclusion
When building your BBL Sixers vs Thunder teams, consider starting with a value player like Ryan Hadley. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Steve Smith is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, explore our cheapie options, including Benjamin Manenti.
On the other hand, according to our model, Lachlan Shaw is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building out multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' BBL Sixers vs Thunder 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 Sixers vs Thunder slate. 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 Sixers 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.
