BBL Strikers vs Thunder Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for January 6, 2026
Last updated: Jan 6, 2026, 7:59AM | Published: Jan 6, 2026, 12:02AM
Draftstars Australia's BBL Strikers vs Thunder DFS contest commences at 7:16pm AEDT on January 6, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player in the game to help you build winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial for BBL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' BBL contests and improve your season-long fantasy line-ups on Tuesday 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 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've reviewed players from each team in the Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Thunder match-up to help you make the best picks on Tuesday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Matthew Short (ADS, BAT/BOW) | $21,500 | 77.8 | 3.6 |
| Value | David Willey (SYT, BAT) | $8,900 | 41.1 | 4.6 |
| Fade | Lloyd Pope (ADS, BOW) | $14,500 | 30.2 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | Harry Manenti (ADS, BOW/BAT) | $8,000 | 19.4 | 2.4 |
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're 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 | Matthew Short (ADS) | $21,500 | 77.8 | 3.6 |
| Value | David Willey (SYT) | $8,900 | 41.1 | 4.6 |
| Fade | Matthew Gilkes (SYT) | $14,800 | 31.8 | 2.2 |
| Cheapie | Harry Manenti (ADS) | $8,000 | 19.4 | 2.4 |
BOW (Bowler)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Matthew Short (ADS) | $21,500 | 77.8 | 3.6 |
| Value | Matthew Short (ADS) | $21,500 | 77.8 | 3.6 |
| Fade | Lloyd Pope (ADS) | $14,500 | 30.2 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | Harry Manenti (ADS) | $8,000 | 19.4 | 2.4 |
Conclusion
When building your BBL Strikers vs Thunder teams, consider starting with a value player like David Willey. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Matthew Short is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, explore our cheapie options, including Harry Manenti.
On the other hand, according to our model, Lloyd Pope is one of the lowest value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' BBL Strikers vs Thunder slate closes at 7:16pm AEDT on Tuesday. 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 Strikers vs Thunder contest. The unique insights here can give you an edge when you make your BBL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised BBL Strikers 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.
