NBA Friday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for December 19, 2025
Last updated: Dec 18, 2025, 5:58PM | Published: Dec 18, 2025, 7:57AM
Draftstars Australia's NBA Friday DFS contest begins at 11:00am AEDT on December 19, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player on the slate to help you make winning line-ups.
A reliable Draftstars cheat sheet is a must for NBA fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NBA contests and improve your season-long fantasy line-ups on Friday and beyond.
Featured NBA Games
Draftstars' NBA Friday slate includes these games:
- Milwaukee Bucks vs Toronto Raptors
- Utah Jazz vs Los Angeles Lakers
- Denver Nuggets vs Orlando Magic
- San Antonio Spurs vs Washington Wizards
- Charlotte Hornets vs Atlanta Hawks
- Dallas Mavericks vs Detroit Pistons
- Indiana Pacers vs New York Knicks
- Portland Trail Blazers vs Sacramento Kings
- Phoenix Suns vs Golden State Warriors
- New Orleans Pelicans vs Houston Rockets
- Oklahoma City Thunder vs LA Clippers
- Brooklyn Nets vs Miami Heat
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to make some of the strongest DFS projections in the world.
With the best NBA fantasy insights and DFS strategies from Fantasy Insider, you're set to win in more NBA fantasy contests.
Cheat Sheet and Projections
We have reviewed every player from every team to help you make the best picks on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Luka Dončić (LAL, PG) | $24,960 | 67.1 | 2.7 |
| Value | Dylan Harper (SAS, PG/SG) | $9,340 | 31.9 | 3.4 |
| Fade | Ryan Nembhard (DAL, PG) | $11,810 | 23.6 | 2 |
| Cheapie | Jaxson Hayes (LAL, C) | $8,820 | 27.9 | 3.2 |
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 budget-conscious strategies, "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
PG (Point Guard)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Luka Dončić (LAL) | $24,960 | 67.1 | 2.7 |
| Value | Dylan Harper (SAS) | $9,340 | 31.9 | 3.4 |
| Fade | Ryan Nembhard (DAL) | $11,810 | 23.6 | 2 |
| Cheapie | Tyus Jones (ORL) | $6,000 | 17.5 | 2.9 |
SG (Shooting Guard)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kevin Durant (HOU) | $16,270 | 46.8 | 2.9 |
| Value | Dylan Harper (SAS) | $9,340 | 31.9 | 3.4 |
| Fade | Nickeil Alexander-Walker (ATL) | $12,830 | 29 | 2.3 |
| Cheapie | Josh Okogie (HOU) | $6,000 | 18.5 | 3.1 |
SF (Small Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | LeBron James (LAL) | $17,930 | 55.6 | 3.1 |
| Value | LeBron James (LAL) | $17,930 | 55.6 | 3.1 |
| Fade | Michael Porter (BKN) | $16,940 | 35.2 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | Josh Okogie (HOU) | $6,000 | 18.5 | 3.1 |
PF (Power Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | LeBron James (LAL) | $17,930 | 55.6 | 3.1 |
| Value | LeBron James (LAL) | $17,930 | 55.6 | 3.1 |
| Fade | Michael Porter (BKN) | $16,940 | 35.2 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | Simone Fontecchio (MIA) | $7,570 | 23.1 | 3.1 |
C (Center)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nikola Jokić (DEN) | $25,210 | 57 | 2.3 |
| Value | Jaxson Hayes (LAL) | $8,820 | 27.9 | 3.2 |
| Fade | Derik Queen (NOP) | $12,940 | 27.7 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | Maxime Raynaud (SAC) | $9,250 | 28 | 3 |
Conclusion
When building your NBA Friday teams, consider starting with a value player like Dylan Harper. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Luka Dončić 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 Jaxson Hayes.
On the other hand, according to our model, Ryan Nembhard is one of the lowest value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NBA Friday slate closes at 11:00am AEDT on Friday. ENTER NOW!
As with all NBA DFS contests, whether you start with our studs or build around our value picks, leveraging Fantasy Insider's data-driven NBA fantasy news and strategies, combined with your own research, can enhance your chances of winning in the NBA Friday contest. The unique insights here can give you an edge when you make your NBA DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised NBA Friday 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.
