NBA Friday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for October 23, 2026
Last updated: Oct 22, 2026, 10:57PM | Published: Oct 22, 2026, 7:57AM
Draftstars Australia's NBA Friday DFS contest begins at 10:10am AEDT on October 23, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player on the slate to help you build winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial for NBA fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NBA contests and enhance your season-long fantasy line-ups on October 23 and beyond.
Featured NBA Games
Draftstars' NBA Friday slate consists of the following match-ups:
- Oklahoma City Thunder vs Denver Nuggets
- Philadelphia 76ers vs Cleveland Cavaliers
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 most accurate DFS projections available.
With the latest 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 | Nikola Jokić (DEN, C) | $23,840 | 58.1 | 2.4 |
| Value | Jaylon Tyson (CLE, SF/SG) | $6,000 | 24.4 | 4.1 |
| Fade | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC, PG) | $19,730 | 49.1 | 2.5 |
| Cheapie | VJ Edgecombe (PHI, SG) | $9,090 | 31.6 | 3.5 |
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 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 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) | $19,730 | 49.1 | 2.5 |
| Value | Anfernee Simons (PHI) | $6,690 | 20.9 | 3.1 |
| Fade | James Harden (CLE) | $16,220 | 40.9 | 2.5 |
| Cheapie | Ajay Mitchell (OKC) | $8,340 | 23.7 | 2.8 |
SG (Shooting Guard)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Donovan Mitchell (CLE) | $16,230 | 43 | 2.6 |
| Value | Jaylon Tyson (CLE) | $6,000 | 24.4 | 4.1 |
| Cheapie | VJ Edgecombe (PHI) | $9,090 | 31.6 | 3.5 |
SF (Small Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jaylen Brown (PHI) | $15,510 | 46.8 | 3 |
| Value | Jaylon Tyson (CLE) | $6,000 | 24.4 | 4.1 |
| Fade | Jalen Williams (OKC) | $13,140 | 36.3 | 2.8 |
| Cheapie | Sam Merrill (CLE) | $6,000 | 20 | 3.3 |
PF (Power Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | LeBron James (PHI) | $14,750 | 41.7 | 2.8 |
| Value | Peyton Watson (CLE) | $10,070 | 30.8 | 3.1 |
| Fade | Aaron Gordon (DEN) | $11,150 | 27.9 | 2.5 |
| Cheapie | Spencer Jones (DEN) | $6,000 | 14.4 | 2.4 |
C (Center)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nikola Jokić (DEN) | $23,840 | 58.1 | 2.4 |
| Value | Isaiah Hartenstein (OKC) | $9,240 | 27.5 | 3 |
| Fade | Jarrett Allen (CLE) | $11,140 | 31.1 | 2.8 |
| Cheapie | Jaylin Williams (OKC) | $6,000 | 17.6 | 2.9 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your NBA Friday teams, consider starting with a value player like Jaylon Tyson. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Nikola Jokić 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 VJ Edgecombe.
On the other hand, according to our model, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 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 10:10am 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 slate. 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.
