NBA Late Thursday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for October 22, 2026
Last updated: Oct 21, 2026, 9:57PM | Published: Oct 21, 2026, 7:57AM
Draftstars Australia's NBA Late Thursday DFS contest kicks off at 1:00pm AEDT on October 22, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player on the slate to help you create winning line-ups.
A reliable Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial for NBA fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NBA contests and enhance your season-long fantasy line-ups on Thursday and beyond.
Featured NBA Games
Draftstars' NBA Late Thursday slate includes these match-ups:
- Los Angeles Lakers vs Golden State Warriors
- Portland Trail Blazers vs Phoenix Suns
- LA Clippers vs Sacramento Kings
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs 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 find the best picks on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Luka Dončić (LAL, PG) | $22,800 | 59.9 | 2.6 |
| Value | Gary Payton (GSW, SG/SF) | $6,140 | 23.2 | 3.8 |
| Fade | Rui Hachimura (LAC, SF/PF) | $12,440 | 22.4 | 1.8 |
| Cheapie | De'Anthony Melton (GSW, PG/SG) | $7,750 | 28.1 | 3.6 |
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'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
PG (Point Guard)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Luka Dončić (LAL) | $22,800 | 59.9 | 2.6 |
| Value | De'Anthony Melton (GSW) | $7,750 | 28.1 | 3.6 |
| Fade | Devin Booker (PHX) | $16,870 | 42 | 2.5 |
| Cheapie | Jrue Holiday (POR) | $9,120 | 30.6 | 3.4 |
SG (Shooting Guard)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Devin Booker (PHX) | $16,870 | 42 | 2.5 |
| Value | Gary Payton (GSW) | $6,140 | 23.2 | 3.8 |
| Fade | Zach LaVine (SAC) | $12,280 | 25.2 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | De'Anthony Melton (GSW) | $7,750 | 28.1 | 3.6 |
SF (Small Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Deni Avdija (POR) | $15,320 | 46.2 | 3 |
| Value | Gary Payton (GSW) | $6,140 | 23.2 | 3.8 |
| Fade | Rui Hachimura (LAC) | $12,440 | 22.4 | 1.8 |
| Cheapie | Nique Clifford (SAC) | $7,300 | 23.4 | 3.2 |
PF (Power Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Miles Bridges (PHX) | $11,610 | 33.7 | 2.9 |
| Value | Sandro Mamukelashvili (LAL) | $7,800 | 26 | 3.3 |
| Fade | Rui Hachimura (LAC) | $12,440 | 22.4 | 1.8 |
| Cheapie | Matisse Thybulle (LAL) | $6,000 | 18.2 | 3 |
C (Center)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Domantas Sabonis (SAC) | $16,780 | 41.4 | 2.5 |
| Value | Brook Lopez (LAC) | $6,000 | 20.8 | 3.5 |
| Fade | Khaman Maluach (PHX) | $10,150 | 21.9 | 2.2 |
| Cheapie | Sandro Mamukelashvili (LAL) | $7,800 | 26 | 3.3 |
Conclusion
When building your NBA Late Thursday teams, consider starting with a value player like Gary Payton. 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 De'Anthony Melton.
On the other hand, according to our model, Rui Hachimura is one of the lowest value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NBA Late Thursday slate closes at 1:00pm AEDT on Thursday. 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 Late Thursday 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 Late Thursday 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.
