NBA Late Wednesday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for April 1, 2026
Last updated: Mar 31, 2026, 4:57PM | Published: Mar 31, 2026, 7:59AM
Draftstars Australia's NBA Late Wednesday DFS contest starts at 1:30pm AEDT on April 1, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player on the slate to help you make winning line-ups.
A handy 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 improve your season-long fantasy line-ups on Wednesday and beyond.
Featured NBA Games
Draftstars' NBA Late Wednesday slate consists of the following match-ups:
- Los Angeles Lakers vs Cleveland Cavaliers
- LA Clippers vs Portland Trail Blazers
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to produce some of the most accurate DFS projections available.
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've reviewed every player from every team to help you find the best choices on Wednesday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Luka Dončić (LAL, PG) | $25,080 | 68 | 2.7 |
| Value | Austin Reaves (LAL, SG/SF) | $15,000 | 48 | 3.2 |
| Fade | Jarrett Allen (CLE, C) | $12,440 | 27 | 2.2 |
| Cheapie | Derrick Jones (LAC, SF/PF) | $7,820 | 24.1 | 3.1 |
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 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) | $25,080 | 68 | 2.7 |
| Value | Deni Avdija (POR) | $16,730 | 48.1 | 2.9 |
| Fade | Scoot Henderson (POR) | $11,830 | 27.9 | 2.4 |
| Cheapie | Kris Dunn (LAC) | $7,020 | 19.5 | 2.8 |
SG (Shooting Guard)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Austin Reaves (LAL) | $15,000 | 48 | 3.2 |
| Value | Austin Reaves (LAL) | $15,000 | 48 | 3.2 |
| Fade | Bennedict Mathurin (LAC) | $11,900 | 28.6 | 2.4 |
| Cheapie | Matisse Thybulle (POR) | $6,000 | 17.8 | 3 |
SF (Small Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kawhi Leonard (LAC) | $17,250 | 55 | 3.2 |
| Value | Austin Reaves (LAL) | $15,000 | 48 | 3.2 |
| Fade | Toumani Camara (POR) | $10,990 | 26.1 | 2.4 |
| Cheapie | Derrick Jones (LAC) | $7,820 | 24.1 | 3.1 |
PF (Power Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kawhi Leonard (LAC) | $17,250 | 55 | 3.2 |
| Value | Kawhi Leonard (LAC) | $17,250 | 55 | 3.2 |
| Fade | Toumani Camara (POR) | $10,990 | 26.1 | 2.4 |
| Cheapie | Derrick Jones (LAC) | $7,820 | 24.1 | 3.1 |
C (Center)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Evan Mobley (CLE) | $15,550 | 39.4 | 2.5 |
| Value | Brook Lopez (LAC) | $8,680 | 25.3 | 2.9 |
| Fade | Jarrett Allen (CLE) | $12,440 | 27 | 2.2 |
| Cheapie | Deandre Ayton (LAL) | $9,310 | 25.7 | 2.8 |
Conclusion
When building your NBA Late Wednesday teams, consider starting with a value player like Austin Reaves. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Luka Dončić is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, take a look at our cheapie options, including Derrick Jones.
On the other hand, according to our model, Jarrett Allen is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NBA Late Wednesday slate closes at 1:30pm AEDT on Wednesday. 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 Wednesday 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 Wednesday 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.
