NBA Monday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for January 19, 2026
Last updated: Jan 18, 2026, 11:58PM | Published: Jan 18, 2026, 7:58AM
Draftstars Australia's NBA Monday DFS contest commences at 11:10am AEDT on January 19, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player on the slate to help you make winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is essential 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 January 19 and beyond.
Featured NBA Games
Draftstars' NBA Monday slate consists of the following games:
- Houston Rockets vs New Orleans Pelicans
- Chicago Bulls vs Brooklyn Nets
- Sacramento Kings vs Portland Trail Blazers
- Los Angeles Lakers vs Toronto Raptors
- Denver Nuggets vs Charlotte Hornets
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to come up with some of the best DFS projections in the world.
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 selections on Monday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Luka Dončić (LAL, PG) | $23,930 | 59 | 2.5 |
| Value | Josh Okogie (HOU, SF/SG) | $6,000 | 23.2 | 3.9 |
| Fade | Jamal Shead (TOR, PG) | $11,800 | 26.4 | 2.2 |
| Cheapie | Terance Mann (BKN, SG/SF) | $6,000 | 20.8 | 3.5 |
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 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) | $23,930 | 59 | 2.5 |
| Value | Tyrese Martin (BKN) | $6,000 | 19.1 | 3.2 |
| Fade | Jamal Shead (TOR) | $11,800 | 26.4 | 2.2 |
| Cheapie | Malik Monk (SAC) | $6,630 | 19.8 | 3 |
SG (Shooting Guard)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kevin Durant (HOU) | $18,160 | 52.8 | 2.9 |
| Value | Josh Okogie (HOU) | $6,000 | 23.2 | 3.9 |
| Fade | Trey Murphy (NOP) | $16,280 | 41.2 | 2.5 |
| Cheapie | Terance Mann (BKN) | $6,000 | 20.8 | 3.5 |
SF (Small Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kevin Durant (HOU) | $18,160 | 52.8 | 2.9 |
| Value | Josh Okogie (HOU) | $6,000 | 23.2 | 3.9 |
| Fade | LeBron James (LAL) | $19,970 | 45.7 | 2.3 |
| Cheapie | Terance Mann (BKN) | $6,000 | 20.8 | 3.5 |
PF (Power Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Scottie Barnes (TOR) | $17,150 | 52.8 | 3.1 |
| Value | Miles Bridges (CHA) | $12,970 | 40.4 | 3.1 |
| Fade | LeBron James (LAL) | $19,970 | 45.7 | 2.3 |
| Cheapie | Danny Wolf (BKN) | $8,950 | 26.5 | 3 |
C (Center)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Scottie Barnes (TOR) | $17,150 | 52.8 | 3.1 |
| Value | Scottie Barnes (TOR) | $17,150 | 52.8 | 3.1 |
| Fade | Deandre Ayton (LAL) | $12,450 | 29.7 | 2.4 |
| Cheapie | Precious Achiuwa (SAC) | $9,150 | 27 | 3 |
Conclusion
When building your NBA Monday teams, consider starting with a value player like Josh Okogie. 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, check out our cheapie options, including Terance Mann.
On the other hand, according to our model, Jamal Shead is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NBA Monday slate closes at 11:10am AEDT on Monday. 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 Monday 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 Monday 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.
