NBA Saturday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for February 28, 2026
Last updated: Feb 27, 2026, 8:58AM | Published: Feb 27, 2026, 7:59AM
Draftstars Australia's NBA Saturday DFS contest kicks off at 11:00am AEDT on February 28, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player on the slate to help you create 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 February 28 and beyond.
Featured NBA Games
Draftstars' NBA Saturday slate includes these match-ups:
- Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers
- Oklahoma City Thunder vs Denver Nuggets
- Milwaukee Bucks vs New York Knicks
- Boston Celtics vs Brooklyn Nets
- Dallas Mavericks vs Memphis Grizzlies
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 reliable 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 make the best picks on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nikola Jokić (DEN, C) | $24,340 | 62.9 | 2.6 |
| Value | Jose Alvarado (NYK, PG) | $6,040 | 22 | 3.6 |
| Fade | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC, PG) | $19,390 | 38.2 | 2 |
| Cheapie | Paul Reed (DET, C) | $7,310 | 22.7 | 3.1 |
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 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 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 | Cade Cunningham (DET) | $20,910 | 59.4 | 2.8 |
| Value | Jose Alvarado (NYK) | $6,040 | 22 | 3.6 |
| Fade | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) | $19,390 | 38.2 | 2 |
| Cheapie | Cam Spencer (MEM) | $8,010 | 23.7 | 3 |
SG (Shooting Guard)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kevin Porter (MIL) | $17,540 | 43.7 | 2.5 |
| Value | Caris LeVert (DET) | $6,000 | 17.7 | 3 |
| Fade | Scotty Pippen (MEM) | $11,920 | 28.1 | 2.4 |
| Cheapie | Aaron Wiggins (OKC) | $6,630 | 19.6 | 3 |
SF (Small Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jaylen Brown (BOS) | $18,180 | 56.5 | 3.1 |
| Value | Jaylen Brown (BOS) | $18,180 | 56.5 | 3.1 |
| Fade | GG Jackson (MEM) | $12,570 | 24.9 | 2 |
| Cheapie | Caris LeVert (DET) | $6,000 | 17.7 | 3 |
PF (Power Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Chet Holmgren (OKC) | $13,690 | 40.3 | 2.9 |
| Value | OG Anunoby (NYK) | $11,380 | 33.7 | 3 |
| Fade | GG Jackson (MEM) | $12,570 | 24.9 | 2 |
| Cheapie | Dean Wade (CLE) | $6,000 | 17.7 | 2.9 |
C (Center)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nikola Jokić (DEN) | $24,340 | 62.9 | 2.6 |
| Value | Paul Reed (DET) | $7,310 | 22.7 | 3.1 |
| Fade | Day'Ron Sharpe (BKN) | $10,750 | 21.6 | 2 |
| Cheapie | Jaylin Williams (OKC) | $6,000 | 18.1 | 3 |
Conclusion
When building your NBA Saturday teams, consider starting with a value player like Jose Alvarado. 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, take a look at our cheapie options, including Paul Reed.
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 building out multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NBA Saturday slate closes at 11:00am AEDT on Saturday. 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 Saturday 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 Saturday 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.
