NBA Sunday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for January 4, 2026
Last updated: Jan 3, 2026, 11:58PM | Published: Jan 3, 2026, 7:58AM
Draftstars Australia's NBA Sunday DFS contest kicks off at 11:40am AEDT on January 4, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every 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 assemble your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NBA contests and improve your season-long fantasy line-ups on Sunday and beyond.
Featured NBA Games
Draftstars' NBA Sunday slate features these games:
- San Antonio Spurs vs Portland Trail Blazers
- LA Clippers vs Boston Celtics
- New York Knicks vs Philadelphia 76ers
- Golden State Warriors vs Utah Jazz
- Toronto Raptors vs Atlanta Hawks
- Chicago Bulls vs Charlotte Hornets
- Dallas Mavericks vs Houston Rockets
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to deliver some of the most reliable 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've reviewed every player from every team to help you find the best selections on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jalen Johnson (ATL, PF) | $19,660 | 55.3 | 2.8 |
| Value | Kelly Olynyk (SAS, C) | $6,000 | 22.5 | 3.7 |
| Fade | Ivica Zubac (LAC, C) | $12,200 | 24.1 | 2 |
| Cheapie | Vít Krejčí (ATL, SG/SF) | $6,770 | 22.9 | 3.4 |
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 budget-conscious strategies, "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 | Deni Avdija (POR) | $19,970 | 51.8 | 2.6 |
| Value | Quentin Grimes (PHI) | $10,900 | 37.9 | 3.5 |
| Fade | Isaiah Collier (UTA) | $11,050 | 23.6 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | De'Anthony Melton (GSW) | $7,570 | 24.9 | 3.3 |
SG (Shooting Guard)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kevin Durant (HOU) | $15,940 | 43.5 | 2.7 |
| Value | Quentin Grimes (PHI) | $10,900 | 37.9 | 3.5 |
| Fade | Ayo Dosunmu (CHI) | $10,390 | 22.4 | 2.2 |
| Cheapie | Vít Krejčí (ATL) | $6,770 | 22.9 | 3.4 |
SF (Small Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Deni Avdija (POR) | $19,970 | 51.8 | 2.6 |
| Value | Keldon Johnson (SAS) | $10,120 | 34.5 | 3.4 |
| Fade | Ayo Dosunmu (CHI) | $10,390 | 22.4 | 2.2 |
| Cheapie | Vít Krejčí (ATL) | $6,770 | 22.9 | 3.4 |
PF (Power Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jalen Johnson (ATL) | $19,660 | 55.3 | 2.8 |
| Value | Harrison Barnes (SAS) | $7,010 | 23.5 | 3.4 |
| Fade | John Collins (LAC) | $10,280 | 22.1 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | Zaccharie Risacher (ATL) | $7,610 | 25.4 | 3.3 |
C (Center)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Scottie Barnes (TOR) | $18,060 | 51.3 | 2.8 |
| Value | Kelly Olynyk (SAS) | $6,000 | 22.5 | 3.7 |
| Fade | Ivica Zubac (LAC) | $12,200 | 24.1 | 2 |
| Cheapie | PJ Hall (CHA) | $6,500 | 20.7 | 3.2 |
Conclusion
When building your NBA Sunday teams, consider starting with a value player like Kelly Olynyk. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Jalen Johnson 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 Vít Krejčí.
On the other hand, according to our model, Ivica Zubac 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 Sunday slate closes at 11:40am AEDT on Sunday. 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 Sunday slate. The unique insights here can help you balance star power, value and budget management when you make your NBA DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised NBA Sunday 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.
