NBA Thursday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for December 26, 2024
Last updated: Dec 25, 2024, 9:57PM | Published: Dec 24, 2024, 7:57AM
Draftstars Australia's NBA Thursday DFS contest starts at 9:05am AEDT on December 26, 2024, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player on the slate to help you build winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is a must 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 Thursday and beyond.
Featured NBA Games
Draftstars' NBA Thursday slate features the following match-ups:
- Phoenix Suns vs Denver Nuggets
- Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Lakers
- Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers
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 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 make the best selections on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nikola Jokić (DEN, C) | $25,780 | 66.9 | 2.6 |
| Value | Trayce Jackson-Davis (GSW, C) | $7,080 | 24.9 | 3.5 |
| Fade | Payton Pritchard (BOS, PG) | $12,000 | 21.2 | 1.8 |
| Cheapie | Ryan Dunn (PHX, SF) | $6,000 | 16.4 | 2.7 |
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'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 budget-conscious strategies, "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 | Stephen Curry (GSW) | $16,210 | 46.7 | 2.9 |
| Value | Stephen Curry (GSW) | $16,210 | 46.7 | 2.9 |
| Fade | Payton Pritchard (BOS) | $12,000 | 21.2 | 1.8 |
| Cheapie | Brandin Podziemski (GSW) | $8,470 | 19.4 | 2.3 |
SG (Shooting Guard)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Stephen Curry (GSW) | $16,210 | 46.7 | 2.9 |
| Value | Bradley Beal (PHX) | $13,470 | 39.5 | 2.9 |
| Fade | Kelly Oubre (PHI) | $11,650 | 25.5 | 2.2 |
| Cheapie | Max Christie (LAL) | $6,710 | 17.1 | 2.5 |
SF (Small Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | LeBron James (LAL) | $18,680 | 49.5 | 2.7 |
| Value | Bradley Beal (PHX) | $13,470 | 39.5 | 2.9 |
| Fade | Jayson Tatum (BOS) | $21,000 | 45.2 | 2.2 |
| Cheapie | Ryan Dunn (PHX) | $6,000 | 16.4 | 2.7 |
PF (Power Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | LeBron James (LAL) | $18,680 | 49.5 | 2.7 |
| Value | Jonathan Kuminga (GSW) | $10,620 | 30.4 | 2.9 |
| Fade | Jayson Tatum (BOS) | $21,000 | 45.2 | 2.2 |
| Cheapie | Guerschon Yabusele (PHI) | $8,000 | 19.5 | 2.4 |
C (Center)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nikola Jokić (DEN) | $25,780 | 66.9 | 2.6 |
| Value | Trayce Jackson-Davis (GSW) | $7,080 | 24.9 | 3.5 |
| Fade | Draymond Green (GSW) | $11,460 | 31.2 | 2.7 |
| Cheapie | Mason Plumlee (PHX) | $6,040 | 15.8 | 2.6 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your NBA Thursday teams, consider starting with a value player like Trayce Jackson-Davis. 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, explore our cheapie options, including Ryan Dunn.
On the other hand, according to our model, Payton Pritchard 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 Thursday slate closes at 9:05am 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 Thursday slate. The unique insights here can help you maximize points while adhering to the salary cap when you make your NBA DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised NBA 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.
