NBA Thursday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for January 22, 2026
Last updated: Jan 21, 2026, 11:58PM | Published: Jan 21, 2026, 7:57AM
Draftstars Australia's NBA Thursday DFS contest commences at 11:10am AEDT on January 22, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player on the slate to help you build winning line-ups.
A handy Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial 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 22 and beyond.
Featured NBA Games
Draftstars' NBA Thursday slate includes the following games:
- Charlotte Hornets vs Cleveland Cavaliers
- Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers
- Memphis Grizzlies vs Atlanta Hawks
- Milwaukee Bucks vs Oklahoma City Thunder
- New York Knicks vs Brooklyn Nets
- Sacramento Kings vs Toronto Raptors
- New Orleans Pelicans vs Detroit Pistons
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 strongest 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 make the best choices on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jalen Johnson (ATL, PF) | $20,380 | 58.4 | 2.9 |
| Value | GG Jackson (MEM, PF/SF) | $6,160 | 21.6 | 3.5 |
| Fade | Cam Spencer (MEM, PG) | $12,190 | 22.5 | 1.8 |
| Cheapie | Jaden Ivey (DET, SG) | $7,770 | 27.1 | 3.5 |
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 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 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) | $20,460 | 53.7 | 2.6 |
| Value | Immanuel Quickley (TOR) | $12,950 | 39 | 3 |
| Fade | Cam Spencer (MEM) | $12,190 | 22.5 | 1.8 |
| Cheapie | Jamal Shead (TOR) | $9,750 | 29.2 | 3 |
SG (Shooting Guard)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Donovan Mitchell (CLE) | $18,210 | 51.1 | 2.8 |
| Value | Jaden Ivey (DET) | $7,770 | 27.1 | 3.5 |
| Fade | Miles McBride (NYK) | $10,440 | 20.2 | 1.9 |
| Cheapie | Gradey Dick (TOR) | $6,180 | 18.8 | 3 |
SF (Small Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jaylen Brown (BOS) | $18,180 | 52.2 | 2.9 |
| Value | GG Jackson (MEM) | $6,160 | 21.6 | 3.5 |
| Fade | Sam Hauser (BOS) | $11,040 | 22 | 2 |
| Cheapie | Ronald Holland (DET) | $8,190 | 24.4 | 3 |
PF (Power Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jalen Johnson (ATL) | $20,380 | 58.4 | 2.9 |
| Value | GG Jackson (MEM) | $6,160 | 21.6 | 3.5 |
| Fade | Sam Hauser (BOS) | $11,040 | 22 | 2 |
| Cheapie | Bobby Portis (MIL) | $9,660 | 32.5 | 3.4 |
C (Center)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) | $19,850 | 56.9 | 2.9 |
| Value | Bobby Portis (MIL) | $9,660 | 32.5 | 3.4 |
| Fade | Mitchell Robinson (NYK) | $10,230 | 19.2 | 1.9 |
| Cheapie | Mouhamed Gueye (ATL) | $6,000 | 17.7 | 2.9 |
Conclusion
When building your NBA Thursday teams, consider starting with a value player like GG Jackson. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Jalen Johnson is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, check out our cheapie options, including Jaden Ivey.
On the other hand, according to our model, Cam Spencer 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 Thursday slate closes at 11:10am 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 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 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.
