NBA Thursday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for November 5, 2026
Last updated: Nov 4, 2026, 1:57AM | Published: Nov 3, 2026, 11:58PM
Draftstars Australia's NBA Thursday DFS contest kicks off at 11:00am AEDT on November 5, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player on the slate to help you make winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is a must for NBA fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NBA contests and enhance your season-long fantasy line-ups on November 5 and beyond.
Featured NBA Games
Draftstars' NBA Thursday slate consists of the following games:
- LA Clippers vs Miami Heat
- Denver Nuggets vs Toronto Raptors
- Sacramento Kings vs Los Angeles Lakers
- Phoenix Suns vs Portland Trail Blazers
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 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 | Luka Dončić (LAL, PG) | $24,160 | 61.5 | 2.5 |
| Value | Matisse Thybulle (LAL, PF/SF) | $7,630 | 25.1 | 3.3 |
| Fade | Max Strus (LAC, SG/SF) | $10,640 | 18.4 | 1.7 |
| Cheapie | Collin Sexton (LAL, PG/SG) | $6,860 | 22 | 3.2 |
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 | Luka Dončić (LAL) | $24,160 | 61.5 | 2.5 |
| Value | Collin Sexton (LAL) | $6,860 | 22 | 3.2 |
| Fade | Davion Mitchell (MIA) | $13,080 | 28.8 | 2.2 |
| Cheapie | Jamal Shead (TOR) | $8,410 | 18.9 | 2.2 |
SG (Shooting Guard)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Austin Reaves (LAL) | $14,830 | 41.9 | 2.8 |
| Value | Collin Sexton (LAL) | $6,860 | 22 | 3.2 |
| Fade | Max Strus (LAC) | $10,640 | 18.4 | 1.7 |
| Cheapie | Jordan Goodwin (PHX) | $8,230 | 22.6 | 2.7 |
SF (Small Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Dillon Brooks (PHX) | $10,940 | 30.5 | 2.8 |
| Value | Matisse Thybulle (LAL) | $7,630 | 25.1 | 3.3 |
| Fade | Max Strus (LAC) | $10,640 | 18.4 | 1.7 |
| Cheapie | Jordan Goodwin (PHX) | $8,230 | 22.6 | 2.7 |
PF (Power Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIA) | $21,950 | 52.7 | 2.4 |
| Value | Matisse Thybulle (LAL) | $7,630 | 25.1 | 3.3 |
| Fade | Scottie Barnes (TOR) | $18,100 | 41.4 | 2.3 |
| Cheapie | Bobby Portis (MIA) | $9,330 | 24.5 | 2.6 |
C (Center)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bam Adebayo (MIA) | $14,690 | 42.2 | 2.9 |
| Value | Bam Adebayo (MIA) | $14,690 | 42.2 | 2.9 |
| Fade | Khaman Maluach (PHX) | $10,160 | 20.7 | 2 |
| Cheapie | Bobby Portis (MIA) | $9,330 | 24.5 | 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 Matisse Thybulle. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Luka Dončić is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, explore our cheapie options, including Collin Sexton.
On the other hand, according to our model, Max Strus is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NBA Thursday slate closes at 11:00am 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.
