NBA Thursday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for October 22, 2026
Last updated: Oct 21, 2026, 9:57PM | Published: Oct 21, 2026, 7:57AM
Draftstars Australia's NBA Thursday DFS contest starts at 10:00am AEDT on October 22, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data 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 assemble your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NBA contests and enhance your season-long fantasy line-ups on Thursday and beyond.
Featured NBA Games
Draftstars' NBA Thursday slate consists of these games:
- Orlando Magic vs Atlanta Hawks
- Los Angeles Lakers vs Golden State Warriors
- Memphis Grizzlies vs Utah Jazz
- Houston Rockets vs Dallas Mavericks
- Washington Wizards vs Milwaukee Bucks
- Miami Heat vs Minnesota Timberwolves
- LA Clippers vs Sacramento Kings
- New Orleans Pelicans vs Indiana Pacers
- Portland Trail Blazers vs Phoenix Suns
- Toronto Raptors vs Chicago Bulls
- Brooklyn Nets vs Charlotte Hornets
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 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) | $22,800 | 59.9 | 2.6 |
| Value | Jalen Smith (CHI, C) | $6,910 | 32.9 | 4.8 |
| Fade | Jay Huff (IND, C) | $10,560 | 10.6 | 1 |
| Cheapie | Andrew Nembhard (IND, SG/PG) | $8,390 | 34.8 | 4.2 |
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 those needing to stay under the salary cap, "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) | $22,800 | 59.9 | 2.6 |
| Value | Andrew Nembhard (IND) | $8,390 | 34.8 | 4.2 |
| Fade | Jeremiah Fears (NOP) | $10,770 | 23.9 | 2.2 |
| Cheapie | De'Anthony Melton (GSW) | $7,750 | 28.1 | 3.6 |
SG (Shooting Guard)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Anthony Edwards (MIN) | $17,350 | 48 | 2.8 |
| Value | Andrew Nembhard (IND) | $8,390 | 34.8 | 4.2 |
| Fade | Zach LaVine (SAC) | $12,280 | 25.2 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | Ayo Dosunmu (MIN) | $9,110 | 34.7 | 3.8 |
SF (Small Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kawhi Leonard (TOR) | $16,000 | 52.9 | 3.3 |
| Value | Jarace Walker (IND) | $7,120 | 27.8 | 3.9 |
| Fade | Rui Hachimura (LAC) | $12,440 | 22.4 | 1.8 |
| Cheapie | Ayo Dosunmu (MIN) | $9,110 | 34.7 | 3.8 |
PF (Power Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIA) | $21,610 | 55.8 | 2.6 |
| Value | Jarace Walker (IND) | $7,120 | 27.8 | 3.9 |
| Fade | Rui Hachimura (LAC) | $12,440 | 22.4 | 1.8 |
| Cheapie | Justin Champagnie (WAS) | $6,000 | 21 | 3.5 |
C (Center)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bam Adebayo (MIA) | $15,950 | 46.3 | 2.9 |
| Value | Jalen Smith (CHI) | $6,910 | 32.9 | 4.8 |
| Fade | Jay Huff (IND) | $10,560 | 10.6 | 1 |
| Cheapie | Brook Lopez (LAC) | $6,000 | 20.8 | 3.5 |
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 Jalen Smith. 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 Andrew Nembhard.
On the other hand, according to our model, Jay Huff 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 10:00am 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.
