NBA Tuesday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for January 6, 2026
Last updated: Jan 6, 2026, 12:01AM | Published: Jan 5, 2026, 7:57AM
Draftstars Australia's NBA Tuesday DFS contest kicks off at 11:10am AEDT on January 6, 2026, 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 essential for NBA fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NBA contests and enhance your season-long fantasy line-ups on Tuesday and beyond.
Featured NBA Games
Draftstars' NBA Tuesday slate features these match-ups:
- Detroit Pistons vs New York Knicks
- Houston Rockets vs Phoenix Suns
- LA Clippers vs Golden State Warriors
- Oklahoma City Thunder vs Charlotte Hornets
- Philadelphia 76ers vs Denver Nuggets
- Portland Trail Blazers vs Utah Jazz
- Toronto Raptors vs Atlanta Hawks
- Boston Celtics vs Chicago Bulls
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs 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 find the best selections on Tuesday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Deni Avdija (POR, PG/SF) | $21,090 | 63.1 | 3 |
| Value | Paul Reed (DET, C) | $6,000 | 34.6 | 5.8 |
| Fade | Kristaps Porziņģis (ATL, C) | $12,700 | 20.2 | 1.6 |
| Cheapie | Jalen Pickett (DEN, PG/SG) | $6,000 | 22.3 | 3.7 |
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 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) | $21,090 | 63.1 | 3 |
| Value | Jalen Pickett (DEN) | $6,000 | 22.3 | 3.7 |
| Fade | Collin Gillespie (PHX) | $14,880 | 28.8 | 1.9 |
| Cheapie | De'Anthony Melton (GSW) | $8,190 | 23.5 | 2.9 |
SG (Shooting Guard)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kevin Durant (HOU) | $17,340 | 43.8 | 2.5 |
| Value | Jalen Pickett (DEN) | $6,000 | 22.3 | 3.7 |
| Fade | Grayson Allen (PHX) | $11,560 | 21.1 | 1.8 |
| Cheapie | Julian Strawther (DEN) | $6,000 | 18.4 | 3.1 |
SF (Small Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Deni Avdija (POR) | $21,090 | 63.1 | 3 |
| Value | Brice Sensabaugh (UTA) | $8,300 | 28 | 3.4 |
| Fade | Grayson Allen (PHX) | $11,560 | 21.1 | 1.8 |
| Cheapie | Aaron Wiggins (OKC) | $7,260 | 21.1 | 2.9 |
PF (Power Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jalen Johnson (ATL) | $20,900 | 55 | 2.6 |
| Value | Zeke Nnaji (DEN) | $6,000 | 19.3 | 3.2 |
| Fade | Kawhi Leonard (LAC) | $23,240 | 45.6 | 2 |
| Cheapie | Hunter Tyson (DEN) | $6,000 | 17.7 | 2.9 |
C (Center)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Scottie Barnes (TOR) | $18,320 | 51.8 | 2.8 |
| Value | Paul Reed (DET) | $6,000 | 34.6 | 5.8 |
| Fade | Kristaps Porziņģis (ATL) | $12,700 | 20.2 | 1.6 |
| Cheapie | Zeke Nnaji (DEN) | $6,000 | 19.3 | 3.2 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your NBA Tuesday teams, consider starting with a value player like Paul Reed. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Deni Avdija 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 Jalen Pickett.
On the other hand, according to our model, Kristaps Porziņģis is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NBA Tuesday slate closes at 11:10am AEDT on Tuesday. 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 Tuesday contest. 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 Tuesday 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.
