NBA Tuesday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for March 17, 2026
Last updated: Mar 16, 2026, 11:00PM | Published: Mar 16, 2026, 7:58AM
Draftstars Australia's NBA Tuesday DFS contest commences at 10:10am AEDT on March 17, 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 a must 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 March 17 and beyond.
Featured NBA Games
Draftstars' NBA Tuesday slate consists of these match-ups:
- Atlanta Hawks vs Orlando Magic
- Chicago Bulls vs Memphis Grizzlies
- New Orleans Pelicans vs Dallas Mavericks
- Brooklyn Nets vs Portland Trail Blazers
- LA Clippers vs San Antonio Spurs
- Washington Wizards vs Golden State Warriors
- Boston Celtics vs Phoenix Suns
- Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers
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 best DFS projections in the world.
With the best 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 picks on Tuesday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Luka Dončić (LAL, PG) | $25,850 | 62.5 | 2.4 |
| Value | Yves Missi (NOP, C) | $6,940 | 24.4 | 3.5 |
| Fade | Jonathan Kuminga (ATL, PF) | $10,810 | 18.2 | 1.7 |
| Cheapie | Will Richard (GSW, SG) | $6,630 | 22.7 | 3.4 |
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 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) | $25,850 | 62.5 | 2.4 |
| Value | Ryan Nembhard (DAL) | $6,960 | 22.1 | 3.2 |
| Fade | Darius Garland (LAC) | $15,910 | 34.3 | 2.2 |
| Cheapie | Brandon Williams (DAL) | $9,000 | 28.4 | 3.2 |
SG (Shooting Guard)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kevin Durant (HOU) | $16,490 | 51.2 | 3.1 |
| Value | Will Richard (GSW) | $6,630 | 22.7 | 3.4 |
| Fade | Devin Booker (PHX) | $18,150 | 40.3 | 2.2 |
| Cheapie | DeJon Jarreau (MEM) | $6,000 | 20.1 | 3.4 |
SF (Small Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Deni Avdija (POR) | $17,190 | 52.3 | 3 |
| Value | Zaccharie Risacher (ATL) | $6,000 | 20.1 | 3.4 |
| Fade | Toumani Camara (POR) | $11,020 | 25.3 | 2.3 |
| Cheapie | Gary Payton (GSW) | $8,210 | 27.1 | 3.3 |
PF (Power Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jalen Johnson (ATL) | $19,730 | 60.4 | 3.1 |
| Value | Zaccharie Risacher (ATL) | $6,000 | 20.1 | 3.4 |
| Fade | Jonathan Kuminga (ATL) | $10,810 | 18.2 | 1.7 |
| Cheapie | Karlo Matković (NOP) | $6,000 | 19 | 3.2 |
C (Center)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Victor Wembanyama (SAS) | $21,510 | 52.9 | 2.5 |
| Value | Yves Missi (NOP) | $6,940 | 24.4 | 3.5 |
| Fade | Nic Claxton (BKN) | $11,810 | 27 | 2.3 |
| Cheapie | Nick Richards (CHI) | $7,120 | 23.1 | 3.2 |
Conclusion
When building your NBA Tuesday teams, consider starting with a value player like Yves Missi. 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, take a look at our cheapie options, including Will Richard.
On the other hand, according to our model, Jonathan Kuminga is one of the lowest 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 Tuesday slate closes at 10:10am 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 slate. The unique insights here can give you an edge 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.
