NBA Wednesday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for April 8, 2026
Last updated: Apr 7, 2026, 10:58AM | Published: Apr 7, 2026, 8:57AM
Draftstars Australia's NBA Wednesday DFS contest kicks off at 9:00am AEST on April 8, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player on the slate to help you create winning line-ups.
A reliable Draftstars cheat sheet is a must for NBA fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NBA contests and improve your season-long fantasy line-ups on Wednesday and beyond.
Featured NBA Games
Draftstars' NBA Wednesday slate features these games:
- Washington Wizards vs Chicago Bulls
- Brooklyn Nets vs Milwaukee Bucks
- Boston Celtics vs Charlotte Hornets
- Indiana Pacers vs Minnesota Timberwolves
- Phoenix Suns vs Houston Rockets
- New Orleans Pelicans vs Utah Jazz
- Los Angeles Lakers vs Oklahoma City Thunder
- LA Clippers vs Dallas Mavericks
- Toronto Raptors vs Miami Heat
- Golden State Warriors vs Sacramento Kings
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to deliver some of the best 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 find the best choices on Wednesday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kawhi Leonard (LAC, SF/PF) | $17,650 | 56.8 | 3.2 |
| Value | Lachlan Olbrich (CHI, C) | $6,000 | 20.9 | 3.5 |
| Fade | Kel'el Ware (MIA, C) | $11,070 | 16.5 | 1.5 |
| Cheapie | De'Anthony Melton (GSW, SG/PG) | $9,100 | 30.1 | 3.3 |
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 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) | $19,300 | 47.3 | 2.5 |
| Value | De'Anthony Melton (GSW) | $9,100 | 30.1 | 3.3 |
| Fade | Malik Monk (SAC) | $11,180 | 19.4 | 1.7 |
| Cheapie | Alex Caruso (OKC) | $7,590 | 19.9 | 2.6 |
SG (Shooting Guard)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jaylen Brown (BOS) | $18,100 | 47.7 | 2.6 |
| Value | De'Anthony Melton (GSW) | $9,100 | 30.1 | 3.3 |
| Fade | Malik Monk (SAC) | $11,180 | 19.4 | 1.7 |
| Cheapie | Jordan Goodwin (PHX) | $6,960 | 22.3 | 3.2 |
SF (Small Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kawhi Leonard (LAC) | $17,650 | 56.8 | 3.2 |
| Value | Jordan Goodwin (PHX) | $6,960 | 22.3 | 3.2 |
| Fade | Jaime Jaquez (MIA) | $12,210 | 21.9 | 1.8 |
| Cheapie | Leonard Miller (CHI) | $9,710 | 28.8 | 3 |
PF (Power Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kawhi Leonard (LAC) | $17,650 | 56.8 | 3.2 |
| Value | Kawhi Leonard (LAC) | $17,650 | 56.8 | 3.2 |
| Fade | Obi Toppin (IND) | $10,040 | 18.7 | 1.9 |
| Cheapie | Tari Eason (HOU) | $7,620 | 22.6 | 3 |
C (Center)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Scottie Barnes (TOR) | $16,920 | 46.2 | 2.7 |
| Value | Lachlan Olbrich (CHI) | $6,000 | 20.9 | 3.5 |
| Fade | Kel'el Ware (MIA) | $11,070 | 16.5 | 1.5 |
| Cheapie | Jaxson Hayes (LAL) | $7,930 | 23.2 | 2.9 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your NBA Wednesday teams, consider starting with a value player like Lachlan Olbrich. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Kawhi Leonard 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 De'Anthony Melton.
On the other hand, according to our model, Kel'el Ware is one of the lowest value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NBA Wednesday slate closes at 9:00am AEST on Wednesday. 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 Wednesday slate. 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 Wednesday 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.
