NBA Wednesday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for February 25, 2026
Last updated: Feb 24, 2026, 9:20PM | Published: Feb 24, 2026, 7:58AM
Draftstars Australia's NBA Wednesday DFS contest commences at 11:00am AEDT on February 25, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every 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 improve your season-long fantasy line-ups on February 25 and beyond.
Featured NBA Games
Draftstars' NBA Wednesday slate features the following games:
- Portland Trail Blazers vs Minnesota Timberwolves
- Cleveland Cavaliers vs New York Knicks
- Toronto Raptors vs Oklahoma City Thunder
- Atlanta Hawks vs Washington Wizards
- Los Angeles Lakers vs Orlando Magic
- Brooklyn Nets vs Dallas Mavericks
- Chicago Bulls vs Charlotte Hornets
- Phoenix Suns vs Boston Celtics
- Indiana Pacers vs Philadelphia 76ers
- Milwaukee Bucks vs Miami Heat
- New Orleans Pelicans vs Golden State Warriors
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to produce 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've reviewed every player from every team to help you find the best picks on Wednesday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jalen Johnson (ATL, PF) | $19,410 | 66.5 | 3.4 |
| Value | Jalen Johnson (ATL, PF) | $19,410 | 66.5 | 3.4 |
| Fade | Kel'el Ware (MIA, C) | $11,390 | 20.5 | 1.8 |
| Cheapie | Dejounte Murray (NOP, PG) | $7,510 | 23.9 | 3.2 |
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'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 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 | Luka Dončić (LAL) | $22,460 | 61.8 | 2.8 |
| Value | Dejounte Murray (NOP) | $7,510 | 23.9 | 3.2 |
| Fade | Jalen Suggs (ORL) | $15,640 | 28.9 | 1.8 |
| Cheapie | Collin Sexton (CHI) | $8,960 | 26.6 | 3 |
SG (Shooting Guard)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Anthony Edwards (MIN) | $17,980 | 51.3 | 2.9 |
| Value | Kon Knueppel (CHA) | $13,090 | 41.1 | 3.1 |
| Fade | Grayson Allen (PHX) | $14,300 | 27.7 | 1.9 |
| Cheapie | Bryce McGowens (NOP) | $6,370 | 19.9 | 3.1 |
SF (Small Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | LeBron James (LAL) | $15,700 | 47.9 | 3.1 |
| Value | Kon Knueppel (CHA) | $13,090 | 41.1 | 3.1 |
| Fade | Jaylon Tyson (CLE) | $10,020 | 18.4 | 1.8 |
| Cheapie | Bryce McGowens (NOP) | $6,370 | 19.9 | 3.1 |
PF (Power Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jalen Johnson (ATL) | $19,410 | 66.5 | 3.4 |
| Value | Jalen Johnson (ATL) | $19,410 | 66.5 | 3.4 |
| Fade | Danny Wolf (BKN) | $10,530 | 19 | 1.8 |
| Cheapie | Patrick Williams (CHI) | $7,730 | 22.7 | 2.9 |
C (Center)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Joel Embiid (PHI) | $20,560 | 48.4 | 2.4 |
| Value | Quinten Post (GSW) | $6,350 | 18.6 | 2.9 |
| Fade | Kel'el Ware (MIA) | $11,390 | 20.5 | 1.8 |
| Cheapie | Nick Richards (CHI) | $7,770 | 22 | 2.8 |
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 Jalen Johnson. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Jalen Johnson is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, check out our cheapie options, including Dejounte Murray.
On the other hand, according to our model, Kel'el Ware is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building out multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NBA Wednesday slate closes at 11:00am AEDT 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 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 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.
