NBA Wednesday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for January 7, 2026
Last updated: Jan 6, 2026, 11:57PM | Published: Jan 6, 2026, 7:58AM
Draftstars Australia's NBA Wednesday DFS contest begins at 11:10am AEDT on January 7, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player on the slate to help you make 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 improve your season-long fantasy line-ups on Wednesday and beyond.
Featured NBA Games
Draftstars' NBA Wednesday slate consists of the following games:
- Sacramento Kings vs Dallas Mavericks
- New Orleans Pelicans vs Los Angeles Lakers
- Indiana Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers
- Minnesota Timberwolves vs Miami Heat
- Washington Wizards vs Orlando Magic
- Memphis Grizzlies vs San Antonio Spurs
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 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 picks on Wednesday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Luka Dončić (LAL, PG) | $23,360 | 63.3 | 2.7 |
| Value | LeBron James (LAL, PF/SF) | $17,230 | 55.5 | 3.2 |
| Fade | Tyler Herro (MIA, SG) | $13,900 | 25.2 | 1.8 |
| Cheapie | Jaxson Hayes (LAL, C) | $6,000 | 17.8 | 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'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) | $23,360 | 63.3 | 2.7 |
| Value | Stephon Castle (SAS) | $14,010 | 44.3 | 3.2 |
| Fade | Anthony Black (ORL) | $16,670 | 37.3 | 2.2 |
| Cheapie | T.J. McConnell (IND) | $8,910 | 25.5 | 2.9 |
SG (Shooting Guard)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Anthony Edwards (MIN) | $18,240 | 49.1 | 2.7 |
| Value | Stephon Castle (SAS) | $14,010 | 44.3 | 3.2 |
| Fade | Tyler Herro (MIA) | $13,900 | 25.2 | 1.8 |
| Cheapie | Dylan Harper (SAS) | $8,880 | 25.3 | 2.9 |
SF (Small Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | LeBron James (LAL) | $17,230 | 55.5 | 3.2 |
| Value | LeBron James (LAL) | $17,230 | 55.5 | 3.2 |
| Fade | De'Andre Hunter (CLE) | $10,030 | 23 | 2.3 |
| Cheapie | Keldon Johnson (SAS) | $9,750 | 27.1 | 2.8 |
PF (Power Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Anthony Davis (DAL) | $20,710 | 59.9 | 2.9 |
| Value | LeBron James (LAL) | $17,230 | 55.5 | 3.2 |
| Fade | Nikola Jović (MIA) | $12,160 | 23.3 | 1.9 |
| Cheapie | Jarred Vanderbilt (LAL) | $7,620 | 21.4 | 2.8 |
C (Center)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Anthony Davis (DAL) | $20,710 | 59.9 | 2.9 |
| Value | Deandre Ayton (LAL) | $12,390 | 37 | 3 |
| Fade | Nikola Jović (MIA) | $12,160 | 23.3 | 1.9 |
| Cheapie | Jaxson Hayes (LAL) | $6,000 | 17.8 | 3 |
Conclusion
When building your NBA Wednesday teams, consider starting with a value player like LeBron James. 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 Jaxson Hayes.
On the other hand, according to our model, Tyler Herro 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 11:10am 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 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 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.
