NBA Wednesday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for March 18, 2026
Last updated: Mar 17, 2026, 11:06PM | Published: Mar 17, 2026, 7:59AM
Draftstars Australia's NBA Wednesday DFS contest kicks off at 10:10am AEDT on March 18, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player on the slate to help you build winning line-ups.
A reliable Draftstars cheat sheet is essential 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 18 and beyond.
Featured NBA Games
Draftstars' NBA Wednesday slate includes the following match-ups:
- New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers
- Orlando Magic vs Oklahoma City Thunder
- Minnesota Timberwolves vs Phoenix Suns
- Denver Nuggets vs Philadelphia 76ers
- Sacramento Kings vs San Antonio Spurs
- Washington Wizards vs Detroit Pistons
- Milwaukee Bucks vs Cleveland Cavaliers
- Charlotte Hornets vs Miami Heat
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 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 have reviewed every player from every team to help you make the best choices on Wednesday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nikola Jokić (DEN, C) | $25,980 | 72.5 | 2.8 |
| Value | Jose Alvarado (NYK, PG) | $6,930 | 25.3 | 3.7 |
| Fade | Quentin Grimes (PHI, PG/SG) | $14,680 | 30.1 | 2 |
| Cheapie | T.J. McConnell (IND, PG) | $8,090 | 29 | 3.6 |
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 those needing to stay under the salary cap, "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 | Cade Cunningham (DET) | $20,810 | 56.6 | 2.7 |
| Value | Jose Alvarado (NYK) | $6,930 | 25.3 | 3.7 |
| Fade | Quentin Grimes (PHI) | $14,680 | 30.1 | 2 |
| Cheapie | T.J. McConnell (IND) | $8,090 | 29 | 3.6 |
SG (Shooting Guard)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Donovan Mitchell (CLE) | $17,010 | 49.4 | 2.9 |
| Value | Jordan Goodwin (PHX) | $7,010 | 24.5 | 3.5 |
| Fade | Quentin Grimes (PHI) | $14,680 | 30.1 | 2 |
| Cheapie | Pelle Larsson (MIA) | $8,850 | 28.4 | 3.2 |
SF (Small Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Brandon Miller (CHA) | $13,650 | 42.4 | 3.1 |
| Value | Jordan Goodwin (PHX) | $7,010 | 24.5 | 3.5 |
| Fade | Jaden McDaniels (MIN) | $12,270 | 26.2 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | Pelle Larsson (MIA) | $8,850 | 28.4 | 3.2 |
PF (Power Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Paolo Banchero (ORL) | $16,150 | 43.9 | 2.7 |
| Value | Anthony Gill (WAS) | $6,000 | 21.5 | 3.6 |
| Fade | Jaden McDaniels (MIN) | $12,270 | 26.2 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | Trendon Watford (PHI) | $6,430 | 22.7 | 3.5 |
C (Center)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nikola Jokić (DEN) | $25,980 | 72.5 | 2.8 |
| Value | Anthony Gill (WAS) | $6,000 | 21.5 | 3.6 |
| Fade | Ivica Zubac (IND) | $12,070 | 25.8 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | Jericho Sims (MIL) | $6,000 | 20.7 | 3.5 |
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 Jose Alvarado. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Nikola Jokić 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 T.J. McConnell.
On the other hand, according to our model, Quentin Grimes 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 10:10am 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 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 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.
