NFL Monday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for December 29, 2025
Last updated: Dec 26, 2025, 9:07AM | Published: Dec 26, 2025, 12:09AM
Draftstars Australia's NFL Monday DFS contest commences at 5:00am AEDT on December 29, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player on the slate to help you make winning line-ups.
A reliable Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for NFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NFL contests and enhance your season-long fantasy line-ups on Monday and beyond.
Featured NFL Games
Draftstars' NFL Monday slate features the following match-ups:
- Las Vegas Raiders vs New York Giants
- Indianapolis Colts vs Jacksonville Jaguars
- Cincinnati Bengals vs Arizona Cardinals
- Buffalo Bills vs Philadelphia Eagles
- Miami Dolphins vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Carolina Panthers vs Seattle Seahawks
- Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers
- New York Jets vs New England Patriots
- Tennessee Titans vs New Orleans Saints
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to come up with some of the best DFS projections in the world.
With the best NFL fantasy insights and DFS strategies from Fantasy Insider, you're set to win in more NFL fantasy contests.
Cheat Sheet and Projections
We have reviewed every player from every team to help you find the best picks on Monday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA, FLEX/WR) | $19,920 | 22.5 | 1.1 |
| Value | Dalton Kincaid (BUF, FLEX/TE) | $6,290 | 9 | 1.4 |
| Fade | Aaron Rodgers (PIT, QB) | $13,410 | 13.2 | 1 |
| Cheapie | Chig Okonkwo (TEN, TE/FLEX) | $5,020 | 7.1 | 1.4 |
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'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
QB (Quarterback)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Drake Maye (NE) | $16,900 | 21.3 | 1.3 |
| Value | Quinn Ewers (MIA) | $10,350 | 13.9 | 1.3 |
| Fade | Aaron Rodgers (PIT) | $13,410 | 13.2 | 1 |
| Cheapie | Brady Cook (NYJ) | $9,480 | 11.8 | 1.2 |
WR (Wide Receiver)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA) | $19,920 | 22.5 | 1.1 |
| Value | Ja'Marr Chase (CIN) | $17,430 | 21.5 | 1.2 |
| Fade | DeVonta Smith (PHI) | $11,380 | 11.3 | 1 |
| Cheapie | Kayshon Boutte (NE) | $6,000 | 7.2 | 1.2 |
TE (Tight End)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Trey McBride (ARI) | $17,550 | 19.1 | 1.1 |
| Value | Dalton Kincaid (BUF) | $6,290 | 9 | 1.4 |
| Fade | Harold Fannin (CLE) | $10,580 | 11.6 | 1.1 |
| Cheapie | Chig Okonkwo (TEN) | $5,020 | 7.1 | 1.4 |
RB (Running Back)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | De'Von Achane (MIA) | $19,610 | 20.4 | 1 |
| Value | Rhamondre Stevenson (NE) | $8,000 | 11.3 | 1.4 |
| Fade | Bucky Irving (TB) | $13,650 | 14.4 | 1.1 |
| Cheapie | Tyjae Spears (TEN) | $8,000 | 10 | 1.3 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your NFL Monday teams, consider starting with a value player like Dalton Kincaid. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Jaxon Smith-Njigba 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 Chig Okonkwo.
On the other hand, according to our model, Aaron Rodgers 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' NFL Monday slate closes at 5:00am AEDT on Monday. ENTER NOW!
As with all NFL DFS contests, whether you start with our studs or build around our value picks, leveraging Fantasy Insider's data-driven NFL fantasy news and strategies, combined with your own research, can enhance your chances of winning in the NFL Monday contest. The unique insights here can give you an edge when you make your NFL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised NFL Monday 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.
