NFL Monday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for January 26, 2026
Last updated: Jan 25, 2026, 7:06PM | Published: Jan 21, 2026, 8:12AM
Draftstars Australia's NFL Monday DFS contest starts at 7:02am AEDT on January 26, 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 NFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NFL contests and improve your season-long fantasy line-ups on January 26 and beyond.
Featured NFL Games
Draftstars' NFL Monday slate features the following match-ups:
- Denver Broncos vs New England Patriots
- Seattle Seahawks vs Los Angeles Rams
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to come up with some of the best DFS projections in the world.
With the latest NFL fantasy insights and DFS strategies from Fantasy Insider, you're set to win in more NFL fantasy contests.
Cheat Sheet and Projections
We've reviewed every player from every team to help you make the best selections on Monday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Puka Nacua (LA, FLEX/WR) | $17,810 | 22.5 | 1.3 |
| Value | Kenneth Walker (SEA, RB/FLEX) | $13,210 | 20.6 | 1.6 |
| Fade | Drake Maye (NE, QB) | $17,000 | 16.3 | 1 |
| Cheapie | Colby Parkinson (LA, FLEX/TE) | $5,000 | 6.3 | 1.3 |
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 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
QB (Quarterback)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Drake Maye (NE) | $17,000 | 16.3 | 1 |
| Value | Jarrett Stidham (DEN) | $11,350 | 12.5 | 1.1 |
| Fade | Sam Darnold (SEA) | $12,780 | 13 | 1 |
WR (Wide Receiver)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Puka Nacua (LA) | $17,810 | 22.5 | 1.3 |
| Value | Davante Adams (LA) | $10,700 | 16.1 | 1.5 |
| Fade | Courtland Sutton (DEN) | $11,610 | 11.4 | 1 |
| Cheapie | Kayshon Boutte (NE) | $7,570 | 9.2 | 1.2 |
TE (Tight End)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Hunter Henry (NE) | $9,660 | 10.3 | 1.1 |
| Value | Colby Parkinson (LA) | $5,000 | 6.3 | 1.3 |
| Cheapie | Hunter Henry (NE) | $9,660 | 10.3 | 1.1 |
RB (Running Back)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kenneth Walker (SEA) | $13,210 | 20.6 | 1.6 |
| Value | Kenneth Walker (SEA) | $13,210 | 20.6 | 1.6 |
| Fade | Rhamondre Stevenson (NE) | $11,760 | 14 | 1.2 |
| Cheapie | TreVeyon Henderson (NE) | $9,680 | 8.9 | 0.9 |
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 Kenneth Walker. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Puka Nacua is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, take a look at our cheapie options, including Colby Parkinson.
On the other hand, according to our model, Drake Maye is one of the worst 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 7:02am 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.
