NFL Sunday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for December 22, 2024
Last updated: Dec 21, 2024, 5:06PM | Published: Dec 19, 2024, 2:07AM
Draftstars Australia's NFL Sunday DFS contest begins at 5:02am AEDT on December 22, 2024, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every 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 assemble your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NFL contests and improve your season-long fantasy line-ups on Sunday and beyond.
Featured NFL Games
Draftstars' NFL Sunday slate consists of the following match-ups:
- Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers
- Kansas City Chiefs vs Houston Texans
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 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 find the best picks on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Lamar Jackson (BAL, QB) | $18,860 | 22.2 | 1.2 |
| Value | Isaiah Likely (BAL, FLEX/TE) | $6,160 | 7.7 | 1.2 |
| Fade | Mark Andrews (BAL, FLEX/TE) | $10,790 | 8.9 | 0.8 |
| Cheapie | Rashod Bateman (BAL, FLEX/WR) | $8,240 | 10.1 | 1.2 |
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 are 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
QB (Quarterback)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Lamar Jackson (BAL) | $18,860 | 22.2 | 1.2 |
| Value | Lamar Jackson (BAL) | $18,860 | 22.2 | 1.2 |
| Fade | C.J. Stroud (HOU) | $14,180 | 15.5 | 1.1 |
| Cheapie | Davis Mills (HOU) | $8,000 | 0.2 | 0 |
WR (Wide Receiver)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nico Collins (HOU) | $17,410 | 15.6 | 0.9 |
| Value | Rashod Bateman (BAL) | $8,240 | 10.1 | 1.2 |
| Fade | DeAndre Hopkins (KC) | $11,560 | 9.9 | 0.9 |
| Cheapie | Calvin Austin (PIT) | $6,710 | 8.2 | 1.2 |
TE (Tight End)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Travis Kelce (KC) | $13,790 | 12.6 | 0.9 |
| Value | Isaiah Likely (BAL) | $6,160 | 7.7 | 1.2 |
| Fade | Mark Andrews (BAL) | $10,790 | 8.9 | 0.8 |
| Cheapie | Pat Freiermuth (PIT) | $9,190 | 9 | 1 |
RB (Running Back)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Joe Mixon (HOU) | $18,130 | 17.5 | 1 |
| Value | Najee Harris (PIT) | $12,110 | 11.9 | 1 |
| Fade | Derrick Henry (BAL) | $17,650 | 15.6 | 0.9 |
| Cheapie | Justice Hill (BAL) | $8,000 | 6.9 | 0.9 |
Conclusion
When building your NFL Sunday teams, consider starting with a value player like Isaiah Likely. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Lamar Jackson 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 Rashod Bateman.
On the other hand, according to our model, Mark Andrews is one of the lowest value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NFL Sunday slate closes at 5:02am AEDT on Sunday. 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 Sunday slate. The unique insights here can give you an edge when you make your NFL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised NFL Sunday 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.
