NFL Thursday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for December 26, 2024
Last updated: Dec 25, 2024, 5:06PM | Published: Dec 25, 2024, 8:06AM
Draftstars Australia's NFL Thursday DFS contest kicks off at 5:00am AEDT on December 26, 2024, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player on the slate to help you create winning line-ups.
A reliable Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial 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 Thursday and beyond.
Featured NFL Games
Draftstars' NFL Thursday slate includes these match-ups:
- Pittsburgh Steelers vs Kansas City Chiefs
- Houston Texans vs Baltimore Ravens
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 strongest 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've reviewed every player from every team to help you make the best picks on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Lamar Jackson (BAL, QB) | $18,750 | 21.5 | 1.1 |
| Value | Calvin Austin (PIT, FLEX/WR) | $7,290 | 9.8 | 1.3 |
| Fade | Mark Andrews (BAL, FLEX/TE) | $11,400 | 8.5 | 0.7 |
| Cheapie | Mike Williams (PIT, WR/FLEX) | $6,000 | 7.9 | 1.3 |
According to Fantasy Insider's DFS model, our "stud" is the highest projected scorer across the slate, while "value" picks offer 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
QB (Quarterback)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Lamar Jackson (BAL) | $18,750 | 21.5 | 1.1 |
| Value | Russell Wilson (PIT) | $13,780 | 15.8 | 1.1 |
| Fade | C.J. Stroud (HOU) | $14,260 | 16 | 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) | $17,240 | 16.7 | 1 |
| Value | Calvin Austin (PIT) | $7,290 | 9.8 | 1.3 |
| Fade | Xavier Worthy (KC) | $11,300 | 8.5 | 0.8 |
| Cheapie | Mike Williams (PIT) | $6,000 | 7.9 | 1.3 |
TE (Tight End)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Travis Kelce (KC) | $13,100 | 12 | 0.9 |
| Value | Pat Freiermuth (PIT) | $8,600 | 9 | 1 |
| Fade | Mark Andrews (BAL) | $11,400 | 8.5 | 0.7 |
| Cheapie | Isaiah Likely (BAL) | $7,040 | 7.1 | 1 |
RB (Running Back)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Joe Mixon (HOU) | $17,230 | 16.4 | 0.9 |
| Value | Isiah Pacheco (KC) | $12,460 | 12.7 | 1 |
| Fade | Jaylen Warren (PIT) | $10,760 | 9.8 | 0.9 |
| Cheapie | Kareem Hunt (KC) | $9,400 | 6.6 | 0.7 |
Conclusion
When building your NFL Thursday teams, consider starting with a value player like Calvin Austin. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Lamar Jackson is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, check out our cheapie options, including Mike Williams.
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 Thursday slate closes at 5:00am AEDT on Thursday. 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 Thursday 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 Thursday 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.
