DFS 101
Everything you need to know to start playing daily fantasy sports.
WHY PLAY DAILY FANTASY?
Unlike traditional season-long fantasy, where your team is locked in for months, Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) offers a fresh start with every contest. An injury to your star player won't ruin your entire season. Every game slate is a new puzzle to solve, putting everyone on an even playing field.
DFS allows you to play when you want. If you're busy one week, simply take a break. If you're excited about a particular set of games, dive in. Our tools help busy sports fans research and build high-quality lineups quickly.
SALARY CAP DFS
The most popular format is “salary cap” DFS. The concept is simple:
- Each contest provides you with a set “salary cap” of fake money (e.g., $50,000 on DraftKings for NFL).
- Every athlete is assigned a salary based on expected performance. Superstars are expensive, while bench players are cheap.
- Your goal is to build a full lineup for the required positions while staying under the total salary cap.
TOURNAMENTS VS. CASH
Understanding the two main contest types is crucial for success.
Tournaments (GPPs)
Guaranteed Prize Pools (GPPs) are the contests with huge prizes for the top finishers. Thousands of entrants, top-heavy payout structure. To win, you need a unique, high-scoring lineup—taking risks on lesser-owned players and using strategies like stacking.
Best for: Chasing life-changing scores, high-risk/high-reward play.
Cash Games (50/50s)
Roughly half the field wins a prize (usually double entry fee). The goal isn't the highest score—just score higher than about half your opponents. Strategy: be conservative, pick players with high floors and reliable roles.
Best for: Building a bankroll, safer and more consistent returns.
HOW OUR TOOLS HELP
No matter your strategy, success in DFS comes from making informed decisions. Our tools give you a data-driven edge.
- Projections: Expert, up-to-date fantasy point projections for every player. The foundation for identifying value and making smart roster choices.
- Optimizer: Our lineup builder uses our projections and your settings to find mathematically optimal lineups. Build multiple competitive lineups in minutes.
Try our sport-specific optimizers:
WHERE DO I START?
The best way to learn is by playing! Start with low-stakes contests on major sites like DraftKings and FanDuel. Look for sign-up bonuses or promo codes to maximize your first deposit.
If you don't find a better offer, both sites have refer-a-friend programs. Here are our links if you'd like to support us: