How to Play Daily Fantasy Sports
By
Nathan Whelan
Betting Analyst
Updated: March 31, 2025
Nathan Whelan Betting Analyst
The first time playing daily fantasy sports can be a thrill, though you’ll need to know the basics if you want any chance of winning. But don’t worry. This piece on how to play DFS for beginners will cover many of the basics. You’ll find out how to pick a roster, manage a salary cap, as well as some basic tips and tricks. Read on to get started on your daily fantasy sports journey.
The Basics
Firstly, it should be noted that there are many types of DFS contests, with each having different rules and formats. Certain DFS contest types are restricted in some U.S. states due to recent changes in legislation. The main types of contests can be categorized within the following.
- Guaranteed Prize Pools (GPPs): a type of contest that has a specific total prize amount regardless of how many people are competing. Those who finish at the top of the contest leaderboard win the highest share of the money.
- Cash Games: a type of contest where 50 percent of the people in the top half of the leaderboard win the same cash prize. This allows more entrants to win while requiring less game theory or knowledge.
Classic Contests
A classic DFS contest sees participants take the role of a coach to select a lineup of pro sports players. With a price tag attached to each player, the fictional lineup will have a set number of players that need to fit under a salary cap. Points are then scored according to the real-world performance of the player. Certain types of players, whether they be midfielders, defenders, or forwards, may have a better chance at scoring higher, which is often reflected in their price tag.
Having been charged an entry fee to compete, the participant with the lineup that achieves the highest accumulative points will take home the prize money. The prize pools consist of entry fees from contest participants (plus a bonus amount which may be provided by the DFS operator). Prize pools are settled after the conclusion of the contest.
Lineup Selection
With a salary cap to work with, participants curate their lineup by choosing players listed in the player pool. There are certain requirements for a lineup formation, such as a set number of players that can be selected across each position. Lineups may be edited at any time leading up to games. Each individual player will become “locked” at the scheduled start time.
A player’s price indicates how many points they score on average across the games played in that season. A player’s price can change from contest to contest depending on how they have been performing over the previous weeks and months. There are always detailed and informative statistical summaries for each player, including things like projected scores. Using this data helps to find bang for your buck.
Scoring Points
Participants score points based upon the real-life performance of their active players chosen in their lineup. These points are based on a system where players are awarded or subtracted points for each performance statistic. Every action a player makes in a game has an impact on the result, so some actions are weighted as more important than others.
The scoring system rewards the most important actions in games. Using fantasy basketball as an example, players gain points for a Rebound, Assist, Steal, and other actions. Players can also lose points for a Turnover. Being across the key stats, and how they apply during matches, will help you pick the right players for your lineup.
Strategies for Beginners
If I think back to my experience playing daily fantasy sports for the first time, I made plenty of mistakes in getting too ahead of myself. Below, I’ve shared a few DFS beginner strategies that can help you learn the activity before expanding into more complicated, high-stakes contests.
Play Low-Stakes Cash Games
It’s common for newcomers to DFS to jump straight into GPPs that offer huge prize pools in the hopes of winning a hefty payout. I strongly advise that you avoid this, and instead start with cash games. This is because GPPs are often played against thousands of other players, with only the top performers winning a cut of the prize.
In cash games, you only need to beat half the field to win roughly double your money. It’s also worth opting for single-entry contests to avoid competing against experienced players with numerous optimized lineups. As you gain experience, invest the majority of your funds in cash games and the remainder in high-stakes tournaments. This will give you better chances to sustain your bankroll.
Rely on Value Players and Consider Projections
A reliable strategy that I and many other DFS players follow is to research and draft value picks rather than expensive, big-name stars. Consider player projections that estimate a player’s expected fantasy points in an upcoming round and balance that against their price. Undervalued players are often backups who are stepping in to cover injuries, so keeping an eye on injury reports and league news is a must.
Stack in GPPS
When beginning to play in GPP tournaments, try stacking your teams. This refers to drafting multiple players from the same team whose performances correlate to point scoring. For example, in NFL DFS, you could draft a quarterback with his top receiver, to ensure that every touchdown pass has scoring potential for multiple players in your lineup. I’ve found it’s best to stack from teams in games where offenses are expected to thrive.
Helpful Resources
As my experience with DFS increased, so too did my realization that thorough research is integral to consistency. Fortunately, there are a range of online tools that can aid in the drafting process and are especially helpful in the early stages of play. Below, I’ve listed some tried and tested resources that help with everything from lineup building to bankroll management.
DFS Optimizers & Lineup Builders
Depending on your bankroll and frequency of play, you may wish to subscribe to a lineup builder and optimizer service. As the name suggests, these generate reliable lineups based on the latest data, considering salary cap, point projections, and ownership percentages in the equation. Sites like Fantasy Cruncher and RotoGrinders are especially useful for competitive tournaments that require diversified lineups. However, be mindful that they can be pricey and don’t guarantee a win.
Point Projection Models
Rather than rely on your gut instincts or personal biases, it’s essential to rely on legitimate data to inform your picks. Sites such as Stokastic, Sportsline, and RotoGrinders offer detailed point projections for players that are based on historical data, matchup strength, injury reports, and more. Some DFS sites such as FanDuel also provide point projections. I recommend comparing various projection sources before drafting.
Ownership Projections & Leverage Tools
The ownership percentage of a player is extremely important in competitive large-field tournaments because if a popular player underperforms, it will disadvantage most of the field. Sites such as Stokastic offer tools that help identify players with high upside and leverage spots, offering guidance to pivot to similarly priced players with high potential yet lower ownership. When successful, this can really give users an advantage.
News, Blogs, and Social Media
Just as the biggest sports are fast-moving and ever-changing, so too is DFS. To stay abreast of the latest information regarding injuries, lineup changes, and other relevant information, subscribe to RSS feeds from noteworthy sports websites such as ESPN and official major sports league sites. Websites which have dedicated DFS focused news feed such as Fantasy Points make for the best source. Following teams on social media platforms such as BlueSky is also a great way to source information as it drops. Reacting fast to breaking information can give you an edge over competitors.
Bankroll Trackers & ROI Calculators
The most successful DFS players understand that wise bankroll management is key to sustained, consistent success. I use the browser extension from RotoTracker to track and analyze my wins, losses, and return on investment (ROI) over time. As this categorizes contests by type, it often provides valuable insights into my strengths and weaknesses in contest selection and reveals potential tweaks to my strategy.
Glossary of Terms
Another thing I noticed when starting out playing daily fantasy sports was the number of obscure terms that were often used by blogs, fantasy sites, or other players in forums. I’ve saved you the trouble of learning the hard way by sharing a glossary of need-to-know DFS terms below.
Bankroll
The funds a player has to spend on DFS contests. Bankroll management refers to the organization of funds, with only small percentages spent on diverse contests to maximize longevity.
Ceiling & Floor
A ceiling refers to the highest probable point scores for a player, while their floor is their lowest likely score. Cash games should target high-floor options, whereas tournament players should see high-ceiling players.
Contrarian Play
A strategy whereby contestants choose players with low ownership to differentiate their lineup from competitors. Especially important in GPPs as they offer greater rewards despite the higher risk.
Exposure
The frequency that a single player is represented across a contestants’ lineups. If a player is highly exposed, they are available in most lineups. This incurs risks if they don’t perform well.
Fade
Contestants “fade” a player that they want to avoid drafting. This is often because of expected high ownership, they are facing a difficult opponent, or they offer poor value.
Late Swap
Adjusting a lineup after some games have begun but before their selected player’s game commences. Often important in sports such as the NBA where late injury reports or lineup changes can impact player value.
Leverage
Leveraging is a strategy that assesses a player’s potential value relative to their projected ownership. It involves comparing the predicted ownership percentage of a player versus their appearance in lineup optimization simulations.
Ownership Percentage
The percentage of DFS lineups that include a player. Highly-owned players are referred to as “chalk” while players with low ownership are “contrarian”. Essential to understand for GPPs especially.
Rake
Similar to the vigorish in sports betting or house edge at casinos, this is the fee taken by DFS operators from each contestant’s entry fees. For example, if all players contribute $50,000 in entry fees but the prize pool is $45,000, the rake is $5,000. Therefore, lower rake contests are better for players.
ROI (Return on Investment)
An important metric for bankroll management, this compares a contestant’s total winnings compared to how much has been spent on entry fees. A positive ROI indicates a profit, while a negative indicates a loss.
Salary Cap
The set budget allowed to draft a DFS lineup. Each player is priced according to their projected performance, requiring contestants to balance value picks with high-priced stars.
Stack
A strategy that involves including multiple players from the same team or game to benefit from correlated scoring. Common in NFL and MLB contests.
Tournament Pivot
When a contestant swaps a high-owned player with a lower-owned alternative with a similar price and upside. This creates a more diverse lineup than the competition and a potential competitive edge.
Upside
The sum of the potential favorable outcomes that would result in a player justifying or outperforming their salary.
Vegas Lines
Sportsbook odds that indicate how bookmakers believe players or teams will perform. Over/under totals can be used to find high-scoring games, while point spreads indicate suspected blowouts or close matchups.