How to Play Daily Fantasy Sports: A Complete Beginner's Guide

What are Daily Fantasy Sports?

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) are a condensed version of traditional season-long fantasy sports. Instead of drafting a team and managing it over an entire season, DFS allows you to draft a new team each day or week of action. You compete against other users in contests, and your team's performance is based on the real-life statistics of the players you selected. DFS offers a wide variety of sports to choose from, including football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and more.

Basic Rules and Format

In a DFS contest, you are given a salary cap to build a roster of players. Each player has an assigned salary, and you must stay within the salary cap when selecting your team. The goal is to create a lineup that you believe will score the most fantasy points. The scoring systems vary by sport and by DFS provider, but they are generally based on a player's statistical performance in a game.

Types of DFS Contests

There are several different types of DFS contests to choose from, each with its own unique structure and prize pool:

• Guaranteed Prize Pools (GPPs): These are large-field tournaments with a guaranteed prize pool, regardless of the number of entrants. GPPs offer the potential for large payouts, but they are also more difficult to win.

• Cash Games: Cash games are smaller contests where a larger percentage of the field wins a prize. The two most common types of cash games are:

  • Head-to-Head: You compete against a single opponent, and the winner takes all.
  • 50/50s and Double Ups: In these contests, the top half of the field wins a prize. In a 50/50, you nearly double your entry fee, while in a double up, you exactly double your entry fee.

• Leagues: These are smaller, multi-person contests that are similar to traditional fantasy sports leagues, but they are played over a shorter period of time.

Step-by-Step Guide to Playing

1. Choose a DFS Site: There are several different DFS sites to choose from, with the most popular being DraftKings and FanDuel.

2. Create an Account and Deposit Funds: Once you have chosen a site, you will need to create an account and deposit funds to play.

3. Choose a Contest: Browse the lobby and choose a contest that you want to enter. Pay attention to the sport, the entry fee, the prize pool, and the number of entrants.

4. Draft Your Team: This is the most important part of playing DFS. You will need to select a roster of players while staying under the salary cap. Do your research and choose players who you think will perform well.

5. Follow the Action: Once the games begin, you can follow your team's performance in real-time on the DFS site.

6. Check the Results: After the games are over, the final results will be posted, and any winnings will be credited to your account.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Not Doing Your Research: Don't just pick players based on their name recognition. Do your research and look at factors such as matchups, recent performance, and injuries.

• Ignoring the Salary Cap: You must stay under the salary cap, so be mindful of player salaries as you are building your lineup.

• Playing in Contests That Don't Suit Your Skill Level: If you are a beginner, it is best to start with smaller, less competitive contests.

Tips for Beginners

• Start with Cash Games: Cash games are a great way to build your bankroll and learn the ropes of DFS.

• Focus on One Sport: When you are first starting out, it is best to focus on one sport that you know well.

• Read DFS Strategy Articles and Watch Videos: There are a wealth of resources available online that can help you improve your DFS skills.