DFS Lineup Building Strategy: Saving Money, Making Contrarian Picks, and Crafting Winning Lineups
When building a DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports) lineup, balancing your budget, taking calculated risks, and having a bit of creativity can make all the difference. Here, I’ll walk you through a live example of building a lineup using FantasyPros and some key strategies to help you save money while crafting a winning team.
Step 1: Exploring the Injuries and Depth Charts
One of the first things to consider is the current injury report and how it impacts your lineup. For this Kansas City vs. Baltimore showdown, Clyde Edwards-Helaire is out, and Samaje Perine is stepping in. Although Perine isn’t the cheapest option (around $8,000), he’s worth considering if you’re thinking about the narrative of the game.
Take a look at the depth chart. Is there a backup running back or wide receiver who might get more playing time if the game gets out of hand? For example, Carson Steele could see increased snaps if Kansas City is running out the clock. Picking an overlooked player like Steele allows you to save money for your big-ticket players elsewhere.
It’s also a good strategy to go unbalanced with your lineup—stacking four players from one team and just one from the other. This contrarian play style helps you stand out from the crowd since most people tend to pick a balanced lineup.
Step 2: Using FantasyPros for Lineup Optimization
If you’re using FantasyPros, their Lineup Optimizer is an amazing tool for quickly generating multiple lineups. You can lock in players you want and specify how many players should be different in each lineup. For example, the tool might generate an optimal lineup with Lamar Jackson as your captain, paired with players like Mahomes, Rice, and Edwards-Helaire.
By experimenting with lineup generators like this, you’ll get a sense of which players the tool expects to have high projected points, but remember, it’s not perfect. Sometimes, you’ll find players included who may not get as much game time, so cross-check the depth chart to ensure you’re making smart picks.
Step 3: Finding Value Plays
When building a lineup, always look for value plays—affordable players with high upside. For example, JuJu Smith-Schuster is a potential bargain at $6,000. But will he play enough to justify his cost? If he doesn’t, it might be worth exploring another cheap option, like Noah Gray, Kansas City’s secondary tight end. Gray often gets involved in the game, and at his price, he offers a chance to save money and still grab some points.
Step 4: Rounding Out Your Lineup
After exploring your cheap plays, you still want to ensure your lineup has star power. Players like Mark Andrews are great when the passing game is expected to dominate. Since Andrews is a critical part of Baltimore’s offense, he’s worth the $10,000+ price tag.
But what happens when you try to slot in a player like Patrick Mahomes? You’ll likely run out of budget quickly. This is where you need to get creative. One approach is pairing Mahomes with a cheaper option like Carson Steele and then trying to fit in another value play such as Xavier Worthy.
Building a DFS lineup is like telling a story. What’s the storyline for this game? If it’s a high-scoring passing game, maybe you want to stack pass-catchers like Zay Flowers with Lamar Jackson while still working in a couple of Kansas City players like Mahomes and Steele. This creates a unique lineup with enough correlation between players to pay off if your game script hits.
Step 5: Submitting the Lineup
The final step is to submit the lineup and cross your fingers! Remember, taking a contrarian approach means accepting more risk, but that’s part of the excitement. If the game unfolds the way you envision it, the payoff can be huge. The goal isn’t always to land in the top tier of the leaderboard. Sometimes, the fun is just in having something exciting to watch during the game.
Bonus Tips for DFS Success
Think about the game storyline: Your lineup should reflect a specific game script. Are you predicting a high-scoring shootout, or do you think it’ll be a low-scoring, grind-it-out game?
Keep an eye on injuries and weather: Last-minute injury reports or weather conditions can drastically impact player performance. Stay updated before kickoff.
Contrarian plays matter: If everyone is picking the obvious star player, sometimes it’s smarter to fade them and load up on lesser-known players who can still deliver points.
Look for correlation: Players who benefit from each other’s success (like a quarterback and their top wide receiver) create synergy in your lineup, increasing your chances of maximizing points.
Experiment with lineup construction tools: Tools like FantasyPros are helpful for optimizing lineups, but always add your own insights and research to create a well-rounded lineup.
DFS is a mix of strategy, research, and creativity. The beauty lies in the freedom to experiment and try different approaches each week. Stick to your budget, enjoy the thrill of building lineups, and don’t shy away from taking a calculated risk or two!
