Week 2 DFS Prep and Lineup Building Strategy
As we dive into Week 2 of daily fantasy football (DFS), it’s important to hone in on the right contest and strategy, whether you’re playing cash games or tournaments. Let’s walk through our thought process, lineup choices, and key strategies for different DFS contest types on DraftKings and FanDuel.
Fantasy Sports EVO: A Unique Twist on DFS
One of the new and exciting formats we’ve been playing with is Fantasy Sports EVO. Unlike traditional DFS, Fantasy Sports EVO allows you to pick teams instead of individual players, with the scoring based on the cumulative performance of the teams you choose.
Why Fantasy Sports EVO is Exciting
One of the great things about Fantasy Sports EVO is that it feels a bit safer than traditional DFS. Since you’re picking teams rather than individual players, there’s less risk of injuries or individual performance dips derailing your entry. It’s also a great way to focus on team matchups and overall game flow rather than worrying about every single player.
We’re excited to see how our team picks play out this week and look forward to making EVO part of our weekly DFS strategy.
Contest Selection: Choosing the Right Game
When it comes to cash games like 50/50s, double-ups, or head-to-heads, the goal is different from tournaments. In cash, you’re playing to finish in the top half, and your strategy should reflect that.
Single Entry Contests
One of the best contest types for cash games is single-entry contests. Why? Because everyone only gets one lineup, so you aren’t competing against players stacking multiple variations of their entries. This levels the playing field, which can make things feel fairer.
For example, we chose a $25 single-entry double-up contest. While it’s a bit nerve-wracking because the stakes feel high, it’s comforting to know you only need to beat half the field.
Tournament Strategy: GPP Lineup Considerations
Tournament lineups, particularly for Guaranteed Prize Pools (GPPs), require a different approach from cash games. In tournaments, you’re competing for the top prizes, so simply finishing “safe” won’t cut it. You need high-upside plays to separate your lineup from the field.
Stacking for Upside
One of our key strategies is stacking players from the same high-scoring game. For example, targeting the Tampa Bay vs. Detroit matchup this week was crucial. Both offenses have the potential to put up big numbers, so stacking players from this game could lead to a massive payout if the game turns into a shootout.
In the GPP lineup, we considered stacking Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown to capture that high-upside potential. We also added Cooper Kupp to the mix, creating exposure to multiple high-scoring games.
Contrarian Plays
Another important aspect of tournament lineups is differentiating from the field. That’s why we sometimes like to mix in contrarian plays, like targeting under-the-radar players in games that might not be popular. While cash lineups thrive on safety, tournaments reward creativity and boldness.
We threw in some value players to balance the stars, like Colby Parkinson at tight end, who, while not flashy, offers potential upside in a tournament setting due to his low ownership and affordable price. The key to tournaments is leveraging these lower-cost plays to afford higher-end talent and get a unique lineup.
Building a Cash Lineup: Week 2 Focus
When building a cash lineup, the goal is to avoid getting too cute. While tournaments reward high-risk, high-reward plays, cash lineups need solid, reliable choices that provide a safe floor. Let’s break down how we approached building a DraftKings 50/50 lineup for this week.
Quarterback: Jaden Daniels (Saints)
Daniels offers a strong baseline, especially with his rushing ability, which provides a safety net for his fantasy score. While some may lean towards more traditional pocket passers, rushing QBs like Daniels rarely “bust” because of their dual-threat potential.
Wide Receivers: Amon-Ra St. Brown (Lions) & Cooper Kupp (Rams)
We locked in Amon-Ra St. Brown and Cooper Kupp early as our core wide receivers. These are two elite talents with high usage in their respective offenses. For cash lineups, you want players who will see consistent targets every week.
Stacking wide receivers with their quarterbacks is a viable strategy in cash games as well. Initially, we debated pairing Jared Goff with St. Brown but ultimately opted for Daniels to give us more lineup flexibility.
Running Backs: James Conner (Cardinals) & Derrick Henry (Titans)
When picking running backs, especially for cash games, it’s key to target workhorses who get significant touches. James Conner and Derrick Henry fit the bill, with Henry especially poised for a strong game given the Titans’ matchup.
Both of these players are primary ball carriers for their teams, and Henry gets most of the goal-line work, which gives him that added touchdown upside.
Tight End: Colby Parkinson (Seahawks)
At tight end, we decided to go budget-friendly with Colby Parkinson. He’s not flashy, but in this price range, you just want someone who can score a few points without risking a zero.
Flex: Chris Godwin (Buccaneers)
We slotted Chris Godwin into our flex position. He’s a reliable veteran receiver and tends to get plenty of short-to-mid range targets, which are valuable in DraftKings’ PPR format. Though he didn’t reach the end zone last week, he’s due for positive regression, and his role in the offense is secure.
Defense: Arizona Cardinals
For defense, we went with the Arizona Cardinals. While they’re not a top-tier defense, they were one of the most affordable options with a decent matchup. In cash games, you don’t need a defense that will score 20 points; you just need a unit that won’t tank your lineup.
Final Lineup Recap:
Here’s what we ended up with:
- QB: Jaden Daniels (Saints)
- RB: James Conner (Cardinals)
- RB: Derrick Henry (Titans)
- WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown (Lions)
- WR: Cooper Kupp (Rams)
- WR: Alan Lazard (Jets)
- TE: Colby Parkinson (Seahawks)
- Flex: Chris Godwin (Buccaneers)
- Defense: Arizona Cardinals
We entered this lineup into a $25 single-entry double-up contest, confident that this balanced roster could finish in the top half and bring home some profit.
Tournament Strategy: GPP Lineup Considerations
On the tournament side, we approach things differently. For GPPs (Guaranteed Prize Pools), you’re looking for higher-risk players with the potential to break the slate. Stacking games with high over/under totals is crucial.
For example, targeting the Detroit vs. Tampa Bay game this week, known for its high-scoring potential, could be a winning move. Stacks of quarterbacks with their wide receivers or tight ends can pay off big time if the game hits that ceiling.
Final Thoughts: What Are We Most Excited For?
With Week 2 approaching, we’ve set up three different contest types: Fantasy EVO (a unique team-based format), FanDuel tournaments, and this DraftKings cash lineup. Personally, I’m most excited for the Fantasy EVO contests—team-based DFS adds an interesting twist, and it feels like a safer way to ease into the weekend’s games.
Whether you prefer cash games, single-entry contests, or GPPs, there’s a format for everyone. Be sure to stay up to date with injuries and late-week news to fine-tune your lineups.
Good luck this week, and don’t forget to join us for some fun contests on FanDuel and Fantasy EVO!
