After recently completing a full season of playing daily fantasy football, I’ve been testing out a strategy that, after a full body of work, I can say works. I’ve won more money than I’ve deposited, at least. Now, full disclosure, I’m no big spender. I started playing DFS after being bombarded by their ads online and on TV and said, “I’ll deposit $25 and when it’s gone, I’m done.”
I had two lineups the first week and won $60.
Over the course of the season, I’ve netted $113.85, roughly 150% of what I deposited. I’m not claiming that this strategy is a get-rich-quick tactic but I also believe that my success rate applied to a high enough deposit could become lucrative.
So here’s what you do:
Step 1 — Make a list of all games being played that week. Something like…
PIT @ CIN
KC @ HOU
SEA @ MIN
GB @ WAS
Step 2 — Decide which players you like in each matchup. This step is really what sets one DFS player apart from another. Whether you stick to the Eye Test or you have tabs and tabs of spreadsheets full of data, the ability to choose the right players in Step 2 will separate good from great.
PIT @ CIN
A. Brown vs. CIN
T. Eifert vs. PIT
Bengals D vs. PIT
M. Jones vs. PIT
F. Toussaint vs. CIN
KC @ HOU
J. Maclin vs. HOU
D. Hopkins vs. KC
Chiefs D vs. HOU
S. Ware vs. HOU
T. Kelce vs. HOU
SEA @ MIN
R. Wilson vs. MIN
M. Lynch vs. MIN
Bridgewater vs. SEA
S. Diggs vs. SEA
GB @ WAS
K. Cousins vs. GB
J. Reed vs. GB
J. Starks vs. WAS
J. Jones vs. WAS
Step 3 — Of the players chosen, group them by position
QB
Bridgewater vs. SEA
K. Cousins vs. GB
RB
M. Lynch vs. MIN
J. Starks vs. WAS
S. Ware vs. HOU
F. Touissant vs. CIN
WR
A. Brown vs. CIN
M. Jones vs. PIT
J. Maclin vs. HOU
D. Hopkins vs. KC
S. Diggs vs. SEA
J. Jones vs. WAS
TE
J. Reed vs. GB
T. Kelce vs. HOU
D/ST
Bengals D vs. PIT
Chiefs D. vs HOU
Step 4 — Rank the players by position: quarterbacks by one, running backs by two, wide receivers by three, tight ends, defense and kickers by one.
QB
2.Bridgewater vs. SEA
1.K. Cousins vs. GB
RB
2.M. Lynch vs. MIN
1.J. Starks vs. WAS
2.S. Ware vs. HOU
1.F. Touissant vs. CIN
WR
1.A. Brown vs. CIN
2.M. Jones vs. PIT
1.J. Maclin vs. HOU
1.D. Hopkins vs. KC
2.S. Diggs vs. SEA
2.J. Jones vs. WAS
TE
1. J. Reed vs. GB
2. T. Kelce vs. HOU
D/ST
Bengals D vs. PIT
Chiefs D. vs HOU
Step 5 — Lastly, build your FanDuel lineup using these players. Try to fit as many of your #1s into a lineup as you can but you’ll almost certainly have to sprinkle in some #2s and even #3s to stay under the salary cap. It’s okay. You’ve already identified that you like these players and their matchups so although you’re settling for a #3 over a #1, it’s still a matchup that you showed confidence in.