When it comes to Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS), the NFL tops the bill. Thanks to the myriad of teams, players, and stats you can survey and assess each week, DFS NFL tournaments offer some of the best action around!
In this NFL DFS guide, we’ll cover how to choose a site and the nuances of drafting. Before we do that, let’s run through the basics. In general terms, "DFS competitions" include a selection of games taking place on a single day or night. The game aims to draft players from the teams in action in that period and score points. To make the competition more interesting, you’ll have a set budget with which to draft players, and specific plays earn a certain amount of points.
In NFL DFS, the aim is to draft a team of eight players (sometimes nine) ahead of Sunday and Monday night games. Depending on the site you choose, the way points are scored, your budget, the bonuses, and tournaments will differ. However, when you join the best NFL DFS sites, you can expect weekly contests to feature upwards of $10,000. Because of this, you need to understand the game like a top coach if you want to win.
Choosing daily fantasy sites in the US can be tricky. To help cut through the noise, we've reviewed NFL betting sites to bring you the best in the business. However, if you want to find the site that’s perfect for you, we suggest reviewing our top picks using the following criteria:
The best NFL DFS sites will offer newbies a welcome gift that usually consists of bonus cash and/or free entry to some tournaments. Additionally, you’ll find deposit bonuses, freerolls, and jackpot games every week. If you’re a newbie, look for a site with a generous welcome offer and plenty of freerolls. If you’re more experienced, find a platform with large deposit bonuses and $1 million+ jackpot tournaments.
A solid site will have a stocked schedule. Covering the action on Sunday and Monday is important, but covering it in multiple ways is what separates the strong from the weak. Assess your bankroll and find the site that offers the most tournaments with buy-ins consistent with your budget.
The draft is where a tournament is won and lost, and the more skilled you are, the more variables you’ll want to control because it makes it more likely that inexperienced players will make mistakes. In contrast, if you’re a newbie, find a site that’s a little more general so that small mistakes don’t equate to significant losses. Additionally, it’s typically the case that bigger budgets give you more flexibility, so casual players will often do better when they have more money to spend.
Before we can talk about scoring, you need to know the players who will score points for you. Although every site has its own system, you’ll typically draft players in the following positions:
*On some sites, you can also choose a Kicker (K).
Once you’ve drafted a team, your players will earn points for completing the following plays or lose points for the mistakes:
The plays listed below will earn your DST points:
Drafting your team isn’t easy. In fact, if you want to compete with the best DFS players, you need to put in a fair amount of time, effort, and research. However, before you dive into the action via our secure sign-up links, here are a few tips to help you on your way:
If you’re a complete newbie, take advantage of freerolls and low buy-in tournaments. Doing this will allow you to master the basics without busting your bankroll. Once you’ve gained some experience, scour the lobbies of the top NFL DFS sites and find competitions with a small number of entrants. This will often mean playing for smaller prize pools, but it should give you a better shot at banking a payout (50/50 contests are terrific for this, as 50% of the field wins something).
Specific teams and certain players do better against different opponents. Just because so-and-so is a star running back, it doesn’t mean he’s going to dominate every week. Look at how the tactics of opposing teams stack up and then consider how that will affect individual players. If a star player is likely to be shut out in a game, don’t choose them.
Because you only have a limited budget, you need to combine expensive players with value players. So, if money is tight, look for the bargain players. If you can apply the above tactics to your game and use our network of partners to find the right site, you should be well on your way to experiencing the wonders of DFS and the NFL.