Tips for New Daily Fantasy League Players

Are you a successful fantasy player in Head-to-Head or Roto fantasy leagues? Are you bored and looking for a fresh challenge this baseball season? Or are you just looking to turn your baseball knowledge into big bucks? Regardless of the reason, Daily Fantasy Leagues have become more and more popular in recent years. “Daily fantasy is the next generation of fantasy sports. It not only brings in younger players but also takes sports fans away from the traditional, season-long fantasy format and into new fantasy sports such as baseball…” says Tom Griffiths, co-founder of FanDuel.com. Although other fantasy formats are great, the truth is that playing fantasy baseball in Daily Fantasy Leagues (DFLs) does present a unique and exciting platform for baseball fanatics everywhere to test their skills against each other.

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These daily leagues represent fantasy sports at a much higher level than other formats due to its large participant pool and chance for instant financial gratification. There is much money to be won (or lost) on these websites, but it takes time to familiarize yourself with all of its rules and diverse types of contests and associated strategies. For those reasons, a conservative approach is recommended to all who start playing, no matter how much experience one has had at fantasy baseball. Taking heed to the following tips will help you be more successful by avoiding common mistakes many new daily players make.

“Daily fantasy is the next generation of fantasy sports. It not only brings in younger players but also takes sports fans away from the traditional, season-long fantasy format and into new fantasy sports such as baseball…” – Tom Griffiths, FanDuel co-founder

1: Start Small. You wouldn’t want to play your first ever cash poker game against the seasoned professionals of the WSOP tour, right? The same applies to cash fantasy sports, especially DFLs that contain players that you know nothing about. Many existing players are time-tested veterans who target head-to-head large money games ($25 up to over $10,000) who are more than glad to take your money while you are learning the ropes. So regardless of how smart you think you are, start with the small money daily contests ($1, $2, $5, $10, etc…) then slowly increase the stakes if and only if you are consistently successful at your current level. Additionally, playing in 50/50 games, leagues, or tournaments is better for beginners because they contain a larger sampling of players, many who are relatively new as well. Cutting your teeth where the prices are smaller gives you a larger margin for error and allows for your inevitable miscues not to be so painful. It will also help you gain valuable experience needed if you ever decide to play with the big boys.

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2: Play matchups. A huge error made by newbies in daily leagues is to plug-in big name fantasy players regardless of who and where they are playing. The trick in daily leagues is to get value back for the salaries of all the players you choose for your team. So just because you can afford to put that MVP or Cy Young candidate in your lineup does not mean you should if the matchup is unfavorable or if you can better use that money for mid-level bargains. Likewise, look for dark horse candidates that may fly under the radar and be available at a cheap price. Rookies, platoon and spot starters, and players moved up in the batting order are good examples of low-priced value candidates. Regardless of the caliber of player, there are several factors used to decide what is or is not a good matchup on any given day. These include a player’s statistical splits (home/away, lefty/righty, etc…), what park they are playing in, and who they are playing against as well as the specific scoring format used in your league. And be sure to check for injuries, not just for your prospective player, but also on their own team and the opposition. Bottom line: you must ensure all your starters are set up for success to give you a decent return on investment.

3: Research, Research, Research. You should reserve plenty of targeted time to confirm your lineup decisions. Nothing is more frustrating than coming up with a well thought-out fantasy lineup only to find out after the game starts that one or more of your players are hurt and/or not starting. Even the best fantasy roster performances often can not overcome 10% or more of their lineup not playing full-time. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you thoroughly check your players’ statuses as close as possible to the fantasy league start time to make sure the players are actually playing, which includes looking at projected weather and how that could impact your players. Doing this does not necessarily take a lot of time if you use the internet efficiently. There are many reliable fantasy website resources available (www.mlbstartingnine.com and www.wunderground.com are great examples) and you can also get social media alerts directly from various news sources. In summary, double checking your lineup before your game goes official is a smart way to guarantee your team does not have fatal flaws.

In closing, Daily Fantasy Leagues are an enjoyable way to enhance your fantasy sports experience and maybe even your bank account. However, bringing in a methodical, strategic approach while checking your ego at the door will help increase your chances at long-term gain in this exciting format. Good Luck!

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