DFS Strategy

A DFS lineup has to fit your budget, the contest and the slate. These eight guides walk through those decisions in a useful order, from your first lineup to projections, tournament ownership and late swap.

The focus is DraftKings Classic salary-cap contests. Start with the first lesson if you’re new, or jump to the question you need answered.

Start with DFS 101 →

Learn the game and set your limits

1. DFS 101

   Learn how a slate, salary cap, roster and scoring system fit together, and what to check before your first entry.

2. DFS Bankroll Management

   Set an entertainment budget, add up the cost of every entry and keep one slate’s results from dictating your next deposit.

3. Cash Games vs. GPPs

   Compare cash and tournament payout structures, then see how the contest changes your lineup priorities.

4. DFS Contest Selection

   Read the lobby for entry fees, field size, entry limits and payouts before deciding which contest fits your plan.

Build a lineup you can explain

5. DFS Projections

   Understand what a projection estimates, how uncertainty affects it and why salary value depends on the rest of your lineup.

6. DFS Lineup Construction

   Bring salary, roster slots, correlation and contest goals together in a complete hypothetical DraftKings lineup.

7. Ownership, Chalk & Leverage

   Learn when ownership matters in tournaments, what makes leverage useful and why a low-owned player still needs a sound case.

8. DraftKings Late Swap

   Check which roster spots are still unlocked, preserve legal salary and position combinations, and plan swaps around your contest and the remaining games.