Sep 1 (edited) • Beginner DFS Fundamentals
How DFS Salary Caps Work (Beginner Guide)
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) isn’t just about picking your favorite players — it’s about working within a salary cap. The salary cap is what makes contests fair and forces you to think strategically.
Let’s break it down:
💰 What is a Salary Cap?
- Every DFS contest gives you a fixed budget (ex: $50,000 on DraftKings, $60,000 on FanDuel).
- Each player is assigned a salary based on recent performance, matchup, and projections.
- You must build a lineup that fits under the cap while filling all required positions.
🎯 Why Salary Caps Matter
- Prevents everyone from stacking all the superstars.
- Rewards strategy: finding undervalued players (“value plays”) is just as important as picking studs.
- Balances risk/reward: do you pay up for one elite player, or spread your salary across solid mid-tier players?
🛠️ Example
- DraftKings NFL lineup salary cap: $50,000
- You need 9 roster spots (QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, WR, TE, FLEX, DST).
- If you pick Patrick Mahomes at $8,500, you now have $41,500 left for 8 players → average of $5,187 per slot.
- This forces you to hunt for cheaper players who can still produce (like a $4,200 rookie WR in a good matchup).
🔑 Key Takeaways
- The cap makes DFS a game of skill + strategy, not just “pick the best players.”
- Always balance stars + value plays.
- Managing the cap well separates casual players from consistent winners.
👉 Who’s one of your favorite current value plays under $5k (or cheap sleeper pick) that you think could smash this week?
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How DFS Salary Caps Work (Beginner Guide)
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