Daily Fantasy: a virtual tour

This week I wanted to discuss the sites and games I’ve been playing regularly this daily fantasy baseball season. I won’t go as far as to say these are the sites you should be playing. But I will say that the following four sites (and their subsequent game types) are really, really awesome and you should give them a look.

Below you will see the site name, my own game selections, a link to the site’s scoring model and the individual key to success you need to start winning at that fantasy site.

Draftstreet

The fun on this site begins on the home page, where you are greeted by some of the best looking referees I’ve ever seen. When you finally break your stare from this, you will find a multitude of different games and buy-ins available. My new favorite game here is the Homerun Derby competition. You can play head-to-head or in large groups, and the sole scoring method is, well you probably guessed it, home runs. These games last a week and can be a fun, easy way to find some added excitement in the baseball world. Make sure you give these a shot.

Other site highlights include both low and high buy-in tournaments almost every day. These tournaments are tough to do well in, because of the large number of competitors and tough competition, but they can pay off in a big, big way. If you are looking for some good risk/reward action, accompanied by excellent live scoring and genuine fun, Draftstreet may be the site for you.

Scoring model

Key to success: The utility spot is the key if you want to win consistently on Draftstreet. Unlike most sites, Draftstreet allows you to pick two hitters who aren’t limited to positional limitations. This allows you to pick the top players for the day, even if they play the same position. It gives you a lot of flexibility when making lineup decisions, but it can also spell disaster if you miss on the two guys that you can custom pick. Find the right players at the right prices for those spots, and you are well on your way to consistent success on Draftstreet.

FanDuel

The ultimate daily fantasy baseball tournament paradise. It features multiple large field tournaments every single day. My favorite of these tournaments is the Friday Daily Fantasy Baseball Championship (DFBC) qualifier. This tournament has a price tag of $10, and can be entered multiple times. The winner each week qualifies for an end-of-season tournament that pays out more than $50,000. That’s enough convincing for me, and I hope for you. I’m all about these large payout opportunities and the excitement level when following these tournaments is unbelievable. Come spend a Friday night on FanDuel and I promise you will not be disappointed.

Scoring model

Key To success: Pitching is the difference between winning and losing regularly on FanDuel. You need to pick a pitcher who is going to get a win that day, because that stat carries seven points with it. That is equivalent to a two-run homer for a position player. Make sure you review the betting lines for the day, giving yourself a great shot at getting this win. If you do, you have given yourself a significant leg up on your competition.

Sportsgeek

This site doesn’t get as much publicity as some of the others, but it has unique game types and good competition, which keeps me coming back. I typically play the head-to-head contests on this site, but what I like is that you can easily place your head-to-head team into the 50-man, $2 buy-in tournaments that are available daily. I don’t even have to re-enter my lineup. I can simply place the same lineup in as many competitions as I would like, saving me both time and hassle. If you are all about convenience, Sportsgeek may be your spot to play.

Scoring model

Key to success: The bullpen. That’s right: Sportsgeek is the only daily fantasy site I’ve run across that allows you to pick not only a starting pitcher, but also a team bullpen. This adds a unique dynamic to the game. It takes some getting used to, and you are sure to run across your fair share of bullpen implosions. But once you get accustomed to picking a bullpen, and learn how to do it properly, it is a fun way to play daily fantasy. Come give it a try, and see if you can predict the end of a game on the mound as well as you can the beginning.

Daily Joust

A Hardball Times Update
Goodbye for now.

This site launched only a few months ago, but already has emerged into an industry leader. Why? Well for one thing, it is being run by one of the co-founders of EA Sports Video Games. You know, that little company that invented and programmed the Madden franchise. Check out an interview with site founder here. Needless to say, these guys really know what they are doing, and it is reflected in their site’s layout and games. A sleek design and easy-to-use interface are just a few aspects of the site that keep me coming back. One of the unusual features, is that Daily Joust awards badges for milestones in your daily fantasy endeavors. This is a cool way to track your progress as you play. It’s like your own personal trophy case.

Scoring model

Key to success:Persistence. The competition here is probably the most difficult in the industry, because the site is almost exclusively populated by daily fantasy’s best players. If you are looking for a difficult challenge, and want to increase your skill level quickly, try your hand at this site. But approach with caution; you will not find a profit easy here. But even so, it is a fun site to play on because of its cool design and features. Don’t be scared!

I hope that this article encourages you to spread your wings and try some new sites and games. There are so many game types to choose from, so do your best to find one that you feel you can consistently win at. Find a scoring model that suits your style and preparation properly, and you may find yourself building up quite a large bankroll quickly.

If none of these sites or games look like the type for you, or if you’re looking for something uber-specific, please do let me know. I can find it for you, or at very least point you in the right direction.

See you next time.


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James
12 years ago

Is this fantasy sports or gambling?

Kevin Cearnal
12 years ago

James-
It is fantasy sports. All of these sites even offer deposit bonuses for first time players. Give it a shot and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

I personally won 1st prize in a tournament on Tuesday which awarded me a cool $1,000.

brian
12 years ago

Have you played FanGraph’s/ottoneu’s picksix game?  There isn’t money involved or anything, but I’ve found it to be a pretty entertaining and quick addiction every day.

http://ottoneu.fangraphs.com/picksix/