Fantasy News & Analysis

Find DFS bargain strategies using the PFF Lineup Optimizer

Week 1 only just finished, but it’s already time to start prepping your Week 2 DFS lineups. Lucky for you, the PFF DFS Lineup Optimizer makes it a lot easier.

This series will highlight unique ways in which you can use the tool to build a winning roster. Last week, we examined how you can use the DFS Lineup Optimizer to choose a stud wide receiver on DraftKings.

This week, we’ll review how you can use the tool to determine how and where to save on FanDuel.

To be clear, you can find value at all positions each and every week on DFS. But you often need to make a decision: Do I save at running back and get another elite receiver this week, or do I go with a top running back and shop around for wideouts?

This article will show you how you can help come to a conclusion, using Week 2 as an example.

I started off by using the tool to see which wide receivers were the best bargains this week. To do this, I fired up the DFS Lineup Optimizer, chose FanDuel as my site, and selected “Generate Multiple Lineups.” I then sorted the running backs by salary, and “locked in” two of the four most expensive running backs this week — Adrian Peterson and Ezekiel Elliott.

tyler-1

I then asked FanDuel to create 12 unique lineups, but because I “locked in” these two players, they would be in every lineup. (I also locked in a mid-priced QB, TE, K and D/ST to keep the study relegated to just RBs and WRs.)

As a result of my “locked in” requests, the PFF DFS Lineup Optimizer was forced to fill out my rosters with cheaper wideouts. The tool generated 12 unique lineups, and I quickly added up the projected total scores for each lineup.

The average projected score of the 12 running back-heavy lineups was 115.56

I then repeated the study, but instead of “locking in” two expensive running backs, I selected two expensive wideouts: DeAndre Hopkins and Antonio Brown. (I kept the QB, TE, K and D/ST selection the same for consistency.)

tyler-2

The average projected score of the 12 wide receiver-heavy lineups was 118.46, indicating that there are some better bargains to be found at the running back position this week than at the wideout position.

It should be noted that you usually have enough money on FanDuel to fit several studs onto your squad. For example, many of my running back-heavy teams were still able to roster one elite wideout, and vice versa.

However, this quick bit of easy research helps you uncover some macro trends each week — such as which position might have the better bargains. From there, you have to keep digging to find out exactly where those bargains are. Seeing which players the DFS Lineup Optimizer drafted for you is a good place to start.

Based on this study, I’ll likely start my FanDuel roster-building process this week by creating rosters around some top wide receivers. Again, this study is not concluding that there are no receiver bargains on FanDuel this week (of course there are), but it does show how you can easily start to answer the weekly question of: “Where should I save this week?” This enables you to take a projection-based approach to the answer.

Subscriptions

Unlock the 2023 Fantasy Draft Kit, with League Sync, Live Draft Assistant, PFF Grades & Data Platform that powers all 32 Pro Teams

$31 Draft Kit Fee + $8.99/mo
OR
$89.88/yr + FREE Draft Kit