This article is part of our Umpire Analysis series.
Building the perfect lineup on FanDuel can be an arduous task, as users combine hours of research with strategy to select the perfect players for the day's events. Before we can focus on player selection, however, we need to take the time to formulate a solid, basic strategy that will provide the best chance to capitalize on our statistical knowledge. In this week's article, we will look at two questions that often arise when discussing DFS contests.
Play on a Short Day?
The first question I want to delve into is one I have touched upon briefly in the past but feel as though it warrants some closer examination. When I first began playing on FanDuel, I thought days that contained only three contests gave me a chance to take advantage of the system. My reasoning was fairly simple: With only six teams on the docket, I'll have time to research each player thoroughly, giving me the edge over other users. While being able to meticulously research can be advantageous, the lack of games from which to choose can also mean that some of the edges we've discussed in this series – finding favorable umpires and selecting hitters who excel against a certain type of pitch, for example – may not be applicable because the schedule simply does not contain favorable matchups with regard to those strategies. This has the potential to result in a lack of valuable options for the day, which could set the stage for a lot of similar-looking teams.
The fact that there are pitfalls associated with shortened schedules doesn't mean we should never play a contest on these days – we just need to be aware of the opportunities, or lack thereof, that present themselves. It follows that the more games from which we can select in a daily duel, the greater the chance that we can find an edge that has the potential to be overlooked by the majority of the field.
I know that full-slate days can seem intimidating, but I find it helpful to not let myself get overwhelmed. For many of us, it simply isn't tenable to perform in-depth research for every contest in a 15-game spread. Attempting to do so may even hurt our ability to construct a winning lineup, as we could end up rushing in order to view every contest, which will result in our selections being based on incomplete information. In order to avoid this sort of mishap, it is important to streamline the process with some guidelines, such as placing a greater emphasis on games that contain hitter/pitcher-friendly environments. We can also rely on our experience. There are only so many names that are relevant in the player pool, so be sure to keep in mind pieces of information, such as the handedness of certain pitchers, as they can help narrow our player search and save us the time of having to seek out basic information.
How Many Lineups?
The decision to play multiple lineups certainly makes sense in large-field tournaments, as each distinct lineup is another shot at making money, but there are benefits to going with one grouping as well. In general, our first attempt will likely be the strongest overall lineup we compose, as it will be a product of our initial research. It is for this reason that I would not recommend making more than one lineup without having a plan for each subsequent entry, as any lineup created as an afterthought, or a means of hedging one's bets, will not carry the same weight as one that has been carefully crafted.
If we do decide to put in more than one lineup, it is in our best interest to set our sights on the two or three games we find most exploitable in order to make sure that every dollar we put forward in a contest is one that has the potential to garner us a nice return. In the interest of our ROI (return on investment), we should try to limit ourselves to a maximum of three or four lineups, as filling out too many can have the effect of placing too many overlapping bets on a craps table. We may feel like a winner because we are given money when it is said and done, but we may not be making enough to cover what we put in, making it a losing proposition.
