This week, I delve into the three major daily fantasy sites: FanDuel, DraftKings and Fantasy Aces and look at each site scoring system based on a target score for cash games (heads up and 50/50) contests. This will reveal how to play on each site and where you can find an edge. I know it's a bit technical this week, so please post any thoughts or questions you might have, and I will answer as best I can.
FanDuel Cash Games (H2H and Double Ups)
Overall target score: 40
Hitting Target: 25
CAT
PTS
% of TGT
Single
1
4.00
Double
2
8.00
Triple
3
12.00
Home Run
4
16.00
Run Scored
1
4.00
Run Batted In
1
4.00
Walk
1
4.00
Stolen Base
2
8.00
Out
-0.25
-1.00
Pitching Target: 15
CAT
PTS
% of TGT
Inning Pitched
1
6.67
Win
4
26.67
Earned Run
-1
-6.67
Strikeouts
1
6.67
The key things to note on FanDuel is how much the pitching win (26.67 percent) and the homerun (16 percent) are important in the target scores. Stolen bases are worth the same as a double, so if a hitter gets a single or a walk and then steals a base, there is more value in that outcome. Run support becomes a very important thing when selecting your starting pitcher because you need innings, which correlate into opportunities for the win and strikeouts. The negative points per out make each at-bat worth more, and puts more emphasis on power. You will see how this plays out when we compare player rankings by site.
DraftKings Cash Games (H2H and Double Ups)
Overall target score: 120
Hitting target: 70
CAT
PTS
% of TGT
Single
3
4.29
Double
5
7.14
Triple
8
11.43
Home Run
10
14.29
Run Scored
2
2.86
Run Batted In
2
2.86
Walk
2
2.86
Stolen Base
5
7.14
Caught Stealing
-2
-2.86
Pitching target: 50
CAT
PTS
% of TGT
(x2 SP)
Inning Pitched
2.25
4.50
9.00
Win
4
8.00
16.00
Earned Run
-2
-4.00
-8.00
Strikeout
2
4.00
8.00
Loss
-2
-4.00
-8.00
Hit Allowed
-0.6
-1.20
-2.40
Walk/Hit By Pitch
-0.6
-1.20
-2.40
Complete Game
2.5
5.00
10.00
Strikeout
2.5
5.00
10.00
No Hitter
5
10.00
20.00
While the pitching win and the home run are still at the top of the percentages, they are less when compared to FanDuel. There is a premium placed on singles for hitters on DraftKings (4.29 percent versus 4.00 percent) which might not seem like a lot, but it is and you will see later on in this piece when we compare 2014 player rankings on each site. Runs, RBI and walks are worth less than singles, making those leadoff hitters so valuable. You want to accumulate as many at-bats as possible on DraftKings because there are no negative points (except caught stealing).
Looking at the rest of the pitching categories, you can see where innings pitched being 9.0 percent is key along with the negative points for hits and walks allowed. With a two-pitcher site it is important that you look for value in a pitcher that has a matchup where he can attack a weak team (high strikeouts, pitcher's park, low power output, low walk rate).
Fantasy Aces Cash Games (H2H and Double Ups)
Overall target score: 50
Hitting target: 30
CAT
PTS
% of TGT
Single
1
3.33
Double
2
6.67
Triple
3
10.00
Home Run
4
13.33
Run Scored
1.25
4.17
Run Batted In
1.25
4.17
Walk
1
3.33
Stolen Base
2
6.67
Strikeout
-0.5
-1.67
Hit By Pitch
0.5
1.67
Pitching target: 20
CAT
PTS
% of TGT
(x2 SP)
Inning Pitched
1.5
3.00
6.00
Win
3
6.00
12.00
Earned Run
-1
-2.00
-4.00
Strikeout
1
2.00
4.00
Hit
-0.25
0.50
-1.00
Walk/Hit By Pitch
-0.25
-0.50
-1.00
Fantasy Aces is almost the opposite of DraftKings in that runs, RBI and walks have more of a premium. Also, because of the negative points on hitters for strikeouts, finding those top-of-the-order players that draw walks is crucial. Earned runs and strikeouts are equal value, but notice innings pitched: it accounts for six percent of the target, but it's a higher percentage when compared to earned runs allowed (six percent vs. -4 percent) over DraftKings (nine percent vs. -8 percent) so getting pitchers that go deep into games is more important on Fantasy Aces.
Hitter Profiles (Based on 2014 Rankings)
FanDuel (Differential versus DraftKings rankings)
If you look at this group of players, you notice that they are all mostly power hitters that do not steal bases. This type of player profile is more advantageous on FanDuel versus DraftKings.
The players on DraftKings that outranked FanDuel are profiling mostly as singles hitters with speed that hit at the top of the lineup. Also, I noticed there were a lot of left-handed hitters in this group.
Fantasy Aces (Differential versus FanDuel and DraftKings rankings)
The hitters you want on Fantasy Aces are high BB:K guys because they penalize for strikeouts. Also, there is a premium on runs and RBI, so you want those middle-of-the-order hitters that will have the most opportunities to score and drive in runs.
Keep all of these things in my mind when you are playing daily fantasy baseball on the individual sites. Not everything is created equal. The salaries, roster format and scoring systems all dictate a different strategy for success.
The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Michael Rathburn plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: burnnotice, DraftKings: burnnotice, Yahoo: burnnotice, Fantasy Aces: burnnotice, FantasyDraft: burnnotice.
Join Our Subscriber-Only MLB Chat
Chat with our writers and other RotoWire MLB fans for all the pre-game info and in-game banter.
Known as “Rath” in the Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) community, he has helped run operations for two prominent daily fantasy sports startups.
Michael has taken his insider knowledge and expertise in daily fantasy sports to the content side. Rath won the 2016 FSWA "Baseball Article of the Year, Online" award and was a finalist for the FSWA Best Baseball Series in 2011.
