DFS contest selection is key to understanding how to get an advantage on each slate you approach.

I’d argue that the majority of fantasy errors come from entering into the wrong contest regardless of roster construction or lineup optimization.

More so than game environment, DFS contest selection will help you match your skill-level, bankroll, and chosen process to fantasy contests that give you the most leverage.

Disclaimer: This framework is built using FanDuel contest structures as the reference point. The underlying principles—contest size, payout structure, and risk profile—translate across DFS platforms, but exact formats may vary.

How to Choose DFS Contests

1. Cash Games (Low Variance)

Head-to-heads, double ups, and 50/50s are all variations or types of cash games. My personal favorite is the Quintuple Up Contest on FanDuel, 5x returns with a bit of a stiffer competition.

Cash games are about consistency and lowered risk. If you land on cash games during your DFS contest selection process, a good idea is to target players with high floors in fantasy.

Eat the chalk and trust the projections. Discipline is required.
Picking your favorite “hunch” will burn you.

2. Small-Field GPPs (Controlled Upside)

• <1,000 entries
• flatter payout structures

Profile: balanced risk + leverage, a bit more control

3. Large-Field GPPs (High Variance)

• 10k–100k+ entries
• top-heavy payouts

Goal: top 1%
Profile: high risk, low consistency

Large-field GPPs are designed for the DFS players seeking the large wins with a much higher risk tolerance. Do not expect consistency when targeting these types of contests.

READ MORE: BEST DFS APPS TO DOWNLOAD COMPARED TO FANDUEL

Contest Selection Rules (To Consider)

I preface these guidelines by emphasizing that you can also take time to consider what your deciding points are. What is your standard for each contest?

What usage rate is “good enough” for a double up versus a high contest with over 100k entrants? what about minutes?

For years, Tobias Harris was a great example of a middle tier player thats was always priced appropriately (more or less) in relation to his minutes and usage. He almost always delivers, but very rarely anything beyond 38 fantasy points.

He is often a perfect “cash game” choice for a guaranteed 26-33 fantasy points in mid to high 6k range. Tobias Harris’ limited ceiling , but fairly stable floor, especially now, makes him much more viable in cash game scenarios over larger tournaments.

What is your standard for deciding for or against players like Tobias Harris given your chosen contest?

• DO NOT enter large-field GPPs with “safe” cash game style lineups.
• DO NOT play cash games without discipline. The numbers are true, not the voice in your head.
• DO NOT enter too various contest TYPES at once. (Single Game,Full Roster, SoloStat, etc.)
• DO NOT ignore contest size and payout structures.

Rule	What It Means	Why It Matters
Avoid Sharks	High-volume / experienced players dominate	Reduces long-term ROI
Go Single Entry / 3-Max	Limits mass multi-entry advantage	More skill-based outcomes
Look for Flatter Payouts	Less top-heavy prize distribution	More consistent returns
Match Strategy to Contest	Don’t use same lineup style everywhere	Structure determines outcome
Limit Large-Field Exposure	Don’t over-enter high variance contests	Protects bankroll

READ MORE: Notes On Building NBA DFS Lineups

Building a solid floor lineup in a cash game can be profitable. This same exact lineup in small field GPP could be competitive but in a large field tournaments it has no chance.

Which Contests To Play?

• 70–80% of volume → cash games
• 20–30% → small-field GPPs
• 0–10% → large-field shots

Allocation	% of Bankroll	Purpose
Cash Games	70–80%	Stability + ROI
Small-Field GPPs	20–30%	Growth
Large-Field GPPs	0–10%	Upside shots

GPP Contest To Play

I first started playing daily fantasy on FanDuel and have grown to favor a few of their contest across NFL and NBA slates.

Above all contests, I will always love a good single-entry small-field GPP tournament. There is enough risk to make it exciting, smaller pool of competition, and less sharks than more reliable cash games.