This article is part of our DFS Basketball 101 series.
FanDuel offers a fully array of NBA contest types, such as Guaranteed Prize Pools (tournaments), 50/50 contests, multiplier contests, double ups and leagues of varying size. Entry fees can range anywhere from $1 to $1,065 and prize pools are regularly in the six figures for many large-scale tournaments each night.
Game slate options include the night's full array of NBA games, as well as various smaller slates that might encompass only the contests with early starts, or those taking place in the Mountain and Pacific time zones.
$60,000 Salary Cap, Nine Roster Spots, Early Lineup Lock
FanDuel's rosters are built under a salary cap of $60,000 and are composed of nine positions: two point guards, two shooting guards, two small forwards, two power forwards and one center. While there is no utility position, the site's requirement that you roster two players at four of five positions provides plenty of options to fit in players across the salary spectrum.
FanDuel lineups lock at the tip-off of the earliest game of the slate, which means lineups are not editable after that point. This can often present a dilemma when setting your daily fantasy basketball lineups. After all, there could be players in your lineup in games starting later in the night who could be inactive. Unfortunately, unlike other sports, the NBA is notorious for last-minute scratches, so a certain degree of risk always exists.
While there's no foolproof solution, a general rule of thumb when playing on full slates is to avoid rostering players who have questionable (or worse) designations. This will lessen the chances of taking a zero at one of the spots in your daily fantasy basketball lineup, even if it also leaves you exposed to the possibility of potentially missing out on a star who ends up giving it a go despite being injured.
Scoring System
Whereas DraftKings offers small bonuses for three-point shots, double-doubles and triple-doubles, FanDuel has a bonus-free, straightforward scoring structure as follows:
Assists (A)= +1.5
Blocks (B)= +2
Points (P)= +1
Rebounds (R)= +1.2
Steals (S)= +2
Turnovers (T)= -1
The absence of bonuses on FanDuel does have a small but tangible net effect on player selection strategy. For example, with no three-point bonus, proficient long-range shooters don't give your scoring that extra bump that they would on DraftKings. The same applies for big men who can both score and dominate the boards, as there is no additional scoring benefit for posting double-doubles or triple-doubles.
However, these types of performances will still give your lineup a substantial advantage from a raw points perspective, as the best players remain the best players, regardless of scoring system.
Tournaments/ Entry Limits
When it comes to tournaments specifically, FanDuel offers a wide variety for NBA, with entry fees and entry limits across the spectrum. As a new DFS player, single entry contests that are limited to a moderate number of entries (5,000 and under) can sometimes serve as a good way to get your feet wet.
With this in mind, contests like the Block ($2 entry), Assist ($5 entry) and Dime ($10) are all viable options that are limited to no more than 3,529 entrants (Block) and as low as 1,764 entrants (Dime). For those with a more robust bankroll to work with, the And One ($25 entry, 705 entrants) and Swish ($50 entry, 225 entrants) offer smaller fields.
And for those not put off by a larger field and up for the challenge, the Dribbler ($1 entry, 11,764 entrants) allows you to play on even more of a budget while still having a shot at a nice return on investment.
There's an even wider selection of multi-entry contests for all budgets, beginning with the Swat ($1 entry) and going all the way up to the Baller ($1,065 entry).
Cash Games- A Steady Way to Build Bankroll
While tournaments can be an exciting way to experience the rush of daily fantasy basketball and have the potential to grow your bankroll quickly, they can also prove difficult to cash in on a consistent basis, particularly for a beginner.
As a result, cash games such as 50/50s (where half the field gets paid), multipliers (where a certain percentage of the field win double or more of their entry fee) and head-to-head matchups can often be a less invigorating but steadier way to build a bankroll. FanDuel offers a wide selection of such contest options at varying price points.
Experienced Player Badges/Beginner-Only Contests
The site's policy of utilizing experienced player badges also helps beginner players identify what caliber of competition they may be facing in any type of contest they enter. As per FanDuel's system, experienced players have entered more than 500 contests and/or have won over $2,500 across at least six contests. Meanwhile, those labeled as highly experienced players have entered more than 1,000 contests and/or have won over $1,000 in at least four contests.
FanDuel is also offering beginner-only contests to help ensure a more productive and pleasant user experience for those still learning the ins and outs. While as a new player you can certainly enjoy participating in contests that don't have this specific designation, beginner-only contests provide you with the peace of mind that you are competing exclusively against those who have a similar experience level.
