DFS Football 101: Building a Cash Game System, Part 2

This week I conclude the cash game system two-part series by covering the remaining positions (TE, K, D) and give you some overall strategies to follow in your cash games.

Tight End

• Prefer to be home and/or favored, but ok to be underdog of +7 or less
• Projected in the Top 12
• Projected Team Total 22.5 or higher
• Projected for six targets per game or higher
• Finding value is key; too much volatility at the top tier to play in cash
• QB play is not as important as often a bad QB will check down to the TE
• QB accuracy more important vs. the average yards per attempt (Sam Bradford/Kyle Rudolph)
• Avoid rookie tight ends unless they have produced and they are mispriced (i.e. Hunter Henry, 2016)
• Injury/Suspension to WR1/WR2/Pass catching RB opening up targets to the TE
• Opposing team has weakness in defending the TE (at least in the top half vs. opposing tight ends in yards allowed)
• Limited ceiling at the position puts more emphasis on consistency for targets weekly
• Select three tight ends from your research to have on your cheat sheet

• Home/Favorites or Small Underdog (projected total 46 or higher)
• Ok to pair with D/ST if home team is favored by 10+ more points
• Look for kickers that have a huge edge at home with their D/ST (Broncos, Chiefs, Seahawks, Saints, Steelers)
• Look to spend $4500-$4700; ok to spend up if you have extra money leftover
• Position is too hard to predict, no reason to spend extra $500-$700
• First year as full-time kicker on a good offense will always provide the best value
• Kicker is given opportunity to attempt field goals 40+ yards
• Avoid any potential weather issues
• Always look towards kickers in a dome if possible

• Home/Favorites of -7 or higher
• Total of 46 or lower
• Opponents projected team total 20 points or less
• Defense has pass rush; sacks lead to QBs making mistakes, rushing throws, etc.
• Added bonus is if D/ST has a prolific kick returner (Tyreek Hill/Chiefs 2016)
• Target the worst quarterbacks (Projected 25th or higher for the week)
• Opposing offense is missing key players at the skill position
• Watch injuries on the opposing offensive line; target teams that start backups
• Watch injuries on the defensive line/pass rushing linebackers; if there are injuries to multiple key players, do not play that D/ST

FOR CASH GAMES:

• Limit exposure to any one game – no more than two players from the same game
• This will typically be a QB/Opposing WR or QB/Opposing TE
• Limit exposure to one team – no more than one player from the same team
• Exceptions: QB/WR1, QB/TE, RB/D, RB/K
• Avoid negative correlation
• Avoid taking QB/RB from the same team and same game
• Look for value at TE/K
• Look for best mid-tier priced D/ST
• Avoid injured players
• Avoid bad-weather games
• Avoid teams travelling one coast to the other (East coast team travelling west, West coast team travelling east)
• Avoid teams with multiple injuries on the offensive line
• Avoid going stars/scrubs at the WR position. Look at getting three players all within $500-$1000 of each other
• Focus on teams with the highest projected team totals and best matchups
• Do not "punt" QB/RB/WR – this is where you spend the bulk of your salary cap
• Avoid WR1s going against opposing shut down corners
• Take the WR2 in a game where the WR1 is going against the shutdown corner