The Top Daily Fantasy Football Sites & Apps

Of all the daily fantasy sports betting options available to US bettors, fantasy football remains the most popular. Fortunately, there are several top-tier sites that provide versatile gaming experiences on high-quality platforms, as well as lucrative bonus offers to get you started.

In this guide to the best fantasy football sites, you’ll discover a myriad of options and how each works. We’ve covered everything from the point structures to the drafting procedures, before rounding out this guide with some helpful strategies and tips to enhance your performance.

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How to Play Fantasy Football

No matter what sport you choose to draft from, the mechanics of traditional daily fantasy sports sites remains the same across the board. Usually, you’ll need to draft a team of football players from one league, which is usually the NFL or college football. You will then earn points based on the real-life performances of your players.

Participants can either create and enter small pools of players or play against thousands of other contestants. There will be small buy-ins required to enter, with the top-scoring players earning a cut of the prize pool. The number of players required per team, the selection process, and the points system can vary from contest to contest.

In most cases, competitions will last for a week, though these can be as short as a day and as long as an entire football season. In this guide, we’ve covered sites that offer shorter tournaments as these tend to be the most popular with US players.

Overview of Fantasy Football with DraftKings

While many may associate DraftKings with online sports betting or casino gambling, the site actually had its origins in daily fantasy sports. This means that it is one of the most experienced, popular, and high-quality DFS options on the market. It offers a number of contest options and large payouts. It can also be noted that the platform provides competition modes for fantasy college football.

As one of the best fantasy football betting sites, DraftKings DFS platform provides its participants with a reliable and attractive platform, with plenty of tools to facilitate detailed contest customization. As you’ll find out below, these options can greatly influence how fantasy football is played and the overall experience.

Types of DraftKings Football DFS Contests

There are a staggering 20 different contest options to choose from when playing fantasy football at DraftKings. A majority of these are for the NFL, with several also available for the XFL. Each contest type provides variations on the size of teams, the picking options, and how points are scored.

DraftKings “Classic NFL”

The NFL Classic contest is the most straightforward of all the options, and follows standard fantasy sports rules. Participants must draft a team of nine players from the player pool with a salary of $50,000. Each player is priced differently according to their stats, and a certain number of roster positions must be filled.

Scoring

Offense		Defense
Passing TD	+4 Pts	Sack	+1 Pt
25 Passing Yards	+1 Pt (+0.04 Pts/ Yards)	Interception	+2 Pts
300+ Yard Passing Game	+3 Pts	Fumble Recovery	+2 Pts
Interception	-1 Pt	Punt/Kickoff/FG Return for TD	+6 Pts
Rushing TD	+6 Pts	Interception Return TD	+6 Pts
10 Rushing Yards	+1 Pt (+0.1 Pts/Yard)	Fumble Recovery TD	+6 Pts
100+ Yard Rushing Game	+3 Pts	Blocked Punt or FG Return TD	+6 Pts
Receiving TD	+6 Pts	Safety	+2 Pts
10 Receiving Yards	+1 Pt (+0.1 Pts/Yard)	Blocked Kick	+2 Pts
100+ Receiving Yard Game	+3 Pts	2 Pt Conversion/Extra Point Return	+2 Pts
100+ Receiving Yard Game	+3 Pts	2 Pt Conversion/Extra Point Return	+2 Pts
Reception	+1 Pt	0 Points Allowed	+10 Pts
Punt/Kickoff/FG Return for TD	+6 Pts	1 – 6 Points Allowed	+7 Pts
Fumble Lost	-1 Pt	7 – 13 Points Allowed	+4 Pts
2 Pt Conversion (Pass, Run, or Catch)	+2 Pts	14 – 20 Points Allowed	+1 Pt
Offensive Fumble Recovery TD	+6 Pts	21 – 27 Points Allowed	+0 Pts
		28 – 34 Points Allowed	-1 Pt
		35+ Points Allowed	-4 Pts

DraftKings “NFL Tiers”

Tier contests differ from salary cap contests in that players must build lineups of players that correspond to a different tier. Each player in the pool will be assigned a tier, with contests having varying numbers of tiers to satisfy. The same point system as the NFL Classic contest applies to this mode.

DraftKings “NFL Showdown Captain Mode”

The NFL Showdown Captain Mode is similar to the NFL Classic contest but requires contestants to assign one player as the Captain. Although this player will cost more than the others, they will receive a 1.5X multiplier on all points they earn. There are six players to draft in total, and the remaining five can be drafted from any position.

There are several other contest types available that are almost identical but are affiliated with major brands. These include the Amazon Prize Pick, L’Oréal Men Expert Pick, the KFC Sunday Night Series, and the Bacardi Spiced Pick. There is also the Dark Horse Value Pick, which is identical aside from the $6,500 limit placed on your Captain pick.

DraftKings “NFL In-Game Showdown H2”

This contest type is similar to the above Showdown mode in that you will need to choose a Captain with enhanced payouts. However, these will only be multiplied for points scored in the second half of the game and overtime. Your lineup will consist of six players, with Captains costing more than the Flex players.

Another available contest type that is similar is the NFL In-Game Showdown Q4, though Captain multipliers are only scored in the fourth quarter and overtime. The same scoring system and the Showdown mode, including the Kicker extra points, apply to this contest. Captains will earn 1.5X points.

DraftKings “NFL Snake” and “NFL Snake Showdown”

The NFL Snake contests differ from salary cap or tier tournaments in that a different drafting process applies. To pick teams, participants take turns selecting one player each. This continues in a circle until all players have been picked. The purpose of this is to create fairer competitions.

In regular Snake contests, players must draft teams of seven players with certain positions required to be filled and one player on the bench. Only Offensive players can be played and scored from. In Snake Showdown, only four players can be drafted to lineups. The regular Showdown point system will apply.

DraftKings “NBA Best Ball”

The NFL Best Ball mode follows a traditional daily fantasy betting system, though the tournament will last for a series of games. You will draft your teams of 20 players using the Snake system. You will need to select eight starting players that can score and 12 bench players.

Each week, your top-scoring players will be highlighted as your starting players. In this round, only Offensive players can be chosen and will score you points. The same Offense points system applies as the Classic mode.

DraftKings “NFL Larceny Bourbon Smooth Steal”

In this unique game mode, participants create lineups of six players, with a Captain chosen as the Larceny Bourbon Smooth Steal. There is a $50,000 salary cap to adhere to. What differentiates this from the other Showdown games is that more points can be scored from your kickers and defense.

DraftKings “XFL Classic” and “XFL Showdown”

These two modes are almost identical to the NFL Classic and Showdown modes, but participants must draft from the XFL League. In XFL Classic, your lineups must consist of seven players, while the Showdown mode requires teams of six players. XFL Showdown has the same point system as the above NFL Larceny Bourbon Smooth Steal mode.

DraftKings Fantasy Football Summary

The DraftKings football fantasy betting site provides the most comprehensive DFS experience that can be found in the USA. You are able to either create your own contests between friends or join pre-existing tournaments with strangers. There are plenty of helpful statistics available so you can do your research at the site.

Its mobile platform is also one of the best football fantasy apps on the market thanks to its beautiful interface and easy navigation. You’ll be able to create contests, draft your lineups, and complete all other major account functions from your smartphone or tablet. Overall, we’re extremely impressed by the DraftKings fantasy platform.

Overview of Fantasy Football with ParlayPlay

ParlayPlay provides players of daily fantasy sports a unique gameplay experience that blends some elements of online sports betting. Rather than drafting fantasy football lineups, you’ll be tasked with responding to projected player props or predicting your own player’s performances. Otherwise, you can enjoy a free to play DFS game that follows traditional rules.

The site is legal to play across the USA and won’t take you long to learn at all. The two main DFS modes offer distinct experiences that are well worth trying out, and the buy-ins are relatively small compared to the generous payouts you can win.

Scoring

Types of ParlayPlay Fantasy Football Contests

There are two available contest types at ParlayPlay. These are More/Less and Hit It. You’ll earn points according to the above system for both modes, though each is vastly different in terms of what players must do. The fundamental goal of both is to accurately predict how players will perform that week.

ParlayPlay “More/Less”

In ParlayPlay’s More/Less contests, participants will need to choose between two and four players that will be competing in a NFL football event. All players in the pool will have projected for that game. It’s your goal to estimate whether they will perform better or worse than they are projected to. You’ll earn payouts if you’re correct.

ParlayPlay “Hit It”

In Hit It, players won’t need to respond to projected stats but instead create their own. You’ll need to choose two players and set an estimated point range that they’ll score in that game. You’ll earn 2X your entry fee if you project one player accurately and 6X your payout if you predict both correctly.

ParlayPlay Fantasy Football Summary

In summary, fantasy sports with ParlayPlay provides an experience that you won’t find anywhere else with its two unique contest formats. This is a great game for those who are familiar with sports betting player props but want to try something a little different. For those who want to practice their DFS skills, the free play mode will be for you.

You are also able to download a Parlay Play fantasy betting app so you can make your predictions while on the go. The platform is fast and responsive and its incredibly easy to sign up and get started. There are many payment methods supported to ensure your transactions are convenient.

Overview of Fantasy Football with OwnersBox

OwnersBox is a high-quality platform that provides a twist on traditional fantasy football gameplay, with two different contest modes that make drafting lineups much more exciting. While one is similar to classic contests, the other allows you to spin to choose the best pre-determined three-person lineups.

Both modes are legal and available in most states in the USA, and players have the ability to win huge sums of money if successful. The following score sheet is utilized for both game modes, which you’ll notice only rewards the performances of your Offense.

Scoring

Types of OwnersBox Fantasy Football Contests

You’ll be able to choose from either the Super Flex or Lightning Lineups modes when you play DFS with OwnersBox. We highly recommend that you try both at least once as they provide distinct experiences. The buy-ins start at a very reasonable minimum and it won’t take you long to learn either.

OwnersBox “Super Flex”

The Super Flex mode is the closest thing to standard daily fantasy football. This is a salary cap contest, whereby players must build a nine player lineup within this limit. As mentioned above, only the Offense’s points count here, so you won’t need to consider the unpredictable performances of the Defense and kicker positions.

What makes this mode special is that you’ll be able to add two Flex and one Super Flex position. The Flex positions can include an additional running back, wide receiver, or tight end, while the Super Flex option allows you to draft the same or an additional quarterback. This is a game-changer, as quarterbacks can be huge scorers in DFS.

OwnersBox “Lightning Lineups”

The Lightning Lineups mode allows players to spin a reel-like machine and see three different three-player lineups. It’s your goal to choose which lineup is most likely to earn the most points. If you don’t like any of the options, you have unlimited respins.

Once you’ve chosen your lineup, you can either stick with this selection or add multiple other lineups to your wager. The more you have, the higher your payout multiplier will be. The goal is to have your lineup earn more points than any of your opponent’s lineups.

OwnersBox Fantasy Football Summary

We recommend the OwnersBox daily fantasy sports site to anyone looking for an enhanced DFS experience you won’t find anywhere else. The two varying modes allow you to either take full control of your lineup or rely on a random allocation. The platform is attractive and professional and provides helpful data to help with your drafting.

Football DFS Tips & Strategy

When you play football daily fantasy, you can follow several strategies that will help to enhance your point-scoring capabilities. Every week, you’ll want to dedicate some time to researching players performances and stats and adjusting your lineups accordingly. For example, read the injury reports when they’re released on Wednesday.

It’s important that your roster is balanced for DFS football. This means including players that are consistent and reliable and some that have been underperforming but are poised for improvement. It’s not wise to go completely against the status quo as contestants choose certain players for good reason.

It’s all about finding the perfect balance between risk and safety. You also don’t want to rely too much on one position. Just like one would competing in Aussie Rules DFS lineup will need good depth if you’re going to get the most out of your player’s performances. This also provides a safeguard in case of injuries or unexpected poor performance.

Guide to Football DFS Roster Construction

There is a lot of correlation between players in NFL fantasy point-scoring, so it can be helpful to stack your lineups with players from the same team. Running backs tend to generate plenty of points, so you should prioritize filling these positions before moving on to drafting other players.

You’ll also want to draft your fair share of popular players, and don’t scrimp on your quarterback. Check whether a strong wide receiver has been underperforming recently and is due for a great performance and draft them. It’s best to use as much of your salary as you can as this will create a more formidable team.

Helpful Football DFS Resources

Much like one would when competing in fantasy baseball contests, finding online resources is an easy way to find an edge. One of the best ways to research your picks is to rely on experts and the wider DFS community. The official NFL website will include the latest in injury reports and other relevant news, and can even include sports betting tips that are relevant. There are also several fantasy football podcasts that discuss wise picks.

There are also many online forums that share fantasy football advice and explanations of why they’ve made their picks. YouTube also has a wealth of information, including vlogs from successful DFS contestants. The trick to fantasy football success is a thorough understanding of the league and its players, and these resources will give you that.

Our Pick of the Top Daily Fantasy Football Mobile App

If you’re looking for the best mobile drafting experience, we believe that the best fantasy football app is DraftKings. The crown of the best football DFS product was once Yahoo! Sports, but they’ve lost the crown to DraftKings. You’ll be able to complete all major account functions while on your smartphone or tablet, including creating and joining contests, drafting your lineups, checking stats, and making payments.

Final Thoughts on Choosing a Football Fantasy Site

Now that you’ve discovered the best daily fantasy football betting sites, you should have the confidence to get started and playing right away. All of our recommended sites are legal and licensed, though all are different in terms of the types of contest they offer. You can also claim welcome bonuses to get started with a boosted budget.

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