Scoring System
Salary Cap: $55k (most games)
Positions: LW(2), RW(2), C(2) D(2), G
Goalies:
Wins = 4pts
SO = 2pts
Saves = 0.2pts
Goals against = -1pt
Skaters
Goals = 3pts
Assists = 2pts
+/- = 1pt
PIMs = 0.5pts
PPG = 1pt
PPA = 1pt
Shots = 0.4pts,
Strategy
The first strategy you need to master is identifying value in players. With a salary-based budget, it's critical to identify players who are undervalued,
so you can free up cap space to spend on a guy like Malkin or Stamkos.
In this format, defensemen are of little relative value, so your best bet is to spend the absolute minimum possible on this position.
To start the season, guys like John Carlsson and P.K. Subban were very cheap.
Their price has been steadily rising, so you have to be watching for new cheaper options to pop up.
Rosters for Fanduel play 1 goalie and 2 each at LW,RW,C, and D.
When setting your lineup, start at the goalie position. Remember, it's just for 1 night, so it's critical you identify who's starting.
Several websites offer starting goalie information that is fairly reliable.
For the best information, go to the local sources for that team, as they'll often post it on a blogger site, twitter, or even on the team's homepage.
If you can find value at this position, go for it. Often times, NHL teams will start a backup against a weaker opponent.
Backups tend to come at a lower cost, so you can make out if you play this right.
For example, on Fanduel, a top goalie like Miller or Luongo may cost 8K of your 55K cap.
You might get a starting backup on a good team for 3 or 4K, which obviously leaves room to add better options on offense.
Next, identify the 2 cheapest defensemen that have any hope of getting you points.
In general, defensemen produce 1/2 as much in points as forwards, so you're wasting your money buy placing a mid to top level defenseman on your roster.
One thing to look for at defense is penalty minutes. While points from the D are hard to predict, penalty minutes are more predictable.
After filling your crease and blueline, it's time to spend your money where it matters most, on offense.
Start from the bottom up and identify one or two players you can tolerate at a lower pricetag.
Next, add a couple of top end forwards to the mix. Finally, play around with the last couple of spots with what you have left.
Once you've filled your roster, check how much cap space you have remaining.
Take a look at your cheaper options one by one and see how much of an upgrade you make with what you have left.
5 and 10 Player Leagues
The strategy is basically the same when playing in a larger league, versus challenging a single opponent. However, one thing to pay attention to in a larger
league is pitting your skaters against your goalie. For example, if Tampa Bay is playing Buffalo, do you really want to have Stamkos and St. Louis on offense, with
Miller in net? Every goal scored by your forwards will offset on your goalie's goals against. In a head-to-head setting, it's not that big of a deal; however,
when you play in a larger league with 10 teams, you're going to need every point possible to win. Best bet in a bigger league is to avoid this scenario.