Player mentions
Michael Wilson
WR · ARI · #general
...tasyfootballers.com/fantasy/michael-wilson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Wilson , <a href="https://www.thefantasyfootballers.com/fantasy/kenny-gainwell...
Michael Penix
QB · ATL · #general
...syfootballers.com/fantasy/michael-penix-jr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Penix Jr . (or Tua?) + <a href="https://www.thefantasyfootballers.com/fantasy...
Caleb Williams
QB · CHI · #general
...tasyfootballers.com/fantasy/caleb-williams" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Caleb Williams + <a href="https://www.thefantasyfootballers.com/fantasy/luther-burden...
Jayden Daniels
QB · WAS · #general
...tasyfootballers.com/fantasy/jayden-daniels" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jayden Daniels if he falls). R...
Braelon Allen
RB · NYJ · #general
...ntasyfootballers.com/fantasy/braelon-allen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Braelon Allen in NYJ). WR. </s...
AJ Barner
TE · SEA · #general
...hefantasyfootballers.com/fantasy/aj-barner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AJ Barner , and <a href="https://www.thefantasyfootballers.com/fantasy/pat-freier...
Brian Thomas
WR · JAX · #general
...asyfootballers.com/fantasy/brian-thomas-jr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brian Thomas Jr . and <a href="https://www.thefantasyfootballers.com/fantasy/jakobi-...
Malik Nabers
WR · NYG · #injuryupdate
...antasyfootballers.com/fantasy/malik-nabers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Malik Nabers has a lingering injury, <a href="https://www.thefantasyfootballers.com...
Cam Skattebo
RB · NYG · #injuryupdate
...antasyfootballers.com/fantasy/cam-skattebo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cam Skattebo could rise if his recovery from injury continues to trend well. <a hre...
Quinshon Judkins
RB · CLE · #general
...syfootballers.com/fantasy/quinshon-judkins" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Quinshon Judkins is unlikely to be ready for Week 1, <a href="https://www.thefantasyfoo...
Luther Burden
WR · CHI · #general
...yfootballers.com/fantasy/luther-burden-iii" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Luther Burden + <a href="https://www.thefantasyfootballers.com/fantasy/dandre-swift"...
Shedeur Sanders
QB · CLE · #startrecommendation
...asyfootballers.com/fantasy/shedeur-sanders" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shedeur Sanders loses steam because Watson is getting starter buzz, or <a href="https:...
Tyler Shough
QB · NO · #general
...antasyfootballers.com/fantasy/tyler-shough" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tyler Shough + Jordan Tyson + <a href="https://www.thefantasyfootballers.com/fantas...
Jared Goff
QB · DET · #general
...efantasyfootballers.com/fantasy/jared-goff" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jared Goff , <a href="https://www.thefantasyfootballers.com/fantasy/malik-willis"...
Derrick Henry
RB · BAL · #general
...ntasyfootballers.com/fantasy/derrick-henry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Derrick Henry | ADP 22.1 vs <a href="https://www.thefantasyfootballers.com/fantasy/c...
George Kittle
TE · SF · #startrecommendation
...ntasyfootballers.com/fantasy/george-kittle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">George Kittle in Week 17 kept my lineup from surpassing a million dollars in a Draft...
Lamar Jackson
QB · BAL · #general
...ntasyfootballers.com/fantasy/lamar-jackson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lamar Jackson , etc). Over the last two years, six of the seven top QB win rates came...
Sam Darnold
QB · SEA · #general
...fantasyfootballers.com/fantasy/sam-darnold" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sam Darnold . 300+ Passing Yard Bonus Pocket QBs cut the ru...
Josh Allen
QB · BUF · #general
...efantasyfootballers.com/fantasy/josh-allen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Josh Allen , <a href="https://www.thefantasyfootballers.com/fantasy/lamar-jackson"...
Mark Andrews
TE · BAL · #general
...antasyfootballers.com/fantasy/mark-andrews" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mark Andrews , <a href="https://www.thefantasyfootballers.com/fantasy/juwan-johnson"...
Kyler Murray
QB · MIN · #general
...antasyfootballers.com/fantasy/kyler-murray" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kyler Murray Jared Garrff has had 49 games with over 300 passing yar...
Jakobi Meyers
WR · JAX · #general
...ntasyfootballers.com/fantasy/jakobi-meyers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jakobi Meyers , two WRs also being drafted inside the top 102 picks. Pierce has the c...
Tony Pollard
RB · TEN · #general
...antasyfootballers.com/fantasy/tony-pollard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tony Pollard | ADP 82.8 vs <a href="https://www.thefantasyfootballers.com/fantasy/j...
Tua Tagovailoa
QB · ATL · #startrecommendation
...tasyfootballers.com/fantasy/tua-tagovailoa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tua Tagovailoa could rise if the starting QB uncertainty disappears. Those...
Article text
There is a moment frozen in my mind. A single garbage-time catch from George Kittle in Week 17 kept my lineup from surpassing a million dollars in a DraftKings tournament. That result changed how I play Best Ball . I realized it’s the easiest form of fantasy football to play, but the hardest to win. One ADP discount, one correlated game environment, one late-round player, pod luck or playoff spike week can completely change the outcome of your season (and your life?). To win on DraftKins in 2026, you’ll battle 940,900+ lineups shooting the same shot. For context, Charlotte, NC, has a population of 943,000+. You’re not competing against 11 league mates; you’re aiming to beat a field the size of a major city, like where the Panthers reside. But, the good news? We do it in 12-player pods until the Week 17 final, when we face only 1,089 players. Instead of fighting an urban metropolis, we just need to beat a field about the size of a village in the Hamptons at the end. Still, that is a tall order. The path to first place does not start with beating the entire tournament. It starts with winning the room you are drafting in. Make sure to subscribe to the DFS and Betting Podcast , as we’ll be covering Best Ball through the summer. What is Best Ball? Best Ball is a draft-only fantasy football format with no waivers, trades, or start-sit decisions. The draft is not just part of the game; it is the game. The draft is the best part of fantasy anyway, right? Well, that’s Best Ball. Your highest-scoring players are automatically placed into your lineup each week from Weeks 1 – 14, so you play the majority of the season against the people you drafted with, hoping to finish with the most (or second most) points in your pod. In Week 15, the playoffs start. Most DK tournaments advance the top two highest-scoring teams*. Those teams are placed in pods with 11 other advancing lineups where they compete for a single week. Payouts: The highest-scoring team advances to Week 16. 2nd – 3rd: $50 4th – 12th: $40 Week 16 is similar to Week 15. The highest-scoring team advances to Week 17 2nd – 3rd: $150 4th – 12th: $125 Week 17 = Primetime. This is where dreams come true. The field narrows to 1,089 lineups, with the worst you can walk away with being $1,250. Takeaway: WE PLAY FOR FIRST. Be aggressive; playing conservatively does nothing for us. If you ain’t first, you’re last. – Ricky Bobby. *For simplicity, we used the Milly Maker’s advance rate structure. Make sure to read the rules of any other contest for different advance rates (that may change your strategy to be more/less aggressive when drafting). Week 17 Payout Structure For this year’s flagship tourney , first place is $3. Million. Dollars. Holy smokes, Batman. That’s some serious cheddar for a $25 entry. Place Payout 1st $3,000,000 2nd $2,000,000 3rd $1,000,000 4th $500,645 5th $400,000 6th $300,000 7th $250,000 8th $200,000 9th-10th $150,000 11th-15th $100,000 16th – 20th $50,000 21st – 25th $40,000 26th – 35th $30,000 36th – 50th $20,000 51st – 75th $15,000 76th – 100th 10,000 101st – 150th $7,500 151st.- 200th $5,000 201st – 300th $4,000 301st – 400th $3,000 401st – 500th $2,000 501st – 700th $1,500 701st – 1089th $1,250 DraftKings Scoring The most important strategy shift is the scoring differences. We list out each difference compared to Underdog, followed by player examples. Full PPR. Reception = +1 20 Round Draft 300+ Yard Passing Game = +3 100+ Yard Rushing Game = +3 100+ Yard Receiving Game…