Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) are ultracompetitive. With daily games, weekly games, year-long leagues, cash games and tournaments constantly running, it is tough to stay on top of everything. On the bright side, the availability of player information and analysis has never been higher. Whatever your angle may be, there is probably a cheap and easy way to quantify and capitalize on it.
But if every DFS player has access to every bit of information, don’t the edges ultimately disappear? They absolutely do. The efficient markets theory applies to DFS. Especially since there are so many players and so much datra on the big providers (Fanduel and DraftKings). So what can you do to gain an advantage when the quantitative information flows so freely?
Well, since we are hypothesizing that DFS markets are efficient, then we should take the next step and say that the best returns only come when we find contrarian views and capitalize on them.
The Reddit Edge
My favorite way of finding these contrarian views is through adding subjective DFS player research. And my favorite place to do this research is on Reddit.
Reddit, specifically “subreddits”, are filled with hardcore DFS gamblers along with plenty of breaking information. Searching for player information allows you to quickly identify a consensus view on that player. When your view is different than the consensus, you can strategize how to work around that view to your advantage.
It is natural to overanalyze the players on your own roster. Conversely, we under-analyze many other players until we are given a reason to look. After running the numbers, which are the same numbers everyone else runs, it pays to listen to others for a subjective take. When you find that a player you covet is not valued as much by the crowd, or when you find that a player you want to trade from your roster is on the must-have list of many….this information is invaluable.
Finding consensus views on Reddit can guide you to when your contrarian evaluations give you the edge you need. Just playing by the numbers will keep you grinding in the middle of the pack. Add a reddit review to your toolbox to see if you are the expert you claim to be!
