Rule Your Fantasy Realm

Our guide to surviving the wild world of Daily Fantasy Sports — and maybe even making a cool million — with out blitzing your bankroll.

- Mark Ellwood

You probably don’t need any more proof that fantasy sport is popular, but former Denver Broncos tight end Nate Jackson has some for you anyway: “I heard that during one game last year, Baltimore Ravens tight end Ben Watson was having a good day on the field, and one of the guys he was playing against congratulated him”, Jackson says. “The other guy had Watson on his fantasy squad that day.” That pro baller was one of almost 60 million people in the US and Canada who’ve plunged into what’s known as Daily Fantasy Sports, commonly called DFS. You’ve seen the ads too: Competing boasts of millionaire-minting from two arch-rival start-ups, New York–based FanDuel and Boston-based Draft Kings. Both run on the same premise — gamers compile a team within a certain salary budget, and then pony up a few bucks to enter an online contest. With DFS, though, gamers can break out of their sleepy office pool and test their skill against hundreds or thousands of other line-ups in one hyper-competitive (and potentially lucrative) fantasy free-for-all. Here’s how to start indulging your inner Bill Belichick — no cut-off sweat shirts required. Although this article focuses on FanDuel and Draft Kings, which are based in the US, you can access the sites from South Africa. Alternatively, take a look at Unlimited Dream Teams and Fantasy Rugby Drafts.

Don’t fear a season in the minors

Before opening your wallet, I’d recommend just playing along for fun the first couple of months. Most guys need at least that much time to get comfortable with whichever site they end up choosing. FanDuel and Draft Kings are the two DFS giants, with about 90% of the market. I’d say Draft Kings has the edge because it lists players’ salaries in smaller rand increments, which gives you more flexibility as you compile your ideal fantasy team.