NFL DFS Lineup Optimizer Rules and My Favorite Angle for Week 5’s Main Slate

Our Lineup Optimizer is an incredibly powerful tool inside our Player Models, particularly when creating a large number of lineups. However, it’s just that — a tool. We still have to make decisions. Otherwise, everyone would have the same 150 lineups in each contest.

This is intended more as a teaching piece than a step-by-step guide. These rules are suggestions that can show you how to translate your read on these games into lineups.

Each week I’ll go over my favorite DFS angle for the given week and go over some of our Lineup Optimizer settings that are worth considering.

Now, let’s get to it!

My Favorite Week 5 NFL DFS Angle

Another week with what looks to me like inefficient running back ownership. Two of the top four running backs in projected ownership this week that I am looking to intentionally come in under the field on are Dameon Pierce and Jeff Wilson Jr.

Pierce comes in as a road dog against a surprisingly talented Jags team in a nice bounce-back spot after a tough loss to the Eagles last week. Pierce has shown nice pass-catching ability but is still ceding some receiving work to Rex Burkhead. I’m out on Pierce this week in a spot I worry about collective offensive failure.

Wilson faces off against an underrated Panthers defense, and while his role is solid, he has historically lacked slate-altering upside to bury those that fade him. I think taking the floor in cash makes sense, but I’d rather look elsewhere for upside in tournaments.

Lineup Optimizer Rules to Consider

Below are the rules to consider for Sunday. For more context on optimizer rules or the Showdown format in general, check out my NFL Showdown Primer.

General

Minimum salary cap: 99.6%. Leaving more than this causes you to lose significant win equity.

Flex positions: WR, RB

Player Correlations

Optimal tournament construction includes stacking your quarterback with at least one, but usually two, pass-catcher(s) from the same team and at least one pass-catcher from the opposing team.

A mobile quarterback with a big rushing game is more likely to only need one teammate paired. These settings can be accomplished through rules in the “Position” tab or through the Player Correlations tab for more control.

A helpful way to handle Hurts single vs double stacks:

Player Groups

You want to avoid pairings like Dalvin Cook with Justin Jefferson in GPPs to assure your ceiling isn’t capped. The Player Groups tab gives you more control over the process, but the Position tab can be used to completely group out running back paired with a wide receiver from the same team.

While I do think both Patriots running backs are capable of big days, I will be playing a maximum of one in large-field GPPs.

Custom

Winning GPP lineups typically use 2-3 players that are less than 10% owned. The Lineup Optimizer allows you to quickly accomplish this.