If you want to play daily fantasy sports somewhere other than at FanDuel and DraftKings, your options are sometimes limited.
But DFS operator Fantasy Draft offers a wide variety of salary cap contests like their competitors, often with more money staying in users’ pockets.
Here’s a closer look at FantasyDraft and why it could be a good option for you.
How FantasyDraft works
If you’re familiar with the salary cap style of DFS made popular by the “big two” DFS sites, then Fantasy Draft will be very familiar to you.
The basics are the same: You pick a roster of players under the constraints of a salary cap set by Fantasy Draft. You can pick any players you want, as long as they fit into the positions allowed by Fantasy Draft, and if you stay under the salary cap.
Here’s what it looks like in NBA, for instance, where you select eight players:
There are several different contests you can pick from:
- Guaranteed prize pool: These are the biggest contests in terms of the amount of money you can win. Total prize pools can reach six figures at FantasyDraft. The contest will run no matter how many people enter. FantasyDraft even held a live event during NFL season guaranteeing $1 million in prizes.
- 50/50: The top half of the field wins the same cash prize; the rest of the field gets nothing.
- Head to head: You play one other player. If you score more fantasy points, you win.
- Leagues: These contests have varying entry fees, sizes, and payouts. They can range from a handful of players to hundreds.
- Beginner: If you’re new to DFS, these are few. If you’ve played less than 50 contests at FantasyDraft, you’ll be eligible to play in these
FantasyDraft sports available
FantasyDraft’s games involve a variety of sports.
- NFL
- PGA Tour
- NBA
- NHL
- Major League Baseball
FantasyDraft vs. DraftKings, FanDuel
The big differences from the big guys?
- Payout structures are often deeper, meaning more players will win cash.
- Rake — the amount of money the site takes out of each entry fee — is usually lower. For H2H contests, it’s half of FanDuel and DraftKings.
- There is often more overlay — money that is guaranteed by not covered by user fees — than at FanDuel and DraftKings.
Check out Fantasy Draft’s H2H contests
FantasyDraft software
FantasyDraft can be accessed via a browser. It also has an app in the App Store for iOS devices. There is no Android app currently, but the site is optimized for mobile use.
The interface is clean and easy to use on all platforms. If you’ve played DFS before, the interface will be easy to pick up. And even if you haven’t, the software is very easy to use and navigate.
FantasyDraft registration process
Signing up for the site is very easy. All you need to provide is a username, an email address, and the state from which you’ll be playing.
FantasyDraft cashiering
To start playing for real money, all you need is a credit card or a PayPal account.
You’ll need to provide some more information in order to deposit, including your address and date of birth (as well as information about your payment, obviously).
Once you deposit, you’ll get a free $4 entry ticket that you can use in any contest you want.
To withdraw, you can get paid either by PayPal or check.
Where can you play FantasyDraft?
FantasyDraft is available in much of the US. The states where you cannot play:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Montana
- Nevada
- Washington State
It operates under regulations in many states that have passed fantasy sports laws in recent years.