DraftKings Strategy and Utilizing the Late Swap Feature
Late swap. It’s easily the most contentious DFS topic that I have ever come across, and nobody lacks an opinion on the matter. Some people love late swap for the edge that it can provide. Some people hate late swap for the fact that they don’t want to have their ears peeled to the news all night. Between those extremes is a virtual nothing-ness, as it feels like the DFS world is 100% divided on this topic.
Regardless of your personal feelings, the fact of the matter is that late swap is back on DraftKings for the 2018-2019 season. Instead of harping on it and complaining about it, our best course of action is to figure out how to utilize it to our fullest advantage. There are a few key principles here, many of which applies to all game formats.
Principle #1 – The RotoGrinders Extension “Cap Room” Feature
If you aren’t familiar with it, the RotoGrinders extension for DraftKings is wonderful, and we continually are adding features to it. As of the time I am writing this, I think we are on Version 8 or something like that. Enhancements for the win!
In any case, the feature of the extension that I want to talk about here is the “cap space calculator.” This is obviously most handy for cash games, as the extension will calculate how much cap space your opponent has left. If you both have one lineup spot open with a late game yet to tip off, you can strategize with your opponent via late swap. If the calculator tells you that your opponent has $6,300 remaining for a power forward, it is likely that he/she has the best player available for that salary. Perhaps you have a utility spot with $6,500 remaining. If you are AHEAD in your head-to-head game, you could swap to the player that you think your opponent has in an attempt to play the block. If you are BEHIND, you can make sure you take a different player.
This calculation method is overlooked by 99% of DFS players, and it can absolutely give you an edge in your cash games. It can work in GPP formats, too, if you are looking to come from behind in a late night West Coast game, but there are obviously more variables at play in a GPP with a lot more entries in there.
Principle #2 – Optimally Allocating Your Initial Lineup
This one may sound simple, but it’s something that a lot of players forget. Make sure your utility slot includes the player that starts latest in the evening! If you have an early-lock point guard at utility and a late-lock point guard at point guard, you are doing it wrong! What happens when that late night point guard gets scratched and there aren’t many options to replace him at that position? If you had left your utility spot open, you would have a lot more options available.
This is a key principle of utilizing late swap effectively for all game formats, and it gives you a nice edge over the player that doesn’t do it right.
Principle #3 – Reacting to Late News
This is where the biggest gripe comes in with the use of late swap. Some DFS players simply don’t like adjusting lineups all night because of job, family, or other commitments. Playing NBA DFS with optimal late swap strategy does take time, but it also provides an edge over those that don’t pay attention leading up to lineup lock.
The solution to this is fairly simple for me. On nights where I cannot follow news for whatever reason, I will scale back my play on DraftKings. On nights where I can follow news, I will gladly play on DraftKings. That makes me “all in” with late swap on that particular night.
The easiest way to react to late news is to build some “if/then” scenarios into your original lineup builds. We will often know who the questionable players are well in advance of lineup lock, with the only problem being that those games often start well after lineup lock. If you want to roll the dice on a questionable player, put him in your utility spot so you can swap him out. Better yet, roster two late night players (or three) to give yourself more leverage. If a surprise scratch shows up, you can pivot to the value that is generated from that scratch, which might then allow you to upgrade another spot in your lineup.
Optimally adjusting your overall roster to news that comes out after lineup lock is a huge advantage if you do it right… and it’s not just about adjusting players that are in your lineup. It’s also about adjusting for value that might arise from other scratches that come out.
Like the relationship status for many of us… it’s complicated… but this can be a fun puzzle to piece together!
If you use the cap space calculator, leave your G, F, and UTIL spots for your later lock players, and react to post-lock news, you will be able to harness all the benefits that late swap on DK has to offer – and you’ll be ahead of the competition.