CFB · Correlation
What Is Correlation in DFS?
Last updated November 12, 2026 by Ship It Nation
Correlation describes how two players' fantasy scores move together. Positively correlated players tend to have big games at the same time, usually because one player's success directly adds points for the other.
Why It Matters
Negative correlation is the opposite: players whose big games tend to cancel each other out, like a pitcher and the hitters he faces, or a quarterback and the opposing defense, which scores more when he throws interceptions or takes sacks. Correlation does not raise a lineup's average score, it widens the range of outcomes. That makes a first-place finish more likely in tournaments, where only the top matters. In cash games, too much correlation makes a lineup less stable.
Go Deeper
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Example
Say a college quarterback throws 45 times a game in an up-tempo offense, and his top receiver sees nearly a third of the targets. Rostering both means every long touchdown between them pays two lineup spots. If the game turns into a 45 to 42 shootout, a receiver from the other team adds a third correlated piece.
When you build a tournament lineup, ask which of your players need the same thing to happen. The more of them that do, the higher your lineup's ceiling.
Heard on the Shows
This term has come up on 41 shows. Each line jumps to that moment of the video.
Common Questions
Does correlation matter in cash games?
Somewhat, but less. Heavy correlation widens a lineup's range of outcomes, which helps you win a tournament but raises the chance of a low score. Many cash lineups use light correlation, such as a quarterback and one receiver, rather than a full stack.
Which players are most correlated in DFS?
It depends on the sport. A quarterback and his pass catchers in football, consecutive hitters in a baseball lineup, and linemates on the same hockey line or power play unit are the strongest pairings. Basketball and golf have much weaker links.
How do you add correlation to optimizer lineups?
Use stacking rules. Most optimizers let you require a quarterback with at least one pass catcher, a minimum number of hitters from one team, or skaters from the same line. Without those rules, an optimizer treats every player as independent.