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What Are Fantasy Points in DFS?

Last updated November 8, 2026 by Ship It Nation

Fantasy points are the score a DFS contest assigns to a player or team defense by converting real sports statistics and results through its scoring rules. Your lineup's total determines your contest ranking.

Why It Matters

An NFL defense/special teams unit earns its own fantasy score from events such as sacks and takeaways, with points allowed also affecting the total. For offensive players, DraftKings awards one point per reception and FanDuel awards 0.5, so catches carry different weight before you compare salaries.

Go Deeper

Articles that put Fantasy Points to work.

How to Use Game Totals and Weather in NFL DFS How to Use Game Totals and Weather in NFL DFS NFL · 5 min read NBA Scoring Differences: How Steals, Blocks, and Turnovers Change Values by Site NBA Scoring Differences: How Steals, Blocks, and Turnovers Change Values by Site NBA · 4 min read NBA DFS Strategy: How to Build Lineups Around Injuries and Usage NBA DFS Strategy: How to Build Lineups Around Injuries and Usage NBA · 5 min read

Example

Say a receiver catches eight passes for 80 yards and one touchdown, with no other scoring events. He earns 22 fantasy points on DraftKings and 18 on FanDuel: eight versus four reception points, eight yardage points and six touchdown points. His NFL team still adds only six points for the touchdown itself.

Pro tip

Before trusting an average, check which games it includes and whether the player's role has changed. Separate repeatable opportunities from a few unusually productive games.

Hear Us Break It Down

Hand-picked moments from our free live streams where our hosts break down this term.

Why a low team score can still produce strong fantasy points You evaluate a receiver's fantasy production separately from his team's scoreboard total. Receptions contribute to his fantasy score, so a low-scoring offense can still produce a strong individual result. NFL · Monday, Oct 26 59:15 ▶ When three fantasy points can still fit a winning lineup You can accept a small fantasy score from a cheap player if his salary lets you fit stronger players elsewhere. The decision depends on what the complete lineup can score, rather than whether every player delivers a big individual total. “You just need a cheap guy to make everything else work, and even if they get three fantasy points, it all works out.” NFL · Thursday, Oct 29 36:03 ▶ How more shooting opportunities create fantasy scoring upside You gain interest in Cam Johnson and Christian Braun when their three-point attempts increase because made shots add fantasy points. Heavy starter minutes create more opportunities, but you still need those attempts to turn into production. “It's so easy to pile up points, fantasy points, if you are knocking down your shots.” NBA · Wednesday, Nov 4 59:23 ▶
More mentions 12
SUN 11/8 “Like that's not crazy, but that's eighteen fantasy points.” 27:07 ▶ SAT 11/7 “Forty one DraftKings points. The thing with Julius, he's just going to be out there. Thirty plus minutes going to have the ball in his hand. So give me some give me some Julius...” 3:19 ▶ SAT 11/7 “Mayo and I looked at, I think, did he have twenty five carries for seven fantasy points or something like that?” 52:22 ▶ FRI 11/6 “I mean, going back home, he's averaging plus DK points per game.” 11:03 ▶ FRI 11/6 “If you're just looking at his average, he averages twenty four DK points a game.” 32:36 ▶ WED 11/4 “I'd say on the Detroit side, Cade Cunningham is somewhat of an exception as a spend-up contrarian option here if his ownership does stay in the single digits because we're starting to get him at a lower price tag than he was earlier...” 6:57 ▶ MON 11/2 “You got to score the most fantasy points, Nades, no matter where and when they come from.” 18:46 ▶ SUN 11/1 “So I kind of like that approach to it, kind of going over on it and then get the studs on the slate and hope that the combination of two of those Titans guys is something, ends up getting you a decent amount of fantasy points.” 21:25 ▶ SAT 10/31 “He had twenty six DK points last time.” 3:45 ▶ SAT 10/31 “It's that in some outcomes, he just got you like ten to fifteen extra DraftKings points through receiving work that he otherwise never would have had with Spears.” 1:05:47 ▶ FRI 10/30 “Was honestly great from a per minute standpoint, forty two and a half DK points in just twenty four minutes in that game.” 10:58 ▶ FRI 10/30 “It wouldn't shock me if one of them got twenty-two fantasy points.” 25:13 ▶

Common Questions

What does FPTS mean in DFS?

FPTS means fantasy points, the score calculated from a player's results under the contest's rules. Actual FPTS records what happened; projected FPTS estimates what might happen. Your lineup's counted fantasy points determine its ranking.

What does FPPG mean on DraftKings and FanDuel?

FPPG means fantasy points per game, an average of the player's fantasy scores over the games included in that display. Check the sample period instead of assuming it covers recent games. It describes past production and does not automatically account for today's role, matchup or expected playing time.

Are DraftKings points and FanDuel points the same?

No. The sites assign different weights to some statistics and may offer different bonuses, depending on the sport and contest. The same performance can produce different fantasy totals. Salary differences also mean the same player can offer different value on each site.

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