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NFL · Flex and UTIL

What Are Flex and UTIL in DFS?

Last updated October 26, 2026 by Ship It Nation

A standard NFL FLEX accepts a running back, wide receiver or tight end. In DraftKings NFL Showdown, FLEX instead means a regular-scoring slot alongside Captain, with broader eligibility that includes quarterbacks.

Why It Matters

Separate the decision to roster a player from the decision to make him Captain. In Showdown, a quarterback can be useful in FLEX without needing the slate's highest score; in standard contests, FLEX lets you compare an extra running back, receiver or tight end.

Example

Say a quarterback scores 20 fantasy points in a DraftKings NFL Showdown contest. In FLEX, he contributes 20 points; at Captain, he contributes 30 and costs 1.5 times his FLEX salary. Your choice affects both scoring and the money available for the rest of your lineup.

Pro tip

Before lock, identify affordable replacements for your latest starter. An open FLEX or UTIL slot helps only if suitable unlocked players remain within your budget.

Hear Us Break It Down

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

Why centers can fill your NBA utility slots You can use FanDuel's utility slots for additional centers when strong options are eligible only at center. The scoring emphasis on blocks and steals also gives you a reason to expect more center ownership in those flexible spots. “You will see center take up a lot more of the utility ownership on FanDuel than you will on DraftKings.” NBA · Tuesday, Oct 20 40:13 ▶ Pairing a receiver captain with his quarterback in flex You can put a pass catcher at captain and his quarterback in flex to connect their scoring. Using a quarterback heavily in the regular-scoring slots does not require using him heavily at captain. “So I'll be using them a lot in the flex, just not as much up top.” NFL · Thursday, Oct 22 24:48 ▶ Keeping an opposing quarterback in a five-one build You can use the opposing quarterback as your lone player from that team in a five-one Showdown build. Rushing production can make him useful in flex even when his offense struggles and no individual pass catcher comes through. “Yeah, I still want a lot of Jayden Daniels.” NFL · Monday, Oct 19 46:03 ▶
More mentions 12
MON 10/26 “But the price of these Eagles, like you're talking about wide receiver one is $3,800 in the flex.” 12:46 ▶ MON 10/26 “Craft LaPorta all those cheaper tight ends right if they were spending they were going to Brock Bowers um people just couldn't get up to him he can do it on any slate and then the kc conception right who's the chalk defense of the slate...” 11:37 ▶ SUN 10/25 “But I mean, the dude's going to be twenty percent in the flex on a home favorite.” 25:06 ▶ SAT 10/24 “It reminds you in showdown when people were like, Oh man, sav Williams is two hundred bucks let me just put him in the captain so I can fit everybody that you know the best guys on the slate like it's horrible you yes it makes it work...” 1:00:23 ▶ FRI 10/23 “But I think that's a pivot you can make if you're playing one of them in UTIL, sure.” 14:20 ▶ THU 10/22 “Their quarterback is typically going to land in the flex spot for me.” 25:09 ▶ MON 10/19 “So he's $6,600 at flex, $9,900 captain.” 26:07 ▶ MON 10/19 “It was it was it was Lamb, Pickens, Flournoy and somebody else in the in the flex with no deck.” 30:40 ▶ SUN 10/18 “He's $9,600 in the flex up top.” 17:13 ▶ SUN 10/18 “Like again, I'd probably play Likely over that and just figure it out somewhere else in the flex.” 24:50 ▶ SAT 10/17 “Let's take a look at all of the flex plays from this game.” 40:27 ▶ THU 10/15 “Like Hoops said, there's a lot of options you can go to on this one, but what happened with them is essentially with all the Puka, it meant, you know, very little Stafford, you know, or like Stafford in the flex, obviously, but I mean...” 9:02 ▶

Common Questions

Can you put a tight end or quarterback in FLEX?

A standard NFL FLEX accepts running backs, wide receivers and tight ends, not quarterbacks. A Superflex can also accept a quarterback. Single-game FLEX slots have different eligibility, so a quarterback can qualify there even though he cannot fill a standard NFL FLEX.

Does a player score fewer points in UTIL or FLEX?

No. A regular UTIL or FLEX slot does not reduce a player's fantasy points or make him a bench player. In a Captain or MVP contest, the distinction is that the designated multiplier slot boosts scoring, while the regular slots do not.

Should you put your latest-starting player in FLEX or UTIL?

Yes, when that player is eligible and the contest allows late swap. Arrange your selected players before they lock so later starters occupy the broadest eligible slots. You still need enough salary for replacements, and locked players cannot be moved to another slot.

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