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NFL · Stars and Scrubs

What Is Stars and Scrubs in DFS?

Last updated October 5, 2026 by Ship It Nation

Stars and scrubs is a DFS lineup structure where you spend heavily on several expensive players and fill other roster spots with low-salary players. The cheap players free up salary for the stars; they are not necessarily bad players.

Why It Matters

In NFL, snaps alone do not guarantee carries or targets, so check how a cheap player can actually score. Single-game formats can concentrate production among a few expensive players, making low-scoring cheap spots viable in some tournament outcomes. DraftKings Showdown also charges extra salary for your captain, increasing the pressure to find cheap players elsewhere.

Example

Say your DraftKings Showdown captain costs $18,000, and three other players cost $11,000, $10,000 and $9,000. Two receivers at $1,000 each complete the lineup, including a player from the opposing team. You are betting that the expensive players dominate scoring and the cheap receivers contribute enough to beat combinations using more mid-priced players.

Pro tip

Compare the points you gain by upgrading to a star with the points you sacrifice at the cheap spot. Check whether both players still fit your lineup's scoring scenario.

Hear Us Break It Down

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

Why a cheap player can score very little and still fit You accept very little production from a cheap roster spot to afford several expensive players. The large scoring gap between the top projected players and everyone else explains why that stars and scrubs tradeoff can make sense. “You have a huge drop off when you get to the fifth highest in terms of projection.” NFL · Monday, Oct 5 47:13 ▶ How to build against a stars and scrubs field When opponents use cheap receivers to afford stars, you can build differently with more mid-priced players, including kickers and defenses. You challenge the field's salary allocation instead of following the same expensive players and cheap fillers. “We can't predict anything, but what we can do is we can predict how the field is going to build and build against it.” NFL · Sunday, Oct 4 47:38 ▶ How cheap value shifts ownership toward stars Cheap options such as Michael Mayer and Tre Tucker let you afford Jahmyr Gibbs and Ja'Marr Chase. You see how stars and scrubs builds can concentrate ownership at the salary extremes while leaving mid-priced receivers and running backs less popular. “And this is why we're seeing the stars and scrubs and some of those mid-tier wide receivers and even running backs aren't getting as much ownership.” NFL · Sunday, Sep 13 1:28:40 ▶
More mentions 6
THU 10/8 “Yeah it looks like a pretty similar slate for me where five one four two Cowboys will be really heavy the Buccaneers are gonna be low owned I think the like schoonmakers at fourteen hundred mingos eighteen hundred maybe even span four...” 1:02:55 ▶ MON 10/5 “Then give me the stars and scrubs build I guess more it's it's hard to click that name for me the $7,000 price tag especially on this slate where it could be high scoring like it's we always use the term I think it's it's very applicable...” 25:05 ▶ SUN 10/4 “It's definitely going to be a stars and scrubs slate from what I see here.” 14:00 ▶ SUN 9/20 “I think he has a role when you're going stars and scrubs, right?” 47:11 ▶ SUN 9/13 “I do think he makes some sense, especially in those higher priced captain builds when you're kind of go stars and scrubs.” 52:27 ▶ SUN 9/13 “It went more stars and scrubs, but I'm definitely in.” 46:13 ▶

Common Questions

Is stars and scrubs better for cash games or GPPs?

It can work in either. In cash games, prioritize cheap players with dependable opportunities. In GPPs, which are tournaments, more uncertain cheap players may fit a lineup built for a high score. When the same stars and cheap players are popular, consider how you will avoid duplicate lineups.

What is the opposite of a stars and scrubs lineup?

A balanced build. You spread more of your salary across mid-priced players instead of combining several expensive players with very cheap ones. Neither structure automatically scores more: compare the complete lineups rather than assuming that expensive players guarantee a higher ceiling.

Does stars and scrubs mean picking bad players?

No. Scrubs refers to low salaries, not necessarily poor ability. A cheap player can be underpriced because an injury creates a larger role before salaries adjust. A player with little opportunity is a different proposition, even if both players cost the same amount.

Every term we use on the shows, explained Written for the sport you play, with the moments where we use them.
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