daily fantasy sports articles

When you’re setting out to create your DFS lineups on Draftstars, there are many factors to consider. You look at all the players, check out their salaries, form, potential injuries and matchups, and then try to squeeze your players into your salary cap.

But don’t forget about the weather!

The weather?

With so many other factors to think about, often the last thing you might worry about is the weather. But in so many outdoor sports, it should be the first thing you look at when creating your DFS lineups.

You don’t have to be a meteorologist to play fantasy sports. However it does help to have a good feel for using some reliable weather websites or apps to get an accurate handle on what weather will be affecting your games.

Let’s take a look at a few examples of DFS sports that are greatly influenced by weather.

AFL

AFL is a great all-weather sport in the heart of the Australian winter, and while the AFL doesn’t stop for rain or wind, the weather can still play a big role in matches. We wish every game was played under the roof at Marvel Stadium for perfect conditions every match, but sadly that’s not the case.

If a game is going to cop a lot of rain then it can greatly affect fantasy scoring. There will usually be less marking and less goal scoring - that’s bad news for key forwards. There’s generally more tackling and more stoppages - this favours inside mids and ruckmen who will get a boost from extra hitouts.

You need to adjust your lineups to suit these conditions, and consider how you will include players from such a match in a multi-game slate.

Cricket

Cricket is somewhat the opposite of AFL in terms of the weather. Cricket is not played at all if it’s raining but it’s what happens when games are interrupted mid-match that is most interesting in terms of DFS strategy.

If you’re planning for an ODI or T20 match, then it’s worth taking a look at the forecast or the radar for any signs of possible rain. If a game is interrupted by rain then it may be played out with reduced overs. A T20 match such as the Big Bash League only requires five overs to constitute a legal match!

If that happens, then how do you adjust? Well, in a shortened match, you’re going to want to look at opening batsmen or those powerful hitters who are likely to be thrown in at the top of the order to smash a quick score. Middle order batsmen or accumulators might not be in play at all.

There’s also going to be more chance of wickets as players throw the bat wildly. There’s less chance of a player scoring 50 runs in a reduced game, while a bowler can still easily pick up a few wickets. Economy bonuses are likely to be a non-factor so look for those wicket takers!

Golf

Golf is an interesting one as the shifts in strategy can be quite subtle when it comes to the weather and conditions of the course.

Some players prefer to play in hot, dry conditions, while others have grown up with wet and windy weather.

When conditions are favourable, you’re going to see better scoring, so you’ll want to target those who are superior birdie makers as that’s where your key fantasy scoring will come from.

You may also like to consider tee times in the early rounds, as often those with early tee times can enjoy better conditions before the winds pick up later in the day.

Weather can also affect course conditions such as green speed and green firmness. You can then look at other historical data for players given these conditions to make the best selections for your fantasy lineups.

Stay dry in Daily Fantasy Sports

So while DFS is always played from the safe, dry conditions of your lounge room, it’s not always the case for those players actually participating. Being a weather nerd may not sound the most exciting part of being a DFS player, but it’s one of the most important for becoming a profitable one.

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