DraftKings NHL Tiers Strategy: DFS Without The Salaries
DraftKings NHL Strategy
DraftKings has a unique new game format called "The Tiers." What makes this so good is that there are zero salary constraints. One does not have to worry about stacking and then figuring out how many dollars are left. Just pick one player from typically seven or eight groups and that's it. As a refresher, here are the scoring rules for this format. This encompasses all skaters and goalies.
Scoring
- Goal +3 Pts
- Assist +2 Pts
- Shot on Goal +0.5 Pts
- Blocked Shot +0.5 Pts
- Short Handed Point Bonus (Goal/Assist) +1 Pt
Goalies
- Win +3 Pts
- Save +0.2 Pts
- Goals Against -0.2 Pts
- Shutout Bonus +2 Pts
Strategy 1: Go For The Shots Which Lead To Goals
For the most part, this is very much like regular DraftKings scoring. The only tweaks are to the hat trick and shutout bonuses. Those are knocked down a notch. Basically, the strategies for this style of play are something we will go over in detail below.
Again, this is crazy enough to work. For example, most nights have eight tiers. The beginning few tiers are easier because the odds of choosing correctly are better (say 1 in 4 or 1 in 5). Once, one gets to 1 in 7 or 1 in 8, things get interesting fast. Goals are king here along with the goalie win. Obviously, there are more skaters which is why goals take on greater importance. Even with a lesser hat-trick bonus, it is worth the risk to go for goals.
In this scenario, would I want Nathan MacKinnon or Sidney Crosby? The surprising answer is MacKinnon. Why? MacKinnon has slightly more chance of scoring a goal. Also, he shoots on net more which leads to more possibilities of a goal being scored. MacKinnon averages 4.33 shots per contest while Crosby averages just a hair under 3 shots a night. Better floors open doors is a saying many daily fantasy players use. As the tiers go up, choices become more difficult. Going with the player who averages the most shots and most goals per game can be an ideal way to garner some cheap extra points. Every point counts.
Strategy 2: Play For The Matchups
This can be a bit riskier. Looking at teams which give up a lot of goals or shots is ideal but peaking at more micro stats such as home or road penalty kill percentage hold some merit. If one sees matchups to exploit, take as many as possible. Again, this is a style predicated on exploitation and little else. For example, seeing a team like New Jersey having nine or ten players out is a major alert. At least, it should be. Seeing what Columbus possibilities are offered would be prudent. After that, which teams have bad road records or not rested.
Would you rather go up against players that are rested or players that are on their fourth game in six nights? Choosing the latter would be a smart decision. Colorado players will be owned heavier than usual because of Detroit's decision to start Jonathan Bernier combined with the illness suffered by Mike Green. Green is expected to be out with this "virus" for at least 7-10 days. Exploring social media and digging for news nets this kind of information which is vital -- even if some of this information comes last minute.
Since it is March, there are teams also just playing out the season. Is Los Angeles going to give the same effort now than they would say in October? That answer is likely no. Much the same goes for a team like the Detroit Red Wings. Some matchups feature a bit more gray. Say there is a flu outbreak for a team going up against an awful team defense. Then what? That offers even more opportunity. Lesser players might wind up with a greater shot in those later tiers. Again, being vigilant is essential when it comes to the tier structure. This is due to the fact that there are zero pricing constraints. Pick and play!
Strategy 3: Combine 1 and 2
This method becomes the best in this format. Throw caution to the wind and analyze everything. Yes, information overload can be dangerous. However, mixing the right amount can be profitable. Finding those edges in "tiers" play is unique compared to GPP's. Remember the pools are often less in these tournaments. One can still stack but be mindful of which other players are in each tier. It is good to always research a new format as well for a bit before jumping in. Play it a few times to see how the scoring breaks down. That is why combining the first two strategies often can lead to better results. Again, some luck is involved but honestly, skill wins out more than luck.
Some Final Thoughts
Finally, the tiers format is perfect for those who like to play mostly lower stakes daily fantasy and do not like salary structures. The pick them format plays well to a segment of the daily fantasy population that does not want to come up with the best nine players at a $50,000 cap. Also, there are usually just eight picks one has to make from a pool of fewer than 50 players. This increases your odds of winning cash. That is the bottom line, after all.
Chris Wassel
Chris is a passionate hockey writer who writes everything from features to daily fantasy to sports betting. Hockey is the main name of the game. From being a regular on The Sweat to doing things with Dobberhockey and beyond, the goal is the same -- provide quality content with a good deal of edge. When one has written for the last 15 years or so, the realization that adaptation is essential is obvious. From Twitter, the goal is to take on all questions and bring it to the FantasyData arena. Let's get started!