Fantasy Draft – Is it Worth It? A Comprehensive Review of Fantasy Draft (DFS Player’s Guide)

Founded in late 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina, FantasyDraft did not hit its stride until 2015.

FantasyDraft offers some outstanding features, such as rake-free contests and high flexibility in lineup construction. 

While currently a distant third in DFS duopoly maintained by DraftKings and FanDuel, the unique and refreshing experience that FantasyDraft provides positions them well for the future. 

Wondering if FantasyDraft is the right DFS site for you? This FantasyDraft review takes an in-depth look into the website and discusses its strengths, weaknesses, and what you need to think about before investing your hard-earned money.

An Overview of FantasyDraft

Key specifications:

• Price plan: Different membership fees depending on your volume of play. 
• Sports Available: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and PGA.
• Payment Methods: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and PayPal.
• Year Launched: 2014.
• Illegal States: Alabama, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New York, and Washington State.

FantasyDraft entered the DFS industry in 2014, a time when DraftKings and FanDuel dominated the landscape. In addition, there were a handful of other entities trying to find their niche in the DFS world, including the now-defunct Fantasy Aces and Daily Joust.

If FantasyDraft were to achieve relevance, it would have to satisfy some void that DFS players desired. Well, say hello to my little friend! FantasyDraft became, and remains, the only site to offer rake-free competitions, the most significant feature provided by any DFS site at any time. 

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Things to Consider Before Playing DFS

Provided DFS is legal in your jurisdiction, and you meet the participation requirements, you can play DFS in FantasyDrafts or any site of your choosing.

The question that then requires an answer is, should you play?

I would recommend DFS over season-long fantasy leagues any day of the week and twice on Sundays. The benefits are incalculable: the ability to draft a new team and compete every single day, the opportunity to win large sums of money every day, and avoidance of the daily grind of managing your year-long fantasy team every single day.

Once you realize that DFS is for you, you must determine the site on which to play. You can consider a myriad of factors; however, some are more important than others.

Does the site provide contests for the sport desired? While FantasyDraft offers a modest selection of NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and PGA, many sites provide eSports, foreign sports, MMA, and others.

Are the entry fees within your budget? Most sites offer contests that you can enter for as little as one thin dime or as much as thousands of dollars, and every dollar amount in-between.

Lastly, are you able to satisfy their deposit options? Almost all sites, FantasyDrafts included permit deposits using Visa, AMEX, Mastercard, Discover, and PayPal. Some sites allow for additional deposit options.

Assuming you answered in the affirmative to the three questions above, for what are you waiting? Experience the unbridled excitement of DFS competition and possibly fatten that piggy bank as well.

Who can play at FantasyDraft?

• FantasyDraft can be played in the US and Canada.
• There are ten states where FantasyDraft cannot be played: Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New York, and Washington State.
• Players must be 18 years or older to play in most states, with some states imposing stricter requirements.
• Both Nebraska and Alabama have set their age limit at 19, while Massachusetts has raised it to 21.

Read our comprehensive review of the top fantasy football tools, research, and analytics. Learn about Fantasy Labs and Fantasy Football Nerd.

Features and Benefits of FantasyDraft

#1 Mobile App

• Mobile apps are available for both iOS and Android.[1]
• They are free to download and look spectacular.
• Unfortunately, these apps are far from fully functional, contain a litany of bugs, and need considerable improvement.

#2 Compete Against the Pros

FantasyLabs has relationships with some of the biggest stars in sports. You have opportunities to compete against pro athletes and sports personalities, both active and retired, and see how you stack up!

Some of the biggest names include Kevin Love, Drew Brees, Clayton Kershaw, T.Y. Hilton, Jimmy Johnson, and Chris Bosh.

#3 Customer Support

You can request customer support for unanswered questions via the completion of the above form. There is no live chat service to assist you.

#4 Deposits and Withdrawals

Deposits are via Visa, Discover, AMEX, Mastercard, and PayPal. Withdrawals are via check or PayPal.

• PayPal requests will be processed within 2 business days.
• Please allow 7-10 business days for withdrawal requests made by check to be received.

#5 Rake-Free Contests

FantasyDraft is the first and only DFS platform to offer rake-free contests. I would like to explain how rake works and why this feature, exclusive to FantasyDraft, is a BIG deal!

The above PGA contest circled in blue is for the final round of the RBC Heritage and is offered on DraftKings. You will notice that the total prizes offered are worth $80,000. On the surface, everything appears to be on the up-and-up. Now, however, look at the number of entries indicated in the red square, 9,411. 

Hold on a second, pilgrim! If there are 9,411 entries in this contest, and each admission costs $10 to participate in the competition, well, simple math indicates that all entrants in this contest contributed $ 94,110. Yet, the game is only paying out $80,000 of the $94,110. 

The difference between the total costs paid by the players entering the contest ($94,110) and the prize money paid out to those who enter the contest ($80,000) is $14,110. This $14,110 is what we call the “Rake,” and it is the amount of money that the site keeps for merely running the contest. 

Pretty sweet deal if you can get it! Not to pick on DraftKings, as all sites charge a similar rake, but that rake is 15%. Had that rake been paid out to the contestants in the contest, either more players would have cashed in, or those who cashed in would have received a more substantial prize.[2]

Circled in blue is the same PGA contest for the final round of the RBC Heritage offered on FantasyDraft. However, as FantasyDraft provides this contest, it is a rake-free contest. You can see that the total prizes offered are worth $12,500. 

Inside the red box, you can see that the number of contest entries is 500 for $25 an entry. Multiply $25 times 500 entries, and you arrive at $12,500. In other words, there is no rake, and 100% of the entry costs are remunerated to the players! I hope that I was able to explain the concept of rake.

You may be wondering why anyone would play on a site that takes 15% rake vs. a website that takes ZERO rake. Well, look at the prize pools available at the two locations. DraftKings is a much higher-volume site than FantasyDraft and, as such, can offer prize pools that FantasyDraft cannot approach.[3]

A Visual: Rake-Free vs. Rake

Imagine entering a GPP on FanDuel or DraftKings that costs $25 an entry, and there are 10,000 entries in the contest. Due to the standard 16% rake on those sites, the total prize money up-for-grabs in this contest is only $210,000. 

That same contest entered on the rake-free FantasyDraft site would provide $250,000 in prize money.[4]

FantasyDraft Membership Tiers

At this point, you may be wondering how FantasyDraft makes any money, considering there is no rake.

Fantasy Draft’s model is to charge you a monthly fee based on a tiered membership, and each membership level allows you to enter a specific dollar amount of rake-free contests.

PlayersFirst 

The PlayersFirst tier costs nothing per month; however, it only enables the user to enter $100 worth of contests. Most players will blow past that amount in a day or two.

Starter

The Starters tier, which, incidentally, is now provided with a 7-day free trial, enables you to enter $1,000 worth of rake-free contests for $5.99/month. Note that the $5.99/month only covers access to $1,000 of rake-free matches. It does not, however, include the entry costs for such contests.

All-American

The All-American Tier enables you to enter $3,000 worth of rake-free contests for $14.99/month. Once again, the $14.99/month only covers access to $3,000 of rake-free matches and does not include any entry costs for such competitions.

The Big Spenders

Bonus Details

Welcome Bonus

In the past, FantasyDraft did provide some outstanding bonuses upon a player’s initial deposit of $10 or more. However, upon signing up, I was not informed of any reward. I emailed the support team and received no response within the first 24 hours. 

In fairness to them, I sent my request over the weekend. In the welcome email, they did alert me to their free 7-day trial on their PlayersFirst plan that allows up to $1,000 in monthly entry fees.

Referral Bonus

FantasyDraft employs a very unique and potentially very lucrative referral program called 6 Degrees of Pay. 

On most fantasy sites, if you refer a new player to that site, and that player deposits a certain quantity of money, you will receive a certain amount of cash into your account. This cash cannot be withdrawn; however, it can pay entry fees into contests. 

While FantasyDraft follows this standard referral procedure, they also add a far more profitable twist. Referred to as 6 Degrees of Pay, for every player you refer to the site and enters a fantasy contest with real money, you receive a small commission. 

Now, for every player that THEY refer to the website and who enters a fantasy contest with real money, you also earn a small commission. This web of commissions continues to extend until you reach players six degrees removed from you!

A graphical view of the referral process may simplify the program. In the picture above, which only goes out to three degrees of removal, you are the “blue” player. Whenever any of the “black” players enter into a fantasy contest for “real” money, you earn a commission! 

And again, this depiction only extends out to three degrees of referrals. Remember, you are paid for up to SIX degrees of references. This is a win-win for both players and the site, as players are provided enormous incentives to refer new players, and these new players will provide additional revenue to the site. [5]

Is the Starter Membership on FantasyDraft Worth it?

FantasyDraft saves players enormous sums of money over the long run. For instance, If you were to take advantage of the Starter Membership that costs $5.99/month and played through the full $1,000 threshold, this would mean you paid the equivalent of 0.6% rake. 

With the DFS industry average rake being between 10% and 16%, you could be paying upwards of $160 while playing the same buy-in amounts, saving around $154 in fees.

Read about Daily Fantasy Nerd, and FantasyPros in these comprehensive reviews.

Sports Available on FantasyDraft

FantasyDraft offers contests for the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, and PGA.

Platform Features for NFL

1. Lineup Construction

Choose the contest you would like to enter from the contest lobby and click “Enter.” You will then be taken to the draft page, where you will begin the drafting process.

Now it’s time to draft your team. In the NFL, you get a salary of $100,000 that you can use to select 9 players. Each player is priced according to his perceived strength, the average number of fantasy points earned, and so on. 

The rules for NFL games are that you remain within the salary cap, you fill all nine positions, you draft players from at least three teams, and that you have fewer than six players from any one squad. 

You can choose 1 QB (quarterback), 2 RB (running backs), 2 WR (wide receivers), 1 TE (tight end), 2 Flex (RB, WR or TE), and 1 DST (Defense/Special Teams). 

Once you’ve finished drafting, check your lineup status in the section located below your team. To make sure all of the requirements have been met, look for the word “VALID,” which will appear in green if your lineup is valid. 

Submit your lineup by clicking “PLAY” and confirm your entry by selecting “CONFIRM ENTRY.” Once you’ve confirmed, your lineup will be entered into the contest.[6]

2. Fantasy Points

Scoring for NFL games is divided into two categories, Offense, and Defense. Please be sure to check the scoring rules for each contest because there could be some nuances like a lineup with no kickers.[7]

Offense

Note that negative yardage affects a player’s score. For example, a player with -3 net rushing yards will score -0.3 points.

Passing Yards (PaYds) –	0.04 points per passing yard
Passing Touchdowns (PaTD) –	4 points for each passing touchdown.
Interceptions (INT) –	-1 point for each interception.
300+ Passing Yards (300+Pass) –	3 bonus points for each player that passes for 300 or more yards.
Rushing Yards (RuYds) –	0.1 points per yard rushing.
Rushing Touchdowns (RuTD) –	6 points for each rushing touchdown.
100+ Yard Rushing (100+Rush) –	3 points for each player that rushes for 100 or more yards.
Receptions (Rec) –	1 point for each reception.
Receiving Yards (RecYds) –	0.1 points for each yard receiving.
Receiving Touchdowns (RecTD) –	6 points for each receiving touchdown.
100+ Yard Receiving (100+Rec) –	3 bonus points for each player that has 100 or more receiving yards.
Kickoff Return Touchdown – (KRTD)	6 points for each kickoff return touchdown.
Punt Return Touchdown (PRTD) –	6 points for each punt return touchdown.
Fumbles Lost (FumLst) –	-1 point for each fumble lost.
Own Fumbles Recovered – Touchdowns (FRTD)	6 points for each fumble that is recovered for a touchdown.
Two Point Conversion Pass – (2PT-Pass)	2 points for each two point conversion scored with a pass.
Two Point Conversion Scored – (2PT-Score)	2 points for each two point conversion scored by running or catching the ball.

Defense

Note that all points scored while your DST is on the field (i.e., points vs. defense or special teams) will count as Points Allowed. Points scored against an offense (e.g., interception returned for a TD) do not count as DST Points Allowed.

Sack (SACK) –	1 point for each sack.
Interception (INT) –	2 points for each interception.
Interception Return Touchdown – (TD)	6 points for each interception returned for a touchdown.
Fumble Recovery (FR) –	2 points for each fumble recovered.
Fumble Return Touchdowns (TD) –	6 points for each fumble returned for a touchdown.
Kickoff Return Touchdowns (TD) –	6 points for each kickoff returned for a touchdown.
Punt Return Touchdowns (TD) –	6 points for each punt returned for a touchdown.
Blocked Kicks (BLK) –	2 points for each blocked kick.
Blocked Punt or FG Return TD – (TD)	6 points for each blocked punt or field goal returned for a touchdown.
2 PT Defensive Score (2PT-Def) –	2 points for each defensive two point.
Safeties (SAF) –	2 points for each safety.
0 Points Allowed (PA) –	10 points each time your DST does not allow any points.
1-6 Points Allowed (PA) –	7 points each time your DST allows between 1 and 6 points.
7-13 Points Allowed (PA) –	4 points each time your DST allows between 7 and 13 points.
14-20 Points Allowed (PA) –	1 point each time your DST allows between 14 and 20 points.
21-27 Points Allowed (PA) –	0 point each time your DST allows between 21 and 27 points.
28-34 Points Allowed (PA) –	-1 points each time your DST allows between 28 and 34 points.
35+ Points Allowed (PA) –	-4 points each time your DST allows 35 or more points.

Entering Contests

Leagues

Leagues will include all kinds of contests with varying entry fees, sizes, and payouts. You can enter these contests, and they will have some of our most mammoth payouts. Remember, FD pays deeper than most sites, so you don’t have to be the best to finish in the PayoutZone.

Tournaments

Tournaments come in many colors and flavors. A common thread among most is that there will be multiple qualifier contests leading to a final contest, which pays out the big bucks. Win your way into the main event, or in some cases, you can pay your way in, but that can come at a price. Each tournament will be different, so be sure to check in and read the terms for each.

50/50

In a 50/50 contest, you are competing to finish in the top half of the field. Finish in the top 50%, and you win; the prize is divided equally among the winners.

Guaranteed

A guaranteed contest will run regardless of the number of players or lineups that are registered. The published payouts will be paid regardless. Hint, if you see a guaranteed contest that isn’t close to full around game time, consider entering another lineup or 2.

Head-to-Head

One on one, there will be one winner and one loser. For all the marbles and bragging rights, you can’t get much better than that.

Beginner

Beginner contests are, well, for beginners. They are for rookies who are new to playing on FantasyDraft. The field consists of FantasyDraft players with fewer than 50 contests played.[8]

What are People Saying About FantasyDraft?

I scoured the internet and found some reviews that seemed somewhat positive about the product.[9]

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I have played on FantasyDraft, and their rake-free contests can save you significant amounts of money. I agree with the first comment regarding FantasyDraft as the undisputed third option behind DraftKings and FanDuel.

Alternatives to FantasyDraft

DraftKings and FanDuel

I have listed DraftKings and FanDuel together, as in combination, the two sites account for greater than 90% of the DFS market share. The two behemoths offer contests in far larger varieties of sports. 

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While both DraftKings and FanDuel exact rakes that range between 10% and 16%, in contrast to the rake-free contests offered by FantasyDraft, at present, they can get away with that due to the large, life-altering payouts that they can offer. 

The COVID pandemic has also accentuated the limited sports offerings of FantasyDraft. Throughout March, April, and May, I could play eSports, and Korean Baseball on FanDuel and DraftKings, while no such options existed on FantasyDraft.

In March, I knew nothing about CS:GO and League of Legends; however, I have since become an expert, as for months, they were the only games in town.

If playing “fringe” sports, such as NASCAR, eSports, Korean Baseball, and many others light your fire, or you desire to challenge the best DFS players in the world for insanely enormous payouts, I would definitely hop on over to DraftKings or FanDuel. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion

If things do not go as planned, one finishes 30th and begrudgingly accepts the $20 consolation prize, while spending the remainder of the night pondering what might have been.

Win or lose, the adrenaline rush, the heightened levels of anxiety, and the raw emotion reverberating throughout one’s body is indescribable by mere words.

That, my friends, is why we play.

DFS contests, such as those offered on FantasyDraft, possess myriad advantages over season-long fantasy contests: the ability to draft new teams and compete every single day, the opportunity to win large sums of money with regularity, and avoidance of the daily grind of managing your year-long fantasy team. 

Let’s be real. The best parts of fantasy competitions are drafting your team and winning the prize money. In season-long games, you engage in each of the aforementioned high points only twice a season.

On DFS sites, such as FantasyDraft, you can draft and earn prize money multiple times in a single day! Who could ask for anything more!

Lastly, if you decide to compete on FantasyDraft, you can engage in rake-free competitions while simultaneously fattening your piggy bank through their 6 Degrees of Pay referral program.

Despite currently running a distant third behind DraftKings and FanDuel, FantasyDraft offers some outstanding features that one day could propel their disruption of the current duopoly maintained by DraftKings and FanDuel.

My overall rating for FantasyDraft is a 4.5/5

I encourage DFS players of all levels, including those unacquainted with DFS, to click the link and visit FantasyDraft.

Resources:

[1] “‎FantasyDraft: Fantasy Sports on the App Store.” https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fantasydraft-fantasy-sports/id1132713520. Accessed 17 Jun. 2020.
[2] “Fantasy Golf: Play FREE on DraftKings.” https://www.draftkings.com/fantasy-golf. Accessed 20 Jun. 2020.
[3] “Contest Lobby – FantasyDraft.” https://www.fantasydraft.com/contests/. Accessed 20 Jun. 2020.
[4] “What is Rake? | FantasyDraft.” https://page.fantasydraft.com/landing/what-is-rake/. Accessed 20 Jun. 2020.
[5] “Jeremy Roenick on 6 Degrees of Pay – YouTube.” 20 Jan. 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2LKrbGhGIc. Accessed 20 Jun. 2020.
[6] “Drafting an NFL lineup – FantasyDraft Locker Room.” 21 Aug. 2015, https://lockerroom.fantasydraft.com/2015/08/21/drafting-nfl-lineup/. Accessed 21 Jun. 2020.
[7] “Scoring & Rules – FantasyDraft.” https://www.fantasydraft.com/help-center/scoring-and-rules. Accessed 20 Jun. 2020.
[8] “Contest Types – FantasyDraft.” https://www.fantasydraft.com/help-center/contest-types. Accessed 20 Jun. 2020.
[9] “Fantasydraft : dfsports – Reddit.” https://www.reddit.com/r/dfsports/comments/5jtfyx/fantasydraft/. Accessed 20 Jun. 2020.
[10] “FantasyCash – FantasyDraft Locker Room.” 17 Jun. 2015, https://lockerroom.fantasydraft.com/Glossary/fantasycash/. Accessed 21 Jun. 2020.