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FantasyLabs is a daily fantasy sports analytic platform that provides DFS players with the tools and data to construct profitable DFS lineups. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, and founded in 2015, The Action Network acquired FantasyLabs in October 2017.[1]
Wondering if FantasyLabs is the right DFS research tool for you? This FantasyLabs review takes a deep dive into the product and illuminates its strengths, weaknesses, and what you need to think about before investing your hard-earned money.
An Overview of FantasyLabs
Key specifications:
- Price plan: $59.95 per month with $15.95 five-day trial.
- Game coverage: in-depth tools for NFL, NBA, PGA, NHL, and MLB.
- Tools Suite: lineup builder, lineup optimizer, player models, and trends research tool.
- Accepted payments: Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, Discover, and PayPal.
To ease the substantial time investments required for profitable DFS enjoyment, multiple companies have created DFS research tools and lineup optimizers that generate viable lineups in ten minutes as opposed to 3 hours.
FantasyLabs is an extremely comprehensive set of tools. While you could create your DFS lineups in ten minutes, such a nominal time investment would permit only a submaximal interaction with all the tools that they provide.
At present, you can sign up for a five-day trial of complete access to FantasyLabs for just $15.95. Upon expiration of the trial period, assuming the trial is not canceled, users are billed monthly at a rate of $59.95. There are no sport-specific packages, as it is an all-or-nothing deal. $59.95 supplies access to all features for NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and PGA.
It is worth mentioning that in this age of COVID-19, FantasyLabs is providing support, although at a far inferior level than for the five major sports listed above, for NASCAR, MMA, and eSports. However, it is certainly a fair question to consider if the coverage of such “fringe” sports will continue upon the return of our major sports leagues.
PROS
CONS
Founders of FantasyLabs
FantasyLabs lists five co-founders, three of which are business and software entrepreneurs, while the remaining two are hugely successful DFS players. While acknowledging the collaborative efforts of all five co-founders, I will focus on the credentials of the two co-founders whose names resonate across the DFS community:
Peter Jennings[2]
- Known as CSURAM88.
- DraftKings analyst.
- Two-time world champion in DFS.
- Cashed in on the first six-figure prize in 2012 when he won the FFFC for $150k, as well as $1 million in the first DraftKings live event in the Bahamas.
- Over $20 million in gross lifetime earnings.
Jonathan Bales[3]
- DraftKings analyst.
- Author of the Fantasy Sports for Smart People book series.
- Featured in the New York Times, NBC, ABC, and numerous fantasy sports sites.
- Finalist for the FSWA’s Fantasy Football Series of the Year award.
Who Should be Using FantasyLabs?
All DFS research products address one of two issues facing DFS players: the laborious preparation of lineup entries, and the consistent diminution of one’s bankroll due to poor DFS performance. The former is often the preeminent concern of inexperienced players, while the latter is the preponderant concern of advanced players.
The product that I am reviewing today, FantasyLabs, is a comprehensive, data-driven suite designed for advanced DFS players. It is not intended for the rapid creation of many lineups while forgoing the lengthy research process.
For the effective utilization of all the data and tools provided by FantasyLabs and the formulation of the best possible lineups, one should expect to devote at least two hours to pre-contest research.
However, the proper use of the product should ensure that all advanced DFS players who soundly invest their time will experience improved DFS outcomes.
DFS neophytes should find an alternative product, such as the recently reviewed Draft Dashboard, as they will be overwhelmed by the expansive volume of tools and data provided by FantasyLabs.
Features and Benefits
Mobile App
Mobile apps are available for both iOS and Android and are great for those who cannot sit in front of the computer all day, yet still desire access to the robust set of tools. Unfortunately, there is so much information to peruse on the site that I found it inconvenient to view it on the small screen of my iPhone. I found that the mobile apps function far better on a tablet.
Sports Included
FantasyLabs has many sports namely NFL, NHL, NBA, MBA, and PGA.
FantasyLabs Toolset
#1 Lineup Builder and optimizer
An incredibly versatile tool, you can create many lineups based on the ratings derived from the player models, which I will address shortly.
You can “like” individual players, and those players will be placed in your player pool, ensuring that your lineups only include players that you are confident will perform well. The lineups that you then create can also be optimized.
In addition, you can set the minimum, and maximum exposures for all players included in your pool of players. Creating over 100 lineups containing only players that I selected was a seamless endeavor.
#2 Player Models
The Player Models are the centerpiece of the FantasyLabs tool suite. Models are available for the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and PGA, while supporting DraftKings, FanDuel, Yahoo, and FantasyDraft. We also have an exclusive comparison of the two DFS giants DraftKings and FanDuel.
FantasyLabs’ player models factor in an astonishing quantity of real-time data, from weather conditions, the spread, past performances, recent performances, player health, referees, to name a few.
This real-time, constantly-updating data is used to determine median projections for all players involved in the slate of contests.
To illustrate the abundance of data that FantasyLabs can factor into the projections created by the player models, I have included screenshots that elucidate the information that FantasyLabs accounts for:
Additionally, different models are used to create the best possible lineups according to the nature of the contests that you are playing. For example, the top-rated players in a model intended for cash contests, are rarely the top-rated players in a model designed for large GPP tournaments.
For GPP tournaments, the model assigns higher ratings to players with higher ceilings, whereas for cash contests, the model assigns higher ratings to players with higher floors.
It logically follows that the ratings assigned to one player will be different depending on the model used. For instance, an NBA player who might explode for fifty points occasionally, but typically scores five points per game, will receive a high rating in the GPP model that values a player’s ceiling performance.
However, that same player will receive an abysmal rating in the cash model that evaluates a player’s consistent floor performance.
Player Models Created by Experts
The “PRO Models” shown above are included with your subscription. They already have the weights assigned to specific categories of data, ensuring each model is best adapted for the contest intended. For example, the “Pro Model” for NFL cash games easily assigns its 100 points:
Other models generate different outputs by altering the point totals assigned to the different categories.
User-designed Models
FantasyLabs allows each user to create his/her models by assigning 100 points among any categories and in any proportion desired. The real-time data kept by FantasyLabs is adjusted based upon the allocation of those 100 points in the model, to generate entirely new sets of player ratings.
This feature is the essence of control!
FantasyLabs enables you to see how close your new model approximates the fantasy points produced by a given player, as it keeps historical stats from previous slates. You can keep tweaking your model until the player scores that it predicts are very close to the scores produced.
Granted, this takes much work and time; however, I truly enjoyed experimenting with this feature, and it is certainly worth the price of admission.
#3 Player Props
Available with the PRO membership tier, the Player Props tool is not a DFS application, but rather a sportsbook aid.
The Player Props tool identifies opportunities to beat the sportsbooks on player prop inefficiencies. It is currently available for the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL.
FantasyLabs pulls prop odds from numerous books around the market and calculates the implied total based on the over/under and juice offered. They compare those implied odds to their projections and calculate the differences to find the most substantial edges available.
The ‘Bet Quality’ number highlighted in green is based on the percentage difference. You’ll generally be looking to bet on the highest bet quality choices at the top of the page[4].
As a DFS player who does not gamble, I did not experience this feature firsthand; however, I can certainly imagine its value.
#4 Trends Research Tool
The trends research tool allows the user to identify correlations between particular variables and player performances, enabling the discovery of profitable scenarios that are not baked into a player’s salary.
I created a query using the Trends Research tool to see how hitters priced between 5K and 5.5K on DraftKings perform in games in which their teams have a run total between 5.5 and 6.5.
FantasyLabs runs the algorithm and identifies the number of occasions that match the criteria, the average expected fantasy point production for players in that price range, regardless of team run total, the average fantasy point production for players in that price range and whose teams were expected to score 5.5 to 6.5 runs, and the increase or decrease in player fantasy scores in the new environment. In this case, there was an increase of 1.06 fantasy points per game.
As a statistics freak, I found this tool fascinating. Additionally, it can assist you in finding those extra few points that often decide big-money tournaments.[5]
#5 Premium Content
The lineup optimizer, the trends research tool, and the player models are located behind the $59.95 paywall.[6]
What are People Saying About FantasyLabs?
I scoured the internet and found some very positive reviews about the product.[7] See them below:
I must concur with the first two comments about the infinite quantity of tools available, and the need to dedicate a few hours per day to reap the benefits of your $60 investment.
FantasyLabs Alternatives
Let’s see how three similar alternatives compare to FantasyLabs: FantasyPros, Daily Fantasy Nerd, and Draft Dashboard.
FantasyPros
While FantasyPros does provide some excellent tools, it is more appropriate for season-long fantasy leagues.
They do provide limited DFS support, with a lineup optimizer, and the ability to review your past DFS results; however, these features are only available at the most expensive HOF level of membership.
Yearly membership for FantasyPros HOF package costs around $95; however, if you are solely a DFS player, I would seek other options. Read a comprehensive review of Fantasy Pros here.
Daily Fantasy Nerd
Daily Fantasy Nerd is designed with the DFS user in mind. They have three levels of membership, after a 7-day free trial.
All plans enable access to their tools in the four major sports: NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA. The veteran plan only allows for ten lineup optimizations and just one DFS site. Upgrading to the MVP plan provides a level of service most similar to that of FantasyLabs.
Although $20 more expensive than a subscription to FantasyLabs, Daily Fantasy Nerd’s MVP plan appears to offer nothing different.
If you are a DFS player who has an affinity for money, I would find an alternative product. Read of Daily Fantasy Nerd in this review.
Draft Dashboard
Draft Dashboard is a multi-sport DFS research suite that I recently reviewed. Please check out my review to learn more about this impressive site.
The cost of the first month’s subscription is $1, with each additional month, billed at $39.95.
The data and tools are more than adequate, and the visuals are very pleasing. A significant quantity of information is provided to enable the user to create profitable DFS lineups with minimal time investment.
Of course, it lacks the comprehensive data and tools provided by FantasyLabs; however, it targets a different audience.
FantasyLabs is for the advanced DFS player, while Draft Dashboard is more suited to the novice or intermediate player. If you are beginning participation in DFS, you will find few products better than Draft Dashboard, and I encourage you to give them a try.
Read here for more Draft Dashboard details.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Conclusion
DFS contests are exciting and enjoyable. However, two-hour investments in preparation that result in the consistent and significant depletion of your bankroll remove any joy from DFS competitions.
Nonetheless, if you are willing to invest the time, the diminution in your bankroll is a problem that FantasyLabs can effectively address, restoring your fun in DFS participation.
If you are a player willing to devote the time and effort necessary to succeed at DFS and possess a competitive fire that rivals that of Michael Jordan, FantasyLabs will get you to your desired destination.
We also wrote a comprehensive review on Fantasy Football Nerd and Fantasy Alarm. Check them out for more details.
For those players possessing a fire to dominate DFS and willing to invest as much time as necessary, FantasyLabs is your ticket to DFS immortality. For those individuals, my rating of FantasyLabs is a 4.5/5.
Resources:
[1] “FantasyLabs | Crunchbase.” https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/fantasy-labs. Accessed 13 Jun. 2020.
[2] “Peter Jennings – Co-Founder @ FantasyLabs | Crunchbase.” https://www.crunchbase.com/person/peter-jennings-3. Accessed 12 Jun. 2020.
[3] “Jonathan Bales – Co-Founder @ FantasyLabs | Crunchbase.” https://www.crunchbase.com/person/jonathan-bales. Accessed 12 Jun. 2020.
[4] “How to use the Player Props Tool – FantasyLabs Support.” 12 Nov. 2019, https://fantasylabs.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360035579712-How-to-use-the-Player-Props-Tool. Accessed 13 Jun. 2020.
[5] “MLB Trends | FantasyLabs.” https://www.fantasylabs.com/mlb/trends/all/. Accessed 12 Jun. 2020.
[6] “Plan Options – FantasyLabs Support.” 21 Feb. 2020, https://fantasylabs.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/214942218-Plan-Options. Accessed 12 Jun. 2020.
[7] “Is fantasylabs worth it? – RotoGrinders.” https://rotogrinders.com/threads/is-fantasylabs-worth-it-1320630. Accessed 12 Jun. 2020.
[8] “Company | FantasyLabs.” https://www.fantasylabs.com/about/. Accessed 12 Jun. 2020.
