DFS Football 101: How to Build a Cash Games Lineup

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Updated on October 3, 2014 12:34AM EST

There are a lot of buzz words in daily fantasy sports and two of the most commonly used terms are "cash game(s)" and "GPP (guaranteed prize pool)". I try to stay away from using the term GPP if I know the audience might be mostly new players. Most people can relate to when you say tournament, which is the best way to explain a GPP. Then I explain to them that a "cash game" is a contest in which your win rate is 50 percent. "Cash games" consist of head-to-head and 50/50 contests – double ups. This week, we take a look at how to build a "cash game" lineup.

Definition of Cash Game Players

You want the players with the best "floor", meaning they are consistent week in, week out. While the players may not have the high upside/ceiling you would target in tournament play, they put up consistent points every week and give you the best chance of cashing.

Here are some characteristics of a player to target for cash games (based on weekly projections):

1. Quarterback in the Top Ten
2. Running back in the Top 12
3. Wide receiver in the Top 24
4. Tight end in the Top Five
5. Kicker in the Top Five
6. Defense in the Top Five

Also, when you factor in the salaries, you do not want to dip too far down the list unless there is a significant error in pricing that in is your favor. Unless you are pairing Peyton Manning with Julius Thomas or Drew Brees with Jimmy Graham, you will have to save salary at tight end, kicker and/or defense to fit players in.

Using FanDuel salaries and scoring from Week 5, lets define the "cash game" players for this week along with Rotowire's Value Meter. With 0.5 PPR scoring and three receivers needed for a starting lineup, I find that you need to look for value at wide receiver on FanDuel. You can also try to find value at one running back spot, but keep in mind you only start two at the position.

QB – Andrew Luck ($10000), Peyton Manning ($9800), Drew Brees ($9100), Phillip Rivers ($8900), Matthew Stafford ($8800), Matt Ryan ($8500), Ben Roethlisberger ($8300), Colin Kaepernick ($7800), Russell Wilson ($8300), Jay Cutler ($7700)

Brees, Rivers and Big Ben stand out the most here based on salary and matchup/

RB – Le'Veon Bell ($8600), DeMarco Murray ($9000), Giovani Bernard ($8800), Matt Forte ($8700), Marshawn Lynch ($9100), Jamaal Charles ($8400), Rashad Jennings ($7200), Lesean McCoy ($8300), Andre Ellington ($6800), Reggie Bush ($7000), Arian Foster ($7900), Monte Ball ($7500)

Jennings, Ellington, Bush and Ball are the best values.

WR – Antonio Brown ($9000), Julio Jones ($8800), Calvin Johnson ($8900), Dez Bryant ($8900), A.J. Green ($8500), Demaryius Thomas ($8600), Steve Smith ($7200), Keenan Allen ($7000), Jeremy Maclin ($7600), Alshon Jeffery ($7500), Julian Edelman ($7400), Kelvin Benjamin ($7100), Brandon Marshall ($8100), Victor Cruz ($7000), Emmanuel Sanders ($8000), Andre Johnson ($6700), Vincent Jackson ($6700), Michael Floyd ($6400), Roddy White ($7200), Percy Harvin ($7600), Golden Tate ($6300), DeAndre Hopkins ($6900), Michael Crabtree ($6700), T.Y. Hilton ($6700)

I like to stay in the $7000-$8000 range and get three WR about the same value. Also, I look for true No. 1 guys if possible.

Smith, Allen, Maclin, Jeffrey, Edelman, Benjamin and Cruz are the players to target.

TE – Jimmy Graham ($7900), Martellus Bennett ($7300), Julius Thomas ($8000), Larry Donnell ($6200), Travis Kelce ($5300)
r> Kelce and Donnell are the plays for me here.

Kicker – Dan Bailey ($5500), Adam Vinatieri ($5500), Steven Hauschka ($5200), Cody Parkey ($4900), Shayne Graham ($4500)

Graham and Parkey are the plays at kicker.

Defense – Seahawks ($5500), Chargers ($5400), Lions ($4800), Steelers ($5400), Broncos ($5100)

I'm going with the Lions here - they are at home, favored by at least seven points, with total over/under of 43.5 points.

Now let's see about building lineups based on this player pool. I'm looking for the best "values" based on salary and projection.

Lineup 1 (Rivers/Allen combo, more balanced team)

QB - Philip Rivers, $8900 (at home, favored, weak Jets pass defense, lack of run game)
RB - Rashad Jennings, $7200 (at home, favored, weak Falcons run defense)
RB - Reggie Bush, $7000 (at home, on turf, favored, no Joique Bell)
WR - Keenan Allen, $7000 (at home, favored, weak Jets pass defense, lack of run game, pair with Rivers)
WR - Jeremy Maclin, $7600 (at home, favored, high total, No. 1 wideout for Eagles)
WR - Kelvin Benjamin, $7100 (at home, favored, No. 1 wideout for Panthers, lack of run game)
TE - Travis Kelce $5300 (No. 1 option in passing offense last week)
K - Cody Parkey $4900 (at home, favored, high total)
D - Detroit Lions $4800 (at home, favored, total 43.5)

Total - $59,800/$60,000

Lineup 2

QB - Ben Roethlisberger, $8300
RB - DeMarco Murray, $9000
RB - Andre Ellington $6800
WR - Andre Johnson $6700
WR - Vincent Jackson $6700
WR - Victor Cruz $7000
TE - Larry Donnell $6200
K - Shayne Graham $4500
D - Detroit Lions $4800

Total $60,000/$60,000

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Michael Rathburn plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: burnnotice, DraftKings: burnnotice, Yahoo: burnnotice, Fantasy Aces: burnnotice, FantasyDraft: burnnotice.