Daily fantasy lineup checklist: last 15 minutes before lock
In DFS, the biggest edge for most players is not a secret model—it is avoiding avoidable mistakes. This daily fantasy lineup checklist is designed for the last 15 minutes before lock, when news hits and small choices decide your night.
Daily fantasy lineup checklist: injury news and roles
Start with the basics: who is in, who is out, and who is limited. Late scratches are the easiest way to burn an entry, so your first job is confirmation.
Fast news steps
- Check confirmed starting goalies and top-line combinations.
- Review late injury notes and warmup updates.
- Re-check any player tagged as questionable before lock.
Minutes, lines and power play: what matters most
DFS points follow opportunity. A player can be talented, but if the role is small, the ceiling is limited. Focus on minutes, power play usage, and who shares the ice together.
- Top-line time increases floor and ceiling.
- Power play role is often the highest-value usage on the slate.
- Shot volume is one of the most repeatable signals.
Simple correlation (without overthinking)
If you play tournaments, stacking can help. Keep it simple: one line stack or a mini-stack, and don’t force it if the prices are bad.
Goalie choice: quick rules for daily fantasy
Goalies are high-variance, so you need a fast decision process. Your goal is to buy a good environment: win chance, shot quality against, and reasonable save volume.
- Prefer confirmed starters, not “probables,” when possible.
- In cash, avoid extreme underdogs unless price forces it.
- In tournaments, consider a contrarian goalie only if the matchup still has a path to a win.
Common goalie mistakes
- Picking only by “big name” and ignoring current team defense.
- Chasing last game’s shutout as if it predicts today.
Build rules: cash games vs tournaments
Use different rules depending on your goal. Cash lineups should be stable and boring. Tournament lineups can take controlled risks and use correlation.
| Mode | Priority | Typical approach |
|---|---|---|
| Cash | Floor | Reliable minutes, safer roles, fewer stacks |
| GPP | Ceiling | Stacks, leverage, and a few higher-variance plays |
Avoid tilt decisions
Don’t rebuild your lineup because one popular player got ruled out. Replace the role, not the name. If you can’t explain why a swap improves your lineup, don’t make it.
Final pass: the 60-second review
- All players active and expected to play?
- Any salary left that could upgrade a weak spot?
- Do you have accidental “one-off” players with no role?
- Does the lineup match your contest type (cash vs GPP)?
Related fantasy hockey guides
If you want better season-long results, start with the fantasy hockey draft blueprint. To improve weekly roster quality, use the waiver wire fantasy hockey routine. If goalie variance hurts you, read goalie management.
Author’s opinion: My best DFS nights come from doing the simple checks every time. This checklist won’t make you perfect, but it will stop most of the mistakes that quietly drain your bankroll.