The goal in GPP contests is clear: finish first. Achieving this requires lineups that are highly correlated, focusing on players who have the potential to perform exceptionally during the game.
Effective Stacking Strategies:
4/3/1 Stacks: Dominant across slates, this strategy involves pairing a center (C), two wingers (W), and a defenseman (D) from the same team to capture their combined scoring potential. On FanDuel, you can also consider a 4/4 stack if you can find two strong sets of C/W/W/D to combine.
3/3/X Stacks: This format is the second most profitable, with "X" representing two unrelated players or a secondary two-player stack. It is most effective in slates with five or more games.
DraftKings Exclusive Stacks: On smaller slates, consider 5/2/1 or 6/1/1 stacks, which are less common but can yield high rewards. These are best for capturing the upside in games where one team scores significantly.
Choosing One-off Players:
Defensemen make for the best one-off selections, often chosen based on their value due to injuries or increased power play time. Elite defensemen who shoot frequently and have high ice time are optimal. Analyze which defensemen get deployed for offensive zone faceoffs and those who have a chance to score or assist due to their playstyle.
Power Play and Line Matching:
Leverage teams with strong power play units, especially against opponents with weak penalty kills. Be wary of teams that employ line matching to counteract high-scoring lines, as this can reduce your lineup's scoring potential.
Goalie Selection:
Always align your goalie with your offensive stacks whenever possible. If salary constraints make this challenging, choose your goalie last, considering underdogs and lower-owned options to capitalize on volatility, particularly on DraftKings where there are bonuses for high save volumes.
Managing Projected Ownership:
While stacking is common, avoid highly owned combinations that increase the risk of duplicating lineups with other players. In larger slates or fields, leave some salary unused to maintain a unique lineup.
Salary Considerations:
Let your stack choices guide your salary allocation. It's possible to have a competitive lineup even when leaving a significant portion of your salary cap unused.
Mass Multi-Entry (MME) Strategy:
Select 3-6 teams focusing on top-line and power play correlated stacks. Keep your center pool tight, allowing wingers in your FLEX/UTILITY spots. Diversify your goalie selections and never play skaters against your own goalies to avoid counteracting points.
By adhering to these strategies, you're setting yourself up for a higher potential return on investment and climbing up the ranks in NHL DFS contests.
