ESports have been around for years. It’s easy to think of these as just video games, but eSports have been designed to be more similar to traditional sports in how they are played. They even have a strong element of fan appreciation, making them perfect for a fantasy platform.
So, now that sports like baseball and basketball have been delayed indefinitely because of the coronavirus, eSports have risen in popularity and importance. If you’ve never played fantasy eSports, now is a great time to get started. Here are a few pointers to get you going in the right direction.
Forming a Team
Teams are formed in a daily fantasy eSports league just like in a regular daily fantasy sports league. You are given a salary cap and a list of players to draft. You need to fill up your roster sports, all while staying below the cap that the site gives you. The goal is to squeeze the most amount of points out of your team with this restriction in place.
The same strategies that you used to develop your teams for other sports can be used to form your teams for eSports. Finding overlays when it comes to value can go a long way toward helping you to build the best team possible, regardless of the game that is being played. For example, let’s say that you are looking at League of Legends and you see that a player is priced at $8,000 and is expected to score 85 fantasy points per game. However, the team that he’s facing has a low jungle point production value and this team specializes in farming the jungle. Although $8,000 is kind of expensive at DraftKings, this player is highly likely to put up more than 85 points because of this seeming disparity. They have a lot of extra value that isn’t revealed in their price tag.
These overlays can be spotted and taken advantage of in fantasy eSports, just like you would want to draft a running QB against a team with a strong passing defense and a weak defensive line.
What Games Can I Play?
ESports are everywhere, it seems. League of Legends continues to be the big draw, but it’s certainly not the only one that you can get in on the action with. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Madden, and Rocket League are also growing in popularity on the eSports circuit. The more popular the game is, the more options you will see on your fantasy sports site of choice.
The variety of contests that you will be able to enter will also remain steady. Just like sites like DraftKings and FanDuel provided a selection of different fantasy events to choose from for other sports, you can find these variants in the world of eSports, too. You have head to head contests, 50/50s, tournaments, multipliers, and more. Depending on the popularity of the game, you will have a greater selection of contests and stakes to choose from.
Scoring will vary a bit from site to site, but overall, the scoring methods remain pretty similar from what we’ve come to expect with traditional sports. If you’re unsure of how scoring works, be sure to check this out before you finalize your team. Each site provides a rundown of how scoring works and any special considerations that you will want to keep in mind when drafting your teams.
One example of how this may differ is with the concept of Captains. At DraftKings, in some of the eSports leagues, you are allowed to choose a Captain. Any points that the Captain provides for your team are multiplied by 1.5 times. Choosing the right Captain to lead your team can mean the difference between finishing in the money and going home with a loss.
Final Consideration
Keep in mind that fantasy sports are not legal in all states at this point. Fantasy eSports are sometimes treated differently by the states, too. You might be able to play fantasy football where you’re located, but not fantasy League of Legends. Be sure to know and stick to the legal regulations that govern your area. Luckily, the reputable sites all take this into consideration when you’re trying to play. For example, if you aren’t allowed to play fantasy CS:GO where you’re located, DraftKings will have a popup screen block you from entering the contest.
Fantasy sports are a lot of fun, even if you aren’t all that familiar with the game. But like with traditional sports, daily fantasy eSports can help you to enjoy the games even more. If you’ve never watched a League of Legends stream, this is an awesome chance to get into it. Esports are growing in popularity all over the world and some high schools are even starting to put together competitive eSport teams because there’s such a huge demand for it. If you’re looking for a new sports alternative, now is the time to get involved. The more you learn about the games, the bigger the edge that you can create over your competition.
The post ESports DFS on a New Level first appeared on Win Daily Fantasy.