Table of Contents
Have you never been able to get into the world of fantasy sports, but want to try? Then the underdog-style fantasy sports league is made for you. It has easy formats. You draft once and you’re done, through the biggest game slates. If you don’t have much experience with these formats, try your hand at low-variant contests and focus on the roles, minutes, and form of players, not their names. Our guide, however, will lead you through what the formats are, tell you the essential things you need to know to start playing in 10 minutes, and give you some extremely basic beginner strategies for the NFL, NBA, and MLB.
What are Underdog-Style Fantasy Formats?
You can play all season without worrying about your roster, or you can play shorter one-day games and invite all your friends. Here are a few examples of what you can find.
1. Best Ball (draft and forget)
How it works: You pick a roster before the start of the season (or tournament). Your highest scoring lineup is automatically entered into your lineup each week out of your roster — no trades, no waivers, no start/sit conundrums.
Why it’s good for beginners: One draft and you get to enjoy the season. You gain an understanding of roles and volume (RB carries, WR targets, NBA minutes) and are freed from weekly moves.
Fast strategy: Wait till deep in your draft, and watch bye weeks to make sure you have at least one live body in your lineup each round.
2. Higher/lower Player Lines (daily Picks)
How it works: For each slate, you are just picking whether a player will go over or under a given stat line (points, yards, rebounds, etc.).
What new players love about it: It’s faster, there’s no drafting, and you can play any night.
Quick tip: Start with small slips, and allow the signals to guide you: recent usage, pace of play, injury, and weather.
3. Swiss (Single Battle and Drafts)
How it works: Quick, tiny‑lobby drafts for a single slate. You can put together a one-day mini-team that scores only that one day.
Why novices play it: If you’re new to the game and love drafting (and who doesn’t love drafting?), there’s no season-long commitment, and the game is played the same day as your draft.
Quick tip: Note game slate conditions (high totals, up-tempo), and draft values, not players.
4. Private Leagues With Friends
How it works: Compete in or practice rounds in person, and discover if you have what it takes to practice in a pressure, relaxed environment.
Why it is good for newbies: You can ask questions, learn the systems others are using, and get a sense of the rules.
Getting Started in Underdog Fantasy
You don’t have to mess with a bunch of things to start a game. And here’s what you can do before your next game, in a few minutes.
Location and Accounts Rules
Sign up and check your email. Check home address and age. Some competitions are US only (their prizes); otherwise, you will need to give my app/site location access.
Tip: Make sure to check the contests available in your area when signing up for Underdog Fantasy, or you’ll devise a strategy format you can’t play in your state later.
Bankroll and Limits
Set up a budget for yourself that you’re comfortable with (maybe $20). And write the result in your doodled note. What kind of competition, how big an entry, why you made it that way, etc.
Conclusion
Underdog fantasy is a simple and fun style format. Best Ball will give you the season vibe without all the design, Daily Picks takes the higher/lower without waiting, for even quicker action, get in on some Quick Drafts. Start by taking baby steps you can replicate, think roles and minutes over headlines and big names, and get used to the idea that you should have a quick process in place to make calls.