Daily fantasy is the fastest-growing sector of fantasy sports and football is, by far, the most rapidly-expanding sport within the industry. The lure of simplistic salary-based lineups and potentially life-changing prize pools continues to attract new customers and is yielding double-digit growth to sites like FanDuel and DraftKings. As NFL Opening Weekend approaches, the FootballGuys decided to reach out to some of the most successful players in the daily space to pick their brains, to see through their eyes, and to get a feel for some of the thought processes that differentiate successful players from those who continually make weekly redeposits. This series will include some of the heaviest hitters in the industry, all of whom share insight into their own success.
In today’s installment, we converse with Drew Dinkmeyer, a 32-year old Floridian better known as “Dinkpiece” across the industry (and “Dink” to his Twitter followers). Dink is currently ranked 12th overall amongst NFL daily players and is the 4th best daily fantasy player in the world as ranked by RotoGrinders.com. His success has been profiled in the Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, and Business Week, among others. Drew currently writes daily content for RotoExperts and you can become one of his 5000+ Twitter followers at https://twitter.com/DrewDinkmeyer.
Given Name: James Drew Dinkmeyer
Daily Alias(es): Dinkpiece
Age: 32
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Occupation: Daily Fantasy Player/Content Provider
Twitter Handle: @DrewDinkmeyer
In your opinion, how does daily fantasy football compare to season-long fantasy football? Pros? Cons?
I think there are a lot more similarities between daily and seasonal fantasy football than any other sport. In its essence seasonal fantasy football is a week-to-week game as you're evaluating matchups and making roster decisions. Daily is really the same. The pros for daily include 1) the ability to redraft each week 2) injuries can't entirely derail your season 3) time commitment is significantly less (no waivers, trades, etc.) while the benefits for seasonal leagues are largely the ability to lock in profits on undervalued guys. In daily the price will keep adjusting throughout the season but in seasonal if you get a bargain on draft day you reap the rewards all season.
There are a number of daily sites available for players. Where do you play and why do you choose to play there?
I play primarily on DraftKings and FanDuel but will also mix in games on DraftDay, StarStreet, and FantasyElite. DraftKings and FanDuel have the biggest liquidity which is essential for someone trying to make a living playing. The other sites have really unique game structures or contests that will draw me in.
There are a number of game types (H2H, matrix, 50/50, 3-man, 5-man, 10-man, GPP, etc.) on these sites; which of these do you most prefer and why?
I'm primarily a cash game player so the majority of my money will be invested in H2H, 3-man, 50/50, double up, and triple up games. These are games where I have a higher percentage of cashing than large field tournaments. I will mix in large field tournaments every night but it’s a much smaller percentage of the money I'm investing.
For people thinking of trying daily fantasy for the first time, what type(s) of games would you recommend?
First and foremost I'd recommend free games. It's a great way to introduce yourself to the game and get used to scoring, roster construction, salary structure, etc. All the sites offer some free games or freerolls for new players. Once you decide to deposit I'd focus the majority of your money in large field 50/50 or double up games. These give you the best chance at cashing as you just have to finish in the top half of the field.
What is the single biggest mistake a new player can make when entering the daily world?
A couple jump to mind. Bankroll management is typically a nightmare for new players. They deposit and play all the money right away. If they win they play all the money again the next night. Eventually you'll lose and the habit of re-depositing can leave you with a negative experience. New players also often get lured in by the appeal of big prize pools and end up ONLY playing tournaments. Tournaments are really hard to cash in and can have a similar effect in discouraging players.
Sourcing information is a key component in ensuring that you roster guys in optimal situations (i.e., weekly projections, health status, starter versus bench, player value, etc.); where do you go to obtain the most reliable information?
I use a lot of different resources, but Twitter is probably my most valuable resource. It's a one stop shopping market for information and you can customize it however you'd like.
While we can't expect you to share EVERY secret you have with regards to being a winning player, what 1 or 2 thing(s) do you think are absolutely essential for becoming a successful player in the daily space?
Bankroll management and being unemotional about the results. Even a winning player is losing quite a bit so you have to have the right temperament and approach to be successful.
You have met and/or have personal relationships with quite a few guys who are very successful at daily fantasy--what do these players all have in common, if anything?
I think some of the common themes that emerge are people who are analytically inclined. Ultimately it's a game of numbers and those who emerge as top players tend to be very comfortable analyzing data and understanding variance.
Who are the daily players you try to avoid when playing H2H games? If you're not necessarily avoiding anybody, what names do you most respect in the football space?
I don't try to avoid anyone in particularly but I'm certainly not going out of my way to pickup games from other top players. There are many and I'd probably do more harm by trying to list them and forgetting someone.
Many of the more successful daily players come from a poker background, where bankroll management is absolutely essential for long-term success. What are your rules for effective bankroll management?
My general rules are pretty straightforward. Never play more than you're comfortable losing. Try to limit exposure of your bankroll to no more than 5-10% on a given event. Play a larger percentage of your invested capital on a given night in cash games.
Can you briefly describe your weekly routine, in terms of preparation for daily contests, for a typical Sunday in the NFL?
Much of my preparation is tied to the content we provide at RotoExperts in our subscriber package called The Daily Fantasy Rundown. Early in the week I evaluate opportunity data (targets, red zone targets, red zone carries, average depth of target, etc.) and Vegas lines. All of this is to start getting an idea of which players are in prime position to capitalize on favorable matchups. From there I begin working on our site specific cheat sheets and evaluating pricing at the individual sites. As the week goes on I just try to stay up on the practice reports and the injury report and make adjustments to opportunity projections based on it.
Roster construction for tournaments versus 'cash' games are quite different; what is your #1 piece of advice for a person constructing each type of lineup?
Cash games should focus on a higher floor, while tournaments should focus on ceiling and not worry about floor. In tournaments it makes sense to try to leverage your roster by pairing players who might benefit together.
A question often asked by beginners is, "How many different rosters should I be making for my H2H games?" What is your answer?
Play around with it and figure out what number you're comfortable with.
What about site-specific strategy? Are there factors that you consider when constructing lineups on FanDuel versus DraftKings?
Not really, it's all the same. Try to identify the best values based on pricing and site scoring.
The term 'variance' is thrown around quite a bit in daily circles, particularly in football. What is 'variance' and why should we be concerned with it on a weekly basis?
Variance is just a term to reference the volatility associated with results. In football if you get tackled at the 20 instead of the 19 yard line it's just 1 yard difference and 0.1 points (generally) but if you get tackled at the 1 yard line instead of the end zone it’s a 6.01 point difference. The same result, 1 less yard, has a huge difference in scoring and this creates variance. Other things do as well, a defensive back slipping resulting in a long TD instead of a short gain, a player getting injured in the first quarter, etc. It's why bankroll management is essential
Is there ever a time to 'pay up' for a kicker?
In tournaments it helps force you into unique lineups and lower owned players.
FanDuel's biggest event has always included a trip to Vegas for a live final event; last year, that event paid $1 million to the 1st place finisher. Have you been to a live final and, if so, how would you describe it?
Yes I've had the pleasure of being involved in a few live events. I'd describe it by emphasizing the camaraderie among people in the industry. It's a way I've met many people I consider close friends today. The pressure of the results and the experience watching games among competitors is unique and very cool but the relationships you can form at these events are priceless.
What is the future of daily fantasy football--where do you see it in 5 years?
I think the future core of daily fantasy football will largely be the same. I do think there will be some other game innovations that pop up and are popular, but I think daily fantasy football will largely be the same five years from now but with a much bigger audience, diverse user base, and bigger prize pools.
What is your favorite daily fantasy experience thus far?
Taking my dad to a live final at the Playboy Mansion. He's been a huge influence and role model in my life and being able to share that experience with him was the best experience so far.
Random Questions
What celebrity do you get mistaken for?
Barry Manilow, sadly.
Favorite movie of all time?
Rounders
Best music album of all time?
Shameful admission, I don't listen to music... I know it's weird
How did you choose your daily fantasy alias?
It was just the first thing that popped into my head. I was acting as a designated driver for a friend and his girlfriend in college and when I dropped off the girlfriend my friend didn't get into the front seat. In an inebriated state he yelled at me as if I was a chauffeur and said "Dinkpiece! Take me to FoodStop" and it kind of stuck.
You're on death row--what's your last meal request?
Filet Mignon, steamed broccoli, and Vermont cheddar mac and cheese.