DraftKings vs. FanDuel: NFL Scoring and Roster Differences

DraftKings and FanDuel look almost identical at first glance: same nine classic roster spots, same positions, same games. But small scoring differences change which players are most valuable, and a lineup that is well built for one site is not always well built for the other.

This article covers the differences that matter most for NFL. Scoring systems do get updated, so treat the official scoring page on each site as the final word.

Receptions: full PPR vs. half PPR

The single biggest difference is how receptions are scored. DraftKings awards one full point per reception (full PPR). FanDuel awards half a point per reception (half PPR).

That gap shifts value. On DraftKings, a pass-catching running back who sees eight targets can post a solid score without a touchdown, because the catches alone add up. On FanDuel, that same player needs more yardage or a touchdown to reach the same value. In general, high-volume receivers and receiving backs gain value on DraftKings, while players whose scoring depends on touchdowns and big plays hold relatively more value on FanDuel.

Yardage bonuses

DraftKings pays bonus points for big yardage games: 3 extra points for 300 or more passing yards, 100 or more rushing yards, or 100 or more receiving yards. These bonuses reward players with the upside for a huge game, not just a solid one.

FanDuel historically had no yardage bonuses, but has added them in recent seasons. Check the current scoring page for the thresholds. Either way, the bonuses are a reminder that tournament scoring is driven by ceiling outcomes, not average ones.

Turnovers

Both sites subtract points for interceptions thrown and fumbles lost, but the penalties are not identical. FanDuel's fumble penalty is larger than DraftKings'. A turnover-prone quarterback or running back carries slightly more downside on FanDuel.

Salary caps and pricing

DraftKings uses a $50,000 cap and FanDuel uses $60,000. Because each site prices players for its own cap, you cannot compare a $6,000 player on one site with a $6,000 player on the other. Compare relative cost instead: how a player is priced against others at their position on the same slate, and what share of the cap they take up.

The two sites also set prices independently, so the same player can be relatively cheap on one site and relatively expensive on the other in the same week. Finding those mismatches is one of the simplest edges in DFS, and it's a good reason to build lineups for each site separately rather than copying one into the other.

Single-game formats

On DraftKings showdown, the Captain costs 1.5 times their normal salary and scores 1.5 times their points. On FanDuel's single-game format, the MVP slot scores 1.5 times their points. Whether a premium slot costs more salary changes how you build. Where the multiplier comes with no extra cost, putting your highest-scoring candidate there costs nothing. Where it costs 1.5 times salary, a cheaper player in the Captain spot can free up money for the rest of the lineup.

Putting it into practice

• Build separate projections for each site rather than converting one into the other. Reception-heavy players gain value on DraftKings.
• Compare pricing within each site, not across sites.
• Pay attention to how the bonuses and turnover penalties change each player's range of outcomes, especially quarterbacks.
• Re-check each site's scoring rules at the start of every season. Small changes add up.