If you think you have the chops to hang with this FanDuel veteran, check out this Tuesday’s $25 DFBC Qualifier! 

How long have you been playing fantasy baseball? 

Honestly, only since about three years ago after I started playing on FanDuel during the 2010 football season. I dabbled a bit with season-long fantasy when  I was younger, but I got into fantasy baseball with daily fantasy.

Sounds like you find daily fantasy more enjoyable than season-long fantasy.

I absolutely like it more, it’s much more enjoyable. I like the strategy that goes into it. I love making a different lineup every day. You have to know your stuff, and when you find a system that works, you stick with it. \

Have you ever won anything like this playing fantasy sports?

No. Never anything like this.

What was it like for you the night you won the qualifier?

This is going to sound lame, but I actually crashed early watching the Mets that night. I woke up early to take my son to practice, opened my computer with my coffee and nearly had heart failure when I saw the score! It was a great way to see the win. I had a feeling the Mets were going to light up Strasburg, and I was right.

Who were the most pivotal players on your roster?

Davis and Duda each hit two home runs in one game, the rest of my team was good too, but without them I wouldnt have won….so yeah.

How did you come up with your lineup that night?

It was just a feeling. My strategy is a little bit of everything. Checking weather, lineups, and vegas splits. I’ll say this: I won with two lineups in the $10 game, which had over 2,000 players. If you do your research, there’s no reason you can’t win.

Now that you have a seat, are you gunning for a second one? 

Yes I’ll go for a second. I’m not going to get greedy, but I’ll stick in an entry into the qualifiers here and there to see if I can win. I came in 13th this past Friday, so you never know!

If you happen to win that $200,000 grand prize, what would you do with the money?

Nothing too crazy – pay off some things, make some investments, and save. Should make life a bit easier going forward I think!

The post CMF1994 Heading for Vegas! appeared first on FanDuel Insider.

FanDuel Insider got the chance to peek into the mind of a $109 DFBC qualifier. Want to join Ray in Vegas? Check out our $25 DFBC Qualifier on Tuesday! 

How long have you been playing fantasy baseball?

I’ve been playing for about 10 years, but I’ve only been playing on FanDuel since the beginning of 2013 – about five months.

As a longtime regular fantasy veteran, how would you compare regular fantasy to daily fantasy?

They both have their appeal – but they’re completely different, so it is hard to rate one against the other. However, I definitely love daily for sure, it’s a really exciting game.

What was your experience like on the night of the qualifier? 

It was incredibly exciting, and it came down to the last at bat. I was having a down day outside of the qualifier, and I would have lost money on the day if not for the qualifier. The Mariners had to win for the pitcher points, and I had some Giants playing in extra innings, which definitely helped. Felix Hernandez was the big difference maker for my team.

Now that you have one seat in the DFBC, are you going to keep gunning for a second one? 

I’m  kind of scaling back a little bit right now, but once I win a few other tournaments I’m going to kick things into gear and try hard to win a second seat.

This is the fun question. If you win the $200,000 grand prize, do you have any special plans for the money? 

Oh yeah – I’m going to play a lot more on FanDuel! It’s all going to go back into my account. I’m trying to make a job out of this, so the more I win, the better.

The post SC2223 Qualifies for the DFBC! appeared first on FanDuel Insider.

Here we’ll take a look at a wild first round that began with two franchise-altering offensive tackles clogging the top two spots and ended with an unknown crop of potential stars. Throughout it all, one question remained – how did the 2013 first round change your fantasy draft strategy next season? Let’s take a look….

1. Kansas City Chiefs – Eric Fisher, OT Central Michigan
With tackle Brandon Albert on the move (no more?), repairing a porous offensive line was undoubtedly top priority. Central Michigan’s 6’7″ Eric Fisher fit that bill. Expect RB Jamaal Charles to dash past another 1,400 yards, Alex Smith to paint a solid 20-touchdown offensive masterpiece, and Dexter McCluster to score, score, score. Oh, and prepare yourself for plenty of smiles beneath that Andy Reid ‘stache.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars – Luke Joeckel, OT Texas A&M
An offense ranked 29th last year knew it couldn’t improve without adding bulk in the trenches…and add bulk they did. Standing powerfully at 6’6″ and 306 pounds, Joeckel’s strong run-blocking is sure to toss MJD back into the MVP talks. However, unless he can play quarterback, expect the Jaguars to be a league-worst passing offense.

3. Miami Dolphins (Trade with Oakland) – Dion Jordan, LB Oregon
With Miami transitioning to the 4-3 under new defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle, the Dolphins may be a fantasy defense primed for a flashy 2013 campaign. They certainly aren’t lacking in athletic presence. However, beware of Jordan, who only played 418 snaps last season. That’s 38 per game for all you statisticians out there…

4. Philadelphia Eagles – Lane Johnson, OT Oklahoma
Another 6’6″ mammoth doubling as an offensive tackle, fleet-footed Lane Johnson is an ideal candidate for the right side of Chip Kelly’s high-flying offense. A former high school quarterback, Johnson transitioned from backup QB at his junior college (for one season) to tight end, defensive end and finally right tackle during his first three seasons at Oklahoma. Prepare for a plethora of explosive screens.

5. Detroit Lions – Ezekiel Ansah, DE BYU
Three years after being introduced to the game of football, BYU end Ziggy Ansah seems ready to hoist the Lions franchise on his shoulders. After losing Avril and Vanden Bosch, Ansah’s all-or-nothing potential was unquestionably worth the risk.

6. Cleveland Browns – Barkevious Mingo, DE LSU
Simply put, you cannot teach a 4.5 40-yard dash at the linebacker position. Mingo and Kruger off the edges of Ray Horton’s blitz-happy 3-4 defense should prove a powerful tandem from the first snap of Week 1.

7. Arizona Cardinals – Jonathan Cooper, G North Carolina
Considering this unit rushed for a league-worst 1,204 yards last season, they essentially penciled Jonathan Cooper in at guard long before his name was called. Arizona expects the UNC product to keep Carson Palmer off crutches (and hopefully couches) and pave the way for forgotten tailback Rashard Mendenhall, who we predict may enjoy a comeback, 1,000-yard year.

8. St. Louis Rams (Trade with Buffalo) – Tavon Austin, WR West Virginia
With Chris Givens listed as their top target, the Rams were focused solely on a hands-man. For those who believe Sam Bradford can be a legend when surrounded by proper talent, the test is now. 5’8″ whirling dervish Tavon Austin goes from the draft’s only playmaker to the Rams’ most legitimate threat. Adding Jared Cook via free agency and Stedman Bailey in the third round (Austin’s teammate at WVU) will only improve the depth. Although keep in mind, Bradford finished with 6.7 YPA last season. He’ll need to stretch the field before we can expect top-tier production. Also, facing the Niners, Seahawks and Cardinals defenses six times may not help. Expect seven targets a game for Austin.

9. New York Jets – Dee Milliner, CB Alabama
Milliner island (too soon?) seems ready to step in and make Jets fans forget about (wait for it…) Kyle Wilson. Huh? That’s right! Forget losing Revis; having inept nickel-bound Wilson manning the No. 2 spot would’ve been nearly as nightmarish as giving Sanchez another shot at starting.

10. Tennessee Titans – Chance Warmack, G Alabama
Warmack, Andy Levitre, Rob Turner, Shonn Greene, 268-pound tight end Craig Stevens. New offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains is clearly looking for a heavy ground-and-pound with unpredictable jumbo packages. While it should be a bruising year in Tennessee, avoid Jake Locker (or perhaps Ryan Fitzpatrick?) at all costs!

11. San Diego Chargers – D.J. Fluker, OT Alabama
Even with Norv Turner gone, a once-prolific offense seems to be going nowhere as usual. Although while enormous D.J. Fluker may keep Philip Rivers peeling grass off his helmet all year long, it’s unlikely he can keep Ryan Matthews from marinating on injured reserve (as per usual). Choose San Diego’s unit at your own risk!

12. Oakland Raiders (Trade with Miami) – D.J. Hayden, CB Houston
Great player. No help. No pass rush. Can Terrelle Pryor play safety?

13. New York Jets – Sheldon Richardson, DT Missouri
Rumor has it Sheldon Richardson was a 275-pound punt returner in high school. He should provoke some intriguing fronts in New York this year.

14. Carolina Panthers – Star Lotulelei, DT Utah
The real winners here are tackling machines Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis. Kuechly should pile another dozen tackles to his 164-tackle rookie season, while Davis will have room to show off his elite speed in space. Lotulelei is known for clogging the middle and eating up blockers, something Carolina desperately needs.

15. New Orleans Saints – Kenny Vaccaro, S Texas
Turnovers, sacks, wreckage. Introducing Rob Ryan’s next experiment.

16. Buffalo Bills (Trade with Rams) – E.J. Manuel, QB Florida State
Very raw. However, expect to see him in Week 2 (after Kevin Kolb is steam-rolled by the Patriots in the season opener). It’ll be a bit too soon, as Manuel will finish with 2,100 pass yards; 325 rushing yards; 10:16 TD-to-INT split (but 6 rushing TDs as well).

17. Pittsburgh Steelers – Jarvis Jones, DE Georgia
With James Harrison bolting for Cincinnati, the Steelers needed an infusion of youth. While questions about Jarvis Jones’ true potential and his ability to disengage from blockers remain, he and Lamarr Woodley (beware of only 4 sacks last year) could form quite the gritty tandem.

18. San Francisco 49ers (Trade with Dallas) – Eric Reid, S LSU
Dashon Goldson gone, Eric Reid in. Expect plenty of hard hits from the Niners already dominant defensive backfield. The LSU center fielder had 14 passes defended in the last two seasons, and has been compared to another hard-hitting LSU alum; safety Laron Landry.

19. New York Giants – Justin Pugh, G  Syracuse
The big blue offense is pleased to have this versatile lineman Manning their front (pun intended). Coughlin loves versatility, and Pugh brings plenty of that to an already potent offense. David Wilson could be a fantasy legend this year.

20. Chicago Bears – Kyle Long, G Oregon
After signing Jermon Bushrod and Matt Slauson in free agency and drafting Howie Long’s youngest/heaviest son, the Bears finally seem ready to focus on offense. A healthy Forte should prove deadly for opposing defenses.

21. Cincinnati Bengals – Tyler Eifert, TE Notre Dame
Mimicking New England’s two tight-end set, Cincinnati now has Eiffert, Jermaine Gresham, A.J. Green, and a realistic chance.

22. Atlanta Falcons (Trade with St. Louis) – Desmond Trufant, CB Washington
A quick cornerback with solid technique, the youngest Trufant brother may end up being the most talented of the Trufant crop. The Washington product should be thrust into a starting role from the get go. Expect the pick-six to become an integral part of his game. IDP sleeper.

23. Minnesota Vikings – Sharrif Floyd, DT Florida
From projected third-overall pick to forgotten freefaller, 6’3″ Shariff Floyd should have no problem learning the gap-filling ropes from fellow linemen Kevin Williams and Jared Allen.

23. Indianapolis Colts – Bjoern Werner, DE Florida State                                                                           The perfect transition to a 3-4, this German end is relentless in every facet of the game. Compares similarly to Browns hybrid Paul Kruger, who was interestingly drafted by the Ravens and, you guessed it, current Colts coach and former Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano in 2009.

25. Minnesota Vikings – Xavier Rhodes, CB Florida State                                                                           After losing veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield to the Seahawks in free agency, the Vikings needed a young stud at the position. While this 6’1″ Seminole is powerful enough to match up with any NFL receiver, he is frustratingly inept when it comes to playing zone coverage. Beware!

26. Green Bay Packers – Datone Jones, DE UCLA
Adaptability is the name of the game, and this explosive lineman is the perfect fit for Green Bay’s 3-4 defense. Expect five sacks and a nonstop motor.

27. Houston Texans – DeAndre Hopkins, WR Clemson
A physical specimen at 214 pounds, Tajh Boyd’s No. 1 weapon (sorry Sammy Watkins!) rewrote the record books during his time at Clemson. A quality route-runner who attacks the ball at its highest point, Hopkins should flourish immediately starting Week 1.

28. Denver Broncos – Sylvester Williams, DT North Carolina
At 313 pounds, Williams projects as a nose/rotational tackle in Denver’s heavy interior line. The rich keep getting richer, as Denver may have the heaviest line on the planet.

29. Minnesota Vikings (Trade with New England) – Cordarrelle Patterson, WR Tennessee
While still very raw, Cordarrelle (that’s fun to say) should have a stat-filled rookie season returning kicks and breaking quick slants for inhuman touchdowns. Expect to see Harvin-esque production from Day 1, before the league catches on.

30. St. Louis Rams (Trade with Atlanta) – Alec Ogletree, LB Georgia
Another sleeper D is infused with young potential. Scouts have never questioned Ogletree’s athleticism, nor his top-tier coverage skills. Though they have questioned his tendency to overrun plays and inability to break off blocks. In the end, he should find himself with 80-tackle production playing the weakside alongside James Laurinaitis and Jo-Lonn Dunbar. Though beware, as this was a defense that gave up a 19th-best 342.6 YPG last year. That being said, it looks like GM Les Snead is almost finished building quite the defensive product in St. Louis.

31. Dallas Cowboys (Trade with San Francisco) – Travis Frederick, C Wisconsin
Nasty, relentless, a typical Wisconsin lineman. Oh and by the way, the 31st pick had a third-round grade.

32. Baltimore Ravens – Matt Elam, S Florida
After losing both Ed Reed and Bernard Pollard in free agency, safety was a dire need for Baltimore. Florida’s 5’10″ bullet plays like a Raven and should have no problem starting from day 1 in Dean Pees’ aggressive defense.

The post NFL Draft 2013 – the Fantasy Football Impact, Team by Team appeared first on FanDuel Insider.

How long have you been playing on FanDuel?

I created an account on FanDuel in August 2011 – that was actually my first experience with fantasy baseball. Season-long baseball is just way too tedious, so I never got into that. I’m more of a season long fantasy football player – I’ve been doing THAT for seven years.

So is it safe to say you prefer the daily fantasy format to season-long?

Oh for sure. A few buddies of mine tried season long baseball, and we all lost interest – it’s annoying being the only one to set your lineups after a while. Its nice to play on FanDuel and know your opponent is taking the game seriously every time.

What was your experience like the day you won your seat?

It was cool to win – the Saturday before, I came in second in the $109 qualifier. I had Kershaw going late in that game, I needed 1 more point from him and he screwed me over. Even though I lost, it was a lot more exciting than the actual win on Tuesday in the $25 game. Josh Hamilton would have had to get a home run on Tuesday to even make it close for the next guy –  nobody was even within 8 points of me when I won it that night, so I wasn’t exactly nervous.

Did you find that a specific strategy worked to your advantage while playing all of the different qualifiers?

The Tuesday and Friday qualifiers are much more difficult, because there are so many more players. Stacking used to be the way to go, but of course there is no more stacking. This time I had 4 or 5 entries in the $25 qualifier, and each one was a bunch of mini stacks, using the maximum number of players allowed from one team – those lineups are the only way to beat the large fields if you ask me.

Now that you have a seat, are you going to keep trying to win that second seat as allowed by the DFBC rules? 

Yeah – maybe not as hard as I tried for the first one, but I’m definitely gonna keep going for the second!

Have you got any plans for the $200,000 prize if you win the DFBC?

Probably not a whole lot – I’ll put most of it away. No big purchases. My wife doesn’t like her job, so I promised she wouldn’t have to work anymore. I’m not trying to blow it all  like most people who win a lot of money at once.

The post MrTuttle05 Joins the DFBC Finalists appeared first on FanDuel Insider.

We’ll see what he’s made of on August 3rd.

If you want your chance to get to Vegas, play in the Saturday DFBC qualifier tomorrow night! 

How long have you been playing on FanDuel?

I have used FanDuel for approximately two years.  At first, I just dabbled with random daily NBA. challenges.  Then I started to use FanDuel more when I became aware of the qualifier events that awareded seats to Las Vegas.  I tried several times last year to win a seat in the DFBC.

I believe I found FanDuel through an advertisement in a fantasy baseball draft prep magazine.  I also do a few annual fantasy sports leagues with friends, and they occasionally mention similar contests and challenges that are popular on the internet – FanDuel has come up.

Have you ever won anything like this playing fantasy sports?

I definitely have never won a fantasy sports event of this caliber.  I can hold my own in some of the leagues I do with my friends, but I view this victory as a rewarding and challenging success.

What is your approach to picking your team? Why did you go with the roster you had the night of the qualifier? Who was your most impactful player?

For DFBC qualifiier events, my approach has always been to center my team around players who are facing off against weaker pitchers.  For example, the first time I entered a daily challenge with a large entry pool, I noticed that Luke Hochevar was the opening day pitcher for the Royals.  At the time, Hochevar possessed an inflated E.R.A., so I thought opposing batters would destroy him.  My plan did not work that time.  During opening week this year, I immediately highlighted Jarrod Parker of the A’s as my vulnerable pitcher.  Although Oakland Coliseum is not known as a hitter’s park and Parker had success last year, I noticed that he had a rough spring training.  Intuition told me that Mariners’ hitters could do damage against him.  This is why I selected three Mariners for my roster:  Dustin Ackley, Kyle Seage, and Mike Morse.  I also felt that Yu Darvish had an elevated rank at the pitcher position that night.  Selecting Darvish facing off against the Astros was a no-brainer.  Although Darvish almost hurled a perfect game, I consider Mike Morse as my roster’s M.V.P. that evening.  My sister lives in Washington D.C., is a Nats’ fan, and has always backed Morse.  When my game was on the line, Morse delivered with an extra home-run that put me over the top.

How did you react when you realized you had won a seat to Las Vegas? Describe the night you won.

Uniquely, the night I won was also the last moment of my spring break.  I teach high-school and had to choose whether or not to stay awake and follow the stats or rest up for the first day back.  My team started off with average stats, but as Darvish and the Mariners’ hitters started to deliver, I began to see my team, Delancey Street, stay in the top 10.  On a side note, Delancey Street is the N.Y.C. subway stop where I get off at every morning to go to the high-school.  I actually did try to go to sleep with only a few innings remaining in any of the games.  But then I kept waking up to check my position.  When Morse hit his second home-run, I knew I had clinched the spot and trip to Vegas.  I felt peaceful, I went to sleep, and the next day at work, I was excited.  It is nice to have something to look forward to!

How long have you been playing fantasy baseball?

I have been playing fantasy baseball for about seven or eight years.  My friend, Bobby Angel, runs a league.  I have always done his league.

How do you like daily fantasy vs regular fantasy?

I do like the daily fantasy challenges.  It’s nice to use intelligence and strategy to select a team.  But there’s also a tendency to over-analyze.  Intution led me to make many of my player picks on the winning team.  I would suggest picking lesser known players facing of against questionable teams rather than a few superstars who have a reputation for always utting up stats in a game.  Overall, I prefer regular fantasy.  People in N.Y.C. work hard, and both can serve venues of action can serve as a nice and/or timely distraction.

What is your favorite thing about playing on FanDuel.com?

My favorite aspect of playing on FanDuel is watching the stats accumulate and rankings change during live action.  I also like seeing how the dollar values of players change depending on their recent success.  For a while, I thought I always had to use up all of my salary cap.  But I have since modified my approach.  Find players you like and go with them.  The teams with the highest salaries do not always win.  No offense Yankees and Phillies fans (myself included).

What will you do with the $200,000 if you win the DFBC?

With the $200,000 (should I win the DFBC in Vegas), I will pay off all of my education loans once and for all.  I will plan a few daring adventures to new cities with friends.  I will also search for the best burrito and Cuban food in the country.  Finding quality burritos is one of my main priorities in life.  Then I will save and invest the remaining money.

The post DelanceyStreet is heading to Vegas! appeared first on FanDuel Insider.

PrimeTime420 enjoying a drink at the 2012 FFFC in Las Vegas

FanDuel veterans don’t come much more seasoned than PrimeTime420. A finalist in our 2012 FFFC, he is on his way back to Vegas after winning not one – but TWO seats to the $1,000,000 DFBC! The DFBC is the first FanDuel live final to allow finalists a chance to win more than one entry, and PrimeTime is the first man to achieve that feat.

FanDuel Insider caught up with PrimeTime to talk about his recent string of good performances.

Want to duel PrimeTime420 for the $200k grand prize in Las Vegas? Take a crack at one of the DFBC Qualifiers running this week!

You were a 2012 FFFC Finalist as well. How excited are you to be coming back to Vegas for another chance to compete for a FanDuel Championship?

I am extremely excited to go back to Vegas. FanDuel puts together a great weekend for all the competitors, and win or lose it is hard not to have a good time out there. I can’t wait for this.

What was your experience like during the FFFC?

My FFFC experience was wonderful. I didn’t win, but I got to spend a great weekend hanging out with close friends and enjoying the Vegas scene. It didn’t hurt the FanDuel puts you up at one of the nicest hotels in Vegas. On top of that we get a wonderful night of dinner and drinks the night before the final. FanDuel really takes care of their players in these tournaments.

You’ve qualified for two championships mere months apart; what’s your secret to always being in a position to win?

There is no secret to my wins. I put a lot of time and hard work into making teams every day, and now I’ve been rewarded. However, I do feel fortunate for winning seats so close to each other. It took me over three years to win my first seat, and with so many tough players and large fields I feel very fortunate to get seats so close to one another.

What sport do you find more challenging: Baseball or Football?

That is a very tough question. Playing both sports you can have your extreme ups and downs. I do think football is a bit tougher; in baseball you can go get back on the horse the next day if you have a losing day. In football you have to wait all week and then you can start out-thinking yourself.

Do you feel more pressure to win because of your standing in the FanDuel community? Being a big name on the site must add some expectations. 

I don’t feel much pressure going into this. There are going to be so many FanDuel championships in the next few years, and I know I will be there again. So if I don’t win it this time it is not going to be a big deal. I’ll just get the next one.

What is your favorite part of playing on FanDuel.com?

My favorite part of playing on FanDuel is winning big money; plain and simple.

What will you do with the $200,000 if you win the DFBC in August? 

If I win the $200k I am going to donate some of it to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. I lost a really close family member recently who had this. Hopefully my donation will help so that others don’t have to suffer like my family member did. The rest I will probably just probably save. Not doing anything crazy really.

The post PrimeTime420 Qualifies for the DFBC….Twice! appeared first on FanDuel Insider.

This Minnesota Twins fan gave FanDuel Insider the honor of being the first qualifier to grace us with an interview. You can also have a look at his winning lineup below.

If you think you have what it takes to join Eric in the finals, enter tonight’s $10 DFBC Qualifier!

How long have you been playing fantasy baseball?

I’ve been playing fantasy for about 10 years – but not just baseball. I play all four of the major sports; basketball, baseball, football and hockey. I love all of them…college isn’t really my thing though. I stick to NFL and NBA.

When did you start playing on FanDuel?

Oh, I’d say I started about two years ago, right around the time of the Super Bowl. I saw  a FanDuel ad on TV, and once I tried it, it was easily the best fantasy site I’d ever played. I’ll always stick with FanDuel – especially now!

So would you say you prefer Daily Fantasy to Season-Long Fantasy?

Definitely! I love the payout structure, and daily is just so much more exciting on a nightly basis. In regular, you have to wait the entire week to see the results of your lineup. At the end of a FanDuel night, not only do you know already if you won or lost – there could be cash too! I’ll definitely keep playing regular fantasy, but it’s hard to beat the daily format.

Speaking of nightly excitement, what was your victory like on Friday? That final score was close.

It was awesome! Most of my players were from either Seattle vs Chicago (White Sox) or Cincinnati vs Washington – and the Reds absolutely blew up for me! I did a lot of bouncing between first and fifth place during that final couple of hours, but Todd Frazier blasted those two homers late in the night to give me the  win. I remember just sitting there obsessively clicking refresh for about a half hour just to make sure I really did win it!

How did you come up with that winning lineup?

I always try to find a good pitcher – if your pitcher doesn’t win, or at least have a big day, it can be really hard to get ahead. Once I spent a lot of money on my pitcher, I looked for some bargains to balance out my roster. I found a great bargain with Todd Frazier at 3B, and he got me  a couple of home runs! I  also love that FanDuel provides each player’s fantasy points per game, and the stats and news from their recent games. Those logs are really helpful, and definitely factored into my win.

So now that you have a seat, are you going to keep gunning for that second seat you can win under the rules? 

I’m definitely going to keep trying! I’m going to play every Friday to try and win that second seat – for $10 a lineup how can I not? It’s definitely worth it to enter four or five teams, especially because of those runner – up prizes.

Well if you end up with two seats, that’s a good shot at the $200,000! What are you going to do with that money if you win the live final in Las Vegas?

I’ll probably take my family on a nice vacation first, and then take care of the bills when I get home. That’s about all right? Vacation and bills…I’ll save the rest.

—————————-

Do you want to join Eric in the Finals? Punch your ticket tonight with a victory in our $10 DFBC Qualifier! Win that, and you’ll be out in Vegas on August 3rd playing for the $200,000 grand prize! 

The post The First $10 DFBC Qualifier is in! appeared first on FanDuel Insider.

C – JP Arencibia & John Buck

$3,900 and $4,100 FanDuel prices
These two guys are given plenty of playing time with their respective teams, and can also give you nice pop at a relatively thin position and they come very cheap. Probably not available in 2 catcher leagues, but could be out there in other deep mixed leagues.

1B – Kendrys Morales

$3,700 FanDuel price
He isn’t the same player that he once was with the Angels before he broke his leg celebrating a walk-off, but he is still only 29 years old and is finally looking healthier than he has in the past. Although not a player you want to rely on as your primary 1B, he can still help you out as a stop-gap or Util option or CI. He has the potential to hit 30 homers and drive in 100 runs, even at Safeco and in that Seattle lineup. Remember that he is a career .290+ hitter at Safeco, so the cavernous confines of Safeco won’t necessarily hinder his production.

2B – Daniel Murphy

$4,100 FanDuel price
I really like Murph in his situation with the Metropolitans, and I like him even more playing 2B. His peripherals are solid, and he can give you 10 homers and 10 swipes over a year, with the possibility of more. He’s a glue guy that can really help any team and is extremely underrated.

Get in on one of our one-day money leagues. Over 3,000 leagues start and end every single day of the 2013 MLB season. League sizes range from 2 to 2,000+ with entry fees as low as $1, and they all last just a day. You pick your team with our salary cap format so there’s no luck of the draft. What better way to enjoy a day’s worth of baseball games?

SS – Alexei Ramirez

$3,500 FanDuel price
Not owned in a majority of leagues, and with SS being so shallow, the Cuban Missile could take that step forward this year that many of us were expecting. He has the potential to be a 15/15 player, and that is plenty valuable at the SS position. He simply needs to take a few more walks, which means he needs to have better plate discipline.

3B – Mark Reynolds

$4,500 FanDuel price
I never really liked this guy because he strikes out much too often, and his playing time is limited with Lonnie Chisenall playing 3B, but he has tremendous power for very cheap. Use him as an option with the possibility of taking over at 3B if Chisenhall continues to struggle. He’s a player who goes on streaks, and he could potentially prolong this streak on a team with a manager who has more confidence in him than Showalter did in Baltimore.

OF – Dayan Viciedo

$3,700 FanDuel price
At 24 years old and with plenty of pop (and more power upside forthcoming), he is a great OF option that is probably available in many of your leagues. He simply needs to harness more plate discipline and draw more walks than he did last year. It’s the only way to stabilize his average. He doesn’t need to hit like Tony Gwynn, but he does need to exercise more patience at the plate as a power hitter to draw more walks. Pitch selection is key for him, and at 24 years old, he has the time to grow and learn from his mistakes.

OF – Adam Eaton

$3,500 FanDuel price
This kid was a super sleeper a month ago, but an injury derailed his 2013 season, which subsequently turned off many owners from drafting him. Well, that will give most of you an opportunity to grab him if he’s still available (and his ownership % is pretty low in many leagues), and you should giddy-up to grab him if you have an available DL spot. He’ll be healthy soon enough, and he has the talent not only to hit for good average and score some runs, but he can swipe a ton of bags very easily.

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SP – Paul Maholm

In his last two starts this season, Maholm was simply dominant. Many owners may shy away from him considering his mediocre performances with Pittsburgh and the Cubbies in his prior tenures with these teams, but Atlanta always seems to know how to foster confidence in their starters and cultivate the best from them. In his 11 starts last year for the Bravos, Maholm registered the lowest WHIP of his career, and improved his strikeout rate. He is in a positive situation pitching for a contending team, and I think he’ll take a nice step forward this year.

SP – Jose Fernandez

This phenom in waiting probably doesn’t need to wait for much longer to show he is capable of being a phenom. The Marlins threw the youngster into their rotation outright, and although he won’t win many games, I think he will give some solid peripherals with a healthy strikeout rate. His last start against the Mets was downright nasty, as he punched out 8 in only five innings, and only gave up one run on three hits. He relied mainly on his fastball, which reached the mid-90′s regularly, and his breaking pitches were nasty cheese. He has phenomenal control for a 20 year old in his first year in the Show, without only one year of experience in the minors…and that was High Single A. In my last piece I mentioned him as someone to watch. Well, stop gawking and just grab him.

RP – Jim Henderson & Kyuji Fujikawa

I’ve mentioned these two in my closers in waiting piece about a week ago, and so far I’ve been right with Fuji. Marmol is just plain terrible, and it was astounding to know that the Cubbies were ONCE AGAIN giving him another chance to close. This time around it didn’t last very long, and it’s to their benefit. Although not a stellar closer, Fuji is a better option than Marmol. As for Henderson, he is the best option in the Brewer bullpen, and it is only a matter of time before everyone in the Brew Crew loses their confidence in Axford as the closer. His velocity has been down since last the 2nd half of last year, and although an injury hasn’t been reported, it is nonetheless disconcerting. He’s just lost his mojo from a couple of years ago, and he should, at the very least, be given some playing time with less pressure…which means taking him out of the closer role for a bit.

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Check back for more of my waiver wire picks next week. Best of luck in the meantime.

The post Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire – Top 12 Pickups for MLB Week 2 appeared first on FanDuel Insider.

Kenley Jansen

The Dodgers signed Brandon League to a pretty nice deal this offseason to be their closer. Thing is, they already have an excellent one in Kenley Jansen. Last year’s heart condition may have left a sour taste in the mouths of the Dodger front office, but he’s comfortably passed that hurdle and is healthy for the start of the season. With a sterling WHIP and invaluable K rate (around 100 Ks in about 65 innings or so), Donnie Baseball can’t afford NOT to give 9th inning duties to the most dominant guy in his pen.

Vinnie Pestano ($2,800 FanDuel price)

Chris Perez has been an abrasive presence in the Cleveland baseball community, attributed to his heavy criticisms of the Tribe fan base and front office. And personally, his skills aren’t as sharp as his setup guy, Vinnie P. Expect Perez to be shipped elsewhere (along with his demeanor) and giving the reins over to Vinnie P.

Kelvin Herrera ($3,400 FanDuel price)

I really, really like Greg Holland. So I think Herrera becomes a closer only if an injury occurs to Holland (or if I’m dead wrong with my opinion of Holland). He showed excellent poise in his first full year, and has great stuff. He merely needs to show some better control (as does Holland) to truly take that step forward, which I think he may do.

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Luke Gregerson

Greggers had a great year as a set up option to Street, and closer when Street perennially goes down with an injury. Expect more of the same this year (including the Street injury), with the possibility that Street and his relatively hefty contract gets shipped elsewhere, with Greggers taking hold of the role.

Jake McGee

As I write this, Jake gave up a gaudy 5 runs against the O’s earlier today. I think it is merely a hiccup. Last year, McGee gave up a total of 6 runs at home ALL YEAR. He has great stuff, and will rebound nicely. Notwithstanding F-Rod’s phenomenal year for the Rays last year, he is 36-37 and he really came out of nowhere struggling regularly in his previous years. This doesn’t mean that he and Dickey and Maddon haven’t helped him fix any flaws, but he’s also not going to replicate last year’s numbers. An injury could also be a possibility, paving way to Jake.

Rex Brothers ($3,100 FanDuel price)

Rafael Betancourt is pretty good, but he is 37 or so and could be traded, particularly if the Rox are out of playoff contention. Brothers is a nice lefty with some nasty stuff. He just needs to demonstrate better control.

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Sergio Santos

Casey Jannsen is the Jays’ closer, and he’s a pretty good one. Yet his first full year as a closer was last year, following Serge’s season-ending injury, and he was recently suffering from some shoulder issues during spring training. Santos looked sharp this spring, and could revert back to his 2011 form.

Kyuji Fujikawa ($2,200 FanDuel price)

Carlos Marmol is incorrigible. Fuji is good. Next.

Ryan Cook/Sean Doolittle

Grant Balfour is the closer, but he seems to get injured some, and Doolittle is a crafty little lefty and Cook proved to be pretty good (better in the 1st half…seemed to tire down the stretch…pitches lacked a bit of crispness).

Jim Henderson ($3,400 FanDuel price)

No, not Jim Henson. Jim Henderson. I still think Axford will be the closer for the year, but he’s struggled some last year, and it carried over on Opening Day, He has a lively arm, but if he keeps struggling (rather, choking…and hard) Henderson might be given a shot to close.

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The post Closer Watch April 2013: 10 Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitchers Who May Get the Job appeared first on FanDuel Insider.

1) Dexter Fowler ($3,300 FanDuel price)

I think in his age 27 year, Fowler will finally take a step forward, and it’s long overdue. He went 3 for 5 yesterday with a clutch tater off of John Axford in the 9th, and I expect bigger things from him with a healthy Tulo and Cargo. He may not give us the steals that we all expected him to produce, but double digit steals aren’t out of the question. And he has the ability to tease us with close to 15-20 homers at Coors and great peripherals to boot.

2) Carlos Marmol and John Axford (and grab Fujikawa and/or Jim Henderson, respectively)

I’m mashing these two up in one because they don’t deserve their own spot. It’s the same tune with these guys as it was last year…great K totals, but will ruin your peripherals, and I run far, far away from relievers that have poor peripherals. I’d rather go for a Vinnie Pestano or Kelvin Herrera, even in non-holds leagues. Those guys could end up closing. Expect Fujikawa and possibly Jim Henderson respectively to take over the closer duties before too long.

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3) The Detroit Bullpen

I don’t blame Leyland for utilizing his closer by committee approach, albeit it is torture for fantasy GMs. He’s arguably the best manager in the game, and can really play matchups with Benoit, Coke, Alburquerque, Dotel, etc. He managed the pen in marvelous fashion having Benoit pitch a scoreless inning in the 8th, take care of the right-handed batter in the ninth, and having Coke pitch against the last two consecutive lefties to close the game. Expect more of the same, and if you have the room, why not chance it by rostering one of these guys with the potential to close a game here and there. They may not have the best peripherals (although I like Benoit’s peripherals the most out of this bunch), but they may help your team some.

4) Colin Cowgill ($2,500 FanDuel price)

He hit a granny yesterday, but hang on to your bloomers. We don’t want to have lofty expectations for a guy that didn’t really do much in the minors or with the Marlins. Well, Jose Bautista proved me wrong a couple of years ago, and Cowgill can as well, but we also don’t want to pull a Chris Shelton either. Patience if you’re contemplating dropping a guy like a Lorenzo Cain or a Starling Marte for him. Let’s see some more from Cowgill before we buy the cow. But he has some ability to produce, especially with Mets outfield finally open for the taking. Some pop, some speed, and if he can put it all together with some plate discipline and good contact, he can be valuable.

5) Jose Iglesias ($2,400 FanDuel price)

Went 3 for 5 yesterday, but relax. He’s just a Rey Ordonez. At the same time, SS isn’t very deep, and he’s someone to simply watch for now. You never know.

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6) Ernesto Frieri

He HAS to be the closer for this team, otherwise Scioscia will disappoint me thoroughly. The dude can pitch, and I think he’ll hang on to the role even with Madson coming back. Well, he should. It’s not like Madson hasn’t been a set up reliever for most of his career.

7) Matt Carpenter ($3,200 FanDuel price)

He’s starting at 2B for the Cards, and before long he will gain positional eligibility there, making him a fine addition for those of you in leagues that have him floating on waivers. I consider him a Martin Prado lite, but without the SS eligibility. He won’t steal many bases, and his pop has a low ceiling, but his hitting peripherals are real and he can score some runs so long as he’s atop the lineup (which is possible with Furcal done). Getting a guy who can also play 3B, 1B and the OF is nice to have.

8) Jackie Bradley ($2,500 FanDuel price)

The BoSox decided to give this kid a chance with their Opening Day roster, and he didn’t really disappoint. He can steal some bases, so long as he’s exercising some plate discipline and makes some contact so that he can utilize his speed for a handful of infield hits/sacrifices. If he’s available, strongly consider rostering him.

9) Jason Maxwell

Yeah, the Astros look bad. Yeah, they won’t make the playoffs. But that doesn’t mean the counting stats won’t come for a guy with Maxwell’s talents. He’s a nice 4th OF option if you need it.

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10) David Murphy ($3,300 FanDuel price)

I think this 31 year old is underrated. He has some decent pop and some decent wheels, and finally getting everyday opportunities will mean more production in his counting stats. He’s a pretty good hitter, and it helps being in that Ranger lineup.

11) Alcides Escobar ($3,300 FanDuel price)

He shouldn’t be available, but if he is and you need a SS or MI, grab him ASAP. He’s going to give you Elvis Andrus numbers and at a lower cost than Elvis. He went 2 for 4 with a stolen base yesterday, and don’t forget that he was a highly touted prospect in the Brewers organization before being shipped to the Royals in a package deal for Greinke.

12) Jose Fernandez ($2,600 FanDuel price)

Don’t jump on him yet, unless you really have a roster spot open and can’t find anyone else. He won’t win many games with the Marlins, and he is rather raw since he has never pitched above Single High-A, but this 20 year old has immense talent and could be useful in deeper mixed leagues if he can handle this huge leap. Try grabbing him and placing him on your roster if you have the room, and see what he can do before bestowing confidence on the kid. But finding waiver wire starter gems are keys to success.

13) Daniel Murphy ($3,100 FanDuel price)

He is one of the more underrated players in the game because he doesn’t do anything extraordinarily well. But what he does do is provide consistency, particularly with his peripherals and to a lesser degree, some of the counting stats like runs scored. As we all know, 2B is shallow, and he is a guy that can help a team out akin to a glue guy, particularly if you need to roster a MI.

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14) Peter Bourjos ($2,400 FanDuel price)

He didn’t start yesterday because the Angels were playing at Great American Ballpark against the Reds, and thus there was no DH. As a result, Scioscia decided to keep his power bat in the lineup and put Trumbo in left. A large majority of the games the Angels play will have a DH, and Trumbo will be slotted there regularly, leaving left field open for Trout to rest his body, and giving centerfield for the speedy and rangy Bourjos. With Vernon Wells and Torii Hunter gone, Bourjos has the opportunity to shine in a loaded Halos lineup, and he has the ability to swipe some bags and has a bit of pop. Not bad for a 4th OF, or even as a 5th OF.

15) Julio Tehrehan ($5,000 FanDuel price)

He has yet to pitch for the Braves, and spring training stats should not be adhered to as gospel, but Tehrehan was a highly touted prospect and the fact is that he has some nasty, filthy stuff. He dominated in each and every spring start this year, and I believe that he can take that step forward this year to become a very reliable starter.

Until next time, fellow batsmen.

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The post Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Week 1 – 15 Possible MLB 2013 Pickups appeared first on FanDuel Insider.