Fantasy Sports Glossary for - DFS Betting Terms

Welcome to this Fantasy Sports Glossary! Whether you are new to the world of Daily Fantasy Sports, or you are just willing to have to get all standard terms explained in a systemized and comprehensive way, this article is for you. We will start our Fantasy sports glossary with presenting some of the most common general terms (like abbreviations of daily fantasy sports sites or types of contests). After that, you will be able to find explanations related to the most popular sports: football, basketball, baseball, hockey and golf (excluding Nascar races of course).

General Terms

As we said, we are about to begin our Fantasy Sports glossary by focusing on more general terms you are likely to encounter no matter what kind of sport you are interested in. To make it easier for you to check them out, we have decided to divide them into categories.

1. Daily Fantasy Sports Sites:

The first section of our Fantasy Sports Glossary is dedicated to the daily fantasy sites. Check them out!

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DFC – Abbreviation for the fantasy community Daily Fantasy Café
DFS – Abbreviation for Daily Fantasy Sports
DK – Abbreviation for the Daily Fantasy Sports Site DraftKings
DS – Abbreviation for the Daily Fantasy Sports Site Craftster
FA – Abbreviation for the Daily Fantasy Sports Site Fantasy Aces
FD – Abbreviation for the Daily Fantasy Sports Site FanDuel
FF – Abbreviation for the Daily Fantasy Sports Site Fantasy Feud

2. Types of Contests:

Next, our Fantasy Sports glossary will continue with the types of contest.

Cash Game – Tournaments that are considered to be cash games (such as 50/50 and Double-ups) are associated with undertaking lower risks. The reason for this has to do with the fact that around 50% of the players end up winning.
50/50 – The name of this type of contests reveals that if you join it, you can benefit from 50% chance of winning. This means that the half of the players who have achieved higher scores will end up winning, whereas the other half will be left empty handed. In spite of that, 50/50s are considered to be the safest contests you can come across in the world of Daily Fantasy Sports.
Freeroll – This is a contest which does not require any buy-in for users to join it. Even if there is no entry fee, there still can be cash prizes, qualifying tickets, or no incentive at all.
GPP – Abbreviation for Guaranteed prize pool or a guaranteed tournament. What is particular about this type of contests is that it does not matter how many players are going to enter the game. Not only is it going to take place in all cases, but there is a guaranteed prize pool, as well.
H2H – Abbreviation for Head to Head. This is a one on one contest where you compete against a single opponent.
League – What stands behind the term “league” is a significantly smaller tournament including between 4 and 100 participants.
Multiplier – What you need to keep into consideration in regards to this type of contest is that it pays out an individual multiplier of your buy-in. This is how as a winner you can end up being paid out $15 if you happen to join a 5X contest that requires a buy-in amounting to $3. In addition to this, the term “multiplier” can also be associated with the production you can expect from a player as a result of his salary.
Overlay – Overlays are a specific type of contests that is associated with a guaranteed prize pool, as a result of which you can end up benefitting from higher chances of cashing.
Qualifier – The contests that are referred to as “qualifiers” are what you need to take part in if you are willing to end up participating in the so-called “World Baseball Championships.” These championships are big tournaments created by fantasy sites that enable contestants to travel and play against other people who have also managed to qualify.
Steps – This is a type of contest that is also known as “survivor tournament.” The reason for this has to do with the fact that it takes place throughout a couple of days. At the end of each daily game, only those of the players who have managed to achieve a score above a set target will have the chance to qualify for the next day.

3. Other Terms:

We already covered many important terms, but there are some more.

Terms from A to L

$/Point – This terms means Points per dollar. Since all users are aiming at increasing their potential score as much as possible, it is worth rostering players who are associated with the production of a lot of points and whose salaries are considerably lower.
Bankroll – The bankroll of each player includes how much available money is there in their respective fantasy site’s balance.
Boom-or-bust player – This term is associated with a specific type of players who are considered to be an excellent choice when it comes to GPP contests. The reason for this has to do with the fact that they are inconsistent, so it is not uncommon for them to provide both a substantial upside and a low floor (like power hitters in MLB).
Buy In (Entry fee) – This is the fee that is required of any user who would like to join a specific contest.
Cafe Value – This term provides users with a value related to each player that can help you compare him with another player. The Café value consists of salary, projection, and site position requirements.
Ceiling – This term is associated with the potential of each player regarding the top score he might be able to achieve. For instance, it can give you information based on whether you can identify the players, who are considered to be capable of performing better than the rest.
Colossus – This term stands for a lineup optimizer related to Daily Fantasy Café.
Contrarian – When it comes to the daily fantasy sports, being contrarian includes being willing to stand out and be different, which can be especially useful when taking part in larger tournaments.
(+EV) – This term refers to those types of moves you can make that are likely to bring you value/profit in the long run (like participating primarily in contests with overlay).
Exposure – Having “exposure” means having drafted specific players from specific teams in your lineup.
Fade – This term is associated with users who decide to not roster a specific player. The factors that have contributed to making this decision can be various: salary, matchup or others.
Fish – This is how new players are called especially when it comes to cash games. The reason behind this nickname has to do with the fact that they are more easily exploitable.
Floor – The term “floor” is associated with the lowest score that can be expected of a player. Naturally enough, users aim at drafting players with a high floor.
Game Theory – This is a concept related to the way decisions are made based on the role that the outcomes of others play in the process. For example, assuming that the rest of the contestants are about to draft the outstanding Clayton Kershaw, you need to decide whether you would do the same or not. One question that is worth asking yourself in such cases is: “What is more important to me – standing out from the crowd or looking for the best possible matchup?”
Grinder – This is how advanced players with a lot of experience in the world of Daily Fantasy Sports are called. Apart from experience, what also counts in order for players to be considered grinders has to do with their respective volume across many different sports.
Hook – As a user, you will be considered to be “hooking” when you draft a couple of players from the same team in one single lineup.

Terms from L to Z

Late Swap – Late Swap relates to the possibility of getting players swapped out as long as their team’s individual start time has not started yet.
Lock – Locks are considered to be those players who are likely to perform in an excellent way. In the same time, the term “lock” might also be associated with that DFS tools’ function which enables you to lock a player into your lineup. Those players who have been locked will end up being displayed either in a generated lineup, or generated stack.
Money Balance – The term Money Balance refers to the balance you currently have on the daily fantasy sports site you have joined.
Moneyline – This term reveals till which extent a given team is considered to be a favorite in comparison to their opponent in Vegas (+/-100). For example, a specific team is definitely a favorite when this number is strongly negative.
Opp Team Run Total – This term refers to how many runs (over/under) is the opposing team expected to score according to the Vegas lines and based on the matchup.
O/U – The term “O/U” includes the total of runs (MLB) or points (regarding an NBA or an NFL sports event) that are likely to be scored by each of the opposing teams according to Vegas. This value is what helps daily fantasy sports users increase their chances of identifying precisely the potential score of a game.
Pending Bonus – The term “pending bonus” refers to how much money your daily fantasy site is about to add to your account in addition to the deposit once you enter a given contest.
Platoon player – What is specific about platoon players is that they get used in matchups only in certain situations due to their quite better or worse splits against a certain handedness of the pitcher.
Platoon split – Platoon splits are players whose handedness provides them with a significant advantage over a pitcher or a batter due to their handedness.
Positional Advantage – Despite the fact that no two daily fantasy days are alike, there are some positions that are likely to have a weaker selection in comparison with others (like the shortstop position). Therefore, it is advisable to select heavier value plays in such positions so that you can pay more for the positions that are considered to be stronger (such as the shooting guard position).
Prop Bet – This term refers to a bet set by Vegas that is associated with each player, as well as their personal stats. For example, the over/under prop bet of Clayton Kershaw amounts to 9.5 strikeouts.
Projection – The term “projection” has to do with the points that each player is expected to score.
Punt – Punts are considered to be players with lower salaries that you select when you need to get your roster filled (such as batters who are hitting high in the order, platoon players, or player who replaces an injured one).
Rake – The term “rake” refers to the percentage of the buy-ins that are kept by the daily fantasy operator. There are similarities between the rakes in the daily fantasy world and the rake at casinos. In the same time, there might be differences when it comes to the rakes of the separate sites.
Regression – The term “regression” has to do with situations in which a given player has been playing well, regardless of which based on advanced stats his performance is expected to come back to the average. This trend particularly relates to the pitchers.
Roster – Your roster includes the players you have decided to draft for your lineup or team. This amount is fixed all the time, despite the fact that there are differences between the various daily fantasy sites.
Salary – This term refers to the cost you need to cope with in order to attract each player in your roster.
Salary Cap – The total amount of money you have at your disposal in order to build up the perfect daily fantasy sports roster.
Shark – Sharks are considered to be experienced players against whom you do not have high chances of winning. This is particularly true when it comes to H2H and cash games.
Spread – What a spread stands for is some of the points a specific team is favored by according to Vegas.
Stack – You are considered to be stacking when you happen to roster more than one player from the very same team as a way of ensuring a higher upside/correlation between plays. FanDuels allows you to stack maximum 4 players, whereas you can get up to 6 if you choose DraftKings (MLB).
Sub-optimal – This is a scenario related to the previously mentioned game theory. There are cases in which players end up having a less than optimal matchup, in spite of which the thought of being different is likely to lead us to the player. Even if such plays are considered to be sub-optimal, they are still a way to stand out from the crowd.
Team Total – The team total refers to the scoring that the respective team is likely to end up scoring during a specific game.
Tilt – Being tilt means experiencing anger or frustration as a result of a previously made strategic decision or the lack of understanding when it comes to the big picture.
Vegas Total – As the label itself reveals, Vegas Total stands for the combined total of runs (MLB) or points (in a match of NBA or NFL) that are expected to be scored by both opposing teams according to Vegas.
Volatility – The volatility as a value gives information about the way the possible outcomes of a player might vary from game to game. For example, high volatility is associated with players who tend to perform either extremely good or extremely bad.
Wrap-around – The term “wrap-around” includes of stacking minimum 1 player from the bottom of the order, as well as minimum 1 player from the top of the order (i.e. 8, 9, 1, 2).

Fantasy Sports Glossary – Specific Terms

While the first section of this fantasy sports glossary was dedicated to clarifying the most common general terms, this second half includes terms related to each of the most popular sports types. Check out our Fantasy sports glossary by sport.

1. Football:

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Avg Y/A – This term refers to the average yards per passing attempt that are associated with the performance of a given passer.
Catch% – As the label itself reveals, the catch% gives information about what percentages of targets a given receiver has managed to pick.
Depth Chart – Order players come into the game.
DropBacks/Game – The term “DropBacks/Game” is simply a short version of “dropbacks per game.”
Flex – The flex positions include Wide Receiver (WR), Running Back (RB), as well as Tight End (TE).
FPSnap – Abbreviation for Fantasy points per snap.
FPDropBack – Abbreviation for Fantasy points per drop back, as far as the QB position is concerned.
Opp Effectiveness Allowed – The term “Opp Effectiveness Allowed” refers to what effectiveness is overall allowed. The way it is utilized is by considering it to be a projections factor.
Opp FG per Game – The term “Opp FG per Game” stands for the amount of field goals that the opponent allows on average per game.
Opp FPPG Allowed – Similar to the previous term, this one gives information about some of the fantasy points that the opponent allows on average per game.
Opp TDPG Allowed – This term is an abbreviation for the average opponent touchdowns per game allowed. For example, if the Opp TDPG Allowed amounts to 1.9, this means that 1.9 touchdowns are allowed by the respective opponent per game to offenses. The way this value is typically used is by estimating and showcasing an average number that takes into account a couple of games throughout a specific amount of time.
Opp YPG Allowed – This term provides you with information about the average amount of opponent yards per game allowed. For instance, given the fact that Opp YPG Allowed equals 290 yards, we can conclude that the yards per game that the opponent allows to offenses amount to 290. Similar to the previous term, also in this case we need to keep in mind that this number is mainly used to as an average value that has been estimated as a result of observations during multiple games or a specific amount of time.
PPR/Half-PPR – This term is an abbreviation for Fantasy points per reception.
RBBC – The term “RBBC” is an abbreviation for Running back by committee. This means that there are multiple featured runners.
Snap Count % – The term “Snap Count%” relates to the percentage of snaps that end up being played either on offense or defense.
Targets – The term “targets” gives information about the amount of times in which a given player gets targeted with a pass during a respective game.
Touches – The term “touches” refers to the number of times when a player ends up touching the ball for recorded yards.

2. Basketball:

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Assist Rate – The term “assist rate” is a variable that is used as a general measure of assist success.
EFF – This term stands for efficiency. In order to be able to identify the level of efficiency, you need to take into account a couple of variables: PTS = points; REB = Rebounds; AST = assists; STL = steals; BLK = blocks; Missed FG = Missed Field Goals; Missed FT = Missed Free Throws; TO = turnovers and GP = games played. This is the simple formula, based on which efficiency is estimated: EFF = (PTS + REB + AST + STL + BLK − Missed FG − Missed FT − TO) / GP.
FP/Min – This term stands for the amount of Fantasy points scored per minute.
Pace – The term “pace” gives you an idea about the amount of possessions per 100 minutes.
PER – PER is an abbreviation for Player Efficiency Rating.
Per-36 – This term stands for Per 36 minute statistics.
Rebound Rate – The rebound rate is considered to be a way of estimating what percentage of rebounds a given player manages to grab during his play in the game.
6th Man – This term is associated with the most frequently played bench player or in other words – the first one off the bench.
True Shooting % – This metric gives information about the efficiency of a given player, as far as shooting the ball is concerned.
Usage Rate – The so-called Usage Rate reveals what percentage of possessions a specific player ends up using during the time when he is on the floor.
Utility – This term is associated with that type of players who are not restricted to a particular position, but can play at all of them.
Wing – The wing position includes players who do not point guards or post players (like shooting guards and small forwards).

3. Baseball:

Ace – The term “ace” refers to the top pitcher of a given team.
BABIP – The term “BABIP” is an abbreviation for Batting average on balls in play.
Bullpen – This is the label for those relievers who replace a starting pitcher after the end of his daily play.
Contact Pitcher – Contact pitchers are considered to be players who tend to create hits and runs for opposing batters. Not only do they not generate swinging strikes, but they also do not manage to strike out a significant amount of batters.
Coors Bump – A Coors Bump is a value bump for hitters that happen to be playing at Coors Field.
DH – DH is an abbreviation for Designated hitter. A designated hitter is considered to be a hitter batting instead of the pitcher in the American League.
Dong – The term “Dong” stands for a Home run.
FB% – FB% is an abbreviation for Fly-ball percentage. In other words, this is how many of the times when a given player hits or pitches do lead to fly-balls.
FIP/xFIP – This term stands for Fielding Independent Pitching, as well as a variation of what normalizes home run rate. This metric is used as a way of measuring what kind of skill level a pitcher truly has. In the same time, it serves as an indicator based on which the future performance of the pitcher is likely to be projected much more precisely than in the cases when earned run average is used (ERA).
Gascan – The term “gas can” is usually used for pitchers who are considered to be awful and therefore rarely drafted for an MLB lineup. This has to do with the fact that they tend to generate stack worthy options.
GB% – This term is an abbreviation for Ground-ball percentage.
ISO – ISO is a term that refers to Isolated powers. What needs to be done for you to estimate the ISO, is to subtract batting average from slugging percentage.
K%, BB% – These two terms are associated with the strikeout percentages and the walk percentages.
K-Rate – The term “K-Rate” reveals during how much time a hitter or pitcher happens to strike out.
LD% – LD% is an abbreviation for Line drive percentage. This value measures what amount of the times when a player hits or pitches lead to line drives.
LOB% – LOB% is an abbreviation for Left-on-base percentage (or strand rate).
Order – This term is associated with the spot a given player has in the batting order.
Opp – The term Opp stands for Opponent.
Opp Team Run Total – The term Opp Team Run Total gives information about the gambling total of runs that a team ends up scoring. It is not uncommon for this total to also be called opponent team over/under total, too.
OPS – OPS is an abbreviation for On-base plus slugging percentage.
Park Factor – The term Park Factor provides valuable information based on which one can identify if a ballpark is pitcher-friendly, hitter-friendly or neutral. A ballpark is considered to be neutral when the factor amounts to 100. This means that depending on the specific situation it becomes clear whether ballparks with factors above or below are better or worse in comparison with the neutral option.
Platoon Advantage – This term is associated with left or right-handed bats, who are good at hitting the opposite handedness of a pitcher. For instance, this means that a right-handed batter would have the so-called platoon advantage against the left-handed pitcher.
Pos – The term Pos stands for Position.
Quality Start – Quality Start is what a pitching line is called. This line is at least six innings long, and at the same time maximum three earned runs can be made.
RBI – RBI is an abbreviation for Run batted in. In another word, RBI is the stat that provides information about the times when a hitter drives in a run.
Reverse Split – This term describes the situation in which a right-handed or left-handed batter manages to hit the same handedness of the pitcher well. For example, imagine that Yasiel Puig succeeds in hitting the right-handed pitching better, in spite of the fact that he does so from the right side.
Southpaw – The term “Southpaw” is used to label a left-handed pitcher.
Swinging Strike % – This term refers to what percentage a pitcher manages to generate a swinging strike.
Switch-Hitter – Switch-Hitters are considered to be players who are capable of hitting both left-handed and right-handed.
wOBA – The term “wOBA” is an abbreviation for Weighted on-base average.
wRC+ – The term “wRC+” is an abbreviation for Weighted runs created plus.

4. Golf:

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All Rounds under 70 (ARU70) – ARU 70 is a bonus that is accessible to any player who has managed to finish all four rounds with a score below 70.
Ball-Striking – This term stands for the Total Driving (+) Green in Regulation (check GIR below).
Birdie – A birdie is how a Stroke under Par is called.
Birdie or Better Percentage (BOB %) – This term refers to the percentage of times when a given player has succeeded in scoring minimum one under par on a hole.
Bogie – A bogie is how a Stroke over Par is called.
Bogey Free Round (BFR,) DK – BFR is a bonus that is received by each player who manages to complete around without any strokes over par.
Bounce Back Percentage – This term reveals what percentage of times a given player strikes over par on one hole, after which he strikes under par on the next.
Eagle – Eagle is a term describing the situation when there are Two Strokes under Par.
Going for the Green % – This percentage reveals what amount of the time a given player ends up going for the green either on the first shot of a par 4, or the second shot of a par 5.
Greens in Regulation (GIR) – GIR is a term that describes how often the ball has managed to reach the green in the expected number of strokes about par. What a par consists of is two putts per hole.
Hole in One – Hole in One is a term used in the cases when a player’s tee shot ends up going into the hole on a par 3 or 4.
Making the Cut – To make the cut means that as a player you have succeeded in qualifying for the final two rounds thanks to the fact that you have managed to finish in the top 70 after the first two rounds.
Par – The term “Par” is used to determine the total number of expected strokes on a hole, for instance, 3 strokes on a par 3.
Proximity to Hole – This term has to do with the average distance that the ball comes to rest from the hole once the players approach shot (in feet).
Reverse Bounce Back % – The reverse Bounce Back % provides with information related to the percentage of times in which a given player is under par on one hole, and then over par on the next hole.
Sand Save Percentage – The sand save percentage refers to the percentage of times when a player takes up to two strokes after he has played the ball from a bunker.
Scrambling Percentage – The scrambling percentage reveals in what percentage of times a given player ends up missing a green in regulation, regardless of which he manages to still make par.
Stroke Differential – This term is related to the way players fare in comparison with the rest of the field.
Stroke Differential Field Average – This term is associated with the average strokes per round played when a given player performed in a better or worse way in comparison with the per round field average.
Strokes Gained – The term “Strokes Gained” describes how many strokes a given player takes in comparison with the average performance of other players.
3 Putt Avoidance – The 3 Putt Avoidance reveals how often a given player ends up taking minimum three putts whereas the ball rests on the surface of the green.
Total Driving – The term “Total Driving” stands for Driving Distance (+) Driving Accuracy.

5. Hockey:

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Assist – The term “assist” refers to the way in which the two players who have contributed the most to the scoring of a goal get rewarded.
Blocked Shot – A blocked shot describes the situation in which a given player manages to block a shot by the opposing team that is directed towards their net.
Empty net goal – This term refers to the situations in which there is a goal scored while the opposing goalie is not on the ice.
Game Misconduct – When there is a Game Misconduct, there is also a player who has received a penalty and needed to leave the game for 10-20 minutes.
Goal – The term goal is used for the situations when a given player succeeds in scoring.
Goalie shutout – When there is a Goalie shutout, this means that a goalie manages to complete a whole game without the opposing team being able to score a goal against (excludes the shootout).
Goalie win – A goalie win is considered to be the goalie of record on the team who was on the ice at the time when a winning goal is scored. This term is mainly used in the fantasy world.
Hat Trick – A Hat Trick is the term that is used to describe the situation in which one single player manages to score three goals during only one game.
Major Penalty – A major penalty is a penalty that lasts for 5 minutes. In the same time, it could also go hand in hand with an ejection, too.
Overtime – Overtime is the time that is given for extra play once the regulation time is over. The overtime is brought to an end as soon as the first goal is scored.
Plus/minus – The term “Plus/minus” refers to the amount of times when a given player was on the ice whether for a goal for, or against. It is not applicable in the case of powerplay situations.
Power play goal – A Power play goal is a type of goal that is scored by a player(s) from the opposing team in the penalty box.
Save – The term “Save” describes the situations in which a goalie manages to prevent a shot directed at the net from going in.
Shorthanded goal – A Shorthanded goal is a type of goal that is scored with one of the team’s player(s) in the penalty box, as well as with fewer players on the ice.
Shot on goal – This term stands for the situations in which a given player manages to record a shot in a way that it hits the opposing teams net.

Conclusion of Fantasy Sports Glossary

This is the end of our Fantasy Sports Glossary. Despite the fact that there are for certain a lot more terms that could have been included here, we have tried to focus on the most frequent ones that each fantasy sports player comes across. Every time you need to check a term, our fantasy sports glossary will be here to make life easier.

We wish you all the best, hoping that our FANTASY SPORTS GLOSSARY has helped you gain the clarity you needed to move on with your playing journey!

Check our Fantasy Sports Glossary for more updates and useful terms!