Auction

A draft format where each team is given a budget and bids on players. The highest bid wins the player, allowing any team to target any player as long as they can afford them.

Autopick

A draft feature where the system automatically selects players for a team if the manager does not make a pick before their time expires.

Autodraft

When a team allows the system to make all of its draft selections automatically, usually based on pre-ranked players.

Bench

The portion of a roster containing players who are not currently in the starting lineup but can be substituted in during future weeks.

Best Ball

A fantasy format where managers draft a team but never set lineups. Each week the system automatically uses the highest-scoring players at each position.

Boom-or-Bust

A player who has the potential for very high scores in some weeks but may produce very little in others.

Bust

A player who performs significantly worse than expected based on draft position or preseason projections.

Bye Week

A week during the NFL season when a team does not play a game. Fantasy players on that team score no points during that week.

Commish / Commissioner

The person responsible for managing a fantasy league, including setting rules, overseeing drafts, and resolving disputes.

Deep League

A league with many teams or large rosters, making the available player pool thinner and increasing the importance of lesser-known players.

DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports)

A fantasy format where contests typically last one day or one week rather than the entire season.

Draft

The process where fantasy managers take turns selecting players to build their rosters before the season begins.

Draft Board

A visual display used during drafts to track which players have been selected and by which teams.

Draftmaster

A draft-only format where teams draft players but do not manage lineups or make roster moves during the season.

Dynasty League

A long-term league where managers keep most or all of their players from year to year, building teams over multiple seasons.

Email Draft

A slow draft conducted where managers submit picks one at a time over an extended period, and are notified of player picks by email.

Fade

To intentionally avoid drafting or starting a player, usually because their perceived value is too high.

Flex Position

A lineup spot that allows multiple position types, usually running back, wide receiver, or tight end.

Free Agent

A player who is not currently on any team’s roster and can be added by league managers.

Guillotine

A league format where the lowest-scoring team each week is eliminated and its players become free agents.

Handcuff

A backup player who is rostered primarily because they would replace a starter if that starter were injured.

Head-to-Head

A scoring format where teams compete against a single opponent each week, with the higher score earning a win.

IDP (Individual Defensive Player)

A league format where defensive players such as linebackers and defensive backs are drafted and scored individually.

Keeper League

A league where managers retain a limited number of players from one season to the next.

Live Draft

A draft where managers gather online or in person and make selections in real time.

Lineup

The group of players selected from a roster to score points during a particular week.

MyFantasyLeague

A long-running fantasy football hosting platform known for deep customization and commissioner controls.

Orphan

A team in a league that has lost its owner and needs a new manager to take over.

Orphan Auction

A process where orphan teams are purchased through a bidding system rather than first-come selection.

Player Pool

The total group of players available to be drafted or added in a fantasy league.

Playoff Push

The final stretch of the fantasy season when teams compete to secure playoff positions.

PPR (Points Per Reception)

A scoring format that awards points each time a player catches a pass.

Pre-draft

Activities or preparation that occur before the draft, including research, rankings, and setting draft preferences.

Redraft League

A league where all teams start fresh each season and previous rosters do not carry over.

Roster

The full collection of players controlled by a fantasy team, including starters and bench players.

Salary Cap League

A league where each team operates under a budget and player salaries determine roster construction.

Season-long

A traditional fantasy format where teams compete across the entire NFL season.

Sell High / Buy Low

A trading strategy where managers trade away players performing above expectations or acquire players performing below expectations.

Skinny League

A league format with extremely small rosters, forcing managers to rely heavily on free agency during the season.

Sleeper

A player expected to perform better than their average draft position or public expectations.

Snake Draft

A draft format where the pick order reverses each round.

Snipe

To select a player immediately before another manager was planning to draft them.

Stacking

A strategy where a manager drafts players from the same NFL team to benefit from correlated scoring.

Standard Scoring

A traditional scoring format that typically does not award points for receptions. Not to be confused with a standard lineup.

Start/Sit

The weekly decision of which players to place in the starting lineup and which to leave on the bench.

Streaming

A strategy of frequently rotating players at a position based on weekly matchups.

Superflex

A lineup position that allows a quarterback to be started in a flex spot along with other positions.

Tanking

Intentionally losing a game, or weakening a lineup or roster, in order to secure better future draft picks.

The Wonk

A proprietary DataForce tool used to analyze player values and fantasy football strategies.

Total Points

A scoring format where standings are determined by cumulative points rather than weekly matchups.

Trade Analyzer

A tool that evaluates fantasy trades and estimates the value of the players involved.

Trade Bar

A visual indicator showing how balanced a proposed trade is between two teams.

Trade Bait

Players placed on the trading block to signal that a manager is willing to trade them.

Trade Balancer

A feature designed to help managers adjust trades so both sides receive comparable value.

Trade Review

A process where trades are reviewed by the commissioner or league members before becoming final.

Victory Points

A scoring system that awards points based on weekly performance compared to the rest of the league, rather than simple wins and losses.

Watch List

A list of players a manager is monitoring for possible future additions.

Waiver Wire

A system that allows teams to claim available players, usually with priority rules or bidding.

Zero-RB Strategy

A draft strategy where managers avoid selecting running backs early and focus on other positions first.

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Scoring Terms

Touchdown

A scoring play worth six points in the NFL that typically provides significant fantasy points.

Receptions

Catches made by a player, often worth points in PPR scoring systems.

Passing Yards / Rushing Yards / Receiving Yards

The yards a player gains through passing, running, or catching the ball, which typically earn fantasy points based on yardage totals.

Fumble / Fumble Lost

A fumble occurs when a player loses possession of the ball. A fumble lost happens when the opposing team recovers it, usually resulting in negative fantasy points.

Interception

When a defensive player catches a pass intended for an offensive player, typically resulting in negative points for the quarterback.

Pick-Six

An interception returned for a touchdown by the defense.

2-Point Conversion

A scoring attempt after a touchdown where a team tries to score two additional points instead of kicking an extra point.

Field Goal Range

The distance of a field goal attempt, which may affect how many fantasy points the kick earns.

Defensive / Special Teams Points

Points scored by a team defense or special teams through plays such as interceptions, sacks, touchdowns, or blocked kicks.