Fantasy Points Per Dollar Calculator
Rank daily-fantasy (DFS) players by value — projected fantasy points per $1,000 of salary — to build the most efficient lineup.
How it works
Value = projected points ÷ (salary ÷ 1,000) = fantasy points per $1,000 of salary
In salary-cap daily fantasy (DraftKings, FanDuel and similar), every lineup must fit under a fixed budget, so the real question is not who scores most but who scores most per dollar. Dividing projected points by salary in thousands gives a “value” number: a common rule of thumb is that a player returning about 5–6 points per $1,000 is a solid play, and anything higher is a bargain that frees up salary for stars elsewhere. Ranking your pool by this metric is the fastest way to spot the value picks that make a cap-constrained lineup work.
Worked example
A player projected for 30 points at a $7,500 salary returns 30 ÷ (7,500 ÷ 1,000) = 30 ÷ 7.5 = 4.0 points per $1,000.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good points-per-$1,000 value?
It depends on the sport and scoring, but roughly 5–6× is the classic “breakeven” target in NFL and NBA salary-cap contests. Higher is better; value plays let you afford expensive stars in the rest of your lineup.
Should I just pick the highest-value players?
Not blindly. Value maximises points per dollar, but you also need to spend close to the full cap and hit position limits. The best lineups mix a few high-value bargains with a couple of premium, high-floor stars.
Does this replace projections?
No — it depends on them. The metric is only as good as your projected points, so garbage projections give garbage value. Use trusted projections, then rank by value.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.