A sick new fantasy community has just opened its doors over at RotoGrinders.com. These guys actually rank the individuals that play daily fantasy games. The site was made by the same group that created PocketFives.com – a popular online poker player rankings community with over 70,000 members. RotoGrinders.com’s content extends well beyond player rankings – their player search feature allows you to look up detailed stats on your opponents. The daily strategy content, forums posts, and site reviews make them a total resource for daily fantasy gamers. Check out their Fanduel Review for a great example review.

If you play daily fantasy and would like to see how you stack up against the competition simply visit the site and create a profile. You enter your screen names from the various daily sites you play – they then grab your results and run them through their rankings formula to spit out your personal ranking. The top ranked guys are currently winning well over $10,000/month. Their rankings formula has been debated quite a bit in the forums. The formula gives bonuses to those players playing multiple sports on multiple sites. Players must prove their skill by winning in many different types of games to achieve a high ranking.

At the time of this writing some of the biggest players in daily fantasy have not yet signed up to the site to participate in the rankings. One of them is Kaiseroll13, a fantasy behemoth that wagers more on fantasy in one day than 99% of the players wagers in a year. Even though he hasn’t created a profile, you can still easily see his results using RotoGrinders Player Search feature. Here is what pops up when you search for Kaiseroll13. Click on the Fantasy Sports Live link first – he’s got over $100,000 in winnings on that site alone this year! If you’re interested in trying to match that you can learn more about FSL on their Fantasy Sports Live Review and Bonus Code page. Some other compelling players searches include FantasyFactor and high stakes fantasy pro Shawn Childs and high volume players like heelsman and hndcpr.

If you’re looking to venture into the world of daily fantasy, this site should definitely be a daily stop. They have a section called “New to Daily Fantasy” that explains the rules of the game, how it’s legal, and lists all the best places to play. Get started there. Best of luck to you if you decide to play, and thanks to RotoGrinders for creating such a cool site!

The first thing a daily fantasy games player needs to do when signing up for a new site is learn the scoring system.  This is especially true if the site uses somewhat strange scoring systems, like FSL.  Here’s a look at their baseball scoring system, for example:

FSL Fantasy Baseball Scoring System

9-Player teams with these positions: P, C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, RF, CF and LF

(Remember, if you want to sign up on FSL use our bonus code for Fantasy Sports Live.  The code is “Fanatics” and will get you a $30 bonus on a $200 deposit).

Hitters:

Run = 2 pts
Hit = 1 pt
Double = 2 pts
Triple = 3 pts
Homerun= 4 pts
RBI = 2 pts
BB = 1 pt
SB= 2 pts
K = -1 pt

These hitting scores are quite a bit different than what you’re used to if you play traditional 5×5 fantasy baseball.  With a K taking away a full point, you really have to avoid the strike out kings.  Beware the guys that strike out often and hit for low averages.  Upgrade the speedy leadoff hitters that draw a lot of walks – a walk is just as good as a hit on FSL!  Anyone who gets pitched around (mainly Pujols) also gets a bit of a boost here.

Pitchers:

1/3 Inning Pitched = 1 pt
K = 1 pt
Win = 8 pts
Hit Allowed = -1 pt
Walk Allowed = -1 pt
Earned Run Allowed = -2 pts

If you grab Lincecum or Halladay on one of their complete game shutout days, you win your Fantasy Sports Live matchup.  A stellar or terrible pitching game can totally decide your league.  Reach for the kind of veteran ace that typically goes deep in games – remember, you’re getting three points for every inning they pitch.  It’s going to take a lot of hitting points to make up for the 21 points you’ll get for a seven inning outing.

Fantasy Sports Live’s Fantasy Football Scoring Rules are a little bit more what you’re used to:

Offense

All TDs= 6 pts
2 pt conversion = 2 pts
10 yards rushing = 1 pt
10 yard receiving = 1 pt
25 yards passing = 1 pt
Fumble Lost= -2 pts
Interception = -2 pts

The main thing to remember in this scoring format is that QBs get six points per touchdown.  That doesn’t make them as important as your pitcher in baseball, but it is significant.  Look at the Rodgers, Brees, and Manning crowd first to see if there are any great matchups.  Fantasy Sports Live does not offer points per reception, so downgrade the possession receivers here.  It’s all about yards and TDs.  If you think you’re ready to try this site out use our FSL Bonus Code and get to the games!

Fantasy Basketball Scoring Rules aren’t quite as crazy as the baseball rules.  There are no triple double or minutes-played bonuses, just straight up points for production.  Focus on drafting the stats hounds and you’ll be fine.

9 Player  Team: 2 Point Guards, 2 Shooting Guards, 2 Small Forwards, 2 Power Forwards, and 1 Center

3 pt FG = 3 pts
2 pt FG = 2 pts
Free Throw= 1 pt
Rebound = 1 pt
Assist = 1 pt
Block = 2 pts
Steal = 2 pts
Turnover = -1 pt

Current FanDuel Promo Code:   “Bonus20″ – 20% sign up bonus! You must click through this link to claim your bonus: Fanduel.com Link

Enter the code “Bonus20″ on the page where you sign up your account your account will be credited bonus money equal to 20% of your initial deposit!

Fanduel.com is one of the slickest daily fantasy games sites.  This site could not be easier to use – all you have to do is pick your team in their salary cap framework.  All games are heads up.  You can play a heads up game for $5, $10, or $20.  Once your line-up is full and under the cap you simply tell Fanduel that buy-in you want to play and how many games you want to play at that buy-in.  Then, right before the games start, Fanduel will match you randomly with another member that registered a team at the same buy-in level.  You just pick your team and sit back and wait.

They offer daily games for NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA.  Many of their players participate in multiple sports.  This writer, for example, currently had an NFL Playoffs week 2 team and a daily NBA team going today.  I had action on almost every professional sporting event today, and it was all legal.  Their scoring system is very simple, basically similar to ESPN standard scoring leagues.   There are no fractional points, which leads to more ties.  Passing TDs are worth 4 points and rushing and receiving TDs worth 6.  There is no “Point per reception.”  The lack of PPR makes Fanduel an RB heavy format.  Remember that when you’re spending those salary dollars.

Fanduel’s live scoring allows players to follow their matchups while watching the game. Here’s a peek at their live scoring page:

Fanduel’s simple structure is working for them.  They are awarding over $100,000/month in prizes!  That’s a lot action.  In December of 2009 one player, UCLA2, had over 200 wins by himself. They were also featured on TechCrunch in August of 2009.  Major exposure like that is a great sign for the future of the daily fantasy games industry.  Sites like Fanduel, and their prize pools, should just keep growing.

Click the link below to give FanDuel a try:

http://partners.fanduel.com/processing/clickthrgh.asp?btag=a_97b_2

Current DraftZone Promo Code: Bonus25

This Promo code gets you a 25% sign up bonus!

DraftZone.com is the best option for those fantasy players that love the draft.  While most sites that offer daily fantasy games heavily feature salary cap or pick’em type games, DraftZone goes straight for the jugular and offers full fledged daily and weekly fantasy drafts.  For a more detailed review check out RotoGrinders.com DraftZone Review. You can draft heads up or against up to 12 opponents.  To join a draft check out their poker-like league lobby.  Be sure to use our 25% promotional code when you join.  You’re likely to see many heads up drafting games that have 1 spot out of 2 already filled.  Join one of these games and you will be drafting within ten minutes.  The reason that it takes ten minutes is because when you join that draft the other person that is already signed up receives an email and cell phone message telling them that their draft is full and that they have ten minutes to get into the Draft Room.

If you’re sitting on a pretty free schedule you can create or join an empty table at the stakes of your choosing and wait for an opponent to stop in.  I prefer to be the first person in so that I can pick my own stakes.  Normally someone joins a table I create within 10 minutes at stakes under $50.   The larger stakes can take a bit longer.  If you go this route, simply remember to unregister from your table if you have to leave.  You don’t want to be out on a date or in a meeting and get that text message saying “You’re Draft starts in ten minutes!!!”

Click below to visit DraftZone and start playing or continue reading for more details.  If you choose to sign up an account, remember to type in Promotional Code Bonus25 on the registration page to claim your bonus.

DraftZone.com

The draft itself opens up some very cool strategic opportunities.  You and your opponents have 30 seconds to make picks.  30 seconds is already a quick decision, but if your opponents are good they will be making their picks in 2-3 seconds, leaving you with little time to think.  Definitely be prepared before you start drafting!  The simplest thing you can do is have a separate window open listing all of that day’s or week’s matchups.

Once you get the hang of the draft you can try some more advanced strategy.  My personal favorite is the “block.”  If Brady and Manning both have incredible matchups  go ahead and draft one of them first.  If your opponent is playing you heads up he will probably go after RBs or WRs since you already have selected a QB.  If he does this you can block him from getting an elite QB by drafting Manning with your next pick.  DraftZone gives you a three man bench, so you can simply sit one of them on your bench and out of your opponent’s lineup.  Of course you shouldn’t do this if it sacrifices too much value at the other positions, but I think its a winning move in many draft situations.

DraftZone also offers salary cap leagues for those who can’t handle the intensity of the draft.  Salary cap leagues are a great option if you want to play at that moment and no drafts are nearly full.  Another cool option is the ability to create private leagues.  Every week I create a private league and invite all the members of my season-long home league to come play.  We’re able to get 6-10 drafters each week, making for a fun side challenge to our main league.

So, kudos to DraftZone for focusing on the draft.  They had to put a ton of extra development time and money into delivering us a product where we can all hop on and instantly draft at the same time.  They pulled it off, and this awesome product should pay off for them.  Be sure to add Draftzone to your daily fantasy games repertoire.

If you do not yet have a DraftZone account, please follow the link below, use promotional code Bonus25 and collect your 25% deposit bonus:

http://www.draftzone.com/affiliate/tracker.php?affiliate_id=1010&campaign_id=21

Current Fantasy Sports Live Bonus Code: “Fanatics”

On signup, type in code Fanatics to get a $30 bonus on a $200 deposit, a $20 bonus on a $100 deposit, or a $10 bonus on a $50 deposit. Go for the free $30. That is the best bonus deal in fantasy sports. Use this URL: http://www.fantasysportslive.com/index.html?affiliate=Fanatics

FantasySportsLive.com is a big innovator in the fantasy sports community – they were the first one to get the now uber-popular daily games up and running. Many sites have joined the daily/weekly realm since, but FSL remains one of the leaders. FSL offers daily unlimited salary cap games. They have some of the most active players on the web, as evidenced by their leaderboard. At the time of this writing, user KaiserRoll13 has won a ridiculous 6255 contests!

Fantasy Sports Live User Interface

FSL has perfected its user interface. The league lobby is a smooth functioning poker client look-a-like. The online poker player should feel right at home here.  On top of their great bonus code, Fantasy Sports Live also offers a generous 10% rake, which is average for poker but quite low for fantasy sports. This is a site all fantasy enthusiasts should have in their arsenal.  You can play daily fantasy football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and even racing.  Each game has it’s own unique drafting rules, team sizes, and scoring systems.  Be sure to read the league rules carefully before signing up.  Perhaps more importantly, when multiple sports are in season be sure you’re signing up for the right sport!

As mentioned above, FSL has some very avid players. Some of their competitors treat the game like poker, using analytical tools and tracking their bankroll daily in blogs. Buffalo66, with over 3000 wins, is one of those players. There are other guys with over 1000 wins. I’m happy that sickos like that can find a home on the internet. There are over 100 (and growing) players on this site with over 100 wins!  FSL notes that a “win” constitutes any money won in a contest, so it’s not like these guys are finishing in first place every time, but it’s still a lot. I wish FSL would offer a breakdown of number of games played by type. Are most of these heads up wins or six man tournament wins?

As far as site improvements, FSL really just needs more players. With more volume they can offer a lot more 6 and 10 man games. I believe more game variety would come with more volume as well. Different scoring systems, league sizes, and roster requirements would be fun. A draft-based game would be sweet as well.

Conclusion

If daily and weekly fantasy sports games are the next poker, then FantasySportsLive has a very bright future as one of the cornerstone sites in this space. If you’re looking for more sports action check out FSL. They have a nice little tour right on the front page that explains how to use the site.  If you have any further questions, just shoot them over to their very responsive support team.  Even better, you can give them a call during normal business hours at 800.970.2040.

Once again, our Fantasy Sports Live bonus code is Fanatics. As mentioned above, you get $10, $20, or $30, depending on how much you deposit.

Lowball Fantasy Games Current Promo Codes: None

Lowball is focused on offering a fantasy game for everyone.  A variety of daily, weekly, and season long games are readily available for players of any skill level.

The site is set to launch for the 2009 fantasy football season.  The graphics look great and the guys behind it seem to have a strong promotional plan.  If you’re interested in learning more before they launch follow the Lowball Blog.  They post regular updates there about their upcoming plans.

Sites offering daily and weekly games are popping up quite frequently lately.  With RapidDraft, SnapDraft, DraftBug, Fantazzle, Lowball, and others there is a wide variety of options for the fantasy consumer.  We hope that one of them will emerge as the major market leader and obtain a critical mass of players.  With a critical mass these sites will be able to run constant draft based leagues – you can visit the site whenever you want, find a draft that is almost full, hop right in and play.  At any rate, all of these options are great for the fantasy consumer.  Check out Lowball.com and enjoy!

Current RapidDraft Promo Code:  rdbuf601 – for a 30% off June play on your drafts!. Also, RDTA26 good for 1 FREE RapidDraft for each customer. Expires Saturday June 27th at midnight

RapidDraft.com offers a single player fantasy game in which any Regular Joe can draft against professionals in the fantasy industry.  Since it is a single player game users can sign up whenever they want and start drafting.  We here at the Fantasy Promo Code blog think this is a brilliant model because it eliminates the painful process of organizing a draft time with a dozen busy leaguemates.  In another great move, Rapid Draft gives users even more control by allowing them to choose their own draft position!  Want to try the WR/WR strategy this year?  Put yourself in draft position 11 or 12 and let it roll.

The celebrity drafters add a nice touch to the game.  Representatives from sites like USA Today and Fantasy Sharks set their draft order and then the RapidDraft algorithm takes over.  You’re drafting against some of the best minds in fantasy football, even though they aren’t present at the draft.  Don’t let that intimidate you, though.  A savvy owner should be able to find flaws in the way the algorithm interacts with the pros’ rankings lists.  There may be opportunity here to get a significant edge over the bots in your league.  If you can outperform the pros in the season long game you will be in the running for the $250,000 inaugral grand prize, to be rewarded at the end of the 16 week fantasy season.

RapidDraft is ran by World Fantasy Games, the same company that has operated SportsBuff.com for years.  It’s great to see innovative fantasy games such as this one hit the market.  As soon as we get wind of a new public promo code we will let you know!