Welcome to the wonderful world of Fantasy Football! This is your life now. Forget everything else you thought you cared about. Now, it’s just you and endless drafts, trades, and self-doubt for the rest of time. It’s incredible!

If you’re new here, I know it can seem overwhelming with all the different formats, scoring options, and roster settings. I know what you’re thinking:

“How do I know what to choose?”

The good news: whether you’re looking for a casual, season-long experience or a quick, week-to-week competition, there’s something for everyone! In this guide, I want to take a look at the four most popular formats—redraft leagues, dynasty leagues, best ball leagues, and daily fantasy sports (DFS)—and break down the differences between them, highlighting the pros and cons of each to help you choose the best fit for your style.

Let’s dive in!

1. Redraft Fantasy Football Leagues

Overview: Redraft leagues are the most common type of fantasy football format. Every season, teams start from scratch by drafting players anew, and managers compete over the course of a single season. At the end of the year, all rosters are wiped clean, and the process begins again the following year.

Pros:

Simplicity: Redraft leagues are straightforward, and since there is no long-term commitment to players, each season is a fresh start.
Flexibility: With no need to consider future seasons, managers can focus solely on the current year’s performance, drafting the best available players without thinking long-term.
Accessibility: It’s the most beginner-friendly format and perfect for casual players who only want to play one season at a time.

Cons:

Limited Strategic Depth: Because rosters reset every year, there’s little incentive to invest in younger, developing players or consider long-term roster building.
Luck-Driven: Injuries and unpredictable performances can have a bigger impact since managers can’t plan for future seasons.

2. Dynasty Fantasy Football Leagues

Overview: In dynasty leagues, teams keep most or all of their roster from year to year. This creates a long-term fantasy football experience where managing your team’s future is just as important as competing in the current season. Each offseason, managers hold rookie drafts to add new talent to their rosters.

Pros:

Long-Term Strategy: Dynasty leagues reward managers who can build a team with both immediate and future success in mind. Drafting and trading for younger players with upside becomes crucial.
Year-Round Engagement: The season doesn’t end with the championship. Offseason trading, rookie drafts, and free agency keep managers engaged all year long.
Sense of Ownership: Managers develop a stronger connection to their team as they work to build a competitive roster over time.

Cons:

Time Commitment: Dynasty leagues require significant attention, even during the offseason, as managers need to think ahead and manage a team over the long term.
Harder for Newcomers: Joining an established dynasty league can be difficult, as new teams may be at a disadvantage compared to those who have been building their rosters for years.

3. Best Ball Fantasy Football Leagues

Overview: Best ball leagues are a “draft-and-forget” format. Managers draft a team but make no in-season moves. The platform automatically sets your optimal lineup each week, taking the highest-scoring players from your roster.

Pros:

Draft-Heavy: All the strategy happens during the draft, making it perfect for those who enjoy drafting but don’t want to manage a team throughout the season.
No Weekly Lineup Stress: No need to worry about setting lineups, injuries, or matchups each week, as the highest scorers on your roster are automatically selected.
Low Maintenance: Best ball requires minimal time commitment after the draft, making it an excellent option for casual players.

Cons:

No In-Season Adjustments: You can’t make waiver wire pickups or trades, so if injuries or underperformance occur, you’re stuck with your drafted team.
Less Interactive: With no in-season management, the social and competitive aspects of managing a team week-to-week are lost.

4. DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports) Fantasy Football Leagues

Overview: DFS involves selecting a new lineup for every game or slate of games (often weekly), with a salary cap limiting how many top-tier players can be chosen. DFS contests range from small games to large tournaments with thousands of participants.

Pros:

Instant Gratification: Unlike traditional leagues, you don’t have to wait an entire season to win. DFS offers the chance to win money or prizes every week.
Low Commitment: You can play whenever you want without committing to a full season, which makes it appealing for those who want flexibility.
Variety of Contests: DFS offers a wide range of contest types, including tournaments, head-to-head matches, and 50/50s, appealing to different skill levels and risk preferences.

Cons:

High Variance: DFS is often more luck-based, especially in large tournaments where a single player’s breakout game can make or break your lineup.
Short-Term Thinking: There’s no long-term strategy, and lineups only exist for a single week, which may not appeal to players who enjoy team-building over time.
Can Be Costly: If not careful, DFS can be expensive, especially if you’re consistently entering paid contests.

Now that you know how each of these popular formats works, it’s time to enter the madness! If you’re like me, you’ll do a little (or a lot) of each. There are even some more nuanced formats we haven’t even discussed in this article that are worth exploring!

For more Fantasy Football content, be sure to tune in to the Draft Dynasty Podcast with myself and fellow fantasy fanatic Andrew Wilbar! You can listen to the latest episode below, or on the FFSN NFL podcast feed wherever you get your podcasts!