Before you can build a winning portfolio, you need a pool of lineups that are designed to win.

Most tools get this wrong. They treat DFS like a math problem: add up average projections, apply ownership caps, force stack rules, and hope the optimizer produces something viable.

But DFS doesn’t work that way. Players don’t perform in a vacuum, and a lineup isn’t just a list of disconnected players. Every lineup is a bet on a story; or, a game script describing how a slate could realistically unfold. Player fantasy points are direct results of that story: touchdowns shift momentum, clock management shapes strategy, and one big play can swing the game.

If your builder doesn’t reflect this, every lineup it produces is guesswork.

That’s why SaberSim starts with play-by-play simulations. We simulate every play and decision to build thousands of realistic game scripts. These scripts capture how players perform together, not just in isolation.

This is the engine behind the Sim Optimizer. Unlike traditional optimizers that rely on averages, SaberSim builds lineups directly from real game simulations.

Stacks emerge organically because the simulations reflect actual game outcomes:

You don’t need to force what’s already being modeled. SaberSim’s optimizer naturally reflects the first truth of DFS: you’re betting on games, not spreadsheets.

If a QB and WR explode in the same simulation, they get stacked because that’s what happened in that game script. You don’t need to force stacks or randomness. They emerge organically from the underlying game data.

This process repeats thousands of times, producing a diverse pool of lineups that reflects the full range of slate outcomes.

For GPPs, your goal isn’t hitting a median projection—it’s winning. That requires lineups built with upside, correlation, and leverage.

SaberSim generates a wide variety of such viable lineups:

But each lineup is rooted in a game script where that outcome actually occurred. Our Sim Optimizer is designed to optimize for upside because the top-heavy nature of DFS payouts rewards ceiling outcomes, not averages.

Start simple. SaberSim already bakes stacking, correlation, and upside into every build. You don’t need complex rules to get there. In fact, we recommend starting with defaults, letting the sims do the heavy lifting, and then applying adjustments after your initial build.

When you want more control, you have options:

Best practice: build the largest lineup pool your plan allows. More lineups = more flexibility later. Building isn’t about finding the single “perfect” lineup—it’s about generating a pool of viable, high-upside bets.

Once your pool is built, it's time to evaluate and refine:

Lineup building is iterative:

This process is especially important when news breaks. Projections update automatically, but you’ll need to rebuild to apply those changes to your pool.

Not building enough lineups: Limiting yourself to a small pool reduces flexibility. SaberSim is built to explore thousands of game scripts, so if you only build a few lineups, you’re not taking full advantage of that range.
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Forgetting to rebuild after changes: When you adjust exposures, projections, or filters, you must rebuild. Otherwise, you are applying changes to outdated pools that no longer reflect the current reality of the slate.
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Micromanaging the builder: Treating SaberSim like a traditional optimizer prevents it from doing its job. The sims already build stacks and correlations into lineups. Over-controlling exposures or rules takes away the natural edge of simulation-based builds.
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Chasing median projections: Picking lineups because they have the highest average projection is a mistake. DFS is about upside and realistic paths to first place, not who looks safest on average.
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Treating every contest the same: A lineup that works in a 200,000-entry GPP is not the same lineup you want in a 100-person single-entry. Contest type, payout structure, and field tendencies all change what makes a lineup profitable.

The Sim Optimizer builds lineups from real game scripts that embrace volatility, correlation, and upside, because that’s how DFS is actually won. By repeating the process across thousands of simulations, you generate a large, diverse pool of high-upside lineups in just a few clicks.

Traditional optimizers build off averages projections and rules. SaberSim builds from thousands of play-by-play simulations of every game on the slate. These simulations account for score, clock, matchups, coaching decisions, and game flow to produce realistic game scripts.

From there, SaberSim builds lineups that reflect those stories:

The result is a pool of lineups that reflect how slates actually unfold.

This reflects a core truth of DFS: you aren’t betting on a spreadsheet—you’re betting on real, messy games. In SaberSim, when a QB and WR succeed in the same script, they appear together in lineups because that’s how the story actually played out. No guesswork, no fragile rules...just reality modeled directly into your builds.

The best approach is: Build → Review → Revise.

Avoid starting with heavy rules. Let the sims build first, then refine.

Your first build doesn't have to be your final product. It’s a starting point. The sims surface realistic game stories, and your role is to make small adjustments that reflect your research and contest strategy.

Even if you only plan to enter a handful of lineups, building a large pool first ensures you’re selecting from the best possible mix of realistic game stories.

Projections guide the stories you want to bet on, exposures guide the portfolio of lineups you want to play. Use projections to shape the game-level narrative, and exposures to manage your personal risk and contest mix.

Sim Mode is designed for playing to win in GPPs. Optimizer Mode is better for flat-payout contests where floor matters more than ceiling.

These sliders are your way to fine-tune which truths you want to emphasize. Higher Sim Diversity embraces the chaos of sports. Higher Correlation doubles down on game-level storytelling.

Each build samples a new set of simulations. Since no two slates play out identically, no two builds should look the same. You’re not searching for one “perfect” lineup—you’re exploring different versions of the slate.

This is by design: DFS is a probability game. Every build surfaces a new set of viable upside paths. The fact that your lineups shift each time is proof that SaberSim is modeling the uncertainty of real sports, not pretending outcomes are fixed.

No. Because SaberSim samples new simulations for each build, even simultaneous builds produce different lineups. The odds of duplicates are extremely low except on very small slates.

This keeps your builds unique. Traditional optimizers often funnel everyone toward the same “optimal” lineup, creating chalk-heavy duplication. SaberSim ensures your process inherently diversifies, because no one is betting on the exact same game script library you are.

DraftKings requires users to adjust at least two players’ projections, ownership, or exposures before generating lineups. Change any two values slightly and the Build Lineups button will unlock.

Yes. Use Clone Build to duplicate a build. All settings, projections, and adjustments carry over so you can experiment freely.

This lets you test scenarios (higher correlation, contrarian fades, projection tweaks) without fear of losing progress.

Build failures usually mean your constraints are too tight. Common causes:

Loosen rules or exposures and try again.