What does a DFS contest sim do?

A contest sim plays a slate many times with random outcomes for each player. In each run, it scores your lineups and a simulated field of other entries in one contest, with that contest's prize table. Then it ranks your lineups by how they did across all the runs.

How does the DFS Studio sim work?

DFS Studio sims your lineups in one contest on 1,000 simulated slates. It draws the field from projected ownership, and it runs in your browser. The sim score compares each lineup with the mean of the lineups simmed with it: 100 is your average lineup.

On a FanDuel contest, the sim uses FanDuel's own payout table. If DFS Studio has not read that table yet, the sim draws one from the contest's total prizes and places paid, and the sim says "payouts estimated".

Does the sim show how much I can win?

No. The sim ranks your lineups against each other. It shows no expected return, because real contests do not support its absolute numbers. The rank uses our projections, and it is not a measured edge.

How do I pick lineups by sim?

Set the number of lineups to play, run the sim, and pick by sim. With your entries file, the sim picks one lineup for each entry of the contest. The contest sim has the steps.

Updated November 2, 2026.