Let\u2019s review some of the more popular fantasy competition sites out there, starting with Fanduel.com<\/p>\n
How \u2013 To<\/h3>\n
Fanduel\u2019s format is pretty simple. It\u2019s a daily league in which you instantly draft a team of athletes playing in a given sport that night. You go head-to-head with an opponent of your choice (i.e. a friend or enemy) or you can be matched up randomly with a public opponent. You bet money and win money on the match.<\/p>\n
At the end of the day\u2019s action, whoever\u2019s team performs the best wins the pot. It allows for instant gratification, as players get paid daily in real cash. It also calls upon you for very current sports knowledge, as the best players are the ones who can most accurately forecast how guys will play right now.<\/p>\n
Variety<\/h3>\n
If Fanduel suffers anywhere, it\u2019s in the variety department. The simplicity is nice but it would be neat if you could change up the format. Maybe switch from point-style scoring to head-to-head in baseball for a change? Or extend a match with your buddy from one night to one week?<\/p>\n
Fanduel does have decent variety in terms of competition. You can compete against just one person or many and it features regular contests between large groups of players for cash prizes. You can wager $5, $10, $25, $50 or $100. The more people you play with, the lower your odds but the bigger your return.<\/p>\n
Grade: C+<\/p>\n
Ease of Use<\/h3>\n
Fanduel is pretty crisp and simple. The point-scoring system is explained in detail and simple to begin with. Simply picking your players for the day and pitting them against a friend isn\u2019t a complicated process. My impression is that you could be signed in and picking a team within five minutes of finding the site.<\/p>\n
The payment method and Fanduel\u2019s ability to pay out quickly are also major plusses. Fanduel uses the PayPal system and traditionally gets your winnings to you in 48 hours (or the next working day after that if you make a withdrawal request over a weekend). The two-day window is PayPal\u2019s doing, not Fanduel\u2019s. Grade: A<\/p>\n What Fanduel lacks in overall creativity and variety, it makes up in the general fun factor. Maybe the game stays simple because that\u2019s what works best?<\/p>\n As a sports nut, I think the site lends well to \u201cmaking up your own rules.\u201d You and a friend could throw down $100 and play a best-of-seven between the two of you for a week. That brings the same fun of rivalry and competition you get from a standard Yahoo! Fantasy league \u2013 but you can take a break and not worry about your team tanking if you decide to hit up Cancun for your honeymoon.<\/p>\n And think about the possibilities for a bigger group. Say you have eight buddies, all of whom like to bet on sports. You can play a game every Thursday night for $25 bucks per guy. Winner gets $200 and buys a round of beer for the other players every Friday. That\u2019s just one possible scenario.<\/p>\n Grade: A<\/p>\n Fanduel isn\u2019t the site for a diehard fantasy player looking for a million different games. However, it\u2019s a great site for people who like to combine sports betting and fantasy and who enjoy the thrill of competition. The instant gratification in game results and payment is also a nice frill.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
Fun factor\/intangibles<\/h3>\n
Overall<\/h3>\n