Super Bowl DFS Roster Ideas

Updated February 1, 2024
By Kurt Boyer

Potential DFS Roster Picks Draw Contrast in Super Bowl LVIII 

San Francisco's quarterback Brock Purdy was not supposed to be the Fantasy QB kingpin of Championship Weekend. The AFC Championship Game was to feature a tit-for-tat showdown between 2 of the NFL's greats behind center, Baltimore's dual-threat dynamo Lamar Jackson and QB Patrick Mahomes of the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. But the cautious Vegas betting line on a point total for the American Football Conference clash showed that analysts knew what fans and commentators didn't. Baltimore and Kansas City's defenses dominated the second half of KC's 17-10 victory, while Purdy and the 49ers waged a classic comeback to beat the Detroit Lions 34-31. 

Our site's Daily Fantasy sharks who drafted TE Travis Kelce of the Chiefs, were pleased with the AFC title game, for Kelce accumulated most of Kansas City's reception yards and points-scored in the opening frames. Jackson also starred in the Ravens' early flourish of offense. But it was the 49ers-Lions game that brought unanticipated Fantasy spoils to FanDuel GMs, as Purdy rebounded from a sour opening half and combined with San Fran's superstar RB Christian McCaffery for 400+ combined yards and 3 scores. 

NFL playoff games can be very lopsided, but last week's were full of lingering drama. Fantasy gamers must clear their minds of the episodes of last weekend, in which the losing teams made terrible mistakes and game-management flubs. The Detroit Lions, for an example, have now become the latest tragic 4th-down controversy of the professional pigskin world, as Motor City fans ask why-oh-why the Lions passed up a glorious chance to go up by 17 points over San Francisco again in the late-going. In addition, the obvious head-coach matchup angle going into Super Bowl Sunday in Nevada is a potential distraction for those who consider a Fantasy score as important as final scores. 

HC Kyle Shanahan of the 49ers is known for having blown 2 leads late in Super Bowl games, first in Tom Brady and the New England Patriots' record-setting comeback over Shanahan's Atlanta Falcons of Super Bowl LI, and later, when coaching the San Francisco 49ers of 2019-20 against the Kansas City Chiefs of Super Bowl LIV. Kansas City head coach Andy Reid is only growing in stature after prodding KC's meek receiving corps to another Super Bowl appearance. However, preconceptions that the Chiefs’ offense could sag are tilting analysts toward Purdy's team. 

San Francisco was considered a "sexy" moneyline underdog going into the clubs' previous Super Bowl matchup in February of 2020. Led by yet another upstart QB in Jimmy Garoppolo, the 49ers built a late lead before the Chiefs ignited for a Lombardi Trophy conquest in the 4th quarter. It's easy to forget the final frame of NFL football played prior to COVID-19 following Kansas City's bad second-half offense against the Baltimore Ravens. But it's also hard to dispute that the defending champs are playing an even fiercer brand of defense later in the 2020s, as compared to the Chiefs teams that simply out-scored foes. 

San Francisco has not won a Super Bowl championship since Super Bowl XXIX in 1994. Purdy, a formerly overlooked "Mr. Irrelevant" draft pick, rose to prominence with the 49ers in the 2022-23 postseason. The 24-year-old San Fran starter is 4-1 in 5 NFL playoff games, and combined with Brandon Aiyuk on a Week 21 touchdown that pleased DFS gamers who'd drafted the underdog QB-receiver combo. 

San Francisco's defensive backfield has intercepted more opponent's passes (22) than it has allowed passing TDs (20) on the season. Our partners at NumberFire are predicting that San Francisco has a 53% chance to win Super Bowl 58, while the Kansas City Chiefs are predicted to have a 47% chance to win. While the Chiefs have a comparably stingy defense, they've generated far fewer opposing turnovers. 

Mahomes is working on an NFL postseason resume that could eventually rival Tom Brady's, presuming the Chiefs continue to reign over the AFC. Mahomes has now passed for 39 touchdowns and nearly 5000 yards in NFL playoff and Super Bowl games. In the meantime, Purdy's scrambling was a key component of San Francisco's win over Detroit, and the upstart may need his legs again against Kansas City's fierce pass-rushing. KC produced an amazing 57 quarterback sacks in this campaign, and out-edge-rushed the Baltimore Ravens, who led the NFL in sacks, in the AFC's championship contest. 

However, what could hold Purdy's "underdog" Fantasy price back more than anything in comparison to Mahomes is that tight end Travis Kelce of Kansas City is on top of his game, while George Kittle's relatively disappointing NFC Championship Game leaves Fantasy speculators asking just how many weapons Purdy has left in the aerial game. 

Contrastingly, the 49ers' inside-outside weapon, Deebo Samuel, makes the upcoming Super Bowl's most intriguing Daily Fantasy wide receiver pick on the draft board.

Super Bowl Roster Ideas: Learning How to DFS Draft for the Super Bowl 

The NFL isn’t a fan of people risking and making money from its games. Suspending players who gamble on their own games is a given, and it’s easy to see where the integrity of the NFL could be compromised by such tomfoolery. That being said, The Shield’s prudish streak can go way over the top, like when NFL players tried to participate in a small-stakes charity arm wrestling tournament in Las Vegas and faced a crackdown from league HQ. 

If you didn’t know better, you’d imagine that the NFL—and the Super Bowl—are geared specifically to bettors and fantasy contests. 

FBS handicappers would go crazy trying to rate every player who might possibly appear in a major bowl game. On the contrary, the NFL has only 32 teams, and most of them are already ruled out of a potential Super Bowl appearance by early January. That means prospective Daily Fantasy Sports, or DFS players, have the opportunity to analyze all possible QBs, running backs, and receivers who could play for an NFL title well before everyone’s fantasy team is set for February's big game. 

There is no end to the subtle strategies and tactics of creating a DFS roster. Any kind of a “head start” on drafting DFS picks is allowed, especially when time is of the essence once Super Bowl opponents have been determined. Let’s get a head start on the next upcoming NFL title game. 

Super Bowl DFS Roster Ideas: Evaluating QBs

The Sportsbook and other DFS providers only allow for a single QB on a customer's Super Bowl roster. With only one pick at the most crucial position, it’s important that you make the strongest choice! 

Like with regular-season NFL action, QB performances in the Super Bowl surprise pundits as often as not. Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, considered to be among the greatest Fantasy QBs ever, racked up around 600 combined passing yards in 2010, but Manning only connected on 1 TD pass while also throwing an interception, making GMs happy who had picked Brees. In 2011, Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers had a fantastic Fantasy outing (and earned an MVP award) by passing for 300+ yards and 3 TDs, while his counterpart “Big” Ben Roethlisberger threw 2 picks in the game. 

It’s interesting that as dominant of a QB as Tom Brady has been for the last two decades, it took Tom Terrific until 2015 to dominate a Super Bowl of the 2010s. Brady out-dueled Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks with 4 TDs and an MVP performance in Super Bowl 49, then came back 2 years later to produce a comeback victory over Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons. New England’s short-passing style in the 2010s helped Brady put up tons of inflated stats to help DFS players all year … well, except in February. 

Few scenarios have been more frustrating for Fantasy GMs than the gameplay of Super Bowl 50 and Super Bowl 53. Each of the games starred legendary QBs like Brady, Manning, and Cam Newton, but none of the QBs starred in the games! Instead, DFS competitors worked to score handfuls of rushing, special-teams, and defensive points, as A-list passers struggled in and out of the pocket. 

Make sure to examine not only your potential Super Bowl DFS QB’s supporting cast and defense, but his opponent’s defense as well. You’re not always looking for what’s in plain sight! While a great defensive performance by an NFC or AFC champion can set a QB up with short fields and easy scoring drives, a weaker “D” will allow more points and give a passer more occasion to throw deep. If your QB draft pick’s team is winning 21-3 in the 4th quarter, don’t expect to rack up many more passing-yards points. 

Super Bowl DFS Picks: Choosing Between Skill Players 

NFL athletes who toil on defense and special teams are what we call “skill players”. But handicapping “skill players” for the Super Bowl means scouting those who handle the ball on offense (other than the quarterback), including the wide receivers, running backs, and tight ends. 

Simply drafting the big names on either Super Bowl roster is a mistake. While it’s true that an RB who gains 1500 yards in a season is playing more effectively than another who gains 700 yards, the NFL season and postseason combined are a marathon. Often, players who've utilized a great deal for their skills during the regular season are injured, fatigued, or phased out by the time the big game comes around.  

One example is Todd Gurley, who dominated the NFL as the L.A. Rams’ primary RB during the club’s run to a Super Bowl appearance in 2018-19. But by the time February rolled around, Gurley was not at 100% mentally or physically, due to the punishment of 20+ prior outings. Some DFS general managers drafted Gurley for the big game anyway, but he only gained 35 yards on 10 carries.

At the same time, fresh legs can turn an upstart NFL player into a dynamo in the Super Bowl. Damien Williams ran for less than 500 yards for the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2019 regular season, but his lack of carries (and resulting lack of hits absorbed) resulted in a high-energy gait, a 100+ yard game, and a bounty of Fantasy points for Super Bowl DFS GMs who took a chance on a “budget” draft pick.

 

Super Bowl DFS: Drafting a Defense and Kicker for Your DFS Roster

In the days when pencil and paper ruled Fantasy draft days, Fantasy GMs pitted teams of only offensive skill players against each other. But today, NFL Fantasy and DFS providers such as FanDuel allow competitors to draft and score with defense and special teams, abbreviated as “DST.” 

Both defense and special teams are now important components of fantasy football strategy. For instance, PK Harrison Butker is known to outpace dozens of name-brand stars in Fantasy point totals. Kick returns for TDs can also boost DFS point-scoring. 

Trying to find the best “DST” Fantasy choices in the NFL? Browse our DST rankings to help scout for potential Super Bowl defenses, returners, and place-kickers who could play in February. 

Scoring Rules and Super Bowl Daily Fantasy Draft

Each DFS competitor is awarded a 60,000 “FD Dollar” budget to select a roster of players at FanDuel. Contestants are asked to fill out a standard roster of picks, which includes QB, running backs, WRs, a tight end, and a kicker. Along with a team-defense pick, FanDuel customers may also choose a “flex” or variable roster spot from eligible players.

The scoring system at FanDuel doles out points for passing, rushing, receiving, runs-after-catches, and all touchdowns scored, in addition to small penalties for fumbles and interceptions. There are no penalties for 5, 10, or 15-yard penalties taken by NFL DFS draft picks, though penalties taken by an offense can stall a drive and prevent points from being scored—on the field and in NFL DFS games. Defenders earn Fantasy points by holding an opponent to minimal TDs scored during a game. A team’s defenses can also score points by creating a turnover, notching a safety, or sacking the QB.

Additionally, top kickers score 5 points at a time with 50+ yard field goals, and when it’s a passing play, a 2-point conversion earns an extra bonus!

Selecting the Right Level of Super Bowl Fantasy Opponent

Here at FanDuel, users can select a level of competition that aligns with their experience level. Veteran handicappers compete in scientific mano-a-mano duels every Sunday, but that doesn’t mean beginners are forced to go up against a landscape of games filled with champions of the “sport.” Sign-ups can register as beginners and participate in special contests against an entire field of fellow novices. Even the newest competitors can win prizes!

However, when you’re ready for the big dance, feel free to level up and engage in an experts’ battle up to 20 weeks per year, with the final winners determined on Super Bowl Sunday. 

Sign Up for Super Bowl DFS Competition at FanDuel 

If betting on the Super Bowl is something you’re interested in, and you’re from a state in which FanDuel Sportsbook is taking bets on the NFL's championship game, then make sure before Super Bowl Sunday comes along you’re registered. 

For readers in most of the United States – and for those who caught the Fantasy Football bug long before the 2010s ended – it’s time to sign-up for Daily Fantasy Sports at FanDuel and begin working on a winning DFS draft prior to the Super Bowl. 

There’s so much talent taking the gridiron that even a bargain draft pick could score multiple times and put your DFS score over the top. Get registered and start scouting for those diamonds in the rough before your opponent does!  

Super Bowl DFS Roster FAQ

Who Owns the Super Bowl's Fantasy Scoring Records? 

QB Fantasy Points: Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers, Super Bowl XXIX (41.9 Points)

RB Fantasy Points: Terrell Davis, Denver Broncos, Super Bowl XXXII (36.5 Points)

WR Fantasy Points: Jerry Rice, San Francisco 49ers, Super Bowl XXIX (33.9 Points)

Should I Cheer Against My Super Bowl QB's Defense?

Unfortunately, the big game's Fantasy contestants must cheer for their QB's defense to give up a significant point total in the opening half, or else their Super Bowl DFS quarterback might spend the entire 3rd and 4th quarters handing off the football. 

A potential solution to the problem is not to draft your sentimental favorite QB for a DFS contest if you're planning to watch the NFL weekend. But remember, you're still ultimately cheering for your Daily Fantasy QB to have a great day … and win a high-scoring game. 

How Many Players Can I Draft on a Super Bowl Roster?

Super Bowl DFS (Daily Fantasy) GMs receive a $60,000 budget (of “FanDuel dollars”) to spend drafting a roster on Super Bowl week. GMs are asked to include a QB, running backs, WRs, a TE, and a kicker. Customers may also choose a “flex” roster spot from eligible skill players and are allowed a single team "Defense and Special Teams" draft pick to go with the selected skill-position lineup for their Super Bowl contest. 

How Does FanDuel's Super Bowl DFS Scoring Work? 

Postseason NFL DFS scoring is pretty much the same as weekly Daily Fantasy games or old-fashioned Fantasy Football. A TD pass from a drafted QB-to-WR combo is still a DFS-point bonanza, while running backs like Christian McCaffery, who can score TDs in many different ways, are considered the most valuable Daily Fantasy players. 

Do NFL Kickers Score Points in the Super Bowl? 

National Football League placekickers, or “PKs,” are a quiet engine of point production on the gridiron and on the Super Bowl DFS scoreboard. Visit our NFL PK Fantasy Rankings page for more. 
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