NBA DFS for Beginners: Your First Basketball Lineup
Daily fantasy basketball is one night of fantasy: pick a slate, build a lineup under a salary cap, and score from your players' real stats that night. No draft, no season-long commitment, and a fresh start every night there's a slate. The 2026–27 NBA regular season tips off on Tuesday, October 20, and NBA contests open on Runtiva when it does. Here is everything you need for your first lineup.
How the salary cap works
Every NBA lineup on Runtiva is built with $50,000 of salary. Each player has a price, and the stars cost several times what a bench player does, so you can't roster them all. The game is deciding where to spend and where to save.
Think in points per dollar, not just points. A cheap player who scores 30 fantasy points can help your lineup more than an expensive one who scores 45, because of who the money you saved lets you afford.
Positions and scoring
Your lineup is made up of guards, forwards and centers. The app shows exactly which slots you need to fill before you enter, so check the contest's rules screen the first time you build. Scoring on Runtiva:
- Points — 1 fantasy point per real point.
- Rebounds — 1.2 each.
- Assists — 1.5 each.
- Steals and blocks — 3 each.
- Turnovers −1 each.
What that means for your picks: a player who fills the whole box score beats a pure scorer. A big man with 10 rebounds and two blocks, or a guard who racks up assists and steals, is often worth more than his points total suggests. The full table is in the contest rules.
Minutes matter most
In basketball, opportunity is minutes. A player on the floor for 35 minutes collects rebounds, assists and defensive stats even on a bad shooting night. When you compare two similarly priced players, look first at how much each one is expected to play.
The best values usually come from a change in minutes: a starter is out, and the player taking his spot is still priced like a reserve. Spotting those players is the core skill in NBA DFS.
Late news, injuries and lineup lock
NBA news breaks late. Teams update the league's injury report through the day, and a player listed as questionable in the morning may be ruled in or out shortly before tip-off.
- Your lineup locks when the first game of the slate starts. You can edit freely until then, and nothing can change afterward.
- A player who sits after lock scores zero, so recheck your lineup in the last hour before the first tip.
- If you can't be around near lock, avoid players whose status is still uncertain.
Watch for back-to-backs
When a team plays on consecutive nights, the second game is where rest days and reduced minutes tend to show up, especially for veterans. Check the schedule before you lock in a star on the back half of a back-to-back, and keep an eye on his backup, who may be the one getting the extra minutes.
Choosing your first contest
- Free contests — learn the scoring and pricing with nothing at stake.
- Head-to-heads and 50/50s — beat one opponent, or finish in the top half of the field. A solid lineup is enough.
- Private contests — play people you know in your own group.
- Tournaments — bigger prizes for a small share of the field. Save them for when you know the game.
The differences between formats are explained in contest types. Paid contests are available in eligible states only; see where you can play.
Your first-lineup checklist
- Pick a slate. Nights with more games give you a bigger player pool and more value options.
- Check the injury report. Note who is out and whose minutes go up as a result.
- Find one or two values. Cheap players with a bigger role free up money for your stars.
- Fill out with minutes. Favor players expected to play big minutes over hot-shooting bench players.
- Check back-to-backs. Know which of your players are on the second night of a back-to-back.
- Recheck before lock. Look at the news again before the first game starts.
Step-by-step screens are in how to play basketball. Set a budget before the season starts and use the deposit limits and cool-downs in the app if you want a hard stop. More on the format in fantasy basketball on Runtiva.
Frequently asked questions
Why do minutes matter more than points in fantasy basketball?
Every minute on the floor is a chance at a rebound, an assist, a steal or a block, not just a shot. A player who logs 34 minutes on a cold shooting night often outscores a hot shooter who plays 20, so projected minutes are the first number to check.
What happens if my player is ruled out after lineups lock?
Nothing in your lineup can change after lock, so a player who doesn't play scores zero. That is why the last hour before the first tip-off is the most important time to check the injury news.
What is a back-to-back and why does it matter?
A back-to-back is when a team plays on two consecutive nights. Teams sometimes rest veterans or limit minutes on the second night, so a star on the back half of a back-to-back is a bigger risk, and his backup can become a bargain.
Which NBA contest should I enter first?
Start with free contests to learn the scoring, then move to head-to-heads or 50/50s, where a solid lineup is enough. Leave tournaments until you have a feel for pricing and minutes.
Can I play NBA DFS against my friends?
Yes. Create a group in the Runtiva app and run private contests against people you know, with a group chat for the trash talk.