Vegas is one of the best places to begin before setting your daily lineups. I don’t mean roaming casino floors before you head up to your laptop, although that is a method for some. We want to gather all the information we can, from spreads to player props, before really digging in. Vegas spreads can help cut down the time it takes to research a slate and it helps pinpoint the high scoring games we look for. Vegas is a smart system, so when they say Colts-Bills is going to be a low-scoring affair, I tend to believe them. Spreads also can help us predict how a game will be played. Will the Packers be in a back-and-forth battle, or will they be ahead and let the running game lead the way in the second half? A spread can help us get an idea for that answer. Player props set by Vegas is something for those who want to go one step further, and it can pay off.

Game Totals

Many of the Vegas sports websites have the same numbers for lines, and a quick google search can get you to one. When arriving, searching game totals is a great place to start. We are looking for high totals, and in football, anything 50 or over is a game to highlight for offensive players. Games with totals under 42 can be avoided for the most part.

Getting the Spread

Next, we are heading to the spread to see which team is favored and by how much. This goes hand-in-hand in helping project a general score for one team. If a Packers-Colts game has a total of 54, and the Packers are favored by 4.5 points, they have a projected score of 29.25 points. The Colts have a projected score of 24.75. To get these numbers, divide both the total and spread by two, and subtract the divided spread by the divided total. Now we are looking at possibly four touchdowns for Aaron Rodgers and company. When choosing a defense, we are looking for low projected scores to target against.If a spread holds true for a game, we can likely analyze how a game will be played.

Using the Spread

Going back to Packers-Colts as an example, a close 4.5 point spread keeps this game competitive, and both quarterbacks throwing. Now if the Packers were playing the Buccaneers, and they were favored to win by 10 points (or a -10 spread), we could see the running game take over after a big lead. Now, of course, a team’s playing style ties into this theory somewhat, but a score will likely dictate play-calling. It can be frustrating only getting a halve’s worth of stats from your quarterback, but this is why it’s a good idea to know when a matchup can be incredibly one-sided.

Analyzing Player Props

Player props are very beneficial for a daily fantasy player because this is basically Vegas’ version of stat projections. A number is set by Vegas for things like passing yards, total touchdowns, receptions, etc., and people can bet on the over/under. The set number is a good floor for what will occur, and the number after can determine their ceiling. If Julio Jones is -125 to go over 110 receiving yards, Vegas believes that will be the case. Golden Tate, on the other hand, might be +105 to go over 110 yards, meaning Vegas is not high on him to do so. These player props can give a DFS player a significant edge. Use all the player props available to you in your search for high upside players.

Totals and spreads really help narrow down research and can help predict a style of a game. Looking over player props really separates a seasoned fantasy player from a common one. Using a combination of all three topics above, can be used to project a player’s performance, and help build winning lineups.

This piece is part of our article program that features quality content from experts exclusively at FantasyPros. For more insight from Jason Guilbault, head to Daily Fantasy Cafe.