Introduction

On November 14, Philippine DFS fans witnessed one of the most impressive performances of the season.
In the Daily Fantasy ₱100,000 Guaranteed Contest, a user named LuckyBuckets168 defeated 2,285 players, taking 1st place with a final score of 287.1 FP — earning ₱114,835 in prize money.

His roster construction was not based on luck.
It was a carefully planned DFS strategy, built with a mix of explosive ceiling plays, value picks, and smart salary distribution.

This article breaks down exactly how he won, what decisions set him apart, and what other DFS players can learn from this championship lineup.

‍

1. The Winning Lineup

As shown in the screenshot, here is the exact lineup entered by LuckyBuckets168:

🏆 Captain (2x)

• Devin Booker — 97 FP

⭐ Vice Captain (1.5x)

• Dillon Brooks — 51.3 FP

🎯 Point Guard

• J. Goodwin — 31.3 FP

🎯 Shooting Guards

• A. Nembhard — 32.4 FP
• G. Allen — 19.2 FP

🎯 Small Forward

• A. Nesmith — 18.1 FP

🎯 Power Forward

• P. Siakam — 26 FP

🎯 Center

• I. Jackson — 11.8 FP

Final Score: 287.1 FP
Entries: 2,285 players
Placement: 1st place
Prize: ₱114,835

‍

2. Strategy #1 – Building Around a Slate-Breaking Captain: Devin Booker

Making Devin Booker the 2x Captain was the anchor of this lineup — and the single biggest reason this roster soared past the field.

Booker entered the slate with:

• High usage
• Heavy minutes
• A fast-paced matchup
• Clear offensive responsibility

When Booker explodes, he doesn’t just hit value — he breaks slates.
Multiplying his 97 FP by 2x alone created a massive advantage.

DFS Lesson:
When a superstar is in a dream scenario (pace + usage + matchup), giving him the Captain slot is often the highest-EV decision.

‍

3. Strategy #2 – High-Upside Vice Captain: Dillon Brooks

Choosing Dillon Brooks as Vice Captain (1.5x) was one of the boldest and most strategic decisions of the night.

Most players in a contest like this would choose the “safe” option:
Pascal Siakam, the clear first scoring option for his team.

Siakam is:

• Reliable
• High-floor
• Consistently used
• A common VC choice among DFS players

But that is exactly why LuckyBuckets168’s decision stands out.

He did NOT follow the safe, predictable route.
Instead, he selected Dillon Brooks, a mid-tier scorer with:

• High volatility
• High ceiling
• Lower ownership
• Strong upside when his shot is falling

This decision paid off massively when Brooks scored 51.3 FP, and the 1.5x multiplier turned that into a difference-making score — beating thousands of lineups anchored by Siakam as VC.

DFS Lesson:
Safe picks win cash games.
Bold, high-upside mid-tier picks win tournaments.

‍

4. Strategy #3 – Smart Mid-Tier Value: Nembhard & Allen

Two of the most important mid-tier selections in this lineup were:

• Andrew Nembhard — 32.4 FP
• Grayson Allen — 19.2 FP

These two represent classic mid-tier DFS value — not overly expensive, but capable of delivering stability and outperforming their price tags.

Why these picks were strategically strong:

• Reliable minutes: Both players were projected for consistent playing time.
• Multi-category contributions:
  • Nembhard delivered assists, scoring, and peripherals.
  • Allen contributed efficient scoring and floor spacing.
• Affordable pricing: Their mid-range salaries made it possible to invest heavily in Booker (C) and Brooks (VC).
• Solid floor: Even without massive upside, both offered dependable fantasy production that kept the lineup stable.

Nembhard, in particular, stood out with 32.4 FP, returning superb value. Allen, although not explosive, fulfilled his mid-tier role appropriately.

DFS Lesson:
Mid-tier players are the backbone of tournament-winning lineups. They create balance and allow stars to shine.

‍

5. Strategy #4 – Role Players as Salary Enablers

To afford premium multipliers like Booker (Captain) and Brooks (Vice Captain), the lineup relied on budget role players who could provide enough production without costing too much salary.

These key salary enablers were:

• J. Goodwin — 31.3 FP
• A. Nesmith — 18.1 FP
• I. Jackson — 11.8 FP

These players weren’t chosen for star potential, but for their combination of affordability and projected opportunity.

Why these enablers were effective:

• Goodwin (31.3 FP): Excellent value as a role player, surpassing expectations with efficient point guard minutes.
• Nesmith (18.1 FP): Added defensive stats, hustling plays, and low-ownership upside.
• Jackson (11.8 FP): Provided cheap center minutes and just enough FP to justify his role.

Even though Nesmith and Jackson produced modest numbers, the salary relief they provided made it possible to roster high-ceiling stars in multiplier positions — which is essential for climbing to the top of a large-field tournament.

DFS Lesson:
Salary enablers don’t need to smash; they just need to deliver enough value to activate your stars’ ceiling.

‍

6. Strategy #5 – Understanding Pace, Matchups & Game Flow

This lineup demonstrates excellent prediction of game context:

• PHX–IND projected as a high-paced, fantasy-friendly matchup
• Booker and Goodwin offered clear ball-handling roles
• Nembhard and Siakam delivered stability in stats
• Brooks provided volatility and scoring upside

Instead of spreading across unrelated games, this roster focused on players whose roles matched the expected game flow.

DFS Lesson:
DFS success requires predicting not just who will play — but how the game will unfold.

‍

7. Why This Lineup Beat 2,285 Entries

This lineup succeeded because it followed all core DFS principles:

✔ Elite multiplier selections (Booker & Brooks)

✔ Mid-tier players who exceeded value (Nembhard & Allen)

✔ Salary-efficient role players (Goodwin, Nesmith, Jackson)

✔ High-usage players in a high-paced matchup

✔ Perfect salary allocation

✔ No dead roster slots

✔ A bold VC decision that separated it from the field

While many players built "safe" lineups…
LuckyBuckets168 built a winning lineup.

‍

Conclusion

The November 14 Daily Fantasy ₱100K contest shows what separates top DFS players from everyone else:

• Smart multiplier choices
• Understanding usage and minutes
• Mixing ceiling plays with value
• Predicting game flow accurately
• Making bold decisions when others play safe

LuckyBuckets168 didn’t just get lucky —
he out-strategized 2,285 opponents and built a lineup that maximized ceiling while minimizing risk.

For players aspiring to win big on Daily Fantasy, this lineup serves as a blueprint:

Choose your core star, pick the right VC, identify mid-tier value, use efficient salary enablers, and trust your basketball IQ.

That’s how you turn a solid lineup into a ₱114,835-winning masterpiece.

‍