DFS Engineer Playbook

NFL DFS Glossary: 10 Terms You'll Actually Hear

By DFS Engineer Playbook · August 24, 2026 · Glossary, Fundamentals, NFL DFS

You’ll see most of these terms used without explanation once you’re in a few DFS threads or articles — this is the one place to look them up instead of guessing from context.

Ownership

The percentage of lineups in a contest expected to roster a given player. 25% ownership means roughly 1 in 4 entries has that player. Matters most in GPPs, where your score only counts relative to the field.

Chalk

A player, team, or game projected to be highly owned. The “obvious” plays most of the field is on. Not a bad thing by itself — chalk is often chalk because it’s a genuinely good play — but stacking too much of it in a GPP means you’re not differentiating from anyone.

Leverage

Rostering a lower-owned player close in projection to a more popular one, so when your guy hits, you gain ground on the whole field stuck on the chalk.

Ceiling / Floor

A player’s realistic best-case score (ceiling) vs. worst-realistic-case score (floor). Cash games want floor. GPPs want ceiling.

Game Script

The flow of a game based on the score, and how it changes usage. A team protecting a big lead leans run-heavy late; a team playing from behind throws more.