PLL Fantasy Lacrosse: Tips and Strategies for Success
Know the scoring, work the salary cap, read the matchups. How to build a PLL Fantasy lineup that beats your buddies every week.
Attackmen score the most, then goalies, middies and defense.
Why elite goalies outscore most of the league.
PLL Fantasy lacrosse has gained popularity among lacrosse fans, providing an interactive and engaging way to follow the Premier Lacrosse League season. Building a successful fantasy lacrosse team requires a combination of knowledge, strategy, and a keen understanding of player performances.
If you've ever argued with your buddies on the sideline in Virginia Beach, in a rink in Ontario or at a Section III game in upstate New York about who the best attackman in the league is, fantasy is where you prove it.
What is PLL Fantasy?
PLL Fantasy uses a weekly “salary cap” system. When this guide was written for the 2023 season, you got 200 coins to build the best team you could. Players are valued at a certain amount depending on their previous fantasy scores for each game.
You can join groups and face off against your friends in “Challenges.” It's a great way to feel like a part of the game.
Understand the scoring system
This is the most important thing to understand in PLL Fantasy lacrosse. Because of the way the scoring system is set up, high-producing offensive players get the most points. Typically, attackmen score the highest, with goalies next, then middies, and defense last (I'll get to FOGOs later). The best goalies will outscore a majority of the rest of the league because every save earns that player 3 points.
Below is the scoring system for PLL Weekly Fantasy (2023). Check the PLL Fantasy page for the current values. New to two-point goals? Here's how lacrosse scoring works.
| Stat | Fantasy points |
|---|---|
| Goal | 10 |
| Assist | 10 |
| Two-point goal | 20 |
| Turnover | −3 |
| Ground ball | 1 |
| Caused turnover | 10 |
| Faceoff win | 0.8 |
| Faceoff loss | −1 |
| Save | 3 |
| One-point goal against | −1 |
| Two-point goal against | −2 |
| Goal bonus (3+ goals) | 5 |
| Save bonus (20+) | 5 |
| Assist bonus (3+) | 5 |
| Caused turnover bonus (3+) | 5 |
The best goalies will outscore a majority of the league, because every save is worth 3 points.
Picking FOGOs
In the 2023 season, faceoff guys were tricky because some teams didn't have a faceoff guy at all. Picking a FOGO who is playing against a team that isn't fielding a FOGO is going to earn you a lot of points.
Fielding Trevor Baptiste every week isn't a bad idea, but when he went up against Mike Sisselberger, I expected them to be pretty even, so just picking him isn't always the best move. Look at who he's facing that week first.
Beware of defenders and LSMs who take faceoffs. At 0.8 points per win and −1 per loss, if you choose those players at defense, they will lose you a ton of points.
Attack headStringKing Mark 3V$119.99 at BattleLax
Faceoff headMaverik Logik Force$109.99 at BattleLax
Goalie headECD Impact Goalie$109.99 at BattleLax
Game ballsPearl X Greaseless (3-pack)$19.99 at BattleLaxUtilize low player costs
As mentioned earlier, PLL Fantasy uses a “salary cap” system for fantasy coaches to pick their players each week. In 2023, each PLL player was valued on their average fantasy points across all games. That meant if a player didn't play that week, he got a zero whether he was on the roster or not, and it was added into his average.
The top player cost 50 coins, with every other player's cost based on their average compared to the top player's average. This can be a huge advantage when good players have a bad game or two or miss a few games. They cost less than they should because their average is lower.
Some players just have bad seasons, so be sure to pick lower-cost players who have the potential to do really well, so you can save coins for players who are currently hot.
Pay attention to matchups and the game schedule
Look at player matchups and the PLL game schedule. Which teams have faceoff guys and which teams don't? Has this goalie or defense struggled against this offense? Who is going to be guarding the player I'm putting in?
These are questions that will be beneficial to answer before picking your players. It can take a lot of time to research, but if you want to win, this will be immensely helpful.
Look at the injury list and active rosters
The injury list and rosters for each team are posted each week on their social media accounts. Look at these to make sure the players you choose are actually playing that week.
Engage with the lacrosse community
Engaging with the lacrosse community can provide valuable insights, tips, and perspectives. There are various X and Instagram accounts that analyze the PLL as their job. Dan Arestia and Joe Keegan are two that I follow to get good information.
How PLL Fantasy works now
The tips above came from the 2023 season, and the PLL has tweaked the game since. The current version still uses a weekly salary cap, but you now fill a set lineup of seven players: 2 attack, 2 midfield, 1 defense (D, LSM or SSDM), 1 goalie and 1 faceoff. Salaries come out the Tuesday before each weekend, and bonuses reward big games like hat tricks and 15+ saves. Double Headers let you pick a player's first game, second game, or both. Check the PLL's How to Play page for the latest rules and scoring before you lock your lineup. The core strategy (know the scoring, find value, read matchups) hasn't changed.
Read more: How much do professional lacrosse players make? · Lacrosse positions explained · When is lacrosse season?
People also ask
How does PLL Fantasy work?
PLL Fantasy is a weekly salary cap game. You build a lineup of PLL players whose combined salaries stay under the cap, and players are priced based on their fantasy production. You can join groups and challenge friends.
Which positions score the most in PLL Fantasy?
High-producing attackmen typically score the most, followed by goalies, then midfielders, then defenders. Elite goalies can outscore most of the league because every save earns points.
How do you pick a FOGO in PLL Fantasy?
Target faceoff specialists facing teams that don't dress a FOGO, and avoid defenders and LSMs who take faceoffs, since faceoff losses cost points.
PLL Fantasy lacrosse offers an exciting opportunity to immerse yourself in the sport and compete against fellow lacrosse fans. A good understanding of the sport and how the PLL Fantasy system works is key to doing well against your friends. Watch the games on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN+ every weekend to learn which players would be the best for your team!