Why October is a Month for Different DFS Strategies Across a Variety of Sports
By Classifieds
Oct. 6, 2026 3:06 p.m.
October is potentially one of the most volatile and exciting months in the American sporting calendar. This is why it’s a good idea to take a strategic approach to the different sports you choose for daily fantasy sports during this month. With the UCLA football team playing season-defining games, what other sports are entering important phases?
<iframe width=”905″ height=”509″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/8vfCt8mZvL4″ title=”EARLY Overreactions To Start The NHL Season | 5 For Diving” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
The MLB Postseason
Baseball enters the postseason stage in October, where the action changes considerably from the regular season. It begins with the Wild Card Series in a best-of-three format, before moving on to the Division Series and the League Championship Series, before the World Series takes place.
With fewer games per night, the strategies tend to differ from the regular season. For example, starting pitchers may get pulled earlier in these games, with a more varied use of the bullpen to handle the lighter workload. This means the league’s star pitchers, as listed on the official MLB site, might no longer offer as much value in daily fantasy teams.
The NHL Season Launch
The NHL season began at the end of September, giving hockey fans the chance to look for a pricing edge before the DFS platform data catches up with the new lineup and the chemistry being formed in each team. It takes time for teams to gel as new players are added, and some franchises have changed head coaches too. Among the most eye-catching changes, Mike Babcock is back in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers, while Jim Hiller takes over at the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Changes such as offseason trades, line reconfigurations, and altered power-play units can lead to some prices being more attractive than they should be in the early games. Identifying underpriced wingers to fit in with elite playmakers is one of the ways to try and make the most of this phase of the season.
<iframe width=”905″ height=”509″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/aGRlyKMKpIg” title=”You Know The NBA Season Is Starting When THIS Happens…” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
NBA Preseason
The preseason phase in basketball can also prove to be a rewarding time for DFS players who understand what they’re looking for. The NBA preseason is largely driven by news monitoring, as we look to see who is likely to get a good number of minutes in these games. Many of the sport’s top stars will be getting eased into the new season to make sure that they’re in peak physical condition for the first competitive games.
A mid-tier rotational player who gets 28 minutes to impress may outperform an All-Star who is given just 15 minutes to work on their conditioning. The Dabble sign-up promo gives fans of basketball and other sports the chance to start building their rosters with a bonus. It’s a mixture of DFS and social media that is available in numerous eligible states. At the time of writing, the welcome bonus of $50 can be claimed by playing $5.
By balancing these three leagues, it’s possible to enjoy some of the nation’s favorite sports while looking for opportunities to make smart daily fantasy choices. By spending some time looking at how the franchises approach this time of year, DFS players get to try different approaches that might not be appropriate at other times.