Definition
DFS leverage is the edge gained by intentionally over- or under-weighting players relative to the field's ownership in tournaments. Positive leverage: roster a 6%-owned player who scores 40 points (everyone else missed him). Negative leverage: roster an 8%-owned player who busts (everyone else missed him and you absorbed the loss). Leverage only matters in GPPs where you're scored relative to other lineups. In cash games, ownership is irrelevant — only points matter.
Worked Example
Two WRs with identical 20-point projections: WR-A at 45% ownership, WR-B at 8% ownership. WR-B scores 22 points, WR-A scores 18. WR-B rostered by 8% of field: those lineups gain +4 pts on 92% of field. WR-A rostered by 45%: those lineups lose 4 pts vs WR-B, and 45% of competition shares the same downside. WR-B's lower ownership amplified the gain into a large positional advantage.
Why It Matters
In large-field GPPs, correctly identifying underowned players who outperform creates disproportionate lineup-rank jumps. The same 22-point game from a 45%-owned player is worth far less relative to the field.