How to make best use of your UTIL/FLEX spot in DFS

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As any regular daily fantasy player knows, cash games and tournaments are vastly different. Cash games require players with high floors, while GPPs call for players with high ceilings, even if they come with plenty of risk.

The UTIL/FLEX spot gives DFSers the most flexibility and allows for plenty of creativity. Other than any obvious answer of "paying up for a stud," here are the best ways to use the UTIL spot.

In cash games

• Three-down backs

It is very important to roster three-down backs in cash games. Regardless of whether a team is trailing, winning or tied, a three-down back will still see work. This is crucial because most DFS sites use PPR scoring.

Even some elite RBs, such as Adrian Peterson, come off the field in obvious passing situations. Not to say you shouldn't roster Peterson in cash games, but his floor is limited in a potentially one-sided affair.

While RBs are so disposable in today's NFL, there are still some three-down RBs who won't cost you a fortune. He certainly isn't the focal point of the offense, but Rashad Jennings is expected to be on the field for all three downs for a potentially dynamic Giants offense. Shane Vereen will steal some touches in the passing game, but Jennings will still see plenty of targets.

Latavius Murray and Arian Foster are other examples of mid-tier RBs who don't face much internal competition for offensive snaps.

• High-volume receivers

High volume WRs are excellent for cash games, even if they're slot receivers like Julian Edelman or Jarvis Landry. Slot receivers are less likely to be completely shut down than standard wideouts because there are very few elite slot corners.

Since Edelman and Landry are focal points of their respective offenses, they can come with high price tags. More affordable slot receivers include Jamison Crowder and Anquan Boldin.

Playing in the slot isn't a necessity, however. Jeremy Maclin has a limited ceiling because of Kansas City's unwillingness to throw deep, but he has a high floor from week to week because there is simply no internal competition at the WR position.

• Pass-catching RBs

Pass catching running backs don't usually get a ton of love, or high DFS prices, because they rarely find their way into the end zone. Yet, they can still be very effective in cash games.

Danny Woodhead, Theo Riddick, Darren Sproles and James White will all see targets out of the backfield in their respective offenses. To maximize value, target players on teams that will either be trailing or in a shootout.

In tournaments

• Home-run hitters

Home run hitters are superb for tournaments. In many cases, they only need one catch to return or exceed value. Sammy Watkins, DeSean Jackson, Torrey Smith, Mike Wallace, Travis Benjamin, Ted Ginn Jr. and J.J. Nelson are all examples with varying prices. You may notice there's one thing they all have in common - speed.

It's best to target offenses that will likely be trailing and aren't afraid to try and push the ball down the field. Most importantly though, they need a QB who can throw an accurate deep ball.

• Goal-line specialsts

This can often be tough to predict, but goal line running backs can be monsters in daily fantasy. LeGarrette Blount is a great example. His stock has obviously been on the rise with Dion Lewis starting on the PUP list, but he can still be had at a reasonable price in DFS.

With New England returning to the dual-TE offense it ran so effectively in 2011, you can expect Blount to be on the field in almost every goal line situation. In 2011, BenJarvus Green-Ellis had only 667 rushing yards, but scored 11 touchdowns. Blount is a much better runner than Green-Ellis, and should easily score 10 touchdowns.

Another example of a potential goal line thief is Tennessee's Derrick Henry. The rookie is expected to play second-fiddle to DeMarco Murray, but you can expect his Brandon Jacobs-like build will be utilized in the red zone. Someone like Henry is also great for tournaments because his backup status will lower his ownership.

• Tight ends

Drafting a second tight end for your FLEX might be the most under-utilized, yet economical use of the FLEX spot.

Despite the way they are used nowadays, tight ends are still remarkably cheaper than WRs in DFS. While Rob Gronkowski's price on most sites is equal to a low-end top-tier WR, practically every other tight end is comparable to a WR with plenty of red flags.

Even the Delanie Walkers and Gary Barnidges of the world, who are their teams' top receiving options, are priced below where they would be if their production came at WR. On some sites, Barnidge and Walker have salaries comparable to WRs like Robert Woods, Anquan Boldin and Phillip Dorsett, who are the third or fourth receiving options on their respective teams.

Perhaps the best thing about rostering a TE in your FLEX (other than the budget flexibility) is that all tight ends have great size, making them beasts in the red zone.