dbt Model Builder

dbt Model Builder

Create complete dbt models for the Fantasy Football Analytics project following Kimball dimensional modeling and the 2×2 stat model (actuals/​projections × real-world/​fantasy).

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill proactively when:

• Creating new dbt models (staging, core, marts)
• User asks to "create a model for {entity/​process}"
• User mentions dbt modeling, dimensional modeling, or Kimball patterns
• Adding analytics-ready views or transformations
• Implementing 2×2 model quadrants (actuals/​projections, real-world/​fantasy scoring)

dbt Modeling Approach

The FF Analytics project follows:

1. Kimball Dimensional Modeling - Facts, dimensions, conformed entities
2. 2×2 Stat Model - Separate facts for actuals vs projections
3. Per-Model YAML - One _<model>.yml file per model
4. External Parquet - Large models use external=true with partitioning
5. dbt 1.10+ syntax - Test arguments wrapped in arguments: block

Model Building Workflows

Workflow 1: Create Staging Model

Staging models normalize raw provider data.

Steps:

1. Identify source: Determine provider and dataset

2. Design grain: Define one row per...

3. Create SQL using assets/​staging_template.sql:

   • Name: stg_{provider}__{dataset}.sql
   • Materialize as view
   • Select from {{ source('{provider}', '{dataset}') }}
   • Rename columns to standard names

4. Create YAML using assets/​staging_yaml_template.yml:

   • Name: _stg_{provider}__{dataset}.yml
   • Document grain and source
   • Add not_null, unique tests for PKs
   • Add accepted_values for enums

5. Run and test:

   make dbt-run --select stg_{provider}__{dataset}
   make dbt-test --select stg_{provider}__{dataset}
   

Workflow 2: Create Fact Table

Fact tables capture measurable events/​processes.

Steps:

1. Design grain: Define composite primary key (e.g., player_id + game_id + stat_name)

2. Map foreign keys: Join to conformed dimensions (dim_player, dim_team, etc.)

3. Create SQL using assets/​fact_template.sql:

   • Name: fact_{process}.sql
   • Config: materialized='table', external=true, partition_by=['season','week']
   • Join staging to dimensions for FK resolution
   • Select grain keys + measures

4. Create YAML using assets/​fact_yaml_template.yml:

   • Document grain explicitly
   • Add dbt_utils.unique_combination_of_columns for grain test
   • Add relationship tests for all FKs
   • Add not_null for required measures

5. Run and test:

   make dbt-run --select fact_{process}
   make dbt-test --select fact_{process}
   

Critical: Fact tables MUST have grain uniqueness test with dbt 1.10+ syntax:

data_tests:
  - dbt_utils.unique_combination_of_columns:
      arguments:
        combination_of_columns:
          - column1
          - column2
      config:
        severity: error

Workflow 3: Create Dimension Table

Dimensions provide descriptive context for facts.

Steps:

1. Determine SCD type: Type 1 (replace) or Type 2 (historical tracking)
2. Design natural key: Business key for the entity
3. Create SQL using assets/​dim_template.sql:
   • Name: dim_{entity}.sql
   • Generate surrogate key with dbt_utils.generate_surrogate_key()
   • For SCD Type 2: Add valid_from, valid_to, is_current
4. Create YAML:
   • Document grain: "one row per {entity}"
   • Add unique test on surrogate key
   • Add not_null on natural key
5. Run and test

SCD Type 2 pattern:

• Track changes over time with validity dates
• Include version_number for multiple versions
• Set is_current flag for latest version

Workflow 4: Create Analytical Mart (2×2 Model)

Marts provide wide-format, analytics-ready data.

2×2 Model Quadrants:

• mart_real_world_actuals - NFL stats (actuals)
• mart_real_world_projections - Projected NFL stats
• mart_fantasy_actuals - Fantasy points (actuals, apply scoring rules)
• mart_fantasy_projections - Projected fantasy points

Steps:

1. Select quadrant: Determine actuals vs projections, real-world vs fantasy
2. Pivot fact table: Convert long-form stats to wide columns
3. Join dimensions: Enrich with descriptive attributes
4. Apply scoring (fantasy quadrants only):
   • Join dim_scoring_rule
   • Calculate points: {stat} * {points_per_stat}
5. Create SQL using assets/​mart_template.sql:
   • Partition by season
   • Wide format with one column per stat
6. Run and test

Example pivot:

SUM(CASE WHEN stat_name = 'passing_yards' THEN stat_value END) AS passing_yards,
SUM(CASE WHEN stat_name = 'passing_tds' THEN stat_value END) AS passing_tds

Resources Provided

references/

Real models from the codebase:

• example_staging_model.sql - stg_ktc_assets
• example_staging_yaml.yml - YAML with tests
• example_fact_model.sql - Fact table example
• example_dim_model.sql - Dimension example
• example_mart_model.sql - Mart example

assets/

Templates for creating models:

• staging_template.sql - Staging model SQL
• staging_yaml_template.yml - Staging YAML with tests
• fact_template.sql - Fact table SQL with FK joins
• fact_yaml_template.yml - Fact YAML with grain test
• dim_template.sql - Dimension SQL with SCD Type 2
• mart_template.sql - Mart SQL with pivot pattern

Best Practices

Grain Declaration

CRITICAL: Every model must explicitly declare grain:

• In SQL comments: -- Grain: one row per...
• In YAML description
• In grain uniqueness test (facts)

Testing Strategy

Staging models:

• not_null on all PKs
• unique on single-column PKs
• accepted_values on enums

Fact tables:

• dbt_utils.unique_combination_of_columns (grain test)
• relationships to all dimensions
• not_null on FKs and measures

Dimensions:

• unique on surrogate key
• not_null on natural key

dbt 1.10+ Test Syntax

CRITICAL: Follow these two rules to avoid deprecation warnings:

1. Use data_tests: key (not tests:): dbt 1.5+ introduced data_tests: to distinguish from unit_tests:
2. Wrap test parameters in arguments:: dbt 1.10+ requires this for all generic tests with parameters

# CORRECT - Column-level tests
columns:
  - name: position
    data_tests:  # Use data_tests:, not tests:
      - not_null
      - accepted_values:
          arguments:  # Arguments must be nested
            values: ['QB', 'RB', 'WR', 'TE']

  - name: player_id
    data_tests:
      - not_null
      - relationships:
          arguments:  # Wrap to, field in arguments:
            to: ref('dim_player')
            field: player_id
          config:  # config: is sibling to arguments:
            where: "player_id > 0"

# CORRECT - Model-level tests
data_tests:  # Use data_tests:, not tests:
  - dbt_utils.unique_combination_of_columns:
      arguments:
        combination_of_columns:
          - player_key
          - game_id

# WRONG - Deprecated syntax (will cause warnings)
columns:
  - name: position
    tests:  # WRONG - should be data_tests:
      - accepted_values:
          values: ['QB', 'RB']  # WRONG - should be under arguments:

tests:  # WRONG - should be data_tests:
  - relationships:
      to: ref('dim_player')  # WRONG - should be under arguments:
      field: player_id

Key Points:

• Always use data_tests: (not tests:)
• arguments: wraps test parameters (to, field, values, combination_of_columns)
• config: is a sibling to arguments:, not nested inside
• not_null and unique have no arguments, use directly

External Parquet Configuration

Large models use External Parquet:

{{ config(
    materialized='table',
    external=true,
    partition_by=['season', 'week']
) }}

Naming Conventions

• Staging: stg_{provider}__{dataset}
• Facts: fact_{process} (e.g., fact_player_stats)
• Dimensions: dim_{entity} (e.g., dim_player)
• Marts: mart_{purpose} (e.g., mart_fantasy_actuals_weekly)
• YAML: _<model_name>.yml

Integration with Other Skills

• data-ingestion-builder - Create staging models after adding providers
• data-quality-test-generator - Enhance testing beyond basics