The 2026 NFL season and NFL Picks [08/09/26]

The new NFL season is here, bringing weekly NFL tournaments and a new season of Picks to Sport.Fun.

A reminder of how NFL Picks works

Build a five-player lineup from the players included in that week’s NFL slate:

• 1 Quarterback
• 1 Running Back
• 1 Wide Receiver
• 1 Tight End
• 1 Flex

Your Flex can be an additional Running Back, Wide Receiver or Tight End, but cannot be a second Quarterback.
Each player is assigned a salary and your complete line-up must fit within the 100 salary cap.
You must also select a captain, whose score receives a 1.5x multiplier.
Your players earn points from their performances in their real NFL games. Their combined scores—including the captain multiplier—determine your position on the Picks leaderboard.

How salaries are set

Player salaries are set separately for each weekly NFL slate.
They are based primarily on:

• The player’s current Sport.Fun market value.
• Their projected performance in that week’s NFL game.

This means player salaries can change from one tournament to the next as market values, matchups, injuries and expected roles change.
The salary cap is designed to make you choose between premium players and cheaper options rather than simply selecting all of the biggest names.

The opening Challenger period

NFL Picks will begin with a two-tournament Challenger period.
During these tournaments, every manager will see the Challenger badge. Behind the scenes, managers will compete in one of two separate tracks: a rewarded track for managers with a qualifying NFL squad and a free track for everyone else.
Managers in the two tracks compete on separate leaderboards.

Rewarded Challenger track

If your NFL squad is worth at least $20 at the squad snapshot, you will enter the rewarded track.
In this track:

• You must own every player included in your Picks.
• Loans cannot be selected.
• You compete only against other managers in the rewarded track.
• You can earn standard NFL Picks rewards.

Free Challenger track

If your NFL squad is worth less than $20 at the squad snapshot, you will enter the free track.
In this track:

• You can use loan players and make Picks without first building an NFL squad.
• You compete only against other managers in the free track.
• Picks rewards are not available.

This gives new managers an opportunity to learn the game and follow a lineup before deciding whether to build an NFL squad.

When is my squad value checked?

Your total NFL squad value will be checked shortly before each of the opening two tournaments.
The snapshot is currently expected to take place one hour before tournament starts.
If you reach the $20 requirement after a tournament’s snapshot, you will remain in the free track for that tournament. Your eligibility can then be reassessed before the next tournament.
Managers will not move between the free and rewarded tracks once a tournament has started.

How NFL Picks rewards work

NFL Picks receives 30% of the total NFL tournament reward pool. The remaining 70% is distributed through the main NFL tournament.
During the Challenger period, Picks rewards are only available through the rewarded track.
To qualify for a Picks reward, you must either:

• Score higher than the average score in your leaderboard; or
• Finish ranked first.

Scoring exactly the leaderboard average does not qualify unless you are also ranked first.
Your finishing position determines your reward multiplier:

• Top 1%: 5x
• Top 5%: 4x
• Top 10%: 3x
• Top 25%: 2x
• Other qualifying managers: 1x

Your individual reward share is also based on the value of the players you own and field in your Picks.

What happens after the Challenger period?

The Challenger period will end after the first two NFL tournaments.
At that point:

• The Challenger badge will be removed.
• Your actual division will become visible.
• Promotion and relegation will begin.
• The normal division rules will apply, including the relevant ownership and loan rules for each division.

We’ll provide more information before the Challenger period ends.

Before you make your Picks

Make sure that you:

• Check the salary assigned to each player for the current slate.
• Keep your complete lineup within the 100 salary cap.
• Select one player as your captain.
• Check that every player is expected to feature.
• Submit your Picks before the relevant deadline.

Once Picks opens, the tournament page will show the available players, their salaries and the remaining time to complete your lineup.

Updated on: 09/09/2026