2026 NFL LEAGUE RULES
All questions, disputes and interpretations of these rules subject to a rules committee review and the commissioner’s rulings. All commissioner rulings will be final.
Rule changes for the 2026 Season are in red
Rules Committee
An in-season rules
committee consisting of Jeff Snyder, John Turner and Mike Myers will review any in-season
rule issues that may arise and any proposed trades. If any member of the rules
committee is directly involved (team or game is impacted) they will be replaced on the issue
or proposed trade. A replacement owner will be appointed by the Commish.
Members will carefully evaluate any rule issue or proposed trade and render a timely decision to the
league.
Season
The league will act in an appropriate manner if any
Covid-related issues occur. If the NFL season is cancelled prior
to the completion of week 14 (the end of our regular season), our league will be
cancelled. All entry fees will be refunded or credited towards a future season
or league. No payouts will be issued for any side pots, division winners or
playoff/scrub bowl prizes. If the NFL season is cancelled during weeks
15-18 (our playoff weeks) payouts will be awarded as such : A) side pots and
division winners paid based on regular season results. Weekly points pool would
also be final based off regular season results. B) Playoff teams will
receive payouts based upon finish of played playoff round(s) or seeding for
any playoff round(s) not played. For example, first round is played but then season
cancelled, payouts for first round teams eliminated paid as normal, remaining
teams would be paid based upon their seed. C) Scrub Bowl winners will be paid
for any played playoff round(s), rounds not played money will be applied to the
following season as additional prizes.
The season will consist of 14 weeks of regular season play beginning Wednesday Sept. 9th, 2026. The participants in the playoffs will be the 3 division winners along with 3 wild card teams from any division for a total of 6 teams. There will be 3 rounds of playoffs to determine the league champion. Week 18 will be Scrub Bowls only.
Weekly team point totals will be ranked 1-12, with the top 6 receiving a bonus win. In the event of a tie for the 6th and final spot in the top 6, both teams will receive the bonus win.
Scoring
The 2026 scoring system is on the league website.
Fantrax will track live scoring. Weekly results, standings and side pots will be
updated on our league website. If an
owner notices a discrepancy with game/player scores, game results, standings or side pots, please notify the Commish
immediately. In the event of a discrepancy, the commissioner will
review all available info and provide
a ruling. In the event of a tie game, both teams
will receive 1 point for the tie. In the playoffs, the higher seed will get the
win in the event of a tie game.
Rosters
Rosters will consist of 11 players as follows:
(1) QB (2) RB (3) WR (2)
Optional (*Any position) (1) TE (1) K
(1) Team Defense
**There is a limit of two QB, TE, K and DEF on your roster
Team defenses will be treated as any other individual player on a roster, and eligible for the High Player Score Game side pot. Prior to the draft, the Commish will review player positions in Fantrax and make any necssary adjustments. During the season, the Commish will review any concerns or issues with a player position change or players misclassified and adjust accordingly.
Teams must declare 1 player from any position to be a Franchise Player. Franchise players must be from your active roster, IR players are not eligible. If a franchise player meets the injury qualification, all free agent players from the same position/NFL team will be ineligible to be picked up by another team. Teams will retain rights to the backup free agents until the franchise player no longer meets the injury qualification. The franchise player can be changed each week when submitting a lineup. The franchise protection for a newly named franchise player begins once a player's game for the week begins. The only exception will be if a team's franchise player is placed on the IR during the week, the team may declare a new franchise player immediately. If multiple teams have the same backups to an injured franchise player (i.e. two injured RB from the same NFL team), priority is determined by which team drafted/acquired the injured franchise player first. If a franchise player is put on the IR or dropped in a transaction, teams must declare a new franchise player.
Draft
The draft is 11 rounds with teams picking in reverse
order in even numbered rounds. Fantrax will determine draft order when creating
the league. You are permitted to trade draft positions.
There will be a 2 minute per pick time limit. Players who meet the injury qualification may be drafted.
After the draft, IR eligible players may be
replaced starting Wednesday 9/9 at 5pm. Priority for these IR replacements is the highest drafted
player to be replaced.
Line-ups
Lineup changes are due by 10:30am mtn Sunday. If no legal changes are
submitted, the previous weeks lineup status, sub priority
and franchise players will be used. Lineup changes for players in games prior to
Sunday (i.e. Wed/Thu/Fri/Sat games) must be submitted prior to kickoff of the
player's game.
Starting line ups will consist of
9 players as follows :
(1) QB (1) RB (2) WR
**(2)
Optional (RB or WR) (1) TE (1) K
(1) Team Defense
**Teams are not permitted to start 3 RB. You can start 2RB/3WR or 1RB/4WR.
Teams must prioritize their back up RB/WR with a #1 and #2 sub designation. Due to bye weeks, a team may only have one or no subs available. If the starting QB or K does not play, the NFL QB that starts the game for that NFL team or the first K to attempt a FG or PAT will be used. If a team has a QB, TE or K as an optional player, they must declare if they want the Optional player or the QB/TE/K from the same NFL team to be the first sub. If no QB/TE/K sub priority is declared, the default is the Optional player first.
If a starting player does not play at all (even a single play counts as played), regardless of reason, you may use a sub. If a team is forced to use a sub, they must still maintain a legal lineup. (i.e. can't have 3 RB or 5 WR) You can not use a QB, K, TE or DEF in the optional position as a sub for a RB or WR. Teams do not get a sub if they started a player who was listed as doubtful or out on the official NFL injury report, or started a player on a bye week.
Teams must declare a specific player as the back up TE on their roster each week. The sub TE must be from the same NFL team as the starting TE. Teams have no rights to the sub TE and the sub TE may be claimed as a free agent at any time. In the event that 2 teams have starting TE's from the same NFL team, priority is determined by which team drafted/acquired the starting TE first. The higher priority team can choose their sub TE, the other team has to choose a different sub TE. If there is only 1 additional TE available, both teams may list the same TE as their sub, but only one team can use that player if necessary.
Fees
There will be an entry fee of $330 due on draft day.
Any team that has not paid their entry fee once the draft is completed
will no be permitted to make any transactions until the entry fee is paid.
Owners may make arrangements with the Commish if necessary to pay the entry fee
in a timely manner.
*Entry Fee Breakdown: $3960 Entry Fees Collected
-$330 Commish Fee
-$80 Website/Server
-$150 Division Winners (3 Teams)
-$2320 Playoff Team Breakdown (6 Teams)
-$600 Side-Pot Winners
-$240 Scrub Bowls *(Scrub Bowl I for 6 non-playoff teams, Scrub Bowl II for
teams eliminated from playoffs after each round)
-$240 Post-Season Pool
Prize
Money
The total of all eligible fees collected will be returned to the league in the form of
prize money. All Six (6) of the playoff teams that qualify for the post season will share in the prize
money. All
sidepots will conclude at the end of the regular season.
Weekly Points Pool
The top 3 teams scores each week will receive the
following prize: 1st $12 2nd $8 3rd
$4
The bottom 3 teams will have to pay the following amounts: 12th $12
11th $8 10th $4
Team entry fees will be adjusted by money won or loss in the weekly points pool the following season. Any winnings or losses from the prior year, would be the responsibility of the owner that incurred them. If a team chooses not to come back to the league the following year, they would receive any weekly winnings they may have won, as well must pay any losses they may have had. If a team does not pay off any losses, they would not be permitted to participate in ANY UAL Fantasy League until their debt is settled.
Playoffs
Three division winners and three wild card teams qualify for the playoffs. The
division winners will be seeded 1-3, wildcard teams 4-6 vased on regular season
team points. The
top two division winners will receive a bye in the first round of the playoffs.
Final order of
finish is determined by playoff seeding. Home-field advantage will
apply in the playoffs ONLY, with
the higher seeded team winning a tie game.
There are no free agent add/drop moves permitted after the week 15 Sunday lineup deadline for all teams, including playoff teams on a bye in round one. Playoff bye teams do not have to activate players off the IR if required in round one. The priority list will carryover with active playoff teams getting priority on free agent claims. Scrub Bowl and eliminated playoff team's claims will be processed on Sunday at 3am (earlier if a Thu/Sat game) in the date order received, and then by priority list if necessary. In week 18, transactions will be processed daily for all teams with playoff teams getting priority.
IR moves are permitted during the playoffs in the following situations: 1) Any RB/WR that is questionable can be replaced by a player from the same NFL team, same position only 2) Any RB/WR that is doubtful or out (for any reason) can be replaced with a player from any NFL team, any position. 3) Any QB/TE/K that is injured or out (for any reason) can be replaced with a player from any NFL team, same position. During the playoffs, if a healthy player is announced as expected to not play their usual role, whether it is a QB not starting, a player expected to be inactive or they will have a limited role (i.e. play the first series or two only), the player may be placed on the IR.
Franchise players can not be changed after the week 15 Sunday lineup deadline for all teams. If a franchise player is placed on the IR during the playoffs, only then can a new franchise player be named. Scrub bowl teams retain franchise rights during the playoffs.
Tie
Breakers
If a tie occurs with respect to records, the
tie breakers are as follows:
1) total team points (wins/ties(1/2 point) + top 6 finishes)
2) winning percentage ((wins + 1/2 point for ties)/games played)
3) head to head*
4) record within division (only in the event of a tie between two teams in the
same division)
5) most points scored
6) most points scored against
7) coin flip
*Note: In the event of a 3-way tie
for a position spot, tie breaker #3 head to head is only used if a team won
against both of the other two teams. If the three teams all went 1-1 against the
other two teams, tie breaker #3 is not used.
Transactions
All transaction request must be sent to the Commish.
Transactions will be processed
daily at 3am mtn beginning Wednesday each week. If there is a game prior to
Sunday (Wed/Thu/Fri/Sat) transactions for players involved only will be
processed at kickoff of their game. Transactions will also be processed on Sunday at the
1030am mtn lineup deadline. There are NO TRANSACTIONS permitted on
Monday and Tuesday. When you acquire a free agent, the player must
remain on your roster for that week's scheduled game. The only exception is in
an injury situation where an injured player may be replaced or a player is
activated off the IR and a player must be dropped.
Free Agents
Free agent add/drop moves are not permitted after the draft.
The first
transaction day to make add/drop moves will be Wednesday 9/16/26 at 3am after week one is complete.
If a team wishes to place a bid on more than one free agent during any given claim period, the owner must rank the players in an order of preference. The initial free agent priority list will be set on Tuesday September 15th based upon the reverse order of the standings from week #1. Teams will only drop to the bottom of the priority list on free agent add/drop moves, IR moves do not drop a team. Trading your priority position during the season is permitted.
The league will award players in a draft like manner, with the highest ranked bidding team on the priority list getting their first choice of players then the next highest ranked team getting their choice, and so on. If a team makes multiple claims, the claims will be processed one "round" of claims at a time, with the priority list reset after each "round" of claims. Teams will each get one move processed before going to the second round of claims. Teams can not drop a player and wait to pick a player up at a later date, the entire move must be completed at one time.
There is a limit of 5 free agent add/drop moves per year at the QB, TE, K, DEF positions, whether the free agent is added at the actual position or at the optional position.
Players that meet the injury qualification may be claimed as free agents, but they can not be placed on the IR until after they play in a game first, provided they still meet the injury qualification. Changing from one QB to another QB at the same NFL team does not count as a free agent move. During the regular season, a healthy QB being benched does not qualify for the IR. The healthy benched QB can be replaced with the new starting QB from the same NFL team (does not count as a free agent move) or a team can add a free agent QB from another NFL team (a charged free agent move).
Any player involved in an early game (Wed/Thu/Fri/Sat), can n ot be dropped once the early game starts. One exception to this rule: if a team has a player on the IR and an active player who plays Thursday. Teams may designate the Thursday player to be dropped in a weekend move to activate the IR player. The Thursday player must be listed as a sub, if they are started on Thursday they can not be dropped. If the IR player is not on the Friday NFL injury report or is activated off the NFL IR anytime before Sunday, the Thursday player is dropped. This move is automatic, and can not be changed once declared. If the IR player is listed as questionable or worse on Friday, the Thursday player remains on the team, and another active player will have to be dropped if the team wants to activate the IR player.
Teams are permitted to acquire a bye week sub to replace a QB, TE, K or DEF. Bye week subs will be processed on Sunday at 3am mtn, after regular free agent moves. Priority for bye week subs is reverse order of the standings. (team point totals only, not playoff seeds) Teams retain no rights to bye week subs. Bye week subs must be an eligible free agent player to be claimed. If a team has multiple QB, TE, K or DEF on their roster (i.e. one in optional player position, not on a bye week), they are not eligible to receive a bye week sub. Teams may use an early game player as a bye week sub. Teams may make a Thursday player a secondary bye week sub choice before the early game starts. If another team makes the same player their first choice, they will get the player.
Waiver Wire
Players dropped can be claimed
at the next available transaction deadline.
Players dropped on Sunday at 3am can not be claimed at the
Sunday 1030am transaction deadline, including as a bye week sub.
If an early game player is dropped at the daily 3am
transaction deadline, the player is available to be claimed by kickoff of the early week game.
Injured Reserve
A player can be placed on the IR Wednesday through
Friday with any verifiable injury (not just a player was given a day off for
rest) or news a player may miss a game for any reason.
The official NFL injury report is released on Friday or the day before an early
week or Monday game. The official NFL injury report will determine
final injured player status for the week. Players that are suspended, released by their NFL team,
or officially inactive for a game for any reason are eligible for the IR.
Players on a bye week can be placed on the IR if eligible. If a TE is IR
eligible, teams do not automatically get the sub TE
on their roster. (exceptions is if the TE is their franchise player) Teams must
submit a claim for the sub TE who is available to all teams.
If an IR player is not on the official NFL injury report, the player must be activated by Sunday 1030am mtn (by kickoff of an early week game) or they will be dropped. If additional injury news is updated Saturday or Sunday, the player may remain on the IR. An IR player on a bye week does not have to be activated.
Teams may make a conditional move to activate an IR player in a late Sunday or Monday night game and declare which player will be dropped. This must be clearly specified at the Sunday morning lineup deadline. Teams must also declare what the lineup will be with or without the IR player. The conditional move will be posted as such on our website and cannot be changed after the Sunday morning lineup deadline. If the IR player is active for the late Sunday or Monday night game, the move will automatically be processed. If the IR player is not active, the conditional move is no longer applicable.
Trades
Trades are permitted at anytime until the trading deadline. Owners must have
a complete and balanced roster at the conclusion of a trade. In the event of a
"2 for 1" trade, owners must release and/or acquire free agents to
fill any roster voids. The trading deadline will be 10:30am mtn on
Sunday of week #10 (Novermber 15, 2026).
Fines
Fines will be issued for for an incomplete lineup. An incomplete lineup occurs when a player on a bye
week is started, or a player listed as out is started. A mulligan will be issued
for the first offense and a $10 fine for all subsequent offenses. Fines will be
deducted from any team winnings, or added to next year's entry fee. Fines will
be used for league expenses or added to the prize fund if necessary.