You’re well aware of how much fun it is to play fantasy football. But what if actual NFL players want to get in on the act?
It’s tough nowadays to think of the NFL without also having fantasy football enter the mind. The two go hand-in-hand for millions of fans. They’re so intertwined that mentions of a big play’s fantasy implications are common during game broadcasts. But what about in the locker rooms and in the stadiums where the games themselves are being played?
NFL players are people too, and while they’re the key actors in the play, they're also fans of the sport. Some might want a piece of the thrill that you or I enjoy virtually on a weekly basis. So the question is: can NFL personnel operate in the league and simultaneously play fantasy football? Read on to find out more.
Can NFL Players Play Fantasy Football?
There is no rule in place prohibiting NFL players from playing fantasy football. However, if they are playing you’d expect it’s against friends, family or teammates in private leagues and not as a rando entrant in a nondescript public league. (For what it's worth, we welcome all willing NFL players on Sleeper.)
Some players are louder about their participation than others, with Austin Ekeler a recent example of someone who publicly embraces the fantasy game while touting how he has started himself on some of his teams — and what a flex that is, especially when you’re at the peak of your powers.
Another example is Buffalo QB Josh Allen, who, after a game in 2024 in which he was credited with a passing and receiving touchdown on the same play, told NBC that he had started himself on his fantasy team and was quite pleased with the scoring of the unique play. It’s not all fun and games for those involved, though.
Rules and Restrictions
There could be conflicts of interest, especially with players having insider knowledge of who is starting each week and which players a game plan may favor. There’s also the matter of players actually controlling the outcome of every play. That’s not to say a QB wouldn’t target an open receiver because it could cost him his fantasy week, but in theory that is part of the range of outcomes.
Regardless, there is a slippery slope beyond the hypotheticals, particularly as it relates to the increased popularity in the U.S. of sports gambling and paid-entry contests. While the NFL does not prevent players from enjoying fantasy leagues, there are some guardrails — and clear lines drawn in the sand — to protect the integrity of the sport. After all, nothing may damage The Shield.
Three guidelines all NFL personnel — executives, coaches and other staff members — must follow are:
- They can’t promote any fantasy league or platform.
- They can’t win over $250 when playing fantasy football.
- They can’t participate in high-stakes leagues.
Can NFL Players Engage in Sports Betting?
While playing in fantasy leagues is fair game, the NFL has a strict policy prohibiting players from outright gambling.
Multiple players have been suspended for gambling, none more high-profile than then-Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley. He gambled on NFL games in 2021 and was promptly banned for the full 2022 season. Betting on and trying to profit off of NFL games that players can potentially influence crosses a line.
As it reads in the league’s gambling policy: “All NFL Personnel are prohibited from placing, soliciting, or facilitating any bet, whether directly or indirectly through a third party, on any NFL game, practice or other event. This includes betting on game outcome, statistics, score, performance of any individual participant, or any other kind of ‘proposition bet’ on which wagering is offered.”
The NFL does not, however, consider fantasy football to be sports betting. Per the league’s official rulebook:
“Fantasy football games and League or Club-sponsored skills competitions (e.g., racquetball tournaments, ‘Club Olympics’ events) for prizes generally are not considered to be gambling or a gambling-related activity, provided that there is no wagering on the outcome.
NFL Personnel may not, however, accept prizes with a value in excess of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250) in any fantasy football game. This prohibition is intended to avoid any appearance of impropriety which may result from participation in fantasy football games by individuals perceived to have an unfair advantage due to their preferential access to information.”
In layman’s terms, as long as the winner cannot make more than $250, being part of a fantasy league is permitted for a real player. Just don’t break that barrier and don’t cross the line by placing bets on NFL games.
See also: History of Fantasy Football
Frequently Asked Questions
Can NFL players play in fantasy football leagues with their teammates?
Yes, they can. The rules don’t prohibit players from doing that, and it likely lends itself to fun banter and trash talk in the locker room if fantasy football is part of a team’s culture.
Can NFL players start themselves in fantasy football?
There have been numerous examples of players touting their own stats as helping out their own fantasy teams. It’s funnier when players don’t start themselves on a day they break out or when their real-life boom causes their fantasy team to lose.
Is fantasy football a skill or luck game?
In the eyes of the NFL, it’s a game of skill. If you’ve lost out on your fantasy league’s title despite having by far the best regular-season record and most points all season, you might beg to differ. But keeping up with news and stats, tracking trends, operating like a hawk on the waiver wire and tinkering with your team until it’s (theoretically) perfect are all attributes of a game of skill.
Do NFL players get annoyed with fantasy football?
While some may play and enjoy the game, others bear the brunt of it. The social media abuse that players take at times after their performances weren’t sufficient enough (at least in terms of some random fantasy owner’s needs) is pretty awful and displays the ugly side of fandom. Don’t be that owner, people. It’s just a game.
Play Fantasy Football With Sleeper
You’ve now learned that NFL players can try their hand at fantasy football. And so can you! This is your chance to be just like an NFL star, by joining in on all the fun with Sleeper. You can start by signing up on the website or downloading the app to get involved with a season-long league or by trying your hand at Daily Fantasy Sports with Sleeper Picks.
Either way, you’ll be enjoying a unique, user-friendly and ad-free platform that allows you to experience fantasy sports in a fun and engaging way.
