How to play Pick Your Player
Pick Your Player is a free fantasy football game you play right in your browser. In each game you draft a lineup of real NFL players from one real week of a real season, and they score exactly what they scored that week. Hire coaches to multiply those points, beat the target score, and keep winning all the way to the Super Bowl.
1. Start a run
A run is a short season. The default, Flash, is three games: one regular-season game, one playoff game, then the Super Bowl. Longer seasons are in Advanced when you set up a run. In longer seasons, win at least half of your regular-season games to reach the playoffs.
Every run has a seed. Share it, and a friend can play the exact same weeks, players and coaches to see who drafts better.
2. Draft your lineup
Each game is played on a real NFL week. For every slot in your lineup you get five real players from that week to choose from, and you have a budget of coins to spend.
- Season rank: where he finished at his position that season, by points per game. Higher-ranked players cost more.
- Points per game: his season average, not this week. A star can have a quiet week and a backup can explode.
- Matchup strength: how many points that week's opponent gives up to his position. A cheap player against a soft defense is often the steal of the draft.
- Your multiplier: your coaching staff's total boost at his position.
FLEX takes a running back, wide receiver or tight end. Short on information? Spend pearlites to scout a slot and find the player who actually scored the most that week. When every slot is filled, hold to lock in your lineup.
3. Hire coaches
After you lock in, open coach packs and hire coaches. Coaches multiply your players' points, and each pack is themed around the position its coaches boost most. Many coaches also have abilities, for example:
Home Field: players at home get a bonus. Stack: starters who share a team with another starter get a boost. Two-Minute Drill: behind the target going into your last player? He gets a huge multiplier. Greatest Show on Turf: QBs and WRs get a boost.
Building a staff that stacks on the same positions is how big scores happen. You can also sell a coach back for pearlites.
4. Beat the score
Each game has a score to beat. It's set from the best lineup you could have drafted that week, times a multiplier that grows every game and again in the playoffs. Your staff has to keep getting better to keep up.
5. Pearls, pearlites and shiny cards
Pearlites are your money for the current run: spend them on scouting, extra coach packs and rerolls. Pearls are yours to keep. When a run ends, the Pearl Press turns your leftover pearlites into pearls, and awards pay pearls the first time you earn them.
Shiny cards are rare, cosmetic versions of the greatest single-game performances and coaching seasons. They look special and score the same.
Strategy tips
- Pay up at the positions where your multiplier is highest, since every point there gets multiplied the most.
- Look for cheap players in great matchups to free up budget for stars.
- Stack teammates if your coaches reward it.
- Save pearlites to scout the slots you're least sure about.
FAQ
Is Pick Your Player free?
Yes. It's free, runs in your browser on a phone or computer, and needs no account or download.
Are the player points real?
Yes. Every player you draft scores exactly what he scored in that real NFL week, from seasons going back to 1999.
Is it betting or daily fantasy for money?
No. There's no money involved. It's a single-player game, not a betting or paid daily fantasy site.
How long does a game take?
A Flash run is just three games, so it's quick to play. Longer seasons are in Advanced setup.