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Sleeper Player Picks Rules

Sleeper Player Picks rules and considerations

Sleeper HQ avatar
Written by Sleeper HQ
Updated this week

Welcome to Player Picks — Sleeper’s peer-to-peer daily fantasy game where you can compete against other users for real cash prizes. This article outlines how Picks works, payout structures, pool types, and important rules to be aware of before entering a contest.

For information on where Picks is available, refer to our Where Can I Play? support article.

How Player Picks Works

To play Picks, you’ll create a contest entry with 2–8 players and predict whether each player will go higher or lower than their listed statistical projection.

Once submitted, your entry is placed into a pool of up to 5,000 contests, where you compete against other Sleeper users. Each entry earns a VS Score, which determines both leaderboard placement and potential payouts.

You can view your pool’s leaderboard at any time by tapping “Details” on your contest entry slip.

Scoring Basics

  • Each correct prediction increases your VS Score

  • Adding more players and selecting higher-difficulty picks increases potential scoring

  • Any incorrect prediction may reduce your VS Score to zero

The more correct predictions you make, the higher your VS Score will be.

Payouts

There are two ways to win in Picks. These payout methods do not stack — if both apply, you’ll receive the higher payout.

1. Pool Leaderboard Payout

  • Finish 1st place in your pool and win 100x your entry fee

  • If multiple entries tie for 1st, the 100x payout is split evenly

    • Example: 4 tied entries → 25x payout each

  • If no entry completes a fully correct contest, the prize is awarded to the entry with the highest VS Score, ignoring incorrect picks

2. Guaranteed Contest Payout

  • Earn a payout by getting the required number of predictions correct

  • The payout equals your entry fee multiplied by your VS Score

  • This payout is guaranteed, regardless of other entries in your pool

  • The required number of correct picks is shown before you submit and depends on whether you choose a Max or Flex contest

Payout Timing

  • Winning contest payouts are typically processed within 60 minutes of grading

  • 1st place pool payouts are issued only after all entries in the pool have been graded

Pool Types

To ensure fair gameplay, Sleeper categorizes users by experience level and offers different pool types.

Regular Pools

  • Up to 5,000 entries

  • 100x 1st place payout

  • Available to all users

  • Maximum entry fee: $500

Intermediate Pools

  • 20 entries

  • 3x 1st place payout

  • Not available to highly-experienced users

  • Maximum entry fee: $1

Beginner Pools

  • 20 entries

  • 3x 1st place payout

  • Available to beginner users only

  • Maximum entry fee: $1

A single user may not account for more than 5% of any individual pool’s total entries.

Picks Rules & Consideration

Note: These rules apply only to Sleeper Player Picks and do not apply to any free-to-play Sleeper games.

Contest Cancellation

You may cancel a contest and receive a refund only if all three conditions below are met:

  1. The contest was entered within the past 5 minutes

  2. No picks are in-play

  3. No games in the contest have started

If eligible, tap “Free Cancellation” on the Entries page.

Important notes:

  • Refunds are issued as playthrough credit

  • Playthrough credit must be used on a completed contest before withdrawal

  • You may cancel a maximum of 5 contests within 24 hours

Pushes and DNP (Did Not Play)

  • A push occurs when a player’s final stat equals their projection

  • A DNP occurs when a player does not meet minimum participation requirements

Affected picks are voided and graded as follows:

  • Contests with 3+ picks: graded with adjusted payouts

  • Contests with 2 picks: canceled and refunded

  • All contests must include players from multiple teams

    • If voided picks leave only one team, the entire contest is canceled and refunded

DNP Definitions by Sport

  • Football: Player has 0 snaps played

    • Special teams snaps count

  • Basketball: Player logs 0:00 minutes

  • Baseball:

    • Batter must start and record a plate appearance

    • Pitcher must start the game

    • Pinch hitters and relief pitchers are DNP (except for in-game picks)

  • Hockey:

    • Goalie must start

    • Skaters must play more than 0:00 minutes

Game Status Rules

  • Football, Basketball, Hockey

    • Picks from canceled, postponed, or abandoned games are voided

  • Baseball

    • Games completed on the scheduled date are graded normally

    • Games not started on the scheduled date are voided

    • Games resumed the next day are graded normally unless postponed

Voided picks follow the same rules as DNPs, including multi-team requirements.

Additional Rules

  • Shortened games with official results are graded normally

  • Contest updates may take 15–60 minutes after games conclude

  • You may not include multiple picks for the same player

  • Overtime and extra innings count toward stats

  • Sleeper uses official data from trusted third-party providers only

  • Live stats are not official and may change

  • Stat corrections made within 30 minutes of game end will trigger regrading

  • Corrections after 30 minutes will not affect contest results

Sleeper reserves the right to void, change, or remove any pick at its sole discretion.

Need Help?

If you have questions about Picks, contact our support team via Live Chat in the app or email us at [email protected].

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