Commissioner Guide: Side Contests and Mini-Games That Keep Your League Engaged
The regular season fantasy matchup is the core of your league — but it’s not always enough to keep all 12 managers engaged all season. Side contests give managers who are out of playoff contention a reason to stay invested, and give the top managers another thing to compete for.
Side Contest Quick Reference
| Format | When it runs | Engagement benefit | Commissioner overhead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly High Scorer | Every week, all season | Every manager has a chance every week; highest-engagement weekly contest | Low — most platforms track automatically; $5–$10 pot per manager collected upfront |
| Best Lineup of Week | Every week, all season | Generates group chat discussion about “should have started” decisions | Low — requires checking best possible lineup after the week ends |
| Toilet Bowl / Loser’s Bracket | Weeks 15–17 (non-playoff teams) | Keeps bottom 6 managers engaged through postseason | Moderate — requires setting up a separate bracket |
| Survivor Pool | All season | Independent of fantasy performance; a bad fantasy team can still win | Low if using a platform tool; moderate if tracked manually |
| Pick ’Em Contest | All season, weekly | Generates discussion on NFL games; accessible to casual managers | Low — most platforms have built-in pick ’em tools |
| Best Regular Season Record Award | End of regular season | Acknowledges performance that doesn’t make playoffs due to tiebreakers | Very low — one payout, no ongoing work |
Why Side Contests Work
They distribute engagement value. In a 12-team league, 6 teams miss the playoffs. Without side contests, 6 managers have no stake in the final 3–4 weeks. With side contests, every manager has something to compete for even when playoff hopes are gone.
They generate discussion. Weekly high scorer, survivor pools, pick ’em — all produce moments that get managers talking. Side contests give the group chat something to react to beyond “I lost, this sucks.”
They add variety. A season-long league that’s only matchups and waivers can feel repetitive. Side contests change the texture of the experience.
Weekly Side Contests
Weekly High Scorer: The manager with the highest score wins a small pot ($5–$10 per manager, paid out weekly). Simplest side contest; easiest to run. Every manager has a chance every week.
Best Lineup of the Week: The manager who achieves the highest possible score from their actual roster — not their started lineup — wins. Rewards correct decisions and generates “should have started X” discussion without requiring a cash payout.
Lowest Score Award / Toilet Bowl: Some leagues run a consolation bracket for the bottom half after playoffs begin. The Toilet Bowl “winner” gets a small prize or avoids a punishment. Keeps the bottom half engaged through the postseason.
Season-Long Side Contests
Survivor Pool: Each week, every manager picks one NFL team they think will win. If correct, they survive; if not, they’re eliminated. A manager can only use each team once. The last survivor wins. Completely independent from fantasy performance.
Pick ’Em Contest: Weekly predictions on NFL game outcomes, tracked on a separate cumulative leaderboard. Most platforms have built-in pick ’em functionality.
Best Regular Season Record Award: A side pot for the manager with the best record regardless of playoff result. Acknowledges performance that gets overlooked due to unlucky scheduling or tiebreakers.
How to Run Side Contests Without Creating Commissioner Work
Use the platform’s tools. Sleeper, ESPN, and Yahoo have built-in side contest features. Check your platform for survivor, pick ’em, or side bet support before building something manually.
Collect money upfront. Before the season, collect all side contest fees with the main league fee. One payment, distributed appropriately at the end. Don’t chase weekly payment.
Start with one or two. Adding 5 side contests at once overwhelms managers and creates confusion. Weekly high scorer is the best starting point. Add more in future seasons if engagement warrants.
For how side contests connect to overall engagement strategy, see: Commissioner Guide: How to Keep Your League Engaged All Season. For managing the money and payouts that side contests require, see: Commissioner Guide: How to Start a Fantasy Football League from Scratch.