Perpetual Football League

Keeper rules (unchanged for 2025)

• Maximum number of keepers to 6, up from 5 (4+1 dev)
• Can keep up to 8 using the 9/10 slot but ONLY for PK and/or DST

Keeper restrictions:

• Two (2) required from slots 1 & 2
• Up to four (4) additional keepers allowed from
• Up to two (2) in slots 3, 4, 5, and/or 6
• Up to four (4) in slots 7d (dev), 8d (dev), 11, and 12
• Up to two (2) slots to be used for PK/DST are allowed from slots 9 and 10
• PK/DST retained in 9/10 do not count against the “6 keepers” (yes, it’s really 8)

Reminders

FAAB can be traded on Sleeper.

To determine your dev players, view the previous two years’ player lists and count (using fingers and toes, as required).

See below for dev player rules

The League

• Franchise fee for teams in the Perpetual Football League shall be agreed upon by the ownership and shall be payable prior to the first game of the season.
• The league shall consist of no fewer than 6, nor more than 14 teams for each playing season.
• Each team will play no fewer than 12 regular season games.
• Teams will consist of no more than 17 players (17 active, 1 IR).
• Playoffs shall conclude no later than the next-to-last week of the NFL regular season.
• Regular season play begins coinciding with the NFL regular season.

The Game

• A schedule shall determine which fantasy teams play each other each week. The team that scores the most points that week wins the fantasy game.
• Only players Active for the current playing week are eligible to score and contribute points to his team for that week.
• All roster moves (activations, and deactivations) must be completed by a time designated by the PFL League.
• If no changes are received by the deadline, the previous active roster for that team will be considered the current active roster.
• Scoring, roster changes will be maintained, and official results shall be posted by the online service.
• Each week teams will activate 8 players. See requirements and maximums below.

See Sleeper for current scoring.

Some clarifications in the scoring system

• Team scoring refers to any play where the opposing team begins with or gains possession of the ball, including kickoff returns, punt returns, interception returns, returns of blocked kicks, and defensive/special teams fumble returns. Fumbles by an offensive team, recovered by an offensive player from that team with no change of possession are treated as offensive points only, as are all special teams points from FGs and fake kicks.
• All DST touchdowns count as individual points for the player scoring the points, as well as the DST.
• DST points allowed include ALL points allowed by that team in its game.
• DST yards allowed are total net yds allowed (return yards are not included).
• Points are awarded to any player who passes for, or scores, a touchdown. Any player scoring, or throwing for, a PAT is credited with points.
• Questions (protests) concerning scoring shall be reviewed. The commissioner shall make the final decision in all disputes. Any protest or question regarding scoring must be made no later than midnight Tuesday.
• Standings (and tiebreakers) will be determined as follows: 1. W/L Record; 2. Head-to-head; 3. Total points; 4. Points scored head-to-head; 5. Coin flip. Division standings will include divisional record, which will be used in breaking divisional ties following head-to-head and prior to total points. In the case where there are 3 or more teams tied for a spot, head-to-head is based first on record versus the tied teams. For example, if four teams are tied with the same record, and their records against each other are: teamA (3-0-0), teamB (1-1-1), teamC (1-1-1), and teamD (0-3-0), teamA would advance. If any further tie needed to be broken, the three remaining teams would be compared. Further comparison here would eliminate teamD, and teams B and C would be judged head-to-head.

The Draft

• Each franchise shall be eligible to retain a number (see retention procedure) of players from the previous season's roster. These players shall be named prior to the draft at a TBA date and time.
• The draft shall consist of seventeen (17) rounds. Teams retaining players shall forfeit a designated draft choice for each player retained from the previous season's roster.
• Teams shall select players from a pool of available free agents. A team may not draft current collegiate or high school players. Players from professional leagues other than the NFL may be drafted.
• The draft site is Sleeper and will be available via conference call when possible.
• Time shall be limited and at a premium (so please be prepared). Each franchise will have no more than 2 minutes to make its selection.

Retention procedures

• Teams may retain a maximum of six (6) players from any position. Two additional PK or DST players may be retained, for a total of eight (8) possible retentions.
• Each keeper retained is assigned a draft slot “cost” based on the previous season’s draft:
• Players selected or slotted in rounds 1 through 6 in the previous season, cost a 1-4 slot
• Players selected/slotted in rounds 7 through 12 in the previous season, cost a 5-6 slot
• Players selected/slotted in rounds 13+ (including undrafted players) in the previous season, cost an 11-12 slot
• PK or DST players may be slotted in rounds 9-10 regardless of their actual slot cost
• A team must have an “open” (available) draft slot at the player’s “cost,” or higher (earlier), to keep that player.
• The minimum players retained shall be two (2). The two base keepers will be assigned draft slots (rounds) 1 and 2.
• The remaining players may be slotted in any round slot for which the assigned player is eligible (3-4, 5-6, 7-8 (developmental only), 9-10 (PK/DST only), 11-12)
• Only developmental players can be assigned to slots 7 or 8. Dev players count against the 6-player base retentions limit.
• Only PK/DST players can be assigned to slots 9 or 10. When the PK/DST-only slots are used, the players DO NOT count against the 6-player keeper limit. If PK/DST are retained in ANY other slot they WILL count against the 6-player limit.
• Players eligible for multiple draft slots will be assigned based on the owner’s direction.
• Teams keeping the minimum number (2) of players shall begin selection in round 3. Teams will draft in rounds in which they have not slotted retained players.
• Any team which retains a player who subsequently suffers a confirmed "season-ending injury" prior to the PFL draft shall be allowed the option of compensation for the lost player. This exception ends when the PFL draft is declared as “under way.”

The affected team may

• Retain another eligible player from its pre-retention roster, or
• Elect to receive the corresponding draft pick if the injured player was slotted in the 3 round or later
• The team suffering the loss may rearrange its remaining slotted players to fill the slot of the injured player, but without any other additions or subtractions to its full list of retentions
• If the team in question is an expansion team, having no other players from which to draw a replacement, the team shall be awarded a compensatory pick. The timing of that pick is at the commissioner's discretion. If the supplemental pick is to come prior to the draft, only veteran players will be eligible to be selected.

Definition of “developmental player”

A player qualifies as “developmental” players when

• the player is entering his second NFL season after finishing out of the top 10 (if QB, PK, or DST) or top 20 (for RB and WR) players at his position in fantasy points (full-NFL-season points) during his rookie season; or
• the player is entering his third NFL season after finishing out of the top tier of players (as above) at his position in fantasy points during each of his rookie and second-year seasons.

Developmental status for the TE position will be determined based on WR and TE rankings combined. Any TE finishing outside the top 25 of WR/TE combined shall be considered eligible based on points.

Transactions

• No transaction is final until the league office has been notified by all parties involved. Sleeper trade configuration takes precedence.
• Teams shall not be required to pay transaction fees for trades or acquisitions.
• No claims may be made in the period between retention submissions and draft day. Claiming will resume the Wednesday (or other day as deemed appropriate) following draft day.

Claims

• Free Agent waivers will be processed on Wednesdays each week. Desired cuts and signings must be submitted by that time on the Sleeper waiver wire.
• Teams shall submit their claims on Sleeper. Tie breakers based on platform provider settings.
• Teams will be allowed up to four (4) claims per week.
• Prior to the first game, teams claiming waived players shall be given preference according to first round draft order in the first week of claiming. If any subsequent weeks of claiming occur, the claiming order will occur according to commissioner’s discretion (rolling order is recommended).
• Teams shall not be allowed to claim current collegiate or high school players, until after the first PFL draft following the NFL draft for which those collegiate players are eligible.
• Teams which have not paid their league fees may be barred from add/drops until payment is made.

Trades

• Trades must take roster maximums in consideration.
• The trade deadline shall be the Sleeper trade deadline (week 11 in 2026).
• A 3-person "fairness" committee will be established for the purpose of striking down any trades which are judged to be unfair, or which violate the "spirit of the game."
• Teams which do not qualify to the championship tournament, shall have their rosters locked (no drops, claims, or trades) after the kickoff of the first NFL game of the last week of the PFL regular season. Playoff teams’ rosters become locked as they are eliminated from championship contention.

Communications and Miscellany

• A PFL traveling trophy will reside with the winning team of the PFL Championship Game for a period of 6-8 months immediately following the season. This will be applied where practical and where desired.
• All league information will be delivered via Sleeper, e-mail, WhatsApp, or other reasonable method per the commissioner’s whim. The PFL League office e-mail address is [email protected]. All official communications must be sent, minimally, to this address.
• THE GIVE-UP - Any owner who starts a player whose NFL team is on a bye week shall be guilty of the "give up" and will be fined $20 plus 40 FAAB per offense. In addition, any owner who starts a player declared as "out" due to injury in the NFL weekly injury report, or any owner failing to fill all active roster spots in a given week will be fined $20 plus 40 FAAB. Monies from fines will be used to sponsor league functions, purchase trophies or other league gear, and/or to fund side-games such as PFL Pick ‘em games.

Playoffs

Following the regular season the top teams in the league shall participate in the PFL Championship Tournament. The Playoff format will be single elimination and the number of qualifying teams shall be dependent upon the number of franchises in the league for that season. If the league consists of 6-9 teams, only 4 teams will participate in the championship tournament. If the league consists of 10 or more teams, a minimum of 6 teams shall qualify for championship play.

A consolation tournament may be held among the non-qualifiers.

A “PFL Toilet Bowl” competition shall be conducted along with playoffs: a tournament where losers advance, weeks 15 – 17, mirroring championship.

Post-Season Play Rules/Tie-Breakers

There are no ties in postseason play. Ties shall be broken by the following method:

• 1) Total touchdowns (passing/rushing/receiving/returns) by starting lineup.
• 2) Points by starting PK;
• 3) Points by starting DST;
• 4) Points by starting QB;
• 5) Coin flip.

Sleeper configuration allows for the higher seed to advance. This will be the default determiner if PFL tie-breakers cannot be applied due to system restrictions.

Tournament formats

Either of the following post-season championship tournament formats are acceptable, and may be used to determine a league champion. Determination of the tournament format is dependent upon number of teams in league competition, season length, and divisional structure.

Six-team tournament format (for 2018 and beyond)

Six teams shall be seeded 1 through 6, with the top two seeds receiving byes in the first round. Seed 3 will play seed 6, and 4 will play 5. The team with the worst record to win in the wildcard round will face the top seeded team in the semi-finals.

Seven-team tournament format (14-teams, single-table)

Teams shall be seeded 1 through 7 with the top team receiving a bye in the first round. The second seed plays the seventh, 3rd plays 6th, and 4th plays 5th. The team with the worst record to win in the first round shall face the top seeded team.

Eight-team tournament format

Teams shall be seeded 1 through 8 with the divisional winners occupying the top seeds. The top seeded team plays the last seed, 2nd plays 7th, 3rd plays 6th, and 4th plays 5th. Where possible, no team should be required to play a team from its own division in the first round.

Purse Award for 2026 (12 team league - based on $100.00 fee)