Frequently Asked Questions
Everything people usually want to know first
The basics
What is Promethium?
A free fantasy football game where every matchup is played over one real NFL game. You and one opponent draft from the two rosters in that game, and whoever’s lineup scores more when it goes final wins.
You can play a one-off Single Game Showdown against one person, or a full season league with standings and playoffs.
Is it free?
Yes. There are no entry fees, nothing to buy and no cash prizes. Promethium is supported by advertising. You need to be at least 13 to make an account.
How is this different from regular fantasy football?
There’s no season-long roster. Every matchup starts from scratch with a fresh draft from a fresh player pool, so there are no waivers, no trades, no bench and no bye-week headaches. You’re never stuck with a team you drafted badly in August.
What scoring does it use?
Full PPR by default: a point per reception, a point per 10 rushing or receiving yards, a point per 25 passing yards, 4 for a passing touchdown and 6 for any other touchdown. Kickers and team defenses use ESPN’s standard tables. Showdowns don’t penalize interceptions or lost fumbles. Whoever creates a league or Showdown can change any of it before the first draft.
Games and drafts
Which NFL game will my matchup be played on?
In a season league, each matchup is randomly given one real NFL game from that week, and you find out once the previous week’s games are all final. In a Showdown you choose the game yourself, or press Randomize.
Can two matchups in my league get the same game?
Not unless your league has more matchups than the NFL has games that week. Until then, every matchup in a league gets its own game.
When does my draft happen?
In a season league, the home manager proposes a time and the away manager accepts it. It can be any time up to 30 minutes before kickoff. If you never agree on one, the draft opens automatically 90 minutes before kickoff. In a Showdown, the creator sets a time or presses Draft now.
Who picks first?
In a season league, the home manager. In the playoffs, the higher seed. In a Showdown, a coin flip that runs as soon as your opponent joins.
What happens if I miss my draft?
A bot drafts for you. If you’re not in the draft room when it opens, or your pick clock runs out, the bot takes over until you come back. Whatever happens, any draft still running 1 minute before kickoff is finished by the bot, so you always end up with a full lineup.
How does the bot decide who to pick?
If you’ve ranked the players on your draft board, it takes your highest-ranked player who fits an open lineup spot. If you haven’t, it projects every player from recent games, his role on the depth chart, the opponent and any injury, then takes the player who’d give you the biggest edge over what’s left at that position. It never drafts a player who has been ruled out.
Can my opponent and I draft the same player?
No. Every player and each team defense can only be drafted once per matchup.
Why can’t I find a certain player in the draft?
The pool is the two clubs in your game, and only players on the club’s depth chart, at fantasy positions (quarterback, running back, receiver, tight end, kicker), plus the two defenses. A player who hasn’t been seeing the field won’t be there.
Can I change my lineup after the draft?
Yes, until kickoff. You can switch two of your players between lineup spots, and you can swap out an injured player (see below).
Injuries, scoring and results
A player I drafted got hurt before the game. What can I do?
Use an injury swap. Once the draft is over and before kickoff, you can replace any player carrying an injury designation with an undrafted player from either club in your game who fits the same spot. The player you drop becomes available to your opponent too, so don’t wait if a good replacement is on the board.
How often do scores update?
About once a minute while the game is on, from the official box score. Safeties are credited once the game is final.
What happens if we tie?
In the regular season a tie stands, and counts as half a win in the standings. In the playoffs the tie goes to the team whose lowest-scoring starter scored more, and then to the higher seed. In a Showdown it’s recorded as a tie on both managers’ records.
What if a stat looks wrong?
Scores come from the official box score feed, which occasionally gets corrected after the fact. If something looks off, get in touch and we’ll take a look.
Leagues
How many people can be in a league?
Between 2 and 32. With an odd number, one manager has a bye each week. Byes don’t count in the standings.
Can I join a league after the season has started?
No. A league closes to new members when the commissioner generates the season schedule. Until then, anyone with the invite link can join. For a one-off game in the meantime, start a Showdown.
Can I start a league after the NFL season has begun?
No. A season league has to be created, and its season generated, before NFL week 1 kicks off, because league week 1 is played on NFL week 1. Once the season is under way, a Single Game Showdown is the way to play, and leagues for the next season open in the spring.
Can the commissioner change the rules mid-season?
No. Scoring, lineup spots, the pick clock default, the season length and the tiebreakers can all be changed until the league’s first draft opens. After that they’re locked for the season. Every member can see the league’s rules on its Rules page.
How do the playoffs work?
The top four teams make it by default. Playoff rounds are played on the real NFL postseason: Wild Card weekend first, then the Divisional round, the Conference Championships and the Super Bowl. Your playoff game is drawn once the NFL has set every game in that round. The bracket re-seeds every round so the top remaining seed always plays the lowest. Teams that miss out play a consolation bracket.
Your account
Will I get notifications?
By email, yes: when your game is drawn, when a draft time is set or confirmed, before your draft opens, when it’s your pick on a long pick clock, and with your result. You can turn each one off in Settings, and every email has an unsubscribe link. Text message reminders about draft times are available if you opt in.
How do I get in touch?
Email or call. Our details are on the contact page. Questions, bug reports and ideas are all welcome.