The Draftstars NFL Star Tournament is back for the 2026 NFL season, giving daily fantasy NFL players the chance to qualify for an exclusive 30-entry final with a $60,000 prize pool.
NFL Star qualifiers will run throughout the opening weeks of the NFL season, beginning with the first game on Thursday, 10 September 2026.
Win one of the 30 qualifying contests and you'll secure a place in the NFL Star Final, while also receiving a minimum $500 cash prize for winning your qualifier.
The eventual NFL Star champion will collect $15,000 in total prize money, with every one of the 30 finalists guaranteed at least $500.
What Is Draftstars NFL Star?
NFL Star is the major tournament at Draftstars for the 2026 NFL season. Rather than one large open-entry contest, players must first qualify for the NFL Star Final by winning one of a series of dedicated NFL Star Qualifier contests. There are only 30 places available in the Final.
Qualifiers begin alongside the start of the NFL season on Thursday, 10 September and will run across the opening weeks of the season.
The winner of each qualifier receives entry into the 30-player NFL Star Final and a minimum $500 cash prize.
Once all 30 qualifying positions have been filled, those players will compete for the remainder of the $60,000 tournament prize pool.
Draftstars NFL Star Prize Pool
There is $60,000 in total prize money available across NFL Star 2026, headlined by $15,000 for the overall champion.
| Finish |
Total NFL Star Prize |
| 1st |
$15,000 |
| 2nd |
$8,000 |
| 3rd |
$5,000 |
| 4th |
$4,000 |
| 5th |
$3,500 |
| 6th |
$3,000 |
| 7th |
$2,500 |
| 8th |
$2,000 |
| 9th |
$1,750 |
| 10th |
$1,500 |
| 11th–15th |
$1,000 |
| 16th–20th |
$750 |
| 21st–30th |
$500 |
Importantly, the prize figures include the $500 already won by each player when qualifying. For example, the eventual NFL Star champion will already have received $500 for winning their qualifier before receiving another $14,500 from the Final, taking their total tournament winnings to $15,000.
Players finishing 21st through 30th don't receive an additional Final payout, but retain the $500 earned from qualifying.
How to Qualify for Draftstars NFL Star
Qualifying is straightforward - just win one of the 30 Qualifier contests on Draftstars throughout the opening portion of the NFL season.
Each qualifying contest is played under Draftstars' normal NFL daily fantasy format. Entrants select a fantasy lineup within the available salary cap, with players accumulating fantasy points according to their performances in the relevant NFL games.
Finish first in an NFL Star Qualifier and you secure one of the 30 available tickets to the Final and a guaranteed $500 minimum cash prize.
With only 30 seats available, however, NFL Star is considerably more exclusive than a normal large-field Draftstars contest.
When Do NFL Star Qualifiers Start?
The first NFL Star qualifiers are scheduled for Thursday, 10 September 2026, coinciding with the beginning of the NFL season.
Qualifiers will then continue across the following weeks until all 30 Final positions have been awarded.
Players can check the Draftstars NFL lobby throughout the qualifying period to see which NFL Star contests are currently available.
When Is the Draftstars NFL Star Final?
Draftstars' detailed promotion information states that the NFL Star Final will be played on the NFL Week 8 Monday main slate, scheduled for Monday, 2 November 2026.
Only the 30 players who have won an NFL Star qualifier will be eligible to enter.
That creates a very different contest from Draftstars' usual large-field tournaments. With just 30 entries competing for $60,000, every finalist has already guaranteed themselves at least $500 before the Final begins.
Draftstars NFL Fantasy
Draftstars offers daily fantasy contests across the NFL season, with players building a team of NFL players while staying underneath the contest salary cap. Fantasy points are then awarded according to each player's real-world performance.
Stay tuned to Before You Bet as we'll provide regular fantasy NFL lineup tips throughout the 2026 NFL season.
The NFL Star qualifiers give regular Draftstars NFL players an additional tournament to target during the early stages of the 2026 season, with qualification potentially leading to a spot in the $60,000 Final.
Draftstars NFL Star 2026: Key Details
Tournament: Draftstars NFL Star 2026
Prize Pool: $60,000
First Prize: $15,000 total
Final Entries: 30
Qualifiers: 30
Minimum Prize for Qualifying: $500
Qualifiers Begin: Thursday, 10 September 2026
Final: NFL Week 8 Monday main slate, currently listed as Monday, 2 November 2026
