NFL One-and-Done: Intro Strategy Guide

This article is the first of a weekly series that Justin Herzig of the FFin60 free fantasy football newsletter will be authoring for the Splash Sports community. You can join this first-of-its-kind contest here: NFL One-and-Done.

Fantasy football has always been about weekly decisions, but Splash Sports’ new NFL One-and-Done format adds a twist on things. Instead of grinding waivers or starting from scratch building a lineup each week, this game tests your ability to plan ahead, balance upside versus safety, and time your picks with precision. If you’ve played One-and-Done formats in golf or other sports, you’ll feel right at home with this NFL version.

Game Rules

Here’s how Justin Herzig’s NFL One-and-Done works on Splash Sports:

• ‍Scoring: Traditional PPR scoring with 100 yard rushing/receiving and 300 yard passing bonuses‍
• Lineups: Each week you must select five players from at least two different teams.‍
• Player Pool: All players appear in a single pick sheet: no tiers, no positional requirements, no salary caps.‍
• Locking & Injuries: Players can be swapped until their game starts. If they’re inactive, they stop scoring, so keep an eye on injury reports.‍
• One-and-Done Rule: Once you select a player, you cannot use them again for the rest of the season.‍
• Winning: The entrant with the highest cumulative fantasy points at season’s end takes the crown.

Key Strategy Tips

1. Play Your Studs Early

In golf One-and-Done contests, there’s always debate about whether to save the best players for later majors. In NFL, the injury risk, role changes, and sheer unpredictability mean you can’t afford to stash too much. Using stars early lets you maximize guaranteed production while they’re healthy and ensures you don’t finish the year with unused firepower. And when you run out of stars, you’re more likely to have other options that find their way into starting roles.

2. Prepare for Bye Weeks

Having to make five picks per week, losing access to a chunk of the player pool can crush your lineup if you’re not ready. Map out bye weeks in advance so you’re not forced into using marginal options. Week 8 most noteworthy with 6 teams on bye.

3. Not All Positions Are Created Equal

• ‍Quarterbacks: Most stable, highest floors, but less weekly upside variance.‍
• Running Backs: Explosive and opportunity to be the highest weekly scores, but also the most fragile position. Spot starts and injury replacements can offer huge value. Use them while you can.‍
• Wide Receivers: Deepest pool with the biggest week-to-week ceiling. Timing when to deploy boom-bust WRs will separate winners from the pack. Often an opportunity to stack with their QBs.‍
• Tight Ends: Low floor but likely a few options that are worth mixing in throughout the year.

4. Adapt Throughout the Year

Your strategy should evolve with your standing.

• ‍If you’re ahead: Stay disciplined, focus on high projected options, avoid unnecessary risks.‍
• If you’re behind: Get contrarian. Play the stars during difficult matchups, attack leverage situations (e.g., fading popular QBs that week), and swing for ceiling outcomes and stacks.

Content Schedule

To help you navigate the season, I’ll be posting a weekly article covering:

• A recap of my picks from the prior week
• Strategy breakdowns for the upcoming slate
• Recommended top plays, contrarian plays, and players to avoid

👉 Next up: my Week 1 article, where I’ll dive into the best opening strategies, my Week 1 considerations, and which matchups stand out

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