Save your stars
Burning your best back in Round 1 gets you through Round 1. It also means the deepest round of your tournament is the one where your roster is thinnest. Advance on the cheapest lineup that still wins.
Sandman Sports Original
The Gauntlet
Survive. Advance. Conquer.
Fantasy strategy meets a single-elimination tournament. Build your lineup, go head-to-head against one opponent, and win to advance. Lose once and your Gauntlet is over.
Public cash contests available in eligible jurisdictions. Where you can play
Field size
Four rounds. One survivor.
- Round 116entries
- Round 28entries
- Round 34entries
- Final2entries
- Winner1survivor
A 16-player Gauntlet runs 4 rounds. Each box shows how many entries are still alive going into that round.
Every player you use today is one you can’t use tomorrow.
See it in action
One run through the bracket
A single entry in The Gauntlet: NFL Rushing. Watch it play out, then click any round to step through it yourself.
Illustrative example. Player teams and scores are demo data, not live contest results.
Your lineup
287Rushing yards
- Saquon BarkleyPHI118
- James CookBUF95
- Chase BrownCIN74
Mike D.
241Rushing yards
- Kyren WilliamsLAR91
- Tony PollardTEN82
- Aaron JonesMIN68
You advance — 287 to 241
Your player pool
3 of 16 used — spent players can’t come back
- Saquon BarkleyUsed R1
- James CookUsed R1
- Chase BrownUsed R1
- Bijan RobinsonATL
- Kenneth Walker IIISEA
- Rachaad WhiteTB
- Derrick HenryBAL
- De’Von AchaneMIA
- David MontgomeryDET
- Jahmyr GibbsDET
- Josh JacobsGB
- Breece HallNYJ
- Tyrone Tracy Jr.NYG
- Rhamondre StevensonNE
- Javonte WilliamsDAL
- Brian Robinson Jr.WAS
How it works
Five rules. That’s the whole game.
Build your lineup
Select players based on that contest’s statistical category — rushing, receiving or passing yards.
Face one opponent
You’re not chasing the whole field. Each round is a single head-to-head matchup.
Win and advance
Out-gain your opponent and you move on. Come up short and your Gauntlet is over.
Never reuse a player
Once you’ve used a player, he’s gone for the rest of the tournament. This is the rule that makes the game.
Conquer the Gauntlet
Keep winning until you’re the last entrant standing.
Easy to play.
Difficult to master.
The rules take thirty seconds to learn. The decisions take a season to get right.
Do you spend your stars now, or save them for a round you might not reach?
Do you need the highest score possible — or just one yard more than the guy across from you?
Can you find the matchup everybody else overlooked?
Ready to run it?
Your next Gauntlet starts here
Strategy
How Gauntlets are won
Play the matchup
Volume, opponent, game script and red-zone role move yardage more than name recognition does. A workhorse back in a close game will out-produce a star in a blowout most weeks.
Remember who you’re playing
You don’t have to beat the field. You have to beat one person. Scoreboard-watch your actual opponent, and adjust how much risk you need to take.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the same player twice?
No. Once a player appears in one of your lineups, he’s unavailable to you for the rest of that Gauntlet.
What happens if I lose a round?
You’re eliminated from that tournament. Single elimination — that’s the point.
Can I create my own Gauntlet?
Yes. Commissioners can create private Gauntlets for their own group and set the stat category, field size and rules.
Can I play for cash prizes?
Sandman-hosted public contests offer cash prizes in eligible jurisdictions. Private contests among your own group are open to players anywhere in the U.S.
How many rounds is a Gauntlet?
It depends on the field size. A 16-entrant Gauntlet runs four rounds; larger fields run longer. Every contest lists its bracket size before you enter.
Where you can play
To enter public contests you must be physically located in an authorized jurisdiction. Private, commissioner-created contests are open to players anywhere in the U.S. — we still confirm your location, but there are no jurisdiction restrictions.
Think you can survive the Gauntlet?
Enter now.
Play the long game.
Sandman Sports contests are games of skill. Must be 18+ (19+ or 21+ in some jurisdictions) and physically located in an authorized jurisdiction to enter public cash contests. Please play responsibly.
