FanDraft Football ‘26 is now live

We’re happy to announce that FanDraft Football ‘26 is now available!

The 2026 Changes & Additions

This offseason our focus has been on improving the flow and energy of draft night.

FanDraft has always been about recreating that in-person draft experience — the reactions, the debates, the chaos, and the fun. So much of our work this year went into small but meaningful improvements that make drafts feel smoother, more interactive, and more “alive,” while also tightening up stability and audio behavior behind the scenes.

You’ll notice fewer awkward pauses, cleaner audio transitions, and more control for commissioners when managing the room. And of course, we added a few new features designed specifically to create those fun, memorable moments that make live drafts great.

Features and updates in 2026:

• End of Round Summary (NEW)
  Automatically displays a full-screen highlight at the end of each round calling out the Best Pick and Worst Pick.
  Designed to spark reactions and debate without slowing things down.
  

• Take a Draft Break
  Commissioners can now create an intermission and pause the draft at any time (non-auction leagues). Perfect for food runs, trades, or just giving everyone a breather.
  

• Walk-Up Song Fade Options
  Added the ability to fade songs out after 15, 30, or 45 seconds for smoother pacing.
  

• Custom “Pick Is In…” Sound
  You can now choose your own sound effect for the “Pick Is In” announcement.
  

• Improved Audio Handling
  Tighter pausing of walk-up songs while the Voice Announcer is speaking for cleaner transitions.
  

• Auction Voice Announcer
  The announcer now calls out when a player has been nominated during auction drafts.
  

• Auction Team Songs During Nomination Only
  By default, songs now play during nomination and stop during bidding to reduce audio clutter (optional override available).
  

• Clock Extension Improvement
  Clock extensions now add time to the remaining clock instead of resetting it.
  

• View Only Mode
  Remote users can be restricted to view-only access, preventing accidental or unauthorized picks.

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Introducing START/BENCH (FanDraft Users Get a Discount)

Last season we quietly launched Start/Bench, our in-season lineup decision tool, and many leagues may not have seen it yet.

While FanDraft helps you run the best draft night possible, Start/Bench helps you win during the season.

Start/Bench turns scattered weekly data into one clear lineup decision:

• Built around Vegas player props (the most predictive public signal for usage and scoring)

• Combines matchup strength, game odds, injuries, and recent performance

• Uses AI to synthesize everything into a simple recommendation — with the reasoning to back it up

It’s not “set best lineup.”
It focuses on the hard start/sit calls and explains why.

Purchasers of FanDraft (and their league mates) are eligible for an exclusive discounted price on Start/Bench.

If you want an edge once the draft is over, it’s worth checking out.