Sunday Game Day Checklist
Last-minute lineup changes
The Most Important 15 Minutes of Your Week
More fantasy matchups are lost on Sunday morning than any other time.
Why? Because people forget to check injuries, set lineups, or make last-minute swaps.
This checklist takes 10-15 minutes max. It's the difference between winning and losing.
Let's make sure you never lose a matchup because you forgot to do something obvious.
The Sunday Morning Timeline
11:00-11:30 AM ET: Pre-Game Prep
Check injury reports, inactives, weather, and lineup locks.
11:30-12:45 PM ET: Final Decisions
Make last-minute swaps. Lock in your lineup.
1:00 PM ET: GAMES START
Lineups are locked. Nothing you can do now.
3:45-4:00 PM ET: Late Game Adjustments
If you have flex options in the 4 PM games, adjust based on how the early games went.
8:15 PM ET: Sunday Night Football
Set and forget. Relax and watch.
Step 1: Check Inactives List (11:00 AM)
What to Do:
90 minutes before kickoff, teams release their "inactives" list. These are players who WON'T play.
Where to Check:
What to Look For:
Pro Tip:
Turn on push notifications for your fantasy app. Set them to "All News" not just "My Players."
Step 2: Review Injury Designations (11:05 AM)
What to Do:
Check if any of your starters are listed as Questionable or Doubtful.
Injury Designations:
Decision Tree:
If your Questionable player is in the 1 PM games:
→ Check Twitter 30 min before kickoff for updates
→ If no update, consider benching for a 4 PM option
If your Questionable player is in the 4 PM games:
→ You have 3 extra hours to decide
→ Monitor news closely
Pro Tip:
When in doubt, start the healthy player over the Questionable one.
Step 3: Check Weather Reports (11:10 AM)
What to Do:
Check weather forecasts for games. Bad weather = fewer passing yards.
Where to Check:
Red Flag Weather:
❌ Wind over 20 mph = Bad for kickers and QBs
❌ Heavy rain = Bad for passing, good for RBs
❌ Snow = Unpredictable, usually bad for everyone
What to Do If Bad Weather:
Pro Tip:
Dome games (Vegas, Dallas, New Orleans, etc.) never have weather issues.
Step 4: Verify Your Lineup (11:15 AM)
What to Do:
Go through EVERY starting spot. Double-check everything.
The Checklist:
☐ All starting slots are filled
☐ No one is on bye
☐ No one is listed as "Out"
☐ No one is Questionable without a backup plan
☐ Flex spot has your best available player
☐ Defense/Kicker are set
Common Mistakes to Catch:
❌ Player on bye in your starting lineup
❌ Thursday player you forgot to swap out
❌ Injured player who was ruled Out on Saturday
❌ Backup RB in your lineup when starter is healthy
Pro Tip:
Check your opponent's lineup too. If they left someone on bye or Out, you have a huge advantage!
Step 5: Make Last-Minute Swaps (11:20-11:45 AM)
What to Do:
Based on inactives, injuries, and weather, make final adjustments.
Common Swaps:
Examples:
Scenario 1:
Your RB1 was Questionable all week. 11:30 AM, he's ruled Out.
→ Move him to bench, plug in RB3
Scenario 2:
Your kicker's game has 30 mph winds.
→ Drop him, grab a kicker in a dome game
Scenario 3:
Your opponent left their WR1 on bye.
→ You don't need to do anything. You already won.
Pro Tip:
If you're 50/50 on a decision, go with your gut. Overthinking costs wins.
Step 6: Lock It In (11:50 AM)
What to Do:
One final check. Then hit "Save Lineup" and walk away.
Final Confirmation:
☐ Starters: All set
☐ Bench: Backups ready if needed
☐ Confidence level: High
After 12:00 PM ET:
What to Do During Games:
Pro Tip:
Once games start, there's nothing you can do. Stressing about it won't help. Grab a beer and enjoy football.
Late Afternoon Decisions (4 PM Games)
If you have flex options in the 4 PM games:
Scenario 1: You're Winning Big
Start the "safe floor" player. You don't need a boom, just consistency.
Scenario 2: You're Losing Big
Start the "high ceiling" player. You need a miracle. Swing for the fences.
Scenario 3: It's Close
Start whoever you planned to start. Don't overthink it.
Example:
It's 3:55 PM. Early games are done. You're down 40 points.
→ Start Option B. You need upside.
Pro Tip:
Most of the time, just stick with your original plan. Getting cute backfires more often than it works.
Sunday Night Football (8:15 PM)
What to Do:
If you have players in SNF, you already set them. Nothing to do now.
Mental Game:
Monday Night Football:
Same deal. If you have MNF players, they're already set.
Post-Game:
Pro Tip:
Don't send emotional trades or waiver claims Sunday night. Sleep on it. Decide Tuesday morning.
The Complete Sunday Morning Checklist
11:00-11:05 AM:
☐ Check inactives list
☐ Bench any player ruled Out
11:05-11:10 AM:
☐ Review injury designations
☐ Plan for Questionable players
11:10-11:15 AM:
☐ Check weather reports
☐ Swap players in bad weather if needed
11:15-11:20 AM:
☐ Verify entire lineup
☐ Confirm no one on bye
11:20-11:45 AM:
☐ Make last-minute swaps
☐ Finalize flex decisions
11:45-11:55 AM:
☐ One final check
☐ Hit "Save Lineup"
☐ Relax
12:00 PM:
☐ Lineups locked
☐ Grab a beer
☐ Enjoy football
Total Time: 15 minutes
Follow this checklist and you'll never lose because you forgot something obvious.