Following news over the weekend that just 6% of COVID-19 deaths have been caused by the virus alone (i.e. with no underlying health conditions), it looks like the pandemic is nearly defeated.

That said, COVID combined with civil unrest during an election year should at least have fantasy commissioners planning for potential contingency plans if the NFL season is impacted, so we’ve broken down some options about handling any disruption in terms of payouts and crowning a champion. The breakdown is for a basic 10-team league with a $100 buy-in to simplify the options for people of all league sizes/formats to easily adjust it to theirs. And it is for a four-team playoff that runs through Week 17 (again, can easily adjust with many not playing the final week).

The Scenarios

Season ends before Week 14 (fantasy playoffs) with at least five weeks played (minimum games subject to vote):

-OPTION A: Top overall scorer gets $210, No. 2 scorer gets $150, and everyone else gets back $80… no official champion.

-OPTION B: East Division winner and West Division winner each get $180, and everyone else gets back $80… no official champion.

-OPTION C: East Division winner and West Division winner each get $150; top overall scorer gets $100; and everyone else gets back $75… no official champion.

-OPTION D: Everyone gets money back… no official champion.

Season ends after Week 13 but before Week 14 (i.e. playoff teams set but don’t happen):

-OPTION A: Playoff teams all get $250… no official champion

-OPTION B: Division winners get $300, wild card teams get $200… no official champion.

-OPTION C: No. 1 seed gets $350, No. 2 seed gets $300, No. 3 seed gets $200, No. 4 seed gets $150… no official champion.

Season ends after Week 14 but before Week 15 (tiebreakers determined by seeding):

-OPTION A: Playoff teams all get $250… no official champion.

-OPTION B: Top playoff scorer gets $400, three other teams get $200… no official champion.

-OPTION C: Top playoff scorer gets $400, No. 2 scorer gets $300, other two teams get $150… no official champion

Season ends after Week 15 (tiebreakers determined by seeding):

-OPTION A: Playoff winners each get $500… no official champion.

-OPTION B: Playoff winners each get $500… official champion determined by most points in Round 1.

-OPTION C: Playoff winner with most points gets $750, other playoff winner gets $250… no official champion.

-OPTION D: Playoff winner with most points gets $750, other playoff winner gets $250… official champion determined by most points in Round 1.

Season ends after Week 16 but before Week 17 (tiebreaker determined by seeding):

-OPTION A: Whoever is winning championship matchup gets $750 and is official champion.

-OPTION B: Whoever is winning championship matchup gets $750, but no official champion.

-OPTION C: Final two teams split $500… no official champion.

Our Recommendations

Things can be put to a vote in your league, but we think these are the fairest options.

Season ends before Week 14 (fantasy playoffs) after at least five weeks played: