With the offseason in full flow and the 2026 NFL Draft being complete, it might not be time to start thinking about the 2026 NPIFL season, but it is definitely time to start considering thinking about the 2026 NPIFL season.
To paraphrase one of my favorite pieces of atrocious … dare I say prose? … ‘The season ahead is interesting, and that makes it even more interesting.’
So, let’s take a look at what’s changing in 2026, and for those managers who checked out a little earlier than others who were battling in the playoffs, the draft order is also below.
2026 NPIFL League Changes ft. Divisions & Playoff Expansion
They say that the more things seem to change, the more they stay the same and that is the case with one of the major changes to the 2026 NPIFL season.
With a full offseason to work with after a chaotic relocation to ESPN, NPIFL Commissioner Tom Lloyd was delighted to welcome back the divisional setup for the league, with the Plas Coch and the Metropolitan divisions making a comeback.
The same teams are in the same divisions as previously, but for those who need a reminder of some of the more brutal rivalries in the NPIFL, here are the two divisions:
Metro
- Jordan’s Scary Team 👑
- Lloyds Leviathans
- Old England Patriots
- Kelce Smiles
- St. Lewis Rams
- Santos
Plas Coch
- Brymbo Firestorm
- Portscatho Padres
- Nixon it Up
- San Wrexham 69ers
- Brymbo Originals
- Dan’s Daring Team
The second major change coming in 2026 is the expansion of the NPIFL Playoffs from four to six teams and from two to three weeks.
This will allow for the top two teams in the regular season to have a bye week while the 3-6 seeds battle it out in the first week of the postseason. Those two seeds automatically enter the playoffs in the second week fresh, rested and ready to disappoint their excited fanbases.
For more information on how this would work, check out the actual NFL playoff format.
2026 NPIFL Draft Order & Current Keepers
Now, the next big event for the NPIFL is the draft, and while this has yet to be finalized, the Tentative Draft Time & Date is Sun, Aug 30 at 7:00 PM.
Important note: While the league has reopened and trades are allowed, managers are not permitted to pick up free agents or rookies.
This should be locked; however, if by some mischief it does happen, on draft day, waivers will be checked by the NPIFL’s extensive admin team and any such players will be dropped back into the draft pool.
After winning the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in 2025, the Old England Pats also get the No. 1 pick in the draft. With each team, we have projected who we think the HC will keep and provided the biggest names they will drop.
#1, Old England Patriots
Keepers:
- Drake Maye
- Saquon Barkley
- Kenneth Walker
- Brock Bowers
Major Drops:
- Jaylen Warren
- Marvin Harrison Jr.
- Kyle Pitts
- Zach Charbonnet
The huge Q there is over Marvin Harrison Jr. After being an early round pick for the Pats in 2025, the Cardinals WR hasn’t really hit the ceilings projected.
With Arizona looking to a new QB era with Jacoby Brissett, who did not exactly favour Harrison in 2025, it’s possible HC Aminul Hassan elects to keep his ascendant QB Drake Maye and the newly-signed (and paid) Chiefs RB Kenneth Walker instead of the Cardinals WR.
#2, San Wrexham
Keepers
- Quinshon Judkins
- Breece Hall
- Justin Jefferson
- George Pickens
Major drops
- Jayden Daniels
- Sam LaPorta
- Chris Olave
- Joe Mixon
This was a toughie, as we know San Wrexham HC Chris Blockley wanted to commit to Jayden Daniels under center and rumors have often linked Breece Hall with a move away from the franchise.
With Breece Hall signing a big contract and George Pickens becoming such a star for the franchise, the injury-ridden Jayden Daniels could fall here or even potentially be traded. It’s hard to project what Blockley will do, so don’t be surprised if he elects to keep Chris Olave instead.
#3, Lloyds Leviathans
Keepers
- Josh Jacobs
- Travis Etienne
- CeeDee Lamb
- Omarion Hampton
Major Drops
- Tee Higgins
- Baker Mayfield
- Rashid Shaheed
- Tetairoa McMillan
- Cam Skattebo
With Cam Skattebo’s foot facing the wrong direction, it feels like his tenure at the Leviathans may be over before it really began. With Travis Etienne headed for a fresh start in New Orleans,
#4, Kelce Smiles
Keepers
Major Drops
- Alvin Kamara
- Patrick Mahomes
- Rhamondre Stevenson
- Dak Prescott
HC Christopher Ward has some complicated decisions ahead, and one of them will likely see both RBs he traded for via the Firestorm in 2025 leave the franchise.
Alvin Kamara projects to be a fade candidate with Travis Etienne in New Orleans, while Rhamondre Stephenson seems the lesser of the two RB prospects between himself and Javonte Williams at the Smiles.
The real question is whether Ward will let Patrick Mahomes walk in 2026, as the question on what Jaylen Waddle’s fantasy value will be in a crowded Denver WR room is a valid one.
#5, Santos
Keepers
- Josh Allen
- Derrick Henry
- Christian Watson
- David Montgomery
Major Drops
- Quentin Johnston
- Romeo Doubs
- Jameson Williams
We feel the decision will be whether to keep Christian Watson or any of the three we’ve listed as major drops. Jameson Williams is listed as a keeper at present, so it could be that he stays.
We feel HC Christopher Faulkner is too attached to David Montgomery to let him walk, especially with him having landed with a Texans team that desperately needed a power back to punch it in for short-yard TDs
#6, St Lewis Rams
Keepers
Major Drops
- Terry McLaurin
- Kenneth Gainwell
- DJ Moore
- Jordan Addison
- Aaron Jones
The Rams certainly have some decisions to make in the offseason, with several potential keepers leaving the franchise. Rachaad White joins the Commanders, while Kenneth Gainwell replaces him ant Tampa Bay.
We don’t think Aaron Jones will make the cut, and it will be tough to release Terry McLaurin or DJ Moore, with the latter looking an interesting prospect in Buffalo.
#7, Nixon it Up
Keepers
Major Drops
Some very big drops here from what was the strongest-looking roster in the NPIFL in 2025. Any of these drops make for big pickups for others in the draft, and it feels almost certain that Nixon it Up will look back on a bad season as them missing a Super Bowl window.
#8, Dan’s Daring Team
Keepers
Major Drops
These keepers seem pretty obvious, with the big-name drop being Mark Andrews, who could bounce back with the Ravens trading Isaiah Likely to the Giants. The real key drop here is Hunter Henry, who put up some major key points to get the Daring Team over the line in some key games.
#9, Firestorm
Keepers
- Ja’Marr Chase
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba
- Chuba Hubbard
- Lamar Jackson
Major Drops
- Rico Dowdle
- DK Metcalf
- Tyreek Hill
- Dallas Goedert
- D’Andre Swift
Firestorm HC John Maxwell has admitted that he doesn’t know what he is going to do here with the last spot. With Rico Dowdle joining the Steelers and Chuba Hubbard being the leading man again in Carolina, Hubbard feels like a keeper.
Maxwell is not exactly on board the Lamar Jackson train after the Ravens QB almost derailed his season, so nothing is certain.
Can the avid Steeler fan drop the two top Pittsburgh weapons? Is Tyreek Hill finished? Can Lamar Jackson bounce back? These are all big questions to consider for the Brymbo coach.
#10, Brymbo Originals
Keepers
Major Drops
The Originals will look to keep their powerhouse duo of RBs, and could potentially keep Tony Pollard as well. Pollard is the Q for the O’s, and could drop for Stefon Diggs (if he finds the right spot) or Myles Garrett, but realistically, these are players Brymbo could pick up in the draft if they really wanted to.
#11, Portscatho Padres
Keepers
- Jahmyr Gibbs
- Chase Brown
- Michael Wilson
- Jacoby Brissett
Major Drops
We are confident we have the Padres’ keepers here, and not just because HC Damen Griffiths said as much on a February morning walk on Portscatho’s coast to NPIFL beat writer, John Maxwell.
The Padres love that Brissett will team up with Wilson in Arizona, and they were key for Portscatho’s, albeit doomed, Super Bowl push. That duo put up big points, so if Griffiths were to let one or both leave the franchise, don’t be surprised if he tries to pick them up early (or if an attentive rival targets them instead).
Deebo Samuel’s landing spot could be something to keep an eye on, but Griffiths is well-known for labeling players as ‘done’ when they show any suggestion of decline or misfortune after they hit 30.
#12, Jordan’s Scary Team 👑
Keepers
Major Drops
Last up in the draft is Jordan’s Scary Team, courtesy of their incredible, out-of-nowhere push to glory. This feels like a fairly safe set of keepers, with the main wrenches for HC Jordan Clough being letting James Connor go after a serious injury and Zay Flowers, who flashes brilliance but seems to lack consistency.
Andrasta 
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