How to Get Started with Apex Fantasy Football Money Leagues

Updated

Getting started takes three steps: sign up, pick a league (type, price, and draft time), then draft and manage your team through the season. You can begin with a one-year redraft league for as little as $75, or go deeper with dynasty, auction, superflex, playoff, deep, or best ball formats. The site reports 86.5K+ teams drafted, $9,589,850+ in winnings paid, and 23.9K+ accounts created.

Step 1: Create your account

Use the Sign Up link in the site navigation to register, then Log In to manage your entries. Apex runs its leagues on the MyFantasyLeague platform (linked in the footer), so expect your league home, draft room, and lineup tools to live there.

The site also promotes a free-entry offer: "Win a free entry to a $125 fantasy league." Treat that as a promotion to check at signup rather than a guaranteed credit.

Step 2: Pick your league type, price, and draft time

Apex organizes leagues by format. Each has its own price band, roster shape, and draft timer, so match the format to how much management you want during the season.

League type Price range Format notes
One Year (Classic redraft) $75–$1,000 12 teams, 18 rounds; 90-second or 8-hour timers; different lineup types
Dynasty $135–$500 Keep your whole team; orphans available; yearly rookie draft; 12 teams, 23 rounds
Auction $125–$1,000 Live drafts with a $200 bidding budget; 18 total players
Superflex Not listed Start a QB in the flex; one-year or dynasty; 12 teams, 18 rounds
Playoff $75–$500 "Draft only" format decided by total points; 6 teams, 14 rounds
Deep Not listed Start two flexes for deeper lineups; one-year or dynasty; 12 teams, 18 rounds
Dynamic Not listed No kicker or defense; start two flexes; superflex version available
Best Ball Not listed Total-points leagues with zero in-season management; dynasty leagues only

Two decisions matter most here:

  • Draft timer. The 90-second timer suits a live draft where you're present the whole time. The 8-hour timer suits email/slow drafts you check across days.
  • Season commitment. One-year leagues end with the season. Dynasty leagues carry your roster forward, which means rookie drafts and orphan-team options enter the picture.

If you want the lowest-effort entry, best ball removes in-season lineup decisions entirely. If you want the most control, dynasty or auction formats give you more roster-building levers.

Step 3: Draft your players

Once you've joined a league, the draft runs on its scheduled timer. In a snake or linear draft you're on the clock when your pick arrives; in an auction league you bid from a $200 budget instead of picking in order. The site's own framing of this step: "You're on the clock. Select the winning team."

Before draft day, confirm:

  • Your draft date and timer length (90 seconds vs. 8 hours)
  • Roster size and starting lineup rules for your specific format (for example, superflex and dynamic leagues change who you can start)
  • Whether the draft is live or email-based

Step 4: Manage your team and track your season

After the draft, you manage your lineup week to week — except in best ball, where total points decide everything and there's no in-season management. Apex describes the final step as tracking "your team along the path to a championship."

For dynasty owners, the season doesn't end the roster: you keep your whole team and draft rookies each year. Orphan teams are also available if you'd rather take over an existing roster than start fresh.

Common questions before you commit

Do I need to pay to create an account? The site separates account creation from league entry. League prices start at $75 for one-year and playoff formats, so budget for the entry fee of whichever league you join.

Which format should a first-timer choose? A one-year league at the lower end of the $75–$1,000 range keeps the commitment small and the rules familiar. Best ball is the alternative if you don't want weekly lineup work.

What if I miss my draft window? The 8-hour timer exists precisely for owners who can't sit through a live draft, so choose it if your schedule is unpredictable.

Where do I go for rules and support? The site links Rules, FAQs, a Fair Play Policy, and a contact line at (617) 684-5972, plus a Phoenix mailing address for written contact.