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Best Sportsbooks US / Underdog Fantasy Sportsbook Review 2025 / Underdog Fantasy Rivals Explained 2025

Underdog Fantasy Rivals Explained 2025: How Does Underdog Rivals Work?

Last Updated on 30/01/2025
Fact checked by: Sam

Is this season of fantasy football drafts getting too heated between your friends? Wait till we tell you about the Underdog Fantasy Rivals Contest. If you haven’t heard of the Underdog Fantasy sports site, you are in for a treat with their new welcome offer as well.

Go head-to-head against other players with your fantasy drafts and let’s see who gets the winning picks. If you think you have got it in you, come check out the Underdog Fantasy Rivals Contest, where you will be rewarded for your winning picks!

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Underdog Fantasy Highlights
  • Most major sports
  • Big prize pools
  • Easy to play

How does Rivals work on Underdog Fantasy?

First off, what’s Underdog Fantasy Pick’em?

If you have not tried out the Underdog Fantasy Pick’em, then you first need to learn about that to understand the Rivals contest better. In Underdog Fantasy Pick’em, you can pick single players and their associated projections.

Each player comes with their stats and associations. These stats can include goals, points, yards, and more. Now, if you want to make your pick rival another player’s picks, that is when you opt for the Underdog Fantasy Rivals Contest.

So, what’s Rivals got to do with this?

A rival is a contest between two of the players, which will be based on a particular stat category. For example, you might have picked Lamar Jackson and the rival might be Kenyan Drake.

According to the Underdog Fantasy Rivals rules, each rival will have a handicap because some players can run longer yards and some are better goal scorers. The whole game is about strategy and how you manage to make your pick win against the rival’s pick.Another example: you might select two-star quarterbacks, like Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers, as your Rivals.

You earn points based on their performance during the game, with bonuses for touchdowns, yardage gained, and completions. The player who outperforms the other in terms of fantasy points wins the Rivalry matchup.

Imagine now you select two premier running backs, such as Derrick Henry and Christian McCaffrey, as your Rivals. Their performances in rushing yards, touchdowns, and receptions will determine the outcome of the Rivalry. If McCaffrey has more all-purpose yards and touchdowns than Henry in a given week, McCaffrey would win the Rivalry.

The Rivals feature truly makes Underdog Fantasy one of the best DFS betting sites. For the best experience, check out the Underdog Fantasy betting app where you can play the Rivals game on the go. Given that the main features are easily accessible on the app, and the app is overall easy to navigate, it improves the UX of the contest.

Underdog Fantasy devices
Underdog Fantasy Rivals: Pros & Cons
  • Very advanced game design
  • 100% deposit match for new players
  • Daily and weekly contests
  • Rules might be complicated

In fantasy sports, Rivals adds an exhilarating dimension, allowing players to directly pit two chosen athletes against each other in head-to-head competition.

Whether it's quarterbacks in football, golfers on the course, or tennis stars on the court, Rivals intensifies the fantasy gaming experience by turning player performances into captivating duels where every yard gained, point scored, or stroke made can make all the difference.

Underdog Fantasy Rivals Rules

Here are the key rules and guidelines:

  • You can normally pick up to 5 players' selections.
  • Players can select athletes from the same position (e.g., two quarterbacks in football) or different positions (e.g., a quarterback and a running back).
  • Points are awarded based on the statistical performance of the selected athletes during the designated contest period.
  • The specific performance metrics used for scoring may vary depending on the sport. For example, in football, points may be awarded for touchdowns, passing yards, rushing yards, receptions, etc.
  • The athlete who accumulates the most fantasy points based on their performance during the contest period is declared the winner of the Rivalry.
  • Depending on the rules of the specific contest, users may be eligible for prizes or rewards based on the outcome of their Rivalry matchups.
  • Users can employ strategic thinking when selecting Rivals, considering factors such as matchups, player form, injuries, and other relevant statistics.

What does Handicap mean?

In Underdog Fantasy Rivals, most selections are made with a handicap. This means that one of the chosen athletes is given an advantage or disadvantage in fantasy points compared to their counterpart.

Do you want to learn more about this feature? Find below more interesting aspects:

  • Handicaps are applied to create an equal fight and provide fair play. They are used to reflect variations in player technique, shape, and games, which may affect the game output.
  • Handicaps can be either positive or negative. A positive handicap gives an advantage to the selected athlete by giving them additional fantasy points. On the other hand, a negative handicap places a disadvantage on the selected athlete by deducting fantasy points from their total.
  • Handicaps will be calculated on different aspects which include players ranking, recent performances, opponents, and some other corresponding stats. The goal is to create fair and balanced Rivalry matchups where both athletes have a fair chance of winning.
  • An important thing to keep in mind while choosing a Rival with a handicap is the performance of each team. Choosing athletes with good handicaps would enhance the possibility of winning a matchup, while athletes with hard ones will be risky and will require more strategic thinking.
  • Incorporating handicaps into Rivalry matchups enhances the engagement and excitement of fantasy sports contests. It encourages users to carefully evaluate matchups and make strategic decisions to maximize their chances of success.

Do Rivals always have a handicap?

We looked into the rules of the game and realized that not all Rivals will have a handicap. So there is a definite chance that you can pick a player without a handicap, but they might still end up having fewer points in the matchup.

If neither of the players in the matchup ends up scoring, then it would be graded as a push.

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How does the Rivals scoring work?

According to our Underdog Fantasy review, you have to wait till the game is complete before you score your picks. Scoring in Underdog Fantasy Rivals is based on the statistical performance of the selected athletes during the contest period.

Let's say you select Kenyan Drake, a running back known for his rushing abilities, with a handicap of (+17.5) rushing yards, to go against Lamar Jackson, a quarterback. After the game is complete, you take the total rushing yards Drake gained, add 17.5 to it (since that is his handicap), and then compare his performance against the total rushing yards Jackson gained.

Whoever had more yards after accounting for the handicap would win the Rivals matchup.

Another example in fantasy golf:  you might select Dustin Johnson, a top-ranked golfer, with a handicap of (+3) strokes, to go against Rory McIlroy. After the tournament is complete, you add 3 strokes to Johnson's total score and compare it to McIlroy's score. The golfer with the lower adjusted score would win the Rivals matchup.

The athlete who outperforms their opponent after adjusting for handicaps is declared the winner of the Rivals matchup. Keep in mind that the specific performance metrics used for scoring may vary depending on the sport and position of the athletes involved.

How to start playing Underdog Rivals: Step-by-step guide

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to get started playing Underdog Rivals:

  1. Visit the Underdog Rivals website and click on the "Sign Up" button.
  2. Fill in the required information, including your username, email address, and password. Make sure to choose a unique username that reflects your gaming persona!
  3. Verify your email address by clicking on the confirmation link sent to your inbox. This step ensures the security of your account and enables you to receive important updates and notifications from Underdog Rivals.
  4. Add a profile picture, write a brief bio to introduce yourself to other players, and select your preferred gaming platform (PC, console, or mobile).
  5. Explore the settings menu to adjust privacy settings, notification preferences, and other account details according to your preferences.
  6. Navigate to the game library to browse through the diverse selection of titles available on Underdog Rivals. From classic favorites to indie gems, there's something for every type of gamer.
  7. Find opponents and challenges. Click on the game title to view its page, where you'll find information about available matches, leaderboards, and upcoming tournaments.
  8. Join an existing match by clicking on the "Join Match" button, or create your own challenge by selecting "Create Match" and setting the parameters, such as game mode, difficulty level, and entry requirements. Keep an eye on the chat feature to interact with other players, coordinate matches, and discuss strategies.
  9. Once the match begins, give it your all and show your gaming skills! Whether you win or lose, each match is an opportunity to learn and improve.
  10. Stay engaged with the community by participating in discussions, sharing tips and tricks, and supporting your fellow players.

Gather your Underdog Fantasy Rivals and let’s take a look at all the Underdog Fantasy legal states. Thankfully, most of the US States are on the list of Underdog Fantasy legal states but below are the only states where you cannot play Underdog Fantasy Pick’em and Rivals.

You can also compare whether the state allows you to play Underdog Fantasy Draft, which is another fantasy format on the platform.

Underdog Fantasy Pick’em and Rivals (states where it isn’t legal) Underdog Fantasy Draft (states where it isn’t legal)
Pennsylvania Montana
Missouri Idaho
West Virginia Washington
New Jersey Nevada
Ohio Iowa
Tennessee Michigan
Maryland Connecticut
Washington Louisiana
New Hampshire Delaware

The main takeaways from our Rivals review

We hope you now understand the Rivals matchup better after reading our article. It is a simple competition between two individual players based on their stats. Make sure to check out the complete list of rules on the Underdog Fantasy website before you sign up to play the game. Study all the rules of the picks beforehand so you can devise a clear strategy for the game. We wish you the best in your fantasy football picks!

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Underdog Fantasy Rivals FAQ

Underdog Fantasy is legal in many U.S. States and most of Canada, except Ontario. If you want a full list of the states where you can play their different fantasy formats, check out their website.

📱 What is the Underdog Fantasy Rivals contest?

The Underdog Fantasy Rivals contest is a fantasy football matchup where two single players go head-to-head against each other, based on their stats. Stats can be yards, goals, points, and more.

💸 Is there an Underdog Fantasy welcome offer?

Yes, there is a 100% deposit match welcome offer for all new players on Underdog Fantasy.

🥇 What sets Underdog Fantasy Rivals apart from other fantasy sports platforms?

Underdog Fantasy Rivals offers a unique blend of strategy, competition, and camaraderie through head-to-head matchups, diverse sports leagues, and innovative gameplay mechanics.

⚽ Are Underdog Fantasy Rivals suitable for both experienced and beginner players?

Yes, Underdog Fantasy Rivals is made for players of all skill levels. Whether you're an experienced fantasy sports veteran or a newcomer, the platform provides a welcoming and competitive environment where you can improve your skills, challenge yourself, and enjoy the thrill of fantasy sports.

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