Underdog Ladders: How to Play & Win (September 2025)
Looking for a fantasy sports format with more upside and more action? Underdog Fantasy Ladders bring a thrilling twist to traditional pick’em contests—allowing you to climb your way to success by hitting progressively harder stat benchmarks.
This guide breaks down exactly how Underdog Ladders work, what to expect with voided picks or postponed games, and how the Pick’em Rescue feature can save a bad beat.
Updated on 9/2/25
🪜 What Are Underdog Ladders?
Underdog Ladders is a unique game format that lets you make 3-to-5 picks, each with three different stat projection tiers (rungs). You win based on how many rungs your picks hit—walk away with a little on a decent night or go for a bigger payout if your lineup crushes expectations.
Each Pick must hit at least Rung 1 to count. The more players you select and the higher the rung tier you hit across all picks, the greater your potential reward. It’s a bold new direction for fantasy fans, and Underdog Ladders offer a level of engagement and skill rarely found in other formats.
When building your entries, it’s important to consider the specific day of the matchup, as player performance and outcomes can vary depending on the day.
The expected growth in popularity of Underdog Ladders means more players and bigger prize pools in upcoming seasons, as I haven’t seen other of the best DFS apps copy this style.
If you want to sign up for Underdog so you can start playing its Ladders game, learn how in this guide from the RotoGrinders DFS team.
⚙️ How Underdog Ladders Work
Here’s a closer look at how the Underdog Ladders game works:
🎮 Step-by-Step Gameplay
- Pick 3 to 5 Players
- Each Pick comes with three ascending stat projections (rungs). You must include players from at least two different teams for the entry to be valid.
- Climb the Rungs
- For example, if you select Dak Prescott – Passing Yards, the rungs might look like:
- Rung 1: 200+ passing yards
- Rung 2: 220+ passing yards
- Rung 3: 240+ passing yards
- If Prescott gets 240+ passing yards in the game, he clears all three rungs.
- All Picks Must Hit the Same Rung Level
- To win, every Pick in your lineup must hit at least the same rung.
- All at Rung 1 = small win
- All at Rung 2 = bigger win
- All at Rung 3 = biggest payout (up to 100x)
This structure makes Underdog Fantasy Ladders incredibly rewarding for those with in-depth sports knowledge and strategic thinking, as does Underdog’s traditional pick’em format.
💸 Underdog Ladders Payout Structure
| Rung | Pick-3 | Pick-4 | Pick-5 |
| 1 | 1x | 1x | 1x |
| 2 | 3x | 5x | 10x |
| 3 | 25x | 100x | 250x |
A $10 entry with five players hitting their third rung could earn you $1,000.
I appreciate the payout structure as it can be more competitive than payout structures for other Underdog structures (especially Flex).
🏆 What Are Champions Ladders?
Champions Ladders are a specialized version of Underdog Fantasy Ladders featured in Champions Contests. In this format:
- You earn Champions Points based on:
- Entry Fee
- Number of rungs hit by each player
- After grading, your entry is placed in a pool with other Champions entries.
- Payouts are based on how many Champions Points you earn vs. others.
🛑 Note: If any pick fails to hit Rung 1, you earn no Champions Points, and your entry won’t qualify for leaderboard rankings.
❌ Voided Picks and Entry Handling in Underdog Ladders
Sometimes, things don’t go as planned—players sit out, games are postponed, or unexpected voids occur. Here’s how Underdog Ladders handles those situations:
💥 What Happens If a Pick Is Voided?
- If a voided/tied pick makes the entry invalid (e.g., fewer than three active Underdog picks), your entry is voided and fully refunded.
- If your entry remains valid:
- All other picks win → It pays out based on remaining active picks (for e.g. a 4-pick becomes a 3-pick payout).
- Any other pick loses → The entry is graded as a Loss.
- In a 3-pick Ladder, any void results in an automatic refund.
⛔ Postponed or Suspended Games
Sports don’t always run smoothly. Here’s what happens when real-world events disrupt your Underdog Fantasy Ladders entry:
🗓️ Postponed Games
- If the game is delayed by more than 48 hours, all selections are voided.
- Venue changes void all team selections.
- For NFL/CFB, if the game isn’t played during the scheduled week, entries are voided.
- In motorsports, if a race doesn’t occur within one week, picks will void.
🌧️ Suspended Games
- Games suspended after starting must resume within 36 hours, or affected picks are void—unless outcomes were already determined.
- For example, if a player hits a home run before suspension, that Pick still wins.
If you’re an Underdog pick’em fanatic, discover tips for building your Streaks.
🛟 Pick’em Rescues in Underdog Ladders
Pick’em Rescue is one of the best safety nets in Underdog Fantasy. It kicks in when a player exits early—giving you a second chance if you picked the “Higher” side of the stat.
🧾 Rescue Rules
- Applies if:
- A player starts the game
- Plays in the first half
- And does not return due to injury or ejection
- Must be a “Higher” selection.
- Entry must still be valid (no other losses).
- Entry is refunded, and you’ll receive a special in your lobby.
⚠️ Eligibility
- NBA, NFL, MLB, WNBA, and CFB only
- Not available in free-to-play states or preseason games
- Each player is limited to 7 rescues per season
While Underdog Ladders is available in most states, consider claiming the Kalshi bonus if you need an alternative to fantasy.
🧠 Strategy Tips for Underdog Ladders
Want to make the most of your Underdog Ladders entries? Here’s how to climb smarter:
- Study the Rungs: Understand how often a player hits each rung. Don’t just chase the top tier—play the odds.
- Track Matchups: Exploit weak defenses or hot streaks. Matchups matter more in ladder formats than you might think.
- Diversify: Avoid stacking picks from the same game. Weather delays or blowouts could tank your entry.
- Be Strategic With Risk: You don’t always need to chase 100x. Hitting Rung 1 consistently can still yield strong ROI.
Best Ball is another Underdog contest format where it pays to know strategy.
🏁 Underdog Ladders Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a casual fantasy fan or a serious strategist, Underdog Ladders offers an exhilarating twist on sports gaming. The multi-tier scoring, risk-versus-reward balance, and potential for huge multipliers make this one of the most innovative formats in the fantasy space.
With added protections like Pick’em Rescues and clear rules for voids or suspensions, Underdog Fantasy Ladders give you every opportunity to play smarter—and win bigger.
Ready to start climbing? Explore Underdog Ladders today and turn your picks into payouts.
🙋 Underdog Ladders Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most prevalent FAQs with respect to Underdog Ladders.
What are Underdog Ladders?
Underdog Ladders is a progressive fantasy format where you make multiple picks, each with three possible performance tiers. The higher the rung reached across all picks, the more you win.
How are Underdog Fantasy Ladders different from Pick’em?
Pick’em entries use a simple over/under. Underdog Fantasy Ladders introduce three rungs per Pick, adding more complexity and larger payout potential.
Can I win if only one of my picks reaches Rung 3?
No. All picks must hit the same rung level to qualify for that payout tier.
What happens if a pick is voided?
- If the entry is no longer valid → Refund
- If all other picks win → Pays out as a smaller entry
- If another pick loses → Graded as a Loss
What is Pick’em Rescue?
A refund and bonus special if a player exits early due to injury/ejection—available only for eligible sports and “Higher” picks.
When was Underdog Ladders released?
Underdog Ladders first rolled out in Spring 2025. It made a nice debut for MLB season and positioned itself well for the 2025 NFL season.
If you’re interested in the sportsbook version of Underdog over DFS, check out our Underdog Sports Missouri review!