Use GridIron Data NFL fantasy data in GitHub Copilot (VS Code MCP setup)

Server URL

https://api.gridirondata.com/mcp

Config

.vscode/mcp.json ("servers")

Sign-in

OAuth or API key input

Chat mode

Agent

What do I need first?

• VS Code with GitHub Copilot signed in.
• On Copilot Business or Enterprise, your organization's MCP servers in Copilot policy has to be on; GitHub ships it off by default. Copilot Free, Pro and Pro+ aren't governed by that policy.
• A GridIron Data account, or your API key from the dashboard. No account? Sign up free (no credit card).

How do I add GridIron Data to Copilot in VS Code?

1. Add the server. Open the Command Palette and run MCP: Add Server. Choose HTTP, enter https://api.gridirondata.com/mcp, name it gridiron-data, and pick where to save it (your user profile for every workspace, or this workspace). Or create .vscode/mcp.json yourself:

   {
     "servers": {
       "gridiron-data": {
         "type": "http",
         "url": "https://api.gridirondata.com/mcp"
       }
     }
   }

2. Sign in. When the server starts, VS Code registers itself with GridIron Data and opens the sign-in page. Sign in and click Allow. The connection shows under the Accounts menu.
3. Use Agent mode. Open Copilot Chat, select Agent in the mode picker, and check the tools list includes GridIron Data's tools.

Note the top-level key is "servers", not "mcpServers" as in Cursor or Claude Desktop. MCP: List Servers shows the server's status and lets you start, stop or restart it.

Can I use my API key instead of signing in?

Yes. Use an input so VS Code asks for the key once and stores it securely, instead of writing it into the file:

{
  "inputs": [
    {
      "type": "promptString",
      "id": "gridiron-key",
      "description": "GridIron Data API key",
      "password": true
    }
  ],
  "servers": {
    "gridiron-data": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://api.gridirondata.com/mcp",
      "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer ${input:gridiron-key}" }
    }
  }
}

Your key is on your dashboard. That makes the file safe to commit for a team: each person enters their own key.

What can I ask Copilot?

Ask in your own words; the assistant picks the tool. A few that work well:

• "Using the gridiron-data tools, who are the top 10 TE projections this week in PPR?"
• "Build a small Python script that pulls this week's projections from the GridIron Data API for my roster, using the fields the MCP tool returned."
• "Get Justin Jefferson's 2023 weekly stats and add them to stats.csv." (Basic)
• "Any injury news on Malik Nabers this week?" (Basic)
• "What's the probability Drake Maye goes over 245.5 passing yards this week?" (Pro)

A free GridIron Data account answers player lookups and this week's projections. Stats, snap share, news, matchups, rest-of-season projections, the schedule and other weeks need Basic ($5/month or $45/year). Prop probabilities, defense vs position, betting lines, the injury-changes feed, depth charts and inactives need Pro ($29/month or $249/year), the betting plan. A question outside your plan comes back with the plan it needs, and the assistant tells you. See plans. Prop probabilities are a model estimate, not betting advice.

Player names, positions and ids are matched case-insensitively. Scoring is PPR unless you ask for half-PPR or standard. All 21 tools are listed on the AI assistant setup hub.

Troubleshooting

• No MCP tools in chat. Switch the chat to Agent. On Copilot Business or Enterprise, ask an admin whether the MCP servers in Copilot policy is on.
• Sign in again or switch accounts. Run Authentication: Remove Dynamic Authentication Providers, then restart the server from MCP: List Servers.
• "Registry only" error. Your organization only allows servers from its MCP registry. Ask an admin to allow GridIron Data (it's in the MCP Registry as io.github.avansledright/gridiron-data).
• Sign-in page says the link expired. The sign-in has 15 minutes. Start the connection again from your assistant.
• Asked to sign in again. You regenerated your API key, your plan ended, or the connection went unused for 30 days. Reconnect and sign in.
• "Not available on this account's current plan". That question needs Basic or Pro. The reply names the plan; see plans.

Frequently asked questions

Can GitHub Copilot use NFL fantasy football data?

Yes. Add GridIron Data's hosted MCP server (https://api.gridirondata.com/mcp) in VS Code with MCP: Add Server or .vscode/mcp.json, sign in, and Copilot Chat in Agent mode can pull projections, stats, snap share, news, injuries and player-prop probabilities.

Why don't I see the tools?

MCP tools show up in Agent mode. On Copilot Business or Enterprise, the organization's MCP servers in Copilot policy must also be enabled; it is off by default.

Can I share the setup with my team?

Yes. Commit .vscode/mcp.json with an input for the API key, or leave headers out so each person signs in with their own GridIron account.

Does this work in other editors with Copilot?

This guide covers VS Code. Other editors have their own MCP settings; point them at the same URL.

Is it free?

A free GridIron Data account answers player lookups and this week's projections. Stats, snaps, news and other weeks need Basic ($5/month or $45/year); prop probabilities, defense vs position and betting lines need Pro ($29/month or $249/year).

Using a different assistant?

• ChatGPT
• Claude (claude.ai and Desktop)
• Claude Code
• Gemini (Gemini CLI)
• Cursor
• OpenAI Codex
• Windsurf (Devin Desktop)
• Microsoft Copilot Studio
• Run it locally (stdio)

Every assistant connects to the same server, https://api.gridirondata.com/mcp. The AI assistant setup hub compares them.