2018
Paninifootball
2018 Panini Contenders Football Hobby Box
What are these options?
- Mega Box
- A mid-size retail box, bigger than a blaster and smaller than a hobby box. Mega-exclusive parallels are the main draw, and some megas guarantee a hit.
- Blaster Box
- The small retail box sold at stores like Walmart and Target, usually the cheapest full box on the shelf. Autographs are not guaranteed, but many blasters carry exclusive parallels you cannot pull from a hobby box.
- Cases
- The factory-sealed carton a product ships in, holding a set number of boxes. A full case is the whole carton; an inner case is a smaller sealed block from inside it. Case buyers get untouched pack sequencing and a lower price per box. Some rare cards are seeded about once per case, which is what collectors mean by a case hit.
| Format | In USAUSD | In CanadaCAD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mega Box |  |
$25 | ||
| Blaster Box | |
$90 | ||
| Blaster Box Case (20) | |
$1,700, $85 per box | ||
These are the best prices we could find for this product across the 4 retailers we follow for 2018 Panini Contenders, checked daily. Prices move constantly and stock sells out; always confirm on the retailer’s own page before buying.
Checking eBay for sealed boxes…
Other releases of Panini Contenders
Frequently asked
What are the key rookie autographs in 2018 Contenders?
The biggest names are Baker Mayfield, Saquon Barkley, and Sam Darnold. Mayfield and Barkley are in the Rookie Ticket RPS (on-card) set, while Darnold is a short print at 225 copies. Other notable rookies include Josh Allen, Josh Rosen, DJ Moore, and Lamar Jackson.
What's the difference between Rookie Ticket RPS and regular Rookie Ticket Autographs?
RPS cards have on-card autographs, while the regular Rookie Ticket Autographs use sticker signatures. The RPS versions are generally more sought after by collectors who prefer on-card ink.
How many autographs come in a hobby box?
Every hobby box contains at least five autographs, with at least one guaranteed to be on-card. The other four are typically sticker autos from various insert sets.
What parallel versions exist for Rookie Tickets?
Parallels include Playoff Ticket (/99 or less), Championship Ticket (/49 or less), Cracked Ice Ticket (/24), Rookie Ticket Stub (/99 or less with die-cut), Rookie Clear Ticket (/10 on acetate), and Super Bowl Ticket (1/1).
Are there any special metal cards in this product?
Yes. Golden Tickets (1/1) are printed on 14K gold, and Silver Tickets (/2) bring the ticket theme to metal as well. These are extremely rare pulls.
What inserts should I know about besides Rookie Tickets?
Look for Contenders to Canton (Hall of Famer autos), MVP Contenders Autographs, Rookie of the Year Contenders Autographs, Round Numbers Dual Autographs, and the 20th Anniversary Rookie Ticket RPS cards celebrating the brand's 1998 debut.
Are there short prints I should watch for?
Yes, many rookies have short prints noted in the checklist. Some of the toughest are SSP (super short print) at 50 copies or fewer, like Bradley Chubb, Hayden Hurst, and Christian Kirk.
When did 2018 Panini Contenders come out?
It dropped January 11, 2019.
What's in a 2018 Panini Contenders hobby box?
18 packs per box, 6 cards per pack, 5 autographs per box (at least 1 on-card)
Where can I buy 2018 Panini Contenders?
We track listings across the major North American card shops and surface the best price up top. The Buy on eBay links go through the eBay Partner Network.
2018 Panini Contenders Football
2018 Panini Contenders Football is built around the iconic Rookie Ticket Autographs, with the 2018 class headlined by Baker Mayfield, Saquon Barkley, and Sam Darnold. Hobby boxes are loaded with five autographs per box, including at least one on-card signature.
Autographs
5 Autographs per box on average
On average per hobby box
- 18 Insert cards
- 1 Parallel card
Inserts to watch
- Rookie Ticket Autographs RPS On-card signatures from the 2018 rookie class, the marquee chase of the product.
- Rookie Ticket Autographs Sticker autographs of 2018 rookies with photo variations and short prints.
- 20th Anniversary Rookie Ticket RPS Tribute to the 1998 Playoff Contenders release, featuring on-card signatures with classic design.
- Contenders to Canton Hall of Famer autographs pairing their Contenders debut with their Gold Jacket moment.
- MVP Contenders Autographs Signed cards of MVP-caliber players with Gold (/10) and Platinum (1/1) parallels.
- Round Numbers Dual Autographs Two-player autographs from players drafted in the same round.
Fast facts
- Released
- January 11, 2019
- Box config
- 18 packs per box, 6 cards per pack, 5 autographs per box (at least 1 on-card)
- Set size
- 318 cards
- Top rookie
- Josh Allen