What’s your fantasy? Draft your dream team
Ariia Pike
Americans everywhere are at the mercy of armored, muscled men who inflict anxiety upon their hearts each Sunday. It’s fantasy football season once again with leagues across the globe having made their final picks and now awaiting the fate that comes with the NFL season’s kick-off on Sept. 10.
“They spend an average of nine hours a week during football season, playing fantasy football,” said Colin Cowherd of ESPN about fantasy football players.
Fantasy football has evolved into a subculture, and created a following compromised of all ages from every imaginable background.
According to ESPN, over 27 million players participate in fantasy football.
The appeal lies in its accessibility and knack to incorporate anyone, plus it’s free. In its most basic form, it works like this: each pre-season individuals become “owners” and there is a “draft.”
The owners selects real NFL players from the draft for seven positions including: a quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, a “flex” which is an additional running back or wide receiver, a tight end, a place kicker, and a team defensive unit. Plus, seven bench players for a total roster of 16.
Each team earns points based on how their selected NFL players perform on-field during games, affecting their team’s standing within the fantasy league.
There are a number of ways an owner can generate points including those made for each touchdown scored, passing yards, receiving yards, each blocked kick, etc.
Most leagues are either played head-to-head with specific weekly opponents or based upon point total at the end of the season.
Fantasy football is highly competitive and requires much involvement from owners and commissioners throughout the football season yet remains an incredibly popular and sometimes exhausting pastime.
