Why Fantasy Football Matters

Lee Navlen
Nov 6 · 2 min read
Photo by Timothé Lejeune on Unsplash

As the NFL season hits just past the half way point, fantasy football players are actually zeroing in on the grand prize. Most fantasy football leagues incorporate a 13 game season, followed by 3 weeks of playoffs. With week 10 of the NFL season ready to kick off on Thursday night, that means fantasy players have 4 more weeks to make their league’s playoffs.

For those of you who still don’t know what the heck fantasy football is, well, it’s rather simple. Leagues are usually comprised of 10–12–14 teams, each managed by a football fan who in theory is supposed to know something about the real National Football League. Each team selects real players from the league’s 32 teams. This can be done via a draft or an auction. Some leagues are yearly, meaning each team starts fresh each season while other teams called Dynasty Leagues don’t redraft each year.

Fantasy Football has certainly changed the rooting interest of the fan in the last 25 years or so since it first became a thing to do. Many fans today find themselves rooting for the player they own, rather than the team they root for. If let’s say the New England Patriots are playing the New York Jets, a fantasy player who owns Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady but roots for the Jets, well he has a problem come game day. Next time you see a buddy, not jumping for joy when his team scores, well it could have something to do with fantasy implications.

Fantasy Football has gotten so big that not only are there websites and magazines following the sport, but there are cable programs and even a satellite radio network dedicated to its popularity. The sport is so big that even star Running Back Le’Veon Bell who sat out last season during a contract impasse with the Pittsburgh Steelers apologized to those fans that owned him!

So, as the fantasy season winds down, and teams begin to make their move towards fantasy glory, for those who don’t get it, you might find yourself snickering. Well, snicker no more because as of today, it is estimated that fantasy Football is somehow a 7 billion dollar industry. That my friend is a touchdown!

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade