In 1996, the ESPN Fantasy Football game was launched. It has become increasingly more popular each year. Thirteen Million fans playing this year alone, an almost ten percent increase from 2023. Fantasy football is a friendly competition that can be between friends, family members, co-workers or acquaintances consisting of leagues with four to sixteen members. Each team owner drafts a team of players prior to the season, and these teams compete with one another weekly. Each week you watch your team’s stats as they run, pass, catch, and make touchdowns. Whoever gets the most fantasy points that week wins, this continues over fourteen weeks of the regular season.
Although the game may bring some hardships through friendships and families it also brings people together and creates a chance for small talk. Sophomore Soren Johnson just started playing this year for the first time with his friends. “It’s fun because you get the thrill if you’re watching a player and they’re doing really well to see your team succeed or if they’re losing to see who does the punishment.” Some people get really into it and create consequences for whoever ends up with the least amount of points has to do a punishment. Some consist of bleaching/dying your hair while others have the milk mile, drinking one full glass of milk before each lap around the track. Or even social media take over, where they post embarrassing videos. Johnson’s league’s punishment consists of the top five members of the league having to pick the person who finishes with the least amount of wins outfit for a day or two. Punishments bring opportunities like making it more engaging, adding entertainment and memorable experiences.
When creating a roster, some people get really into the process of checking the status of players, whether they’re injured or not, or playing mock drafts to help prepare. Sophomore Cormac Graupman has been playing for nearly two years and thinks the game is 60% luck and 40% skill. “You can control who you start with but you never fully know how the player is going to perform. You just have to guess.” Each week Graupman looks ahead at what teams are playing and he picks the best players that play on a certain night to give him somebody to watch. “It’s fun getting to watch the games live and check on other people’s scores to see how you’re doing in comparison,” says Graupman.
In the end, fantasy football is more than just a game. It creates chances for unique traditions, strengthens relationships and develops bonds that last long beyond the game. The laughter, joyous challenges and shared anticipation make it a meaningful experience that draws people together.
