Battle for Bragging

As a notification buzzes, it becomes official that the Fantasy Football draft has begun. Rushing to grab players and refreshing the internet connection are just key parts of this pastime.

Many things can come to mind when thinking of Fantasy Football. Getting to choose teams with players who would usually never be together and building teams based on personal preference are key parts of the game. Within these various leagues, participants act as general managers for the teams they create and are able to “play” players based on which teams are playing in the real NFL.

These leagues often have interesting names given to them by the friends who participate. Some players choose to be part of multiple leagues to increase their chances of winning.

“In both leagues I am in, we do a snake draft, which is where the person who picks first in the first-round draft usually picks last in the second-round draft. This makes it really random,” Mr. Cloonan stated.

In Fantasy Football, players can sometimes choose their favorite NFL player to be on their roster. The only drawback is if that player gets injured or does not play as well as projected.

“My favorite player is Chuba Hubbard, and I sometimes put him in my full roster,” freshman Mason Adams exclaimed.

Choosing a favorite player based solely on stats can be an incentive; however, many favorite players are chosen based on what they do off the field.

“Even though I’m not a huge Buffalo Bills fan, I still support them. I like what Josh Allen does in the community and for the league. I think he is a really good ambassador,” Mr. Cloonan observed.

On the flip side, liking a player who is on one’s favorite team can also be enticing. This will not always determine whether a player is liked, however, as sometimes the player someone dislikes the most is on their favorite team. Freshman Ian Kloch is in multiple leagues, with his main one being named “Stacked Teams.” Depending on members' preferences, drafting within these leagues can work in a few different ways.

“My favorite team is the Denver Broncos. My favorite player would probably be Nik Bonitto, who is an outside linebacker for the Broncos,” Kloch clarified.

These leagues can get incredibly competitive and often have high stakes. Sometimes these stakes include betting money or requiring the loser of the league to buy the winner lunch. Other times, though, the consequences can be worse for the person who finishes last.

“The punishment in our league would be the milk mile,” Adams noted.

Despite the jarring punishment that might come with not finishing at the top of the league, players still compete in this compelling recreational game. The allure of Fantasy Football can fluctuate year to year, depending on the buildup to exciting players and coaches.

“I love fantasy football because it is very fun, and the leagues are best when they are small,” freshman Kolby Carahasen remarked.