It’s something that an estimated 17% of NFL fans indulge in every year, with the figure growing each season. But, far from being a new phenomenon, the origins of fantasy football lay over six decades in the past.
That’s because the very first fantasy league was dreamed up by a trio of men involved with the Oakland Raiders who invented it to pass the time on a road-trip with the team. Its name back then was the distinctly un-catchy Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognosticators League, or GOPPPL for short.
Over the next few decades more and more newspapers started to syndicate the game but
it was the arrival of the internet that saw many fantasy football sites spring up.
So today it’s never been easier to get involved. And if you want to get ready for the coming season, here’s a ten-step guide to becoming a fantasy football fanatic.
1. Set up your league
The first step is to set up your league with friends, family or co-workers. Between 8 and 12 people is perfect and one of you needs to be made commissioner. This will be the overall administrator who sets up the scoring and generally runs the show. And don’t forget to think up a good name for your league.
2. Do the Draft
Once the league is set up it’s time to create your squad. There are 16 rounds in all and it’s done in order of participants by a system called “the snake”. So in a league of ten teams if you get first pick in round one you will be tenth in the second round. This is ensure that everyone has a fair chance to pick the players they want.
3. Choosing your players in order
It’s a good idea to wait until a later round before you choose a quarterback as there will probably be plenty of good ones left in the later rounds. Instead, start with running backs, followed by wide receivers and tight ends. That way, you’ll be a far better-balanced squad.
4. Create your line-up
When you’re putting a week’s team together you’ll have a quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, a tight end, a flex player and a kicker. When you’re drafting your kicker, go for one from a team with a great offense – they’ll be getting more chances to score.
5. How scoring works – the basics
While there are variations from league to league generally there are six points for a touchdown and one point for every ten yards a quarterback throws in a game. Running backs also get six points for a touchdown and a point for every ten yards they make. And beware of negative points that you can pick up for interceptions and fumbles. These are the main scoring points, and there will be several more, so look into it carefully.
6. Free agents
These are players who don’t get drafted or who get dropped and go onto something called the waiver wire. They can be picked up any time in the week of the particular round of games. Teams that lost the previous week get first choice of these players as a way to help them have a better week.
7. Handling bye weeks
Every NFL team has a bye week when they don’t have a game, If any of your squad are involved in one then it presents a good chance to try out other bench players. But make sure you know when bye weeks affect you because you won’t receive any points for a player who’s on a week off.
8. Making the right match-ups
Always be aware of any games where the two teams are unevenly matched and make sure that you adjust your own line-up accordingly. Yes, there can be surprise results. But you’re better off erring on the side of caution.
9. Do your homework
One of the main keys to success in fantasy football is linked to the above point. Absorb all the information that you can about who’s in form, who’s injured and the various teams’ past track records against each other. There’s a wealth of information available online including some highly-informed blogs. The time you put in to studying these, and all the stats around the sport, is certain to pay off in your own performance.
10. Above all, have fun
The most important thing of all is to remember to enjoy playing fantasy football. Yes, it’s competitive but don’t get carried away with things and spend too much of your week on it.
That way you’ll find it positively enhances your enjoyment of the NFL season – and if you end up at the top of your league, all the better.
And even if you don’t, there’s always next season too!
