As a new NFL season begins, so does this year’s fantasy football league. Every year, sites like ESPN and DraftKings host competitions where users can create their own teams of real players and face off against others. Scores are determined by how those players’ real-life counterparts perform.
One student who makes sure to participate every year is freshman biochemistry major Thomas Gentry.
“It’s a good way to watch football and pay attention to what’s happening around the league while being able to cheer on specific people,” said Gentry.
The aspect of fantasy adds another dimension to being a football fan. It broadens the view of the watcher and allows them to better understand and pay attention to the sport as a whole, rather than only tuning in to watch their favorite team or a few players.
The added level of competitiveness also adds to the fun as fantasy leagues of players face off against others in the same league. It gives fantasy league participants something else to cheer for in addition to their favorite team.
Fantasy also has something called Dynasty leagues, where users keep most or all of their players from season to season, creating an evolving team just like a real NFL franchise. These permanent rosters put users in the shoes of these teams and managers and makes competitors feel far more involved.
Many players, like Gentry, will establish a prize and a punishment for the winners and losers of the league. This may include a cash prize for the victor, and an embarrassing or devious dare for the defeated. The players participating in the league decide on both before the season begins.
For freshman history major Lucas Borage, this was a huge motivator for playing. Borage is competing not only for a cash prize, but also to avoid the punishment for last place.
“Our punishment for the league is the ‘one chip challenge,’ which is a super hot chip you have to eat,” he said.
The same was true for freshman chemical biology and pharmacology major Anna McKinney, who wanted a way to connect and build relationships with the people on her floor, as well as a chance to compete for the prize money. McKinney described the league as competitive, but not something to be taken extremely seriously.
“I like to have fun and mess with my friends,” McKinney said.
Fantasy is not just for the regular football watchers. Some also join to gain interest and become involved in the sport. The game and prize money give them reason to watch football and take an interest in the sport.
SLU’s football team was discontinued back in 1949, and the Rams went back to Los Angeles in 2016, leaving SLU students with no home team to root for. Fantasy football gives SLU students a way to get involved in the game despite that absence.