As the football season kicks into full swing, students and teachers alike are routing for more than their hometown team: fantasy leagues are sweeping through the school.
Fantasy football is a game where participants act as managers of their own football teams. At the beginning of each NFL (National Football League) season, a fantasy draft is held. In this draft, participants choose around 12 players from the NFL to be on their fantasy teams. Each fantasy football league has the flexibility to create a point system that players from the main positions are awarded points based on. When the season starts, these players gain points for their fantasy team by putting up yardage, scoring touchdowns and field goals, or making defensive stops. Each week, the fantasy league will create a matchup between participants. The football ‘manager’ whose fantasy players earn the most points in total, wins that matchup. From each of these matches or games, the ‘manager’ will receive a record, and placements for the postseason.
In some cases, Fantasy Football is played for money, given by the team ‘managers’ at the beginning of the year, and the winner of the mock superbowl wins fantasy and that pool of money. Others just play for the love of the game, or the bragging rights over friends in the league.
Maize High student, Kaylen Blanpied is in a fantasy football league herself. As of November, her record is 9-0. She has been playing in this league for two years with family and friends. Her team name is Tswizzle87, a nod to the infamous relationship between popstar Taylor Swift and star Tight End Travis Kelce. Kaylen plays for a small pool of money, so each week she knows she has that prize on the line.
“It stresses me out sometimes,” Blanpied said. She checks game scores several times a week, hoping that her players are earning her enough points to win her latest matchup.
Another student who plays fantasy, Conrad Litton of Maize High, is in it for the competition, but he doesn’t let the game stress him out.
“I play with friends and family,” Litton said.. Conrad has been playing for three years, and his record is 8-1. With the team name “Big Bird,” he just plays for the love of the game that brings football fans together.
As the holiday season approaches and the regular NFL season comes to an end, fantasy players will be keeping track of their points in hopes of making it to the playoffs. And for a select few who win, some extra spending money may be in store.
For some students, fantasy football has gotten them more interested in the NFL as a whole.
“I always root for the chiefs, but this season I have been watching more and more games,” says Maize South Freshman, Katie Palmer. This is her first season playing fantasy, and she has been more invested in the NFL because her team has players from across the league.
“I hope I win this season, so I can flex on my siblings,” Palmer said.
