Big prizes and embarrassing consequences: the thrill of fantasy football
Fantasy football involves thinking and strategizing rather than throwing and catching. Several students use Yahoo Fantasy Football to manage their teams and players.
Over 40 million people are currently playing fantasy football, from the US to Nigeria. My good friend didn’t even watch football – and now he avidly looks forward to future seasons.
“It makes football fun to watch,” said sophomore Hrish Patel, a cricket fan and second year fantasy manager. “Sundays are much more fun when I’m involved in fantasy football.”
People of all ages have been obsessed with fantasy football since its introduction in 1962. The concept of fantasy football was created by a majority owner of the Oakland Raiders, as a distraction for a tough season.
The Houston Texans are bad. Tuning in to CBS every Sunday just to watch the Texans lose is depressing. For some Bellaire students such as sophomore William Baptist, said fantasy football has been a great coping mechanism for such a dismal season.
“Watching Davis Mills throw footballs isn’t very fun, but watching other players get big plays is way more entertaining. I’ve been focusing on fantasy more than the Texans this year for sure,” said Baptist, who is an experienced fantasy manager.
So what makes fantasy football special?
“There’s no point in being a fantasy football manager if you know what’s going to happen and win every time. The unpredictability makes the game much better,” said Hrish Patel.
There are experts paid to predict the outcomes of every single game, but if they were right 100 percent of the time, fantasy football wouldn’t be fun.
Just like a sporting season or tournament, fantasy football has its rewards — and sadly, its consequences.
Money and bragging rights are both healthy motivations to stay focused throughout the season, while the fear of not getting last is an even better motivator.
In some leagues across the nation, the goal is not to get last, or else a devious punishment awaits — for example, wearing an embarrassing costume or having to go through a painful waxing session.
But Bellaire students’ fantasy leagues aren’t that wild, right? Hopefully?
“Whoever comes in last has to stay at Waffle House for 24 hours and every waffle eaten shaves off an hour. That’s our league’s punishment,” Baptist said.
Ok, that’s a wild punishment. Maybe another league’s punishment for getting last isn’t as bad?
“We go in a dog cage and throw a bunch of food and sauces at the loser. Each person gets to choose 5 foods or condiments that get thrown at them,” sophomore and experienced fantasy player, Chase Gray said.
Yikes. You get the point.
All you need is a computer or mobile device with a fantasy app, such as ESPN, Yahoo, NFL Fantasy or CBS Sports and a couple of friends to make NFL Sundays more enjoyable.
“It makes NFL games more fun to watch,” Baptist said. “You focus more on individual players rather than the two teams playing. If you have a bad team’s star running back in your fantasy team, you care a lot more on how they do rather than if you were just watching the bad team.”
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Stephen • Dec 8, 2021 at 9:51 am
I can really relate to this article because It has been an EXTREMELY tough season for the Texans. we lost JJ watt, DeShawn Watson, Will Fuller and all we have left is David Johnston and THAT wont help us out. Fantasy football encourages me to keep on watching. even though the Texans are 2-10, I can still hope for other players and teams so I can win my fantasy game. so its a loss- win. the Texans are 2-10, but in fantasy I am 10-3.
Andrew • Dec 8, 2021 at 9:47 am
It was interesting that over 40 million people from all over the world play fantasy football. It was also very factual that the Texans are adverse, and fantasy football helps alleviate the embarrassing image and distract my mind from our awful season. The rewards and punishments of fantasy football make the game exciting and act as motivation and a catalyst to rage over your players playing badly. In my own fantasy games, the winner gets money that we all pitch in during the beginning of the season, and the loser must do the one-chip challenge and eat the Paqui Carolina Reaper Madness Tortilla Chip.
Austin N.. • Dec 8, 2021 at 9:10 am
What was interesting about the article was them talking about fantasy football was released in 1962. It shows fantasy football has been a game from such long ago. The game itself is very interesting. The game sounds very fun. I like it how there is a app so u can download it and play with friends. On the game, you can bet with friends and it would be fun to do. I like how they talked and described fantasy football and about what the person did with friends. The bet sounded funny and I feel bad for the loser right now.
Kyle M • Dec 8, 2021 at 8:58 am
One of the most interesting things in this article to me is the fact the article talked about global football as a whole and it describes the shifts in people’s opinions toward it as they continued with the sport. Although there is not really much I can add to this since it talks about pretty much everything although I can add how I’m feeling which is pretty tired because of all the running and practice shots against our own team. I feel that most of this information is accurate so I don’t think I need to comment on anything on this topic. I feel that the future of football might become more broad to people that don’t really focus on the sport and many might find a thrill for it that they never knew they could get. Nice going keep it up.
Riley • Dec 8, 2021 at 8:56 am
I liked the article!! I found it interesting with the take on needing a new outlet for watching football as the Texans are inherently bad. I think the severity of the loser’s punishment from the students’ interviews is quite funny, as someone who has no idea how fantasy football, furthermore football in itself, works, I find it fascinating the extent of the people watching. I hope, in future, that the experience is worth having condiments thrown at you.