As summer twilights and autumn dawns upon us, one thing is on many football fans’ minds: their fantasy league. People stress and fret over their fantasy draft, consider and re-consider who to drop, trade and acquire. Fantasy footballers obsessively edit and re-edit their roster for week one and all weeks hence, trying to come up with that perfect winning combination of statistical standouts that will prove victorious over their rival. I can say that I am no exception. I have fallen in love with fantasy football and I don’t care who knows it.
I have to admit I am something of a newcomer to fantasy football. I hesitated to join a league for many years because of a fear and mistrust of what I deemed a fantasy football cult. In fact, I used to liken fantasy football to Dungeons and Dragons for jocks. Since I now have become a member of the cult, I stand by the fantasy footballers proudly waving my freak flag. Though, I do also stand by my earlier D&D comparison as well.
It is said – usually anecdotally and without much offered in the way of proof - that many hours of work are wasted on fantasy football leagues. If I had to say how much work-time I waste per week on my fantasy league, I’d have to submit an HR-friendly zero. In my opinion, no time is wasted when it is spent on fantasy football. In the prioritization of my life, fantasy football is on the short list for the activity that gets the most attention.
It is for this reason that my love for fantasy football begs the question: why? Why do I vicariously enjoy someone else’s success? Is it a further manifestation of my love for the game and/or competition, though the outcome has nothing at all whatsoever to do with me? Is it because I am living out my own fantasy through the statistical prowess of a professional football player? Is it because it makes me feel as if I somehow benefit from the players’ collective performance in a meaningful way? I could easily justify such a tedious and time-sucking pursuit if I gained financially (I play in a free league, the only prize being bragging rights to anyone that will listen, none of whom will be league members themselves because they will avoid you at all costs.) For now, I will have to answer my own question about the enjoyment I derive from fantasy football with the answer I give when asked why I enjoy video games: ‘I dunno, it’s fun.’
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