It's Fantasy Football Time Again
It is hard to believe, but once again we are only a few weeks out from NFL football. As NFL teams near the end of training camp and prepare for a few last warm up games the true football fan becomes focused on one thing, Fantasy football. Many of us play in at least one league and we are entering the draft time window. Fantasy football is a great way to enjoy the sport with friends and coworkers and it is a way to create some friendly competition. So if you haven’t joined a league or planned a draft party yet don’t worry there is still time.
Joining a League
Most avid fantasy players already have at least one league they plan to play in, if you are not one of these people there is still time. Every year people drop out of leagues for numerous reasons, this means there is likely a spot open in a work league or a friends league. Obviously the first step is asking around. Your immediate coworkers and friends might not have any openings but odds are they know someone who is looking for a last minute replacement. If no one in your office plays, think about starting a league. You do not need to be football experts. The best part of fantasy sports is anyone can play and even though some leagues play for money it is not a requirement. Finally, if none of the aforementioned ideas pan out, you can always play in an online league. There are countless major sports outlets that host free to play fantasy leagues that anyone can play in, so why not join?
Understanding the Rules
It is safe to say that different fantasy leagues can have very different rules. Some leagues award points, or even half points, for every reception an offensive player makes. Other leagues only credit yards earned and touchdowns. There are leagues that have defensive players and there are leagues that use team defenses to award points. Different leagues will start different numbers of position players, and some will have spots that let you play multiple types of players in a flex rule. The number of points award per yard can change drastically based on the league you are in and some even award partial points. The beautiful thing is there is no set rules on how to play. As long as the league you are in has clear scoring rules prior to the draft process you will have fun. Just remember to read and understand the point system prior to picking players. This way you can get the best players for the way your league is scored.
Drafting the Best Players
Saying there a lot of player ranking articles and dedicated news outlets focused on fantasy football would be an understatement. All the major sports media companies have multiple experts and release multiple articles on the topic every day. Local television and radio broadcasts host shows discussing all the players and their projections for the season. If that is not enough information, plenty of fans run small independent websites and discussion forums on the topic. So it is safe to say if you are unsure who the best players to take are, you simply have to do some research. This research is simple work and can help you make educated draft picks, but remember player rankings are opinions. Do not forget to trust your gut instinct from time to time.
Draft Time
There are several ways to draft players in a fantasy football league. There are online drafts where all you need to do is be at your computer and be logged on. What is nice is this allows people to play and draft players personally while living in different parts of the country. If you move out of town for work you no longer need to give up your place in your favorite league. If you want a more personal experience you can host a live draft at someone’s home or even at a local restaurant. Plenty of sports themed places will accommodate fantasy drafts and even offer incentives and specials to entice you to have a live draft at their establishment. Finally, if you just want a team without the hassle or stress of drafting one yourself you can set up an auto draft. This will automatically select the best player available for your team and should create a well-balanced team for you automatically. Plenty of people win leagues every year with an auto drafted team, so if you are unable to make a live draft do not give up there is still a decent chance for you to be the champion.
Fantasy football has been growing in popularity for a long time. It is and has been enjoyed by millions of people and there is no reason why you should not partake in the fun. So this year is can be the year to get started and could even be the year you are crowned champion, but remember the season is only a few weeks away so join a league now. Finally, don’t lose track of why we play and remember to have fun.