I’m sure every one of us has heard those few people next to you argue over their fantasy football teams for so long that it seems like it could go on for hours. After they go on and on about the same trade and never agree on anything, you begin to think to yourself “what’s the point of all of this?” As someone who plays fantasy football, I can understand how it’s fun to compete with your friends and it gives you something to talk about and let’s many people feel included in something. But some people just take it way too far in my opinion. It becomes more than a game, one in which people bet money and won’t even talk to their best friends because of rules they didn’t like, they lost, etc.
Also, people often root against their own hometown team. The one that they have always loved and followed for years…all because you want to beat your friend in a game that most people will forget in a month (although some won’t let it go for years). Fantasy football has gotten to the level where people even have multiple teams for different “leagues” that they are in. It makes no sense to me because it becomes so hard to keep track of every team. Also, it seems like it would get to the point where you have every single player on your team, so who would you root for?
However, there are obvious upsides to it, as around 41 million people in just Canada and the U.S play the game. It seems as though most people at OA play as well, although they give different reasons for playing. Michael Greene (Class of 2019) who is in 3 leagues currently, says that he plays because “there’s a bunch of different games on Sundays so when the Patriots aren’t playing it gives me a good reason to watch the others”. It gives many people who love sports something else to witness and enjoy. Another motive for playing fantasy football comes from Jacob Gula (Class of 2019), who says “I like the competitiveness and playing against my friends.” For friends looking to compete over something, just for fun, fantasy football is for you. In my opinion competitiveness in a friendship is a good thing until it reaches a certain point where it isn’t just for fun anymore, and it becomes too serious.
There are points to be made for and against fantasy football, but I think it’s main point is to try to provide an enjoyable game that people all around the world can participate in. It gives people an experience in which they feel like they are the owners and general manager’s of the teams, controlling and picking their players as they so choose. Although there are cases in which it can break up friendships or get too out of hand, fantasy football should be considered helpful for creating bonds and conversations between anyone that would have never been attainable without it. In this game, who you are makes no difference and everyone appears to be equal and given a fair shot to prove themselves. In a world where people are criticized for everything, it is nice to have a hobby in which nobody is judged for who being themselves.