With summer on the horizon and NFL teams gearing up for their August preseason matches, it’s time to start thinking about your Fantasy Football team. The global market for fantasy sports was estimated at a staggering $22 billion in 2021, with experts predicting that figure will grow still further this year.
NFL Fantasy is a big part of that success, and its popularity is driving the global appeal of American Football as fans around the world discover the game. In the States, estimates put the number of people playing Fantasy Football at 40 million, but more interestingly, a third of those players are now female.
While some people may be surprised at the popularity of the game amongst female players, there are plenty of factors playing a role here.
Fun to Play
Fantasy Football is a lot of fun so why wouldn’t women want to grab a piece of the action? There’s no rule says you have to be male to play this game.
Easy to Learn
The success of any game can often come down to how easy it is to learn and play. Thanks to the internet and technology, Fantasy Football is incredibly easy to pick up, with NFL fantasy sites offering new players easy walk throughs to get them up and running.
It’s Social
Playing fantasy sports is a great thing to do as a couple or with family and friends, especially when bragging rights are on the line. Throw a draft day party, get friends round to watch the game, tweet your league topping success, it’s all part of the fun.
No Need to Watch Every Game
Believe it or not, you don’t need to watch every single football match to play Fantasy Football, no matter what some people might say! Thanks to modern technology, all your points are stored in your account after every game, leaving you free to do other things.
Money
If you needed any more reasons to give it a try, then how about a little extra spending money? There are plenty of cash prizes available throughout the season, which means there are lots of opportunities to win.
Join a League.
The first thing you need to do is join a league. There are plenty of choices out there, from public and private, to beginner and more experienced leagues. Find the league that works best for you and sign up online by following the simple instructions. Make sure you understand the type of league you’re joining and their rules.
Scouting Players
Before you pick your roster of players you will need to do a little bit of research. Working out your preferred players before the draft will allow you to make better decisions on draft day. Check out your league’s scoring system to make sure you maximize your strategy.
Player Draft
Now the fun begins! It’s time to build your fantasy football team.
The draft is a really exciting day for fantasy football players and a great excuse for a party too. During the draft, each player picks one NFL player at a time until the rosters are complete.
Fantasy football drafts usually take place online, but leagues with friends and family are often conducted in person on a day when all the players get together. Don’t forget to make sure you draft players for all of the positions you need in your team.
A standard league starting team consists of:
- 1 Quarterback
- 2 Running Backs
- 2 Wide Receivers
- 1 Tight End
- 1 Kicker
- 1 Choice of RB/WR
- 1 Defense
- Special Teams
Start of the Season
Once all the players have filled the roster, it’s time for the season to start. During real NFL games, the players stats for that week are converted into fantasy league points and added to your team’s total. If your team scores more points than the team you are ‘playing’ that week, then you win the game. Win enough games and you’ll get into the playoffs and then you can start dreaming about the Super Bowl!
Injuries
Players will get injuries through the season so be sure to check your roster and rotate where necessary so you’re not missing out on points.
Bye Weeks
Every team in the NFL has a bye week when the team does not have a game scheduled. Make sure you keep an eye on your players bye weeks so that your starting roster is full.
Trades
Leagues will allow trades to be made between teams up to a cut-off date – usually week 12. So, if you want to move on some dead wood from your roster, or trade your star performer for multiple players, then this is your chance. But make sure you do your homework and work out your strategy beforehand.
Whatever team you pick or league you’re in, remember the name of the game is fun. So, if you don’t manage to lift the title this year, there’s always next season.
