Every Sunday, thousands of football fanatics become one with their couch.  With their eyes fixated on the television screens, the gridiron worshipers pray to the all-mighty football gods, willing their favorite player through broken tackles and miraculous leaps into the end zone.

Rising to one’s feet in astonishment, a chest bump typically ensues.  Frito Lays and a bean dip platter fly through the air because Adrian Peterson just solidified the “Favre from Retiring” team's first-round bye into the 2009 Aaron Curry is the Man league playoffs.

If National Football League double coverage means watching the NFL network and scouring ESPN for instant updates simultaneously, you may have a fantasy football symptom.  If by 8 p.m. on Sunday you have wedged a permanent butt groove in your favorite recliner, you have contracted the virus.

For those who are completely confused, welcome to the craze taking the sports world by storm: fantasy football.

With the age of the Internet and social networking sites such as Facebook, it is hard not to fall victim to the fantasy “flu” that all types of NFL fans are contracting these days, said Bellingham resident and Whatcom Community College student Max Wilcox.

“Fantasy football is just so accessible,” Wilcox said.  “It’s advertised everywhere you look and it’s on every search engine, like Yahoo and all over ESPN.”

Fantasy football provides fans who grant their fanhood allegiance to an NFL team with an alternative way to look at the game.

Seahawks fans, such as Western junior Geoff Johnston, often become frustrated watching their favorite team get off to 3-5 starts. By the time Seattle is out of the playoff race, Seahawks enthusiasts do not find much of a reason to follow the NFL.

“Fantasy football gives me a reason to watch all the games every Sunday, not just the Seahawks,” Geoff Johnston said.  “I also love the trash talking with friends; it’s a big part of fantasy.”

Fantasy football is fairly simple to learn, and most leagues follow similar formats.  One to two weeks prior to the start of the NFL season, friends get together in person or online to draft their football teams.  Rosters are composed by drafting quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, kickers and defenses.  

One’s fantasy team earns points based on how their players perform during their real NFL games.

While some leagues have a cash incentive for Super Bowl winners, others award the ultimate prize: bragging rights.

Western student Brett Johnson, who is currently working on his post-baccalaureate, said having a great team is essential to enjoying a fantasy season. He said it is a great way to socialize in college.

“You come to college and it’s a big activity,” Brett Johnston said.  “It’s an easy way to keep in touch with all your friends; it’s just fun.  You familiarize yourself with all the players and get to know guys you never really knew before.  I love to trash talk.  If you’re winning at the end you get to hold it over everyone’s head.”

Fantasy football was not always so accessible.  It was not until the turn of the century that Web sites allowed football fans to play online for free.  

Web sites such as ESPN.com, CBS Sportline, NFL.com, Yahoo and Facebook now all have free sites for fanatics to use.

Geoff Johnston, who has been playing fantasy football since he was in seventh grade, attributes these free online sites to the rise in popularity in the last five years.

“Really, it’s the increase in technology,” Geoff Johnston said.  “Having all the online sites allows everyone to stay connected to the game and is a good way to connect with your friends through sports for free.”

 

2009 standouts

 

Brett Favre — According to FantasyFootballToolbox.com, Favre was ranked as the 20th best quarterback available in fantasy drafts to start the season. Favre currently has 16 passing touchdowns—tied for second in the league—and only three interceptions. He is also ranked 13th in the league in passing, accumulating 1,925 yards. Favre is blessing fantasy rosters for those lucky enough to pick him in later rounds of the draft.

Drew Brees — If you have Brees on your roster, you are most likely in good shape. He is tied for the league lead in touchdown passes with 17 as of week 10. Brees also ranks fourth in passing yards with 2,336 so far. Brees plays for the offensively high-powered New Orleans Saints.
Running backs:

Maurice Jones-Drew — Although Jones-Drew plays for the lowly Jaguars, he has a league-leading 11 rushing touchdowns equalling big points and smiles for fantasy owners. Jones-Drew also has the sixth best yards per game, average accumulating 92.1 yards per game.        

 Cedric Benson — Maybe the steal of the 2009 fantasy football draft, who would have thought Benson would be posting such big numbers after a dismal season with Chicago. Benson is currently tied for seventh in the league with six rushing touchdowns. He ranks second in the league with 837 rushing yards and has four 100-yard rushing games.

Other Notables: Chris Johnson, Michael Turner.
Wide receivers:

Larry Fitzgerald — Not much of a surprise here; through week nine Fitzgerald is tied for the most receiving touchdowns in the NFL with seven. He is also ranked fourth in receiving yards with 632. Fitzgerald continues to be a fantasy powerhouse with no slowing down in sight.

Vincent Jackson — Another great steal of the draft for fantasy owners. His seven receiving touchdowns have him tied for first in the NFL. Jackson also ranks third in receiving yards with 722 so far this season. Jackson has four 100-yard receiving games and is averaging 90.2 yards an outing.

Other Notables: Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson and Miles Austin.

Be first to comment on this article

Only registered users can post comments.
Please login or register.