2008 Woodie Awards
Fantasy football grows in popularity
Matt Rydberg
Issue date: 9/10/07 Section: Sports
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Leaves are starting to change, grills are being stowed away and the shorts and t-shirts will soon be replaced by mittens and the shrill screams of rabid fans living and dying with every snap of the ball.
That's right, football season is back and, more importantly for many, fantasy football is in full swing.
For NFL fans across the globe, watching and cheering is simply not enough. What started in the backrooms of offices for nerds and sports junkies has quickly become one of the most profitable online ventures since the instant messenger. Millions flock together, mostly online, to draft, trash-talk and argue over their favorite players.
Joe Zielinski a senior at SCSU said, "I've been playing fantasy football with my friends since I was in fourth grade, it's just a great time."
Fantasy football is a numbers game where about eight to 14 people (owners) draft NFL players to their own dream team. In a heads-up league, these owners then play a different owner each week and score points based on their player's statistics.
Zielinski also serves as a commissioner in some of his leagues, which means he is in charge of overseeing the league and making sure it runs smoothly throughout the year,
"I like being in charge because it means I get to invite all my friends. I enjoy taking charge of the league, and when I think that something is wrong, I can fix it," he said.
Indianapolis Colts running back Joseph Addai ran for 118 yards and a touchdown in the NFL's kick-off Thursday night game against the New Orleans Saints. To a typical fantasy owner that means Addai would have earned him/her approximately 17 points. By contrast, Drew Brees (last season's best fantasy quarterback) threw for 192 yards with two interceptions. Depending on the point breakdown of each individual league, he earned his fantasy owners two to seven points. The unpredictability of week-to-week performances is what makes the game challenging and fun.
Zielinski said, "You never know how some guys are gonna do. One week Grossman (QB for Chicago) can score you over 30 points, the next week he could go negative."
That's right, football season is back and, more importantly for many, fantasy football is in full swing.
For NFL fans across the globe, watching and cheering is simply not enough. What started in the backrooms of offices for nerds and sports junkies has quickly become one of the most profitable online ventures since the instant messenger. Millions flock together, mostly online, to draft, trash-talk and argue over their favorite players.
Joe Zielinski a senior at SCSU said, "I've been playing fantasy football with my friends since I was in fourth grade, it's just a great time."
Fantasy football is a numbers game where about eight to 14 people (owners) draft NFL players to their own dream team. In a heads-up league, these owners then play a different owner each week and score points based on their player's statistics.
Zielinski also serves as a commissioner in some of his leagues, which means he is in charge of overseeing the league and making sure it runs smoothly throughout the year,
"I like being in charge because it means I get to invite all my friends. I enjoy taking charge of the league, and when I think that something is wrong, I can fix it," he said.
Indianapolis Colts running back Joseph Addai ran for 118 yards and a touchdown in the NFL's kick-off Thursday night game against the New Orleans Saints. To a typical fantasy owner that means Addai would have earned him/her approximately 17 points. By contrast, Drew Brees (last season's best fantasy quarterback) threw for 192 yards with two interceptions. Depending on the point breakdown of each individual league, he earned his fantasy owners two to seven points. The unpredictability of week-to-week performances is what makes the game challenging and fun.
Zielinski said, "You never know how some guys are gonna do. One week Grossman (QB for Chicago) can score you over 30 points, the next week he could go negative."