As the NFL season approaches one would expect hype among fans and analysts including jibber-jabber about the best teams, injuries, trades, and predictions for the February 5, 2017 Super Bowl. However, as the preseason comes to a close, much of the talk centers around fantasy football. Yes, “Fantasy” Football.
This parallel football universe has sucked in all types of fans—from the casual “so how many tries do they get for a first down?” football watcher to the hard-core fan who can list every team’s third-string quarterback.
So what is it about fantasy football that’s so compelling to fans and non-fans alike? Recent NFL retiree, Jared Allen, when asked why the fantasy game resonates so much, commented: “It’s connected fans to players even more. Now they truly feel they can play quarterback from the couch.” When we think of how the gamification of American football has taken the country by storm, the power to be a general manager is a major attraction. Fantasy football allows fans to choose and connect with a collection of NFL players, adopting them as their own, suddenly turning a Jaguars vs. Titans game (a marginal game in real life) into a riveting matchup.
Fantasy has grown on fans because of the connection it gives them to the game. But it doesn’t stop there. As traditional and social media reaches into the athletes’ personal lives, NFL players are more visible than ever, and many have fantasy teams of their own. Current Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Allen, and other current and former players compete in fantasy leagues. These players see fantasy football as another means of competition — presumably one without injuries — and an entertaining tangent to the game itself.
The pressure is on…for some NFL players, however, the fantasy game is less than relaxing. All-Pro tight end Tony Gonzalez had a surreal encounter with an NFL media member. The reporter mentioned that some of his relatives have the pro-bowler on their teams. Gonzalez shared: “they try to sit me down like they’re my coach.” He was even warned: “If you’re not going to perform, I’m going to have to cut you. I’m going to have to sit you down this week.”
Although Gonzalez was mostly kidding, the pressure to perform is felt throughout the league. Greg Jennings, former NFL wide receiver, recounted an incident during a midseason slump several years ago. Jennings’ team was playing in Pittsburgh when a fan harassed him about his poor fantasy production. After notching an 80-yard touchdown in the game, Jennings recalled, “I wanted to turn around and be like, ‘am I still sucking for you?’ I remember sitting there [and] wanted to say something to a fan but I can’t let them know they got to me, because it’s fantasy football.” Jennings summed it up best when he said “It’s probably the most serious game out there.”
Here to stay. With more fantasy participation avenues than ever, including free and paid games with friends and strangers, office pools and dedicated fantasy sports sites, this season is shaping up to be the biggest fantasy year in history. Fans across the country are excited to talk smack with each other and even with the real-life NFL player they might encounter.
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