Fantasy football basics

So, you keep hearing about this fantasy football stuff, huh? Want to know what everyone is talking about? Well, look no further, because you’re probably one of the few people that doesn’t know about it.

Fantasy football is a game that is played online through various Web sites, including ESPN.com, Yahoo.com and NFL.com. A person will join a fantasy football league that has about ten other players in it and each of these players will “draft” a team of actual NFL football players.

Each team will select a quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, a tight end, a place kicker from various NFL teams and an NFL team defense. When Sunday rolls around, your fantasy team gets points based on how the real life football player fares. Various points are awarded for passing yards, rushing yards, receiving yards and touchdowns while your team defense gets points for sacks and interceptions.

Each week your team will go head to head against another team and whichever team has the most points that week wins. The teams with the best records then go to the playoffs which in actuality are weeks 15, 16 and 17 of the actual NFL season, since not all of your players will be in the actual NFL playoffs.

Fantasy Football is a way for you to be the head coach and to put your football expertise to the test. Even if the only football players you can name are Steve Young and Brett Favre, don’t worry. There are fantasy football experts who rank all the players in the league so you don’t have to.

“I love fantasy football,” said Senior KC Cowles who is playing in his first fantasy football league. “I hardly know anything about football, but I have a really good team.”

Many fantasy football teams were rocked on opening day when New England quarterback Tom Brady got knocked out for the season with a torn ACL. But just like the NFL, there is free agency, so fantasy owners can drop and add players throughout the season to fill roster needs.

Fantasy football is a great way to build camaraderie and have a lot of fun.

The best thing about fantasy football is that it is free. And even though the NFL season has already started, people are allowed to start fantasy football leagues as late as Oct. 17. So join a league and find out what all the fuss is about. But don’t be surprised if you’re watching a boring Bills vs. Dolphins game because your team depends on it.