Every year, an estimated 41.5 million people in the USA and Canada manage their very own sports team, fantasy sports team that is. Fantasy sports in general have grown in popularity drastically over the past five years. One of the most popular fantasy sports is football.

In 1962, fantasy football was invented by Bill Winkenbach, owner of the Oakland Raiders. Of course back then, they didn’t have any computers, so managers had to track and find all of their stats on paper. Today, millions of people play religiously. Before the actual football season starts, leagues are created, either with random people around the country or just your own friends. There is then a draft, in which managers draft real life players, like in the actual NFL Draft. Each player in the NFL can only be on one fantasy team per league, so the good players always go first. Every week after the draft, you have to set your lineup with who you want to “start” on your team. The starters are the only ones whose points count for you. Depending on how well the players that you start do during their real life games determines the amount of fantasy points they acquire for your team. Each week, you play a different team in your league,than at the end of the regular NFL season, the bragging rights and pride are awarded to the fantasy manager with the best record.

Many students in our school compete in their very own fantasy football leagues with their friends. Often times, fantasy football leagues can get very competitive. Sophomore Colby Brower plays fantasy football because he stated, “it’s fun being in a league with my friends and I enjoy the thrill and competition.”  Colby thinks that the bragging rights that he gets against his friends after a win are the best part of the competition.

Fantasy football is a hobby that will continue to grow as time goes on, especially now that the NFL is making attempts to spread to England. There are Fantasy Football analysts, who study stats and scores of players and then give fantasy advice for the coming weeks. They make their living off of fantasy football.  There is even a popular sitcom on FX called The League, that revolves around a group of middle aged friends who have a very competitive fantasy football league.

If you enjoy watching football, tracking stats, and a little competition, fantasy football is  the perfect hobby for you.