What is Fantasy Football?

If you’re a football fan, chances are that you’ve thought about owning your own football team, being the GM, managing the players and of course, competing in the league and winning it. While not everyone gets to own a team in the NFL, you can still create your NFL team and play. This is Fantasy Football.

Introduction to NFL Fantasy Football

Fantasy Football is a virtual game where you can draft players for your team, compete with your friends and family every week in the football league.

You will have the chance to draft real football players from the National Football League, like Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Christian McCaffrey, Justin Jefferson, and others, in your team. You will score points based on your team’s and player’s performances. Along with the draft, you can trade for players and sign free agents.

Just like the National Football League, Fantasy Football will also have playoffs. This usually takes place during week 14 to week 16 where the fantasy teams go head to head to determine the winner of the league.

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How do I create a Fantasy Football team?

The first and foremost step in creating a Fantasy Football team is to sign up for a league. Fantasy leagues are often hosted on popular websites like ESPN, Yahoo, CBS Sports and Sleeper. Once you join a league, it is important to understand the different types of fantasy football leagues that exist.

Different league types in Fantasy Football

One of the most common and popular types of Fantasy Football league is the Redraft. In this league, you will be drafting a new fantasy team every year. The rosters of your team look completely different from the previous year. By the time the football season ends, it’s time to change your fantasy team.

The next type of Fantasy Football league is Keeper league. In this fantasy league, the managers get to select the players which they want to retain for the next season. Before you begin the draft for the 2023 fantasy football season, it is important to mention the specific player that you’ve retained from the previous season.

The last type of fantasy football league is the dynasty league. In this fantasy league, the owners get to keep the entire team for the next football season. The goal of any manager is to win the championship and at times it doesn’t make sense to keep switching teams every season. Instead of owning a team for a season, dynasty league gives the managers a real experience of running a football team. In this league, it is helpful to have younger players as they have more time to develop into becoming potential stars.

How does Fantasy Football draft work?

One of the most important and crucial factors for deciding your team’s success is the drafting. And depending on the league you play, it is important to draft well as there is a lot of potential in the upcoming players. You can draft your favorite players that you root for, into your team and their performances will have a direct impact on your fantasy team.

There are usually two types of draft in fantasy football - snake and auction.

The snake draft is the standard draft. There are multiple rounds in the draft and each team is ‘on the clock’ to draft players for their rosters. This is very similar to the NFL draft where you pick any available player to fill the holes in your roster.

The next format of the draft is auction. And as the name suggests, there is a ‘budget’ for the owners and managers to spend on the players. They spend money to acquire the player and the highest bidder among the teams gets the player. It is important to note that a manager can bid for a player only if you have enough money to secure the winning bid.

Apart from this, there are also free agents that are available. Players who haven’t made the rosters in the fantasy league will be available to be picked. The managers can also trade for players to manage and build their roster, just like the National Football League.

Also Read: Inappropriate NFL fantasy football team names to consider before 2024 season

How many players make a roster?

Typically, for a fantasy football team, there are 16 players who make the final roster. Nine starters and seven benchwarmers.

The standard starting line up of a fantasy football team is as follows:
One quarterback
Two running backs
Two wide receivers
One tight end
One flex player
One kicker
One team defense / special teams

As fantasy football team managers, it is important to fill these spots prior to the weeknd before the game because these are the players that will help you score points.

Sometimes certain managers tend to pick two quarterbacks and superflex. What it essentially means is that the extra quarterback will now be able to play the flex position, which is usually the running back, tight end or the wide receiver.

How to score points in Fantasy Football?

Scoring points in fantasy football is very simple. It is directly related to the individual performances of the players in your squad. Based on the performances in the real football games in the National Football League, the players are given points.

.Note: This is why picking your squad is really important. You’ve to select the team that will help you score the most points.

In most leagues, the fantasy teams go head-to-head facing every other team in the league, every week. And the team with the higher fantasy point wins.

Another type of scoring is Rotisserie. Unlike head-to-head matchups, here statistical categories of the teams are used as scoring systems. The fantasy team with the highest point combined throughout the whole football season is the champion.

Most fantasy leagues have a standard scoring system, that is, one point for every 25 passing yards and even 10 rushing or receiving yards. A rushing or receiving touchdown is awarded six points, while the passing touchdown is awarded four. A lost fumble or interception deducts two points. In essence, your best and most productive NFL players are the one who will help you win the fantasy league.

One of the important concepts to note here is that of Point Per Reception (PPR). While it is the same as the standard scoring, one point is awarded per reception. What it essentially does is, it makes the wide receivers, tight ends and pass-catching running backs more valuable in the fantasy league.

Another important scoring method is the IDP - Individual Defensive Players. They help the team by adding fantasy points via their individual achievements like tackles, turnovers, touchdowns and sacks. They are awarded points for their statistical achievements.

Many leagues have kickers as well. They receive fantasy points for kicking and converting attempts. One point is reduced when they miss kicks.

With this, you’re now ready to take your first step into the world of fantasy football. It’s now time to create your own team and compete in your league to win.