The Sower Logo

Home Sports Fantasy Football- The New American Pastime?

by Angela Bell

It’s no secret that Americans love football. That 10-page research paper isn’t finished yet? You can find me on the couch watching the Browns play an equally terrible team with my laptop open pretending to be productive- because that’s what Sundays are for. The world is ending? But Green Bay is down a touchdown with under a minute left and Aaron Rodgers is in the pocket; the zombies can wait.

Now this may sound like an exaggeration to some, but for those of us who associate the word “fall” with “football,” not “pumpkin spice,” this is very much our reality.  But When even Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Thursday games just don’t cut it, we turn to the world of fantasy football to feed our appetite.

I sat down with two of Concordia’s very own seasoned professionals in the realm of fantasy football, sophomores Josh Miller (fourth year manager, one fantasy championship) and Alex Kaldahl (sixth year manager, two fantasy championships), to get their perspectives on this very real, very made-up sport.

“You can cheer for players on teams you don’t like so it makes it more interesting,” said Kaldahl about why he plays fantasy football. “If your favorite NFL team loses you can still have a good week if your fantasy team wins. Also, every game matters in fantasy football and every yard can change the outcome of a game.”

“There’s a lot to cheer for because if you have a player on offense, you want to cheer for their defense so they can get the ball back. And when your player does finally get the ball it’s really exciting,” Miller said.

But fantasy football isn’t just all fun and games. Week to week success requires abundant attention and strategy.

“I draft two defenses and look for wide receivers that have been hot recently and play matchups,” Miller said about his strategy leading up to the week’s game. “I turn on whatever game has the most of my players and then watch fantasy cast throughout the day.”

On the other hand, Kaldahl picks up “whatever defense is playing the Browns that week.” (This has a 99% proven success rate.)

While managing a team to root for week to week is exciting in and of itself, fantasy football veterans know that the stakes are high and winning is everything.

“I have four older brothers and it’s a family league so everyone takes it pretty seriously, except for my mom,” said Kaldahl. “The wager is bragging rights.”

Other leagues are a little more intense. “Ours is for very serious bragging rights and a $75 buy-in in a 10 person league,” said Miller who confidently added, “It’s nothing to me because that’s one night of work for an entire season of entertainment three days a week and the chance to capitalize that money.”

Well there you have it folks: football and capitalism;It doesn’t get any more American than that. Now sit on your couch, and play some football!

Please leave a reply. Your comment will be reviewed by the Sower editors before posting.