Is it Possible to Kick a Fantasy Football Addiction? Probably Not.
Ah, fantasy football. My toxic on-again-off again relationship that I continually let tear my heart out, but come crawling back to year after year.
It’s thrilling; it’s psychological; and quite frankly, it’s a pain in the ass.
Beating your rivals and gloating in your league chat is a special kind of high. The utter randomness to blindly bet on your favorite players outperforming others is an addictive measure.
The constant situational if this, then that scenarios keep your eyes glued to the TV screen (or phone) for the entirety of each game as if you are dead to the conscious world.
From September to late December, every Thursday through Monday night becomes an emotional roller coaster. It’s enough to make you want to rip your hair out in a matter of seconds.
But damn is it a whole lot of fun, and I just can’t get enough.
League Makeup Is Half the Fun
There are so many different ways to play fantasy football, and a lot of what makes it so enjoyable is that every league is different.
Standard, Superflex, PPR, IDP, Redraft, Dynasty, Devy, DFS.
No matter how you play, there’s a unique aspect to make almost every game watchable, which is exactly how and why the NFL has bought into the trend and continues to pump those endorphins into every possible medium.
Whether you are drafting different players or have certain guys that you want on every team, you build a special bond once they hit your roster.
I’m partial to dynasty leagues myself, and that attachment is even more heightened when some of those players could be on your roster for the entirety of their playing career if you find a gem in your startup or rookie draft.
I can almost hear the inner monologue screaming on a weekly basis.
Ugh, the Jets and Jaguars play on Thursday Night Football. What a gross game. Buttttttttt I have Trevor Lawrence and Garrett Wilson on my team, so I should still watch.
Then 3+ hours later you realize you could have done something much more productive with your time (but don’t tell my wife that).
What’s in a Name?
Then comes naming your team. You could go with a pun about one of your players, something pop-culture based, or an inside joke amongst your league mates.
If you need help naming your team, here’s a list of my favorite Disney-based fantasy football team names to help get you started for next season.
Rock Bottom
For a game I’ve been playing for 15+ years at this point, this season just seemed to hit a bit differently.
No amount of depth could amount to the loss of multiple superstar-level players my teams endured this year. I’ve never in my life been so incredibly unlucky.
In one league in particular (Dynasty/IDP format), it was a consistent theme that at least one of my starting players would be knocked out of a game early due to injury.
The team that was ravaged by all of these injuries week after week was appropriately named IRreverently Unlucky.
Week 1 - TJ Watt, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 3 - Joey Bosa, LB, Las Angeles Chargers - Acquired after TJ Watt injury
Week 4 - Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos
Week 5 - Pat Friermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers & Nick Bosa, DE, San Francisco 49ers
Week 6 - Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers
Week 8 - Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens
Week 10 - Cooper Kupp, WR, Las Angeles Rams
Week 11 - Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Week 12 - CJ Gardner-Johnson, DB, Philadelphia Eagles
Week 14 - Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers - Acquired after Cooper Kupp injury
Week 15 - Jordyn Brooks, LB, Seattle Seahawks
Week 16 - Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers
Remember this episode of Spongebob Squarepants when the salesman cons Spongebob and Patrick into buying chocolate bar carrying bags? This guy’s fake backstory was quite literally the epitome of my team this season.
At times it was almost laughable, especially when many of the games early in the season ended up suffering losses by 10 points or fewer, costing my team a much needed bye come playoff time.
In another dynasty league I was hit with even more injuries at the most inopportune times, throughout the season including Breece Hall, Jahan Dotson, Kadarius Toney, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Wan’Dale Robinson, Dan Bellinger, Chase Claypool, and Justin Fields.
But I powered through the heartbreak, made every possible move, and kept my teams competitive.
Even with the injuries my teams endured, I managed to make it to the semi-finals in both leagues.
But alas, my playoff hopes and dreams came crashing down yet again with losses in both leagues this past weekend. With a championship so close, it becomes utterly frustrating that the remainder of the NFL season won’t be nearly as enjoyable, even if the fantasy season only lasts one more week.
Road to Recovery
Now I am trying to look at the bright side. Both of my dynasty teams have a core of budding superstars and look to have an incredible championship run in the near future.
Hi, I’m Matt, and I’m a Fantasy Football addict, and I can’t wait for the NFL Draft so that I can start planning for next seasons rookie drafts.
