MainStreet’s Fantasy Football Primer

Late August is, by rights, the calmest time of the year, a final quiet lull before Memorial Day spurs us all to action again.

Unless you are a fantasy football leaguer. In that case, summer’s final weeks are a frenetic flurry of agonizing decision-making associated with THE DRAFT.

With the kickoff of the NFL season rapidly approaching (it starts on September 4) so-called General Managers (GMs) of fantasy football leagues are working to put together the teams that they hope will bag them bragging rights and maybe even a tidy pile of cash at season’s end.

“This is big, big deal that consumes you from August until the season is over,” says Donovan Miller, a decade-long devotee. (Names of fantasy players have been changed to protect from undue scrutiny from their employers.) “My inbox gets choked with fantasy-related e-mails every Friday and Monday.”

Are you curious, but unsure of how best to get in on the action? Don’t worry, you still have plenty of time until those Super Bowl Champion Giants host their division rivals, (the Washington Redskins), in the season opener.

First: Study Up.
Don't let the endless stream of stats and seemingly complicated strategy talks of fantasy players daunt you, it’s never been easier to field a fantasy team of your own. The most popular fantasy sites—ESPN.com (DIS), Yahoo!Sports.com (YHOO), fanball.com (among numerous others)—have ready-made programs that will run you through the entire process.

“The best thing to do is to create a league of your own with some friends or colleagues,” says Miller. “Because then you can participate in arguably the best part—taunting and trash-talking.”

Next: Find a League.
Ideally, you want between eight and 12 people, AKA team owners, for a successful
league. Can't corral enough players to form a league of your own? No worries, most of the major fantasy sites have leagues individuals can join, which pairs them with others who want in on the fun.

Next: Ante Up.
A key component of fantasy sports, after all, is gambling. The average fantasy players shells out around $100 to $250, though the total amount is up to you and your fellow owners.

Whatever the amount, it should be enough so the pot is sizable enough to give everyone a continued incentive to compete throughout the season. Side bets are also common, Miller and other players note. And the loser at the end of the season is often made to perform some humiliating task. (In Miller’s league, last year’s loser donned a tuxedo and shined the shoes of each of the other owners.)

At Last: The Draft!
As for the draft itself, it’s remarkably simple: Set a salary cap; set a draft order; pick your players (and bench players); then track them once the season has begun. While there are countless variations, most fantasy teams consist of: One quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, one kicker and one team defense and special teams.

Scoring is based on the weekly stats of your players, with points allocated for achievements such as rushing or passing yards, catches and field goals; negative points are given for fumbles, interceptions and missed kicks. The player with the most points at season’s end wins.

Now that we’ve run you through the basic primer, the next step is to create a league of your own. If you’re still unsure or a little nervous about jumping right in, visit NFL.com or ESPN.com, which allow you to run a mock draft for practice.

No matter how you end up doing it, one thing is sure: Once you become a fantasy team owner, you’ll never watch football the same way again.

“Sunday is no longer about watching your favourite team play anymore,” notes Miller. “It’s now an all day affair where you watch all of the games, many simultaneously, to keep track of how your team is doing. It’s a deal, but it is fun.” Amen.