BY MCKINNON PENNELL
While many people wish they could play professional sports, this dream is often not realistic. Students at Mariemont have started playing a game where they can feel like an NFL coach. Fantasy football has become popular around the country and within our small school.
The basis of this game is an “owner” chooses players for their team during a draft. Often owners select quarterbacks or running backs in the early rounds because those athletes usually earn the most points. Then each person decides which athletes to play each week. While this may seem like a very simple concept, many games have been lost because a person has started the wrong player. In some leagues where there is a buy in to play, that decision could cost the owner upwards of $100.
Players can score points for their teams in various ways throughout a game. Scoring touchdowns, kicking field goals, gaining yards, or just keeping the opponent from scoring are a few examples. Owners can also lose points through interceptions and fumbles.
Jonathan White and Kieran Phelan are two students who participate in this game. Members of the AJRFF1 fantasy league, they were kind enough to enlighten me on their views of different aspects of the game.
“I play because I get money; my best finish is second to last place,” stated Phelan.
White had similar motives for playing the game.
“I compete because it’s easy money in my league,” said White.
Both are strong competitors and have their own favorite players they believe lead them towards being successful.
“My favorite/best player is (kicker) Mason Crosby. He came up big with five field goals last week,” noted Phelan.
White had a contrasting opinion when it came to favorite players.
“Tyler Eiffert is my favorite because Sander [Henning] made his team name ‘Eiffert too much,’” countered White.
The league can be won through a playoff towards the end of the NFL regular season, where teams play each other in single-elimination games. And while many people may think this is child’s play, it’s not. The games are important to the owners, and everyone wants to win the league.
