LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH FANTASY FOOTBALL
I was literally sitting at computer last night watching the Carolina Panthers and Miami Dolphins play on Monday Night Football, not because I’m a Panthers fan, but because Cam Newton was all that stood between me and winning in two different fantasy leagues I’m in.
In my first league, I began the night up by almost 40 points and was able to squeak out a win. But in the other league, at about 10:30 p.m., Newton threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Devin Funchess and my night was over.
It’s nerve wrecking to have to watch my opponent slowly creep up on me and then pass me right after halftime. But anyone who has ever played fantasy football can back me up on this.
There is, of course, skill involved in the game, but there’s also a lot of luck involved. Ask anyone that had Aaron Rodgers this year.
Don’t get me wrong. I love doing it. It’s fun (when I’m not pulling my hair out) and it’s also competitive, but injuries can ruin your season much like they can to their respective teams in real life.
The gratifying part is when you not only draft well at the beginning of the season, but find some hidden gems along the way, whether through the waiver wire or trades.
At the moment, I’m hovering around .500 in all my leagues; you know, not good enough to get in the playoffs but not so bad that it’s time to tank. I’ll win a game, then lose a game, then win a game, then….you get the picture. Maybe I’m not as good at this as I thought.
Oh well, that doesn’t matter, and that’s what’s so great about fantasy football. I can have no idea what I’m doing and still finish with a good record. Or you can know a lot about football and just be mediocre.
I hate fantasy football. Until I love it again.
TRIVIA TIME: What was the first year in which fantasy football was invented; and for bonus points who was the first pick in that draft? Answer below.
TO PLAY OR NOT TO PLAY
I decided that I would bring up this topic this week only because I’ve complained about it on Facebook for a month. HEY! NFL! Either let Ezekiel Elliott play or don’t!
I may not know all the facts about what happened but he was accused of sexual assault back in his days in Columbus while at Ohio State. The police department there eventually found no wrongdoing, and he was never charged with a crime.
So for some reason, the NFL decided that meant he would be suspended for six games.
I remember before the year started, I was telling a friend of mine who is a Cowboys fan, that Zeke would get the Tom Brady treatment and keep putting it off and putting it off until finally it would be moved to the 2018 season.
Instead, we’re stuck with “he can play,” then “no, he’s suspended again.” Back and forth each week, it’s like a soap opera. And I know that Elliott is having another good year, but you have to think flying back and forth to New York every week and not being able to practice is taking a toll on him.
Coming from a Redskins fan, I say go ahead and suspend him until Christmas, but either way the National Football League needs to pick a lane.
TRIVIA ANSWER: Fantasy football was started in 1963 by Bill Winkenbach, a minority owner of the Oakland Raiders. That year, an Oakland bar manager named Andrew Mousalimas made George Blanda the first pick in fantasy football history.
