With eyes glued to their phones, students buzz with the excitement of discussing their players’ stats and trades, as friendships are tested and rivalries emerge. Fantasy football dominates discussions from the beginning of September to the end of January.
A thrilling game, fantasy football allows players to participate in online leagues and create teams of real NFL players. Scores are determined by how well the real football players that are on each person’s roster do in their NFL game each week. Players set a lineup each week and face a different person every weekend. The last two or three weeks of the season constitute playoffs, where the top teams battle for first place, and the worst teams fight to stay out of last place in a loser’s bracket.
The game isn’t just about the stats and scores; it’s a social experience that brings friends together.
“Fantasy football is a fun and easy way for friends to compete,” junior Graham Snyder said. “For me, it gets very serious because I am in a league with all of my friends, and none of us want to lose to each other.”
Lively banter fuels the competitiveness of fantasy football, turning it into more than just a game. For players like sophomore Dylan Hessell, it’s this social interaction that makes the game special.
“I actually love fantasy because it’s a way to connect with my friends,” Dylan said. “I play with my friends from my old school, and it is a fun way to stay in touch because I don’t see them as often now. It’s especially fun this time of year right as playoffs are starting.”
Dylan’s passion for fantasy is indicative of a broader love for fantasy at Latin. Even many faculty members, including English teacher and student government advisor Lenny Goldman, love to play.
“I’m in three different leagues,” Mr. Goldman said. “The first is a traditional 10-team redraft league, which I do with a group of friends I’ve known since around fifth grade or so. That’s probably the most competitive league—it gets really active each and every week.”
The game has students and faculty excited week in and week out. Even as a lighthearted competition between friends, fantasy ignites a fiery need across the Latin community to win.
“I’m him!” Dylan said. “I am 12-1 this year, and it’s such a rush of excitement when I kill my friends’ teams each week.”
Passion like Dylan’s springs from the love of football, but also from the fear of having to do a dreaded fantasy punishment.
“I’ve never had a good record this year—nothing’s gone right for me,” sophomore Stofer Stineman said. “That punishment has just been looming over my head, and now with playoffs, there are only a few weeks left to make it out. During this rough season, I’ve been more stressed than ever about sports.”
Across Latin, students have agreed to participate in all kinds of punishments if they lose their league:
Just as there is a loser in every fantasy league, there is also an ultimate winner.
“I’m in it for the bragging rights,” senior Vijay Silvani said. “All day, I argue with my friends about our teams, so winning the league means a lot, and I can hold it over their heads.”
This year, Vijay participated in three fantasy leagues: a 12-person-league with some senior friends, a 32-person-league across grades, and another 12-person-league with his varsity soccer team. After making the playoffs with a top two standing in two out of three leagues, Vijay will be “praying that [his] players put on their best performances for the three weeks of playoffs.”
Fantasy football players everywhere try year after year to create the perfect team and win their league. However, a perfect season is nearly impossible. According to a tweet from Yahoo Fantasy, less than 1% of teams were undefeated after the first seven weeks of the season, with another eight weeks left to play.
Fantasy football has become more than just a pastime for students; it’s a phenomenon that has swept across the school, capturing the attention of both students and staff. Jessie Heider, Latin’s athletic trainer, has observed this growing enthusiasm firsthand, noting the widespread love for fantasy football throughout the community.
“Fantasy football is a fun way to keep up with all of the teams around the NFL,” Jessie said. “I’ve noticed that it is really popular here at Latin amongst the boys and the staff, and there have been lots of fun interactions that have come from it.”
Among all of the competitiveness, fun, stress, and excitement, fantasy remains a fun activity for friends.
“[Fantasy football] definitely keeps me connected with some lifelong friendships,” Mr. Goldman said. “I also connect with the kids; every fall I have random students showing me their teams.”
