All You Ever Wanted to Know About Fantasy Football But Were Afraid to Ask
Do you have what it takes to put a franchise together?
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All About Fanstasy Football - Do you have what it takes to put a football franchise together? Millions of Americans do it each year, with their own fantasy football leagues. Fantasy football, the game of friendly competition amongst family, co-workers, or strangers online, guided by a personalized imaginary dream team starring real-life NFL players, kicks off now! But before you invest in your dream team, don’t you want to know all about fantasy football? BET.com breaks down the FAQs on fantasy football. — Dominique Zonyéé (Photo: David Sucsy/Getty Images)
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What Is Fantasy Football? - You decide what players you want, through a draft or auto pick. Most leagues are composed of 8-16 unique fantasy teams featuring at least two quarterbacks, three running backs, three wide receivers, two tight ends, one kicker and two defensive units. Then each week, managers and team owners match up their teams head-to head in accordance to watch real time games each week. Touchdowns, field goals, interceptions, yards gained and more win your team points. Many leagues play for prizes such as money, NFL gear and more.(Photo: spxChrome/Getty Images)
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When Did It Start? - Fantasy football was established in 1962 in New York City, when Wilfred "Bill" Winkenbach, a limited partner in the Oakland Raiders, teamed up with Raiders public relations man Bill Tunnel and reporter Scotty Starling set up a system and drafted a rule book. As the NFL has changed drastically since the ‘60s, so has fantasy football.(Photo: Fox Photos/Getty Images)
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What Are the Rules? - The rules vary from site to site (and league to league). Each week, fantasy owners submit starting lineups for their teams. Points are gained according to the real players in your starting line-up. At the end of each week, points are counted and the player with the most points at the end of the season is the winner of the league.(Photo: EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO /LANDOV)
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How Do I Earn Points? - Points are earned in a variety of ways, including touchdowns, sacks, field goals, etc. Some plays are worth more than others. For example, touchdowns can be worth more than sacks.(Photo: Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
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How Do I Get Started? - Fantasy leagues can be started at work, home or with strangers online. Sites such as NFL, Yahoo Sports and ESPN allow fans to play using their rules and structure, or fantasy players can start their own league using host sites such as Flea Flicker or My Fantasy League. Players should familiarize themselves with the scoring rules and roster settings first, then join a pre-managed league online or design a custom league.(Photo: Andersen Ross/Getty Images)
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Is There a Cost? - There are some leagues, such as ESPN and Fox Sports, which are free to play, but if you are really competitive and want to go for the cash prizes, then you may have to dish out cash to join the league.(Photo: LaCoppola-Meier/Getty Images)
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Once I Join a League, How Do I Choose a Team? - Like the real NFL, there is a draft and the person who gets first pick is typically chosen via a lottery. You can be creative, but standard teams typically have 12 players of various positions and a pointing system with the most points going to the quarterback plays. It is imperative to know the stats of your players to earn the most points based on performance.(Photo: Comstock Images/Getty Images)
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What’s a Good Strategy for Picking a Team? - If you don’t have a good team roster, you cannot win. Most fantasy players know football well and watch games religiously. When choosing a team, it is important to have a handle on player stats, i.e. rushing yards and throwing yards, because points are earned according to plays.(Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Sirius XM Radio)
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Dream Team - Remember fantasy teams are based on real life players. For example, Redskins QB Robert Griffin III was injured, but has been cleared to play this season; if he is picked for your fantasy team, then you are putting your faith in his recovery. He has to play well in order for your team to do well.(Photo: Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
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Naming Your Team - It’s your world, your team, your name. Team names can get pretty outrageous. Crave Online took a look at 75 top fantasy team names ranging from “Forte Acres and a Mule” to “Geno 911” and “My Vick in a Box.”(Photo: AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
