There are six minutes left in the Eagles-Falcons game with the Eagles up by 21. Being a diehard Eagles fan, you would think that this is great for me. The one problem is I have the Falcons’ electric quarterback, Michael Vick, on my fantasy football team.As my buddies and I are watching the game, I’m cheering for the opposing team’s quarterback to play well. I need him to throw for two touchdowns, and maybe run for two touchdowns. But as I cheer for Vick, I have to remember that I am an Eagles fan first.
Fantasy football is the craze that has changed the way football fans watch their games on Sundays. Instead of just rooting for your own favorite team, you may be rooting for an obscure Arizona Cardinal player to put up some points, or maybe you have a few Houston Texas players you need to be successful.
Usually, fantasy football consists of a 10 or 12 team league with friends or even people you’ve never met before through the internet. Each team has a collection of NFL players, with scoring based on real life performances. Most leagues require teams to start one quarterback, two runningbacks, three wide receivers, one tight end, one kicker, and one defense. Generally speaking, most leagues have a head to head schedule where each week, your fantasy team will play a different team in your every week. The team who scores the most point records the win.
Your real-life players universally get six points for every touchdown they score. Some leagues carry heavy point totals for yardage, while some lean toward the touchdowns carrying the most weight. One point for every 10 rushing or receiving yards is a very popular way to score yardage. Some leagues opt for one point for every 20 or 25 yards. For quarterbacks, it is usually one point for every 25 yards or one point for every 50 yards. Kickers receive 3 points for every FG they kick and 1 point for every extra point. Defenses gather points for sacks, interceptions, fumbles, and the amount of points they allow in the game.
Many leagues have their own particular way of scoring or scheduling and once you get a season or two under your belt, you can alter your league’s settings.
If you are a new player looking for a place to get started, the most popular site to play on is Yahoo!. Yahoo! offers a free service and with nice options for you and your friends, or they have thousands of public leagues that are open to join.
Even though we are a few weeks into the real NFL season, yahoo! offers late registration and leagues are still available to join right now. For all the amateurs, getting this season in as practice will help you become more successful in the future, maybe when the stakes are even higher.
For those of you who are already currently in a league or two of your own, here are some players whose stock has changed recently, whether for good or bad: QB’s going up: Carson Palmer (CIN), who having a breakthrough season; Drew Bledsoe (BUF) is playing well under Bill Parcells; Eli Manning (NYG) is actually outplaying older brother Peyton; Gus Frerotte (MIA) is making a case for Comeback Player of the Year.
QB’s going down: Peyton Manning (IND) is not immortal, but still tops in the QB department; Daunte Culpepper (MIN) has struggled without Randy Moss to throw to; J.P. Losman (BUF) has the worst passer rating in the AFC.
RBs going up: Willie Parker (PIT) has taken over as starter for the Steelers; Stephen Davis (CAR) and Fred Taylor (JAX) have bad knees, but are producing big numbers; Chris Brown (TEN) is an injury waiting to happen, but he still puts up solid numbers; Carnell ‘Cadillac’ Williams (TB) is clearly the best rookie at his position, carrying for 100-yards in each of the first three games.
RBs going down: Kevin Jones (DET) is suffering from the poor performance of his quarterback; Mike Anderson (DEN) not getting prototypical Bronco RB statisticss; Domanick Davis (HOU) is seeing his production slip; J.J.Arrington (ARI) is sharing his carries with Marcel Shipp, WRs going up: Steve Smith (CAR) is Delhomme’s favorite target; Brandon Lloyd (SF) is getting more looks this season and finding the endzone; Keenan McCardell (SD) is catching TD’s in bunches; Terry Glenn (DAL) is clicking with former Patriots teammate Bledsoe under center.
WRs going down: Andre Johnson (HOU) is big and fast, but the his team’s playcalling has been questionable; Eric Moulds (BUF) is the victim of a struggling, inexperienced quarterback.
TEs going up: L.J. Smith (PHI) is getting lots of looks from McNabb; Steve Heiden (CLE) is Trent Dilfer’s favorite new redzone target).
TEs going down : Tony Gonzalez (KC) and Todd Heap (BAL) still haven’t hit paydirt.
If your football-obsessed life needs an alteration, try a fantasy league. You won’t regret it.