By: Lucas de Lima and Erik Rico
The National Football League (NFL) season is right around the corner, which means that fantasy football is heating up. It has inserted itself into the fabric of American sports culture for decades.
Fantasy football is an Internet game where players can choose their favorite NFL players to create a team that usually consists of one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, one flex spot (Either a wide receiver, a running back, or a tight end), one team’s defense, and one kicker. Plus, six reserve spots for any position.
The goal of fantasy football is to score the most points with your starting lineup of nine players. (To find out the details on how points work, search up Points Per Reception(PPR) rules)
According to ESPN, about 40 million people play fantasy football in the United States.
Thomas Plummer ’25 is a new addition to that 40 million fans. Plummer enjoys the commodity and bonding with his friends over fantasy football.
“The trash talk and the bickering, that’s pretty fun. Just the interaction with your friends.” Plummer says
Mia Trevino ’25 is extremely dedicated to her squad.
Trevino says, “It’s what motivates me to get up in the morning.” She also says, “I eat, breathe, and sleep fantasy football.”
Freshman Jason MacDonald ’26 says he has been playing fantasy football “for a few years.”
If MacDonald had the infamous first overall pick in his draft, he is confident in who he would choose. “Jonathan Taylor, easily.” Jonathan Taylor is the consensus number one overall pick in many experts mock drafts. Taylor is playing in his third year in the NFL as a running back for the Indianapolis Colts.
Funny team names are a staple in the fantasy football universe. MacDonald’s team name is “Big Smack.” Other popular team names are Run CMC, Call of Jeudy, and Oh Saquon You See. All of these names are references to famous players in the NFL.
Fantasy football is a blast for every player that plays it. MacDonald says, “It’s kinda fun, you get to build your own team, it’s competition against your friends.”
Lucas de Lima
Lucas de Lima, '25, is a proud Sports editor and author for the Redwood Gigantea. Outside of journalism, he is a part of the FBLA and FFA organizations, as well as the tennis program. You can reach him by email at lucas.de3708@vusd.us
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