🏈 Fantasy Football 101: A Beginner’s Guide
A Quick History
Fantasy football began in 1962 when Wilfred “Bill” Winkenbach created the first league (GOPPPL). It spread through office pools in the ’80s and ’90s, exploded online in 1999 with ESPN and Yahoo, and now over 60 million people play in North America thanks to smartphones and social media.
Why It’s So Popular
Fantasy football is easy to access, socially engaging, and turns every NFL play into a strategic moment. You manage your own team, make trades, and compete for prizes or bragging rights.
Season Timeline
- Draft: Late August
- Kickoff: NFL Week 1
- Regular Season: Weeks 1–15
- Playoffs: Weeks 16–17
- Championship: Week 17
Tip: Don’t draft too early—watch for preseason injuries and roster changes.
Building Your Team
Fantasy rosters include:
- QB (Quarterback)
- RB (Running Back)
- WR (Wide Receiver)
- TE (Tight End)
- FLEX (RB/WR/TE)
- K (Kicker)
- DEF (Team Defense/Special Teams)
Think of it like investing:
- QBs = Tech stocks (high upside)
- RBs = Blue chips (steady volume)
- WRs = Growth stocks (big plays)
- TEs = Niche ETFs (few elite options)
- FLEX = Wildcard investment
Look for dual-threat RBs, tall WRs with red zone potential, and mobile QBs.
Yahoo Scoring Snapshot
Offense:
- Passing TD: 4 pts
- Rushing/Receiving TD: 6 pts
- Reception (PPR): 1 pt
- 10 Rush/Rec Yards: 1 pt
- 25 Pass Yards: 1 pt
- Fumble Lost: -2 pts
- Interception: -1 pt
Kickers:
- Extra Point: 1 pt
- Field Goal 0–39 yds: 3 pts
- Field Goal 40–49 yds: 4 pts
- Field Goal 50+ yds: 5 pts
- Missed FG (0–19 yds): -1 pt
- Missed FG (20+ yds): 0 pts
Defense/Special Teams:
- Sack: 1 pt
- Interception/Fumble Recovery: 2 pts
- Defensive TD: 6 pts
- Safety: 2 pts
- Blocked Kick/Punt: 2 pts
- Kick/Punt Return TD: 6 pts
- Points Allowed: 0 = 10 pts → 35+ = -4 pts
Flex Position: RB, WR, or TE—adds lineup flexibility.
Real Game Examples
Josh Allen vs. Lions:
- 362 pass yds = 14.48 pts
- 2 pass TDs = 8 pts
- 68 rush yds = 6.8 pts
- 2 rush TDs = 12 pts
- Total: 41.28 pts
Bijan Robinson vs. Panthers:
- 170 rush yds = 17 pts
- 2 rush TDs = 12 pts
- 2 receptions = 2 pts
- 3 rec yds = 0.3 pts
- Total: 31.3 pts
Ja'Marr Chase vs. Chiefs:
- 11 receptions = 11 pts
- 266 rec yds = 26.6 pts
- 3 rec TDs = 18 pts
- Total: 55.6 pts
Justin Tucker vs. Lions:
- FG 39 yds = 3 pts
- FG 50 yds = 5 pts
- FG 66 yds = 5 pts
- Extra Point = 1 pt
- Total: 14 pts
Draft Dos & Don’ts
Do:
- Research rankings and mock drafts
- Balance positions
- Draft backups
Don’t:
- Draft kickers or defenses early
- Ignore bye weeks
Top Picks (2025):
- RB: Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley
- QB: Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson
- WR: Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase
- TE: Brock Bowers, Trey McBride
Trades & Waiver Wire
Trades:
- Use trade evaluators
- Aim for mutual benefit
Waiver Wire:
- Weekly free agent pool
- Priority based on standings or FAAB budget
- Use to cover bye weeks or injuries
Draft Board Example
10-Team Snake Draft (Rounds 1–3):
Round 1: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Round 2: 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Round 3: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Example Picks:
- Team 1: McCaffrey → WR → QB
- Team 10: Jefferson → RB → WR
Glossary
- Snake Draft: Order reverses each round
- PPR: Points Per Reception
- Flex: RB/WR/TE slot
- Waiver Wire: Weekly free agent pool
Metric Conversions for International Players
Field Dimensions:
- Total Length: 120 yds = 109.7 m
- Playing Field: 100 yds = 91.44 m
- Width: 53.3 yds = 48.76 m
- End Zone: 10 yds = 9.14 m
- Goal Post Height: 10 ft = 3.05 m
- Goal Post Width: 18.5 ft = 5.64 m
Gameplay Basics:
- First Down: 10 yds = 9.14 m
- Kickoff: ~65 yds = ~59.44 m
- Field Goal Range: 20–60+ yds = ~18.3–55 m
- Quarter Length: 15 minutes
Next-Level Stats (2024)
Fastest Speeds:
- KaVontae Turpin: 22.36 mph ≈ 35.97 km/h
- Brian Thomas Jr.: 22.15 mph ≈ 35.63 km/h
- Jahmyr Gibbs: 22.03 mph ≈ 35.45 km/h
Fastest Throw:
- Dillon Gabriel: 74.9 mph ≈ 120.5 km/h
Farthest Throw:
- Bo Nix: 67 yds ≈ 61.2 m
Deep Ball Efficiency:
- Joe Burrow: 2,951 air yds ≈ 2,698 m
- Longest Completion: 58 yds ≈ 53 m
Comments
Post a Comment