E v e r y
fall, millions
of fans turn
into team
managers, and fantasy football has
turned Sundays into a high-stakes
drama between family and friends.
Over the last 10 years, there have

been 50 million people playing fan-
tasy football, a family-friendly game

where you build a team with real
NFL players. Another 20 million
play PigSkin Pick’ems, where you
guess which NFL team will win that
week.
Fantasy football has offi cially
started being a hot topic this fall
season, starting with people already
creating their fantasy punishments,
like people having to go sit in a
waffl e house, milk mile and a cold
plunge. Some players use a draft
grade to evaluate how well they
think they drafted at the start of the
season.
“My draft grade was a C, but I
am still putt ing up good numbers

against my opponents,” said sopho-
more, Cam Ingram.

Many people have predictions of
who will break out this year.
“I think George Pickens will start
slow but pick up the pace and beat
out Ceedee Lamb.’’ said junior Alex
Dyer.

He had disagreed with others

who had said Lamar Jackson. Fan-
tasy leagues can vary in size de-
pending on how many classmates or

friends join.
“It has eight people in the league,

and we did a regular draft,” said se-
nior Ricky Smith.

When it comes to sleeper picks,
some players believe that they have
found the hidden gem of the league.
“I had thought Kyle Pitt s would
be sneaky good and stay under the

radar. He was surprised that no-
body else had thought of him,” said

Gavin Hilberg, LHS counselor Fan-
tasy football has become a great con-
versation starter for most, becoming

the hot topic of debates, Fantasy
Football sparks debates over player
performance, trade decisions and
roster changes. Fans put in $7 billion
into fantasy, splitt ing up between
subscriptions, extra drafts, and
league fees.
One issue with fantasy football,
like in real football is injuries. Many
players have season-ending injuries,
like Malik Nabers, drafted in the
fi rst round, which now left fantasy
managers with a wasted pick. This
shows the loyalty of the fans and
how much they will do to bond with
their friends and family over a sport.