The True Meaning of Fantasy Football

In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by BetMGM:

Please do not get confused. Fantasy football is NOT about fun and camaraderie.

But …

Every year, my home league commissioner creates a "welcome video" to get us excited about the new season. It's become a time-honored tradition. We never know what the theme will be or when the video will hit the internet. He is like our own personal Punxsutawney Phil, because when the video drops, it guarantees we've got one more season of trash talk and terrible trade proposals on the way.

In 2021, our commissioner became Bruce Willis inside an air shaft, recreating the iconic Die Hard scene to welcome us back. In 2019, he recreated Ferris Bueller's "sick day." In 2023, he became a “hot" Mean Girl and wrote about all our league's transgressions in his burn book.

AND JUST LAST WEEK, he dropped his newest welcome video for the league.

But please don't get confused. Fantasy football is NOT about fun and camaraderie.

Fantasy football is about:

Strategy
ADP value
Trade offers
Waiver wire pickups
Rankings
Defensive matchups
Strength of schedule
Weather patterns
Positive and negative regression
Ceilings
Floors
And most importantly—Winning. We play to win. Plain and simple.

But … What if it's also about the people you can't draft?

What if, sometimes, fantasy football is about a 38-year-old guy named Rob from high school taking a couple of hours out of his weekend to make a four-minute-long video to remind a group of friends that their league is only as strong as its commissioner?

Look. I'll be the first to admit it. I haven't won a championship in this particular league since 2015. But playing with this same group of friends for 11 years straight has got to count for something, right?

Maybe I don't have multiple trophies, but I've been winning this entire time.

MEANWHILE, IF YOU DRAFT QB EARLY, HERE’S A GOOD CHOICE

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How To Attack Travis Hunter? Ask Travis Kelce

Travis Hunter has been one of the most talked-about NFL Draft prospects of recent memory. If anyone can live up to a Shohei Ohtani comp, it’s the man the Jacksonville Jaguars traded up to select No. 2 overall in the draft. Now comes the question: How do you attack the phenom?

Travis Kelce—he of 12 NFL seasons, four All-Pro selections, and man of the world—has thoughts, and Kendall Valenzuela broke down those thoughts in her weekly rundown of the NFL news with fantasy implications.

KIRK COUSINS DID WHAT WHEN HE FOUND OUT HE WAS BENCHED?

Zero To Hero … RB And Other Draft Strategies

Remember that old Mike Tyson line? “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” Well, after all the mock and best ball drafts that we do in the days, weeks, and months leading up to our draft days, so much seems to go out the window once we get in the arena and players start flying off the board.

Ian Hartitz would prefer that you use a Bruce Lee line about a liquid that is not a Kona Big Wave when approaching fantasy football draft strategy. There are so many ways to get to a winning lineup, and Ian has all the formulas to get you there.⤵️

PLENTY LATE-ROUND QB TARGETS

Trivia Time: Rookie Rewind

Yesterday’s was a tough one, but if you guessed these three teams that had two players score 12+ rushing TDs, you hit pay dirt: Lions (Jahymr Gibbs & David Montgomery), Bills (James Cook & Josh Allen), & Eagles (Saquon Barkley & Jalen Hurts). Did the QBs throw you off?

For today’s question, we have: Bucky Irving was the only rookie running back to get to 1,000 yards last season. However, one other rookie runner managed to get to 1,000 scrimmage yards. Who pulled it off? (Hint: He was a fifth-round pick).

Make sure to come back tomorrow for the answer. Also, check out our Fantasy Football Draft Kit.👇🏼

FANTASY LIFE DRAFT KIT

Around the Watercooler

Just a few fun links on a Sunday.

📊 We’ve got an update from Fantasy Life Rankings HQ.

👀 Training Camp is almost here. Which battles to watch (and more!).

🤔 Have a question ahead of your 2025 draft? We’ve got all the answers.

0️⃣ Zero RB your style? Kendall has some targets.

🚀 A sophomore WR primed to pop. In an elite offense, too.

🚨 Ian says draft Jaylen Wright! Plus more breakouts.

🐠 Are you live in KC, OKC, or DC for Scott Fish Bowl drafts? Our tool is here for you.