The long-awaited fantasy football season is soon to start, with the National Football League preparing to kick off the season in September. For participants, fantasy football brings excitement every Sunday, offering a variety of competitions, strategies, and rewards. Players manage and construct their own fantasy teams with real NFL players, undergoing drafting and real-time scoring.
Draft day, Sep. 1, is the official start of the 2025-2026 fantasy season. People who manage teams prefer their roster of star players, such as Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Jalen Hurts. At the same time, other managers take risks on rookies or “upside” players—ones who are inexperienced but have potential. Throughout the drafting process, players are given an order of picks, and managers must strategically choose players with the most potential. Fantasy Football follows real-time games, with each manager earning points based on their chosen players’ performance. At the end, the managers with the most points come out on top. Although drafts can determine your early game, trading is also a concept that can completely reshape your season. Many people love the part of drafting when they can constantly keep watch on their picks. Both include safe picks and gambles, which is what makes every draft unpredictable and sets the tone for the season ahead.
“All of my friends think they won the draft, but they will see who the real champion is once the season plays out,” senior Vincent Zhang said.
Most fantasy fanatics believe that the fun comes from the social aspect of fantasy football, but others believe that the real excitement comes from the betting. Friends tend to gather together to track scores, boast about their personal teams, and compete with each other. Players gain immense pride from being the victor; they can also gain money by making friendly wagers. The best part is the punishment that follows the losing manager. It is a trend to post fantasy football punishments on social media, with punishments ranging from losing money to extreme dares. This would add much more pressure and sensibility for competition in playful motives.
“I’d rather come in second than last, because some of those punishments are brutal, I don’t care about bragging rights,” sophomore Matthew Heng said.
Early hype has already built up through the plethora of amusing team names that managers can choose. Beyond names, the early draft focuses on the random order since being first means choosing superstars, while later picks force managers to gamble on rookies. Every competitor knows that the season never goes as planned due to circumstances such as injuries, the emergence of new stars, and sudden changes. Above all, the unpredictable outcomes drive players to stay hooked on the game.
“I’ve never played football before, but I’m invested in fantasy football because of the competition it brings,” senior Tom Liu said.
The culture of fantasy football includes many new players seeking the thrill of risk. Players don’t necessarily need to be good at football; they just need to know about the game, and there is a competitive level, but also a friendly environment. The primary objective of the game is to have fun with friends and foster relationships. With lineups set, the season promises unforgettable moments, featuring touchdowns and thrilling matchups. No matter the result, fantasy football at DBHS is more than just sports; it’s about friendships and competition.