By Ben Jablonover, Staff Writer
The beginning of each school year happens to coincide with one of America’s most popular distractions: fantasy football. This activity is much more than just that, an activity, to most people. With millions of dollars up for grabs on such sites as DraftKings & FanDuel, fantasy football has turned into a reality.
Yet, with this distraction consuming so many students’ lives, the question arises whether or not it is too distracting. For the avid football fan who follows every team and its key players, fantasy football can be much more than just setting a lineup. There is a science that goes with it.
Over the years through personal experience I can honestly say fantasy football has consumed more of my attention than schoolwork at certain times, and although my grades have remained constant, it’s on the border.
For example, players this year in particular have suffered almost 50 collective ACL tears. With the thought of injury looming over every fantasy coach’s head, there is a necessity for quality backup players. Of course, finding the right backup is easier said than done.
Yet even before the season starts, research is required. Matching up bye weeks between players for example is also not as easy as it appears. If you have too many players sharing the same bye week, you then have to turn to the waiver wire for a replacement. All of this, if done correctly, can take hours.
Yet, given how distracting it is, and with gambling evolving at a rapid rate, fantasy football has now turned into a multi-billion dollar industry. WIth more and more options available and growing popularity of football in general, fantasy football will only become more distracting to a larger spectrum of people in the future.
So as football season goes on, keep in mind how distracting fantasy football can be. Focus on schoolwork, and don’t let the possibilities of ACL injuries keep you from getting solid grades.
So far, only the state of New York has banned weekly fantasy football by DraftKings & FanDuel. “Today we have sent a clear message: not in New York, and not on my watch,” states New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. “It is clear that DraftKings & Fanduel are apart of a multi-billion dollar scheme.”
While Schneiderman is working on bringing the entire state of New York to oppose the weekly fantasy football industry, the rest of the country is against this proposition. “We’re disappointed he hasn’t taken the time to meet with us or ask any questions about our business mode,l” explains Sabrina Macias, a spokesperson for DraftKings expressing her extreme concern for the future of her company.
In the future, you can expect more news on this topic, especially more concern from DraftKings, FanDuel, and other major weekly fantasy football companies.