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09/01/2015 12:00 AMThe second the calendar strikes August, like clockwork, fantasy football addicts act as if the summer is finished. Although people are still beating the heat, they’re also counting down the days for Week 1 of the National Football League season to kick off, which means their fantasy football draft, or, in many cases, drafts, will soon be underway.
Millions of Americans who play fantasy football understand the time and tinkering that goes into formulating a winning lineup. However, the way people go about that and then deal with the subsequent stress differs depending on how much they enjoy the game, plus their desire to claim their league’s title. In this story, we’ll look at how some local fantasy footballers handle these scenarios.
Fit for Success
The raucous atmosphere of a football stadium is one way for passionate fans to unite, but friendships can also be formed simply by standing around a dry-erase board and selecting which superstars you want to represent your fantasy franchise. That’s one of the reasons Kurt Garceau started the 12-team North Haven CrossFit League—he wanted to develop better relationships with his clients through a common thread.
“We were just opening the gym at the time and I thought it was a cool way to interact with members. The No. 1 thing is to have fun, but at the same time, we could spin it in a way to benefit the business,” said Garceau, 27, who lives in North Haven. “I know my members, but maybe not as well as I thought. This gave us an outside connection that we wouldn’t have otherwise. Through fantasy, it’s just crazy. The whole entire season is up and down. You’re talking, making trades, and getting to know people on a whole different level.”
Just as in any league, there are several different strategies employed by the North Haven CrossFit owners as they strive for success. Many say the most important strategy is effective preparation for the draft. While that may drive some participants crazy—as well as their significant others—they know the importance of being prepared if they expect to win their league. That’s why some start getting ready months before the season begins.
“It’s exciting. Basically, after the NFL Draft in April, you get a figure of what teams are drafting and you start doing research and start prepping from there,” said Dave Roman, a 35-year-old league member and East Haven resident. “It gets intense. I could start anywhere from June or July. That’s when people start to get really involved and we see what’s going on.”
Information Overload
It’s no secret fantasy football is enjoyed by millions. According to the Fantasy Football Trade Association, about 33 million people play it each year and that number keeps growing as technology makes it easier for newbies to be competitive. That’s another reason fantasy football is adored around the country: Anybody can play. When it began, fantasy football was a game for the diehards, who studied by reading those few magazines dedicated to it. But now with seemingly every stat and bit of advice available at your fingertips, it’s much easier for a causal fan to learn everything they need to know about the next player who’ll suit their weekly lineup. And very often, that casual fan quickly becomes a full-fledged fantasy football fanatic. In may be called fantasy football, but the addiction is real.
“It’s very addicting and even more now with the way phones are. You have a hand-held computer. It’s very convenient to just click on the phone and everything is there,” said Roman. “Nowadays, you have apps. Your phone buzzes when something happens or there’s something within the league. It kind of consumes you.”
One more reason the market for fantasy football keeps expanding is because more and more women are getting involved. The North Haven CrossFit League has one female in Krissy Bayer. Last season, she took home the league’s championship.
“I’m knowledgeable, but you don’t have to know anything about football. Some people do it because it’s fun. I like playing because I’m competitive. I like going up against other people in the gym and, of course, I want to beat them all,” said Bayer, 45. “The fact that I won last year, it’s even better. It definitely raises my confidence level as I’ve only played for two years and came in last the first year I played.”
Family Matters
Fantasy football participants go through different experiences as their season unfolds. It all depends on your passion for the game and what you’re willing to put yourself—and your family—through. It’s certainly not uncommon for a team owner to shirk their everyday responsibilities in favor of agonizing over what players to shuffle in and out of their lineup. Those in the North Haven CrossFit League don’t quite take it to that level, but still put in their fair share of time deliberating about who to start every Sunday.
“You spend the entire week reviewing different things, looking at injury reports, and analyzing your team,” said Garceau. “During football season, production goes down.”
Roman said his wife notices how much he’s glued to his computer, tablet, and phone throughout the season.
“My wife will say I devote a lot more time than I’m going to say right now, but out of the week, maybe one day because the games are on Sunday. Actually, I figure about two days out of the week, but only a half-hour out of each. A good hour out of the week is devoted to it. She can’t stand it,” Roman said. “I have my phone on and I get the alerts if somebody gets injured, so I can keep up to date. Yesterday, my phone went crazy. One of my leagues is a keeper league, so you’re entitled, out of your 18 players, you’re allowed to keep five. One of my players got injured and is out for the season. My phone’s blowing up while I’m out shopping with the kids and the wife yesterday and she’s like, ‘You’re on your phone.’ She’s not really involved in sports as much as I am, but she gets it. This is my entertainment.”
Not all league members put that much energy into their lineup. Former North Haven CrossFit co-owner and current Clinton resident Warren Garceau, 27, said he stopped running a team by himself and joined forces with another gym member to lessen the workload.
“I don’t really pay too much attention myself,” he said. “I like having another manager because it’s just another person to make the decisions and converse with throughout the week.”
Game-Day Fever
Inevitably, most fans are bound to put their feet up in the recliner and watch some football on TV in their living room. Every football follower has their Sunday- and Monday-night traditions throughout the 17-week NFL season, but with fantasy football, rooting for players who compete for teams other than your favorite soon becomes a new tradition that makes one focus on multiple games.
“For me, fantasy football, I love it because it’s exciting. I watch on TV while I have my computer up and you have players you want to do good. It’s so much fun,” Bayer said. “Once football starts, I’m glued to my TV and computer. When it comes to Monday Night Football, I’m up until the game is over. I’m addicted.”
Kurt Garceau feels that fantasy football keeps he and his league mates interested in the sport and gives everyone additional incentive to watch any game—even one between two cellar-dwellers.
“You can be watching the Vikings play the Raiders, but that’s the beauty of fantasy. I tell people, ‘You’d watch teams you’d never watch before.’ Yeah, you’re a football fan, but who wants to watch those two teams play? Now, you’re intrigued,” he said. “If you have a player on your team going, you’re watching that game now.”
That doesn’t mean fandom takes a backseat for a fantasy football owner. Sure, some may put their fantasy team ahead of their favorite NFL squad, yet those people seem to be in the minority. Instead, the fantasy owner looks for the best-case scenario. Roman drew it out by analyzing a predicament in which his fantasy quarterback, Peyton Manning, leads his Denver Broncos into battle against his favorite team, the New York Giants, with their QB and Peyton’s brother, Eli Manning.
“You hope and pray for a high-scoring game and, hopefully, the Giants come out on top. You always want the best scenarios to work out in your favor. You want Peyton to throw for 400 yards and four touchdowns, but yet you want Eli to do the same thing with the Giants winning. Then it becomes a double win because the Giants win and your quarterback gets you about 30 or 40 points,” he said. “Unfortunately, it never works out that way, but I always root for my team. I root for the Giants, but if they’re out of contention for the year, I might root for my fantasy team.”
Extra Point
Every fall, fantasy football is a roller coaster ride for millions of fans across the globe. Just remember to have some fun with it. It’s all about friendly competition and, most of all, creating bonds that will last a lifetime—even though they may occasionally be overlooked while you deal with the day-to-day stress of running your team.
“It’s a lot more fun than people may think it is. It gives you a way to connect with your buddies, friends, family, and people who you’d normally not communicate with,” Kurt Garceau said. “You don’t have to bet or spend money to do it. It’s friendly competition. You can just have fun with it.”