One More League

Bryce Williams – @BryceNFL

I’m not like most writers (experienced). I’ve said funny things for retweets or had my random comments used in shows. I’ve tried to record one of my own podcasts (failed, during the maiden recording), and been a guest on a few. I have been writing this article for hours due to every cliché thing you can imagine interrupting me. This is my story about how fantasy football has helped my mental health, One More League.

Much like Jameis Winston in a 2-minute drill, I have no idea what’s going to happen.  I don’t have seemingly many different abilities than what is out there in this vast industry.  I draw influence from so many in the community.  What could I possibly offer to make myself stand out in the crowd?  For this time, maybe I don’t try to stand out in the crowd.  Instead, I stand out on my own.  I’m not here to tell you who I am high on.  I’m not here to show you something that you could simply Google “Fantasy Football 2021 Rankings.”  My content would never be seen due to the sheer scope of fantasy football.

There are good odds that after this season, you may be feeling burned out.  The 2021 season had more players miss games due to injury/illness than any other year.  You struggle to go through and set your lineups in the number of leagues you’re in. You look at every rank, blurb, or newsletter out there.  You make your own spreadsheet and have spent over $200 in entry fees (and for some of you that’s just one league).  I emphasize this because you do this because you enjoy it.  Now instead of worrying about all the extras, let us focus instead on the future. In all my 20 years playing fantasy football, I have seen trends move.  Do you want in the next trend? The next trend league to success?

Six Team. Single QB. Redraft.

Wait, that’s it? This is the next big deal?

In a fantasy football world where there is such thing as a Pirate DP Premium Tight End Keeper Leagues, I choose to go the most-vanilla route.  Now sure, I could tell you things like “Jonathan Taylor first overall,” or “Josh Allen is Daddy” but the truth is if you’re reading this you already know this to be true.  CeeDee Lamb will be a star (no pun intended) and Pat Freirmeuth is everyone’s secret sleeper at tight end.

Yes, you read that right.  But don’t worry, there’s a twist.  At least two people have to have never played before.  Shallow benches, so a ton of players are always available.  Why?  Because in an ever-expanding digital age, we have focused so much more on the macro, than the micro.

In my years of high school football, college, and military career,  I have had no bond stronger than that of those I play fantasy football with.  I’m in a handful of leagues this year but variety across them all.  The fact is, I suck at reaching out to people.  But thanks to fantasy football, I reach out to people, and they reach out to me.  When you consider how isolated the “unprecedented times” have been, you see how much everyone has their struggles and sometimes it feels good just to let someone know that you don’t feel okay.  Life is far from perfect and we do best when we reach out to other imperfect people.

A six-team league means it is easy to play.  You can get a group chat together and sort out whatever details you like.  You may not have five friends.  I mean at the time I am writing this I have only 42 followers. But between you and two friends, you can get six people to casually pick football players.  Think of this more like a social club, where you can stay in contact with your friends.  I currently am setting up a league with friends from back where I am from along with family I don’t talk to near as much.

There are a few things I have learned in fantasy football.  Eli is only in one fantasy league even though he loves football.  Mike’s apartment got shot up and by some miracle he and his fiancé were unharmed.  I found out about an unnamed family member’s depression.  Jacob finished his Bachelor’s degree.  All of this came out of conversations that started with a quick fantasy football question from either them or myself.  Tina picks a team for her husband every year to compete against hers and the rest of us.  Funny enough, one year he had one of the bottom-two in total points but won the championship.  We have lost a member midseason who was like family to most of us and literal family to about half the league.  Chuck got sober from when I joined.  Mark comes in every year with a hand-written list of about 20 guys, somehow he makes the playoffs every year.  Much like the hit show ‘Whose Line is it Anyways’ the points are made up and don’t matter.   Justin (whom I haven’t actually seen in nearly two decades) is in a championship game this week.

Fantasy football breaks the ice.  Sometimes we don’t know how to ask someone for help or ask for help.  Turns out, thanks to waiver wires and ADPs, you always have a reason to say ‘hello.’

So start a league, whether in your office of new co-workers, your group of friends who have never played before, or even among family members you wouldn’t remember to talk to otherwise.  Even if you are in one because fantasy football is the easiest medium to keep communication open for you. There are no one-person leagues, as long as you have a league, you’re never alone.

Here at The Faceoff Sports Network, we have always focused heavily on mental health. If you or someone you know needs someone to talk to, our inboxes are always open. We’d love to talk, or if you’d like to share your story about mental health, we’d love to help spread the word. Please contact us anytime and learn more about our stance on mental health below. 

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