With both my fantasy football season and the Miami Dolphins seasons coming to an end I realized something, I miss my Fantasy team more. As a NFL Sunday ticket subscriber for the last 5-6 years I have faithfully watched every Dolphins game, even last year. Something strange happened this year though, I am in my 3rd year of my FF league, it's a keeper league and one of my keepers has transformed me into a fantasy fanatic. With the 7th pick of our 2007 draft( our 2nd year) I was disappointed that both Brandon Jacobs and Marshawn Lynch were taken with the two picks in front of me....so I decided to roll the dice on a guy who had injury concerns and was going to a team that had an established RB.....yes Adrian Peterson aka Purple Jesus was my pick. Owning the most exciting player in the NFL has changed everything for me, I now game surf to watch drives when I've got players involved, thankfully the Vikes play in the NFC and play the last games, predominantly, so it doesn't force me to have to choose between MY team and My franchise player. How much do I like Purple Jesus you ask? My annual football trip this year was a USC/Cal game, Charger/KC then a Monday nighter in Arizona, didn't go. Waited and got 50 yard line, 12th row behind the Vikings bench against the Bears on a Sunday Nighter in November. California or Minneapolis in Novemeber? I'm concerned with where this relationship is heading.
So what's it all mean, beyond me being pathetic, I have come to the conclusion that I am a far greater fan of the NFL as a whole than I am of the Miami Dolphins. I'm convinced that this has everything to do with fantasy football. Am I alone here? Who out there would rather watch their own team play each week as opposed to being able to watch all the other teams play? I really believe there is a correlation between the growth of the popularity of the NFL and the rise of fantasy football.

Shanon Lersh
Ashley Allen



Comments (2) Add A Comment
I've played FF for the past 14 years...Competing in an indivdual defensive player format (IDP).
I believe you watch (& listen more intently) to NFL games diffrently - Meaning your home team will always conjure up memories of history, generational small talk and as always unconditional support.
Competing in FF is total smack talking cut-throat. You become consumed with chasing the stats of players you chose and valued at draft time and in-season pick-ups along the way to build the a team, your team.
The way your players come together as one unit even though you surf through mutiple games to chase down the ever so precious stat line and most often coming down to the MNF showdown for the win or hearbreaking last play, you yard too short, one missed kick LOSS! No time to gripe and pine, time to game plan throughout the week tuning into countless sport stations and web sites for lastest injury update.
Check the wavier wire, free agents, look for a trade that can help for a strong line-up for the next game...Hmmm...Love this game!
That's the diffrence you have come to realize.
When the home team wins it's for everyone - Your fantasy success is just for you.
Over the years, I've stopped drafting my home team players because of my rooting interest and I've wagered less betting on games...FF is my action and my passion.
Over Analyzers
Randolph , MA
Total Comments (9)
Agreed 100% on drafting or acquiring your favorite teams players. I will let my wife know I'm not as sick as she thinks.
Cutter19
Total Comments (19)
Comment
Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.