How fantasy football brings friendly competition and community to AHS
With the NFL season well underway, another kind of competition kicks off: fantasy football. Both avid football fans and casual watchers participate in this yearly tradition of drafting their dream teams, competing with friends, and scoring as many points as possible.
Fantasy football is directly correlated with player statistics and activity in NFL games. “At the beginning of each season, each member of a fantasy football league drafts a set of players, so usually a player from each offensive position as well as one defense, which represents an entire team,” explained Caleb Truneh (12). “Based on how many yards this player gets in one game—maybe touchdowns scored or receptions—you get a number of points. Whoever has the most points by the end of the game or the end of the set of games for that week wins.”
Determining a starting lineup requires strategic choices to maximize the number of points earned. Neev Tamboli (12) said, “You want to start players who have easier matchups. For example, if my wide receiver is playing against a bad defense against wide receivers, then I want to start him. But if one of my players is injured, then I would not have him in my starting lineup, so I can get more points.”
Fantasy football brought members of RFL closer together. “You can share a lot of laughs with your friends over the punishments, and it’s always really fun when you win,” said Neev Tamboli (12) (Photo Credit: Mr. Shockley).
For many students, fantasy football transforms watching the NFL into an interactive experience. Neer Patel (11) said, “It’s just a fun way to engage in this sport, and it helps us stay more active in it. You can only have so much fun just watching a game all the time. But if there’s a little bit of a competitive edge to it, you have something or someone to cheer for in every game.”
Fantasy leagues at AHS often participate in punishments for losing players at the end of the week. The most common form of punishment is for the losing player to make an embarrassing video or skit and post it on the league’s social media accounts. Tanish Parasnis (12) explained, “We all have TikTok, so we just look up embarrassing dances or fantasy football punishments, and we send it to the group chat and have a vote on it.”
Some leagues have had their punishment videos go viral, namely AHS’s Rizz Fantasy League (RFL). “RFL has been an official league with social media pages, a running group chat, and a brand,” said Truneh, a member of the league. Particular videos have gained thousands of views across the league’s platforms.
Fantasy punishments encourage members to make an effort in adjusting their lineup each week rather than neglecting it for the entire season. Parasnis said, “It’s not about getting the most points; it’s about not getting the least amount of points.”
Beyond just competition, fantasy football can strengthen friendships in unexpected ways. “You’re very vulnerable with your friends when you’re making these punishments. When I made my dances, a lot of friends were in that same room seeing me in such a vulnerable state. That really built trust,” explained Tamboli.
Ultimately, fantasy football provides students with an entertaining way to follow the NFL and gives them something to look forward to. Tamboli said, “Saturday night, you could be going through the worst breakdown of all time, but you know that in the morning on Sunday, you’ve got fantasy football.”
Eagle Era 
Leave a comment