Fantasy Football taking the fun out of watching NFL football? (1 Viewer)

[ahill84006]

I just had a conversation with some of my league members, and they are all considering sitting out a year or two of Fantasy Football.

They say reason behind it is, that fantasy football takes away from the real game of NFL football.

They say they catch themselves rooting for players of the opposing team of their favorite teams, and get too worried about who scored, how many yards they have, TDs, ect.

They cannot enjoy the games like they used to.

Does anyone else have this problem?

Does anyone else feel the same way?

Do any of you do anything in your leagues to help with this?

 

[G-Money]

Being a Seahawks fan.............FFL is the fun in watching football.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

To be honest, I didn't watch football too much before fantasy football. To me it was like baseball - it's fun to watch and I do enjoy it. But if I missed it I was okay.

Now I'm up early every Sunday, watch every week, and you can't drag me out away from the games unless my life depended on it.

 

[duaneok66]

I just had a conversation with some of my league members, and they are all considering sitting out a year or two of Fantasy Football. They say reason behind it is, that fantasy football takes away from the real game of NFL football. They say they catch themselves rooting for players of he opposing team of their favorite teams, and get too worried about who scored, how many yards they have, TDs, ect.They cannot enjoy the games like they used to.Does anyone else have this problem? Does anyone else feel the same way?Do any of you do anything in your leagues to help with this?

NO . . .it makes otherwise irrelevant games relevant . . .

 

[comfortably numb]

double edged sword for me.

Not as heavily interested in the Jets emotionally, but now i know who the 6th WR on the Rams is.

 

[jackdubl]

For me, quite the opposite. The playoffs now seem to be missing something for me ever since I started playing fantasy football.

 

[HULLOBUDMAN]

This thread is posted every year. I have even felt like this in the past. This year during the playoffs (for the first time in a long time) I didn't bring my computer home. I didn't look at the scores on our desk top. I just checked the scores between the noon and 3 games to see how I was doing. I had more fun watching football then I had in years.

Disclaimer: Obviously, I am a Chiefs fan. The Chiefs have not been relevant for years so it was much easier this year to tune out FF since the Chiefs were in the hunt.

 

[gotexansgo]

To be honest, I didn't watch football too much before fantasy football. To me it was like baseball - it's fun to watch and I do enjoy it. But if I missed it I was okay. Now I'm up early every Sunday, watch every week, and you can't drag me out away from the games unless my life depended on it.

I wouldnt say it takes the fun out of it for me, but it definitely adds stress to it, especially close to playoff time, or if Im in the playoffs.

 

[duaneok66]

perfect example is the Car-Pitt game a few weeks ago (thursday night) most boring game ever to most, but I was watching because I had three guys (Big Ben, Rashard and Goodson) on my dynasty team. And I was already out of the playoffs . . .

 

[Skeletore Eh]

i also feel like winning the championship isnt worth the stress of the season and playoffs.

 

[theplayer11]

I think most true football fans would agree with you. Flipping channels, watching red zone, ect....and not following your team like you used to are the result of fantasy football. Casual fans will say football is now more fun because they play fantasy.

 

[RJS113]

Every season I always say that I'm not going to play fantasy the following year. Fantasy Football does make watching NFL game less enjoyable. But then at the end of every year, I collect my winnings, and remember why I play in the first place. I'm good at it, and it's an easy way to make some money.

 

[daveR]

No reason you can't do both. I root for my Browns first, my fantasy team second.

 

[Todem]

Every season I always say that I'm not going to play fantasy the following year. Fantasy Football does make watching NFL game less enjoyable. But then at the end of every year, I collect my winnings, and remember why I play in the first place. I'm good at it, and it's an easy way to make some money.

This is the exact feelings I have had the last 3 years. I have been playing fantasy football for 22 years now. Things started to really feel like this once I joined too many leagues. My goal is to cut my leagues in half next year (and I will) then down to a couple. When your only in 1-3 leagues it is so much better. For the longest time (15 years) I only played in one league and that was the most fun I ever had with it. Yeah you only get one team, one draft, but you live and die with that one team. I want to get back to that.I love the money I make and that is what keeps me coming back. Like many around here I am good at it and especially prey on local leagues. But I gotta tell ya this year wore me out. The sheer amount of injuries, and just plain wackiness really made feel like this was work. That is not good. I also really stayed away from the CPU on gameday. I sat down, relaxed and watched football this year and really have enjoyed the season.I won't quit (although I have had that thought cross my mind for a couple of years now) but I am going to really cut it back. I have to. I don't want to spend all this time on it anymore. The diminished returns I am seeing are becoming more and more evident. It is getting harder and harder to win, and I just want to have fun with it again and not make it seem like an investment anymore.

 

[Time Kibitzer]

No reason you can't do both. I root for my Browns first, my fantasy team second.

I don't get how so many people struggle with it.

 

[pittstownkiller]

Fantasy is why I watch the games. I grew up not being to watch my team, with them being out of market, and just following box scores. I follow all the games now and enjoy the NFL much more. We took a couple of year hiatus from fantasy, a long time ago, and I didn't even watch the games. I can't tell you how many times I have planned to watch a good game, get the food ready, plop down on the couch, and then... commercial #1 before kickoff, commercial #2 after kickoff, commercial #3, after the first series; if I can make 5 minutes of a telecast I'm amazed. At least in baseball I get a half inning uninterrupted. Without fantasy I might not even follow the NFL.

 

[Sinrman]

Being a Lions fan, I might be a little biased, as I've never had many opportunities to cheer my team beyond 6-10 on a season.

But like watching football... less? Uhhh no way. If anything, fantasy football has given me a huge bump in watching the NFL.

I watched some here and there, and since I live in Georgia and Detroit sucks, I never got to watch their games. Since I picked

up fantasty football in 1997 I watch football every single week, and really look forward to it. So it's the opposite for me. If it

wasn't for fantasty football I wouldn't have the love for the NFL that I do now...

 

[Novice2]

Cheering for a ADP TD against the Eagles just aint right.

 

[thatguy]

Yes, it takes a lot of the fun out of watching the games. But I don't plan on quitting.

 

[fantasizing]

To be honest, if it wasn't for fantasy football I probably wouldn't be a fan of the sport at all.

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

I just had a conversation with some of my league members, and they are all considering sitting out a year or two of Fantasy Football. They say reason behind it is, that fantasy football takes away from the real game of NFL football. They say they catch themselves rooting for players of the opposing team of their favorite teams, and get too worried about who scored, how many yards they have, TDs, ect.They cannot enjoy the games like they used to.Does anyone else have this problem? Does anyone else feel the same way?Do any of you do anything in your leagues to help with this?

I feel 100% the same way, but I'm not quitting fantasy football.in fact, I watch football on sundays with a good buddy of mine who's also a pats fan and he gets pissed when I tell him I have to root against brady, etc.

 

[Dizzy]

I just had a conversation with some of my league members, and they are all considering sitting out a year or two of Fantasy Football.

Interesting in that all of the NFL players are also currently considering sitting out NFL football. ...but NO, I couldn't imagine sitting out on FF.

They say reason behind it is, that fantasy football takes away from the real game of NFL football.

I would agree to an extent... it definitely affects how you view the games from a "team fan" perspective, BUT it also adds interest to many otherwise boring and/or "meaningless" games.

They say they catch themselves rooting for players of the opposing team of their favorite teams, and get too worried about who scored, how many yards they have, TDs, ect.

After 18+ seasons of fantasy football, I can honestly say that I have no problem with this. I'm a big-time Steelers homer, but I was praying for Darren McFadden to run wild on them a few weeks ago. My advice... that sick feeling of "MY guys vs MY team" will pass with time.

They cannot enjoy the games like they used to.

Can't relate to this... I still watch every game that I can whether I have a FF stake in it or not.

Does anyone else have this problem? Does anyone else feel the same way? Do any of you do anything in your leagues to help with this?

Not sure what you could do to stop the "Homer's Dilemma" in fantasy football... just keep playing, it will all balance out. But it already has changed the way you and your friends watch NFL football forever... sad but true. Enjoy the off-season (aka NFL play-offs).

 

[bigmarc27]

I love fantasy football from February to August. I have way more fun building my team than the actual season.

I only care about the Falcons during the season (while of course fielding a team), but the offseason is when I really enjoy fantasy.

 

[The Real Hipster Doofus]

The exact opposite for me. I have always been a bigger college football fan, but fantasy football is taking it closer to even now.

 

[Fensalk]

Fantasy football motivates me to learn more about the league and keep up on all the teams, and that makes me appreciate the game more.

 

[stp-d]

Every season I always say that I'm not going to play fantasy the following year. Fantasy Football does make watching NFL game less enjoyable. But then at the end of every year, I collect my winnings, and remember why I play in the first place. I'm good at it, and it's an easy way to make some money.

This is the exact feelings I have had the last 3 years. I have been playing fantasy football for 22 years now. Things started to really feel like this once I joined too many leagues. My goal is to cut my leagues in half next year (and I will) then down to a couple. When your only in 1-3 leagues it is so much better. For the longest time (15 years) I only played in one league and that was the most fun I ever had with it. Yeah you only get one team, one draft, but you live and die with that one team. I want to get back to that.I love the money I make and that is what keeps me coming back. Like many around here I am good at it and especially prey on local leagues. But I gotta tell ya this year wore me out. The sheer amount of injuries, and just plain wackiness really made feel like this was work. That is not good. I also really stayed away from the CPU on gameday. I sat down, relaxed and watched football this year and really have enjoyed the season.I won't quit (although I have had that thought cross my mind for a couple of years now) but I am going to really cut it back. I have to. I don't want to spend all this time on it anymore. The diminished returns I am seeing are becoming more and more evident. It is getting harder and harder to win, and I just want to have fun with it again and not make it seem like an investment anymore.

Less is better, i went from 12 dynasty/redraft in 2008 > 10 dynasty/redraft in 2009 > 7 dynasty in 2010 > 4 dynasty in 2011... With too many leagues your basically rooting for the same players your playing against in another league, unless you play with morons who let you select all the great players & sleepers... I'm finding less is more. redraft isn't worth the effort to me anymore, no offseason fun to be had...

 

[chook]

Being a Seahawks fan.............FFL is the fun in watching football.

Ditto this Niner.

 

[delusional]

I quit for a while. I won back to back, fell 1 short of championship game, then won again. Next season was playoffs and after that i quit for a while. Felt like a job almost

 

[coolnerd]

I play fantasy football because I like football. FF is an add on to the experience, but I watched colllege, followed the draft , and sat through bad NFL games before I started playing a stat game. Always curious to me when FF is needed to watch a great game by itself.

 

[Maui]

Before FF I had been a Dallas fan for years. After two years with Aaron Rodgers I've become a GB junkie.

 

[Sleeping King]

I realized I had a problem with too much fantasy when the last Monday the Saints were down 14-10 and I thought for a second "Well if Bress can score here it will be a tie game"

4 point passing touchdown in real life...FAIL.

I've made a resolution for next year to only watch Patriot and primetime games. No sitting around the house all day Sunday flipping games on the ticket.

 

[QuizGuy66]

No reason you can't do both. I root for my Browns first, my fantasy team second.

Something a Bengals fan and a Browns fan can agree on. -QG

 

[Neil Beaufort Zod]

I think it's fantastic because it makes many fans a little more loyal to "your" team and a little less loyal to your favorite team.

Look, NFL players are NOT loyal to their team. They look out for themselves. They'd wear a hated rival's jersey for a little more money and not think twice. Tell me a Packers fan would wear a Vikings jersey for any reason other than a lost bet. But Brett Favre had no problem at all. Thurman Thomas was a DOLPHIN, for goodness sake.

I think it's empowering for fans to get what they want out of the sport, not hope and pray that their favorite team spends enough money to be competitive so they can enjoy the season. Teams show fans little or no loyalty, but expect it in droves. The league charges for every little thing they can. Well, I'm glad fans have something that allows them to bypass the actual team and enjoy the sport on their terms. I'm glad that the NFL doesn't make a penny when you divide up your fantasy winnings. They get nothing. The fans use them for their own enjoyment.

Players care about what they get out of the league. Now fans can do the same. Put a crappy product on the field and fans will happily stay home with their computer. I can't help but resent the way fans are treated by major sports a little bit. I think fantasy football is a home-grown equalizer that they can't control. For that I'm grateful even when my fantasy teams don't do well.

 

[fsufan]

I just had a conversation with some of my league members, and they are all considering sitting out a year or two of Fantasy Football. They say reason behind it is, that fantasy football takes away from the real game of NFL football. They say they catch themselves rooting for players of he opposing team of their favorite teams, and get too worried about who scored, how many yards they have, TDs, ect.They cannot enjoy the games like they used to.Does anyone else have this problem? Does anyone else feel the same way?Do any of you do anything in your leagues to help with this?

NO . . .it makes otherwise irrelevant games relevant . . .

gambling makes it interesting. learn to make fun with it and not take it serious

 

[fsufan]

Before FF I had been a Dallas fan for years. After two years with Aaron Rodgers I've become a GB junkie.

you should be shot

 

[⚡DEADHEAD⚡]

Before FF I had been a Dallas fan for years. After two years with Aaron Rodgers I've become a GB junkie.

you should be shot

Yeah somethin' ain't right here.

 

[Todem]

Every season I always say that I'm not going to play fantasy the following year. Fantasy Football does make watching NFL game less enjoyable. But then at the end of every year, I collect my winnings, and remember why I play in the first place. I'm good at it, and it's an easy way to make some money.

This is the exact feelings I have had the last 3 years. I have been playing fantasy football for 22 years now. Things started to really feel like this once I joined too many leagues. My goal is to cut my leagues in half next year (and I will) then down to a couple. When your only in 1-3 leagues it is so much better. For the longest time (15 years) I only played in one league and that was the most fun I ever had with it. Yeah you only get one team, one draft, but you live and die with that one team. I want to get back to that.I love the money I make and that is what keeps me coming back. Like many around here I am good at it and especially prey on local leagues. But I gotta tell ya this year wore me out. The sheer amount of injuries, and just plain wackiness really made feel like this was work. That is not good. I also really stayed away from the CPU on gameday. I sat down, relaxed and watched football this year and really have enjoyed the season.I won't quit (although I have had that thought cross my mind for a couple of years now) but I am going to really cut it back. I have to. I don't want to spend all this time on it anymore. The diminished returns I am seeing are becoming more and more evident. It is getting harder and harder to win, and I just want to have fun with it again and not make it seem like an investment anymore.

Less is better, i went from 12 dynasty/redraft in 2008 > 10 dynasty/redraft in 2009 > 7 dynasty in 2010 > 4 dynasty in 2011... With too many leagues your basically rooting for the same players your playing against in another league, unless you play with morons who let you select all the great players & sleepers... I'm finding less is more. redraft isn't worth the effort to me anymore, no offseason fun to be had...

I am a dynasty junkie. And that is what led to so many leagues. I love building teams and running then most of the year. But I went nuts and have too many. I only do one redraft (local).So cutting back (in 12 leagues) to half that will be a big first step. And welcome one. I have been a good owner and the teams are all in very good shape and 2 of them are about to break out with another good draft.It will be a relief to cut half of them loose. I love football, and yes I still enjoy fantasy.

 

[FUBAR]

no, but I can see scaling back.

 

[anakin]

No reason you can't do both. I root for my Browns first, my fantasy team second.

Something a Bengals fan and a Browns fan can agree on. -QG

This Steelers fan can agree to as well. I have NFL Ticket and always watch the Steelers games in their entirety. I watch the Redzone Channel when the Steelers game is on commercials. I watch the RC throughout Sundays when Pitt isnt playing. I watch each game using NFL Quick Bits (NFL Ticket's 30 min recap that shows every play of each game).

 

[Boom Switch]

For me, quite the opposite. The playoffs now seem to be missing something for me ever since I started playing fantasy football.

Im in one playoff league and to be honest, if i dont have any fantasy players on the line i dont even watch the games. Without that playoff league, i wouldnt even watch the playoffs and superbowl...

 

[Mentos]

For me, quite the opposite. The playoffs now seem to be missing something for me ever since I started playing fantasy football.

Im in one playoff league and to be honest, if i dont have any fantasy players on the line i dont even watch the games. Without that playoff league, i wouldnt even watch the playoffs and superbowl...

To each their own I guess, but boy. I am not sure how a non-football fan ever got into fantasy football in the first place. I know a guy like that who plays fantasy baseball. He claims he absolutely hates baseball, but loves playing fantasy baseball. I really do not get it.

 

[Pipes]

No reason you can't do both. I root for my Browns first, my fantasy team second.

I don't get how so many people struggle with it.

It totally depends on the circumstances and who you cheer for. Case in point this week I was in the semifinals (week 17 championship game) and I'm a huge Packer fan. I played against Aaron Rodgers and I have Hakeem Nicks. I was miserable watching the game as a Packer fan I wanted them to win really bad but I cringed everytime Rodgers threw a td. I should've had a blast watching this game and didn't. It didn't help that the fantasy loss cost me a minimum of $600 (2nd place money). I'm strongly considering dropping this league and just playing in cheap leagues so they money isn't as big of deal.

 

[mad sweeney]

I just had a conversation with some of my league members, and they are all considering sitting out a year or two of Fantasy Football. They say reason behind it is, that fantasy football takes away from the real game of NFL football. They say they catch themselves rooting for players of the opposing team of their favorite teams, and get too worried about who scored, how many yards they have, TDs, ect.They cannot enjoy the games like they used to.Does anyone else have this problem? Does anyone else feel the same way?Do any of you do anything in your leagues to help with this?

This is my third season not playing. Turned down repeated pleas this year to fill up a very low key league and even turned that down. I enjoy watching football infinitely more. I was paying more attention to my computer than to the games. Every score hurt me and helped me, etc... So glad to be retired!

 

[philly2gain]

I was paying more attention to my computer than to the games. Every score hurt me and helped me, etc... So glad to be retired!

I'm at this point as well. For 3 months, all Sunday, nearly every out of market game, flipping the channel and staring at the computer to watch my scores. Is this even considered actually WATCHING football or is it watching the computer? Even when I won, my lost time investment on Sunday seemed too costly. When I lost it seemed like a complete wasted day. To the guy who stated fantasy football is a win for the fan over the NFL and the team owners -- believe me the NFL and the teams are getting rich off of the marketing when homer guys like me watch over 5 games a week. I'm sick of the rich owners and players as well but let's not kid ourselves here.

 

[Neil Beaufort Zod]

I was paying more attention to my computer than to the games. Every score hurt me and helped me, etc... So glad to be retired!

I'm at this point as well. For 3 months, all Sunday, nearly every out of market game, flipping the channel and staring at the computer to watch my scores. Is this even considered actually WATCHING football or is it watching the computer? Even when I won, my lost time investment on Sunday seemed too costly. When I lost it seemed like a complete wasted day.

To the guy who stated fantasy football is a win for the fan over the NFL and the team owners -- believe me the NFL and the teams are getting rich off of the marketing when homer guys like me watch over 5 games a week. I'm sick of the rich owners and players as well but let's not kid ourselves here.

You're right, but now they're chasing us and shaping their production to fit our needs. There would be no Red Zone channel without fantasy football. The only thing I can think of that the NFL offers for free is their fantasy game. The league as a whole is still the big draw, but the individual team can't sit back and expect undying loyalty no matter what they put on the field. Fans will stay at home and follow their "other" team. They're not even guaranteed to sit and watch the game on television. They'll watch many games and check their phone or computer. The NFL hasn't really known what to do with it because they have such little control over it. It's great for the league...but dangerous for individual teams, which make up the league. Many "die-hard football fans" are now less interested in going to a game or following a team as closely as before. Now they're also fans because the league provides the stats that fuels their game, not because they support their team no matter what. People still support their favorite teams, but it's less...fanatic. A Vikings fan who wins his main league's Super Bowl considers it a good year for football. I think that's great.

 

[JohnnyU]

The feelings I have for the Colts will always be greater than fantasy football, so I never root for one of my fantasy players to score on the Colts unless the game is already decided.

Like previous posters already said, it gives meaning to otherwise meaningless games. That's always a good thing for the game.

 

[The Real Hipster Doofus]

For me, quite the opposite. The playoffs now seem to be missing something for me ever since I started playing fantasy football.

Im in one playoff league and to be honest, if i dont have any fantasy players on the line i dont even watch the games. Without that playoff league, i wouldnt even watch the playoffs and superbowl...

To each their own I guess, but boy. I am not sure how a non-football fan ever got into fantasy football in the first place. I know a guy like that who plays fantasy baseball. He claims he absolutely hates baseball, but loves playing fantasy baseball. I really do not get it.

I used to do that with baseball. I was a big baseball fan when I was younger and started playing fantasy baseball. I stopped liking real baseball but continued to play fantasy and still did well strictly from stat analysis and all that without watching any games. Now I pretty much only watch and play football.

 

[omahabrad]

Fantasy Football is what has kept me interested in football. I really have a hard time sitting down and watching a whole game because players aren't allowed to play defense anymore, coaches challenges and booth reviews.

 

[Summer Wheat]

What has happened with me is that I could care less who wins or loses..in fact on Mondays I could not tell you what team won or lost most games, only if my guys had good weeks. I had Blount going against the Lions and was rooting for him to score even if it cost the Lions a win.

 

[duaneok66]

I posted earlier but let me add that I'm a Colts fan, and I have Garcon, Tamme, and Blair White on my dynasty team - the one bad thing about fantasy football is that I sit there and get upset if Reggie Wayne or Austin Collie gets a TD or if Addai or Brown runs the ball in - that part of FF is stupid (on my part) and I feel bad about it, but that's how bad I want to win my matchup - and that's in a no money league . . .