Question/opinion for all of the fantasy old-timers... (1 Viewer)

[Captain Spaulding]

For any of you guys that have been playing fantasy football for 10 plus years now, do you think it is still on the increase in popularity, leveled off in recent years or on the decline some (more folks losing interest and less newbies replacing them?

This marks my 10th year playing fantasy football and the 1st year in the last 7 where I'm only playing in 1 league (a dynasty league I've been in for 6 years). Just don't have time/interest/commitment to play in numerous leagues any more.

 

[yesitsme]

I think it's about holding steady. It's still pretty mainstream.

This is the first time EVER at my work that a group of WOMEN got a league together. Granted, it's a free league but they actually gathered up 10 women and had a draft, that's awesome.

I'm not in as many leagues as I once was.....but that's because I was just in too many. I used to eat like that too. My eyes were too big for my stomach and try to get my hands on anything I could, my bad. However, since I try not to eat like that.....I certainly get hungry.

 

[kupcho1]

Leveled off

ps - nice poll, Fro

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Mainstream-wise, I think it's dangerously close to how Poker was viewed about 2 or 3 years ago. Everybody starting to play, overabundance of media coverage. In actuality, we're not that far removed from "no-life fantasy geeks" getting openly ripped and abused on radio talk shows, ESPN, etc. Now everyone in the media is all over it, live draft shows, SportsCenter segments. 10 years ago, I never thought I'd see that.

It's become a fad, it's starting to get overexposed, the mainstream backlash is about a year or two away, and it will begin to fade in popularity. It will stay bigger than it was 5 years ago because there's some money to be made, but the commercials and the media's dedication to it won't be as prevalent as it is now.

 

[coachjim]

For any of you guys that have been playing fantasy football for 10 plus years now, do you think it is still on the increase in popularity, leveled off in recent years or on the decline some (more folks losing interest and less newbies replacing them?This marks my 10th year playing fantasy football and the 1st year in the last 7 where I'm only playing in 1 league (a dynasty league I've been in for 6 years). Just don't have time/interest/commitment to play in numerous leagues any more.

I started playing in fantasy leagues in 1993. By 2000 I was in three leagues, one of them a dynasty. I entered the FFTOC tourneyment in 2004 along with 1200 other people and ended up winning the $10,000 first place money. I kind of burned out after that year. The FFTOC format required so much time I kind of lost interest the following year. I am now back to 2 leagues. The original which is a total points league with 1 large for the buy in and the dynasty I have been in for several years as well. All in all I am just as interested as I was 14 years ago and seemed to have sought a level that I enjoy and doesn't take all my time. I might mention that I am retired so I have more time than most to devote to this hobby.

 

[The Vision]

I've pretty much done away with the redraft leagues and gone with dynasty/keeper leagues instead as the years have passed. I'm guessing it's the same with many of the guys that have been playing for many years. Starting up new dynasty/keeper leagues or taking over orphaned takes much effort, money and time. This might explain some of the perceived drop off in participation.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

I pretty much figure its level and holding steady as well. Every year though the web-based fantasy services get more and more "friendly" and you can find so much data on players without having to have favorites set up for numerous websites. CBSsportsline is pretty much a "one stop shop" these days.

 

[Banger]

I think it's levelled off. For me personally I've scaled back leagues over years because it would just be too annoying having the same guy in two leagues and playing against that guy in two other leagues. Focussing on just a main league or two has made it more enjoyable.

 

[FFdork]

I think for my age demographic it has peaked and is tailing off. People's lives get busy. They burn out due to a bad run. They haven't figured out how to keep it from ruining the simple joy of football on a Sunday.

However, there will always be new players coming along, so I think it's here to stay. It might fluctuate a bit in popularity.

 

[softball]

Not even close to how popular it will be.

This hobby is still nearer to it's infancy then its maturity.

The first 15 years it was a "underground" group.

About 10 years ago it moved into younger people doing it and now it's got legs and will be running strong for 10 years.

 

[Marc Levin]

I really believe more individuals are playing this game - from across the spectrum.

The group where it is probably declining are the 25-35 year olds who are getting too swamped with careers and family to devote the time they used to, so they take time off. But that number is made up many times over in new participants froma variety of segments - youth, women, etc.

 

[fsufan]

I have been playing for 10 years and get more and more into it every year. I love the NFL and FF just makes it that much more enjoyable. I am in 6 leagues this year, most ever for me. I have some friends that use to be diehard FF players like myself but they have lost interest and have quite playing FF.

I have been running 2 dynasty leagues, one in its 10th year and the other in its 4th year. I have never had a problem finding replacement owners, even for the bad teams.

long live FF

 

[Banger]

I think for my age demographic it has peaked and is tailing off. People's lives get busy. They burn out due to a bad run. They haven't figured out how to keep it from ruining the simple joy of football on a Sunday.However, there will always be new players coming along, so I think it's here to stay. It might fluctuate a bit in popularity.

One thing that has changed substantially over the last year or two is the networks getting in on the act, either from displaying more fantasy stats/tickers and having more fantasy related articles/info from the commentators/reporters.

 

[jchapman70]

I've been playing for 11 years and I am only doing 1 league this year. I don't do NFL pregame shows anymore. I just watch my team and try being a good pop.

 

[moderated]

I think it's growing, but people that were once in tons of leagues are condensing them and playing in fewer.

 

[Max Power]

The group where it is probably declining are the 25-35 year olds who are getting too swamped with careers and family to devote the time they used to, so they take time off.

I think you are dead on here. Im 25 and have been playing since I was about 17. One league with friends from High school for about 8 years now. Started a money league with co-workers about 4 years ago. And this is my first year in a big money league $300 buy in. I never had a problem finding time to manage my team and browse the net for info. Since last season I have gotten married and have a 14 month old running around the house. So 3 teams is a little too much for me. Generally I'll check for trades in the morning before I go to work. Check for updates when I get home from work before dinner about 15 mins. And Somenights I can get on yahoo and play around after the boy goes to bed.So generally I spend between 25-45 mins a day managing 3 teams. I still really enjopy playing, but I can tell I need to cut down on my leagues for next year.

 

[NOONAN]

I've been playing for 11 years and I am only doing 1 league this year. I don't do NFL pregame shows anymore. I just watch my team and try being a good pop.

I am in my 22nd season. Part of the original underground I guess.After a couple years in a league, my buddy and I decided we wanted to include defensive players in the fray and spent a weekend coming up with the basics for what has become a part of my life-our 19 year keeper league. It's hard to imagine football without it. It hasn't lost any luster for me.The core guys(6-7 depending on how far back you want to go) say pretty much the same thing. We never have trouble filling the occassional void and usually have to decide between a couple candidates.I believe it is still rising due to the media exposure. I think the rise continues as the NFL and media continue to embrace it.

 

[LHUCKS]

I really believe more individuals are playing this game - from across the spectrum.The group where it is probably declining are the 25-35 year olds who are getting too swamped with careers

this is happening to me

 

[richn]

I've been playing for 20 years, I'm 44. I used to have to score by hand, and do my own research, I still love it as much today. The difference is now with the advancement of technology and info, people who KNOW NOTHING, can do well, without knowing much. Im in a work league (corporate), and people who know NOTHING drafted pretty well, just using online info. Knowledge used to carry more weight, the playing field has evened up due to technology.

 

[stumpknocker]

I've been playing since 1989 when Barry Sanders was my 1st pick, shows what I knew taking a rookie first, so this is my 19th year and I enjoy it even more. I was commish then and I had to manully compute all the stats from the U S A Today using Excell to produce the standings which was a lot of work. Now we use SATSWORLD Software which is real time scoring and everything is so simple. We have always had about 3 female team owners and they are here to stay.

I think it gains more players every year and is here to stay.

 

[sharplogos]

growing in popularity.... I know a lot of guys I have been playing with for 20 years have kids who came to the draft that now either own franchises in our league or are in their own league. I also ran into a bunch of recent HS grads (now freshman in coll) they told me there is a huge movement at school. This is their first year playing and are really getting into it. I think has slowed down, but will be huge as people get use to the more advanced styles of play.

 

[cobalt_27]

I think it's levelled off. For me personally I've scaled back leagues over years because it would just be too annoying having the same guy in two leagues and playing against that guy in two other leagues. Focussing on just a main league or two has made it more enjoyable.

This is my league's 20th anniversary, and I really couldn't imagine life without it. But, I've joined only one other league because I'd otherwise find myself rooting for so many things that it'd cease to mean anything anymore.

 

[Neil Beaufort Zod]

I think it's levelled off. For me personally I've scaled back leagues over years because it would just be too annoying having the same guy in two leagues and playing against that guy in two other leagues. Focussing on just a main league or two has made it more enjoyable.

This is my league's 20th anniversary, and I really couldn't imagine life without it. But, I've joined only one other league because I'd otherwise find myself rooting for so many things that it'd cease to mean anything anymore.

I agree. I don't really think anyone can be in more than three leagues. You can pay entry fees and field teams in more leagues, but you're not really "in" them. It's just a passing interest at that point imo.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Im in my 13th year.

Love it more than ever, but I have reduced my line-up setting leagues to 5 this year.

This has more to do with a new baby than work

Im 35.

 

[lebowski66]

It's all relative. One person may be down to 1 league, I'm up to 4. Everyone has different levels of enjoyment. I've been at it for 5 years- I might be sick of it in a couple of years. The popularity of online fantasy sites makes it easier for people who don't have 12 friends to join a league, but it also waters down the talent pool. The great thing about fantasy football for me is I can spend 5 hours on my team a week, or 5 minutes...come Sunday, it's always a blast!

Edit- Sorry, forgot about OP asking for players with 10 yrs experience.

 

[The Jerk]

I've been involved with FF since 1990. I see interest and popularity continuing to rise, but at a slower rate of increase than 4-5 years ago. Personally, I find it harder to get excited about doing the research and studying I did back in the 1990s as it doesn't lead to nearly as much of an information advantage as it did back then. I am losing some interest due to lifestyle changes and other interests, but mostly I am finding that it is extremely demotivating when many people who aren't nearly as passionate as I still am (though it's waned a little) can simply logon to one of hundreds of websites the day before the draft and get nearly as much information by printing out a custom cheatsheet as I do from hours and hours of research.

Still, as summer progresses, and every week in autumn, I still greatly enjoy the anticipation of football, and I am still able to separate the enjoyment of the game from the pleasures of the hobby more often than not.

 

[fsufan]

but mostly I am finding that it is extremely demotivating when many people who aren't nearly as passionate as I still am (though it's waned a little) can simply logon to one of hundreds of websites the day before the draft and get nearly as much information by printing out a custom cheatsheet as I do from hours and hours of research.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

I've been playing since 1989 when Barry Sanders was my 1st pick, shows what I knew taking a rookie first, so this is my 19th year and I enjoy it even more. I was commish then and I had to manully compute all the stats from the U S A Today using Excell to produce the standings which was a lot of work. Now we use SATSWORLD Software which is real time scoring and everything is so simple. We have always had about 3 female team owners and they are here to stay.I think it gains more players every year and is here to stay.

I did the same thing as commish when I started in '97 and for the next 2-3 seasons. I sat and watched NFL Primetime on Sunday nights and jotted down the stats of the starters the best I could. Then on Monday morning I'd stop and buy a USA today to get all of the box scores and tally them up at work as fast as I could (before the boss came in). All-in-all I spent way too much time back then either watching football or all of the football related sum-up shows. Now I just watch maybe 1 game on Sunday, maybe parts of the Sunday night game and maybe a little of the Monday night game. I've scaled back quite a bit.

 

[Krewe]

Been playing since the mid-90's.

If you did your research then, which took A LOT of time, you could cream opponents.

Now, it's much harder because anyone with a web browser is an instant expert.

So I have scaled back my leagues down to two..and put some decent time into managing those teams, against friends I really want to beat...vice versa too.

The enjoyment factor is still high, but I totally agree with what's been already said...when on just about every play on Sundays you find yourself cheering because you just scored, and booing because you just got scored on..well, it's time to dial down the FFB a bit.

just my .02

 

[moleculo]

I've been playing for 20 years, I'm 44. I used to have to score by hand, and do my own research, I still love it as much today. The difference is now with the advancement of technology and info, people who KNOW NOTHING, can do well, without knowing much. Im in a work league (corporate), and people who know NOTHING drafted pretty well, just using online info. Knowledge used to carry more weight, the playing field has evened up due to technology.

On-line rankings are getting much better and are readily available - any rookie can subscribe to FBG and use the rankings here and do relatively well. because of this, this hobby of ours has become more about luck than skill, and I think that is turning old-skool people away.

 

[shakeybarn]

Leveled offps - nice poll, Fro

Agree. great poll. My fist league was circa '89 on "Sportszone.com" nee ESPN. Took a few years off, then got back into it.I think it has leveled off, or is growing at a much slower pace than ..say 3 years ago. However... what I do see is an increase in ppl taking the hobby seriously.I'm curious what the F'Guys subscription rates are like the last couple years vs 3 or 4 years ago. As over all I see the advancement and 'seriousness' of the hobby increasing. My general observations: - Lots of casual FF players that I think didnt' want to be left out a little while back, staying in and taking it more serious. - Increase in size of league pots. I recall seeing more $20s vs $100s 3 or 4 years ago - More leagues BEING SERIOUS about FF and moving to auction formats (although not enough) - More leagues BEING SERIOUS and abandoning ridiculous waiver wire orders, and moving to seasonal salary caps and blind bidding - More leagues BEING SERIOUS and eliminating that SILLY playoff format of weeks 14-16/17 - More leagues making a day out of the draft vs finding some tuesday night. - The networks clearly tracking fantasy stats more and more during Sunday, and even during the week. - Multiple league participation... I think this has held off, in terms of number of ppl who do multiple leagues, but those who do... are entering more leagues perhaps.

 

[TheDirtyWord]

I've been playing for 20 years, I'm 44. I used to have to score by hand, and do my own research, I still love it as much today. The difference is now with the advancement of technology and info, people who KNOW NOTHING, can do well, without knowing much. Im in a work league (corporate), and people who know NOTHING drafted pretty well, just using online info. Knowledge used to carry more weight, the playing field has evened up due to technology.

Information is everywhere and the NFL has so much media coverage now (their own network to boot) that it makes it easy for anyone to play. I've been at these boards for 5 years and while they are quite informative; 5 years ago I saw them and the information and insight you could glean from here as a competitive advantage. Now, it's more fun to debate and converse on certain pop-up situations and issues.

 

[fightingillini]

I've been playing for 20 years, I'm 44. I used to have to score by hand, and do my own research, I still love it as much today. The difference is now with the advancement of technology and info, people who KNOW NOTHING, can do well, without knowing much. Im in a work league (corporate), and people who know NOTHING drafted pretty well, just using online info. Knowledge used to carry more weight, the playing field has evened up due to technology.

But having all that technology IMO is a good thing, in that I don't waste much time grabbing data and info. I can spend more time thinking about each team's situation and really develop my own opinions......who's going to break out, who's going to bust, and so forth.Everybody now has the same information, it's the owner that does the best analysis with it will get that competitive advantage. It's just a different kind of effort needed to stay on top.

 

[SuperJohn96]

I think a lot of us are moving from a whole bunch of leagues to fewer, but more complex leagues.

Say Basic scoring vs Auction, Salary Caps, IDP, etc

And the newbies are filling up the Basic scoring type leagues.

Maybe there aren't more leagues each year, but the need for information is growing, due to the seriousness of some of the more complex leagues.

 

[mcjc4]

but mostly I am finding that it is extremely demotivating when many people who aren't nearly as passionate as I still am (though it's waned a little) can simply logon to one of hundreds of websites the day before the draft and get nearly as much information by printing out a custom cheatsheet as I do from hours and hours of research.

This is so true. i can remeber for years being 1 0f 4 teams who always semed to dominate the last 4 or 5 rounds of every draft because we would do alot of research prior to the draft. It has become very easy to spend 14.99 the moring of the draft and get the most up todate information about the top 250 players. Guys show up with a top 250 sheet, top 20 QB's top 50 RB's anf top 100 WR's. They typically draft RB,RB,WR,QB,RB,WR and put a decent team out there each week. That is the nature of the game now. Granted, research can give you an edge on strenght of schedule, playoff week match-ups when making mid season trades, or if a guys is a one week waiver wire pick-up or the real deal going forward. The internet helped bring this hobby mainsteam years ago.

 

[twitch]

its still growing, imo. young guys coming up now, and Im talking 10-15 year olds, are introduced to it at such an early age now. Ive been playing for 15 years , and had never even heard off FF until I was in my 20s. Its the early exposure that will keep this thing moving. And as older guys fade out somewhat, the younger wave of fans will just keep right on fueling it. Its all over every pregame show, NFL live, podcasts, blogs, mainstream print. It will reach the point of recognition that the NCAA pool has in that there will be far more wives, women, office friends, etc partaking then ever before. Its growth may have already hit a peak, but imo their are still other peaks to be reached.

I miss those old days of studying box scores, inury reports and simple trends. There was a little more seperation back then. The playing field is far more level now which is of course a great thing.

 

[kupcho1]

My fist league was circa '89 on "Sportszone.com" nee ESPN. Took a few years off, then got back into it.

Online Since: 04-Oct-1994

 

[moleculo]

My fist league was circa '89 on "Sportszone.com" nee ESPN. Took a few years off, then got back into it.

Online Since: 04-Oct-1994

I saw that too - I think be meant '98.

 

[Resident A]

Thus is my 17th season. I'd say ity's peaked. I bet 75% of males age 20-40 play fantasy fotball.

I remember being pi$$ed when they started printing FF magazines, because now everyone had good pre-draft info. I was mad again when the inernet made it even easier. The popularity boom over the past 5-6 years made info so readily available that even the schmoes have the same info I do. It makes it harder to dominate these days.

 

[Loan Sharks]

I think it is here to stay in some form or another. I do think that FF has taken a turn for the worse recently. The allure in the late 80's and early 90's was that you could watch the game and in a TD only league people could watch the games and keep up with their score and it made it more fun. I think the more complicated the game becomes and the higher the learning curve the less new players you will have coming in.

It went from td only to bonus to yardage to IDP now auction and the changes make it more and more hard for new players to enter.

I think a lot has been lost when you and your 5 buds are at a sports bar and none of you knows if you are winning or not.

 

[chinawildman]

Let's face it, the original allure of fantasy football is the role-playing aspect of being a GM, the dungeons& dragons of football if you will.... You're the GM and you watch the games and determine which guys you think have what it takes to breakout.

Well FF kinda blows now because the average noob can just go to any website and get enough info to be competitive without having watched a down of football. To put it in perspective, can you imagine if you've been playing golf for years and a beginner beats you in a round simply because he watched golf channel for a couple of hours?

Personally I'm the kind of person that enjoys competing in activities that require a fairly steep learning curve and the involvement of skill. Fantasy football used to be this way, people had to understand the game of football to succeed. Unfortunately this is no longer the case.

 

[switz]

For any of you guys that have been playing fantasy football for 10 plus years now, do you think it is still on the increase in popularity, leveled off in recent years or on the decline some (more folks losing interest and less newbies replacing them?This marks my 10th year playing fantasy football and the 1st year in the last 7 where I'm only playing in 1 league (a dynasty league I've been in for 6 years). Just don't have time/interest/commitment to play in numerous leagues any more.

Increasing in number of leagues, decreasing in commitment/ability of owners

 

[Todem]

I've been playing for 20 years, I'm 44. I used to have to score by hand, and do my own research, I still love it as much today. The difference is now with the advancement of technology and info, people who KNOW NOTHING, can do well, without knowing much. Im in a work league (corporate), and people who know NOTHING drafted pretty well, just using online info. Knowledge used to carry more weight, the playing field has evened up due to technology.

Outstanding post.The skill factor has been reduced dramaticaly with the onslaught of the internet.

 

[Todem]

Let's face it, the original allure of fantasy football is the role-playing aspect of being a GM, the dungeons& dragons of football if you will.... You're the GM and you watch the games and determine which guys you think have what it takes to breakout.Well FF kinda blows now because the average noob can just go to any website and get enough info to be competitive without having watched a down of football. To put it in perspective, can you imagine if you've been playing golf for years and a beginner beats you in a round simply because he watched golf channel for a couple of hours?Personally I'm the kind of person that enjoys competing in activities that require a fairly steep learning curve and the involvement of skill. Fantasy football used to be this way, people had to understand the game of football to succeed. Unfortunately this is no longer the case.

Can't agree more.