Retirement From Playing Fantasy Football? (1 Viewer)

[kyoun1e]

Curious if many have contemplated quitting this hobby?

I've managed to retire from two of my longstanding leagues that lasted a couple decades. One league now remains and as of last night, I've now won it two of the last three years.

Feels great, but hell...I'm kinda done. 

This year has been exhausting with Covid and the usual fantasy frustrations. 

Would be nice to just watch football with no strings attached.

I'm sure I'll cave come August.

 

[jobarules]

I think Im done after this year or maybe Im just bitter about yesterday. I didnt take things as serious this year and enjoyed the season quite a bit. I played in 3 leagues and I made the finals in all 3 leagues only to lose all 3 championship games yesterday. Just cant get over the random luck of it. The thing is, I only watch football because of fantasy football so not sure what I will end up doing. We'll see how the summer goes.

 

[ignatiusjreilly]

I think I enjoy fantasy too much to ever quit (also feel some sense of obligation to the leagues I'm in), but I definitely enjoy the last week of the regular season + playoffs where I can just watch football as a fan. I also appreciate getting so much of my time back in terms of hours wasted on my fantasy team, staying up for night games solely because of fantasy implications, etc.

 

[kyoun1e]

I think Im done after this year or maybe Im just bitter about yesterday. I didnt take things as serious this year and enjoyed the season quite a bit. I played in 3 leagues and I made the finals in all 3 leagues only to lose all 3 championship games yesterday. Just cant get over the random luck of it. The thing is, I only watch football because of fantasy football so not sure what I will end up doing. We'll see how the summer goes.

I'd be super frustrated if I lost this year that's for sure, but I don't think I'd be able to hang it up after a loss. 

I'd also get too much cr*p from league mates.

I think it would be more tolerable if this particular league went to a new scoring format where the random luck of head to head is wrung out a bit. Have heard of best ball, but not sure how/where it can be executed.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

 What? Over? Did you say 'over'?  Nothing is over until we decide it is!  Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?  Hell no!

 

[ignatiusjreilly]

I'd be super frustrated if I lost this year that's for sure, but I don't think I'd be able to hang it up after a loss. 

I'd also get too much cr*p from league mates.

I think it would be more tolerable if this particular league went to a new scoring format where the random luck of head to head is wrung out a bit. Have heard of best ball, but not sure how/where it can be executed.

I think people underrate the degree to which randomness makes fantasy exciting, so I would never want to eliminate it completely, but if you're looking to reduce it, there are things you can do like awarding the final playoff spot to the team with the most points, having two week playoffs, or doing the "double matchup" format where each week you can earn one victory for head-to-head and a second for scoring in the top half of the league. 

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Yep. I'm done. Quit all three of my Zealots leagues.

 

[kyoun1e]

I think people underrate the degree to which randomness makes fantasy exciting, so I would never want to eliminate it completely, but if you're looking to reduce it, there are things you can do like awarding the final playoff spot to the team with the most points, having two week playoffs, or doing the "double matchup" format where each week you can earn one victory for head-to-head and a second for scoring in the top half of the league. 

Have thought of the double matchup. Basically you get a score for head to head and a score for how you would have done vs. the whole league.

I don't know. Maybe taking a year off would be good. Could fill the gap with just losing money in daily and prop bets.

 

[Godsbrother]

I only play in 1 league, the same one my friends and I started 25 years ago.    It is not a big money league so there is no pressure from that aspect of it. 

We have had a couple of the guys drop out because "it was too much work" but I really don't understand it because you really don't need to put in much of an effort at all.  Hell the  websites suggest who to start, who to pick up, etc.  All it really takes is 10 minutes a week.

The weird thing is these guys still come to the draft and ask about who's winning during the course of the season.  Strange...

 

[Insein]

I used to be in 3-4 leagues every year. Then about 3 years ago I got burned out. Dropped down to just 1 league with long time friends. Been a lot better that way. I only have one league to focus on and if the ball doesn't bounce my way, I usually get over it pretty quick. 

I don't know if I'd watch Football if it wasn't for fantasy or gambling. 

 

[zamboni]

Too competitive to quit, but I am in only one keeper league with long time friends, so it’s not a big chore.

 

[jm192]

I took a year off in like 2012 or 2013.  Missed it a ton.  

Covid has brought about some frustration for sure.  On the other hand, I've enjoyed the challenge of grinding/navigating all of the curve balls of the regular season.  

I've done about 15-20 leagues the last 3 years (a lot of them are ESPN/Yahoo Public leagues that I'm not super invested in).   But I figure if I'm burnt out, I'll cut back.  

 

[JoeSteeler]

I play in 5 IDP dynasty leagues and love it. All started between 2007-2010. IDP makes a huge difference ,give it a try.

I didn’t play redraft for years but am now in a friends league and a work league. The #### talking makes these leagues fun.

 

[JoeSteeler]

I took a year off in like 2012 or 2013.  Missed it a ton.  

Covid has brought about some frustration for sure.  On the other hand, I've enjoyed the challenge of grinding/navigating all of the curve balls of the regular season.  

Same here.

 

[trader jake]

Idle hands.  You gonna become the guy who spends way too much time on their yard?  Or the person that gets sucked into more social media nonsense?  As much as people think they'd do something "more productive" with their time...most wont.

Yeah, fantasy football (especially since Covid) can be a grind at times.  That will eventually get better though.  I'd rather stay in better contact with my friends this way that almost any other option.

 

[Steve Tasker]

I quit about 10 years ago now.  Whittled it down from like 7 leagues, down to 2, then 1, then 0.  Wouldn't change a thing.

 

[Boston]

I think too many people are in search of the perfect season and get frustrated by not obtaining it...just gotta realize/accept that every time you get screwed by an injury or something fluky you probably benefited twice as much from them, but those don't leave the mark the negative ones do...as for the randomness of head-to-head both my leagues have a winner in the head-to-head and overall categories...it is far more fun to win the head-to-head but the overall rewards year-long excellence so everyone goes home happy.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Never. I love everything about FF, and would never, ever quit. 

I did go from 6 leagues down to 2, completely dissimilar formats off 1. IDP & 2. Dynasty (no D/ST, no K) which has really helped with the things I was personally frustrated by (always having conflict of rooting for and against the same players week after week). 

I'm not the kind of guy who can tune out my FF teams during the live action. I live & die with each play, and I love it that way. But somehow I still very much enjoy the game of football - I'm able to compartmentalize while I watch. FF might have made me an even bigger football fan because I watch more than just the team I grew up a fan of. 

Retirement isn't an option for me. Drafting better, having better luck, and winning another  'ship are all on the table still. I am hoping to be the first octogenarian to win a FF championship.  

 

[The Gator]

I quit about 10 years ago now.  Whittled it down from like 7 leagues, down to 2, then 1, then 0.  Wouldn't change a thing.

Almost the same thing here, just that I stopped at one 23yo competitive keeper league.  Probably never go back to 2+ 

 

[-OZ-]

If it weren’t for my main league, 19 years now, I’d be done. Instead I’m the commish now (with assistance). 

When you have one IDP league you need to pay attention anyway, so I’ve kept a twin league (very similar setup, the commish set it based on the first). and then one SF league for fun. 

otherwise, retiring is tempting. 

 

[Boston]

Just my two cents...I only do Dynasty now and will never do anything different...Dynasty allows you to enjoy it whether you are having a great year or a below-average year...having a below average year?  Rebuild and start trading draft picks and tune into an Alabama game and watch one of your potential players next year (there is hope)...it's not as good as winning the whole thing but it is an excellent consolation prize.

 

[TampaMike19]

Going to cut down to 3 leagues max next year, but this year was definitely one of my worst in a while. Lots of injuries, wild variances, losing 2nd best points to 1st points, bad waiver drops, just took the joy and fun out of it all.

I threaten to quit at times, but once football is back I naturally come to these types of forums and contribute. I really enjoy the debate of player valuation and the discussion vs. the actual game itself. I just wonder what I would fill the void with if I gave up a hobby/game that I've been playing for 15 years.

I'm bitter about yesterday. Real bitter. Bitter enough to quit one league where trade rapes are a regular thing (pardon the language) 

I think Dynasty is a better bet for more serious players...more investment season-long and long-term. Or a serious keeper league. 

Lastly, my mental health has improved each and every year for fantasy football and the way I view it and view random variance and occurrences in life when bull#### happens or worst case happens. I anticipate this will continue to improve even next year, making it easier to not second-guess decisions and just play the game and be less affected by it.

 

[Scooby1974]

Don't quit yet, you may have a change of heart and want back in and someone will have your spot!

Covid time has been rough on everyone and every relationship. You aren't alone in having some of the fun sapped out of you.

I played in ONE , 1 year league this year and we have had fun. I backed out of a dynasty league a few years ago with the same thinking. But I was at the point that I just couldn't keep up with all the knowledge needed to compete in that well.

 

[kyoun1e]

I'm not the kind of guy who can tune out my FF teams during the live action. I live & die with each play, and I love it that way.

So do I.

I can't tune it out. At all.

And I can't say that I love it that way, but it is what it is.

 

[fightingillini]

I don't know if I'd watch Football if it wasn't for fantasy or gambling. 

Same here.  I would probably not much watch NFL football until the playoffs, similar to what I do for baseball.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

So do I.

I can't tune it out. At all.

And I can't say that I love it that way, but it is what it is.

I love it that way. When my QB throws a screen to my RB & dude takes it to the house for a double TD, I jump up hooting & hollering and generally scaring the hell out of my dogs, and it's great. I love the highs. The lows are low - it sucks to have a QB throw a pick with 3 mins to play & your 1 point lead turns into a -2 deficit, but if it weren't for the clouds, we wouldn't appreciate the sunshine.  

 

[Payne]

As somebody else said, I am too competitive to quit. That being said, I have learned to not take it so seriously week to week. I used to stress out and watch just stats. Found myself putting family aside for this hobby. Those days are over. I still put a lot of effort into preparing for drafts. It's my favorite part. But now I just let wins and losses happen as they may. 

 

[TheGreatOne]

Don't quit. At the very least let the computer autodraft a team. A dynasty can be a fun project as well. You're on a fantasy football website. You like playing fantasy football. Don't pretend like you're not going to watch the draft.

Wait until there's months of only baseball to bet on, lol. You'll get the itch again. If anything, you're probably not playing in a high enough stakes league. Join a $500 league and tell me you're bored.

 

[Da Guru]

I gave it up for 2 years because I was burned out.    Felt the "luck" factor was too much.    Also it was ruining my joy of watching the games.

I mean I am a Lion fan and I would want hem to lose if my guy was scoring with winning TD against them.

When I came back I took is way less serious. Instead of checking my phone every 5 minutes on Sunday I never look at scores.

I used to have 4-5 teams now I have one and am enjoying it better with one team.

 

[Gally]

I think people underrate the degree to which randomness makes fantasy exciting, so I would never want to eliminate it completely, but if you're looking to reduce it, there are things you can do like awarding the final playoff spot to the team with the most points, having two week playoffs, or doing the "double matchup" format where each week you can earn one victory for head-to-head and a second for scoring in the top half of the league. 

Get rid of playoffs and that really helps with the randomness but keeps the H2H competitive feel.  We play all 18 weeks H2H with the best record getting the title (total points is the tie break).  We pay down 5 places (14 teams) and the final four weeks award bonus to the highest scoring team eliminated from the money spot to keep them putting out best lineups.  We also do "position weeks" every 4 weeks where 1st v 2nd, 3rd v 4th etc so you get some playoff feel without it eliminating you if you lose.  

This really helps with the randomness aspect associated with getting booted from the playoffs.  

 

[Steve Tasker]

Almost the same thing here, just that I stopped at one 23yo competitive keeper league.  Probably never go back to 2+ 

I had a bad dynasty team in a league run by our good pal Sebowski, that was my last league.  I went all-in on the initial seasons, took home the first championship and placed in the money in year 2.  A couple bad drafts (Beanie Wells...) and bad WR luck (Johnny Knox injury + I dropped Roddy White near the end of his year 2, before his breakout year 3) and the team was in the gutter a couple years later.  I refused to leave the owners scrambling to find a new owner, so I made it known they could shop the team around to prospective replacements, and I played it out for another 2-ish years until they found someone willing to take over the team.  Handed over the keys the next day.  Never looked back.

 

[fightingillini]

I don't know if I can completely walk away, but I have whittled down from 5 leagues to only 2, and one of them is a 4-8 player auction keeper league which is really fun.  I play in one with league with old friends and one league with old work colleagues.  I would be afraid that I would lose touch with some of them if I quit.

I also don't take fantasy football as seriously as I used to, and I accept the randomness a lot more.  But it does suck when you lose because a player that carried you all year misses the championship game due to COVID.  COVID has really added to the volatility.

 

[Houston turmOiler]

I've quit several times, but always seem to get back into it after a year or two off. COVID really sucks (pretty much for everything in life) and makes it much harder. Injuries are enough to deal with already. I don't anticipate taking a break anytime soon, though. My brother-in-law and I started a very competitive family league a few years ago, and it's a lot of fun and challenging. Plus, I'm the commissioner so I've got the job to keep it all running smoothly. Makes it more fun since we're family and all know each other well. I appreciate their trust in me, and I've got you guys here to help me with any league issues. Feel like I've got a good handle on any scenarios that come up after reading these boards for over 20 years.

 

[DocHolliday]

Idle hands.  You gonna become the guy who spends way too much time on their yard?  Or the person that gets sucked into more social media nonsense?  As much as people think they'd do something "more productive" with their time...most wont.

Yeah, fantasy football (especially since Covid) can be a grind at times.  That will eventually get better though.  I'd rather stay in better contact with my friends this way that almost any other option.

This is a good perspective but I’m at the other side though. I work 60 hours a week at my main job and get pulled into side construction projects when the money is too good to pass up.  My daughter is busy with sports and horse riding year round now and I also play in an acoustic duo that gigs about twice a month.   Football is getting pushed out.  

'I have been watching the NFL for 40 years but haven’t watched more than a few minutes since Thanksgiving.   I had a stacked team but limped into the playoffs and got crushed as expected.  I was relieved to be done.  This year was tough due to endless injuries and Covid issues which really sucks when you don’t have the time or motivation to figure out waivers.     

I have been losing interest in the NFL and FF for the last few years but this year I know I am over it.  I have been in the same league for 20 years and have stayed in it to hang out on draft day with my brother, cousin, and a few friends from grade school.  It is a fun, competitive league and only costs $150/year but the only thing I will miss Is draft day.  I told the commish at Thanksgiving that I was done.  

 

[BassNBrew]

I've quit several times, but always seem to get back into it after a year or two off. COVID really sucks (pretty much for everything in life) and makes it much harder. Injuries are enough to deal with already. I don't anticipate taking a break anytime soon, though. My brother-in-law and I started a very competitive family league a few years ago, and it's a lot of fun and challenging. Plus, I'm the commissioner so I've got the job to keep it all running smoothly. Makes it more fun since we're family and all know each other well. I appreciate their trust in me, and I've got you guys here to help me with any league issues. Feel like I've got a good handle on any scenarios that come up after reading these boards for over 20 years.

I don't know who you are, but what a gracious and nice thing to say about the people here.  Wish we had more people like you in the world these days.  Hope 2022 treats you well.

 

[Abn_Ranger06]

After 12 years I finally won my very difficult IDP no waiver wire league. 

My goodness!  It feels good to finally win this league I have been in for 12 years.  Had not even finished higher than 5th before I joined football guys.

 

[smbkrypt24]

I am in 3 money leagues, 2 friends, leagues, 2 best ball leagues.

I thought about quitting FF after this year.  If my teams weren't top of the league I would have no problem leaving or if I could sell them off for what I thought was good value I would.  I just feel like it is more work and I am not enjoying the grind as much.   I think I will keep on though.

 

[wlwiles]

In 4 leagues total.  I don't think I could scale back, I'd have to just quit fantasy completely.  I played in one league for several years and one of the biggest reasons I joined more leagues was the "more shots on goal approach".   I wouldn't want to go back to having my fantasy year defined by one unlucky team when it's not that much more time consuming to manage 3-4 leagues at once.  

 

[J R]

Good topic. It's a grind to deal with all the (mis)information with injuries, covid, etc., and I don't think redraft rewards that anyway (for the reasons Godsbrother points out).

Maybe this is just old man get off my lawn talk, but does anyone else just think the NFL is less interesting to watch these days?

 

[eighsse]

I have no intentions of quitting anytime soon. I mean, I've only ever been a 1-leaguer (dynasty). But I haven't seen anything in the last 2 years that makes me feel much different at all about fantasy. Of course it's frustrating. *shrug* Can't expect too much out of your guys. No matter how stacked you feel going into the year, it's ALWAYS going to be a lottery to a decent extent.

However, I do find it irritating that when I got into fantasy football 10+ years ago, I thought "Huh, that could be fun. The cool part is, it will make me have interest in a lot of the NFL games that I currently wouldn't care about at all." (Because like many, I'm a die-hard fan of one team, so screw everyone else, I hardly care about any game that doesn't include my team or have significant implications on my team's success.) And now, ironically, I care less about most games than before, because I'm too focused on a couple dozen players' statistics. I still don't care about that Cowboys-Eagles game result any more than I did before, just throw the ball to CeeDee Lamb on every play, please?

 

[TampaMike19]

Good topic. It's a grind to deal with all the (mis)information with injuries, covid, etc., and I don't think redraft rewards that anyway (for the reasons Godsbrother points out).

Maybe this is just old man get off my lawn talk, but does anyone else just think the NFL is less interesting to watch these days?

After the bitter loss yesterday, I didn't even tune into last night's game. I don't even have desire to tune into tonight's game, and barely any desire to watch next week's game

My interest in football is purely fantasy and gambling related now. The product has gotten worse in the sense that bad teams want to be really bad, and good teams tend to stay good. The only way to rebuild is to truly suck and aim for a top pick on the draft and more teams are doing that now. Not many .500 "mediocre teams" unless it's by chance this year. The good quarterbacking is declining because defenses now just move too fast for o-lineman and there are just not enough elite o-lineman anymore. I wouldn't be surprised down the road if they skew towards offense even more to neutralize freakish athleticism. 

I'm not even sure I'll care much for the real-life playoffs either tbh. I think fantasy football has kind of ruined it for me and the sheer randomness of it all. I'd rather spend my time researching and discussing towards 2022 then care at all at how real life teams do. There's also not really a "favorite" or a path forward to think who will make it to the super bowl. It's just sheer randomness and matchups driven, just like fantasy football. It's also pure luck that some team has a legit league-winning matchup like Penny yesterday vs. a good RB in a tough matchup

I can't even say I'm a fan of any team. I never understood being a huge fan of a team unless you grew up with them. So many teams don't even give a #### about you, the fan. They just reap the rewards and some teams just choose to suck over and over and have horrible owners as people and no desire to be great. Some teams have good management and ownership, and I think those teams are more deserving of your dollar and more importantly, your time.  

TLDR Fantasy football and gambling are the only reasons to watch, and the product has become diluted. Better spending time getting ready for 2022 fantasy research. 

 

[Timmay]

I don't intend to quit anytime soon, but I have a feeling that a lot of my league mates will hang it up sooner rather than later. 

I usually get bored with it late in the year, and tell myself that this year may be my last, but every year when preseason starts and I get that football itch, I am sucked right back in and can't wait to start the new FF season. 

 

[Judge Smails]

I'm in one league and have been for 20+ years.  10 of the 12 owners are original.   Fun, some good cake involved with winner getting $6K, etc. This year we had several people threatening to quit.  It got uncivil as we tried to work through rules around COVID.  Fortunately it lessened over time after some people took a posting timeout.  But we realized that lack of clarity around existing rules caused a lot of it.  So I rewrote all of the rules this year for next year and will be the commish.  Hopefully that keeps us on track.  It's a big time carrot for 1/2 the year.  I'd miss it big time

 

[Houston turmOiler]

I don't know who you are, but what a gracious and nice thing to say about the people here.  Wish we had more people like you in the world these days.  Hope 2022 treats you well.

Thank you very much. It's true. I've been on these boards for years and read tons of threads with league issues. The opinions and advice offered in these forums are invaluable to me, and not just for league issues. The Shark Pool is probably one of the main things that always brings me back to fantasy football after a break. I just love reading the threads. I could never have attempted to be commissioner without it.

I've seen many of your contributions in many different threads and I'm honored. Wish you and our fellow FBGuys a great 2022 and beyond.

 

[Gally]

I am in 5 leagues but they all serve a different purpose.  I have bounced around from 3-5 leagues over the last decade or so.  

• Longtime league with friends (started in 1985):  14 teams, first league I was ever in and still have about 8-10 original (or basically original) owners.  It's a bit stale but tradition at this point.  Has lifelong friends and family.  No playoffs and amazingly enough was probably the first quasi SF league ever.  Still my favorite
  
• Dynasty League (started in 2005):  Created from scratch with my buddy.  Full IDP, contracts, salary cap, 45 man rosters, keep 15 year to year.  I prepare for his draft only and piggyback all other leagues on this one.  Most of my time spent on this league.  Also no playoffs as that was mirrored from my original league.
  
• Kids/Parents League (started 7 years ago when my son was 9):  An into league to get the kids involved in FF.  Cheap, playoffs (everyone makes the playoffs).  Great for bragging rights and having fun with friends and kids.  
  
• New League (first year in):  Buddy needed an extra team in an espn league after someone dropped out.  First year in it and it's a standard ESPN league.  Has playoffs and I was #1 seed and lost in finals.  It was ok but was more of a side thought.  
  
• Zealots League (first year):  Joined from FBG as it was posted in the IDP league and I was asked to join.  I used it to try some things and see what stuck.  More an experimental league for me.  Snuck into the playoffs and lost first round.  Devastated by injuries but we will see what happens next year.  The league is kind of stale as not a lot of movement but I will stick it out for at least another year.
  

Bottom line I couldn't imagine not playing FF.  I have been in for well over half my life and it's a great past time.  My kid is way into it as well so we have a nice bonding moment every Sunday through the season watching games and talking football.  Sure there is luck involved and things you can't control but it's all in fun and as long as you approach it that way it's all good.  Taking this game too serious is always going to a problem (as it is with most things in life).  It's just a game and if you aren't enjoying it get out.  But having the right mindset definitely helps in the enjoyment.   No way am I ever retiring......even though every Sunday at some point I blurt out "I hate this game!"    hahahhahaa

 

[Zow]

I quit about 10 years ago now.  Whittled it down from like 7 leagues, down to 2, then 1, then 0.  Wouldn't change a thing.

Still in 7. Don't plan on changing. I don't find it too much work - especially given the new 5 second primer tool. Yeah, it eats up my Sundays, but frankly it's a good hobby on the home front because my wife likes knowing Sundays I'm home and I'll interact with the kids while watching. 

 

[The Duff Man]

Played from 2000 to 2015, was in about a dozen leagues at the end. Quit cold turkey with no regrets. 

Thinking of starting back up again because you can’t get away from fantasy, it comes up in nearly every show I listen to. Also started work at a new place and have a few guys interested in a league. 

My main problem is I am super competitive and am not sure that I can casually play, but also not sure I want to put a lot of time back into it. 

 

[TampaMike19]

Played from 2000 to 2015, was in about a dozen leagues at the end. Quit cold turkey with no regrets. 

Thinking of starting back up again because you can’t get away from fantasy, it comes up in nearly every show I listen to. Also started work at a new place and have a few guys interested in a league. 

My main problem is I am super competitive and am not sure that I can casually play, but also not sure I want to put a lot of time back into it. 

Why'd you quit cold turkey? Did you have itches to come back before that? Did you miss just browsing forums and discussing player outlooks, add drops, seeing if your processes lead to results? 

 

[kyoun1e]

My main problem is I am super competitive and am not sure that I can casually play, but also not sure I want to put a lot of time back into it. 

This is my problem. There's no way I can just do "casual."

For me it's part of my personality. I tend to be all in or all out on everything. So if I'm in...I'm really in...and obsessive.

I envy guys in my league that are out raking leaves or whatever on a Sunday not giving a damn if their #1 WR dropped a wide open reception.

 

[The Duff Man]

Why'd you quit cold turkey? Did you have itches to come back before that? Did you miss just browsing forums and discussing player outlooks, add drops, seeing if your processes lead to results? 

Didn’t have the time. Changed jobs to one where I was travelling a fair bit and required me to work a bit harder (ie couldn’t browse fantasy football online during work hours). 

Working from home with little travel now so that problem is gone. 

I didn’t strip shirtless in my last game when I quit….missed opportunity I guess.