When the NFL season kicks off, Menlo students aren’t just cheering for their favorite teams — they’re also glued to their phones, paying close attention to their fantasy football points. Fantasy football has become more than just a game; it takes over the 18-week season and brings friends and classmates together. With draft strategies, trades, bragging rights and punishments on the line, fantasy football has woven itself into Menlo culture, where students are vying for the title of fantasy champion.
“When I think about fantasy football, I think about two words: excitement and pride,” sophomore Zander Deutch said. “You have to be excited to play every single Sunday [and] you have to have pride in your team and lead them to success.”
Being a part of a league is a big commitment, Deutch explained. As commissioner of a sophomore boys’ league, he decides the rules and who gets a spot in the league each year, although Deutch has yet to remove someone.
“I mean, it’s like the Premier League,” he said “You can get relegated super fast. If I don’t think your motivation is up there, and if I don’t think you’re putting in hours, I’m not afraid to remove someone from the league.”
The fantasy football season begins long before the NFL league games begin — planning begins right after the end of the previous season. “Everyone’s thinking about next year when the fantasy season ends. Who to draft, rookies, big trades in the NFL, it’s super important to stay up to date,” Deutch said.
Another key pillar in fantasy football is punishments. Many are implemented each year, with each league deciding their own. “I think it’s important to decide on a punishment that has a good mixture of fun and encourages people to pay attention to the league,” senior Ben Salama, another league’s commissioner, said.
Other leagues at Menlo and around the country have already decided on their punishments, including the infamous “milk mile” (where the loser must drink a gallon of milk while running a mile), spending a full 24 hours at Waffle House or even trick-or-treating in the middle of summer.
Fantasy football has expanded over recent years with a considerable uptick in girls playing, according to the North American Society for Sports Management, with women making up nearly 38 percent of participants.
Junior Keira Wong created a league with her friends this year, inspired by the recent movement. “I just thought it would be fun for my friends. I know many of the kids in our grade did it last year with rewards and punishments,” Wong said.
Her league does not involve a punishment this year, but there is a reward: highly sought-after Swedish candy. A significant factor in drafting and managing these teams is their classmates. “Not everyone in the league consistently watches football, so I know people get help from their siblings and classmates,” Wong said.
Salama and many other fantasy football regulars enjoy helping out those newer to the competition. “I think it’s great. I remember when it was drafting season and girls would ask, ‘We need your help with the draft’ or, ‘Who should we take?’” Salama said. “I think it’d be cool to have a league with both boys and girls.”
For Salama and other seniors, fantasy football will be a way to stay connected with each other after high school. “The whole purpose behind this league is for it to last beyond high school as we’re now seniors, and we are hoping that it will be a good way to stay connected as we go off to our different places in college,” Salama said.
