Fantasy Football is now a billion dollar business with over 24 million participants.

For those not familiar with Fantasy Football, a group of partakers create a ‘league’ – usually consisting of their friends – where they become ‘owners’ in the league and draft 16 NFL players in order to create their own teams.

Some really take the fantasy draft seriously.

“Every year I fly to Detroit for the weekend to draft my team,” biology teacher Bill Ferzoco said.

The winner is the league participant who accumulates the most points based on their players’ performances. For instance, a running back that runs for over 100 yards and scores a touchdown will score more points for his owner than a running back that runs for half the distance and fumbles the ball.

“It takes a strong draft and a lot of attention to what is going on over the course of the season to do well in Fantasy Football,” math teacher Zachary Carter said.

All leagues follow a general set-up of drafting players from various teams, relying on their performance to do well in the league. However, some leagues require owners to gamble money on the success of their team, creating a money pool where the winner takes the jackpot.

“I am not surprised Fantasy Football is as popular as it is,” sophomore Leon Fomil said. “It is pretty easy to play and very addicting.”

Many participants enjoy creating and customizing their own league with a group of friends.

“I created a league on ESPN’s website with my friends last year that I reopened again this year,” junior Spencer Smith said. “All of us pitch-in ten dollars before the draft and then the winner gets the jackpot.”

Some people feel that Fantasy Football’s popularity stems from the connections between the owner and his imaginary NFL players.

“I think Fantasy Football is popular because playing makes you feel like the players on your team owe you something, which in turn makes you feel like you are part of the game,” Smith said.

History teacher Howard Krasilovsky plays Fantasy Football to maintain connections and enjoys his victories as well as trash talking that comes with it.

“It’s a great way to keep in touch with college friends,” Krasilovsky said. “It is also fun to demolish Mrs. West’s team every time I play her.”

While some are passionate about Fantasy Football, some will give up well before the season ends.

“I always think I get a good player lineup from the draft,” junior Greg Mayo said. “Shortly after I realize how bad it is, I change my team’s name to ‘Fantasy Football is Stupid,’ and then never check it again.”

Critics may say that Fantasy Football is merely a game of luck, where a lucky draft can be followed by a lucky season.

“One year I won my league’s championship despite not checking my team’s status a single time,” Mayo said.

Nevertheless, it does not seem that Fantasy Football’s fame will die down anytime soon.

“I think that the popularity of Fantasy Football is directly related to the popularity of football itself,” Krasilovsky said. “As long as football stays popular, which it will, so will fantasy football.”