Texan Mosaic

Story and photos by Abriel Mata, COMM 2311-601/Newswriting

We’ve probably all heard our family yell at the TV during football season, but the fans who own fantasy football teams have two things to yell at:  their TVs and their phones.

Fantasy football is a mobile app where you can experience the thrill of being the coach and general manager of the team you create. You can play fantasy football with your friends by creating a league to be a part of at the start of the season, or simply play the game for fun.

Fantasy football has emerged as one of the most popular football mobile games out there. According to espnpressroom.com, the ESPN fantasy football app set a new all-time mark with more than 13 million people playing the game in 2024.

If you don’t know how to play fantasy football the rules are simple.

The espn.com “How to play fantasy football in 2024:  Beginners guide” explains the rules this way:  “You select your own team of players, setting a lineup every week. Then, you watch as they run, pass, catch, and score touchdowns, all of which are worth fantasy points. Every week, you are matched up against someone else in your league, and whoever has the most fantasy points that week, wins! Then, the following week, we do it all over again.”

When it comes to drafting players for your fantasy team there are plenty of strategies to take.

South Plains College student Matthew Brown says go with a defense first.

“I would honestly say get a defense first because I think everybody tries to get a quarterback,” he says.  “At least in my experience, I would say, get a defense, and then in your second round, get a quarterback.”

On the other hand, SPC student Dedric Leaks says go with offense first.

“I’d probably draft like a running back on a team that, like, just a running back that runs the ball a lot,” Leaks says, “maybe like a red zone running back that’s going to get like a lot of touchdowns.”

Leaks says he’s a Steelers fan, but that doesn’t have to do with his draft picks.

“Yeah, I’m a fan of the Steelers,” Leaks says, “but we don’t really have anyone worth picking too early on in the draft. So, I’d rather not be biased towards like that kind of team in the draft.”

Leaks may be in it to win, but so far this season he admits his record is not as good as he’d like it to be.

“Right now I’m sitting at two and four,” Leaks says.

The season is looking better for SPC student Raston Copeland. 

“Well right now, I’m six and one in two different leagues,” Copeland says “and I’ve been using the technique of getting running backs and receivers first, and it’s turning out pretty good.”

Matthew Brown says he’s has been playing fantasy football for about five years.   “I think it’s just a cool way to be able to connect with my friends about sports,” he says.

Raston Copeland has played fantasy football for about five to six years.

“I like it because I don’t really have a favorite team,” he says, “so it gives me a chance to go for both sides of the football when watching NFL so it makes it more interesting.”

Copeland has a winning record in the leagues he participates in and doesn’t plan on slowing down.  “I’m second in both of my leagues,” he says, “so hopefully we can just keep on rolling, and yeah.”

Every fantasy football owner has had their ups and downs during the football season. Take the best advice offered and in next year’s fantasy draft, see if you can avoid yelling at your TV and phone.