Fantasy football gives us the opportunity to stay on top of what’s going on in the NFL, and it also enables competition that is as strategic as it is fun.
Choosing the perfect lineup that will provide the right score to help knock our opponent to the ground is what Sundays were for. The subsequent pointless conversations for a full week before the next online battle are just the icing on the cake.
For those who have never given fantasy football a chance, joining the fantasy football league may seem like a pointless undertaking. Who cares about a fantasy team when it’s really all about the favorite or the home team? Well, my friends, it’s time to learn about the joys of building a fantastic team of Gridiron warriors and how to do it.
How to Join a Fantasy Football League Online
Joining a fantasy football league requires commitment. Sunday is no longer holy days. Well, at least not in the traditional sense of the word. Once the decision to join the league is made, football becomes a religion. It is a religion in which prayer is performed at the altar of our television, when kneeling for prayer takes place only for a desperately needed throw from the game, not a flag, and the word “Mother of God” takes on a whole new meaning.
There are two versions of leagues available for membership – public or private – both have their own terms and conditions.
Anyone can join public leagues. Just go to the site, register and apply for the next draft. Once the allocated membership slots are full, the draft will begin. Nothing special.
Private leagues require the invitation to be sent by the league owner. Once the invitation is received, the passcode or link will grant access.
When it comes to getting started, a private league is similar to a public one with a few minor differences. Draft times are usually firmly established and determined by the league owner and most of the rules. Participants can receive their contribution if the owner decides to accept it, but ultimately he or she sets the course.
Some private leagues can last longer than one season, but they can change from season to season at the discretion of the coaches and the owner. Called either Dynasty Leagues or Guardian Leagues, these leagues will require even more serious commitment as the right to brag all year long hangs in the balance.
Best Fantasy Football Leagues Sites
Best Fantasy Soccer Leagues Website
There are many different websites offering Fantasy Football League registration, most of which require little more than an account to start playing.
We believe the below host sites are best for both fantasy football beginners and experts alike.
Yahoo!
Yahoo! was one of the first popular sites to offer fantasy football. It has an easy-to-use interface, real-time stats tracking, and its own fantasy analysis that many fans return to season after season.
ESPN
When we think of American sports, we think of ESPN. ESPN offers comprehensive analysis across a wide range of media, including web content, podcasts and Sunday morning pre-game fantasy shows. ESPN is one of the best fantasy football sites.
NFL.com
It’s hard to talk about American football and not think about the NFL. NFL.com has come a long way in viewing fantasy sports as a key component of the league’s popularity. The organization offers many integrated features with fantasy football, including fantasy statistics shown in stadiums and posting on the official fantasy football service.
CBS
CBS is the perfect place for fans of more detailed fantasy football. Extensive playing time analysis, injury reports and drafts help you build your perfect squad week after week.
Fox Sports
Another common name in American sports is Fox Sports. Committed to developing fantasy sports, Fox Sports offers a highly detailed fantasy service with a lot of online content going beyond a weekly customization, including the ability to join the fantasy football league.
My Fantasy League
This site is a lesser-known paid fantasy host site that boasts an incredible amount of leagues and interface customization. It has won numerous industry awards and takes our fantasy football skills to the next level.
Old School DIY League
Some leagues are moving away from the fantastic convenience of a one-stop site and prefer the pencil method of calculating statistics and plotting. Old school players focus on deals and lineups throughout the week and either meet in person or dial their changes over the phone.
These leagues are generally also Guardian leagues and are great for friendly encounters that can also bring a little bit of competitive fun.
Upgrade our list
Choosing players to add to the roster during and after draft requires some foresight, research, and know-how. It can also depend on the league draft format.
Standard Draft is the most popular choice using the snake style. This means that the order of the draft in each round will change from the first team to the last, and then return from the last team to the first.
The league itself is usually defined as face-to-face, which means that the winner is determined by the positions in the squad versus the positions in the opposing squad, or by the total points, where the winner is determined by adding all the points earned by all the players in the squad versus the total score opponents.
Auction Project – This type of project is similar to an auction. Each player is given a predetermined amount of fantasy money to place bets on specific players who appear in the draft. Whoever makes the highest bet by the end of time wins that player in his squad.
There are other types of drafts and leagues, but these are the most notable.
Search Tools
After joining the fantasy football league, the statistical analysis provided by the hosting site is available for use. They tend to provide a good overview of weekly trades and top players to look out for. However, to become a true fantasy expert, there are other tools and sites that can give you an edge over the competition.
PFF, Fantasy Pros, 4for4 and Playerline are just a few of what is on the market. Each provides detailed player analysis, predictions, draft assistance, and weekly rankings covering all or most league formats. Some will even offer a mobile app so that we can make the best lineup decisions at the last second.
There are many different sites and tools at your disposal, but they were the ones we especially liked. Fantasy football has gained in popularity pretty quickly over the years and is not going to decline anytime soon. Give it a try and tell us what you think.
–