by Louis Georges

Created on: December 04, 2008   Last Updated: August 24, 2009

The popularity of fantasy football has mushroomed since the 1990s. This hobby is so intoxicating that many learn how to play fantasy football only because a friend or loved one has become consumed, and the only option is to find out what all the fuss is about. Before you know it, another fantasy football devotee is born.

The key to understanding the appeal of this game is to understand the basic fantasy football rules. A fantasy football league consists of a group of people who "own" individual teams within the league. Each team is populated with real players, and the performance of the fantasy team is tied directly to the performance of the players in real life.

There are numerous types of fantasy football leagues. Most leagues are head-to-head, in which teams play against each other according to a schedule. There may even be multiple divisions, and there are typically play-offs at the end of the season.

The biggest differentiators among fantasy football leagues is the type of scoring. The two basic types are:

Touchdown your team scores points only when one of your players scores points;

Performance your team scores points based on the statistics amassed by your players.

A special variation of the performance scoring league is the points-per-reception (PPR) league. In a PPR league, a player gets one additional point every time he catches a pass.

To illustrate the differences, suppose that Larry Fitzgerald catches a 37-yd touchdown pass. The points his owner would receive in each type of league might be:

Touchdown league

6 pt for the touchdown reception

Standard performance

3 pt for the 37-yd completion (1 pt for every 10 yd)

6 points for the touchdown

PPR

1 pt for the reception,

3 pt for the 37-yd completion

6 pt for the touchdown.

The team's total score is the sum of the contributions from the individual players. A typical starting lineup might be:

1 quarterback

2 running backs

2 wide receivers

1 tight end

1 flex player (RB, WR, or TE)

1 kicker

1 team defense.

Each week, the owner must choose which players to plug into each position of the starting lineup, hopefully selecting the players that will perform the best that week.

Selecting and adjusting your team is where the fun is and where the owner's skill is displayed. Do you start your #1 quarterback against a stingy defense in bad weather, or do you start your #2 quarterback at home against a weak defense? Should you drop your veteran 2nd-string RB and pick up the rookie who has just earned a starting job in the NFL? Do you start your #1 WR when his receptions will be coming from your opponent's QB?

The camaraderie of the league, the thrill of competition, and the joy of building your own team add an element to football season that transcends the fun of watching a good game or even the allegiance to an NFL team. You now have an allegiance to your own team.

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