Fantasy football is an online game in which people draft individual players off of professional football teams.  They then receive points for how well their players perform during NFL games.

In 2012 it was estimated by consulting firm Challenger, Gray, and Christmas that American companies lose $6.5 billion a year due to fantasy football. Thats right, 6.5 billion dollars a year, all because of an online game.

While the figures seem absurd, Challenger, Gray, and Christmas’s report explains that each of the 20.2 million employed adults who are estimated to play fantasy football in the United States spend an average of one hour a week toying with their fantasy team, and considering the average wage is $19.33 an hour, the totals add up quickly.

Even though students playing fantasy football doesn’t cost the economy $6.5 billion, they spend some of their time playing fantasy football, either watching their players play in games, or changing their team and setting their lineup. Time that could otherwise be spent studying or participating in activities.

The question is, why is the game so addicting?

One main reason is the fact that the National Football League is by far the most successful sports league in America.  Taking in an average of $9.5 billion in annual revenue per year, the NFL eclipses many other sports in popularity.  Football fans often look for any way to be more involved in football, and fantasy adds yet another reason to watch games every Sunday.

For McLean students it is a fun opportunity to socialize with friends through football. In fact many students play in a league with people who participate in the same clubs and activities as them.

“My tuba section has a league,” sophomore marching band member Matt Steelberg said.

For some students, fantasy football helps connect with friends they don’t see very often.

“It’s a fun way to keep in touch with my friends even if I don’t see them in my classes,” sophomore Tanner Theisen said.

Playing fantasy football enables McLean students, and more than 20 million other people across the country, to feel like NFL coaches every Sunday