Life Lessons to be Learned in Fantasy Football

In 2015, I joined a Fantasy Football league.  For anyone that knows me well, this would have probably been some extremely shocking news.  Most people might have said to me, “Don’t you have enough football in your life already?”  You see, my husband and son are avid football fans…of ALL football.  My son played football at the time.  My husband coached at the time.  They’ve played Fantasy Football for years.  Additionally, my husband used to occasionally play flag football with the church.  They both watch…and watch…and watch…both NFL and college ball.  So basically, football is a 7 day/week phenomenon at our house with all the practicing, playing, and watching.  Thus, why I’ve come to despise it.  I’ve often referred to myself as a football widow.

You might see then why joining a Fantasy Football league seemed counterintuitive.  However, a friend somehow convinced me that it would be good for me (and my family), and for some crazy reason, I agreed with her!  More or less, it’s a “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” philosophy.  My choice to join them was based on wanting to be a part of something that they enjoy so much, even if it’s not an interest of mine.  I hoped that I would also learn to love and enjoy it as they do (well, maybe not quite as much!).  My friend promised me I would have fun, so I told her I was going to hold her to it!

Shared experiences

I also looked forward to the benefits that come from sharing experiences.  According to clinical psychologist Dr. Willard Harley, recreational companionship is one of the top five needs for a man in marriage.  In fact, he puts it this way, “The couple that plays together stays together.”[i]

Recreational companionship is one of the top needs for a man in marriage.

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Although I don’t necessarily agree with all of Dr. Harley’s insinuations that unmet needs are the cause of affairs, I do believe in the importance of shared or common interests and recreational companionship.  Eric and I do this in other areas too.  For example, we both love going to auctions and estate sales. We love being outdoors and on the water and enjoying a few other common interests together.

Now, football (or any sport for that matter) might not be my top preference, but it IS my husband’s and also my son’s.  Therefore, because it’s important to them, I chose to make it important to me.  Who was to say that I might not even really enjoy myself?  I wouldn’t know unless I gave it a try.  Don’t get me wrong though, I definitely still think there can be a ditch there.  When our lives revolve around football, I think that’s really sad…and almost idolatry.  For the time, though, I chose to be a part of the madness. And I figured I might as well get some good blog posts out of it as well! 😉

Here are a few life lessons I learned from Fantasy Football…

1. Get Counsel

There’s NO WAY I would have been able to play Fantasy Football without the help and advice of others.  Even seasoned players do research and get advice and counsel on who to draft for their team based on projected statistics.  At our draft, there were helpful cheat sheets, newspaper articles, and research from ESPN and other sports news networks being used to help determine roster picks.  I learned that it’s wise to do your research and get advice from people who know what they’re talking about.

The same is true in life.  We need to seek the advice and counsel of others, especially those ahead of us or from those more experienced than us.  It’s also a good idea to use a variety of sources.

 “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22 (ESV)

“The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.” Proverbs 12:15 (NIV)

2. Have a Strategy

Apparently, just as in the game of football, there is a need for planning and strategy when playing Fantasy Football as well.  At our draft, I noticed that each person had different strategies in play.  Some picked their quarterbacks first, some had specific players and/or teams in mind for their fantasy team, and most drafted running backs early on (because apparently, they earn you the most points).  All the strategies were keeping an end goal in mind of winning the most points.

In life, we must also have strategies.  We should set goals, and take actions necessary to achieve those goals (read more about goal setting here).

“Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5 (NLT)

3. Pick the Right Players 

In Fantasy Football, you must have the right players on your roster if you plan to win.  I learned that you need players with a variety of strengths to have a successful team. Additionally, you’ll want to pick players that earn a lot of points, but it’s also important to keep in mind that you want players who stay out of trouble.  For example, a mistake I made early on was picking a player that was suspended for the first 4 games for substance abuse.  I messed up twice here because I didn’t do my research first AND I picked the wrong player.  Although I’ve been told I can play him after his suspension has been lifted–it just went against my grain to have a “punk” substance abuser on my team!  Maybe I should have prayed for him instead of getting so frustrated. 🙂

Life lessons here are that we need the right players or people in our lives.  We need to surround ourselves with good people, good friends, and people with different strengths that can help us to grow in different areas.  The wrong football players will cause you to lose in Fantasy Football, and the wrong friends will cause you to lose in life.

“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:20 (ESV)

“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” (Proverbs 12:26 NIV)

4. Know the Rules

I’ve been told that to be successful in Fantasy Football, you need to know the rules.  You need to know how the draft works for your league.  You need to know how many players and what positions to play each week.  It’s also important to know how the scoring and points system works to adequately position your roster.  Failure to know and abide by the rules can cost you.

In life, we must also have rules and guidelines by which we govern ourselves.  Without boundaries, we will run wild and make bad decisions.  We need to live by God’s rules to be truly successful in life—their sole intention is to guide us to success.  To live by God’s commandments, we need to know what they are.  We need to spend time in His word, in the Bible, and learn what it says.  We need to follow the wisdom, guidance, and direction already laid out before us.

“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” Joshua 1:8 (NLT)

5. Manage Your Lineup

In Fantasy Football you have you manage your team roster and weekly lineup (i.e. who you’re putting in to play each week).  To do this you’ll have to look at player and point predictions to plan out your current week.  On top of that, you have to actually watch the games and pay attention to the players on your roster.  Some players may get injured, get suspended, or have a bye week where their team doesn’t play.  In these cases, it’s important to pay attention and stay organized because you’ll need to pull a different player from your roster to replace them.

This all involves some time management and organizational skills, both of which are also necessary life skills to be successful.  A lack of organization may cost you some games in Fantasy Football, and an unorganized life is a chaotic one not prone to attracting success.

“Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds” Proverbs 27:23 (NIV)

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16 (ESV)

6. Make Changes and Improvements as Necessary

I was told that I had to stay diligent and efficient with my team.  There were times that I needed to drop, trade, or add players to my roster.  I needed to always be looking at how to improve my team and increase my chances of winning.

In life, we must always strive to improve as well.  We must always be changing and growing to be successful or to hold on to success.  We must always keep pressing toward the mark.

“Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds” Proverbs 27:23 (NLT)

“I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3:12-14 (NLT)

7. Have Fun

I think the whole point of Fantasy Football is to enjoy yourself.  It’s meant to be fun!  So is life.  God sent Jesus not only to save us but to give us an abundant, rich, and blessed life.

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” John 10:10 (NLT) 

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” 1 Timothy 6:17 (NIV)

Take Some Practical Steps for Success From Fantasy Football:

• First, seek advice from others.

Don’t be too proud to ask for help.  Ask more than one person that you trust for advice.

• Second, set goals and take actions toward achieving those goals.

Develop ongoing strategies for success in your life, and work toward achieving those goals.

• Next, surround yourself with the right people.

Make sure you have the right friends. Hang out with people more successful than you.  Avoid troublemakers.

• Follow God’s guidance for your life.

Spend time reading and studying the bible to find out God’s will for your life.  Obey what He tells you to do.  Remember that God’s “rules” are in place to make us successful.

• Get organized and manage your time wisely.

Chaos is not a godly characteristic nor is it characteristic of successful people.  1 Corinthians 14:33 says that God is not a God of confusion but of peace.  An unmanaged life is not a peaceful one.

• Then, always seek to improve.

Don’t be a know-it-all.  You always have room for change and growth.

• Finally, have fun!

Enjoy your life.  God wants to you live and lead a full and happy life full of love.  If you are full of love, you can spill that love out onto others and make them hunger for what you have.

Have YOU learned any life lessons from Fantasy Football?  Tell us about it by leaving a comment below!

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Update: Originally posted 9/1/2015

[i] Harley, William F. His Needs, Her Needs: Building an Affair-Proof Marriage. Fleming H. Revell, 2001.