Beyond the Byline: Fantasy football a fun COVID distraction

Well, there is one thing that the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic better not take away — the 2020 fantasy football season.

This is serious stuff.

Every year, millions of people play fantasy football — from neighborhood leagues to online groups.

The phenomenon is so popular, people have actually selected players for their teams with total disregard for what teams the players play for — even if they play for the most bitter of NFL rivals.

For instance, there are fantasy owners who put winning at all costs. Sp if they are, say a New York Jets fan, they will — and I’m not kidding — select players from the New England Patriots. Gasp!

But it’s true.

People who have been bitten by the fantasy football bug can’t help themselves. They want to win. It’s a matter of bragging rights.

Most league rosters consist of a quarterback, two running backs, three receivers, a tight end, a kicker, two defenses and substitutes. Each week they must submit a lineup and play against another team in the league.

Actually, it is great fun.

But along the way, team loyalties are sacrificed.

Is that a bad thing, I ask? Is it wrong to be more loyal to your fantasy football team than to your favorite NFL team?

Many people feel it would be a sin to act that way. As a result, many true blue NFL fans will never participate in a fantasy football league.

But the fact is that fantasy football is a multi-billion dollar industry. There are even fantasy football shows on TV that offer advice on who you should start, sit, drop, or pick up. On who is hot and who’s not. On which offense will fare best against which defense. It’s crazy.

So as the pandemic continues, we have to wonder if the NFL season will ever begin and will it complete its season. We also are now faced with the possibility that players could opt out or be lost to the virus. This has resulted in many leagues creating a new spot on their rosters for COVID-affected players.

I kid you not.

Add to the concern the fact that many leagues will have to forego their annual draft day, where they choose their rosters, eat tons of pizza and wings and maybe throw back a few adult beverages.

The league drafts will most likely have to be done virtually, via computer or telephone. Either of which will not be much fun at all.

And the pre-draft preparations have also been down. Fantasy football magazines — yes, there are many — are not selling as much. Websites have probably seen far less traffic. The uncertainty of having an NFL season has brought serious concern to fantasy football enthusiasts.

I have to say that I sure hope the NFL plays its seasons — in a safe manner, of course.

I can’t imagine what no season would do to fantasy football players. And I really don’t want to find out.

In this pandemic world we have been living in, we need distractions. We need fun. We need something to give us a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

Fantasy football provides all that for many people.

And soon we will hear those first words at fantasy football drafts across the land:

“With the first pick in the Neighborhood Franchise Football League, I select Christian McCaffrey, running back, Carolina Panthers.”

You really didn’t think I was going to select a quarterback, did you?