Fantasy Football Brings Us Further From Death: Yes, You Should Join One More League

Yes. You should join that fantasy football league.

I'd further argue that you need to join that fantasy football league.

Fantasy football, as a form of "play", is a safe space for us to try new things, problem-solve, create and be social creatures.

So, join the league. It’s good for you. Here’s why:

“In play it is as though he were a head taller than himself." — Lev Vygotsky

On Sundays, I’m not the sweet lady who bakes cinnamon rolls for all the kids at the sleepover. No. I’m the person talking sh*t to everyone in the group chat because my WR just scored at TD in the first two minutes of the game.

On Mondays, I’m not the woman who cleans the litter box with one hand while pinching my nose with the other. No. I’m the woman kicking your ass with a backup RB that I picked up on waivers last week.

And on Thursdays, I'm not 'mommy'. I'm "Saquon Deez".

When we play fantasy football, we are allowed the freedom to step outside of our daily roles as parents, employees and siblings.

When we play fantasy football, we are a head taller than ourselves.

And that's pretty important, don't you think?

“The Work of Childhood is Play” — Jean Piaget

When we’re young, we’re encouraged to experience life through play. It's expected of us. Play is a safe space for us to try on different roles, learn about the world, and advance cognitively.

But somewhere along the way, we decided play is only for kids.

Yet here we are, well into adulthood, creating games all the same. Not only have we devised very specific scoring systems, but we’ve found a way to let 11 other people play the game along with us.

We yearn for a place to play with our friends.

If the work of childhood is play, the work of adulthood is figuring out ways to keep the play alive.

"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." — George Bernard Shaw

I asked some friends online about their favorite memories from playing fantasy football. While some described the winning part, many shared memories from moments that happened in between the matchups.

Fantasy football gives us a context to play with the people we love.

And those are the memories we take with us.

Because it's never been about the winning. Not really.

“The most serious thing about play is that it minimizes the consequences of one's actions and, hence, minimizes the risk of injury or failure." — Jerome Bruner

We pretend to have control over the outcome of grown men in cleats without ever having to lace up a shoe ourselves.

There's something uniquely beautiful about the infrastructure of play we've built through fantasy football leagues.

There are consequences, risks and failure, sure. But none so grand in stature that we stand to lose anything more than a buy-in worthy of a few gallons of gas … and maybe our ego.

The truth of the matter is, we enjoy fantasy football because play is essential—At any age.

So, the next time someone gives you hell for playing this imaginary game, remind them that play is the work of childhood, and it's bringing you further from death.

Published Jun 15, 2026, 6:46 AM ET