shades fills you in

Let’s start with some numbers. In 2021, more than 40 million Americans played fantasy football. The worldwide fantasy market grossed $22.3 billion, and football was the most popular -- Sportsfinding.com

“Uh, what is fantasy football?” SI explains that you draft players from across all NFL teams. They score points based on measurable stats, and just like in real sports the most points wins

When fantasy sports were first getting popular, The NY Post said a key draw was fans getting to play general manager

Scotscoop says it’s super fun! You get to connect with (and talk smack to) your friends and family. Who doesn’t love a little friendly competition?

Healthy competition is good for us, says Norfolk Daily News, and fantasy allows for that. It also supports critical thinking and builds relationships

Fans on this Quora thread say fantasy helps when your favorite team sucks. It’s a separate reason to love the NFL and pay attention

Monster.com thinks fantasy football is great for workplace morale. Coworkers are more connected and have something to chat about

But Challenger-Gray says that comes at a steep price: Workers distracted by fantasy football could be costing U.S. employers $9 billion!

And for some, it ruins the game. This NYT blogger got so caught up in fantasy stats he stopped being able to be a regular fan

It can also make you pull your hair out, says Bleacher Report. Especially if you bench a guy who then promptly runs for 200+ yards and 3 touchdowns

USA Today describes all the ways someone can take it too far. A sure tell that you’ve crossed the line is looking at your fantasy app more than the actual games

Yes, some can get legitimately addicted, writes Men’s Journal, and it ruins their lives. It leads to broken relationships, job loss, and of course loss of money from failed bets

One NY man got so addicted he lost his family and ran up $150k in debt -- The NY Post

Another issue? Some players think it dehumanizes them, writes Insider. In 2017, Richard Sherman said fantasy fans only care about a player’s health when it affects their fantasy scores

After Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the field, ESPN’s Ryan Clark used the moment to remind fantasy fans that players literally put “their lives on the line” every time they suit up

For a fictional depiction of what it’s like for fantasy fanatics, check out the FX-produced show “The League”. Rotten Tomatoes says people liked it

Think fantasy is for you? Rookie-Road gives the lowdown on the top places to play online