Like many students at Central, I’ve been an active participant in NFL fantasy football leagues for quite some time. It’s hard to be oblivious to the fact that fantasy football has become an obsession among students from all grades. Many have wagered high amounts of money to “buy-in” to a league, and some students can get extremely competitive. Ultimately, the fantasy football fad begs the question – has it gone too far?

Being in a league myself, I believe that the competition around fantasy football is healthy and beneficial to high schoolers, especially at Central. For many kids, academic competition is a constant battle and the pressure for good grades overwhelms the student body. I’m a strong advocate for the argument that fantasy football provides a necessary break from academic competition and shifts to a more friendly rivalry over fantasy football.

Each week relies on adding or dropping players to a roster in order to have the best chance of scoring more than your opponent.

“The stakes are sometimes high, but in the end it’s just friendly competition,” said Matt Bradley, junior. “People like to capitalize on the opportunity to beat their friends and win bragging rights, which makes fantasy so fun.”

Bragging rights, as Bradley pointed out, are a major factor in the reason my peers and I love to play. Even after the football season is over, the fantasy football victor brags for months on end. Being that winner comes with the heavy cash prize and the awesome ability to be able to call yourself victorious.

Fantasy football has become a phenomenon across all groups at Central. In one league, $2,000 is the cash prize for the champion. Although some may argue that fantasy football has spiraled out of control, I’m a firm believer that the friendly competition is both necessary and enjoyable for students at Central and elsewhere.