The 2022 NFL season kicks off this Thursday much to the delight of fans everywhere, and in particular to those (of us) who play fantasy football. The usual fantasy football highs and lows will be felt by millions, including players across Major League Soccer.
In many MLS locker rooms, fantasy football is a big deal. Like, a really big deal.
“I’m a dedicated fantasy footballer,” said Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Michael Nelson, who also serves the team’s fantasy football commissioner. “It gets pretty heated. Guys get into the draft process, the week to week, the trash talk in the locker room, the controversy about trades… all of it.”
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ESPN spoke with players across multiple MLS teams about their respective fantasy football leagues, and while there are some teams that don’t have an organized league — “That’s pretty sad,” said D.C. United midfielder Russell Canouse — those that do revel in the activity.
Across the board, most teams have a 12-team, .5 PPR (points per reception) league. Ironically, the large majority of league commissioners are goalkeepers.
“It’s usually the intelligent guys on the team that take over, so I’m not surprised,” said New England Revolution shot-stopper Earl Edwards Jr.
The process to join the fantasy league is usually open to those who are interested, unless it’s the Seattle Sounders.
“You have to be voted into our league,” said Sounders forward Will Bruin. “If a guy moves on from Seattle, that spot opens, but you have to apply. This year we have two spots open. One year we had people submit resumes, which was really funny.”
Edwards Jr. was certain that fellow goalkeeper Matt Turner would be joining the Revs’ fantasy league for the 2021 season, but after returning from winning the Gold Cup last summer with the United States men’s national team (and since moved on from New England to join Arsenal), Turner’s plans changed.
“Matt ditched us last year. He was in a team with only national team players, so if you want to throw that in there, that would be great,” quipped Edwards. “We thought that he just wasn’t bought into fantasy football, but come to find out a few weeks into the season he was in a national team league.”
‘Keeper conspiracies and bad chicken wings
Once the league is organized, the next order of business is a draft to select teams. This is where things can get hairy.
Take the Revs’ 2021 draft. Edwards serves as league commissioner, and he used a golfing ‘closest to the pin’ contest to determine draft order — using Edwards’ pitching wedge. Edwards himself emerged victorious, sparking outrage among his teammates.
“They knew the rules ahead of time; they can’t dispute the results after the fact. That’s on them,” said an incredulous Edwards.
