How to Play Fantasy Football NFL

Football is one of the most popular sports to watch with its hard-hitting action. Each Sunday, millions of people tune in to watch teams face off on the gridiron. The National Football League is also popular because fans have an interest in rooting for players on their fantasy football team. Fantasy football allows individuals to test their skills in managing a roster of players against fellow fantasy football players.

Instructions

    • 1

      Join a fantasy football league. Leagues are run on the Internet. Free leagues can be found on sites such as Yahoo.com, ESPN.com, and Fleaflicker.com. Other sites allow you to join for a fee. You can also start your own league and invite friends to join.

    • 2

      Prepare for the fantasy football draft. Know who the top players are at each position. Magazines and many online sites provide rankings and detailed analysis of players before the NFL season. Knowledge is power. The more information you have, the better prepared you will be for the draft.

    • 3

      Draft your team. Leagues vary on how many players can be drafted and how many players can start. Know your league rules beforehand. Draft the best players available. Fill all roster positions.

    • 4

      Set your lineup each week. Make sure all starting positions are filled. Keep in mind weather and opposing defenses can play a factor in how many points a player on your fantasy team may receive. Injuries play a major role in football. Do some homework before kickoff to make sure your starting players do not miss a game because of an injury.

    • 5

      Players receive points depending on league rules. It is common for a player to receive six points for every touchdown scored in a game. Points are also awarded for yards gained and catches made. Some leagues offer points for a team's defense or for individual player's stats such as tackles, interceptions and sacks.

    • 6

      Winning your matchup is determined by how many points your team receives. If your team scores more points than your opponent, you win. Leagues have playoffs where a certain number of teams qualify. The team that wins the playoffs is the league champion.