The NFL 2024-2025 season is here. The season opened with the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Baltimore Ravens at ArrowHead Stadium on September 5, 2024. The Chiefs are coming off their 2nd Super Bowl in a row and a postseason run that included an AFC championship game win over QB Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. This game was a thriller with the Chiefs beating the Ravens 27-20. The game averaged 29.2 million viewers, making it the most watched game during the NFL’s first week. There are many ways to get involved with the NFl season. Fantasy football and sports betting are two of the most popular ways to get involved during the season:
Fantasy Football
One way that you can join the fun is with fantasy football. Although you would have already had to draft your team by now, you could always participate in it next year. Fantasy football is when you get a group of people together (4-32 people) and draft a lineup of players from the NFL. Each teams has 6 bench players and an IR spot just in case someone from your team gets hurt. The group leader (Commissioner) will decide how many slots each position will have. Not only will he decide that, but he will decide if you play PPR (Points per Reception) or Standard. PPR stands for Points Per Reception. That means every time someone catches the ball they will also get a point along with the yards the player gets. Most people use PPR in their fantasy league. Here are a few people’s opinions on fantasy football and their experience.
Timberlane student Caleb Goldman stated, “I think it is great, it gets people involved in the sport. It makes them watch the sport more. It is a fun way for people to be competitive with their friends.” Fantasy football isn’t just for high school students, it’s available for all ages and is fun for everyone.
TRHS Teacher Mr. Kelly says, “I don’t play Fantasy football myself, just because my schedule doesn’t allow me to do all the research it would take to build a good team and continue to follow it. I definitely pay attention to people from different teams and I have friends that play fantasy and ask me for advice because I teach History of Sports.”
Real Sports betting
Sports betting can be a dangerous game. There are many different apps to sports bet on like draft kings for example. Mr. Kelly was also asked if, since sports betting was legal and you can bet at the age of 18, should there be a spending limit? He responded,“I don’t know what the price would be, but I would say if it was legal for young people to bet on these sports betting apps there definitely should be a limit to it. For two reasons, one because most teenagers don’t really have a high budget and don’t really have the option to make a lot of money because they are in school and number two I think the older you get the more you learn about your limits and about something like betting can become addictive and something that can be a negative thing in your life.”
Sports betting under 18
There are many different ways to get involved with the NFL season, and if you’re under the legal age to bet, you can use other betting apps with fake money. When you win, you can bet your winnings,, but there is no harm if you lose because you’re not betting real money.. This is a way you can join in on the fun without feeling pressure of losing money. Apps like Fliff offer this. On Fliff, you can switch out coins for gift cards if you win enough of them, but there is no way of losing your money because you’re betting with coins that the app gives you. Fliff does also offer a way to play with money, but makes it very clear when you’re using coins or actually money. If you’re not trying to spend money, or you’re under 18, there is always a way to join the fun.
Watching games, playing fantasy, and Sports betting are all great ways to join the fun. People all around the world join together and have a great time during the NFL season. I hope you join the fun soon!
