Fantasy football has become one of the most popular games for sports fans. The game lets people create their own teams using real NFL players. Players earn points each week Diana Hasenpflug’s Sports Medicine 2 class, fantasy football helps students learn about injuries and recovery.
Game Structure
The season begins with a draft, where students choose the players they think will perform well. From there, they manage their lineups weekly, keeping an eye on injuries and making tough decisions about who to start.
“It also causes you to learn more about the sport if you want a chance at winning.” said Arushi Godavarthi ‘26, they believed that you need to know football rules to be able to play, but this is a strategy game. All you need is a good team and a good plan.
Fantasy football in the classroom can be more challenging than playing casually. With more people in the league, students may end up drafting players they have never heard of before. This makes strategy and research even more important.
“Of course, it isn’t always easy. There are more people in the league, so sometimes you’re drafting players you haven’t ever heard about,” said Evan Johnson.
Educational Impact
The game also has an educational twist. When one of their players gets injured, students are required to research the injury. They also write a report and explain how the athlete would go through rehab. This helps them better understand different types of sports injuries and recovery processes, connecting the game directly to what they are learning in class and help them make rehab plans for each individual player who got hurt during the season.
“In this class, fantasy football has a unique purpose. When a student’s player gets injured, they must research the injury, write a report, and explain the rehab process” said Alex Michail ‘26.
Fantasy football is more than just a competition, but a way to connect with classmates, learn about sports injuries, and enjoy football in a whole new way.
“It pushes students to think strategically, stay engaged with football, and most importantly, connect what they learn in class to real-life sports injuries.”said Arushi Godavarthi (26’).
By combining competition with education, the league turns a popular pastime into a fun and meaningful way to learn.
“It’s really fun even if you don’t understand the rules but it all comes down to how your team ends up performing,” said Michail.
