FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- Fantasy football season is here and Soldiers, civilians and family members across Fort Jackson are preparing to build their perfect teams.
"I started playing when I was a teenager and have continued playing ever since," said Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Odom, who belongs to three leagues, including one with his unit, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment. "When playing fantasy football every game matters. It is no longer about your favorite team or players."
Fantasy football is a game in which participants build an imaginary team of NFL players and score points based on those players' actual stats each week. The two main types of competition formats are head-to-head, with weekly games played against specific opponents, and total points, in which the cumulative points at the end of the season determine the winner.
Leagues may consist of four to as many as 20 teams and vary in rules and drafting formats. Each team owner must designate which players from the team roster will start each week. The starters are the only players who can score points.
"One of the reasons I play is so that I can come to work and talk trash with the other players in the league," Odom said. "Just being able to share the season and fun with friends and family makes it exciting."
Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Dawson, who has played in Company C, 2-60th, for the past two seasons said fantasy football can be a little difficult for those who have never played before.
"My first year I was new to the whole fantasy football concept and it was really frustrating learning and getting messed with for not doing well," Dawson said. "When one of your reserve players does better than someone you had starting, it can get frustrating, too."
Members of all five branches of the military are invited to play in a free fantasy football league that features such prizes as $100,000, a trip to Super Bowl XLV and championship rings. The League is sponsored by Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation. Registration and drafts must be completed by Sept. 12.
"The great thing about the MRW league is that an unlimited number of players can play for free," said John Pure, league director. "A lot of leagues cost money and now thousands of Soldiers can play for absolutely no cost."
Participants can create an account and begin drafting teams at www.mwrfantasysports.com. Each player can draft up to 60 teams. Each player will draft and play a full season against 11 other players.
Rosters will consist of 20 players and starting lineups are made up of nine offensive players and one defensive or special teams player.
The league is for entertainment purposes, Pure said, and may not be used in connection with any form of gambling. It is open to all active duty personnel, their family members, retirees, reservists, National Guard and DoD civilians.
All participants must be 18 years of age or older at the time of registration and have public or private Internet access as of Sept. 15. The overall military winner, based on the total number of points throughout the season, will receive a trip for two to Super Bowl XLV in Dallas on Feb. 6.
"Having all of our service members around the world playing is pretty cool," Pure said. "And the bottom line is it doesn't cost anything."
Other fantasy football leagues can be found on espn.com and yahoo.com.
"Playing in a fantasy football league makes the NFL games more fun all around," Dawson said. "Everyone has his or her own favorite teams and you want to root for your team, but you have the opposing quarterback on your fantasy team which makes you want to root for him, too."
Although participating in a league can be fun, it also has its downside.
"One of the most frustrating things about it is you could be having a great season and then your No. 1 overall pick gets injured for the year," Odom said. "You are then left scrambling to find a suitable replacement. But that is also what makes it exciting."
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