While I won’t readily admit I am a fantasy sports addict, I will admit that the thought that I may be has crossed my mind on more than one occasion. We are just one week from opening day of the NFL’s regular season, I have two season long fantasy drafts scheduled and multiple games on deck on Draftkings and Fanduel. Admittedly, my love for fantasy sports has made every game exciting to me. Sure, the idea of winning money is enticing, but it is much more than that. Fantasy Sports is exciting, competitive and educational. Educational? Yes, educational, like it or not you are a student of the game. Stats, stats and more stats. Admit it, you have caught yourself knowing the preseason completion percentage of a backup QB.
While season long fantasy can be traced back as far as 1962, daily fantasy has only been around since 2007. Daily Fantasy didn’t take off until Fanduel came onto the scene in 2009. Three years later, Boston-based Draftkings jumped into the game and the rest is history. In 2015, both companies, Draftkings and Fanduel were valued at over $1 billion. Daily fantasy popularity has skyrocketed.
Despite legal challenges that daily fantasy has had to overcome, the money has not stopped pouring in. This week, Draftkings has raised over $153 million dollars in new funding. It appears that there is no ending in site to the growth of this industry.
Daily fantasy has forever changed the landscape of fantasy sports. There is no looking back, only forward. Which do you prefer? Season long? Daily?
I’ve weighed the pros and cons.
Pros
Season long- Playing in a league with friends, competition, and multiple draft options.
Daily- Salary Cap draft option, larger payouts, ability to set your team daily (set by matchups, keep up with injuries, focus on specifics), ability to draft any player you want, multiple game options at different price points, competition, and a new chance every day to dominate.
Cons
Season long- Injuries (one could derail your season), smaller payouts, and more preparation.
Daily- I’ll get back to you when I find one.
