Fantasy Sports Review: What’s New in Fantasy Football?

Fantasy sports are a growing industry, fueled by the passion of sports fanatics from around the globe. Each fantasy sport web site has its own draw and unique advantages. According to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, the United States is home to over 27 million fantasy sports players. As fantasy sports communities become more popular new fantasy web sites, applications, drafting tools, social networks, podcasts and forums are popping up all over the Internet and the competition to create the ultimate fantasy sports experience is fierce. But why not? Just like in real sports, in fantasy sports winning matters!

Fantasy Football: The #1 Fantasy Sport

Fantasy football is by far the most popular fantasy sport online. In a report from EA Sports titled “Fantasy Football Myths Debunked” by EA Expert Keith Ruston, “It's estimated 15-20 million people play fantasy football. Fantasy football is not just for nerds it’s for successful professionals, intelligent strategists and sports diehards. So, what are some of the most recent developments in fantasy football? Let’s take a look!

Stinkball.com: A New Twist on Fantasy Football

On May 1, 2009 Real McCoy Fantasy Sports in Asheville, North Carolina released the fantasy football website Stinkball.com. Stinkball.com offers fantasy football enthusiasts a different take on fantasy football contests. According to the contest rules in order to win you must pick players you believe will have the worst performances this season. According to a Fantasy Sports Business newsletter sent on May 21, 2009 the most exciting features of Stinkball.com are the weekly and season pass options along with the large cash prizes. Stinkball.com currently offer a free demo and the ability to create a member account and purchase a team at an early bird discount.  Web site members can expect the fully functional system to be completed and tested by August 1, 2009.

ESPN.com’s 2009 Facelift: Fantasy Football for the Individual

By now you have probably seen the recently redesigned ESPN.com. If not, go check it out. The web site navigation has been simplified and fantasy sports options have greatly expanded.  According to the January 9, 2009 article “The New ESPN.com: Is It All Fantasy?” by Jacob on FantasyFootballFools.com, “ESPN is trying to make it easier for visitors to get to what they need, want and crave from their sports coverage…I think ESPN is gunning to become more of a tool and direct resource for fantasy sports fans.” ESPN.com also offers a host of personalized features as part of the myESPN account. Site visitors’ preferences and settings will now follow them as they surf the site.  All in all, the new version of ESPN.com creates an easier and more satisfying experience for fantasy football players.

Fantasy Football Joins Forces with Facebook.com

Since the fall of 2008 fantasy football and Facebook have been in bed together. Facebook has achieved unprecedented success over the last year and is smart enough to know the value of getting in on a lucrative market like fantasy sports. So, now you can hang with your friends online and get your fantasy football game on too. Uniting the power of Facebook applications with fantasy football (and other fantasy sports) allows fantasy sports companies to identify where sports fanatics are gathered and bring the games to them. In a Washington Times article published on September 9, 2008, written by Tim Lemke, titled “Need a fantasy football fix? Facebook may be the new place to get it,” Mike Kerns, founder and CEO of Citizen Sports, states, “What we found, in our opinion, is that more and more people are going to [fewer] sites. The companies in the next generation that will stand to benefit are those that direct their information to where most people spend their time.”

In addition to a variety of new Facebook applications, Facebook.com is also joining forces with LeagueFinder to create a Facebook application to help fantasy football players find the perfect league. According to the article “Fantasy Sports Finds a Matchmaker” written by Wall Street Journal reporter Nando Di Fino on March 26, 2009, “Anyone with a Facebook account can access LeagueFinder. After revealing as much or as little as you'd like about the kind of league you want to join, and your matches appear immediately. LeagueFinder allows a fantasy player to choose difficulty level, league size, the entry fee and several other sorting characteristics.”

So, these are just a few of the changes in fantasy football that may affect you as the 2009 season begins. Always explore the new features and tools fantasy sports web sites of all kinds are offering. The majority have been created to enhance the fantasy player’s experience and to continue evolving fantasy games to the next level. Look to the future and you will catch a glimpse of what fantasy football can be.