When Fantasy and Reality Collide

This year is the first year I have participated in a real fantasy football league.  I have had to learn all the nuances of how to draft, when to bench someone, when to trade, etc.  The hardest part to deal with has been putting team loyalties aside and drafting players I either dislike or from teams I don't like.

One such player was Drew Brees.  I have not cared for the Saints since their dirty-playing defeat of the Vikings in 2009 in the NFC Championship game.  I thought of Aaron Rogers, but could not stomach drafting a Cheesehead.  So, I settled on Brees, a player I knew could get me some points.  I also grabbed the Chicago defense and a player off the Packers (Cedric Benson until he got hurt). Selena has continuously told me that I have to put my real life loyalties aside and pick players who will score me points.

While trying to follow my wonderful wife's advice, I still picked up a couple of Vikings who have done quite well for me.  Thankfully, Kyle Rudolph is a favorite target of Christian Ponders, so he is my TE and has done quite well for me.  I also grabbed Chad Greenway, my only true loyalty pick.  He is a South Dakota boy, I have his jersey, and a Viking.   That is a great combination.  Plus, he is doing well and getting me good poihts.

Then comes the first Vikings' game I am able to watch on TV.  Vikings Vs. Redskins.  My fantasy match up for the week is against a co-worker who has Harvin and Walsh on his team.  For this game I have Rudolph, Greenway, and the Minnesota Defense.  So while I am cheering for my real-life team to win, I need Harvin to have a poor statistical day for Fantasy purposes.  My disloyalty to my real-life team was punished by me taking a drubbing with my fantasy team.  The loss I took was the largest point spread in our 6-team league so far this year.

I have learned a lot this year about fantasy football, but I don't think I will ever get used to having players on my team that I don't like in real life.