Dear Fantasy Football

Like it or not, fantasy football content creators need to stop ignoring the world around us.

When news started to spread about another mass shooting involving children, the weight of the tragedy forced a long-time detached group to speak out about the horror. Debates ensued across fantasy football platforms–gun control vs. mental health, Second Amendment Rights, and American culture. But overall, the moment provided a much-needed discourse—something most approach with reluctance.

We watched this play out two years ago after when Minneapolis police murdered George Floyd. People felt compelled to speak out, others forced or coerced. However, like most social media accounts, the status quo was quickly resumed by everyone. Looking back, certain flashpoints in politics and culture elicit responses from small groups while others continue with blinders on, focusing on content, fantasy football, and sports.

The hesitancy needs to stop.

The decision not to step into political, societal, and cultural realms is a calculated measure for most. Most believe that by choosing not to take a position, you limit the chances of alienating supporters, affecting your chances of success. Others, however, just feel more comfortable “staying in their lane” and producing fantasy football content.

It is entirely understandable not to speak on these issues. Fantasy Football is a game about a game. So why would one feel it necessary to talk about heavy thoughts and ideas, especially when most engagements are lighthearted and fun? 

Life is heavy. The people you are reaching come from all walks of life and deal with issues and traumas most of us are not even aware of existing. There is no telling the effect one would have by simply not sticking to sports. By acknowledging the world around us instead of attempting to distract and divert, we can open up the opportunity for honest conversations. Who knows what that could do for the people who receive your content.

To sit idly by and do or say nothing, fantasy football content creators should realize their inaction is doing damage. 

When Cleveland traded for Deshaun Watson, many chose to separate Watson–the quarterback–from the alleged sexual abuser. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, every 68 seconds an American is sexually assaulted. Additionally, 1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape. By consciously deciding to make that distinction, you also chose to invalidate the experience of sexual abuse survivors. Based on those RAINN stats, more than likely someone who views your content is not able to make that same divider between, quarterback and alleged abuser due to a personal experience.

According to Psych Central, Emotional Invalidation “can lead to feelings of worthlessness and self-isolation. These feelings can then impact day-to-day life — at work, at home, and in relationships.”

The simple choice of sticking to fantasy football–and in this instance, Watson’s value on the field, is having the adverse effect of creating the fun, carefree environment a game within a game is supposedly supposed to provide. Something we all say we are trying to uphold. An environment that is inclusive, positive, and supportive of everyone is not attainable if we continue with a mindset based on an insular fantasy football world.

The same can be said towards other marginalized and underrepresented groups like BIPOC and LGTBQ+. Choosing silence on issues that affect people who produce and consume fantasy football content speaks volumes.

With diversity at a premium in this space, it is incumbent on us to pick up the mantle. Oddly enough, according to some experts, fantasy football is the ideal forum. 

Psychologist Dr. Gordon Allport said, “contact between two groups can promote tolerance and acceptance, but only under certain conditions, such as equal status among groups and common goals.” On an equal playing field, like the fantasy football community, we can positively affect the prevalence of prejudice towards underrepresented groups.

Recently, we have seen bigotry, bullying, sexism, racism, and hate espoused on fantasy football social media sites. After the initial fervor disappears, what remains in its aftermath? The immediate impact on those marginalized groups is long-lasting. The effects range from “low self-esteem to a higher risk for developing stress-related disorders such as anxiety and depression,” said Vickie Mays, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health professor in the department of health policy and management.

For most, sports and fantasy football create a distraction from the world around them. For others, however, there is no distraction from the impending threat to their way of life, or worse, their actual health, mental and physical.

What we fail to realize is that all of it is connected. The sports and politics intersection has always been a blurred line, from boxer Jack Johnson in the early 1900s to Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles in the past few years. We choose to ignore or create a distinct separation between the games we play and discuss and the world around them.

You cannot adequately cover the NFL and Fantasy Football without acknowledging an athlete’s political, cultural, and societal impact. The sooner we recognize having a voice in a public space comes with responsibility, the greater the possibility of enacting change within our circles and hopefully allow the ripple effect to improve our society.

The best part, it takes very little to make those ripples. In a space that is white, male dominant, follow and engage with more women, more BIPOC, more LGTBQ+. Listen and Learn.

If Cordarrelle Patterson can be a top 10 fantasy football running back at age 30, there’s still hope for all of us yet.

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