Love and Lineups: How to Survive Fantasy Football Season as a Couple

(And still like each other)

Fantasy football season is beginning. The Scott Fish Bowl live drafts start this weekend. Experts’ opinions are running wild. Soon our Sunday afternoons will be spoken for.

What happens when your significant other is just as obsessed (or maybe not at all obsessed), and you share a home, a couch and a league? Whether you are both fantasy fanatics or one of you is just in it for the snacks, here’s a helpful guide to survive – and thrive – as a fantasy football couple.

1. Set Ground Rules Before Draft Day. If you’re in the same league, set your rules early and stick with them. Will you help each other? Will you watch each other’s weekly injury report and keep your partner updated on their players? Is trash talk ok or is someone going to end up sleeping on the couch? What about drafting the other’s favorite player? Remember that fantasy is fun – until someone drafts your sleeper Round 8? Couples Tip: Make draft night a date night with snacks, drinks, candles and the whole vibe.
2. Respect the Sunday Schedule. Once the season starts, Sundays, Mondays nights and Thursday nights can be intense. Couples Tip: Schedule time for other things you both enjoy: a walk, brunch, church, or a halftime dance party so football doesn’t eat your entire weekend.
3. Celebrate Wins. Fantasy football brings out the serious competitive side in almost everyone, but in a couple, gloating gets old really fast. Cheer your partner on, even if they just beat you by 0.1 points. Share in each other’s highs and lows especially if you are in different leagues. If your partner wins the whole league and gets a huge trophy belt, let them display it on your favorite knick knack shelf, at least for a little while. Couples Tip: It’s OK not to win this week. Unless you’re in the championship in which case it is all out war. Kidding, maybe.
4. Make It Fun with Couple Challenges: Fantasy football can bring you closer as we have proven over the years. Try adding a fun twist like loser makes dinner or has to clean the house. Couples Tip: Keep in mind this is a game and the ultimate goal is a good relationship.
5. Don’t Let It Take Over Your Relationship. Fantasy football is fun, but your relationship isn’t built on waiver wire and trade proposals. It’s built on connection. Couples Tip: Check in with each other. If one of you is feeling burned out, take a break and go on a football-free date night. You’ll come back refreshed and maybe with a better waiver strategy.

In conclusion, it is just a game, but also, win if you can. Being a fantasy football couple is a unique kind of adventure. You will bond over wins, high-fives and all the friends you make in the fantasy football community. If you keep the fun front and center, your love life and your fantasy life can both be undefeated. We are living proof.