Fantasy Football: Kirk Cousins down, Jameson Williams up - ESPN

Fantasy football is a passion for many. Sometimes that passion causes fantasy managers to make emotional decisions even when the data suggests otherwise. Each week during the 2023 NFL season Liz Loza will attempt to strike a balance between what the data states and what the heart wants. This is called Facts vs. Feelings.

It's my birthday.

That's all I've got, really. I'm not a big «birthday» person. Mostly because we all have one. It's not something special or unique about any individual. In fact, it's the opposite.

Don't get me wrong, turning a year older is a wonderful excuse to throw a party and gather with one's nearest and dearest. But that's the best part. Not to celebrate a single person or open gifts or live through an awkward rendition of a timelessly cringey tune. But to come together and enjoy each other's company.

Doing just that was one of the biggest highlights of my time in Bristol last week. My co-workers organized a «Family Fun + Liz's Birthday» drinks at a local bar. I was nervous, at first, to be the reason my colleagues had to potentially adjust their schedules or veer from their weekly routines. (It was Meghan's idea! Not mine!)

When I arrived, however, and was met with genuine smiles and warm hugs and incredibly strong pumpkin spiced martinis. All of that anxiety dissipated and was replaced by (as cheesy as it may sound) simple joy. For the first time since joining the company 14 months prior, I felt like a legitimately ensconced member of the crew. And that was the best birthday present I could have ever received.

The same sense of community and belonging is what has made fantasy football such a popular pastime. It's true that «nobody cares about your fantasy team» (or your birthday). It's also