How to play fantasy football: Guide for the NFL season - ESPN

Fantasy football is a ton of fun, but getting started can be daunting for some. We hope the words below help you — or someone you are trying to encourage to play — learn how to play fantasy football and provide a basic road map for navigating a season from start to finish.

No one will confuse me for a professional golfer anytime soon.

I'm not a terrible golfer, but I'm also not a great golfer. Usually, a few shots per round keep me motivated to come back for more.

While there is plenty I don't know about golf, there's one thing I do know: People who are good at golf like to tell you all about their game.

And if you haven't played golf before, the thought of starting and being so far behind those-who-are-Tiger-Woods-in-their-own-minds can be daunting.

We're back with another year of ESPN Fantasy Football, and it's not too early to get started. The game is open! Create a league with friends and family now to prep for kickoff this fall. Sign Up Now >>

«Where do I start?»

If you're reading this and you feel the same way about playing fantasy football for the first time, great. You're in the right spot.

While there is a certain level of skill and attention that can influence your fantasy football fortunes, the reality of the game is good luck can often overcome however many hours of lineup prep your leaguemates put in before each draft or each week during the season. You just need to know the basics.

For the next 2,500 or so words, I'll be your fantasy football chauffeur: I'm here to take you from the point before you draft until the end of the season with a helpful how-to for fantasy football.

We won't — and don't need to — cover every last detail, but consider this your fantasy football Rosetta stone. Bookmark this page,