Fantasy Football: Is It Going to Our Heads?

Football's online offshoot has taken on a life of its own. Are we getting too caught up in it?

Football player: Corbis; Office: Holly Harris / Getty; Businessman: Jose Luis Pelaez / Getty

A rich fantasy life is important, but a fantasy life that drains your riches is, in this particular economy, perhaps not the greatest idea. And yet there you are — if you count yourself among the millions of Americans who indulge in fantasy football — spending your hard-earned money and precious time pretending to be an NFL general manager. Tom Brady is not really on your team, my sweet — dare I say deluded? — friend. Your draft decisions don't affect reality. They only, sadly, bore your nonfantasy friends.

You would think that the recession could sack fantasy sports, the $800...

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