Fantasy Sports
By Arnav Khanolkar | Digital | Dec 15, 2025
The growth of fantasy sports in recent years has attracted millions of players from across the United States. In 2023, ESPN reported over 13 million fantasy sports players on its platform. At Stanton College Preparatory School, students and faculty reflect the overall trends in the growth of fantasy sports. As fantasy sports grow in popularity, Stanton is becoming more engaged with the activity.
In fantasy sports, players manage teams, compete in leagues, and track the statistics of players. As a result, the games have become prevalent in the sports world. This trend has reshaped traditional sports media and the professional sports league industry as a whole. Major sports leagues have begun integrating fantasy aspects into their operations. For example, the NFL has expanded its mobile app and NFL Network coverage to include fantasy sports features, statistics, and analysis.
The growth of fantasy sports also allows players to become more engaged with the details of the game. Fantasy team managers follow current events of the league, including statistics, transactions, and injury reports. Team managers rely on sports media like analysis, podcasts, and pre-game shows in order to make informed decisions on the events of the game.
“I always try to improve my team in any aspect”, junior Aarav Prasad said. “I check [which players] are injured and who is on free agency in my [fantasy leagues].”
Fantasy sports are also fundamentally social, as they connect people in different spaces. In most cases, people compete with friends and family. However, fantasy leagues are also used to interact with others to build connections. Schools and offices create fantasy leagues to foster bonds between peers. There are also social events associated with fantasy sports, like draft parties, which bring people together in a social and competitive atmosphere
The social aspect of fantasy sports also expands into the digital world. Specific online forums on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit host discussions on current league events. These spaces allow for fantasy players to discuss and debate key aspects of the game, such as which players to start or bench, lineup choices, or managing trade offers. Online communities allow managers from across the world to collaborate, debate, and form rivalries with each other, which further strengthens the social aspect of the game.
However, the growth of the activity also brings potential risks. Major concerns such as the intersection of fantasy sports with gambling and addictive behaviors. Debates have emerged regarding if fantasy sports are considered games of luck or games of skill. As a result, local and state governments throughout the United States have implemented regulations in the fantasy sports industry. For example, in January 2024, the Florida Gaming Control Commission announced it had sent cease-and-desist letters to fantasy operators like Underdog Sports and PrizePicks, which include sports betting on their respective apps. Other states, like Arizona and Nevada, have stricter policies that limit those who play daily fantasy sports, which hinders the activity of fantasy sport operators.
“I definitely see potential risks with the growth of fantasy sports”, junior Sree Rama Kappagantu said. “In my experience playing fantasy sports, I have seen [an increase] in the integration of gambling with fantasy games.”
Despite these challenges, fantasy sports continue to grow at a fast rate. The intersection of strategy, management, and competition appeals to many players. From casual observers to loyal fans, fantasy sports have changed the way that people watch and interact with sports.