No, the headline isn’t alluding to Final Fantasy, Final Destination, or any other of the million terms or titles with the word fantasy in them.

To a guy like me, there is only one, fantasy football.

I wait for the NFL season with more anxiousness, apprehensiveness, suspense, and impatience than a kid wanting whatever expensive gadget they have at the top of their Christmas wish list.

Seriously, it may be pathetic, but I don’t care, as my close, great friend says, ‘It’s all about the fantasy.’ Because honestly it is.

Every year, the cost of the antes go up, (yes inflation has hit even fantasy football) and I pay without even cringing or saying, ‘Ugh, I don’t know,’ because I know I’m going to play anyway. Espcecially with the two keeper league teams I have this year. Wait until you see my rosters, you’d play every year, too.

I’ll start with my Yahoo! League created, ran, and full of 11 guys I went to Mendota High School with. One may be more than three years younger than me, but he’s close enough to say we went to school together, ha. The rest are either the same age, a few years older, or a few years younger.

It’s a great group of friends, who all enjoy beating each other and then talking smack to rub it in.

Picking my keepers was hard because I had Saquon Barkley (I drafted him as a rookie and haven’t let go), Kyren Williams (had a standout second year of his career in 2023 with 1,144 yards and 12 touchdowns), and Tyreek Hill. I had someone else in the mix, but I can’t remember who, so they weren’t really in the mix.

It’s hard to choose, but I dropped Hill and kept the two running backs. One of the guys even called it out on draft day, ‘Who let Hill go?’

In the 2024 fantasy draft, I picked seventh out of 12 because I finished 2023 tied with the best record, 10-4, but fell apart quickly in the first round of the playoffs.

I replaced Hill first as I grabbed A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles. Then I made sure I had a quarterback, Houston’s C.J. Stroud, then doubled up on Eagles’ receivers and took DeVonta Smith.

My starting lineup rounds out with Dalton Schutlz, Houston tight end, Gus Edwards, Chargers running back at my flex, Evan McPherson, Bengals kicker, and New York Jets defense.

The bench has Zach Moss, Bengals RB, Zay Flowers, Ravens WR, Jordan Love, Packers QB, Brandin Cooks, Dallas WR, Romeo Doubs, Packers WR, and Tyler Allgeier, Falcons RB.

I received an A+ draft rating and cruised to a Week 1 victory (I’m writing this Tuesday morning). If there are no serious injuries or I make smart moves when they happen, this could be my fifth fantasy football championship since 2004 (In all the leagues I’ve been in, not just this one). I know not the greatest percentage, but how many people do you know with five ships?

In my NFL.com League with 13 males and females I either went to Southern Illinois University with, or people they know, I have just as much of a chance of bringing home the WWE championship belt we use as a trophy.

My keepers were Lamar Jackson, Ravens QB, and Tyreek Hill. There was no debate there, they had their spots chiseled in.

I drafted in the middle of the pack and picked up Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle, 49ers TE George Kittle, New York Jets defense (may have been a bad reach after watching Monday Night Football), Moss again, Texans WR Tank Dell, and Eagles K Jake Elliott for the starting lineup.

The bench consists of Falcons QB Kirk Cousins, Texans RB Dameon Pierce, Steelers RB Jaylen Warren, Broncos WR Marvin Mims, Packers WR Jayden Reed, and Lions WR Jameson Williams.

After Week 1, Reed or Williams, or maybe both, are going int the starting lineup after having huge, productive weeks.

I know a lot of people don’t select players on the same teams just in case the team has a bad day. To me, there is no way all three of my Eagles players are all going to stink on the same day, not possible.

Hill has a bad day, Waddle will catch the ball, and vice versa. But let’s face it, Hill doesn’t have bad days even if he’s arrested hours before the game.

I think I’m going to win my leagues every year, but this year may be the first year I actually win both of them.

Crossing fingers and saying prayers for no injuries.

And playing Press Your Luck…No Whammies.