Do NFL players play fantasy football?

Fantasy football has increased in popularity each year and, along with sports betting, expands fan interaction with the most popular sport in America. With it's surging presence in the league, players are constantly aware of its existence.

Since the boom of fantasy football, the NFL has openly accepted it as a part of the sport, pushing content on their official website and offering a platform for fans to play. Mainstream media sites have also made fantasy a focal point of their coverage while veteran players have spoken about how the game has changed fan perspective.

In the present day, most fans are involved in fantasy football. A 2023 study conducted by Statista found that over 60 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 who consider themselves fans of the sport are participants of at least one fantasy league. However, that was not always the case.

When the concept was originally introduced, fantasy football was seen as a "nerd" game and one that the "real" athletes avoided. The stigma still exists amongst some, but over time the idea has been accepted by an increasing demographic. NFL athletes have become accustomed to the idea themselves, with some participating in leagues.

NFL players are allowed to play fantasy football

While the NFL has a strict policy against betting within their league, fantasy football is given an extended leash. The league's perception of the game has changed over time but most recently, players are permitted to participate with specific exceptions.

As of 2023, Pro Football Network reports that active NFL athletes are allowed to be in fantasy football leagues as long as the winning prize does not exceed $250. Any exceeding amount ventures into the category of gambling, which the league has a stern opposition to.

Unsurprisingly, while the action is allowed, most players do not choose to engage in fantasy football. However, many athletes of other sports who maintain NFL fandom are fantasy managers in their spare time, often involved in high-stakes leagues with lucrative prizes. Several celebrities consider themselves fantasy football enthusiasts as well.

NFL punishment for sports betting

Much like fantasy football, sports betting is an increasingly prominent industry leading to every player being aware of its presence. Gambling has been around sports for nearly its entire existence but legalized sports betting has changed its general perception and availability.

Should players who choose to participate in fantasy football violate the $250 limit, the NFL will consider their actions as a violation of their gambling restrictions.

The NFL prohibits all players, coaches, executives and related team personnel from engaging in all forms of betting. For the most part, any part-time, full-time or contracted employee of any NFL team or the league is not allowed to bet on its games to any degree.

Depending on the level of which an NFL player bets, suspensions can vary from a Jontay Porter-like lifetime ban to a few games. Calvin Ridley was suspended for the entire 2022 season after it was determined that he wagered on several league games including some that he was playing in while on the Falcons.

The NFL's gambling policy extends beyond its own league, forbidding its players from betting on any other sport while on team property, per ESPN. In the 2023 offseason, four Detroit Lions players were notably suspended for placing bets while on team property, including former first-round pick Jameson Williams.

While two of the Lions involved were suspended indefinitely for betting on NFL games, Williams and Stanley Berryhill were only shelved for six games for wagering on NCAA football contests.