My boyfriend is in this Fantasy Football league (is that what they are called?) and I’m wondering if anyone could explain this to me? I thought I would try and impress him with my newfound knowledge 
Is it like Dungeons and Dragons or something entirely different?
Despite the similar sounding names, Fantasy football really has little to do with traditional role-playing games such as D&D.
Fantasy Football Leagues differ, but basically they start out with a group of folks, 12 seems optimal, and some time before the first week of the NFL regular season they have a “draft” where they divvy up the available current NFL players.
Each team will wind up with more than one player at each of the positions for his team. This is where the strategy comes in. Each player must choose a team from among his available players for each week. The player will usually choose his best quarterback, running backs, receivers, etc, unless one of his quarterbacks, for example, is hurt or not playing that week. Or perhaps his better quarterback is slumping or his lessor quarterback has a history of big games against that week’s real life opposition. The possibilities are nearly endless. In some cases he will choose his lesser quarterback.
Leagues differ on points, but after all the games are played, each team’s points are compiled, usually by computer but sometimes by hand, based on how well each team’s chosen players did that particular weekend. Points roll over from week to week until the final week when a champion is determined. Points can be based on total yards, touchdowns, completion percentage, yards per pass attempted, yards per carry, etc.
Generally, the season ends before the NFL playoffs because most league players are home for the playoffs. If a league does playoffs, they will have a shortened regular season schedule and use the last weeks of the NFL regular season for playoffs.
The defensive aspect of the game is sometimes handled by each Fantasy team choosing an entire NFL team’s defense instead of individual players for simplicity. Points can be awarded for fewest yards allowed rushing, passing, fewest points allowed, most fumbles recovered, most interceptions, even defensive points scored. Some leagues choose individual defenders during the draft.
Most leagues allow limited player trading among the teams for a set dollar amount per trade. The cash goes to a pot that is split among the victors. Most leagues also have a cash entry fee for each team that also goes to the pot. If the stats are compiled by hand, the commisioner may be paid a percentage of the pot for his efforts.
Some leagues continue from year to year while others start from scratch. It can be anything from high stakes to absolutely free.