Top 7 Best Fantasy Football Punishments

Fantasy Football Punishments: Is Your league ready?

It’s August, NFL preseason is under way, and the regular season is just around the corner, you know what that means? Friends, Co-Workers, even grandma is talking about their fantasy football team! Fantasy Football has continued to grow rapidly year after year, what was once a niche hobby for diehard football fans and developed into a cultural juggernaut. Recent estimates suggest that 60 million people play fantasy sports each year, with the NFL Fantasy leagues leading the charge. It’s no longer a hobby, it can be big business with real money the driving force. For some of us, however, it’s still a way to add a bit of intrigue, trash talk between friends and make each game more relevant. We create leagues with our family members, college friends, co-workers, and strangers in order to feel our own urge of winning and the joy of proving you’re the smartest GM in the group. Everyone likes to talk about winning the league, but does yours have a punishment for losing? Let’s explore seven Fantasy Football Punishments we’ve heard about and how you can adapt them to your own league.

Why Should Fantasy Football Punishments Exist?

I know what you’re thinking, isn’t finishing last and losing enough punishment? While it’s never fun to lose, there are quite a lot of benefits to adding this new wrinkle to your league. First and foremost, it doesn’t allow for tanking. It keeps everyone engaged, for every game, all season. How many times have you been in the league and someone just gives up when they’re not doing well? They stop setting their lineups, they try to trade away players to stack another team, they just quit. If they’re not going to fight for glory, then they’ll fight to avoid humiliation.

Another benefit, surprisingly, is that it actually strengthens bonds with the group. As mentioned previously, trash talk is the lifeblood of fantasy football. Well, the fear of that fantasy football punishment will only add fuel to fire and give everyone a shared laugh for future seasons to come. Fantasy football punishments don’t have to be cruel or life-changing, but we can all appreciate when Mike from accounting has to show up to work wearing ballerina tutu or college roommate Joel is stuck at a Waffle House for 24hrs trying to eat pancakes to shorten his time.

We all know fantasy football is a mix of both skill and luck, so what happens if your #1 pick goes down with an injury? You might not have the team to win it all at that point, but can you keep yourself from the basement? Fantasy Football Punishments raise the stakes and adds the pressure of scouring the waiver wire so you’re not singing Lady Gaga dressed up like prime Elton John during the next karaoke night out; well, not unless that’s your thing!

Lastly, fantasy football punishments are both fun and memorable. You are essentially guaranteeing yourself a great night with friends or family, laughing about how absurd the punishment is. While no one will remember who won that year, they will remember the punishment. Trophies are always nice, but stories are better!

Best Fantasy Football Punishment Ideas

Okay, so now we have established that Fantasy Football punishments are a great idea, let us help you figure out the best one for your league. Below are relatively harmless, fun punishments that everyone can do.

1. Waffle House Challenge- We’ve all seen it before, the loser has to spend 24 hours in a Waffle House (or geographical equivalent). The catch, however, is for every waffle you eat, you shave an hour off your time. It might sound easy, but unless you’re Joey Chestnut, tell me how easy it is once you’ve finished that 6^th waffle.
2. Billboard of Shame– Everyone pitches in and rents a local billboard. The league votes on what picture of the loser they’ll use (hopefully an embarrassing one) with a fun caption like, “I’m bad at fantasy football” or “Worst Fantasy Football Player Ever”.
3. Stand-up Comedy Open Mic Night- Everyone picks a day that works and you find an open mic night at your nearest standup comedy theater. The loser must prepare a 5 minute set they’ll have to perform in front of a live audience. The catch, the rest of the group gets to write half of the jokes for them.
4. Outfit of Choice- The league members go out for dinner and a night out, and the winner, or the rest of your league, gets to pick the loser’s outfit. I’m thinking short shorts and Disney princess shirt, or a Scottish Kilt and cowboy hat. Use your imagination and have fun!
5. Calendar Photo Shoot- The fantasy football punishment that lasts all year until a new loser is crowned.  The loser has to create a 12-month calendar photo shoot with different themes for each month and give them out to the league. What’s more fun than displaying John’s calendar for all to see in your cubicle at work?
6. Body Building Competition- This one is fun because no matter how in shape you are, you’re going to look silly in a body building competition. In this scenario, you must complete an entire, and take seriously, actual body building competition. Get the tanning lotion ready and start working on your best flex pose.
7. Tattoo Trophy- Lastly, if you’re looking for something a bit more serious and permanent, there’s the infamous Tattoo Bet! Now, we don’t recommend this, as a tattoo is forever, but there are leagues that require the loser to get a silly tattoo of how bad their team was. Proceed with caution with this one though.

Blow the Whistle on Fantasy Football Punishments

Fantasy football will continue to thrive in the US because it turns passive fans into engaged, active competitors. It’s a season-long rollercoaster of highs, heartbreaks, luck, injuries and if you’re league wants added intrigue, public humiliation. Whether you’re chasing that elusive fantasy football championship, or trying to avoid that dreaded fantasy football punishment, one thing will be for sure, the competition all season won’t stop! There really are limitless options for fantasy football punishments, so find one that works for your league, and let the 1^st annual punishment begin!