There should be little doubt about fantasy football’s impact on interest in the actual sport.
Monday Night Football featured two teams with losing records. The winless Miami Dolphins travelled to Heinz Filed to face the 2-4 Pittsburgh Steelers. Neither team was starting their primary quarterback. The game total was one of the lowest of the week. And yet, social media was still ablaze throughout the evening. The game was actually compelling for a time -- until Mason Rudolph got into a rhythm, forcing Miami to remember their ultimate goal.
Regardless, the lack of general interest in the game allowed us to focus on the ancillary players.