The Search for the Perfect Fantasy Team Name

We all take fantasy sports too seriously.  This is not a problem as competition is good for the soul.  Reading countless fantasy articles, following every sports analyst on Twitter and completing hundreds of mock drafts are the stepping stones to winning (and potentially madness).  In the midst of the smack-talk, the hand-wringing and the incessant trade offers, there is one thing that can relieve all the pressure of the fantasy world, the perfect team name.

I run the website BestFantasyTeamNames.com and have seen thousands of team names cross my screen and have witnessed tens of thousands of votes for fan’s favorite names.  I have also encountered some of the true fantasy team name savants, such as my friend John Sarmento (aka Rumford Johnny) through the world of social media.  This access to the lighter side of fantasy sports has given me some good insights into what makes a truly great fantasy team name.

Johnny said it best stating, “Puns are King: A play on words is the purest form of a fantasy team name.”  Puns are the most common form of team names you will find around.  “Tootsie Sproles” or “Winning is My Forte” are always solid options, particularly when that player is actually on your fantasy squad, but they also can be played out when heard too often.  “Drinking Fortes” has easily been submitted to the site over 100 times.  There are a multitude of team names based on Vick, Brees and Romo, but we also have heard them all as well.  If you are going to use a player’s name, grab a rookie or player ready to burst onto the fantasy scene.  You can also take your team name to the next level by using multiple players in the same team name.  Examples such as “Good Schaub, Good Eifert” or “Reid-ing Dwayne Bowe” use multiple names along with rookies or personnel changes.

Utilizing pop culture and themes rarely fail.  Create your league based solely on popular movies, TV shows or your favorite music artist.  Everyone loves a great Seinfeld reference, “A Mingo Ate Your Baby” or “These Pretzels are Maclin Me Thirsty” perhaps.  Game of Thrones fans may choose “The White Welkers” or “Demaryius Targaryen.”  Love your 90’s hip hop music?  Try “Bjoern Thugs and Harmony” or “You Down with IDP?”  Whatever your genre, getting the entire league to jump on board can only maximize our fantasy experience.

Topical references are great, but usually only for about five minutes.  Carlos DangerRuss Wilson was a fantastic team name submission, but unfortunately the season does not start for four more weeks and the creativity and hilarity wear off quickly.  If you are going to base your team name on current events, plan on changing your name weekly.

Almost everyone can appreciate the fantasy team name that borders on uncomfortable.  Sexual innuendos or beer and illegal substance references are commonly the basis for team names.  Players with names such as Percy, Johnson, Stafford, Ditka, Vick, Blount and Forte are usually a great starting point.  Team names can go awry though when you make light of the disabled, mentally handicapped or league member’s significant other/mother.  Funny is only funny when everyone is laughing.

If you still find yourself without a killer team name you can always check out BestFantasyTeamNames.com.  The site is dedicated to constantly delivering the funniest, most creative and original team names 25 hours a day (yes I said 25 and that shows just how hard we work for you).  Fans interact by voting for or submitting their favorite team names daily, which makes the site unique from all the other slide shows or top 10 lists.  For the first time anywhere (I think) we added the ability to search for a fantasy team name by a specific player.  With over 200 different NFL players associated to fantasy team names, the Library of Congress has deemed BFTN their official list for fantasy team names (unofficial statement pending approval from the Library of Congress).  I also highly suggest following guys on Twitter such as the aforementioned RumfordJohnny, David Gonos, Dexter Manley, Scream Puking Unicorn or Juan Elway.  These guys will always oblige fans in search of the perfect fantasy team name.

Special thanks to Rumford Johnny

This article was part of the first issue of the "Fantasy Sports Journal" -- Sign up here for the free quarterly magazine!

Football Themed Casino Games

The close season can be a drag for NFL fans, and at the moment most will eagerly awaiting the start of the new season in September, but for those who enjoy mixing there passion for football with gambling there are alternative options during the summer months. There are now a wide variety of NFL themed casino games on offer at online casino sites, and most of them can downloaded for playing on your phone via mobile casino apps, so picking a couple of the best of these is a good way combine NFL and betting.

One of the best ones is called $5 Million Touchdown found at places like GamingClub mobile casino, and when you realize that the first half of that name comes from the size of the top jackpot it offers, you will see why so many NFL betting fans are embracing it. Like many online slots, it has a five reel format, and the reels are full of familiar NFL sights – with players, footballs, whistles and cheerleaders all featuring. It also has a wild symbol (the referee) which greatly enhances the chance of you winning a payout, because it can act as substitute for missing icons to produce winning reels. However, alongside that incredible $5 million jackpot, the biggest selling point for American football fans will be the bonus game, which involves passing a ball between players – brought to life by superb video graphics – to try and score a touchdown and win a prize.

However although $5 Million Touchdown is a fine game, it is just one of the excellent American football casino games on the market – with another great example being Pigskin Payout. This is another five reel, twenty pay line slot, and again you will find plenty of NFL flavour throughout, including scoreboards, cheerleaders, umpires and footballs on the reels, and the backdrop of a stadium.  The graphics used for both the reels and the stadium background in this game are top notch, and the bonus game offering free spins (potentially multiplying your payout) is another great feature. Overall either of these games will represent the perfect way for American football fans to spend the close season.

FANTASY FOOTBALL TEAM PREVIEWS FROM TOP TEAM FANTASY

At Fantasy Football Aggregator we constantly provide quick and direct access to the best fantasy football analysis and content around the web. We also look to provide an additional platform for writers and sites looking to make their mark. Below are recent fantasy articles worth your time to read, so check them out and always provide any feedback online or @FFGator.

2013 Fantasy Preview: Kansas City Chiefs
from J.D. Redemann (@JR_TopTeam)

"Kansas City: Famous for barbecue, not actually being in Kansas (the important part of it, anyway), and wallowing in utter futility in the sports world since Joe Montana’s twilight years. Last year was no surprise for Chiefs fans, as the team flubbed its way all the way to a 2-14 record and the 1st overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. It got so bad last year that fans at Arrowhead Stadium cheered when their own quarterback, Matt Cassel, exited with a concussion in Week 5. Head coach Romeo Crennel had the quote of the year after Week 8, which saw the team’s best playmaker in RB Jamaal Charles receive only five carries. When asked why his offensive gameplan so scarcely used its best player, Crennel responded: “Now, that I’m not exactly sure either.”

There is literally no way to spin last season in any way other than what it was: dreadful. Clearly there’s nowhere the team can go but up. So, will the fantasy black hole that is Kansas City finally be plugged? Can the Andy Reid renaissance capture the Heartland? Let’s find out…"


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