Fantasy football seasons are coming to a close, with new league champions being crowned over the next couple of weeks.

I am, unsurprisingly, almost statistically ruled out from any contention from being the creme-de-la-creme of a testosterone-fueled, friendship-challenging fantasy football league. Before this year I had never sat down to watch a pro-football game that was not either between the Vikings and Packers or the Super Bowl, and even then I only watched for the commercials.

I knew next-to-nothing about fantasy football, let alone the sport itself, but I think I’ve learned a lot so here’s some of my top takeaways from my first year of fantasy.

Karma

I’m a cocky guy when it comes to sports, I hate losing.

I was 2-0 at the start of the season and talking mad s—t to fellow league members, most of which doubted me and kept exclaiming I would be the last place finisher in the league.

Low-and-behold, karma happened.

My win streak would end for months, spiraling down to a six game losing streak and wound up writing this story at a grotesque 4-8. I’m now tied for last place in my league.

This luck comes with the understanding that the kind fellow who began the league not caring at 0-5 is now in contention to win it all.

Don’t brag about the small fish you caught within 10 minutes, kids. The larger fish is taking its time and waiting under the dock.

Patience and injury

Whatever you do, have patience in your players. Whether it be game to game or weeks by weeks, don’t make decisions hastily.

Of the residents from the island of poorly drafted players that was my original team, Teddy Bridgewater broke himself, Cam Newton got concussed, Dez Bryant snapped his knee and Julian Edelman and Jay Ajayi continued to play very poorly. I dropped Bryant and Ajayi, and traded Newton for Isiah Crowell. I hung on to Edelman until he was traded for Charcandrick West around week eight when Kansas City’s main running back became concussed.

In essence, I jumped a gun and be-rid myself of four really good long-run players because I wanted to win now with players projected high in the current week, not a week out.

Injuries happen, sadly, but most aren’t long term and warrant maintaining relatively the same team depending on the urgency and severity of the injury.

Bad weeks happen, don’t let them get to your head.

Drafting

Never, ever be predictable in your favored draft picks in a room with everyone else in your league.

I advise this because one of my fellow league members picked up that it was my intent to draft Tom Brady in the current round, and so he picked up Brady one spot before my choice.

Drafting players generally comes at a cost of valuing efficiency in reaching high point potential or consistently reaching an average point potential. The best players to draft are those who have high levels of both, obviously.

Also when drafting, take the waiver wire into consideration. Don’t pick top quarterbacks in the first round as they’re easier to come by as the season progresses, consistent wide receivers and running backs will increase the value of a team most.

Have fun

At the end of the day, fantasy football is a game and should be treated like one.

Have fun, play hard and be competitive, but at the end of the day remember it is just a game and is not worth losing friends over.

There are, in most cases, more important things to life than fantasy football.

Sports Editor’s Note: I am also in this league, and have some things to add. One, if you yell out “You guys will never guess who I’m going to pick next!” someone (read, I) will answer, bringing attention to said player. Collusion is a dangerous game; if you want to destroy friendships, allow it. Allow that one guy who knows nothing about sports to set the rules, but someone who knows what their doing to the day-to-day stuff. And never veto a trade or take away League Manger powers. DON’T DO IT!