Fantasy football is really popular. It might even be more popular than real football. And it’s not just football. You name any major sport, and there are fantasy leagues for it.

It’s so popular ESPN now has professional fantasy experts. They get paid to analyze fantasy moves on television. (Why hasn’t The Wall Street Journal hired analysts to help me increase my returns on Baltic and Mediterranean avenues when I play Monopoly?)

Fantasy leagues have become a big deal. Millions of people play. Some are so wrapped up in fantasy, they don’t even watch the actual games anymore.

“Who wants to see world-class athletes compete at the highest levels of sport? Not me!” a friend and former sports fan said. “I don’t care if they can perform awe inspiring feats that require the utmost physical and mental prowess. The fact is, I can’t. So for me, it’s much more stimulating to sit at a computer formulating substitution strategies so I can maximize my players’ statistical values in order to increase my position in the points standings. Plus, if I win the league, I get a $50 gift certificate to Red Lobster.”