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Learn the Lingo: Fantasy Football Terms You Should Know

To understand how fantasy football is played, you must learn the terms that players use. Here are some that are commonly associated with the game:

Fantasy General Manager or Owner

This is the person who 'owns' the team, makes drafts, implements changes in the team roster and lineup. Once you begin playing fantasy football and have a team of your own, this is what you will be called.

Draft

The process where an owner selects players to complete their roster. The roster refers to the list of players in a team.

Pick

Refers to the draft position of the fantasy team owners. This is the pre-determined order that team owners follow in the process of selecting their players. It usually reverses order when the next round comes.

Free agent

This is a player who wasn't drafted during the selection process or was released by his team owner. If released or 'waived' by his team, the player must wait to clear the waivers before he can become a free agent.

Stud

Refers to the player with the top scores at the position he is holding.

Starting Lineup or Starters

This is the list of players that you choose to play for a given week. You get points for their performance in the actual game. A starting lineup usually includes a quarterback (QB),2 wide receivers (WR), 2 running backs (RB), a kicker, a tight end and a team defense.

Waiver

This is the list containing names of players who have been released by their team. Players who are waived remain on the waiver for a pre-set time period. After the waiver has cleared, owners can then choose from this list to add to their roster. To waive a player means to release him from your team. A waiver status can last for 24 hours or more.

Transaction

Refers to any changes made in the team roster. If you trade, cut or pick up a player, you perform a transaction. Depending on the league you belong to, you might have to pay a pre-set transaction fee.

Trade

To trade players means to swap one of your players for another belonging to another team. Trading can involve more than two team owners or managers.

Bench players

These are the players who aren't included in the starting lineup of your team. When the final score is being tallied, their stats aren't included as well.

Stats

The numerical equivalent of a player's accomplishment for a game week. You will refer to this to see how your player is performing.