Dear Reverend,
With football season coming up, I’m worried my partner will spend more time on his fantasy picks than with me. How do I make sure we have time for us without ruining his fun?
Draft Dodger (woman, 39)
Dear Draft Dodger,
I don’t know a dang thing about football — fantasy or otherwise. However, I do have some friends who partake in the fantasy variety, so I consulted an expert.
My buddy told me the amount of time a person spends on fantasy football boils down to how obsessive a fan they are. Making the draft picks at the beginning doesn’t necessarily take that long. It’s watching the games and checking the apps that are the real time sucks.
Before football season starts, set some clear expectations with your partner. Sitting around in pajamas, eating snacks and watching football for 12 hours on a crappy, cold Sunday is all fine and good. But fall is fickle and fleeting. When it’s a beautiful day, make a pact to get out and enjoy it. Your partner can peek at the stats when you’re out picking pumpkins or traipsing through a corn maze — or doing any other, non-Hallmark-movie activities.
The apps are designed to be addictive, so make sure your partner is aware of that fact. It’s not unreasonable to suggest some screen-time limits when you’re together, especially when you want to have a romantic evening.
Fantasy football season typically lasts 17 weeks, with 14 games. That sounds like a lot, but there’s plenty of time in between to have fun together. You can also treat game days as “you time” and indulge in your own hobbies or meet up with friends.
Speaking of you: Have you considered taking the “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” tack? Perhaps you should start a roster of your own and join in the fantasy fun. Who knows? You may benefit from beginner’s luck and win some cash. You can use it to take your partner out on the town.
Good luck and God bless,
The Reverend
This article appears in September 2 • 2026.
