By Andy Furman
NKyTribune staff writer
This is no fantasy – it’s as real as it gets. Just ask Mike Weeks. He has the trophy – and the championship ring to prove it.
A 25-year rural letter carrier at the Union post office has the bragging rights to the title – for at least this year.
“I’ve been playing Fantasy Football for as long as it’s been around,” he told the Northern Kentucky Tribune. “And last year I won the title.
“We have 12 General Managers – currently 10 of them are right here in our office,” he explained. “We held our draft last Saturday at Buffalo Wild Wings.”
So, what is the key to success?
“I study, and check players’ trends,” he says. “I do much preparation, and I did purchase a Fantasy Football Guidebook. “The book has 12 experts ranking all the NFL players from one-100. Those rankings aren’t by position, just on talent and production.”
And, if we have already lost you – so sorry. So, let us review — and yes, there’ll be a quiz at the end of this lesson.
Fantasy Football, for the uninformed, is an interactive game where one acts as the general manager of a virtual team made of real players from the National Football League (NFL).
One scores points based on how successful your players perform in actual, real-game situations each week.
Before the season starts, your league – usually 10-12 teams – holds a draft. One takes turns pickling real-life NFL players to build a roster.
And every week you pick a group of “starters” from your roster to play in your active lineup.
Your players earn fantasy points based on real stats:
• Touchdowns are usually worth six points.
• Passing yards, usually one point for every 25 yards.
• Rushing and receiving yards usually one point for every ten yards.
• Receptions can earn extra points.
• Turnovers, fumbles or interceptions, lose points.
You play head-to-head against another general manager every week; the team with the most total points wins that matchup.
“I have Chase Brown,” Weeks said, “the running back for the Cincinnati Bengals, based on his production.”
Not a bad pick.
Last year in 17 regular-season games, he matched or set career-highs across the board, tallying 1,456 yards from, scrimmage and 11 total touchdowns.
In fact, Brown was one of five players in the NFL in 2025 with at least 1,000 rushing yards and 400 receiving yards, and his 69 catches were the most in a season by a halfback.
“The better a player performs,” said Weeks, “the better the fantasy points, based on his total production.”
Sounds simple – but it wasn’t that easy on his way to the title a year ago.
“I was down 40 fantasy points going into the final Sunday night game of the season,” he recalled. “My team rattled of 50 points for the win.”
Thanks to Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride. He finished the 2025 NFL regular season with 126 receptions, 1,239 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns over 17 games.
And in the finale – a 37-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on January 4th – McBride had seven receptions for 65 yards to give Weeks the championship.
“We don’t play for money – for pride, really, and fun,” Weeks said. “But the lowest point total must feel the punishment.
“Last year the loser, had to wear a pink tu-tu skirt to the office,” he said.
As an expert, what advice can you give to a novice fantasy player?
“When asked, I give bad advice.”