There are a lot of variations on certain aspects, but it basically goes like this:
Each person in the league will draft a team. The players on each fantasy team can be from any NFL team. So you could have a dallas cowboys receiver and a chicago bears runningback on the same team.
So, after you your league has a draft (live or automated), you need to set a starting lineup by sunday(sometimes thursday or saturday, but just before the first game of that 'weekend'). A common starting lineup might be 1 Quarterback, 2 Runningbacks, 2 Wide Receivers, 1 RB/WR, 1 Tight End, 1 Kicker, and 1 Defense. You also have a certain amount of reserve players who you chose to bench for that weekend.
In this case you just choose an entire defensive team, say the Chicago Bears. There are leagues where you'd choose individual defensive players (IDP), like you did for offense. However, that takes a whole lot more effort to stay on top of because it's essentially double the players.
Now, once your roster is set you sit back and watch anxiously. Scoring is marked up a huge number of different ways. But in the simplest terms you get points ifor each thing your players do well and poorly.
Lets say a running back has a day where he runs the ball for 80 yards, catches 2 passes for 30 yards, scores 1 TD, and fumbles the ball once.
That running back would get 6 pointss for the TD, 8 points for the rushing yards since they're scored like: 10 yards = 1 point, 2 points for receiving yards since they're scored like: 15 yards = 1 point, 2 points for receptions since they're scored as one point per reception, and then since the RB fumbled the ball once he'll lose 2 points. so on the day he would score 6+8+2+2-2 = 16 points.
I hope you followed that. Sometimes with fantasy football i get too excited. No matter what, the league you're in will
(should) have a nice table set up with the scoring outlined.
Example scoring from one of my free leagues
http://www.bredberg.org/jack/imageTemp/rules.htmKickers score for field goals and extra points. Defenses are scored for points allowed, yards allowed, fumble recoverys, interceptions, sacks, and more.
The trick of the game is to stay on top of injuries, know what matchups to look for, keep an eye on your bye week and grab new free agent talent before everyone else catches onto that player.
Leagues can have anywhere from four to 16 teams, maybe more or less if you find a place that will set it up for you like taht.
Playoffs usually start around NFL's week 11, it's early because later in the season NFL teams start to bench the big names to save them for the NFL playoffs.
I'm sure there's more to add and maybe even corrections, but for the most part that's the bones of it.
Anyways, I would participate for sure.
-jack
http://www.bredberg.org/nes/bestGame.php
