Fantasy Football Names and Naming Options

Fantasy football season is here. Owners everywhere are running through their pre-season checklist and preparing for their drafts.

One of the highlights of fantasy football is the names of the teams in a league. They're an extension of each owner's personality, a way of taking a collection of players and making them into a unique team.

As a result, many people love to create names for their fantasy football teams.

This is a guide for those that don't.

Fantasy football team names come about in many ways, but the key is to create one that reflects the personality of the owner.

Some owners like to use a personal touch, directly referencing their interests, location, or an inside joke they and their friends would understand. Sometimes it's a reference to a favorite team, like a Cowboys fan using "Texas Starheads." Maybe it's a use of profession, like "Chem Rox" for a chemistry teacher. There's even people that use their real name in their team name (like a man named Judge using "Judgement Day").

Some owners like to use innuendo or swearing to build a team name, but caution is advised. Using a name like this won't go over well in an office league, but if it's a typical fantasy league comprised of close friends, boundaries are well known. "The 69ers" becomes just part of the league when friends are involved.

Adding a personal touch to these requires a lot of skill, but it is possible. A native of Forney (a suburb of Dallas) using the name "Forney Cators," or some similar incorporation of personal info, can draw a smile from friends that know the owner well.

The most common team names are goofy and entertaining. These names will ideally offer some entertaining logo options as well. "Barking Corgis" and "Raging Gumbas" may not instill fear in an opponent, but the images associated with them can make anyone laugh.

Names like these will often include a reference to a favorite team, as seen in one commercial NFL.com created for their playoff fantasy challenge a few years back. It still gets played at the end of each season because everyone loves seeing names like "Romolicious."

It's most important to remember that these aren't criteria, but commonly used formats for names. Choosing the right team name depends on what suits the owner. Some owners use the same name across leagues, or carry their name over from year to year. That level of re-use is a sign that the name is a good fit. When the name feels that right, it's probably the best name to use.

Good luck picking out the best name!