Fantasy Football Players Cost Companies a Whopping $6.5 Billion a Season [POLL]

If you want to stay ahead in fantasy football you have to be conscious of injuries and your league's waiver wire. That means if you have a job you will end up doing much of your fantasy football maneuvering while you are on the clock.

But how much productivity is lost when employees tinker with their lineup in front of their Thursday deadline? According to report from outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas it comes to $6.5 billion a season.

Challenger got to that figure by assuming that each of America's 22.3 million employed fantasy football players spends an hour a week on their team while at work. Multiple that by the $19.93 the average American makes an hour and then by the 15 week season (before fantasy playoffs) and you have the $6.5 billion figure.

Although that may sounds like a big number, Challenger chief executive John Challenger says it barely makes a dent on the greater economy.

“Employers will not see any impact on their bottom line and, for the most part, business will proceed as usual,” he said. “However, even if the economic impact is faint, it is important to acknowledge fantasy football’s overall impact as a societal and workplace phenomenon.”

In other words, feel free to mull over your tight end slot on your boss' time.

[Denver Post]