Fordham students are always busy, often juggling classes, working or participating in extracurriculars. Add in the constant temptation to scroll on TikTok and it is clear why most fantasy football formats do not fit our schedules. Draft leagues? Too complicated. Dynasty leagues? Forget it.

But survivor pools? That is right up a college student’s alley.

Survivor pools strip fantasy football down to its simplest form. You pick one NFL team to win each week. If they win, you advance. If they lose, you are out. No lineups, no injury reports, no endless trade negotiations. Just one decision, one week at a time. And in college, survivor pools are not just fun — they are the best draft option out there.

The beauty of survivor pools is how little time they demand.

Attention spans are short, time is limited and no one wants to commit to something that feels like another homework assignment. Survivor pools fit seamlessly into that world. You can stay competitive without being chained to ESPN stat sheets.

Draft leagues are the classic format where you pick a full roster at the start of the season and then spend months swapping players and checking injury reports. Dynasty leagues crank that commitment even higher: You keep most of your players year after year, which means you are basically signing up for a second job that lasts longer than some college relationships. Both formats demand constant attention and way too much research for anyone already drowning in assignments. Survivor pools, by comparison, are the opposite: They are fast and decisive.

The beauty of survivor pools is how little time they demand. Unlike traditional fantasy leagues, you do not need hours of research to make a halfway decent decision. In fact, all the research you need is already sitting on your phone.

It is one of the only fantasy formats where your instincts are enough, which makes it way more accessible for students who just want to play on their own terms.

On Reddit, the “r/sportsbook” threads have posts you can join where people are debating their weekly picks. The conversation is messy, but also comforting. You are not alone; you have an army of strangers making the same gamble.

Another perk is that you do not need outside input to play. Unlike draft or dynasty leagues, where you are almost forced to lean on rankings, experts or podcasts just to stay competitive, survivor pools can be done completely solo. If you trust your gut, you can make your weekly pick without scrolling TikTok or checking Reddit. It is one of the only fantasy formats where your instincts are enough, which makes it way more accessible for students who just want to play on their own terms.

Here is the underrated part: Survivor pools are pure adrenaline. Draft leagues are a slow burn; you might spend weeks watching your roster crumble under injuries or bad trades. Survivor pools do not let you drag it out. One wrong pick, and you are done.

When your team wins, the victory feels way sweeter than squeaking out a win in a draft league matchup. And when you are still alive in week six or seven while your friends have all been knocked out, the bragging power is unmatched.

Fantasy football purists argue that survivor pools are too unforgiving, but that is exactly what makes them manageable for students. If you get bounced early, you do not have to babysit a lineup for the rest of the season. You are free to move on without guilt, unlike in draft leagues, where you either commit or become the friend who “forgets” to set their roster by week four. Survivor pools let you stay in the action without chaining you to your phone every Sunday.

Of course, the biggest downside is that once you are eliminated, you are done for the season. One bad week and you are stuck on the sidelines watching everyone else play. But it adds to the fun when you have a whole group either cheering on friends still in the game or laughing at you when you are eliminated. No matter what, you are still part of the fun one way or another.

Honestly, there is something refreshing about the simplicity. College already throws enough complexity at us: deadlines, group projects. Survivor pools cut all that out. One pick. One shot. Done. 

At the end of the day, college fantasy football should be fun, not a chore. Survivor pools are fast, dramatic and perfectly tailored to the way students actually live and play. They do not just keep you in the game; they make the game worth playing.

So while everyone is stressing over their 12-man draft, I will stick with my one pick a week. No spreadsheets, no headaches, just pure, chaotic fun.