Study: Most NFL fans root for favorite team over fantasy squad

Despite the ever-growing popularity of fantasy football, a new study shows many NFL fans still side with their favorite real-life teams.

Casino.ca surveyed more than 1,000 fans about their loyalties in both fantasy and reality. On average, three out of four said they would prefer to see their favorite NFL franchise advance to the playoffs over their fantasy squad. A similar number of fans said they would rather see their favorite team win a championship.

Fantasy teams tend to demand more attention, though. The study found that on average, NFL fans spend nearly 30 percent more time following their fantasy team than their favorite club.