Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown sends a message to fantasy football GMs sliding into his DMs

While opinions on fantasy football vary among NFL players, Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown recently shared his thoughts on the millions of cosplay general managers. 

Speaking with reporters on Thursday, St. Brown said he'd received more direct messages on social media about fantasy football than he can count. However, he's come out of it with a mostly positive experience. 

"I'm aware of the fantasy people that love fantasy," St. Brown told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "Shoot, I don't play fantasy but for all those that do, you're welcome." 

The third-year wideout has made plenty of fantasy players happy this season. Entering Week 17, St. Brown has already tied or secured career highs in receptions (106), yards (1,281) and touchdowns (eight). Furthermore, he may be heating up as the postseason approaches. After failing to surpass 100 yards receiving from Week 10 through Week 13, he's posted 112 and 106 yards over the last two games, adding a combined 19 catches and two scores. 

St. Brown's favorable reaction to the fantasy chaos is a refreshing change of pace. While fantasy isn't new, how it's played and the stakes have changed dramatically over the years. Now, instead of bragging rights, the emergence of legal online gambling and daily fantasy apps means serious cash is on the line. 

Unsurprisingly, most interactions with fans and players over fantasy results aren't pleasant. Recently, Minnesota Vikings team clinician Dr. Brownell Mack related the issue to a societal change due to the facelessness of social media, which emboldens some to "dehumanize people." 

"I think that veil of anonymity online creates that culture or that belief that it's OK to go after people with impunity, but I think we have to consider the impact on athletes," Mack told Dave Campbell of the Associated Press. "We see them in armor. They wear helmets and the padding, and we think that they're somehow invincible or don't have feelings." 

Considering the evolving landscape around the NFL, sports gambling and social media alike, perhaps St. Brown's lighthearted response to happy fantasy players will make others think twice before sending a nasty private message when things aren't going so well.