It is difficult to fathom the popularity of some things in life: Mike Myers films and stadium food, for example. But it is not hard to understand why thousands are signing up to play our two fantasy games, PlayTheGame and Times Fantasy Football.

PlayTheGame is free to enter, offers great prizes and has unique squads, so teams in the same league cannot own the same players. The classic Times Fantasy Football costs £3 and gives you a chance to win a share of the £100,000 prize pool, with £50,000 going to the overall winner. We hand you £100 million to pick 11 men from the English and Scottish leagues.

So who are you signing and who are you shunning? A remarkable 46 per cent of Times Fantasy Football users so far have selected Fernando Torres, by far the most popular player in our game even though he is the joint-costliest, at £16 million. Despite the price tag, 24 league goals last season suggests that the Liverpool striker is worth every penny.

It’s an Anfield one-two, since Steven Gerrard is next, starring in 35 per cent of teams despite his £14 million asking price. Then comes Cesc Fàbregas, the Arsenal man chosen by 27 per cent of fantasy players. Nemanja Vidic and Ashley Young round off the top five; then it’s Joleon Lescott, a goalscoring defender; and Peter Crouch, whom more than a fifth of fantasists feel will enjoy life with Portsmouth. The England pairing of Rio Ferdinand and John Terry are just behind. Artur Boruc, the Celtic goal-keeper, rounds off the top ten: he looks good value at £6 million and has been picked by more than 17 per cent.

But aren’t we forgetting someone? Lithe, tanned fella? Quick feet? Bit of a smirk? Ah yes. There is no doubt that Cristiano Ronaldo was the player of 2007-08, but it seems that you don’t fancy him as much this year. Even if he likes himself just as much as ever. The Manchester United midfield player is the same price as Torres, but has been picked by only 16 per cent of participants. Why? Perhaps it’s down to his injury, fear he will be transferred to Real Madrid and maybe a suspicion that he cannot reproduce last year’s phenomenal form.

He’s still more popular than Wayne Rooney, his club-mate, who lags in 33rd. Deco, the Chelsea new boy, is a more common selection than Frank Lampard, while almost as many of you picked Nick Barmby, of Hull City, as chose Paul Scholes, the Old Trafford veteran. And how about this for a tale of two Ryans: Giggs, in just 1.3 per cent of teams. That’s fewer than Shawcross, the Stoke City defender.

It may have something to do with the latter’s status as the joint-cheapest player in the game, so making him a viable option for those who have blown their budgets on superstars and need to fill out their lineups.

The antiTorres? Emile Heskey is owned by just 0.22 per cent of users, while being in only 0.04 per cent of teams, Diomansy Kamara has a popularity rating that would make even Gordon Brown feel beloved in comparison. But bottom of the lot is poor Mark de Vries. At £7 million, the Dundee United forward is in 0.02 per cent of teams. Perhaps the Surinam-born striker’s family would like to sign up at fantasyfootball.timesonline.co.uk and end his embarrassment.

New for this season

Simpler team-building system – build a personalised wish list longer than Harry Redknapp’s.

Offline player allocation option – pick your players face-to-face in real time. Choice of team formations – pick the system that suits your players.

Simpler scoring categories – rewarding fair play and reliable contributors.

More flexible transfer system – wheel and deal with the best of them. Bulletins will keep you up to speed

Need to stay up to date with your fantasy players?

Every day until the end of the season, Timeswriters will monitor developments at every club to keep you informed about every player. Injuries, international call-ups, suspensions, possible transfer activity – anything we get wind of that could affect your fantasy team will be available in our player news bulletins, with a fantasy analysis to help you to act on it.

Bulletins about your players will be delivered to your inbox as part of a weekly e-mail, but if you cannot wait, the bulletins are available on TheGame’s website and a symbol next to a player’s name in any list will tell you that there is a news update, which you will be taken to with a single click.