It's pretty common to hear a fantasy owner berate one of their players. Maybe they didn't perform the way they wanted, or maybe a TD vulture took their goal-line score. Whatever happened, sports bars and living rooms are full of emotional critiques, all in the name of fantasy football.

But what happens when the players criticize back?

Thanks to the magic of Twitter, it's happening. In fact, according to a recent Newsweek article, guys like LeGarrette Blount, Odell Beckham, Jr. and Martellus Bennett have all used the social media platform to make it clear that they aren't invested in your fantasy team, even if they're on it. And that's just from this month.

As a guy who's played for nearly 25 years (back in the days when you needed a calculator and a newspaper to find out who won), I'm used to feedback being a one-way street. They play, we get angry or happy, and that's it. It's like yelling at your television. You don't expect your television to yell back, do you?

That's why it hurts to admit that the players are exactly right, and have every reason to push back at the constant fantasy references.

Yes, I know that fantasy football has fueled the NFL's growth, even more than they'll ever admit. You watch games that wouldn't interest you, you watch programs you'd otherwise ignore, and you devote hours to watching content you might just skip if not for your personal investments in the outcome. You wouldn't be on this website, reading this article right now. And I'm the exact same way. I devote hours to something that would simply be a passing interest if not for this hobby. And I love doing it.

But let's be honest: Twitter is not like television. You can communicate directly with players, coaches and reporters. And while they knew that people play games based on their performances, it must be unnerving to get criticized (or even praised) by individuals who you don't even know, based on statistics that don't reflect your value to the team.

If a player runs for 150 yards and scores twice, he's a hero to us. But if the team lost, he's down. He might be missing a final chance at the post-season, and an elusive ring. He might be thinking about an earlier fumble that hurt the team. He might be nursing an injury or thinking about his cap number next year, knowing he'll be looking for work next August.

Is that the best time to read constant congratulations, or bragging about he helped a fantasy team win a game? He wasn't playing for Dany's Dragons or Dexter's Next Victim. He was playing for his professional team, where he gets a paycheck that represents his life's goal, and will go away in a few short years. I can imagine all those Tweets add to his frustration.

Now, imagine the guy runs for 58 yards and doesn't reach the end zone, but his pass protection is a big reason why they had time to throw the game-winning score. He also recovered his quarterback's fumble late in the game to preserve the win. The team is still alive for a playoff spot, and he might even get the game ball in the locker room.

But on Twitter, he's a bum. He cost Juan Direction their fantasy game! How can he feel good about our game when it conflicts with the one he plays in real life? Why should he navigate through criticism on a day when he helped his team win?

Social media allows unprecedented access to entertainment and sports stars. It's fun when we get a retweet or direct communication from someone we see on television. But maybe it's better to leave fantasy football out of it. Even in person. "You helped me win my fantasy game" is something nice to say to a player, right? In a way, sure. But you're also saying "I only care about your skill set in the way it benefits me personally." They don't sacrifice for fantasy football, so I can see why measuring their value by only that metric would be demeaning.

Look, I'm not saying these guys are gods among men, and I'm not saying we don't have power as the consumers that fuel a $14 billion business. Of course the league should cater to what the customer wants, and tailor the experience to maximize our enjoyment out of it.

And of course a player can take a moment to shake a hand or sign an autograph for the fans who make their wealth possible. Maybe even favorite a Tweet. It's good business (and good manners) to keep the customers happy.

But let's remember that they play a very different game than we do. When a fantasy owner criticizes a player on social media, it makes the hobby look bad. If every person who approaches them only cares about their contribution to a fantasy team, it sours them on our game. And when we praise them after a tough loss (because the performance benefits us), it's a selfish move on our part. It shows the divide between us, and actually increases the distance between the real game and fantasy.

So if they push back and say they don't care about fantasy football, it's not an insult to fantasy players everywhere. Maybe a few of us need a reminder. It's okay to yell at the television, and to cheer and criticize their statistics on Sunday. But please don't bother them on social media (or in person) with our fantasy fortunes. Let the players play.

What do you think? Does it bother you when a player says they don't care about fantasy football? Have you ever brought up fantasy with a player? Share your thoughts below.