As we approach the start of the 2018 NFL season, we’re excited to launch a new series where we’re featuring several of the top experts in the fantasy industry. Our aim is to help you get to know each analyst a little better with info about their path to becoming a fantasy expert, advice for helping you win your leagues and answers to fun questions mixed in.
We encourage you to follow each expert, check out their rankings and enjoy the interview! Up next is Mike Wright, one of The Fantasy Footballers.
Expert: Mike Wright
Site: The Fantasy Footballers
Twitter: @FFHitman
Archive: https://www.thefantasyfootballers.com/author/mike/
Rankings Accuracy: No. 32 Overall In-Season (2017)
When mom says the bagel bites are still too hot but you don’t listen: pic.twitter.com/x2aRUeFnXf
— Mike Wright (@FFHitman) June 1, 2018
Describe the journey that culminated in you becoming a fantasy football expert.
The Fantasy Footballers owes it’s origins to a podcast that Andy Holloway and I ran specifically created for our league of record. The league is a super competitive and outrageously fun to be in. We always try to take things up a notch, including a live-draft with one of our friends dressed up to play the role of Roger Goodell reading out our picks, team tables are always covered in banners and custom made mini-helmets with our team logos, etc. One year, Andy and I decided to make a podcast where we go over everything about our league. We would grade people’s trades, call out smart/bad decisions, and spend about 45 minutes talking garbage about the rest of the league. We eventually made the decision to try our hand at a public fantasy football show, which became The Fantasy Footballers…and we were awful. But, we kept working at it, eventually brought in Jason Moore and the show clicked with people.
If you have one piece of advice for anyone looking to become a fantasy expert, what would it be?
Get on Twitter. Start joining in conversations and building up relationships with other industry people. It’s about getting your face to a recognizable point. Also, if you aren’t truly passionate about fantasy football, the grind is going to burn you out.
If you could provide one piece of advice for anyone starting a podcast, what would it be?
Find YOUR voice, not the voice you believe that a professional is supposed to have/use.
What is the best part of being a fantasy expert?
When I flip all of the games on Sunday morning, I’m “working.”
On the flip side, what is the toughest part of being a fantasy expert?
The regular season, at times, can require a level of stamina that I didn’t expect. We work essentially 6 days a week, and that doesn’t count the much longer days of Monday and Thursday. I fully admit this sounds ridiculous, but once you hit the double-digit weeks it can take some serious mental centering to stay fresh and creative on the podcast.
What fantasy advice of yours has garnered the most memorable reaction (and was it good or bad advice)?
Back in 2015 when Jordan Reed was coming back from his injury, I ended up pleading with people to grab him off the waiver-wire and even coined the term/nickname ‘Rule 86’ which was “If Jordan Reed is playing, you need to start him.” That move ended up being huge for people, the nickname stuck, and we even saw Yahoo referring to Reed as ‘Rule 86’ in their following year’s draft-review write-ups.
Is there anything commonly accepted in fantasy football that you’re against?
Not sure these things are commonly accepted, but Week 17 championships and limiting transactions are scourges upon fantasy football that need to be obliterated.
What’s the biggest mistake you see fantasy players make?
Still not accepting the advantage of late-round QB.
What’s your favorite non-fantasy football activity?
Pickle-Ball. Yeah, it’s a game for old people. So what. Don’t @ me.
Excluding people from The Fantasy Footballers, what are 5 Twitter accounts fantasy owners should follow?@LateRoundQB
@lordreebs
@ScottBarrettDFB
@TJHernandez
@MattHarmon_BYB
If you weren’t a fantasy football expert what would you be?
Musician was my background before the show became full-time work. I’m sure I’d be back in that world.
What’s the book that you recommend most to family and friends and why?
The Road – Cormac McCarthy
If you could only listen to one song all day, what would it be?
All Night Long – Lionel Richie
If you could only watch one movie all day, what would it be?
Die Hard
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Flight
Gronk revealed a few years ago that his AIM screen name was ChickMagnet4Lyfe. Be honest and tell us what your handle was.
I was a kid with bad asthma and horrific allergies. My handle ended up being, the misspelled, Nasilspray.
When this article appears in a Google search result in 5 years, what player will you hope you predicted as a sleeper in 2018?
Geronimo Allison
What about a player that will disappoint fantasy owners in 2018?
Deshaun Watson
What is your 2018 Super Bowl prediction?
Rams – Chargers (let’s get nuts)
Thanks to Mike for taking the time to answer our questions. For more, visit The Fantasy Footballers and follow @FFHitman.
And check out our entire Fantasy Football Expert Q&A:
