Fantasy Football Expert Q&A: Justin Boone (theScore)

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 Justin Boone of theScore.

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Expert: Justin Boone
Site: theScore
Twitter: @justinboone
Archive: https://www.thescore.com/author/justin-boone
Rankings Accuracy: No. 4 Overall In-Season (2017)

If you haven’t already, check out the first 2 episodes of @theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.

QB Draft Guide https://t.co/2BKuqKcrNR
RB Draft Guide https://t.co/SSrN6O4Pbb pic.twitter.com/EhDP1eowTi

– Justin Boone (@justinboone) August 20, 2018

Describe the journey that culminated in you becoming a fantasy football expert.
I was always focused on finding a career in football, though most people told me I was narrowing my focus too much. My first job out of college was as the staff writer for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL, where I got to learn the ins and outs of how a football team works and how players approach the game in the pros. I had played fantasy with my friends for years, but the Tiger-Cats staff ran an extremely competitive 14-team, half PPR league that forced me to up my game. After a couple years my fantasy skills had reached a new level. I left for TSN, which is basically Canadian ESPN, and that’s where I got my first shot at creating fantasy articles and publishing my rankings.

If you have one piece of advice for anyone looking to become a fantasy expert, what would it be?
Outwork the competition. If you want to be really good at anything, you should be prepared to completely dedicate yourself to it. I stand by that advice whether we’re talking about my fantasy content or my office ping pong game.

What is the best part of being a fantasy expert?
As you can probably tell from my last answer, I’m slightly competitive. But while I like winning in my leagues, I get even more enjoyment from helping others build quality fantasy squads. Most people say no one cares about your fantasy team, well I do. I want to know every detail. Even if we’re at a wedding or some type of special event, show me your waiver wire and let’s figure out who you can pick up. Fantasy is supposed to be fun, and at its best it brings people together.

On the flip side, what is the toughest part of being a fantasy expert?
Having to cancel plans because I’m not happy with my rankings on a Friday or Saturday night. Fortunately, my family and friends are very understanding of my crazy schedule in the fall.

What fantasy advice of yours has garnered the most memorable reaction (and was it good or bad advice)?
We all have our hits and misses, but most recently, I had a user question why I had Justin Tucker ranked third and not first in my kicker rankings. I wasn’t even sure how to respond to that one.

Is there anything commonly accepted in fantasy football that you’re against?
If the user from the previous question was upset by Tucker being ranked third among kickers, imagine how they’ll feel if we remove the position from fantasy. I finished as the most accurate kicker ranker on FantasyPros last season, but I still say let’s get rid of kickers entirely.

What’s the biggest mistake you see fantasy players make?
Recency bias plagues the fantasy community. It’s hard to avoid, but those who can overcome it tend to be far more successful.

What’s your favorite non-fantasy football activity?
Anything thrilling – skydiving, bungee jumping, white water rafting, etc.

Excluding people from theScore, what are 5 Twitter accounts fantasy owners should follow?@adamlevitan
@lateroundqb
@MikeClayNFL
@evansilva
@adamschefter

If you weren’t a fantasy football expert what would you be?
I’ll admit I gave this question a lot of thought but really struggled to see myself doing anything other than this. I made a decision a long time ago that if my situation allowed it, I would never work a job I didn’t enjoy. I suppose if this fell through, I would pursue screenwriting which was always something that interested me.

What’s the book that you recommend most to family and friends and why?
Eating the Dinosaur by Chuck Klosterman. Or really anything by Chuck Klosterman.

If you could only listen to one song all day, what would it be?
10 A.M. Automatic by The Black Keys. It’s a great wake-up song.

If you could only watch one movie all day, what would it be?
On most days my answer would be Good Will Hunting, which is my favorite movie of all-time. But Step Brothers gets an honorable mention.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
I’m taking the Wolverine-style healing powers. Not sure I’d need the claws, but let’s throw those in too just in case.

Gronk revealed a few years ago that his AIM screen name was ChickMagnet4Lyfe. Be honest and tell us what your handle was.
Mine was Rudiger27, which was a combination of a goofy Simpsons joke and my favorite number. “We can all learn a lot from little Rudiger here.”

When this article appears in a Google search result in 5 years, what player will you hope you predicted as a sleeper in 2018?
It was a super-deep sleeper when I wrote the original article in May, but I’m rooting for Chad Kelly. It’s clear Case Keenum has the job entering the season, but Kelly is an exciting passer and if he gets a chance to start at some point this year, he could excel with the weapons in Denver.

What about a player that will disappoint fantasy owners in 2018?
Between LeSean McCoy’s off-field situation, his age, and the state of Buffalo’s offense as a whole, I have a hard time seeing a path to another quality fantasy season for Shady.

What is your 2018 Super Bowl prediction?
Steelers top the Saints and Antonio Brown wins a very deserving Super Bowl MVP.

Thanks to Justin for taking the time to answer our questions. For more, visit theScore and follow @justinboone.

And check out our entire Fantasy Football Expert Q&A:

Rudy Gamble (Razzball)
Mike Wright (The Fantasy Footballers)
Mike Tagliere (FantasyPros)
Matthew Freedman (FantasyLabs)
Bobby Sylvester (FantasyPros)

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