Fantasy Footballers Podcast Summary Episode: Fantasy Football Podcast 2016 - 10 Offseason Tips & Tricks
Release Date: March 24, 2016

The Fantasy Footballers, consisting of hosts Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright, delve into essential strategies for fantasy football managers during the offseason. In this episode, released on March 24, 2016, the trio presents 10 invaluable tips and tricks designed to help listeners prepare for the upcoming fantasy football season. Additionally, they address listener questions in their mailbag segment, providing personalized advice to enhance fantasy team performance.

1. Reflect and React to Last Year

Mike Wright emphasizes the importance of analyzing the past season’s successes and failures. By understanding what worked and what didn’t, managers can make informed decisions for the future.

• "We need to reflect and react to last year. The highs, the lows." [18:16]

Andy Holloway adds that recognizing trends, such as the dominance of wide receivers, can guide drafting strategies.

• "The domination of the wide receivers. The top wide receivers were so valuable last year." [20:22]

2. Mock It Up

Andy Holloway encourages managers to participate in mock drafts to gauge player value and adjust strategies based on changes in the offseason, such as free agent signings and the NFL rookie draft.

• "Mock drafts... allows you to see the changes and the trends of different guys." [21:07]

Jason Moore highlights that even a few mock drafts can significantly enhance understanding of Average Draft Position (ADP) movements.

• "It doesn't take a lot of time investment to help you get a feel for the ADP of players over the offseason." [21:29]

3. Get Your House in Order

Jason Moore advises league commissioners to finalize league rules and ensure all participants are active and committed to prevent mid-season conflicts and confusion.

• "Sort through the minutia of the rules and the things that you don't want to deal with in week three." [23:00]

4. Find the Right League

Andy Holloway stresses the importance of being in a league with engaged and knowledgeable participants to enhance the overall fantasy football experience.

• "Fantasy football is only as fun as the league you're in." [25:30]

Jason Moore suggests utilizing platforms like JointheFoot.com to connect with like-minded fantasy enthusiasts.

• "We're trying to facilitate that as well on the site." [25:54]

5. Stay Connected

Mike Wright advocates for leveraging social media, particularly Twitter, to stay updated with the latest news, interact with experts, and gain insider information.

• "You can follow beat reporters... There's no way this person's gonna reply to me." [27:02]

Jason Moore echoes the sentiment, highlighting the shift from traditional news sources to real-time updates via social media.

• "If you want to talk to me, get on Twitter." [29:10]

6. Watch the Rookies

Jason Moore and Andy Holloway encourage managers to actively watch rookie performances, as visual assessments can provide deeper insights than statistics alone.

• "Don't have to be an expert scout... watch some of these rookies and compare them with your eyeballs." [30:23]

Andy Holloway suggests comparing multiple players at the same position to better evaluate their potential.

• "Take two or three of the same position and watch highlight film back to back." [30:56]

7. Opportunistic Trading

Jason Moore introduces the concept of making strategic trades during the offseason to capitalize on players with built-in value, especially in dynasty leagues.

• "Trade guys who have the built in value and go get some middle-aged vets." [31:12]

Andy Holloway provides an example of trading a player like Jeremy Langford before the NFL draft to maximize trade value.

• "Trade Jeremy Langford before the NFL draft, not afterwards when they draft another running back." [31:38]

8. Listen to Your League Mates

Mike Wright refers to this strategy as "league scouting," where managers pay attention to their peers' drafting tendencies and preferences to gain a competitive edge.

• "How did your teammates draft?... This is a huge strategic advantage." [33:21]

Jason Moore advises managers to observe and remember league mates' preferences for informed decision-making during drafts.

• "Your league tends to draft quarterbacks at this place... that can really help you." [34:19]

9. Take Things with a Grain of Salt

Andy Holloway warns against overreacting to offseason news and emphasizes the necessity of filtering information to avoid making rash decisions based on potentially biased or exaggerated reports.

• "Take everything you hear with a grain of salt." [35:10]

Jason Moore concurs, advising managers to balance information from coaches and media with their own assessments.

• "Don't overreact necessarily." [36:17]

10. Stay Pliable

Jason Moore underscores the importance of remaining flexible with opinions and rankings as new information emerges during the offseason.

• "Be pliable. Be humble with your opinions because you'll end up in a better place when you're the champion." [37:07]

Mike Wright relates this to being adaptable, likening managers to water that takes the shape of its container.

• "If you put water in a cup, yeah, it becomes the cup." [39:51]

Mailbag: Listener Questions and Advice

The Fantasy Footballers address several listener queries, offering tailored advice:

1. Best League Format and Rules:

   • Listener Matt from Miami seeks guidance on establishing an optimal league structure, including settings like league size, scoring system, keeper rules, and playoff formats.

   • Andy Holloway and Jason Moore provide a detailed recommendation favoring a half-point PPR scoring system, balanced positional requirements, a six-team playoff structure, and flexible trade deadlines.

   • "Mock it up like we mocked up the Rams... Make sure you're doing some mock drafts." [21:07]

2. Keeper League Dilemma:

   • Listener Nick from Michigan faces issues with keeper rules affecting trades involving suspended players.

   • Mike Wright and Jason Moore discuss the importance of voting on rule changes collectively to handle unforeseen circumstances without disadvantaging any participant.

   • "Vote and say should we have trading in the off season, not have to have the player kept." [50:37]

3. Streaming Quarterbacks:

   • Listener Andrew Z inquires about the strategy of streaming quarterbacks and whether to continue prioritizing waiver pickups.

   • Mike Wright and Jason Moore recommend waiting until waivers clear to secure streaming quarterbacks, conserving waiver priority for more critical moves.

   • "You're not there yet. Don't kill your priority." [51:10]

4. Keeper League Rules Enforcement:

   • Nick also explores the enforcement of keeping traded players who may be injured or suspended, emphasizing the need for clear, predefined rules to maintain league integrity.

Conclusion

The Fantasy Footballers provide a comprehensive guide to navigating the fantasy football offseason, emphasizing strategic preparation, adaptability, and effective league management. By reflecting on past performances, engaging in mock drafts, securing the right league environment, and staying informed through modern communication channels, managers can position themselves for success in the upcoming season. The episode concludes with the hosts encouraging listeners to join their community and stay connected for ongoing insights and support.

Notable Quotes:

• Andy Holloway:
  "Mock drafts... allows you to see the changes and the trends of different guys." [21:07]

• Mike Wright:
  "You can follow beat reporters... There's no way this person's gonna reply to me." [27:02]

• Jason Moore:
  "Be pliable. Be humble with your opinions because you'll end up in a better place when you're the champion." [37:07]

• Andy Holloway:
  "The domination of the wide receivers. The top wide receivers were so valuable last year." [20:22]