THE FANTASY FOOTBALLERS
By now if you consider yourself an avid fantasy football player, you have assuredly heard of The Fantasy Footballers Podcast. If for some strange reason you haven’t or if you are new to the game, now is a great time to get yourself acquainted with the fantasy football industry’s favorite trio of analysts (scientifically researched and proven I am sure of it). Andy Holloway, Mike Wright, and Jason Moore make up this dynamic tri-force of power that is massively and positively disrupting the fantasy sports industry with their vision, innovation, and inspirational story of success. The Fantasy Footballers Podcast is the #1 fantasy football podcast on the planet and is heavily supported by its loyal and dedicated listeners, the #FootClan. You may have seen the Footballers interviewed on The Rich Eisen Show or The Lefkoe Show. You may have also seen them competing in high profile celebrity fantasy leagues such as Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster’s Sleeper Bowl on the Sleeper fantasy platform featuring Zac Efron and Ninja or Fantasy League One on NFL Network with Adam Rank, Graham Barfield, Taylor Bisciotti, and Marcas Grant. To achieve the notoriety, respect, and support that the Footballers have as an independent entity within a competitive sports media industry is remarkable to say the least. It is truly a testament to the quality of work that they produce as well as the character that they exhibit as human beings.
Appreciation for The Fantasy Footballers Podcast and its hosts is not just limited to their listeners, followers, and those vying for fantasy football championships (“#FootClan Titles”). Industry professionals and award-winning analysts such as The Athletic’s Jake Ciely recognize the impact that the Footballers have had since they arrived on the fantasy scene in 2015. Jake recently shared his thoughts about Andy, Mike, and Jason with me and this is what he said:
“The Footballers are everything that's amazing in this business. Self-made titans of the industry, Andy, Mike and Jason bring a mix of fun and insight like few others or maybe no one else can. If you're not entertained by their podcast, you might need to join up with the Tin Man and see the Wizard. I'm thrilled to call them industry peers but more importantly, friends. I only wish I knew them sooner, which is the reaction everyone has when tuning into their podcast for the first time!"
Jake is not alone in his praise and admiration for the Footballers. Countless fantasy analysts, brands, and entities attribute their development and growth within the fantasy sports industry to Andy, Mike, and Jason. Their influence has inspired many individuals to think outside of the box and start their own podcasts or unite with others to forge their own niche within the fantasy community.
Mike “The Fantasy Hitman” Wright with Ninja at the 2019 ESPN ESPY Awards.
In just a few short years, The Fantasy Footballers have become absolute rock stars within the fantasy sports industry. We are not talking about just a boy band here either. One thing they actually do have in common with the New Kids on the Block (NKOTB) is that they too will pave the way for the next generation like Joey, Jordan, Danny, and Donnie did for NSync and The Backstreet Boys (somewhere the future Justin Timberlake of fantasy football analysis is a football loving teenager daydreaming about which Fantasy Footballer they want to be when they grow up). I suppose the NKOTB parallels are also appropriate as the Footballers do indeed have “The Right Stuff” when it comes Mike “The Fantasy Hitman” Wright. Some people say that Mike Wright has the voice of an angel and others just recognize it as the voice over guy from those amazing Next Gen Stats powered by AWS Amazon Web Services commercials. One thing is for certain, this sneaker loving Footballer has more swag than most celebrities walking the red carpet at the Grammy’s and athletes at ESPN’s ESPY Awards. He is also an incredible guy with a heart of gold. The bottom line with this rock star analogy is that the potential legacy and career arc of The Fantasy Footballers has the floor of The Rolling Stones and the ceiling of The Beatles when it comes to their range of outcomes. Just so you know, I have devised a proprietary algorithmic model based upon the latest in advanced analytics to formulate these projections so they are quite accurate and objective.
In true rock band fashion, The Fantasy Footballers Podcast even went on summer tours in 2018 and 2019. In cities all over the country they were met with sold out crowds filled with loyal listeners fired up to meet the guys that have brought so much entertainment to their lives through their podcasts and assisted them in winning fantasy football championships and supremacy over their league mates. The energy in the crowd and on stage was electric and The People’s Fantasy Tour was an overwhelming success. There is no better example of how special these events were than the first live show in 2018 which took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I vividly remember watching the live stream of this event and the energy was bursting through my computer screen. What was most evident though was the pure and genuine appreciation that Andy, Mike, and Jason shared as they first took the stage. The experience was clearly a magical moment and one that the guys will never forget. If you watch the “10 Tips & Tricks to Win Your League” episode from Minneapolis on YouTube you will immediately get a sense of what I am talking about!
The Footballers consistently rank among the most accurate analysts in the fantasy football industry when it comes to their weekly and yearly player projections according to Fantasy Pros, a popular website which tracks the accuracy of player rankings made by experts in the fantasy sports industry. Beyond the proven analysis and accurate advice provided each and every season, the unique and relatable personalities that the Footballers possess play a massive role in what inspires people to follow, respect, and admire this trio.
Imagine yourself arriving at a barbecue and your pal behind the grill opens the lid and pulls out a filet mignon for you to enjoy. When it comes to fantasy analysts that incredible piece of meat is Jason Moore. Sure, you may have expected a hamburger or a hot dog and you would have been totally fine with that. The truth is that there are plenty of hamburger and hot dog analysts in the fantasy sports industry. We love them and we enjoy them. When it comes to Jason Moore however, his humor, wit, and humility is first class and combines to form a USDA Prime personality that is unmatched in the industry. Jason just may be one of the most relatable human beings on the planet and that is why he is so beloved within the fantasy community.
No one quite knows what the word “badingy” means just yet. This novel word was born within a series of opening scats on Andy, Mike, and Jason’s comedy podcast, The Spitballers Podcast. Now the potential application and use of this word within the English language is limitless. If “badingy” (pronounced buh-ding-gee) represents the father of the word, Andy Holloway, it is extremely intelligent and known for excellent leadership skills, wisdom, and great depth. I can already see many different applications for its use. Corporations may see the advantage of bringing on a Chief Badingy Officer (CBO). We may hear people say, “The new Batman movie with the vampire guy (Robert Pattinson) looks like it is going to be a real badingy.” How else will you describe it when Kyler Murray escapes Aaron Donald and roles out eluding would be tacklers and tosses a laser beam to Deandre Hopkins who is blanketed by Jalen Ramsey on a 55-yard touchdown pass besides “Oh my, that was a bandingy of a play!”? In all seriousness though, Andy Holloway is a dynamic individual with an entrepreneurial spirit and a great sense of humor. It is very evident why he is admired and revered by so many people.
Andy, Mike, and Jason have unique skill sets that blend together perfectly allowing them to entertain their audience by creating exceptional audio and video content with high production quality. The chemistry that the Footballers developed over the years as friends and colleagues working together in the video game industry has laid the foundation for their current success. Competing against one another in their own fantasy football league (their “League of Record”) and enjoying the experience that a fun and engaged league provides is at the core of their brand. Andy, Mike, and Jason recognize how much joy fantasy football brings people and that fuels their passion to share their love of the game with others. There have been several excellent interviews over the past few years where the Footballers discuss the entire origin of The Fantasy Footballers Podcast and how it all began. If you are interested in learning more about their fascinating story, I highly recommend doing a deep dive on the topic. Andy Holloway’s interview with BDGE’s Nick Ercolano is a really good one!
A very popular product that the Footballers have created is called the Ultimate Draft Kit (UDK). The UDK is an absolute must when it comes to preparing for upcoming fantasy football drafts and laying a foundation for season long success. This piece of content consists of The Fantasy Footballers award-winning rankings, 100+ player profile videos, expert picks, player projections, a new mobile app experience, and much more! The Fantasy Footballers Podcast has partnered with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to help end childhood cancer and ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food. $1 from every Ultimate Draft Kit sold will go directly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The Fantasy Footballers have also just authored and released a book called Fantasy Football Unleashed. This book provides “55 Tips, Tricks, & Ways to Win at Fantasy Football” which serves as a blueprint and strategy guide for winning fantasy football championships and enjoying the league experience along the way.
With continued growth of the brand it is no surprise that The Fantasy Footballers Podcast has now won over 30 industry awards including the 2019 “Best Fantasy Podcast” from the Fantasy Sports and Gaming Association (FSGA) and the 2019 “Best Sports Podcast” award at the IHeart Radio Podcast Awards. What they have accomplished professionally has truly been astounding. JJ Zachariason, Editor-in-Chief at NumberFire and host of “The Late Round Quarterback Podcast”, recently shared with me some of his thoughts on the Footballers success and how they have impacted him personally. This is what he had to say:
"Andy, Mike, and Jason have created an empire with The Fantasy Footballers. They understood there was a market for a really well-produced show, and they used their experience to concoct a really unique podcast experience. Their ability to use past experience to do what they do is something that a lot of people can learn from. What's more important to the Footballers, though, is who they are as human beings. I've hung around them for years now, long before they became the behemoths they've become, and nothing has changed. They're still the goofy, kindhearted dudes they've always been and I feel lucky to call them my friends."
I too have had the opportunity to spend some time with these fellas in Dallas, Las Vegas, New York City, and on their home turf in the Arizona desert. It does not matter what area code or time zone the Footballers are in, they are always the same genuine individuals that you see and hear on the show. Their influence goes far beyond fantasy football analysis for many people. Scott Fish of Safe Leagues and the Commission Impossible podcast opened up to me about how the Footballers have impacted his life personally:
“Often you hear how Andy, Mike, and Jason have inspired people to try their hand at fantasy content. For me, they inspire me to continue to strive to be a good person, a good parent, full of love and positivity, and to keep mindful of the importance of family. They are just as authentic and every bit as wonderful of people off air as they are on air and I’m proud to call them friends. They are charitable with their business and their personal time. They are constantly striving to do things the right way and routinely go out of their way to support others. You would be hard pressed to find better human beings and they deserve every ounce of success they enjoy. I love those guys.”
This is quite the compliment coming from Scott Fish who was named Humanitarian of the Year by the Fantasy Sports and Gaming Association (FSGA) in 2019 and is widely considered one of the kindest and most generous individuals in the fantasy football industry. Scott is the creator of the world famous Scott Fish Bowl and the Fantasy Cares charitable organization which annually raises an enormous amount of money for Toys for Tots and other charities.
The Fantasy Footballers Podcast has clearly made a positive impression on many different levels. Andy, Mike, and Jason would be the first to tell you that the team that has been assembled at The Fantasy Footballers deserves a significant amount of credit for where they have been able to grow their brand. Manager, Damon Metzner, has played a pivotal role in creating and developing opportunities for the business. Brooks Carmean and Jeremy Grantham serve as producers for the podcasts and are vital to the team’s success. Editor-in-Chief, Kyle Borgognoni, contributes mightily in this position. Kyle also co-hosts The Fantasy Footballers: DFS Podcast this season alongside Matthew Betz, PT. Physical Therapist Matthew Betz with BallBlast Football is a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist and has the role of Injury Expert for The Fantasy Footballers.
The writing staff at FantasyFootballers.com has been producing industry leading content for several years. Previous contributors such as Nate Hamilton and Tyler Guenthner have gone on to make a name for themselves within the fantasy community. The current dream team of Staff Writers includes Eric Ludwig, Ben Cummings, Jeff Greenwood, Ryan Weisse, Robert Wilson, Michael Wenrich, Aaron Larson, Mitch Carl, Matthew Betz, PT, and Lauren Carpenter. They are consistently creating incredible pieces of content. Just this month, Kacey Kasem, Marvin Elequin, and Peter Chung have been added to the roster and are thrilled for the opportunity to contribute with such an exceptional team of writers and contributors.
The journey and evolution of The Fantasy Footballers Podcast has been so much fun to witness. What is next for the Footballers? Only time will tell however it is pretty safe to say that it will be exciting, innovative, and inspiring! If you would like to learn more about The Fantasy Footballers Podcast and their award-winning team make sure to follow and subscribe to their social media channels and accounts. Several links are provided below. Visit TheFantasyFootballers.com and join the #FootClan to give yourself the best opportunity to win your fantasy football championship and enjoy every aspect of the fantasy football experience!
