Fantasy Football Diary: My Year of Firsts

In my Fantasy Football Diary series, I’ve taken you on a journey through the pain of being a Minnesota Vikings fan this season, my fantasy highs and lows, connections made in the fantasy community, and shared some life adversities. This was my fifth year playing fantasy football, and I tried my hand at a couple new formats, including guillotine, IDP and dynasty. Along with the firsts of those formats, this was also my first season as a content creator for fantasy football.

WHO I AM

At my very first Fantasy Football Expo in 2022, I identified myself as a content consumer, and I pride myself having that be a large part of who I am in the fantasy community. When I saw the Women of Fantasy panel, which included the likes of Lauren Carpenter and Britt Flinn, I was inspired to believe that there’s a seat at the table for someone like me in fantasy. I was a woman in a male-dominated space who was new to playing fantasy football and also new to being a football fan. I wasn’t sure if someone like me, a casual player, should even attend something like the Expo. I met so many welcoming and genuine people at the Expo, and I realized there is a place for all of us in fantasy. From consumers to analysts, we all belong.

During last season, I was approached by a couple of industry friends asking if I ever considered making content, and I always balked at that prospect, thinking: That’s not me. I’m not smart enough for that. I can’t do what the analysts do. Last summer, this idea still lingered in my mind. I wondered if there was a way that I could create fantasy content, but in a way that stays true to who I am. This prompted the idea for this diary series. I discussed this “crazy idea” with my friend Joshua Hudson with Women of Fantasy Football (WOFF), and soon after, my journey began. With this series, I had the opportunity to share my personal fantasy experiences and deliver content in such a way that others could find relatable.

This 2023 football season was stacked full of first-time experiences. In July, I live-drafted in Minneapolis for the Scott Fish Bowl and hung out with the innovative leader himself, Scott Fish, as well as with other fantasy enthusiasts. I didn’t even come close to making the playoffs in that tournament, but the connections made from the live draft and with other drafters from the 1.10 spot were immeasurable. In August, I returned to the Fantasy Football Expo bubble. I met and was recognized by leaders in the industry like Joe Bryant, Pat Fitzmaurice, and Marcas Grant. This trip took place after two diary entries were published, so I also had multiple people approach wanting to meet me and offer compliments on those pieces. This was a first for me. In life, I typically feel invisible and unseen. This was not the case at the Expo.

TRYING NEW LEAGUE FORMATS

As I mentioned, as a fantasy player, I experienced a bunch of firsts with playing different formats. I tried my hand at guillotine and eliminator leagues. The eliminator leagues were drafted as best ball, so I didn’t need to manage the teams in-season. I finished in the final two for the Fantasy Cares Eliminator league hosted by my favorite analyst, my 1.01, Kate Magdziuk. In the two guillotine leagues I tried, I was chopped in Week 8 and Week 13, respectively. I had hoped to make it further than that, but it wasn’t meant to be. I look forward to playing these formats again next season and aspire to go all the way.

This was also my first year trying the IDP format. My good friend Iggy convinced me to try it with his charity tournament he hosted, #FF7. I was in a division with fantasy superstars such as Bob Harris, Gary Davenport, and Mike Dempsey. My season was ticking along nicely in that league, and I was faring well in the beginning. But then things went sideways, and I made the wrong moves with my IDP starters. I finished the league in 7^th place overall out of 16, which I know isn’t awful for a first year, but I wanted better. I’m torn as to whether I want to try this format again. I think I do, but I hated that I made dumb mistakes with the IDP players. IDP frustrated me with how complicated it is, and I always felt behind the curve. We shall see if I’ll brave those waters again.

During this season, I also ventured into the world of dynasty. I was always hesitant before. I didn’t like the large commitment involved. With dynasty, you have the same team year in and year out and only add on rookie players in subsequent years. How could I commit to being in the same league for an indeterminate time? But in the end, I had convincing friends who worked their magic and sucked me into the dynasty world. I joined two startup dynasty leagues, thanks to Hoov, Roxanne, and Hope Meyers. By some weird twist of fate, I took home the Championship in both leagues. Let’s stop right there. For the first time ever, I am a freaking Fantasy Football Champion. After five years, I did it. I reached the finish line and took the title. Not just in one league, but TWO. I’m amped to run it back and take the title again. Let’s goooooo!

BRANCHING OUT

I played in eleven managed leagues this year, and the weekly management was intense and all-consuming. My plan is to do less next year, but let’s be real. I have a really hard time saying no to joining leagues. There were so many incredible charity leagues I was a part of for the first time including Pros with Joes (paired with pro Zach), Warrior Bowl, and Battle of the Sexes, just to name a few. This was also my second year with my commissioned redraft league, Crushing It, and my second year playing in Draft Night Out.

This year, DNO was hosted by In-Between Media, which is a media group that I joined as a staff writer after the 2023 Expo. I wrote weekly PrizePicks predictions over the season and navigated the world of fantasy analysis for the first time. Enduring the season-long hustle of a weekly series was a new accomplishment for me. I learned how to be disciplined and patient with the process. My trusted boss, Seth Woolcock, was a valuable resource of insights and encouragement and didn’t let me succumb to frustration when I had picks that failed.

Before the season, I never thought that I’d find myself doing fantasy analysis. I didn’t think that was who I was. I think sometimes that’s a part of life’s journey. We start on one path and anticipate going in one single direction, yet sometimes we find ourselves taking a detour along the way. Or we even find ourselves on multiple paths simultaneously. When the season began, I thought I was strictly a fantasy content consumer who maybe dabbles into content about my personal experience with these diaries. And now, I’ve branched out and achieved more than that. I strive to continue growing in my skills and seeing where it all takes me.

I recently joined BettorFantasy as a Launch Team Pioneer under the leadership of Will Tighe. Our team tests out their DFS platform, provides feedback and promotes the app. I’m excited to be a part of something from the ground level while helping it grow. Also, I just really enjoy drafting and making prop picks. I couldn’t say no to something this much fun.

UNWIND

Speaking of fun, another endeavor I tried for the first time this season was hosting Zoom events for women in the fantasy football community. This was another “crazy idea” I had. The premise was just to be able to gather with my girlfriends from the fantasy space and hang out. For a while now, I’ve held firm to my stance of, “I don’t do podcasts.” But for some reason, hosting these Zoom events was something I needed to dive headfirst in and needed to pull off no matter what. It was extremely important to have this space and time for women to connect, and I wasn’t going to let my fear of hosting stand in the way. To mitigate this fear, I brought powerhouse Kelly Singh along for the ride to help me facilitate the events.

There have been six UNWIND events so far, ranging from 13 to 21 attendees at each. In total, there have been 45 different women involved with these events. The conversations during the events, in our group chat, and Discord chat have ranged from casual laughs, fantasy discussions, and real talk about life. Anything that is shared in the UNWIND space stays between the  community members. My goal with these was to create a safe place where every woman is accepted as she is, as her unique self. We have a variety of women involved with UNWIND including established industry analysts, editors/behind-the-scenes talent, and fantasy consumers.

I have received numerous positive comments from attendees after these events, including things like, “That was honestly so refreshing.” “I know I did find a place in the fantasy community thanks to you.” “This is truly a great thing you’re doing…creating a real community.” I’m thankful for each woman who has attended, and they are all why this endeavor has been so successful and taken flight. Friendships have formed and various collaborations have begun to spring up. We are just getting started with what we will conquer with this UNWIND community.

WHAT COMES NEXT

I feel like I am just getting started with what I will achieve in the fantasy space as a fantasy player and a content creator. I want to dig deeper into fantasy analysis and learn more of the intricacies. I want to continue to network and connect with people within the industry. I believe that in collaborating with others we can accomplish great things. I am inspired by the growth of UNWIND this season and can’t wait to see what the future holds.

This year of firsts was a huge learning experience for me. I learned that I am capable of more than I ever thought I was, or what I thought I even wanted to do. I thought I was only a fantasy content consumer. Then I started sharing my personal fantasy experiences with this diary series. This led to trying my hand with fantasy analysis with PrizePicks predictions. I don’t fit in a single box within this fantasy world. I am many things and will continue to spread my wings. This year has taken me by surprise and out of my comfort zone. I look forward to seeing where the journey takes me next. Who knows. Maybe 2024 is the year I will try a podcast. We will just have to wait and see.

xoxo,

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