Part 2 of our conversation with Jared Smola: closing out the draft strategy guide and getting Jared's answers to our burning outside-expert questions of 2018. Sponsored by the Fantasy Index Super Fanatic Package.
You can download the August 28, 2018 podcast directly or subscribe on iTunes. (Please remember to rate and review the Fantasy Index Podcast on iTunes! That helps us.)
You may also listen to the episode directly on this page:
During the merger season of 1970, what three teams from the NFL agreed to join the 10 AFL franchises to form the new, 13-team “American Football Conference”?
Ian Allan answers your fantasy football questions. In this edition: Scrambling for running backs in Week 12. Why is Rachaad White ranked so high? Najee Harris' outlook. And is Sterling Shepard the sneaky Payback Player of the Week?
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You guys are great - if you look at my account, I believe I have been a subscriber for around 20 years! Unfortunately, a few years ago a couple of other owners found the same publication (they didnʼt get it from me; I always disguised the sheets while at the draft!)
I have purchased your magazine since my first fantasy football season ever 12 season ago and love the insight you offer. Thank you for the great service, I look forward to many many more years of enjoying your subscription!
The magazine is exactly the same as last year, which is perfect. Boys, we have a chance to repeat in the 33rd year of the NWFFL. I am counting on you to help pull it off. FI has been a league staple for decades, one of my guys has every edition. A few years ago, we devised a clever way to use one of your lists to draft a team for an absent owner, the sob won it all. We love you guys. Peace!
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I'm in 3 leagues. All have different formats. I bought one magazine, the same magazine for 30 years. I keep the Fantasy Football Index handy and refer back to your preseason reports throughout the season to help me evaluate roster moves in every format. This week I'm in two championship games and a semifinal. Did I tell you I'm in three leagues? Three playoff teams! Best fantasy season ever. Thank you.
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Thank you for all you do and what your team does. Been playing since mid 90s and your mag has been there every year. The mailer I get with the questions on the front is what I consider the beginning of the fantasy football season. Get the updates and listen to the podcast. I write a weekly column for the newspaper I work at and always appreciate the work you put in to produce as much as you do. Just a fan saying thanks and will keep up with you and the site through the season.
A little feedback from a long time customer.
Our fantasy pool is entering its 25th year and I have used multiple books and on-line tools over the years.
I have locked on to Fantasy Index as my go to for the last 5 years and have won the pool 3 of those years and finished no lower than 4th.
Interesting to see how much more accurate you were at the end of the year compared to other books my competitors used.
Having it in a format that allows me to work the forecasts to match our scoring system and then receive updates as the season approaches is invaluable. Whoever your sources are for the forecasts are the best. Hang on to them. Thanks for the help!!
I did receive the updated draft ranking from you guys in plenty of time for my draft that night. My draft report gave me an A+ and predicted me to go 14-0 and win my league! I just want to say thank you for the excellent customer service that your company provided me. When I first started playing fantasy football more than 15 years ago, I used to buy as many fantasy football magazines as I could find. It wasnʼt long before I only purchased Fantasy Football Index each year. It is by far the most comprehensive, well written fantasy football magazine on the market. Also, I almost always rank in the top three in my fantasy football leagues, and won my league last year. Thank you to you and all of your great team. You have a customer for life!
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I just wanted to send everyone at Fantasy Football Index an apology. Since 2003 (Ricky Williams cover), I've protected my source of information and have gone out of my way to hide Fantasy Football Index from my leagues prying eyes. I've won championships in leagues and money playing Daily Fantasy and your Training Camp updates are the highlight of my summer and a recurring order for me every single season. I just wanted to Thank You and everyone there (customer service, the writers, janitors, secretaries and assistants) for your hard work and dedication.
You are appreciated and valued part of my Fantasy Football Operations department even if i never speak your name in fear that others in my league will discover the wondrous bounty of knowledge contained in your pages…
From the bottom of a champion's heart,
I wanted to send a quick note and thank you for your great magazine! The information you provide, has allowed me to win my league 3 years in a row!
The payoff in the league is not bad, six hundred dollars to be exact, but it is those all important bragging rights that really make it fun!
I epically enjoyed this last issue because you included all the covers for the past 30 years, I did not buy 87, and 88, but all the rest I have purchased.
All I have to do is read and then plug and play, thanks again for doing all the work so I don't have to, except for cash the check of course! Lol.
I will be continue to purchase your magazine, and recommend it to others, although I don't like to give away my secret!
I typically don't write emails to magazines, but after 3 wins in a row, and others which I did not list, I felt like you would like to know.
Thanks again to you and your staff,
I wanted to let you know I finished my season going 16-0 winning my league, breaking every record in our 19 year history along the way. A special thank you to FI for the insightful knowledge as it provided me much help along the way.
You guys do a great job. I got laughed at by a few people at the draft but they're not laughing now. I'm leading the league in record (8-1) and PF thus far.
And a side note… we've got a re-draft 16-team, 20 players drafted league (drafting water boys by the 17th round) that I've won 2 years in a row. Nobody's ever done that in 21 years… using your cheat sheet. it's an old school league that used to draft out of piles of magazines.
Thanks again,
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I have used your product for the past 18 years or so… Every now and then I will be tempted and look at what other magazines have to offer, quickly realizing no one comes close.
In addition to the magazine, I started buying the weekly updates years ago when my dad taught me a lesson. The draft came and dad was sitting in the 12 hole for his pick. He told me he felt very comfortable about who he was going to select but would not tell me who his prized gem was to be. I was doubtful. The pick? Priest Holmes (his first dynamite year). I remember telling my dad, "that is a decent pick but they plan to pull him at the goal line." Ever the teacher, dad explained he had purchased the Fantasy Football Index update and read Holmes would get the goal line carries. "Update?", I asked. That was 2002 and Holmes had 21 rushing TDs and Dad won the title! Lesson learned.
By the way, I have made the title game for the last 5 years in a row. Thanks for the detailed, hard work and an great product!
