Pro Football Articles Opinion & Fantasy – Football Diner

The Football Diner Big Interview:
Gregg Rosenthal
interviewed by Michael E Lawrence
20/11/2007
 
Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat: Football Diner is very, very jealous of Gregg Rosenthal.
 
As the man responsible for all football content on must-visit, ridiculously up to date fantasy football site Rotoworld.com, Gregg spends his time talking, thinking and writing football. His working day involves reading the papers, scouring for news, watching tape, recording video segements, proffering tips, and knocking up cheatsheets for fantasy footballers across the globe. Even if he did all this while being hand fed grapes by busty wenches, we couldn’t be more envious.
 
For Gregg Rosenthal, his passion is his work, and the passion has only grown because of it.
 
He’s also a friendly, relaxed chap who’s more than happy to divvy out a few tips at this do-or-die time of year, fantasy-wise. Thusly, the Diner leapt at the chance to get on the old dog and bone with one of the mainstays of the fantasy world, hours before he popped down to New Orleans for a weekend wedding knees up.
 

To repeat: jealous.
 
FD
Afternoon Gregg!
 
Gregg
Hi there!
 
FD
Did you have any idea that football and in particular fantasy football had any kind of following in the UK?
 
Gregg
No, I had no clue. I figured the coverage of the game at Wembley would create familiarity and interest, but I’m really surprised there are people into fantasy too.
 
FD
Have you been over here at all?
 
Gregg
Yeah, I was in London around 2000 on holiday, and ended up in the Sports Caf watching the Saints play the Vikings in the NFC divisional playoffs. The place was packed!
 
FD
It always is. And how did you yourself get into fantasy football?
 
Gregg
I was really lucky, I fell into it. I’d been working in TV production at Fox putting sports highlights together, and I used to read Rotoworld. I had a connection there that let me know there was an opening, I interviewed and I got it. At that time there were just two full time writers. Now there are five or six, plus lots of part timers, and now we’ve been bought by NBC. Really, fantasy football has blown up the last five years, and in that time lots of the larger, originally non-affiliated sites like Rotoworld have been bought by networks. It shows how mainstream it’s becoming.
 
FD
Is that the way fantasy football coverage is going? You’re now involved in more multi-media stuff like the podcasts with ProFootballTalk.com and the video content on Rotoworld
 
Gregg
I think so ESPN now have Matt Berry covering fantasy, and they’re really pushing it on (magazine show) Sports Center. The growth has been so significant, and yet it hasn’t slowed at all. Mainstream media ESPN, AP are covering it weekly now.
 
FD
And has fantasy football escaped its ‘geek’ image of the past?
 
Gregg
Well it’s still perceived that way a little, there’s that ‘dork element’, but you know fantasy football is perfect for the casual fan, as opposed, to say, fantasy baseball, which came first. In baseball there are so many games, in football it can really help casual fans become knowledgeable, you don’t have to be a huge football nut to get in on it.
 
FD
And we’re betting you’ve won countless leagues over the years
 
Gregg
I guess so! You know, the expert leagues I get invited to play in now with teams owned by other guys in the industry they’re not as much fun as something like the NBC office league I’m also in this year. You can imagine, everyone wants to take out the fantasy guy, though as it happens I’m blowing them away right now!
 
FD
As we’d expect. Any of your championships stand out over the years?
 
Gregg
Well, when I first started at Rotoworld, myself and the guy who now runs things here entered a high stakes competition and ended up winning our league. We won $5,000 and had a pretty good trip out of it!
 
FD
Wow. Any individual games stand out?
 
Gregg
Oh, lots. On that same team, I remember a scenario in which we needed to win a game but needed Drew Bennett, who was with Tennessee then, to get at least 180 yards and two touchdowns to do it. He got something like 215 and the two scores! You need to get lucky sometimes
 
FD
Sweet Lord, why doesn’t that ever happen to us? Is there in fact one maxim that leads to fantasy football success regardless of scoring system?
 
Gregg
Whew, that’s tough. I’d say, follow the news, know your stuff, and then making your own decisions becomes possible. Also, never assume what happened last week will be repeated, I see that mistake made a lot. And with drafting, don’t follow the herd, go with what you think is right. With the playoffs coming too, you need to look ahead, to know the schedule, so that you know you have players who are looking good for those key weeks.
 
FD
As things stand, 2007 is set to see an unprecedented number of quarterbacks pass for 4,000 yards and a bunch of wide receivers score ridiculous numbers of touchdowns has the time finally come to re-evaluate the emphasis on drafting running backs one and two in fantasy drafts?
 
Gregg
You’re right, 2007 is top heavy at quarterback though this year they’re either great or awful. But I think running backs will always be more valuable, though I certainly think there’s an argument for taking the top wide receiver over a number two running back, since the top receivers tend to record fairly good, predictable numbers. Still, if you look at the backs, they’re the most valuable Addai, LT, Adrian Peterson. Even in a down year for running backs, they’re the guys with most value.
 
FD
Any players that have disappointed or delighted you in ’07?
 
Gregg
Frank Gore for one. I believe in his talents, so that’s been a shocker, though I’ve written recently on Rotoworld how that 49er passing offense might be the worst ever. They’re registering the least yards per pass since 1968! That must affect him. Marvin Harrison has finally fallen from the cliff too, he’s doing nothing. On the plus side, Brett Favre is right back in the top five or six quarterbacks.
 
FD
So, what’s it like to live, work and breathe fantasy football, as you do?
 
Gregg
It’s great, it’s the best job in the world! It makes me appreciate football even more, though I find I’m not able to be as much of a Patriots fan as I used to be I’m much more involved with following all the teams. I wake up, I go through the papers, I look for nuggets of news It may sound like a sweet job, so let me tell you it is!
 
FD
(Stifling tears of envy, wondering what snipers cost) Ok, what about some tips for me, and owners in a similar situation, who are on the brink of the post-season? I’m 6-5 and knocking on the door
 
Gregg
By this time of year really, you know what you have. There aren’t really any great guys left on waivers. It’s about fine tuning, and maybe packaging depth you won’t need trading away two or three for one guy that can help you, because it’s all about your starting lineup from here on in. A couple of guys worth getting hold of who have great schedules from here on out: Earnest Graham and Ryan Grant. Graham will have Pittman back, but he’s lined up to do well. I really like the way Grant has run he’s been solid and has a soft schedule from here. Another one is Selvin Young, he’ll be terrific.
 
FD
We’re huge fans of the book ‘Committed’ by Mark St. Amant, who took a year off work a few years back and spent the entire time trying to win his fantasy football league any thoughts?
 
Gregg
Ha! I approve! I love people who are nuts about fantasy. They make my job possible. Have nothing but admiration for those guys who play in fifteen, sixteen leagues all power to them!
 
FD
Agreed. What about Gregg Rosenthal what’s next for him? Fronting an FF show?
 
Gregg
Well, I love talking about fantasy football, and I’ll always want to write about it, I love to write. Equally, if we can get to a point where we can do more coverage broadcasts etc. then let’s do it, that’d be great.
 
FD
Finally then, any messages for the fantasy heads here in the UK?
 
Gregg
Yes I respect the UK fantasy football fans so much it’s gonna grow and grow! Long term, I think it’ll really catch on, and it’s thanks to all the people doing it now, and sites like yours keep at it!
 
FD
Thanks Gregg pop by again soon and enjoy the wedding
 
Gregg
I will, take care!