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Listen "Fantasy Football 2025: Draft Strategy, Flores v The NFL, the Rooney Rule and More | Running It Back"
Episode Synopsis
Get ready, fantasy football fans, because we're officially running it back! After a well-deserved summer hiatus, your favorite sports podcasters are back and ready to kick off the NFL season in style. This episode has everything you love: a healthy dose of signature banter, some wild personal updates, and a deep dive into the world of fantasy football—from its surprising origins to the drama of your home league.
Don't miss a single second as we tackle the big topics:
The Origins of Fantasy: We're talking 1960s, a league with a mouthful of a name (The Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognosticators League), and the very first player ever drafted in fantasy history. Tarlin, with his deep Gemini research, connects the past to the present with players who play both sides of the ball.
The Modern-Day Fantasy Grind: The guys break down their own league obsessions, from old-school in-person drafts with stickers to the new "Guillotine League". We also get a look into Mike's "Palmertron 5,000" and the eternal debate of bros versus cos.
Running Backs and the Art of General Management: Is the running back dead? The guys debate strategy, assess player health, and reveal their own plans for the upcoming drafts. Tarlin even has a new rule he's trying to pass to "make tight ends great again".
The Flores Lawsuit and the Rooney Rule: We shift gears to a serious but crucial conversation about the NFL's ongoing legal battles. The guys discuss the Brian Flores lawsuit, the fact that he's still a defensive coordinator while suing the league's owners, and what it all says about the Rooney Rule and the future of minority coaches.
Whether you're a seasoned veteran with a "war room" and multiple leagues or a rookie looking to get a leg up, this episode is a must-listen. So grab your draft magazines, open up your pre-draft spreadsheets, and get ready because you know we're Running It Back.
Time Stamps
00:00 Introduction and Casual Banter
01:07 Baseball Talk and Team Loyalty
02:05 College Preparations and Nostalgia
04:25 Transition to NFL and Fantasy Football
06:00 Deep Dive into Fantasy Football
07:42 Fantasy Football Strategies and History
09:34 Fantasy Football Leagues and Rules
11:28 Fantasy Football Drafts and Management
19:47 Bros Over Cos: Fantasy Football Draft Strategies
20:17 The Value of Running Backs in Modern Fantasy Football
22:08 Quarterback Draft Picks: Who to Watch
23:27 Wide Receivers: Top Picks and Strategies
25:13 The Impact of the Rooney Rule and Minority Coaches
26:56 Brian Flores' Legal Battle Against the NFL
30:21 The Future of Minority Coaches in the NFL
37:43 Concluding Thoughts and Upcoming Topics
Don't miss a single second as we tackle the big topics:
The Origins of Fantasy: We're talking 1960s, a league with a mouthful of a name (The Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognosticators League), and the very first player ever drafted in fantasy history. Tarlin, with his deep Gemini research, connects the past to the present with players who play both sides of the ball.
The Modern-Day Fantasy Grind: The guys break down their own league obsessions, from old-school in-person drafts with stickers to the new "Guillotine League". We also get a look into Mike's "Palmertron 5,000" and the eternal debate of bros versus cos.
Running Backs and the Art of General Management: Is the running back dead? The guys debate strategy, assess player health, and reveal their own plans for the upcoming drafts. Tarlin even has a new rule he's trying to pass to "make tight ends great again".
The Flores Lawsuit and the Rooney Rule: We shift gears to a serious but crucial conversation about the NFL's ongoing legal battles. The guys discuss the Brian Flores lawsuit, the fact that he's still a defensive coordinator while suing the league's owners, and what it all says about the Rooney Rule and the future of minority coaches.
Whether you're a seasoned veteran with a "war room" and multiple leagues or a rookie looking to get a leg up, this episode is a must-listen. So grab your draft magazines, open up your pre-draft spreadsheets, and get ready because you know we're Running It Back.
Time Stamps
00:00 Introduction and Casual Banter
01:07 Baseball Talk and Team Loyalty
02:05 College Preparations and Nostalgia
04:25 Transition to NFL and Fantasy Football
06:00 Deep Dive into Fantasy Football
07:42 Fantasy Football Strategies and History
09:34 Fantasy Football Leagues and Rules
11:28 Fantasy Football Drafts and Management
19:47 Bros Over Cos: Fantasy Football Draft Strategies
20:17 The Value of Running Backs in Modern Fantasy Football
22:08 Quarterback Draft Picks: Who to Watch
23:27 Wide Receivers: Top Picks and Strategies
25:13 The Impact of the Rooney Rule and Minority Coaches
26:56 Brian Flores' Legal Battle Against the NFL
30:21 The Future of Minority Coaches in the NFL
37:43 Concluding Thoughts and Upcoming Topics
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