I’m John-Paul Hurley and This Is How I Play

Several years ago I began working remotely for a startup non-profit after spending most of my career in retail and corporate offices. As any quality researcher would do, I immediately began looking into tips and tricks of how to be successful working remotely. I stumbled across an article series by Lifehacker, called “How I Work,” which essentially was a collection of interviews, focusing on best practices, workflows, workspaces, and gadgets used by successful business people.

This new article series is a nod, or rather a direct copy of their idea, from a fantasy football perspective. I’ll seek to interview the most interesting minds in fantasy football, procuring their secrets, routines, bookmarks, and more in an effort to pull back the curtains and provide you with resources and information. I hope you enjoy!

Your name

John-Paul Hurley

Your Twitter handle

JH: @DTC_JohnH

Your location (city/state)

JH: Eden Prairie, MN

Current day job

JH: Web Planner for bestbuy.com

Current fantasy job(s)

JH: Co-Owner/Podcast Host/Site Admin for Dynasty Trade Calculator

One word that best describes how you play fantasy football

JH: Just one word? Engaged. And Tenacious. Also Strategic.

Who is your favorite (non-current) NFL player? Why?

JH: Warren Moon. Growing up as a kid, he was my favorite.

Current mobile device

JH: Samsung Note 5 (Not the exploding phone)

Current computer

JH: HP EliteBook

First of all, tell us a little about how you got your start in fantasy football. How did that evolve to what you’re doing now?

JH: I started playing Fantasy football in 1995 with some friends in High School. We used the following Sunday Newspaper and a notebook to keep scores. I still remember most of my first ever team: Scott Mitchell, Napoleon Kaufman, Terrell Davis, Herman Moore Man, I’m old. How this evolved into what I’m doing now? Ever since my early days of FF, I’ve been obsessed with trades. To date, I have executed an estimated 9.2 million total trades in my career. When you’re involved in as many trades as I am, by default, you’re also involved in many heated debates. I feel like no matter what, for every trade that goes down, someone in your league claims you either ripped the other person off, or got ripped off yourself. There’s rarely common ground. After wasting copious amounts of time in value discussions/arguments, I decided (along with my good buddy Izzy Elkaffas) to take action, and DTC is the result.

What’s your best time-saving shortcut or fantasy hack?

JH: I have so many. I’ll give you my most recent favorite fantasy hack for offering a trade: The Bait & Switch. This is more of a psychological trick, and it is kind of a dirty move, so don’t judge me. Find a trade that you like that is relatively fair, but you’re a clear winner. Offer it to the owner, and within a few minutes, revoke the trade. Many owners will become curious as to why you pulled the deal down, and instantly you have built intrigue and value in that offer. This usually springboards dialogue, and often times you can even get more added onto the side you’re receiving.

What everyday thing are you better at in fantasy football than everyone else? What’s your secret?

JH: Trades. Hands down. The secret? A.B.O. “Always Be Offering” For every deal I make, I’ve probably made/had 10 offers. Also, having a lengthy background in sales, so I heavily believe in the psychological aspect of negotiation.

How many fantasy football leagues do you currently play in? What is your favorite league and why?

JH: 5 Dynasty Leagues and 1 Re-draft (#SFB480) My favorite league is my original Dynasty (Dirty Sanchez Dynasty League). This is my 10th year I believe, and I’d say it’s my favorite because the owners are great/engaged, solid commissioner, and having my team for so long, there’s a deep level of ownership there. It also doesn’t hurt that I’m going for my third consecutive championship this year 🙂

How would you describe your fantasy football philosophy?

JH: One philosophy I have I like to call: Fantasy Short-Term Memory Loss. Whether it’s with your lineup, or a trade, forget what happened last week, and start this week with a clean slate. Recent Example: In our DTC Championship Dynasty League, I sold the farm for my boy Teddy Bridgewater (I know that seems strange, but this is a 14-team SuperFlex, so all QBs have abnormally high value). Teddy went down with an injury, and a few weeks later, I traded him for pennies on the dollar. Many owners allow stubbornness and pride get in the way of what’s best for their team in situations like this, but you need to forget about what you paid, and instantly start fresh. You may have paid too much for the Bishop Sankey’s and the Cordarrelle Patterson’s in the past, but you need to cut bait when it’s time. This philosophy also works in reverse: If you’ve been burned by a player in your fantasy past, and now they have become a solid asset, leave emotion out.

What’s your greatest strength in fantasy football? Startup drafts, mining the waiver wire, making trades, lineup decisions? Weakest?

JH: I am known as the quarterback whisperer. I have a knack for identifying QBs before their value sky-rockets. All the way back from Aaron Rodgers, to the more recent Derek Carr & Marcus Mariota, my team has likely had every top QB on it at one point or another. My boldest prediction: In February (right after the Super Bowl) I predicted that Trevor Siemian would be the starting QB for the Broncos in 2016. I even said it on the podcast!

What’s your favorite article you’ve ever written? Why?

JH: I have never written an article.

Who is the best fantasy football owner you’ve ever played with and why?

JH: As much as it pains me to admit it, it’s Izzy. He is good across the board, but his strongest attribute is rookie drafting. If you’re in a league with this guy, DO NOT trade him picks.

What’s your current workspace (for fantasy football) like? Coffee shop with laptop and headphones? Home office with a standing desk?

JH: My wife & I have a 3 year old boy, and 1 year old twins, and I’m alone with them most nights – so my current workspace for fantasy football is strapped up with a double baby bjorn (holds two babies strapped to your chest), while chasing the oldest around the house with my laptop on the counter in between cooking dinner & working on the website.

Besides your phone and computer, what gadget can’t you live without and why?

JH: Easily my game systems. I roll with both XBox One & PS4, and I have a deep gaming background.

What apps, software, or tools can’t you live without?

JH: Microsoft Excel. I am an Excel nerd. I’m constantly creating spreadsheets and analyzing fantasy data.

What is your go-to site for your tough start/sit decisions?

JH: This is a little weird, but I prefer not to look at sites for start/sit what-so-ever. Over the years too many times I have been sucked into a weekly narrative that fails, so I like to make my own decisions every week without someone else’s bias.

If you could only read one website (other than those you contribute at) for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

JH: DLF has elite writers, so I’d choose them for articles, but I’m the guy who is constantly refreshing RotoWorld for the latest blurbs. BLURBS!!!!

Take a quick peek at your bookmarked sites. What are the top 3-4 sites on the list?

JH: 1) MyFantasyLeague 2) Scout Dynasty 3) DLF 4) TaylorSwiftMegaFans.com Just kidding about that last one.

What podcast is currently queued up on your phone?

JH: I rarely listen to podcasts unless it’s for research, but when I have time, I like FilMetrx with Nick Whalen & George Kritikos.

What are you currently reading? A novel, comic book, website, magazine?

JH: Alright. My nerdness comes out. I just finished reading the “A Song of Ice and Fire” book series. These are the books that the HBO Show “Game of Thrones” is based on. It took about a year to finish all five including a side project book that goes with the series. They are around 1,000 pages each.

What do you listen to while you play? Got a favorite playlist? Maybe a podcast? Or do you prefer silence?

JH: I listen to EDM or Dubstep when I run and lift. Can’t get enough of that stuff. I’m considering getting into B-boying.

Do you have any superstitions on game day? Wear the same lucky T-Shirt? Always make homemade chili before the games?

JH: Every Sunday, I break a mirror, walk under a ladder, find a black cat to walk across the road, and I say Beetlejuice three times before each game.

How do you recharge?

JH: Another uncommon answer, but I recharge/unwind by smoking Hookah. This is one of the results of being friends with Egyptians for over a dozen years.

What’s your sleep routine like? Are you a night owl or early-riser?

JH: I am awake by 5:30 every morning. I like to lift before work, and I also like to get out of the house before the daily war happens (all the kids waking up).

Fill in the blank: I’d love to see _________ answer these same questions.

JH: Paul Charchian

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

JH: Never pet a burning dog. Also, don’t bet on fat horses. Finally – In a barbershop with two barbers, always choose the barber with the worst haircut… think about it.

Is there anything else you’d like to add that might be interesting to readers and fans?

JH: I once made a dynasty trade in Peru, while standing in Machu Picchu.

The How I Play series asks writers, developers, editors, and fantasy football degenerates to share their secrets, bookmarks, routines, and more. Have someone you want to see featured, or questions you think we should ask? Email Eric Dickens or start a conversation with him on Twitter.