I’m Bob Harris 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 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
Bob Harris
Your Twitter handle
BH: @footballdiehard
Your location (city/state)
BH: Albuquerque, NM
Current day & fantasy jobs
BH: Senior Editor FootballDiehards.com/SiriusXM Radio host
One word that best describes how you play fantasy football
BH: Logically
Who is your favorite (non-current) NFL player? Why?
BH: Randy White. Because he was a “Manster.”
Current mobile device
BH: iPhone 6s, iPad, Windows-based tablet
Current computer
BH: PC
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?
BH: I started playing in 1986. It immediately struck me that people who played this game needed better — or at least more timely — information. After a couple seasons spent producing a league newsletter, I decided to try doing it on a larger scale. I put an ad in USA Today to advertise a “fantasy information service” in 1993 and I’ve been doing it exclusively ever since.
How many fantasy football leagues do you currently play in? What is your favorite league and why?
BH: About 20 season-long leagues (a wide array of formats including dynasty and IDP).
What’s your best time-saving shortcut or fantasy hack?
BH: Working the waiver wire a week in advance in terms of playing and NFL Game Pass in terms of work.
In order to be successful in fantasy football, you have to do at least one thing better than the average owner. What’s your secret?
BH: Divorcing emotion from your decision making to the degree possible.
What’s your greatest weakness in fantasy football? Startup drafts, mining the waiver wire, making trades, lineup decisions? How do you make up for it elsewhere?
BH: Working the waiver wire in real time. Work obligations are heaviest early in the week and unless I hit big in my efforts to get things done a week ahead of time, I’m not able to take advantage of sudden developments.
How would you describe your fantasy football philosophy?
BH: I try to be Mr. Spock. Emotionless and logical.
Walk us through what your week looks like during the season as a fantasy owner. When do you watch games, process waivers, propose trades, etc?
BH: I write a lengthy piece that’s published every Wednesday. So that process starts as soon as I get off the air (SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio Pre-Game show) with Sunday’s first kickoffs. I watch the Red-Zone Channel (with whatever games interest me on other TVs) while I browse Twitter and take notes.
The writing begins in earnest on Monday and Tuesday with the intensity level cranking up considerably on Tuesday. I set lineups and make waiver claims when I finish that late Tuesday night. I finalize that article on Wednesday and then start writing news updates and analysis that run through Sunday morning.
The writing is pretty much nonstop (including while I’m on the air doing radio shows for two hours daily). Not a lot of time to propose trades, but I review offers and engage when I get them. I watch and review games as needed throughout the week.
What’s your favorite article you’ve ever written? Why?
BH: A piece on Bill Winkenbach and the origin of fantasy football written in 2003. I felt Winkenbach hadn’t been properly acknowledged prior to that.
Who is the best fantasy football owner you’ve ever played with and why?
BH: My SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio cohost Mike Dempsey is as relentless an owner as I’ve seen. That’s working the waiver wire, working trades and tweaking lineups.
What’s your current workspace (for fantasy football) like? Coffee shop with laptop and headphones? Home office with a standing desk?
BH: Home office with a standing desk (on wheels).
Besides your phone and computer, what gadget can’t you live without and why?
BH: My Fitbit. I obsess on tracking how I take care of myself physically (after not caring at all for many years).
What apps, software, or tools can’t you live without?
BH: Twitter, MyFitnessPal, Endomondo
What is your go-to site for your tough start/sit decisions?
BH: My brain?
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?
BH: Work-related would be NFL.com.
Take a quick peek at your bookmarked sites. What are the top 3-4 sites on the list?
BH: All are to my own site and/or back-end access to my site.
What podcast is currently queued up on your phone?
What are you currently reading? A novel, comic book, website, magazine?
BH: The book “A Perfect Union of Contrary Things.”
What do you listen to while you play? Got a favorite playlist? Maybe a podcast? Or do you prefer silence?
BH: In general, I have three TVs in front of me at all times with varying levels of volume on all three depending on what’s on. You might call it a cacophony. If I need to escape, I listen to music.
Do you have any superstitions on game day? Wear the same lucky T-Shirt? Always make homemade chili before the games?
BH: None.
How do you recharge?
BH: Recharging is an offseason thing. I try to visit a place I haven’t before each year.
What’s your sleep routine like? Are you a night owl or early-riser?
BH: Four hours a night whether I need it or not during the season. Generally 2 am to 6 am except for Sunday and Monday nights (I might crank it up to seven hours).
Fill in the blank: I’d love to see _________ answer these same questions.
BH: Jeff Mans
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
BH: Don’t trust anybody whose first name is a place.
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.
