20/20 Interview with John Di Bari

This week we interviewed DLF Writer John Di Bari. Here is what he had to say. Enjoy!

Where are you from?

Originally from Chicago, but I despise winters, and I moved to Las Vegas in 2003, and I’ve been here ever since.

What do you do for your regular job?

Forensic Specialist. No, not like CSI, Forensic Psychology. It’s a hybrid position, but I’m basically a corrections officer inside a court-ordered mental health facility.

What is the worst job you have ever had?

Few things crushed my soul like working security at The Bellagio. The job itself was fine, but the staff were treated poorly.

What is the best job you have ever had?

Hands down, being a bouncer at Marquee Nightclub and Dayclub in Las Vegas. Great people, great bosses, fun atmosphere, I can’t think of anything bad to say about it. 

What do you consider your dream job?

As I get older, I don’t care anymore. Something with perks, like any job with the airlines so I could get free flights or a store with amazing employee discounts. Another government job with a pension would be cool too.

How long have you been in the industry?

I think I started writing back in 2015, so I’m about five years in after writing for Dynasty Nerds, DFF, and now DLF. My podcast (The Fantasy 40) has been around for three years now too.

How did you get your break into fantasy football?

Fantasy itself? I joined my first league sometime around 1998, so I’m pushing the 20-years of experience threshold. Although, I played more fantasy baseball and hockey in the beginning.

What tool do you use the most on DLF?

For writing? The coaching history app and the ADP data. For myself, I look at the rankings quite a bit.

What tool do you use the most outside of DLF?

Probably looking back at previous fantasy finishes and weekly rankings on FantasyPros or snap counts on FootballOutsiders.

Who was the best sleeper you pegged that broke out?

I feel like finding sleepers is my strong suit, so I’ve got a few. Recently, Austin Ekeler, Tyreek Hill, Kenny Golladay, and Darius Slayton come to mind. 

Who was your biggest whiff?

If I’m always targeting sleepers, so there are quite a few bums in the mix. Going back far enough, I loved Byron Leftwich. More recently, I still can’t believe Jaylen Samuels isn’t a star. IDP-wise, I thought Takkarist McKinley was going to be a monster.

What is the worst trade you have made?

The most recent one that stands out, and it isn’t too awful (but I still regret it), was last year. I traded away Kenny Golladay, Adam Thielen, Devin Singletary, a late 2nd and an early 4th for DeAndre Hopkins, an early second, and an early third. I had too much Golladay and Thielen in my leagues and wanted to diversify a bit. It’s a 96-team league also, so moving up 70ish spots in a round can make a huge difference. Seeing the Bills draft Zach Moss this year helps ease the sting a little bit too.

Who is your favorite underfollowed Twitter account?

My podcast co-host, Matt Walker, @walk_ff is super sharp and criminally underfollowed.

Who is your favorite NFL team?

I’m a fairweather, bandwagon fan. I grew up a Bears fan, somehow pivoted to the Raiders in my teen years, then returned to the Bears, and eventually, I married into a Seahawks family, so now it’s Seattle. But with fantasy and gambling, I can’t be tied to a specific team- I’m trying to win money.

Who is your favorite college football team?

Michigan.

Who was your favorite player growing up?

Barry Sanders or Walter Payton

Who is your favorite player of all time?

Earl Campbell

What other hobbies or passions do you have outside of fantasy football?

Not much really. I’m into Toyota 4Runners, guns, jiu jitsu, boxing, muay thai, but don’t have too much free time anymore.

What are some of your favorite movies?

Clerks and Pulp Fiction are my 1a/1b. I hate most newer movies, but the most recent movies I’ve enjoyed were probably Bad Times at the El Royale and No Country for Old Men.

Who are some of your favorite bands?

I listen to talk radio. But I’ll go with a strange mix of Slayer, Deftones, Pantera, Dean Martin, 1990s house music, and Vietnam-era rock.