20/20 Interview with John Hesterman

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

 

Where are you from? I’m from all over. I’ve lived in five states. Michigan, Ohio, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Indiana. I grew up mainly between Arkansas and Indiana, where I still reside. 

What do you do for your regular job? I’m a service writer for a Chrysler Dealer automotive repair facility. I run a small team of techs. 

What is the worst job you have ever had? Hands down, Kentucky Fried Chicken as a teenager. After every shift, I felt like I was dipped in that grease and the smell was impossible to get out of clothes, skin, hair, or even my mere existence. 

What is the best job you have ever had? I have been in the car business for so long that the rest is rather hazy. Like any job, it has it’s good days and it has the ones that make you intentionally neglect to look both ways when you cross the street. 

What do you consider your dream job? Obviously, making it full-time in fantasy football would be the easiest answer. The truth is, my aspiration as long as I can remember was to write fiction. I’ve written a plethora of short stories and a couple of small novels that never succeeded in getting published. The written word has always been a passion of mine.  

How long have you been in the industry? My first article published in 2017, so three years thus far. 

How did you get your break into fantasy football?  It was a humble entrance to the industry. I had a Twitter account for a while to follow fantasy analysts. In 2017, I started my own blog and began writing articles that I linked to on Twitter. LastWordOnSports.com reached out to me and asked if I would be interested in writing for them. After explaining that I had zero experience writing in the industry, they took me on and had to saddle a whole team of editors for my early work. From there, I got in with FFStatistics and just this year came to DLF. My hope is to stay here long-term.  

What tool do you use the most on DLF? The Dynasty Trade Analyzer is such a great tool for setting a benchmark for bigger trades. Being able to assign a numeric value helps put the offers in perspective. Easily one of my favorites for personal use. For research and writing of articles, almost all of them carry high value, but the one I personally use the most for my leagues is the trade analyzer. 

What tool do you use the most outside of DLF? I like comparative ADP’s for reference. I frequently use FantasyPros and FantasyFootballCalculator along with what’s available at DLF to make my own consensus type of average draft position. I find this method helps me establish a range more than having a specific “chalk” type of ADP. 

Who was the best sleeper you pegged that broke out? I would love to take full credit for Chris Godwin last season and, in my defense, wrote a lengthy piece about it long before preseason of 2019. However, most of the industry was onto that one, so I find it difficult to say take any kind of singular credit for that one. 

So, I’ll back up to Phillip Lindsay’s rookie season. After watching him during the preseason, I became hyped up for him to even make the final roster. When he survived the last round of cuts, I was all in and it worked out pretty well. 

Who was your biggest whiff? This one is easy. I drove the O.J. Howard hype-train last season. I manned the whistle, the coal chamber, heck; I think I cleaned the restrooms on that particular train. In case you missed it, that did not work out well. 

What is the worst trade you have made? Several years ago, when Trent Richardson got traded to the Colts, I went all-in on him and it cost me a rookie named Odell Beckham Jr. Maybe you’ve heard of him? Anyway, I was weak at running back and this guy was willing to trade me a last pick rookie for Trent Richardson. Like so many things, it seemed like a good idea at the time. 

Who is your favorite underfollowed Twitter account? There are so many good accounts that deserve a follow and it’s difficult to narrow it down to just one. @al_FF_red is someone I conversed with for quite a while prior to him signing on with DLF. One more is @FF_LeapOfFaith who has really taken off recently but should have way more followers. Both are great follows. 

Who is your favorite NFL team? I’ve been a Los Angeles Chargers fan since they were located in San Diego. I know a thing or two about disappointment. 

Who is your favorite college football team? Arkansas Razorbacks. 

Who was your favorite player growing up? Being a Chargers fan, it’s easily LaDainian Tomlinson. 

Who is your favorite player of all time? Of any sport? Michael Jordan is the answer here. He took the game to the next level. I’ve never seen a more fierce competitor than MJ on the court. 

What other hobbies or passions do you have outside of fantasy football? I’ve mentioned this on Twitter, I am a multi-instrument musician. I play guitar, bass drums, and harmonica. Sadly, I don’t have the time to play much anymore, but I still enjoy dusting off the occasional instrument. One of the things I think I miss the most is the stage. I’ve performed as a musician, singer/actor, and stand-up comedian at various points throughout my life and really did enjoy those days. Mostly community theater type stuff, but performing was always enjoyable. 

What are some of your favorite movies? Boondock Saints is probably my all-time favorite. Fight Club, Pulp Fiction, Snatch, and The Nightmare Before Christmas round out my top five. That being said, I often quote Doc Holliday’s lines from Tombstone. 

Who are some of your favorite bands? Alice In Chains was a huge inspiration for me, musically growing up. Metallica, Demon Hunter, Savatage, and Linkin Park are a few others that immediately come to mind.