20/20 Interview with Eric Hardter

The DLF Team

This week, senior writer and veteran DLF contributor, Eric Hardter, spent some time with us. Enjoy!

 

Where are you from?

I’m originally from the smallish town of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, but have spent a few years here and there in Newark, Delaware (college) and Boston (grad school), and have been in Rockville, Maryland since 2015.

What do you do for your regular job?

I work at a Contract Research Organization and provide Regulatory Affairs consulting (think FDA) for both public and private sector clients.  Alas, no, I was unfortunately not involved in the Covid-19 vaccine licensure!

What is the worst job you have ever had? 

This is a loaded question for me, as there was a brief period of time when I was unemployed and could barely get an interview, which really showed me that there is value in simply having a job!  But to actually answer the question, I’d say probably the job before my current position – very similar work, but significantly more backbiting, gossip, and nepotism/cronyism.  I thought all the “politics” happened down the road in DC!  However, as they say, sometimes you need to experience the bad to make you truly appreciate the good. 

What is the best job you have ever had?

This is tough.  From the perspective of truly enjoying what I do and feeling a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day, I’ll say my current position.  But I’ll always have a soft spot for my high school/college summer job at Dutch Springs, which was basically a former quarry that was filled with water to create a manmade scuba diving facility.  Sure, the days were long, the pay crappy, and the divers entitled, but I got to work with people who I still consider some of my best friends to this day.  It was the perfect “beer and gas money” job, and I’m not sure I’ll ever experience that level of camaraderie again.

What do you consider your dream job?

I know I sound like a broken record, but I really enjoy my field and what I do.  Work/life balance is very important to me, as we all need to have our “me time” and family time.  I wouldn’t mind a bit more travel, but I’ve got no complaints about my current gig.

If I was to think of something completely divergent from what I do currently, it would have to be centered around my hobbies.  So when I finally get my nest egg, be on the lookout for a combination brewery/disc golf course!

How long have you been in the industry?

I started with DLF in September 2012 (good lord, closing in on a decade!).  During this time I’ve been proud to wear a number of hats, including DLF Mailman, DLF Dynasty Podcast host, and author of some self-indulgent research projects that the Partners were gracious enough to let me publish.

How did you get your break into fantasy football?

The old heads may remember, but DLF was not always the juggernaut it is today, featuring such a talented armada of writers.  When the site was slowly but surely in the process of becoming the preeminent dynasty resource on the web, they made the enterprising decision to seek out new talent through a writing competition.  I submitted this piece here, which ultimately earned me a spot on the staff!  Considering how some of those prognostications turned out, I’m pretty lucky they still let me write about fantasy football!

What tool do you use the most on DLF?

Without a doubt, the dynasty ADP courtesy of the dynasty GOAT Ryan McDowell.  I use it both for my articles, and also when I’m researching for my own leagues.  A solid (but distant) second would be the trade evaluator, which is a solid “point of reference” resource that many of my league mates use as well.

What tool do you use the most outside of DLF?

Is it a cop-out to say Google?  Whatever, I’m going with it.  Seriously though, when l’m looking to do research or help justify (or disprove!) a viewpoint, I think it pays off to be as comprehensive as possible.  That includes checking into articles by my colleagues here at DLF and elsewhere in the fantasy universe, raw and advanced statistics, scouting reports, and of course Twitter viewpoints.

Who was the best sleeper you pegged that broke out?

Without a doubt, Terry McLaurin.  I begged, bought, and stole to get him on every single one of my dynasty rosters, and can now proudly exclaim “I knew it!” much like Thor when Cap wielded Mjolnir (it’s been out for years, deal with the spoiler).  I still believe the best is yet to come, and if he can be paired with even a league-average quarterback he’ll be talked about like DK Metcalf and AJ Brown.

Who was your biggest whiff?

Probably Andre Ellington.  I’ll note that in some instances I got him early on when he was dirt cheap, but then continued to go in hard even as his price rose.  He was serviceable, but not the RB1 I hyped him as.  As it relates to players I wrongfully avoided, Aaron Jones likely rises to the top of the list.  I honestly just didn’t think he was that good, and then he showed that he was.  So of course my stubborn self next decided that he’s not going to keep scoring those touchdowns!  Oops.  Face, meet palm.

What is the worst trade you have made?

Oh, man.  Not only is this the worst trade I’ve ever made, but in all my years spent in this silly hobby, I’m not sure I’ve yet seen one to top it!  In the summer of 2014, I managed to snag Odell Beckham at a bit of a discount due to a muscle pull.  Thinking I was contending and could use some real firepower, I traded Beckham and journeyman tight end, Delanie Walker, for…Victor Cruz.  You know the rest – Cruz suffered what might as well have been a career-ending injury after just six games, Beckham turned into the number one dynasty asset for a good long while, and Walker put forward four straight TE1 seasons.  It still keeps me up at night sometimes…

Who is your favorite underfollowed Twitter account?

I have to give a shout-out to some of my former Podcast friends – Jesse Patterson (@df_patterson) is a sharp mind and one of the nicest people you’ll find on Twitter.  Ditto my sublime former editor Jace <LAST NAME REDACTED> (@_JacobHC), and also Shane Burnett (@CreditCardIQ) who not only has the fantasy knowledge but a pretty cool side hustle evaluating credit card pros and cons!

Who is your favorite NFL team?

Even without Brady and Gronk, I still have to go with the Pats!  They’re my wife’s favorite team, and happy wife, happy life, right?

Who is your favorite college football team?

Black shoes, basic blues, no names, all game – WE ARE…PENN STATE!

Who was your favorite player growing up? 

I definitely identified more as a college fan, so I’ll have to go with the freak of nature LaVar Arrington.  He didn’t live up to his draft pedigree in the pros, but he was probably the most dominant (and fun!) college defender I’ve ever seen.

Who is your favorite player of all time? 

I’ll have to go with the first jersey I purchased, Paul Posluszny, who might have been the most technically sound linebacker I’ve witnessed.  As a dark horse honorable mention, I’m not sure I’ve ever enjoyed a college running back (non-Saquon Barkley class) more than Tony Hunt.

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

Hobbies during Covid?  What’s that?  In seriousness, probably the biggest hobby I’ve picked up is disc golf, which I can enjoy outdoors and still feel safe while playing.  I’m definitely still a beginner but I’ve enjoyed learning more about it, falling down many a rabbit hole of YouTube videos and tutorials.  In better times I just enjoy spending quality time with the people I care about, whether it’s movies, bowling, board games, beach trips, or just chilling around a bonfire with a cigar and beer (or two…or seven).

What are some of your favorite movies? 

My favorite movie of all time is Snatch.  I find it to be a very smart movie, and for whatever reason Mickey’s mid-fight proclamation of “you’re not going anywhere…you stay until the job is done” really resonates with me.  Past that I’ve yet to watch a Marvel MCU movie I haven’t enjoyed, and I also love the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy.  For the softer side, Love Actually would be my 1.01 of RomComs.

Who are some of your favorite bands? 

I’ve come to the realization that much like Abe Simpson, “I used to be with it, but then they changed what it was!  Now what I’m with isn’t it, and what it seems weird and scary to me!”  So yeah, given the choice between classic rock and current pop, I’ll choose the former 11 times out of 10.  Of bands still making music, Incubus is my go-to, and I’m also a big fan of Citizen Cope and Alkaline Trio.

20/20 Interview with Eric Hardter