20/20 Interview w/ Josh Brickner
This week, writer, podcaster, and diehard Cleveland sports fan, Josh Brickner, let us behind the scenes so you could get to know him better. Enjoy!
Where are you from?
I grew up in the small northwestern Ohio town of Tiffin and now live in the northeast Ohio suburb of Wadsworth. I’m a Buckeye through and through.
What do you do for your regular job?
I oversee budgets and finances at the local government level. I’m just thankful to be fully employed right now.
What is the worst job you have ever had?
I used to stock shelves at a grocery store in high school and summers home from college. I enjoyed my coworkers and everything about the job… except for working the overnight shift.
What is the best job you have ever had?
Again, I’m thankful to be fully employed at the current moment.
What do you consider your dream job?
Any occupation that would pay me a decent full-time salary/benefits to write and give my unfiltered opinions on dynasty/fantasy football, the Cleveland Browns, and Ohio State Buckeyes.
How long have you been in the industry?
I’ve been a fantasy analyst since August of 2017. My good friend Shaun Laibe got me in touch with the head brass over at Dynasty Football Factory in late July of 2017 and I was on board shortly after. There, I have to give thanks to my friend and mentor Shane Manilla who supported me every step of the way. I also want to thank Bob Lung from Big Guy Fantasy Sports for giving me the opportunity to write for his site and contribute to the award-winning 2018 BGFS Consistency Guide.
How did you get your break into fantasy football?
I’ve been playing fantasy football since 1995 when I was 10 years old helping my grandfather. I played only in redraft leagues until five years ago when someone told me dynasty fantasy football could feed my addiction year-round. Now I’m hooked!
What tool do you use the most on DLF?
There’s a good chance I have an unhealthy obsession with the Dynasty Trade Analyzer. I will neither offer nor accept a trade without first running it through the Analyzer. A word of caution… as good of a tool as it is, no trade calculator should be the only factor in determining the true value of a trade.
What tool do you use the most outside of DLF?
For seasonal, weekly decisions I consult EVERYTHING at 4 for 4 Fantasy Football and the consistency rankings of Bob Lung over at Big Guy Fantasy Sports.
Who was the best sleeper you pegged that broke out?
College Dominator be damned. I knew Terry McLaurin was a much better football player than many in the dynasty community were giving him credit for in the 2019 offseason. OR maybe I’m just an unabashed Buckeye homer.
Who was your biggest whiff?
The SJ brothers in the 2018 offseason. During the entire Spring and Summer of 2018, I told anyone who would listen Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Ricky Seals-Jones were the next dynasty breakout tight ends. I sincerely apologize to anyone who followed me down that black hole of failure.
What is the worst trade you have made?
Due to my disgust over his alleged actions and the writing on the wall for his football future, on May 1, 2019, I traded Tyreek Hill for Duke Johnson and Tyler Conklin. Yes… that’s real.
As with any huge mistake in life, lessons must be learned. No matter your disgust or doubt with a player’s current situation, never trade on emotion.
Who is your favorite underfollowed Twitter account?
Our fantastic DLF editor James Simpson (@JS_Football) should have close to 10K followers right now with the awesome player video packages he puts together.
Who is your favorite NFL team?
My lifetime of Cleveland Browns fandom has been well documented on this website over the last few years. Whether it be the franchise’s relocation in 1995 or 20 years of futility highlighted by a winless 2017 season, they will ALWAYS be my favorite team.
To be honest, I wonder if people who give up on their teams after a few down years were ever even fans at all. Yes, I’ve been as critical of the Browns franchise as anyone over the past decade. However, this is only because I care too much.
Who is your favorite college football team?
Again, I was born a Buckeye and will be forever. I used to listen to the Ohio State band tape on my way to preschool.
Who was your favorite player growing up?
I dressed up as Bernie Kosar for Halloween when I was five years old and was heartbroken when the Browns cut him a few years later.
Who is your favorite player of all time?
See above.
What other hobbies or passions do you have outside of fantasy football?
My wife and I love to travel and spoil our golden retriever Roosevelt.
What are some of your favorite movies?
I can quote every line from Major League as is the case for any true Cleveland sports fan. If we’re talking about dramas, give me The Shawshank Redemption. “Get busy living or get busy dying.”
Who are some of your favorite bands?
I am absolutely in love with the Dave Matthews Band and couldn’t care less what anyone thinks. In more embarrassing news, I’m a giant fan of pop/rock music from the 1980s and early 1990s. The song “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips is an absolute banger and it gets me fired up no matter the situation.
