20/20 Interview with Mike MacGregor
This week, Draft Buddy and the brains behind myDLF, Mike MacGregor, took some time so you could get to know him a bit more. Enjoy!
Where are you from?
Barrie, Ontario, Canada, which is about an hour north of Toronto.
What do you do for your regular job?
Umm… mostly this? Bit of a tough question. I’ve been in the fantasy sports industry for over 20 years selling my fantasy draft software, Draft Buddy. In doing that, I transitioned from CPA to web developer. That opened the door to do development work for DLF. I’ve also gone back to college full-time for the past two years for programming. I’m like a nomad with no set direction. Fantasy Nomad… that’s not bad.
What is the worst job you have ever had?
I was good at it but really hated doing corporate tax as a CPA, which is what I specialized in. The people were great, the money was good, but the work itself, I was so bored and disinterested. I had to answer lots of questions about the niche hobby fantasy football that no one had ever heard of at the time when I made the switch.
What is the best job you have ever had?
Not just saying this to brown nose, but honestly, working for DLF is great. The projects are challenging, they are very flexible to my timing with outside work, I have a great working relationship with Ken Moody, and the whole team is excellent to interact with. DLF tops the list.
What do you consider your dream job?
Hmm… I might be close enough to retirement that I shouldn’t spend too much time thinking about landing my dream job. I’d like to work for a software company as part of a small to medium size team where I can learn a lot to expand my developer skills. One of those internet companies with a great culture – ping pong tables and an always full snack cupboard. Yet doesn’t work too many hours late into the night. Maybe that is a dream.
How long have you been in the industry?
Draft Buddy celebrated its 20th-anniversary last year. It wasn’t always called Draft Buddy, and we gave it away for free the first couple of years to see if people liked it. I don’t remember exactly how we rolled back the 20 years, so put me in the 20-25 year range.
How did you get your break into fantasy football?
I created a spreadsheet that calculated fantasy points and ranked players based on user-input scoring and settings. I contacted Mike Krueger at FF Today, who is from Kansas City, and did player projections, and said, “I’ve got this spreadsheet. Let’s add your projections to it, put it on your website, and see if people like it.” He said, “Sure.”
What tool do you use the most on DLF?
I would say the Trade Analyzer but I’m not a big trader. Most used is probably the rankings or ADP, synced to my leagues with myDLF, to quickly identify free agents.
What tool do you use the most outside of DLF?
Draft Buddy! Haha. I’m on there like every day, but somewhat biased, obviously. Matt Waldman is a good friend of mine so I also use his Rookie Scouting Portfolio for some outside-the-box thinking around rookie draft time.
Who was the best sleeper you pegged that broke out?
Trey Sermon! Ah, too early. I was in on Patrick Mahomes in 2018. Draft Buddy had him QB12. His redraft ADP was QB15 in September, and likely lower in June and July. Going way back I was ahead of the curve on Antonio Gates.
Who was your biggest whiff?
Trey Sermon? Not sure biggest but remember taking it on the chin with Sammy Watkins as an early rookie pick. Decent first two seasons and then, what the heck, Sammy?
What is the worst trade you have made?
Again, probably not the worst (bad memory), but before last season in my SafeLeagues dynasty “sold high” on Derrick Henry for Kenyan Drake and T.Y. Hilton. Eww!
Who is your favorite underfollowed Twitter account?
I’m not big on Twitter, but I will say underfollowed fantasy analyst is Doug Orth (@DougOrth). Experienced, successful high stakes player, and writes some excellent articles over at FF Today.
Who is your favorite NFL team?
Buffalo Bills. We’re back, baby!
Who is your favorite college football team?
Never really watched college football to any great degree. I’m sure I would love it, and I’d also be divorced. And I like my wife.
Who was your favorite player growing up?
LB Chris Spielman
Who is your favorite player of all time?
LB Chris Spielman… I’m not sure I’ve grown up yet. Honorable mentions: Darryl Talley, Cornelius Bennett, Bruce Smith, Antoine Winfield
What other hobbies or passions do you have outside of fantasy football?
Comic books. Collected a long time, about 20,000. Nothing super-significant like an ASM #1 as I stupidly went for quantity over quality in my youth. And now I refuse to pay the crazy high prices.
Still, play soccer and hockey to the best of my diminishing abilities.
What are some of your favorite movies?
Goodfellas, Star Wars franchise, Godfather I and II. Really enjoy the Marvel movies but they aren’t super rewatchable.
Who are some of your favorite bands?
Current: July Talk, Metric, AWOLNATION, Greta Van Fleet
All-time: Cranberries, R.E.M., Tragically Hip, Soundgarden
- How To Fill an Opening in a Dynasty Fantasy Football League - February 27, 2023
- DLF Family of Podcasts: ICYMI - September 21, 2021
- DLF Family of Podcasts: ICYMI - September 11, 2021
