Tag: Aside

Heart of a Champion

The acclaimed writer P.G. Wodehouse famously stated, “To find a man’s true character, play golf with him.” Though Wodehouse never teed it up with Billy Horschel, he would’ve liked what he saw. The 33-year-old Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. resident is …

The acclaimed writer P.G. Wodehouse famously stated, “To find a man’s true character, play golf with him.” Though Wodehouse never teed it up with Billy Horschel, he would’ve liked what he saw. The 33-year-old Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. resident is competitive, compassionate, benevolent, tough-minded, and believes in giving more than receiving.

While his on-course accomplishments are well documented, the 2014 FedExCup champ and five-time PGA TOUR winner is a burgeoning businessman off it. Several new relationships, in fact, blossomed in the past year. “If golf wasn’t my thing, I’d be an entrepreneur,” Horschel said. As a prelude, he’s joined the investor group for Beam (CBD products) and is the franchise owner of three Poké restaurants, LemonShark Poké. “I love representing a company as a partnership or sponsorship. But it takes it to another level when you invest in the company,” said Horschel. “I like being part of something new, or in the early stages, with a great vision for how to change or take over the marketplace.”

Vision and change attracted Horschel to his newest sponsor, Velocity Global. The Denver, Colo.-based company applies innovative employment solutions for businesses growing overseas. “I was first drawn to their purpose — to simplify global expansion for businesses,” Horschel said. “As a businessman and a golfer, knowing the team of experts by my side gives me the confidence to grow. And Velocity Global is that team for growing companies.”

courtesy of Velocity Global

“Billy embodies what we call ‘people first,’” said Rob Wellner, Velocity Global chief revenue officer. “The hard work he puts in, day in and day out, and relying on the people around him to collectively win on and off the course is what defines this approach. Our clients face their own version of the pressure of Sunday putts, and they look to our team to solve problems to help them grow globally.”

Horschel subscribes to that people-first approach in his pursuits. He credits his trusted, experienced team, which includes family, a swing coach, accountant, caddy, physiotherapist, agent, statistician, and more. “I’m the leader of the team, but we sit at a round table,” he said. “No one’s at the head. It’s an equal partnership. That way, everyone feels they have a stake in the game. They see it, feel it, sense it so they do whatever they can to help the team be as successful as possible.”

Besides the ever-increasing business footprint, charity work is another huge part of Horschel’s life. “Helping others was ingrained in me as a kid,” said Horschel. “We didn’t have a lot of money. The one thing we could give back to our friends, our neighbors, people in our community, was ourselves. My younger brother and I mowed lawns, cleaned up debris after hurricanes.” They helped any way they could. “Now, I’m in a position financially to give money to help organizations, and in a public role to bring awareness to causes I’m passionate about.”

“Billy’s care for others is integral to who he is and why we wanted to be a part of his team,” said Wellner. “This spring, Billy was handily beating me during a round at TPC Sawgrass when we started talking about our passions to give back. I told him about a nonprofit we work with, First Descents, that empowers young adults with cancer and MS through outdoor adventures. It really struck a chord for him.”

That conversation on a putting green led Horschel to donate $10,000 to First Descents, which recently implemented outdoor programs for healthcare workers on the frontlines of the global pandemic. “I wanted to support my new sponsor and what they’re doing to give back,” said Horschel. “Plus, First Descents is an unbelievable organization.”

Horschel’s relationship with First Descents quickly blossomed to the nonprofit being named one of the beneficiaries of the eponymous AJGA tournament, the Billy Horschel Junior Championship presented by Zurich (BHJC). Velocity Global is the newest donor to the tournament, a perfect marriage of golf and charity that gives kids an opportunity to showcase their skills to college coaches. “I also host a Q&A with the kids. I want them to understand that if they don’t make it on Tour, it’s not game over,” he said. “The connections you make in golf stay with you. So many people you come across can influence your life.” The event’s raised $269,000 since 2017. Last year, the BHJC received the AJGA’s annual Charitable Giving award for raising the most money among the AJGA’s 119 tournaments.

Another beneficiary of Horschel’s AJGA tournament is Feeding Northeast Florida, a local food bank. “In 2014, my wife [Brittany] and I were trying to find something in Jacksonville that we could be part of and help grow. At the time, more than half a million people in our Northeast Florida community were food insecure—1 in 6 adults and 1 in 4 kids,” Horschel recalled. “The kid part really touched me since we were about to have our first child. We’ve done a lot of good work for them, but there’s still a lot to do.” Through personal donations, the #DriveOutHunger campaign, and donations from his sponsors and AJGA event, Horschel’s been instrumental in generating close to $500,000 for Feeding Northeast Florida. His giving never stops. When the 2020 PLAYERS Championship was abruptly canceled due to the pandemic, he chipped in by donating half of his tournament earnings to the charity and loading food from the tournament onto trucks headed to food banks. The other half of his earnings from the canceled tournament were donated to First Descents and Blessings in a Backpack.

Golf alone doesn’t define Billy Horschel. Wodehouse would approve.

Click here to learn more about Billy Horschel’s partnership with Velocity Global.

courtesy of Velocity Global

Marco Andretti talks winning Indy 500 pole, family history and if the Andretti Curse is real

“In 15 years, this might be my best shot” at winning the Indy 500, Marco Andretti told For The Win.

The Indianapolis 500 isn’t until Sunday, but Marco Andretti is already making race history — and family history too.

After a strong performance this weekend during the initial qualifying session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for one of the biggest races in the world, Andretti won the Fast Nine Shootout for the prestigious pole position to lead the field to green.

And that means the 104th Indy 500 will mark the first time since 1987 that a member of the Andretti family will start on the pole. And Marco, looking to follow his grandfather, legendary racer Mario Andretti, could be the first Andretti in more than five decades to win it all.

Monday, For The Win spoke with Marco — who drives the No. 98 Honda for his father Michael’s team, Andretti Autosport — about winning the pole, his chances of winning the Indy 500 (1 p.m. ET, NBC) and whether or not the Andretti Curse, supposedly precluding the family from winning the race, is real.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

(Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports)

You were the last driver to hit the track in the Fast Nine Shootout for the Indy 500 pole. What went through your mind as you climbed into the car to get ready?

I tried to clear my mind because there are so many things that we have to think about, and I just was so focused on the task at hand. Instead of thinking of the what-ifs, it was just: Execute. It was windy, so inside the car, I was very busy on the cockpit tools.

It came down to a gear shift, doing it just perfectly from first to second yesterday. We were so close so I just knew that if we nailed it and did everything right that we’d be on pole, and we did.

With such a storied family history in racing and your grandfather, Mario Andretti, winning the 1969 Indy 500 and three Indy poles, what does it mean to you to be the first Andretti to start this race on the pole in 33 years?

It’s pretty cool. I was two months old, and I was probably here, actually. I was born in March, so yeah, May 33 years ago. That’s crazy. They told me that stat yesterday, and it’s super special. Hopefully, I can be the first one in 51 years to win.

Who was more excited for you or your grandfather?

Maybe him, to be honest. It was awesome. I come here to win the race, but yesterday did feel like a win to me regardless. The support’s been crazy. I think the whirlwind that comes with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in combination with my family has just been incredible with the support — even with my peers and competitors.

I haven’t talked to him yet, but I saw an interview that he did. He said he jumped so high he hit the ceiling. You know, my grandfather, I don’t think he’s that tall, so I don’t know. He must have been pretty excited.

Marco and Mario Andretti before qualifying for the 2015 Indianapolis 500. (AP Photo/Sam Riche)

So is the Andretti Curse real?

I keep saying: Not in August, it’s not. So far, it’s just been incredible. Every time we go out on the track, we’ve been the quickest. So I’m trying not to assess it very much. I’m trying to just keep it going. I think our family plays with it with the media because it’s a huge story, but when we really talk internally, we’re really a blessed family. We’re unscathed. This is a very dangerous sport, and we’ve been able to do it and not get hurt. So I think we’re pretty lucky.

You said you haven’t talked with your grandfather, Mario, yet, but what did your dad, Michael, have to say after you won the pole?

We didn’t really have to say much to each other. I think the pair of us both knew. We hugged each other, but I think we both were just in such a sigh of relief because we knew how much I needed that, and it was right on time. The way this season’s gone, we’ve been super fast, but there’s been so much stuff go wrong that it’s just been like, “What’s going to happen next?”

But thank God for yesterday. It really lit a fire and ignited the team again. You could see the pep in their step, and that’s what we needed because now, I think we’re going to be tough to beat.

Have people outside of the racing world reached out to congratulate you? I saw Ice-T gave you a shoutout on Twitter.

Yeah, I have a lot of really cool friends, and the support has just been incredible. I was at dinner last night, and I left dinner and got in bed with 500 text messages, and I’m like, “Alright, I’ll answer a few.” And then I ended up getting through them all, and I’m like, “Oh my god, it’s three in the morning.”

How would you compare your chance to win this year from the pole with past years?

I was talking to Dad about this. In 15 years, this might be my best shot at it, and in 15 years, I was close to winning the race maybe four times. But I think as far as dominance goes, this has got to be No. 1. It’s been incredible. Every time we go out, it’s just been quick.

Speed is the No. 1 hurdle when you get to the speedway. It’s just the horsepower. Are we going to be fast? And we have that. So now, it’s about executing everything in our power, and then if the stars align, we win the race. So we’ll see. We’re just going to try to do our job.

Have you decided what kind of milk you’ll drink if you win?

Whole milk. Originally, I said buttermilk because Louis Meyer did it, and then my friend gave me some. I’m not drinking that after a hot race. Man, it’s gross.

Did you happen to see the video of Team Penske drivers cheering you on and celebrating your pole?

I was just so humbled to see that. It was so cool. Those guys are goofs. They’re so funny. And then when they stopped celebrating, they were like, “Wait, why are we celebrating?” It was so funny to see.

I think a lot of my friends and peers — they’ve seen a lot of heartbreak that I’ve gone through in this sport and been so close on so many wins and races and come up short. So it felt really good to me to see that.

What do you think that says about the IndyCar community when your competitors in one of the biggest races in the world are cheering for you to start out front?

I think it’s a community, but I think it’s that I have some pretty cool friends. I think that’s what it means because you don’t see that very often.

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Started from the bottom, UFC hopefuls Louis and Orion Cosce are here – defying the odds

Drugs, broken homes and backyard fights – how brothers Louis and Orion Cosce made it to the UFC’s doorstep.

It’s unusual for anyone from Weitchpec, Calif. to make their name known.

However, that’s what Louis and [autotag]Orion Cosce[/autotag] have set out to do – and they’re close to achieving that. The brothers will compete Tuesday on Dana White’s Contender Series 29 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. And in doing so, they’ve already defied the odds.

Weitchpec is a small community within the Yurok reservation, which is right outside Humboldt County in northwest California. How small is small? The brothers estimate the population of the community is approximately 150 people.

“It was one of those things where we just worked hard, and we looked back at where we were and where we are now,” Orion told MMA Junkie. “We appreciate everything we’ve been through as the people we are today.”

Though their father introduced them to wrestling, Orion and Louis always wanted to take their talents further. While their dad wanted them to be police officers, and other relatives wanted them to model, the Cosce brothers dreamed of becoming fighters. Growing up, they’d emulate “Dragonball Z” characters, playfully yet powerfully scrapping whenever they could.

Photo courtesy: Louis and Orion Cosce

“We had some dumb (expletive) where it’d be me, Louis, and one of our homies from back in the day,” Orion said. “We’d be like, ‘We’re going to run up the hill and spar the entire time.’ So as we’re running, we’re punching and kicking the (expletive) out of one another.’ We were just hella young and dumb, but we had a blast.”

The childhood fighting extended beyond their walks to and from school or hanging out. Their father would have his friends over the house.

“He had us fighting each other a lot as kids,” Louis said. “He’d have his friends and their kids show up, and we’d (expletive) scrap.”

Throughout their childhood, Louis and Orion bounced from home to home as a result of their parents’ circumstances. At times, the brothers were separated. Even though they separated physically, they never stopped maintaining their powerful relationship.

“We grew up with multiple families,” Orion said. “It’s one of those things, for us, where it takes a village to raise a child. That’s what it was for us, but we were always there for each other, too. There would be days where I’d be taking care of Louis, and I’d be a year older than he is. We’d be looking out for each other days on end while our parents were out doing whatever they were doing. Whenever we were by ourselves, we’re wherever we were staying, we’d be like, ‘Let’s go outside and keep ourselves busy.'”

Living on the side of a mountain in a tiny community had physical and geographical difficulties, but the challenges didn’t end there. The societal pressure of drug use was a major issue growing up, which they said even directly affected their family.

“Having parents who weren’t doing too much – like, getting involved in drugs and stuff, it just kind of makes you grow up a lot faster,” Louis said. “Realism plays instead of fantasy. Realism comes into play as a little kid, so you’ve got to grow up faster. That’s a harsh reality of life back where I’m from. I think that’s everywhere, too.”

Photo courtesy: Louis and Orion Cosce

Louis credits Orion with pulling him away from going down a dark path. Many of their friends had gotten tangled up in a life of drugs. Orion served as a role model for his younger brother.

“To be honest, if it wasn’t for my brother, I’d probably be on drugs or dead right now,” Louis said. “I have a lot of friends who got tweaked out, are dead, or committed suicide by just going down the wrong path, honestly. My brother was a smart kid who worked hard. It was really easy to look up to him and follow his footsteps. A lot of my friends weren’t doing that. I hung out with those kids, and I loved those guys, but I just knew I didn’t want to be like that.

“My brother was an easy example to follow. He always got good grades and was training hard. As the years went on, it kind of went from wanting to do it, to turning into a habit.”

Walking the wire by running with bad decision makers, the brothers grew up quickly. Life became “real” at a young age. Being faced with mature decisions at an immature age taught the boys life’s hard lessons early.

“(Drug use) was everywhere,” Louis said. “It was in our family – and still is. It’s still really bad. As a kid, you don’t really recognize it. You’re living in that fantasy life where you’re out catching bugs, playing with your friends. As soon as you get a couple years older, you start to recognize different things – how your family is acting and what’s happening around you. You just have to grow up a lot faster. It’s (expletive) up, but it’s just the way life goes.”

After college didn’t work out for Orion, he returned home and began training with Louis. For Louis’ MMA debut, Orion cornered. The experience solidified their dreams as goals, and the two fighters pursued professional fighting.

Photo courtesy: Louis and Orion Cosce

In the end, Louis and Orion turned out OK – better than OK, actually. They’ve thrived, continuing their ascent up the MMA ladder toward their ultimate dream job.

Orion trains at Team Alpha Male and Louis at Lost Boys BJJ, where the two brothers got their MMA start. The two fighters have accumulated individual 6-0 records with a handful of finishes apiece.

On Tuesday, Orion takes on Matt Dixon (9-0) before Louis headlines DWCS 29 against Victor Reyna (11-4). The world will officially learn the story of Louis and Orion Cosce – but it’s ending hasn’t been written yet. Whatever that turns out to be, the brothers hope to inspire the community back in Weitchpec.

“(You’re) going to witness two brothers who grew up in the harsh reality of life and worked hard their whole lives finally pay off for them,” Orion said. “We’re going to go out there and do what we know best, which is (expletive) hurt people. We’re pretty good at it. I think a lot of the world is about to be on our side. We’re about to have people realize it doesn’t matter where you come from. It matters how hard you work and what you’re willing to put in.”

Added Louis: “It would mean everything to see myself succeed and my brother succeed from a small town with all the (expletive) we’ve been through and all the adversity we’ve come through, to see it and bring back all that hope and make everybody at home proud of us. In the small town we come from, there aren’t a whole lot of people doing a whole lot of anything around here, honestly. Hopefully, we bring some life to some people’s eyes to see two kids from this area make it.”

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First 3 Picks: 10-team league

Your first three picks define your fantasy team.

Your first three picks define your fantasy football team. Aside from taking productive players, each pick is critical because the player pool is ever-shrinking. You could build entirely different teams based on what positions you take and in what order. Respecting how drafts typically raid positions improves your chance to build an optimal team. The difference between a 12-team and a 10-team league is that with more fantasy relevant available in a smaller league, the more important to get difference-makers in as many positions as possible. Everyone has a “good” team.

To follow are sample three-round drafts for 10-team fantasy football leagues. They use either standard performance scoring, performance plus a point per reception, or “2QB/Super Flex” leagues where you can start two of any position. Those three formats cover almost all leagues.

The names are less important than the positions because each draft slot has its own unique situation. Just as important are your future picks and what you need after three rounds.  Rankings can change daily so these may not exactly match rankings.

Performance scoring league

Performance scoring without reception points means that running backs are a premium and quarterbacks are a bit more valuable as well. Wide receivers and tight ends are devalued but are still usually four starters in a fantasy football league.  Almost all teams will look to get two running backs in their first three picks and it’s hard to argue against the logic.

Team 1: RB Christian McCaffrey, TE Travis Kelce, RB Chris Carson

After the obvious first pick, opted for the best tight end for some advantage though less in this scoring format. The No. 13 running back became his RB2 for a safe feel. With 18 picks before he goes again, will need to strongly consider quarterback and wide receiver at the 4.12/5.01 turn.

Team 2: RB Ezekiel Elliott, QB Patrick Mahomes, RB Josh Jacobs

A solid start with elite running back and then a top quarterback as well. That made running back feel like a need pick in the third round but sets the team up to go for any position from Round 4 onward. This most honors the scoring scenario. Waiting on a wideout hurts less in this scoring format.

Team 3: RB Saquon Barkley, WR Kenny Golladay, RB Leonard Fournette

Like Team No. 2, opted for that second-round non-running back. Going with the No. 5 wideout is an advantage but less so without the reception point. Picking up the running back in the third completed the backfield, but Barkley is still the only difference maker each week. Has to consider wideout and quarterback soon, while seeding in the occasional running back for depth.

Team 4: RB Derrick Henry, RB Nick Chubb, WR Mike Evans

Went with RB-RB to start and owns one of the better backfields in the league. Still reached the No. 6 wideout in the third so controlling which running back made more sense than worrying about a wideout. Solid start means picking the best player available from here on out.

Team 5: RB Dalvin Cook, WR Julio Jones, RB Austin Ekeler

Continuing the run on running backs, went with an advantage with the No. 4 wideout and then selected his RB2 in the third round for a solid start.  While the best advantage is in a lower scoring position with no reception points, this is a solid start and should consider going with more upside picks starting in the fourth round since can go anywhere.

Team 6: WR Michael Thomas, RB Aaron Jones, WR Allen Robinson II

After five straight running backs, went for the best wideout and then had to go with running back before the position would become a big liability. Opting for the No. 6 wideout isn’t nearly as advantageous in this scoring, but can leave that position alone while filling up on running backs, a quarterback, and maybe even a tight end before worrying about his WR3. A lack of reception points devalues receivers, but they still count as starters and this team can milk more points from the position than most while running backs last longer in smaller leagues.

Team 7: RB Miles Sanders, QB Lamar Jackson, WR A.J. Brown

Starting with a running back was safe and then grabbing the best quarterback will yield an advantage. Opted for WR1 with the No. 8 wideout which certainly gives a balanced beginning and running backs are deeper in a ten-team league. Likely would have been a better net effect with taking a second running back but has a huge advantage at quarterback.

Team 8: RB Kenyan Drake, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB Melvin Gordon III

Someone always takes this tact which makes sense only if there is a flex position that allows for three running backs to start. Starting it this late in the first round means that there are no elite players on the roster without getting lucky and landing sleepers. This is better when there are no reception points and it always feels great to have a top backfield. But in a ten-team league, everyone has a good team so the lack of apparent difference-makers will be hard to compensate.

Team 9: WR Tyreek Hill, RB Alvin Kamara, WR Chris Godwin

Opening with the second-best wideout makes sense this late in the first round even without reception points. Reaching the No. 9 running back prevents a liability there but grabbing the No. 9 wideout loads up on a position with lower-scoring due to the lack of reception point. Goes again in two picks so should consider running back there.

Team 10: WR Davante Adams, RB Joe Mixon, RB James Conner

This is standard for the final pick in a ten-team draft. Ending up with two running backs and a wideout is always solid and gains some advantage with No. 3 wideout than the No. 8 running back in the first but then next pick gets the running back anyway. Also has the next pick up in this league at the 4.01 and can consider any position that stands out and another wideout is likely the biggest value but that third running back is an option if there is a flex position.

 

Reception-point league

This style of scoring boosts the value of wide receivers and elite tight ends but devalues quarterbacks relative to other positions. Running backs are going to be popular in any scoring scenario but the added reception point means the position becomes deeper with third-down backs able to offer “start-able” fantasy value.

With a reception point and only ten teams, your roster should look very strong after three picks. All positions are deep in this format.

Team 1: RB Christian McCaffrey, RB Austin Ekeler, TE George Kittle

Opened with RB-RB and added the No. 2 tight end for elite players in two positions and a solid backfield. A great start leaves the rest of the way for the best available. This is never a bad path though a smaller league means RB2 quality still exists for another round or so and passed on the  No. 6 wideout for the No. 12 running back. Safe pick at the worst.

Team 2:RB Saquon Barkley, QB Patrick Mahomes, RB Nick Chubb

This could happen in a ten-man league and the path yielded great results with elite players in the two highest-scoring positions. Adding the No. 13 running back also skipped what could have been a difference-making wideout but that position is deep anyway.

Team 3: RB Ezekiel Elliott, RB Joe Mixon, WR Allen Robinson II

Solid start with two running backs which leaves the rest of the draft to address other positions. By this point, the top tight ends and quarterbacks are likely gone, so taking a wideout gives good bang for the buck at WR1 even in the third round. Could look to add a Top-4 tight end in the fourth to bolster the positions or at least take another wide receiver.

Team 4: RB Dalvin Cook, WR Kenny Golladay, RB Chris Carson

Standard approach that works well at this slot. The No. 4 running back is followed by the No. 5 wide receiver and then back to running back to complete the backfield. This plan hasn’t yet looked like a top team, but it is not a liability either. A solid start that needs to be followed by strategic choices for the rest of the starters and with an eye for sleeper types.

Team 5: WR Michael Thomas, RB Aaron Jones, WR Mike Evans

Finally, a team stepped outside running back with an obvious choice and then went with the No. 10 running back for his RB1 to prevent liability and then opted to go back and pick up the No. 7 wideout. Strong start for the wide receivers and probably has to consider running back for at least two of the next three rounds but can skip WR3 for many rounds knowing they only need one more starter quality player.

Team 6: RB Alvin Kamara, TE Travis Kelce, RB Leonard Fournette

While they started with yet another running back, was able to land the best tight end for a nice advantage there, and then went the safe route with the No. 15 running back for RB2. The next few rounds should be chasing wideouts with maybe a third running back mixed in along the way.

Team 7: RB Derrick Henry, QB Lamar Jackson, WR DeAndre Hopkins

Yet another running back pick but followed that up with the best quarterback and instead of dipping back into running back like most drafters, opted for the No. 8 wideout instead of the No. 16 rusher.  While RB1 isn’t an advantage, he is not a liability either, and taking the quarterback addresses the highest scoring position. For the next many rounds, has to consider wideout and running back and lean more heavily on the rushers before the quality is gone there.

Team 8: RB Miles Sanders, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, WR Chris Godwin

This team looks better than it the plan of RB-RB may work out in this format and league size since both players are high-upside picks. This can work out and adding the No. 9 wideout prevents a hole in the starters. This is a safe route to take and filling it with high upside picks is riskier but the payoff can significant and makes more sense the deeper into the draft they go. Free to pick from any position for the next several rounds.


Team 9: WR Davante Adams, RB Kenyan Drake, WR DJ Moore

Going into the end of the first round, it was a better idea to control their wideout in the first round than to just repeat another running back and let Team 10 take the better receiver.  Still reached the No. 8 running back and then opted to fill the core wideouts with No. 10 player knowing that they go again in two picks and will likely address their RB2 then. Just like their first pick, they have to evaluate what Team 10 is likely to do in order to optimize the position they take.

Team 10: WR Julio Jones, WR Tyreek Hill, RB Le’ Veon Bell

Have to love the WR-WR plan at the end of the first round, even more so with reception points that yield a major advantage at wideouts.  Going with a running back is needed as well as the 4.01 pick to be prudent. This plan is always a way to counteract the strong showings of early-round drafters by taking the best point producers on the board. Can wait on wideouts a long time with just one more starter needed.

 

QB-heavy league

This sort of league will seed in quarterbacks in varying measures depending on how and why quarterbacks are so valuable. The most common is the ability to start two quarterbacks which change drafts significantly. It will extend the quality of running backs and wideouts deeper into the draft since quarterbacks will go far earlier than the mid-draft that is common in other sorts of leagues. This run-through assumes two quarterbacks and that well over half of the starters are taken by the third round.

Viewing the previous year’s results are best for this sort of starting rule because quarterbacks can go slower – or much faster – than what this draft assumes. Keep up with the other picks in the league to make sure you don’t get stuck at the end of a run on quarterbacks.

Team 1: RB Christian McCaffrey, QB Russell Wilson, TE George Kittle

This is a masterful start and one that is why people hate the first pick teams. Best running back and then the No. 5 quarterback. Instead of a safer pick of running back or wideout, went with the No. 2 tight end for difference-makers in all three selections. Has to chase running backs and wideouts for at least the next five rounds, but has a great core to build upon.

Team 2: RB Saquon Barkley, WR Kenny Golladay, RB Aaron Jones

Started with the elite running back and then grabbed the No. 5 wideout for a great WR1. Opted to play it safe with the No. 10 running back but it gives a good base for a team that can seek to add any position for the next several rounds.

Team 3: RB Ezekiel Elliott, WR Tyreek Hill, QB Deshaun Watson

Another strong start that honors the format and scoring rules. Elite running back was followed by the No. 4 wideout as WR1 and still reached the No. 6 quarterback in the upper tier. Has to address running backs in at least two of the next three rounds but a balanced start to a formidable team.

Team 4: QB Lamar Jackson, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB Joe Mixon

In this format, taking the No. 1 quarterback at any point is a good pick. That left the team feeling like they had to take running backs to avoid a hole in their starters. This is the most common plan for taking a quarterback first and a reasonable way to build a team in the order of higher scoring positions.

Team 5: RB Dalvin Cook, QB Kyler Murray, RB Austin Ekeler

Sandwiching the No. 4 quarterback between running backs is a safe and effective start even if both backs are likely to be average scorers for their RB1 and RB2 positions as starters. This page homage to the format with that quarterback. The next three rounds have to lean towards wideouts and possibly a tight end.

Team 6: QB Patrick Mahomes, TE Travis Kelce, RB Nick Chubb

This would be hard to pull off in a larger league but can happen in the ten-man league size. Started with big advantage at quarterback, then went with the best tight end on the board (or in the world, to be realistic). That left the Round 3 pick a need for running back and two of the next three or four rounds should grab more rushers with a wideout or two added in as well. But owning top players in two positions is always an advantage and even more so with tight end since the quality plummets so quickly.

Team 7: WR Michael Thomas, RB Kenyan Drake, QB Matthew Stafford

Finally, the first wideout comes off the board and yields more value than just following the running back or quarterback run. Was able to land the No. 8 running back just to be safe and then took the No. 7 quarterback. This is a balanced start for this format and will need to address running back in the next few rounds. But an even start that leaves the team able to go for best available players.


Team 8: RB Alvin Kamara, WR Julio Jones, WR Allen Robinson II

Opted to start with running back knowing that between two and four will be taken before the 2.03 pick rolls back to them. Then went with the No. 3 and No. 6 wideouts that pay off with receptions points. Strong start for this deep in the first round but now has to use the next three or four rounds for only running backs and quarterbacks. Will need to look more for upside to make up ground in the non-running back positions.

Team 9: RB Derrick Henry, WR Davante Adams, WR Mike Evans

Followed the same path as Team 8 with the same results. Great set of wideouts and a serviceable to good RB1. Team success depends on what they do with the next running backs and a quarterback.

Team 10: QB Dak Prescott, RB Miles Sanders, WR DeAndre Hopkins

For the final pick of the first round, taking a quarterback in this format makes a lot of sense, and opting for a running back just ensures no hole in the starting roster for RB1. That third pick is the defining one and went with the No. 8 wideout. Balanced start and the team owns the next pick that should lean towards running back or could be the No. 9 wideout.

 

First 3 Picks: 12-team league

Your first three picks define your fantasy team.

Your first three picks define your fantasy football team. Aside from taking productive players, each pick is critical because the player pool is ever-shrinking. You could build entirely different teams based on what positions you take and in what order. Respecting how drafts typically raid positions improves your chance to build an optimal team.

To follow are sample three-round drafts for 12-team fantasy football leagues. They use either standard performance scoring, performance plus a point per reception, or “2QB/Super Flex” leagues where you can start two of any position. Those three formats cover almost all leagues.

The names are less important than the positions because each draft slot has its own unique situation. Just as important are your future picks and what you need after three rounds.  Rankings can change daily so these may not exactly match rankings.

Performance scoring league

Performance scoring without reception points means that running backs are a premium and quarterbacks are a bit more valuable as well. Wide receivers and tight ends are devalued but are still usually four starters in a fantasy football league.  Almost all teams will look to get two running backs in their first three picks and it’s hard to argue against the logic.

Team 1: RB Christian McCaffrey, QB Patrick Mahomes, WR Allen Robinson

Top running back and quarterback for a great start, then wide receiver with Robinson means a balanced approach and drafter is free to go for best available at least the next two or three rounds. Why take the No. 16 running back when he gets the No. 6 wideout instead? No reception points hurt the wideouts but that doesn’t mean to ignore usually three starting positions.

Team 2: RB Ezekiel Elliott, RB Leonard Fournette, WR A.J. Brown

Standard sort of Team 2 approach with a couple of running backs and then a wideout. A core of running backs means could go after other positions for several rounds and not give up too much. Next pick should be a wideout or a top tight end or quarterback if they are still there. Going running back will be tempting and make more sense in this non-PPR league, but again – field the best set of starters possible.

Team 3: RB Saquon Barkley, RB Josh Jacobs, WR Chris Godwin

Same pattern as Team 2 and probably the standard for this sort of scoring. Free to look at non-running back positions in round four and five unless a back falls in the draft.

Team 4: RB Derrick Henry, QB Lamar Jackson, RB Austin Ekeler

Strong start with a Top-4 running back and then the top quarterback. Went with a second running back in the third round for that comforting, solid feel but now will be chasing wideouts at the least. This scoring supports this sort of plan. Could consider tight end and quarterback next to get better than average players in both positions and then admit your wideouts are going to be weak – but they are the deepest position and produce the most waiver wire finds.

Team 5: RB Dalvin Cook, WR Mike Evans, WR Odell Beckham Jr.

This start would look great if there were reception points but even without them, there is a reason to do this.  Sewing up two elite wide receivers is an advantage and can now ignore that position for four or five rounds if they want. They only need one more starter from the rest of the draft and they will last longer in this format anyway. Obviously has to consider running backs in the next round if not two rounds.

Team 6: WR Michael Thomas, RB Chris Carson, RB Melvin Gordon III

This start is likely what will happen in most leagues for the team that selects Michael Thomas (always the first wideout). Great advantage (not as much as PPR but…) and then those two running backs feel more like need picks. But it does allow the next two rounds to consider any position.

Team 7: RB Miles Sanders, WR Kenny Golladay, RB James Conner

Deeper into the draft means while the first pick of a running back is only an average RB1, better-ranked wideouts are available. The price is not that high going running back first to ensure no disadvantage at RB1 and still reached the No. 5 wideout in the second round. Conner in the third round makes sense but so far, this team is starting out with an average RB1, an average WR1, and the No. 18 running back so just an average RB2. Needs to start thinking of getting any advantage at another position that they can.

Team 8: RB Kenyan Drake, RB Nick Chubb, WR Amari Cooper

Like Team 7, went for the safe route with the standard RB-RB-WR and ended up with mostly average players in all positions. Does free him to chase the best available players but there are no difference-makers on the team yet unless one exceeds expectations. And still has eight picks until his fourth-round selection, so has to avoid an average team.

Team 9: RB Joe Mixon, TE Travis Kelce, RB Le’ Veon Bell

This isn’t as deadly without reception points but secured a decent RB1 and then snapped up the best tight end. That will hurt the other positions but in a performance league, only the top two or three tight ends offer any real advantage. Went safe again in the third round and will have to consider a wideout in the next couple of rounds. While taking Kelce isn’t nearly the bang for the buck as he is in a PPR league,  delaying wideouts in this scoring hurts a lot less.

Team 10: WR Tyreek Hill, RB Aaron Jones, TE Mark Andrews

Certainly paid attention to their draft spot. Went with a top wideout, then still reached the No.11 best running back as a need pick. Went for a difference-maker with the second-best tight end in the third. Not a terrible start but has to consider running backs for the next two rounds and probably get a little lucky or they are at a disadvantage. But drafting later in the round means taking more risks to build an optimal team for that draft slot.

Team 11: RB Alvin Kamara, WR Julio Jones, RB Raheem Mostert

Opting for the No. 9 running back with the first pick felt safe and at least followed that up with an elite wideout. Went back to running back in the third but at least selected a back with more upside than most. And is now free to chase best available. Goes again in two picks and can reach for a great quarterback, tight end, or a good wideout.

Team 12: WR Davante Adams, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB Mark Ingram II

This is likely the most generic start at No. 12 in a performance league. Staring RB-RB equates to two average backs. Going with an elite wideout makes sense and then a high-upside running back like Edwards-Helaire is the exact sort of swing for the fence that makes sense (though the rookie is rising in drafts daily). Went back for an average running back but goes again with the next pick and can use that on the best available with a solid core.

 

Reception-point league

This style of scoring boosts the value of wide receivers and elite tight ends but devalues quarterbacks a bit. Running backs are going to be popular in any scoring scenario but the added reception point means the position becomes deeper with third-down backs able to offer “start-able” fantasy value.

Team 1: RB Christian McCaffrey, WR Mike Evans, WR DeAndre Hopkins

This is the very standard opening in a PPR league and with the interest in running backs so strong this year, opted for the No. 7 and No. 8 wideouts instead of the No. 15 running back. Can leave wideouts alone for a long time since likely just need one more as a starter. Should now consider running back at least twice in the next three rounds.

Team 2: RB Saquon Barkley, QB Patrick Mahomes, WR Chris Godwin

This is another strong opening in this scoring. Elite running back and then an elite quarterback. The third pick for a wideout means a shortage of running backs but like team No. 1, can just get two over the next three rounds. This is why the other drafters hate those with the few first picks.

Team 3: RB Ezekiel Elliott, WR Allen Robinson II, TE George Kittle

Same variation as the first two teams. Locking up that top running back allows for more freedom and in this case, team went for the No. 6 wideout and then snapped up the second-best tight end. Has to mine for running backs but holds elite starters in both wideout and tight end.

Team 4: RB Dalvin Cook, QB Lamar Jackson, RB Leonard Fournette

Following on the running back craze still makes sense with Cook turning in receptions as well. Used the second round for the first quarterback taken which is a distinct advantage but always delays all other positions by one round instead of waiting like most teams. Still reached a solid RB2 in the third round. Has to consider at least two wideouts in the next three rounds.

Team 5: WR Michael Thomas, RB Chris Carson, WR DJ Moore

Opting for a wideout in the first round is always discomforting since running backs are all the rage, but Michael Thomas is always the top receiver this year and reception points make this very safe pick a no-brainer. Had to get a running back in the second round though he was the No. 14 rusher taken. Went back to wideout in the third to get better value than just another running back. Will need to look for the RB2 likely next round but can leave wideouts alone while securing more running backs, a quarterback, and maybe a tight end in the next four or five picks.

Team 6: RB Alvin Kamara, RB Nick Chubb, WR Odell Beckham Jr.

Doubled up on running back to start for a solid, if unspectacular, start. Still reached enough value in the second round for the No 13 running back to feel right but then went with wideout in the third. Taking a higher upside player there makes some sense to look for some advantage in the position that still matters a lot in the scoring scenario.

Team 7: RB Derrick Henry, RB Austin Ekeler, WR DJ Chark Jr.

Followed the same pattern as Team 6 and as a mid-round drafter, this is the safest feeling path. Locks up very good running backs for a sold fantasy backfield and then opts for a wideout because of the scoring rules and the dwindling supply of them. But free to mix-and-match picks among all positions from here on out.

Team 8: RB Miles Sanders, TE Travis Kelce, RB Le’ Veon Bell

This is very effective, more so with this scoring. Leaned more towards upside backs and sandwiched an absolute advantage with Travis Kelce who may not last this long in a PPR league. But the binge on running backs is causing other positions to fall. Two of the next three picks have to strongly consider wide receiver but if all three players hit as expected, the team has a very nice start from the eight-spot.

Team 9: WR Davante Adams, RB Joe Mixon, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

This is another effective plan this late in the first round. Grabs that elite wideout and then still reaches the No. 11 running back with the second pick.  Not an advantage but not a liability either. Taking that WR2 in the third round accesses a weaker WR2 than most but going with higher upside and more risk makes sense to make up some ground. Most likely should grab a couple of running backs next or at least over the next three rounds if a quarterback or tight end falls.

Team 10: RB Kenyan Drake, WR Kenny Golladay, RB Josh Jacobs

This is a safer route. Started out RB-WR at the 2.03 turn and then had to wait until the 3.10 for that second running back which works out to the No. 17 taken. This is a safe path to take and honors the scoring. That fourth-round pick coming in five turns can go anywhere and will more determine how the team will fare. Quarterback or tight end there will still yield advantage but at the expense of wideouts.

Team 11: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB Aaron Jones, WR A.J. Brown

Starting so deeply in the first round meant taking the No. 9 and then the No. 10 running back. And by this point, the much-hyped rookie may well be gone so the name won’t look nearly so sexy. Just following the running back run twice means that the position won’t be a liability, but it is not going to be an advantage. And in this scoring, only the No. 14 wideout was left to start that position.

Team 12:WR Julio Jones, WR Tyreek Hill, RB Melvin Gordon III

This is one of the most common plans for that final first-round pick. Doubling up on wideouts netted the No. 3 and 4 best players for a huge advantage in that position. Going with a running back in the third is a need pick and means the No. 18 back is your RB1. Should consider running back in the fourth as well and then again at the round 5-6 turn.

 

QB-heavy league

This sort of league will seed in quarterbacks in varying measures depending on how and why quarterbacks are so valuable. The most common is the ability to start two quarterbacks which change drafts significantly. It will extend the quality of running backs and wideouts deeper into the draft since quarterbacks will go far earlier than the mid-draft that is common in other sorts of leagues. This run-through assumes two quarterbacks and that well over half of the starters are taken by the third round.

Viewing the previous year’s results are best for this sort of starting rule because quarterbacks can go slower – or much faster – than what this draft assumes.

Team 1: RB Christian McCaffrey, RB Austin Ekeler, QB Deshaun Watson

The natural start is followed by the swing pick-ups of an RB2 and one of the top quarterbacks. The No. 6 quarterback is merely average in most leagues but scores like an elite running back – or better –  in this starting aspect. Long wait until Round 5 but can consider any position, including quarterback.

Team 2: RB Saquon Barkley, TE George Kittle, RB Nick Chubb

While this plan ignores the value of quarterbacks, it still starts out with an elite running back and tight end for a definite advantage. Went with running back for the third pick which was certainly a safe option and still netted the No. 13 back because the position falls a bit with these starting rules. Free to go anywhere in their next two picks but should at least consider a quarterback.

Team 3: RB Ezekiel Elliott, QB Russell Wilson, WR Allen Robinson II

This is a standard approach in a QB-heavy league with one of the first three picks. Started running back and then still accessed the No. 5 quarterback. Depending on your league, that may be hard to accomplish but any more attention to quarterbacks prior to this pick only means all other positions fall more. The third round was able to reach the No. 6 wide receiver for another advantage. Very solid opening but running backs have to be the focus for the next couple of rounds unless players fall in other positions.

Team 4: QB Lamar Jackson, RB Joe Mixon, WR Mike Evans

Here is where this league starts to differ. After the top three running backs are gone, a quarterback is a natural consideration. Both Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson are likely first-round picks in this format and may even be in the Top-3 overall picks. This is similar to Team No. 3 only with running back and quarterback reversed. Because quarterbacks take up earlier picks in the first three rounds, quality running backs and wide receivers last longer.

Team 5: RB Dalvin Cook, RB Aaron Jones, QB Matthew Stafford

The plan looked great with two Top-10 running backs but by the third round, seven quarterbacks were gone. This should hold roughly true in most of these sorts of leagues. Waiting on a quarterback until the 4.08 would likely mean outside of the Top-10 for the position and potentially well out of that range. Starting with two Top-10 running backs is a solid start, and picking up a quarterback in the third was as much need as a strategy. The next several rounds have to consider wide receivers and a second quarterback.

Team 6: QB Patrick Mahomes, WR Kenny Golladay, WR DeAndre Hopkins

Middle-draft teams have to avoid building an average team and this certainly takes that to heart. Grabbing a quarterback to start is an advantage and then doubling-down on wide receivers netted two Top-8 players. From here until Round 8, running backs and a second quarterback have to be the focus.

Team 7: WR Michael Thomas, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, WR Chris Godwin

This plan does create formidable wide receivers and this format almost always involves reception points as well. While the drafter ignored quarterbacks, making that running back a high upside guy at least makes this feel like a good start. But the problem is that now QB1 and RB2 will be average at best. The team can still recover and build a fine team, but the margin for error is smaller.

Team 8: RB Alvin Kamara, QB Kyler Murray, RB Chris Carson

This is a safe start. Went with the No. 5 running back and managed to access the No. 4 quarterback. There are 15 picks until the team’s third-choice so getting that quarterback there ensures a difference-maker in the highest-scoring position. That third-round pick went with the No. 14 running back over the No. 8 wide receiver but the fourth round selection comes in just eight more turns and can consider wideout or quarterback.

Team 9: RB Derrick Henry, WR Tyreek Hill, RB Leonard Fournette

Opted for the No. 6 running back that fell with two quarterbacks taken. Then a Top-4 wide receiver felt good but delayed the quarterback. Still accessed a solid running back in the third round. This is a safe route, even if it doesn’t pay any homage to the format. Has to consider quarterbacks twice in the next few rounds or have a liability in the highest-scoring position.

Team 10: WR Davante Adams, RB Kenyan Drake, RB Le’ Veon Bell

Team 10 took a similar route as Team 9.  Elite wideout and two good running backs with upside will work but again – have to think about two quarterbacks by Round 5 or 6 or even average scoring will be a challenge. This feels safe but the only difference-maker is a wideout – the deepest position.

Team 11: RB Miles Sanders, TE Travis Kelce, QB Carson Wentz

Opting for the No. 7 running back feels safe and grabbing the best tight end is an advantage, even if it is the lowest scoring skill position. Turned to the No. 8 quarterback in the third round but could have also gone running back there and taken the quarterback in the fourth round. Wide receivers are going to be a liability unless team can land a sleeper or two.

Team 12: QB Dak Prescott, WR Julio Jones, WR Odell Beckham Jr.

Drafting last usually means taking a chance and this plan is solid. Gets that great quarterback and then doubles-up on wide receivers to get two Top-10 players. The next three rounds have to consider running back and even then, get lucky or have a hole in their starters. But if there are reception points, even running backs are deeper and this can work very well.

Sleepers and Value Plays: Wide Receivers

2020 Sleeper and Value Play Wide Receivers

A sleeper wide receiver is a player taken as a backup who ends up worthy of being a starter or at least far outplays the draft slot where you selected him.  Average Draft Positions (ADP) are taken from MyFantasyLeague.com  using only recent drafts.

The Average Draft order shows a general picture of how your draft will unfold and where values/sleepers and bad values/busts likely exist. Any green highlight means the player is a good value that could be taken earlier. A red highlight signifies an overvalued player that is a bad value or just too high of a risk for that spot.

Average Draft order – Value plays

Sleepers and over-valued players

Best of the Rest

Dede Westbrook (JAC) – Maybe Laviska Shenault is newer and shinier, but Westbrook is a speedy slot receiver with 66 catches for around 700 yards and four scores for the last two years. A more experienced Gardner Minshew should help trend up those stats if only incrementally.

Mohamed Sanu (NE) – He is 30 years old and didn’t add much in his first season with the Patriots. But managed 838 yards in his last year with the Falcons and was hampered by an ankle injury last year that required off-season surgery. The Pats need a receiver to step up and Sanu will be a starter. He’s worth keeping an eye on at the least.

James Washington (PIT) – Second-rounder from 2018 was an after-thought as a rookie when Antonio Brown and Juju Smith-Schuster dominated. Rose to 44-735-3 last year playing with “not Roethlisberger”. He’s just one of three or four receivers, but it is far too early to write him off.

 

Rock steady: How Adrian Yanez’s father continues to inspire son’s UFC dream, even after his death

Adrian Yanez is fighting at Dana White’s Contender Series 28 hoping to “take that contract to my father’s resting place” and show that he did it.

thinks his MMA career wouldn’t be where it is today, had it not been for his father Andy.

[autotag]Adrian Yanez[/autotag] will be introduced to a global audience Tuesday, and through him, so will his father.

Determined to earn a UFC contract, Yanez (10-3) will compete at Dana White’s Contender Series 28 in Las Vegas. The opportunity, Yanez told MMA Junkie, is a long time coming – especially considering fighting has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember.

Before he was on the UFC’s doorstep, before he won at LFA, Fury FC and Bellator, before he even stepped foot in an MMA gym, Adrian inherited his passion from his father, Andres Yanez, known by those around him as “Andy”.

The patriarch of the Yanez household, it wasn’t unusual for Andy to throw boxing on the TV. From Oscar De La Hoya to Floyd Mayweather to Arturo Gatti vs. Mickey Ward, Adrian remembers the excitement and intrigue that came with watching boxing with his father.

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“I always had the interest to be in some sort of combative sport, but it didn’t come to fruition earlier,” Adrian told MMA Junkie. “… We were watching all (of the boxing greats’) fights. It was always something that piqued my interest.”

Before long, Adrian made his way into an MMA gym he stumbled across when shopping at the mall with his mother. Jiu-jitsu classes were an instant hit.

“I fell in love with it,” Adrian said. “I never wanted to stop.”

Image via Mike “The Truth” Jackson Photography

As his son pursued MMA, Andy, a blue-collar worker for the port of Houston, was by his side. Not only did Andy attend all of Adrian’s fights, but he was also at his training sessions. Andy provided timeless advice for his son – and he led by example. Andy was Adrian’s mentor, No. 1 supporter and best friend.

“He would always tell me every single time when I got home,” Adrian said. “He’s like, ‘Rock steady. You’ve got to move forward even if you’re just one percent better today – even a half percent better – you just keep going. You’re always getting better. You just keep going.’

“Also, my dad was a hard-working man. My dad was always working. He always provided for my family. Just to see my dad grinding on a day-to-day basis and just physically seeing the man work a hard labor job. The guy never complained. He never complained once.”

In 2016, Andy began experiencing health issues. Throughout Andy’s struggle, he still made a point to be there for his son. He wouldn’t make it to practice as much, but the effort was still there. Andy continued to work until the doctors urged him not to.

After a trip to the local V.A. hospital, the U.S. military veteran was diagnosed with diabetes. However, it turned out diabetes was paired with a bigger issue, as the family found out in November 2015.

“We were like, ‘Oh, OK. Our dad is losing weight because he has diabetes and a new diet,'” Adrian said. “Then we did a separate blood test at a different doctor’s office. A day later, on Thanksgiving Day (2015), they called my dad: ‘You need to go to the hospital right now. You need to go to the emergency room right now.'”

Image via Adrian Yanez

Five days later, Andy was diagnosed with Stage IV stomach cancer – the same day his son celebrated his 22nd birthday. On February 4, 2016, less than three months later, Andy Yanez died at 58.

“What was crazy was that we found that he had Stage IV cancer on my birthday,” Adrian said. “That was heartbreaking to me. Then after that, once we found out it was Stage IV cancer, everything just kind of fell down pretty quick. It went fast in that sense. We had the whole month of December, the whole month of January, and then February 4, my dad passed away.

“During that whole process, it was quick, and my dad only had one chemo session – two types of chemotherapy. It was just one session altogether. After that, chemotherapy drains a lot of people. It just took a lot out of my dad. After that, it just went downhill.”

Andy may not be physically with Adrian, but his spirit still inspires his son. Through hard training sessions and pre-fight mental preparations, even when times get tough, Adrian is inspired by his father’s words and actions. Seeing his father’s mention on the DWCS, Season 4 promotional video, Adrian felt a new fire lit under him.

“It’s one of those things that’s always motivated me,” Yanez said. “I know on the ‘Contender Series’ promo, that picture that was shown where he was walking, I kept that to myself. Once that aired, it aired to the whole world. The only person who saw that picture before it aired was me. To have that be shown and tell the story of that picture, it motivates me. It helps me get through the days, honestly.

“The days I’m thinking about my father, I can take a look back at those moments where he didn’t look good. To see him fight through those days how we saw that he did, it motivates me. It just shows me if you really want to do something, you can get up and go do it. … My dad was always a motivational guy for me. He was just a really great man and a really great father – the perfect role model for a son.”

Image via Mike “The Truth” Jackson Photography

A contract-earning win on Dana White’s Contender Series will further vindicate all of Andy’s hard work and advice, Adrian said. Furthermore, turning that advice into life-changing results and knowing how proud his father would be will be vindicating for Adrian.

“That would absolutely mean the world to me,” Adrian said. “If I sign that contract, it’ll just show what my dad always told me, ‘If you put in the hard work, if you do all the right things, and you push yourself day in and day out, the hard work will pay itself off. If you half-ass it, you’re going to get half-assed payoffs. You want to go ahead and give it your all so you can get the greater payoffs.'”

If Yanez earns a UFC contract Tuesday, he knows exactly where he’s bringing his paperwork when he gets home – to the man who kick-started his love for MMA, supported him unequivocally, and instilled the principles in him necessary to achieve UFC notoriety.

“He always told me one of the biggest things you can do is just believe in yourself and get yourself in that position,” Adrian said. “You’ve just got to believe in yourself and keep pushing so that when your time comes you will be ready.

“August 11, I will be ready to sign my name on that contract, and I will take that contract to my father’s resting place and show him that I did it.”

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Katie Ledecky and Simone Manuel faced an uncertain, bizarre summer. They got through it together.

“I absolutely believe that if they didn’t have each other, it would have been so much more difficult.”

One particularly harrowing practice set stands out to Katie Ledecky and Simone Manuel when they think about training in a two-lane backyard pool for three months this year. Their coach, Greg Meehan, called it “Death by Relay.”

The two American Olympians — who combine for 10 Olympic medals, seven gold — alternated who was swimming at an as-fast-as-possible speed, and when one touched the wall from her 25-yard lane, the other dove in.

“It was just a burner of a swim set that was actually quite fun and something very different for us,” 23-year-old Ledecky said. “But it was super challenging for both of us because we were both really racing.”

What constituted “different” at this point was relative for Ledecky and Manuel, who recently spoke with For The Win while promoting BIC’s Soleil Sensitive Advanced “Game On” campaign. Sure, it was a brutal set they had never tried before, and one Meehan described as “definitely one of the hardest things they’ve done.”

But they were also in a family’s Atherton, California backyard — a stark contrast to Stanford’s mammoth Avery Aquatic Center, where they usually train. And any challenge he threw at them was compounded by their rigorous training routine, necessary to remain two of the best swimmers on the planet, vanishing because of the global COVID-19 pandemic. They were practicing in a pool half as long as what they’re used to and doing it alone, but at least together, rather than with a couple dozen others.

For “Death by Relay,” Ledecky — a dominant distance swimmer with world records in the 1,500-meter freestyle, 800-meter freestyle and 400-meter freestyle — started with a 500-yard swim, and her distances gradually decreased. Meanwhile, Manuel — the reigning world champion and American record holder in the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle with world records in three relays — stuck with shorter swims. It actually mimicked a relay, and the amount of rest they got between each swim was entirely dependent on how fast the other could go that day.

Alternating, they couldn’t speak to each other during the entire set. But Meehan said when they rested, they would cheer for the other as they tried to beat a collective goal time.

“We’re in quarantine, we’re training, but we’re not competing, and that’s something that I think both of us really value,” 24-year-old Manuel said. “[Meehan] wanted to make it some sort of competition. He gave us a goal time to beat, so that made it fun and challenging.”

And for three months, like they did during the “Death by Relay” set, Ledecky and Manuel relied on each other for much-needed support and motivation while training in a 25-yard, two-lane backyard pool, Meehan said. They often lean on each other, he noted, but it was especially necessary during a uniquely challenging time in their careers.

Swimmers thrive with routines, and when theirs imploded, Meehan said it took some time for them to process a new reality, which included 2020 being drastically different than what they planned.

“There were some emotional highs and lows, but I absolutely believe that if they didn’t have each other, it would have been so much more difficult,” said Meehan, the Stanford women’s coach who’s also the head coach of the U.S. Olympic women’s team.

They, like so many other swimmers and Olympic hopefuls, were left scrambling in March for a place to practice as pools and facilities nationwide shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic — all while still expecting the Games in July. When Stanford’s pool closed, they turned to a country club for a couple days before that, too, was shut down.

They were constantly trying to problem solve and get creative. Luckily for them, Meehan said he realized he had a connection to a family — who they opted not to name for privacy reasons — with a two-lane backyard pool, starting blocks included.

“When I think on the fact that we were able to not have an interruption in training because of this gracious family that allowed us to swim in their backyard for months, and still be safe by social distancing, it’s a blessing,” said Manuel, who became the first African-American woman to win an individual gold medal in the Olympics in the 2016 Rio Games (100-meter freestyle).

Normally, they’d train with Stanford’s team most of the time and have up to three sessions a week just the two of them, Meehan said.

But that became their full-time setup for three months until Stanford’s pool reopened in June. As a pair, they had up to nine sessions a week as uncertainty about the 2020 Games loomed. Ledecky said it was her longest break from training in a 50-meter pool in years.

But they were more fortunate than a lot of swimmers, some of whom didn’t have a full-length pool or access to a pool at all, which Meehan said was the case for many of his local swimmers.

“Watching their friendship develop over the last couple years,” he said, “especially as they’ve been professional athletes, just how much respect they have for each other and how much they lean on each other without having to talk about it all the time — I think there’s just a quiet understanding that they’re going through similar experiences as elite-level athletes.”

That included losing the social aspect of swimming, like practicing with 20 or more people most of the time and maintaining conversations squeezed into seconds-long pauses on the wall. They lost the collective energy and the team camaraderie, which is essential in a sport that involves staring at the bottom of a pool for hours every day.

Being isolated most of the time because of social distancing and then practicing with only one other person “weighed on them heavily,” Meehan added. Eventually, the anguish of their rigid routines evaporating only a few months before the Olympics’ original start date subsided.

However, that was only because the International Olympic Committee decided in late March to push everything back a year, which Meehan said was initially a relief. But that feeling quickly dissipated as they tried to digest going from being three months away from the Games to 15 months, basically restarting their Olympic-year training regimen.

“We’re fierce competitors,” Ledecky said. “And we know we have that same ambition and similar drive, and it was nice to have somebody that could hold you accountable. We both knew we were going through the same thing, and that’s more of a mental thing at that point, especially early on.

“Once the postponement was made and there was so much uncertainty, we had to stay upbeat and keep each other upbeat. And that was critical in what we’re trying to do.”

Their relationship has evolved “quite a bit” over the years, said Meehan, who coached them on Stanford’s team before they both turned pro in 2018 after leading the Cardinal to consecutive NCAA championships. (Manuel earned her degree in 2019, while Ledecky plans to complete hers in December, ironically earlier than planned because of the pandemic.)

They were first teammates and competitors who sometimes swam similar NCAA events, but after they went pro, Meehan said he saw their relationship beyond the pool develop as they realized “we’re going to be stronger together if we can help each other through this.”

Ledecky’s and Manuel’s personalities are “totally different,” he explained, but they bonded because of their “laser focus” and the “off-the-charts” work ethic that elevated them to the top among the world’s most elite swimmers. That friendship and common mindset helped push them forward in that two-lane backyard pool.

“The mental piece of it is just as important as the physical piece of staying in the water,” Ledecky said.

When their focused blurred, their motivation lacked or they struggled to adjust mentally and physically while not knowing when their next competition might be, they looked to each other to stay on course. Though they didn’t really have a choice.

“It was definitely hard to really be motivated with everything that’s been going on in the world,” Manuel said. “But just knowing that I could show up at practice and know I had a teammate like Katie come to practice and encourage me or push me to get out of the funk that I was in — or for me to do the same for her — was really helpful. And it allowed us to continue to work toward the goals that we have.”

And the ability to expand those already lofty Olympic goals is part of the silver lining.

Now, the pair is back to training at Stanford with about eight people while Meehan said most of his swimmers are still scattered around the country. They were “on track to be great this summer,” he explained, but the added year of training offers them a chance at a do-over Olympics year to improve on everything from race strategy to stroke mechanics.

It’s an opportunity, not a setback, to perfect details that they otherwise would have run out of time to do, and they’re not dwelling on what this year could have been for them professionally, Ledecky said.

“Yes the Games are postponed, but that doesn’t mean that the goals that I have on my list have to be crossed off,” Manuel said, talking about how she and Ledecky are first focused on the U.S. Olympic Trials.

“I still want to make the Olympic team. I still want to go and win all gold medals. So whether the Olympics comes in 2021 or not until 2024, I’m going to keep pressing.”

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What type of golfer are you? The 5 best golf shoes to match your game

I Want It All: PRO|SL Chosen by more Tour players than any other golf shoe, FootJoy innovated and advanced the hottest shoe in golf with more stability, more traction, more comfort, and more choice. The all-new Pro|SL offers just the right amount of …

I Want It All: PRO|SL

Chosen by more Tour players than any other golf shoe, FootJoy innovated and advanced the hottest shoe in golf with more stability, more traction, more comfort, and more choice. The all-new Pro|SL offers just the right amount of comfort with two densities of finely tuned foam – one that’s incredibly soft and one that’s firm for perimeter stability that keeps you grounded. The new Infinity outsole has 189 points of traction that delivers superb contact with the ground in all conditions and the perfect foundation throughout the golf swing.

One model wasn’t good enough for FJ, so they added a second option, Pro|SL Carbon, that offers ridiculous stability with a fiber carbon plate within the midsole. Pro|SL Carbon offers added comfort features like an Ortholite Impressions FitBed that delivers a custom fit and mattress-like cushioning, and a 3D Molded Collar that hugs your foot and locks in the perfect fit. (BUY NOW)

The Power Player: TOUR X

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Looking to take your game to the max? Tour X is fully-loaded inside and out, delivering max stability, max control and max comfort. The outsole features nine LaunchPods to provide max stability so you can launch it past your buddies. It doesn’t sacrifice on comfort either – Tour X wraps your foot in coziness with an Ortholite Impressions FitBed and a Foam Collar around the heel, ensuring max in-shoe comfort and support. (BUY NOW)

Comfort is King: FLEX XP

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FLEX XP is super comfortable and is built on the popular FJ FLEX Versa-Trax outsole, providing you with excellent grip on and off the course. The new FLEX XP takes the FLEX franchise even further with a completely new lightweight performance mesh upper that’s completely waterproof. Whether you play rain or shine, FLEX XP will deliver! (BUY NOW)

Mr. Casual: FLEX Coastal

Looking to wear your golf shoes to and from work, hit a bucket of balls at the range, play 18 and go into the clubhouse for dinner without changing your shoes? Mr. Casual deserves FLEX Coastal. The latest introduction to the FLEX family features coastal-inspired, casual styling with spikeless traction, featuring a premium two-tone mesh and Versa-Trax platform. The multiple traction zones maximize golf performance in all conditions and produce exceptional multi-surface grip. (BUY NOW)

The Hilltopper: FJ FURY

FJ FURY was designed from the inside-out for those who have to climb those steep hills during their walk, delivering stability where you need it and comfort where you want it. What makes FJ FURY so special is an internal fit system called the TruFit System, which focuses on fit, comfort and support. Its D3 outsole ensures a solid, stable platform to generate power, while its super-soft midsole delivers incredible comfort and cushioning. (BUY NOW)

Sleepers and Value Plays: Tight Ends

2020 Sleeper and Value Plays at Tight End

A sleeper tight end is a player taken as a backup who ends up worthy of being a starter or at least far outplays the draft slot where you selected him. Average Draft Positions (ADP) are taken from MyFantasyLeague.com  using only recent drafts.

The Average Draft order shows a general picture of how your draft will unfold and where values/sleepers and bad values/busts likely exist. Any green highlight means the player is a good value that could be taken earlier. A red highlight signifies an overvalued player that is a bad value or just too high of a risk for that spot.

Average Draft order – Value plays

Sleepers and over-valued players