Question about FF Magazines...

[lawofmurphy]

I hope this isn't out of line to post. If it is, I won't be sad if anyone deletes it!

 

I write for one of the bajillion fantasy football mags that litter the bookstores come July or so. I'm not gonna say which one cause I'm not here to advertise it. I organize the profile/ranking section and we're always looking for ways to put out a better product. I've read a ton of FF magazines...I try to get as many as I can.

 

But I was wondering if anyone had any ideas about stuff they enjoy from the profiles in fantasy football mags...or if there's any stuff you WISH mags would do?

 

I have been trying to push some more 'conversational' elements for our section. I think we need to get beyond the idea that our one list is the only way anyone should look at players. A player might be ranked 12th, but some guys are riskier than others and a simple ranking can't communicate that.

 

Oh well. Sorry again if this is out of place!

[Furd]

I don't think that its out of line.

 

I've only been doing this for 12 years or so, and I have never looked at one of those magazines. Too much changes between the date that they are published and the date of the draft.

 

I suppose that one could look at them from a team perspective such as for strength of schedule and whatnot, or maybe for historical trends, but I can get that from here or another website.

 

If you hired me as a consultant, the last thing that I'd focus on is player rankings, and you would lose all of your sales.

[stevegrab]

They still make those, and people still buy them?

 

As furd said, too much is out of date by the time fantasy football is really in full swing.

[White lightning]

Man, you are fighting an uphill batte with the magazines. My only suggestion would be to have a website component that would counter the "magazines are dated by the draft" argument. You could develop a website that magazine purchasers would be able to access that would provide updated rankings etc.

 

I'm also assuming that your magazine breaks up its rankings into non-PPR, PPR, IDP etc.

Edited May 1, 2012 by White lightning

[WashingtonD]

I haven't picked up a fantasy football magazine in I can't remember how long, far too much good (and bad) information available on the internet and far too much changes through training camps, pre-season, etc

 

I agree that straight rankings are pretty much the least interesting part of fantasy football sites/magazines in general. Articles that highlight boom and bust candidates, that do real statistical break downs of prior performance, etc is where i gravitate

[Shorttynaz]

I've been playing fantasy football for about 10 years now, and the only time I ever bought a Fantasy Football magazine was when I had a 4 hour flight across country. I blew through it in about 45 minutes - was interesting to read some of the "projections" and "rankings", but it's almost impossible to put together a list of players and try to rank them for a magazine. As all the previous posters have said - the problem with magazines is the lists are outdated and incorrect a few days after they're released. In all of my live drafts I have done over the years, there's usually one FF magazine available, but the only thing it's ever used for is for bye weeks and schedules - i.e. my starting defense is Baltimore and they're off in week 8 - Who are the Texans defense up against in week 8 - are they home or away? That's about it..

[lawofmurphy]

Thanks for all the replies!

 

Yeah, we have a website associated, but it's not well read compared to the magazine...which people actually still buy! I was thinking about adding on a podcast...I've done them before and they're pretty fun.

 

I also like the idea of some extra stat highlights in the profiles...we've stuck to just the basics...but adding an interesting stat for some or all the players would be nice if we could swing it. Sadly, the in depth stat analysis doesn't fit for the magazine, but as website additions, it makes sense.

[matt770]

While I agree with the above opinions, most players posting to a FF forum in May are not your target audience. The magazines cater to the novice/Yahoo crowd, NTTAWWT. Lots of us bought FF magazines when first starting out. Since the rankings were outdated, some of them offered access to updated rankings via an affiliated web site if you entered a special code.

 

Some features I remember being helpful were offensive line rankings and strength of schedule. Those usually won't be outdated by the time FF drafts start. And since the magazines cater to beginners, put in lots of rudimentary strategy tips, like don't reach for a kicker, drink only in moderation at a live draft, and consider your opponents' positional needs to help decide which position to take in a given round.

[WashingtonD]

While I agree with the above opinions, most players posting to a FF forum in May are not your target audience. The magazines cater to the novice/Yahoo crowd, NTTAWWT. Lots of us bought FF magazines when first starting out. Since the rankings were outdated, some of them offered access to updated rankings via an affiliated web site if you entered a special code.

 

Some features I remember being helpful were offensive line rankings and strength of schedule. Those usually won't be outdated by the time FF drafts start. And since the magazines cater to beginners, put in lots of rudimentary strategy tips, like don't reach for a kicker, drink only in moderation at a live draft, and consider your opponents' positional needs to help decide which position to take in a given round.

 

While I agree with the above opinions, most players posting to a FF forum in May are not your target audience. The magazines cater to the novice/Yahoo crowd, NTTAWWT. Lots of us bought FF magazines when first starting out. Since the rankings were outdated, some of them offered access to updated rankings via an affiliated web site if you entered a special code.

 

Some features I remember being helpful were offensive line rankings and strength of schedule. Those usually won't be outdated by the time FF drafts start. And since the magazines cater to beginners, put in lots of rudimentary strategy tips, like don't reach for a kicker, drink only in moderation at a live draft, and consider your opponents' positional needs to help decide which position to take in a given round.

 

 

Matt hits it on the head, I was thinking about it from my perspective, but he's correct, it's about knowing that right audience and making things compelling for them.

[tazinib1]

put in a cheerleader section.....just say'n

[matt770]

put in a cheerleader section.....just say'n

 

Yep. The novice players also tend to be young men, still single, who have not yet experiencing life's cruel and crushing defeats. Many are not yet addicted to hardcore pornography, so scantily clad cheerleaders still give them a bit of pep down there.

[White lightning]

Yep. The novice players also tend to be young men, still single, who have not yet experiencing life's cruel and crushing defeats. Many are not yet addicted to hardcore pornography, so scantily clad cheerleaders still give them a bit of pep down there.

 

 

HAH! Post of the week!