Interview with “The Fantasy Football Girl” Liz Loza

Liz Loza, THE FANTASY FOOTBALL GIRL, is demonstrably the most followed, discussed, and respected independent female fantasy analyst in the blogosphere. For over four seasons she has fostered a vast and diverse community of fans with her spirited wit and expertise. Chicago-born and L.A. based, she’s an aspirational public figure who exudes a “girl next door” charm. As a well-respected expert, Liz has proven herself with both men and the growing number of female fantasy players.

A triple-threat, Liz Loza has conquered – and continues to redefine – the three major spheres of new media: video, radio, and the written word. Her extensive experience on-screen, on-air, and in print has earned her an exploding fan base, as well as recognition from prominent industry professionals. As a result, she has appeared on radio shows nationwide, guest blogged for numerous websites, and was one of only three outlets to receive access to the NFL Pro Hollywood Bootcamp this past spring.

Whether producing and starring in her own weekly content or guest-hosting for various media outlets, Liz’s passion for the game and inexhaustible energy continually allow for new and exciting ventures. This constant evolution of product keeps her viewers engaged and captivated. With no plans to slow down,  Liz Loza, The Fantasy Football Girl is absolutely about to “WIN BIG.”

Growing up my grandpa was my primary caregiver so I learned all of the things that a grizzled WWII vet from Chicago already knew. For example, he taught me how to diagnose a faulty fan belt, the most effective way to build a fort, and the secret to making the perfect gin martini (on the rocks, of course). He also instilled in me a knowledge of – and passion for – Chicago sports. Sadly, my grandfather passed away during the first semester of my freshman year of college. It was week 15 of the NFL regular season. As a way to be close to him and to comfort myself, I watched football non-stop.

Fast forward five years and I’m dating a guy who is in something called a fantasy football league. He knows that I like watching the games on Sunday so he shows me his team and starts asking for my advice. I guide him all the way to the Super Bowl, where he crushes the competition. The following year I lobby my way into the league, blow out my boyfriend, and take home the championship trophy. All of the guys balk and say it’s “beginner’s luck”… until I do it again the following season.

During the off-season, I realized that there aren’t very many women playing the game so I decide to start a blog called TheFantasyFootballGirl.com and here we are!

What’s your favorite team?

Da Bears!

When you draft your team, do you have a specific formula (ex. quarterback in the first round, running back in the second round, etc.) or do you just take the best player available every time? 

Funny you should ask. I just finished writing an article about this exact issue. As the game continues to evolve, so does my approach to drafting. Generally speaking, I believe in Value Based Drafting, which values a player not by the number of points he’s capable of scoring, but rather the margin by which he’s likely to outscore other players at the same position. That being said, I think the best strategy is one that involves a ton of mock drafting, looking for trends, identifying players that you’re high on, and then just letting it fly when you’re on the clock.

How do you determine which player to play and which player to bench?

I like to look at matchups, player history, and any outside factors. For example, Pierre Thomas – who is originally from Chicago – always plays lights out against the Bears. I mean, who doesn’t like to show off in their hometown? Since he’s a running back in a pass-heavy offense, he doesn’t always see a ton of touches, and therefore is often overlooked by fantasy owners. During Week 5 of this past season, I decided to bench Trent Richardson, who was facing off against the Seattle Seahawks and their top notch defense, in favor of Thomas. Even though TRich was a first round draft pick and considered a much “safer” play, I felt Thomas had a better match-up. It was a risky move, but one that worked since Thomas out-produced Richardson by over 15 points.

Who has been this season’s biggest fantasy performer?

Peyton Manning has been an absolute beast. No doubt about that. But the biggest surprise at QB is definitely Philip Rivers. He’s currently the fantasy QB with the third highest production, which is crazy when you consider the fact that he was drafted in the second to last round of most fantasy drafts (if he was drafted at all). Without a doubt, the Chargers new head coach Mike McCoy knows what he’s doing in San Diego. I’ve really enjoyed watching so many pieces of that offense – from PPR stud Danny Woodhead to rookie WR Keenan Allen – emerge as fantasy darlings.

Who has been this season’s biggest fantasy under performer?

The fantasy gods have been particularly unkind to running backs this season. Of these, the biggest disappointment is, hands down, C.J. Spiller. During the preseason, the Bills offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett said he planned to, “run CJ Spiller until he threw up.” With Spiller currently outside of the top 35 fantasy RBs, his owners are the ones with queasy stomachs.

There have been a lot of injuries to star players this season.  How do you adjust your team to account for these injuries?

Like in real football, fantasy football employs the “next man up” strategy. If a stud goes down, his back-up receives an opportunity to prove himself. Running backs like Mike James, Joique Bell, and Joseph Randle along with receivers such as Terrance Williams,  Jarrett Boykin, and Harry Douglas are finding their way onto a lot of fantasy squads because the guys in front of them were sidelined. Working the waiver wire, insuring stud players with their “handcuffs,” and becoming aware of depth charts are musts when considering the volatility of the game.

Many players have criticized “fans” for sending death threats for “ruining their fantasy teams”, most recently Giants running back Brandon Jacobs.  What do you think about fans who take Fantasy Football too seriously?

 It’s awful. Those people aren’t fans. They’re lonely degenerates, desperate for attention.  Of course professional athletes shouldn’t concern themselves with fantasy football. And anyway, part of the fun of fantasy is its unpredictability. That being said, I do think Jacobs is off base for saying that fantasy football is a “problem.” The growth of fantasy has helped a lot of players reach fan bases they wouldn’t have otherwise. Let’s all just agree not to be jerks, OK?

How has your team done this season?

 Overall, I’m pretty happy with how my season is going. I’m in a bunch of leagues: three redraft, one dynasty, one loaded salary cap, and I play some daily fantasy as well. Of my three redraft leagues, I have one 1st place team and two 6th place teams. If the playoffs were tomorrow I’d be advancing in all three leagues so, yeah, I’m pretty pleased. There’s still a lot of season left though. We shall see.