The Fantasy Footballers
With more than five million podcasts in circulation globally, it can be difficult for creators to break through and build a profitable show. But for the hosts of one of the top fantasy football podcasts in the country, the formula for success and making money has been rooted in authenticity, trust, and smart business decisions.
Here’s how “ The Fantasy Footballers” built a thriving podcast brand — and what other creators can learn from their approach.
Authenticity Builds Loyalty
“A big driver of our success is the deep trust and authenticity we’ve built with our listeners and fans,” the hosts said. “At its core, we’re just being ourselves.”
The show started organically as conversations between friends who had worked together for years. “The three of us have worked together for years, so we’ve had the chemistry you hear on the show today from many lunch conversations over the years. The show is just those lunch convos… with microphones. We are essentially listeners’ fantasy football buddies.”
That familiarity and camaraderie have helped attract and retain a loyal audience. “That authenticity is what’s built our audience, and once they find us, they tend to stick around,” they said.
Meet Your Audience Where They Are
Rather than limiting its content to a single platform, the podcast team expanded its presence across multiple channels, including audio, YouTube, and social media.
“Since the beginning, we’ve met our audience where they are – whether that’s audio, YouTube or social,” the hosts said.
In 2024, they announced an exclusive partnership with SiriusXM, a move that further expanded their reach and opened up new opportunities to monetize.
“Every episode of our show also airs on SiriusXM’s Fantasy Sports Radio channel,” they said. “It’s another awesome way to get our content out there and reach even more fantasy football fans.”
They also create exclusive, standalone content for the SiriusXM app, designed to give listeners a deeper level of insider access.
“The power of podcasting is in the ability to connect with fans in a truly authentic and meaningful way,” said Lizzie Collins, senior vice president and head of B2B marketing at SiriusXM Media. “Andy, Jason and Mike of The Fantasy Footballers really embody that, and we’re proud to support their growth across platforms through Creator Connect.”
Trust Drives Monetization
“Trust with listeners and brands is essential to securing and maintaining impactful sponsorships and monetization,” the hosts said. “Our fans spend time with us every day as we help them navigate their leagues and win championships. That builds real trust over time – and because we’re selective with advertisers, our endorsements carry weight with the audience.”
One example is a branded segment called “Raising Cane’s Rising Stars,” sponsored by the fast-food chain Raising Cane’s, which highlights emerging NFL players.
“About 90% of our brand partners return to sponsor future segments because our integrations run deep and our audience connects their love for the show with our genuine enthusiasm for the brands and products we endorse,” they said.
Their continued success with advertisers underscores a larger trend — that fantasy football is no longer a niche hobby but part of a growing, multibillion-dollar industry.
Be Strategic With Opportunities
Their top piece of money advice for fellow creators is to focus on the opportunities that matter most.
“Sometimes you have to say ‘no’ or ‘not yet’ – focus on the opportunities that make the most impact,” they said. “The 80/20 principle is key to our business. Opportunities come from all over the place, but you need to focus on your primary disciplines and select your partnerships and opportunities carefully to maximize impact.”
By keeping a tight focus on their core content and audience, they’ve avoided distractions and scaled their show in a sustainable way.
Create Something Your Proud Of
For these hosts, success is about more than downloads or dollars.
“We’re all family guys. Each of us has three kids,” they said. “Being able to create a company centered around something we are all passionate about — fantasy football — and creating a show that we’re happy for our kids and families to listen to has been an incredible opportunity that represents a ‘richer life’ to us.”
Key Takeaways:
- Build trust with your audience by being authentic and consistent.
- Distribute your show across platforms to maximize reach and monetization potential.
- Choose sponsors carefully and create integrations that fit naturally into your content.
- Say “no” to opportunities that don’t align with your mission or long-term growth.
- Define success on your own terms — not just financially, but personally.
Whether you’re just starting a podcast or looking to take your show to the next level, the path to monetization is built on connection, consistency, and credibility.