Esme Morgan on how to properly flex in fantasy football: Spirit FFB
Never Have I Trevor is once again flying high in the Spirit's fantasy football league.
Sunday sees the biggest game of the Washington Spirit's season thus far, but the team's fantasy football league is entering Week 9. The stretch run is on the horizon, and Esme Morgan is well positioned to carry on to contend for honors for a third year running.
More than that, Morgan has seemed to be a focal point within the league, with participants talking about her role on and off the record. Maybe it's a very specific request about the draft where her very participation is up in the air, or a desire to let her opponents hear about it when she wins, or being the most well-known supporter of an actual NFL team on the roster, but the England center back lived up to her billing as a very serious fantasy football player.
Morgan talked about her very Spirit-esque run of coming close to winning the league two years in a row, the emergence of "waiver snipers" in a more intensely competitive league, and the grave offense of not coming up with a team name.
In case this is your first encounter with whatever this series is supposed to be, here's the full Spirit FFB catalog in chronological order:
- Week 2: Commissioner Paige Metayer on 'pretty intense' Washington Spirit fantasy football league
- Week 6: Kate Wiesner discusses the ups and downs of her fantasy football season
Green Line Soccer: Before we start, I've been told you might be going to [Thursday's] Jaguars game in Baltimore.
Esme Morgan: I'm hoping to. We're trying to get tickets.
Ben Kessler: We're going to get her there.
GLS: Baltimore's on a third-string quarterback, so it's a good opportunity to see a win.
EM: Fingers crossed. I actually didn't even think—like, I remember when the fixtures came out, I looked to see if they were playing the Commanders, but I never even thought to check Baltimore. So, yeah, Paige Metayer told me about it the other day, and then I was like, 'I've got to go!'
GLS: Have you have you have you been up to Baltimore at all?
EM: Yes, I've been, but it was for a random thing. Before I flew with the Red Arrows, I had to have medical checks done to check I would fit into the cockpit and stuff. So I had to go to Baltimore for that, but outside of that, not really that I can remember. I've not been to the Ravens or the Orioles, so first time tomorrow. Hopefully.
GLS: The stadium is decent. I was there for D.C. United's game against Inter Miami, and press box is soundproofed, which I don't care for. But that's not your problem.
EM: You never know! If that's my only route in, I might be up there.
GLS: Alright, to the topic at hand: the last time I did one of these, I was told that you and Sara Wojdelko were tied for first place. How is your team doing?
EM: Yeah, well, Wojo and I played last week, and she beat me, so she's now outright top. I'm 6-2 alongside two other people, I think, so kind of joint second, joint fourth.
GLS: 6-2 is still quite good. You're in a very good spot.
EM: Yeah, I'm doing well, I'm doing well. But actually, I'm not super confident because when you look at points for and against, I'm not the second-highest scorer. I'm fifth or sixth, so I'm kind of punching above my weight in the standings right now, and I'm hoping that doesn't catch up to me. But yeah, it all rests on Trevor [Lawrence]. So, I live and die by Trevor.
GLS: We talked back in February about how your team had done last season, and what I remember you saying was that you had four Jaguars players, or maybe three and the defense, and you were thinking maybe that was one too many. Did you have a different strategy when you assembled your team this year?
EM: Well, every year I've made it clear to all the other participants that if anyone takes Trevor, I'm not playing anymore. So everyone knows not to take Trevor, but I don't take the mick. When the quarterbacks start to [get picked], I take him. So I'm not waiting until round whatever. So I took Trevor, and then I took in later rounds Brenton Strange and Brian Thomas Jr. Someone took the defense actually quite early, so I couldn't get the defense. But yeah, I have those two as well. So I currently have three Jags on the roster, but I'm not starting Brian Thomas, so two in the starting team. I mean, Trevor's been pretty consistent, to be honest. Brenton Strange has been up and down, but hopefully tomorrow against Baltimore he'll have a good game. But yeah, I think the Jags route is strong, to be honest. I should have taken Parker Washington because he's been high-scoring, but someone else got there first, so what can you do? But yeah, the previous years, they've served me well. I've reached the championship the last two years and lost — like the Spirit. So I'm hoping that this year both the Spirit and my team, Never Have I Trevor, can win the championship.
GLS: You've anticipated one of the questions. When I talked to Paige, she said I should ask you for your team name. She didn't want to spoil it.
EM: My team is called Never Have I Trevor, and actually my logo — my team logo — is a screenshot from the video that Trevor sent me last year after I won the Euros, so I'm full Trevor because all my faith is behind him for both the Jags and my fantasy team.
So I'm just like, if I'm going to commit to that as my brand, I'm going all-in, you know?
GLS: I think that makes perfect sense. If an NFL player sends you specifically a video, you kind of have to roll with that.
EM: Exactly! It's like a bit of a flex. I don't know if I can [show you] where you can see it. (Morgan holds up her phone showing her Week 8 matchup, which includes a screencap of the video Lawrence sent) There's Trevor. No one else has got a special picture, so.
GLS: If that happened to me, I would do the same thing. There's no way around it.
EM: Yeah, it'd be wasteful not to use it.
GLS: This is the third edition of this series. I've talked to Paige and Kate, and they both brought you up unprompted.
EM: Oh gosh!
GLS: It was right after Kate had played you, and she said it was a close game, but she lost.
EM: Yeah.
GLS: As an outsider to this league, it feels like you might be one of the protagonists of this league. Do you feel like there's a target on your back?
EM, laughing at the concept: No, I think I'm just maybe a little bit more vocal. Maybe. At the beginning every year, I'm like, 'okay, [this is] Trevor's team,' you know, they all know that this is my brand. So I think that it's more, I've got a brand within the league, whereas everyone else is like...(Morgan grows aghast) like some people are still the default names!
GLS, 100% agreeing that this is absolutely an offense: Oh, that's...no.
EM: I think that's not acceptable. So I think the fact that I've fully got behind a specific line of thought is maybe why I've drawn a bit of attention to myself. Also, because I'm British and I take a lot of pride about the fact that in previous years I've done better than most of the Americans, and I'm not so quiet about that fact — and my intention to repeat it — then perhaps yeah, I have put a target on my back. But the pressure is something I'm hoping my team can handle.
GLS: I'm curious about that aspect of it, because Kate said that she felt an obligation to beat you, because she grew up in a country where the NFL is everywhere, and you don't come from that environment. You've been a Jags fan for a while though, so it's not like you're completely new to it. Have they made it clear to you that they have this obligation to get one over on you?
EM: Um, not so much I would say. They don't trash talk so much this way. I think they just kind of let me spout on my own. I've kind of made it a personal thing where I'm like — I project it onto them, like 'you guys should do better because you're American', but they're not coming to me and being like, 'we're gonna beat you because you're British.' I don't think they see that as a thing. It's just something I've created to make it more tasty.
GLS: I enjoy your perspective on this, because I have a similar mentality towards my league. Most of them have kids, and some of them aren't as focused on it, and this is the way I try to get them to focus.
EM: That's the thing: we can all just float through it, with no banter, but I like to bring a bit of banter and trash talk into the league, create a bit of drama, you know? So there's more rivalry and stuff. So that's my contribution, to create fake issues that aren't there (laughs).
BK: That is the role I play in my league.
GLS: I feel like every league needs one — really, more than one — person in that with that mentality.
EM: Paige is a great league admin, to be honest, because she's always reminding people. I would take the view that if people aren't sorting their team, that's their problem. They're unprepared. Whereas Paigey will be in the changing room, and she'll be like, 'Girls, make sure you change your fantasy team. There's teams playing tonight.' And so it inspires me a little bit. Like the other day, Sam (Pittman), for example, he had a few players on bye in his starting team, and I said, 'Sam, you need to fix your team, otherwise you're going to get a fine.' So to be honest, she's inspiring me to be drop my competitive nature a little bit and be more inclusive.
GLS: Sam maybe owes you a coffee for saving him from a fine that would have been about the price of a coffee going to Paige. Is is that correct?
EM: Yeah, I mean, yeah, in this economy, yeah.
GLS: On the weekend I'll let him know that at least in my opinion he owes you one.
EM: Yeah, he's fine. He can get a pass.
GLS: That's very magnanimous. I've heard about the fines. Both from how you're talking about it, and how Paige and Kate both mentioned that you're going to max out your team's potential, I really doubt it, but: have you been fined?
EM, firmly: No, I have not been fined. I haven't had any players out or on bye that I've not been aware of. I kind of check it over the weekend as the scores are coming in, and then I'll have a look if there's anyone I can pick up off waivers, and then check right before there's going to be games to make sure that I've got all the [spots filled]. Mostly, I go with the highest projected [points], but then sometimes you just get a little gut feeling, and I'm like, 'no, threw them in there.' Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
GLS: In speaking with Kate, she laid out a scenario where Kaylie Collins had made an argument that her decision to leave a player on bye in was strategic. It wasn't just that she missed the deadline, it was with a purpose. Paige was apparently unmoved by the appeal. I'm wondering how much would you lobby if for example, you said 'I'm going to win this game regardless, and I don't want to make any cuts for the long term, so I'm not going to make the change.' Would you just accept the fine and move on, or would you try to lobby Paige to not fine you?
EM: I actually wasn't aware of this predicament, but I kind of get Kaylie's thinking. You don't want to give up a player that could contribute later down the line. So, a $5 fine, I would take the fine, I think, because yeah, you don't want to lose someone who can contribute later. Because that actually happen to me! I should have just taken the fine. This is making me think about that.
BK: How deep's your bench?
EM: I've got some players who contribute. My team's very inconsistent, to be honest, Ben. We have seven, and then injured reserve. But yeah, a couple of weeks ago, I dropped someone and then Woj picked them up, and I've been hoping to get them back again. But yeah, that doesn't happen. We've got a lot of snipers in the waiver wire these days. In previous years, not so much. There haven't been waiver snipers, but now there are. So you've got to be careful. So, I'm on Kaylee's side for this one, I take the fine and keep the player.
GLS: Do you think you could successfully lobby Paige to waive the fine?
EM: No. Oh, no. Paigey is pretty dead-set on the rules. I would try to negotiate, and she would just laugh at me and be like, 'Shut up, Es.' Which happens in a lot of things, I'll go off on little rants to Paige, and she's such a level head. She's just like, 'I think you're being a bit ridiculous, Es.' And I'm like, 'Do you know what? You're right, Paigey.' So yeah, she's a great league leader, honestly. Keeps everyone in check.
GLS: You mentioned that you've been to the final two years in a row.
EM: I have.
GLS: Who were the people that beat you in the final?
EM: The first year was Jenna Butler, who was on a short-term contract. She had a great team actually, but we all did that year because there were only eight of us, so then everyone had great players. This year we have I think 14, so it takes a little bit more thought. But last year Kaylie beat me in the final. I was actually devastated because I was leading after the first leg, and then she pulled it back in the second leg, and it was because of something stupid, like the team rotated someone because it was the last week or something of the season, and I was fuming. I was fuming.
[ed. note: I believe the first leg/second leg talk relates to how the NFL has Saturday and Sunday games in the final week of the season, but I want to allow for the remote possibility that the Spirit league has a two-legged final because I like the idea]
GLS: This happened in my league way back when, there were two teams that had clinched the top seed and both of them rested their big stars, and my opponent and I had multiple key players suddenly out. It turned into a waiver wire final, it was a farce [ed. note: Jason won the farce final]. So we stopped going to the final week of the season.
BK: Most leagues don't go to the final week.
EM: Well exactly, that's what happened.
BK: Was it Week 18?
EM: I can't remember. I don't remember to be honest. Someone got rested, something happened where I was like, 'That's unbelievable! I've been stitched up.'
GLS: Let's talk about better times. You mentioned the Jags on your team. Who are your other key players?
EM, listing all of this off without so much as a glance at her team: JSN is my big point scorer. Heavy reliance on him, to be honest. If he has a bad week, we're struggling. Chris Olave also scores a lot. My running backs are my weak point, to be honest. I've got [Quinshon] Judkins and Aaron Jones, and they're very hit-or-miss. Also, is it Omarion Hampton at the Chargers? He's very hit-or-miss. So yeah, to be honest, in and out with the running backs, but my two starting wide receivers are very reliable.
GLS: I have JSN. I'm riding this wave.
EM: King. I did see a tweet actually, the other day. Jamar Chase said teams should double team him or something, and I was like shush! No thank you.
GLS: I noticed you were just listing your players off without looking. I didn't see that with Paige or Kate. That knowledge of your team, maybe that's part of your success.
EM: Well, I was looking just before I came, so maybe it's fresh in the mind, to be fair. But they also were [doing the interview] early in the season. Like now, Paige knows her team really well. There's a lot of trades going on, actually, in the league. Paige is a real good advisor. Some of the girls will go to Paige and be like, 'I need this position.' She'll be 'okay, so maybe you want to give up this one, but don't give up that player.' She was advising Maddie [Haugen] yesterday, because Maddie was trying to bring in, I think, a tight end and a wide receiver, and then was sending four players in the other direction, and Paige was speaking to her about it.
GLS: Paige seems very invested in the whole league being competitive.
EM: Yes, she is. Paigey just wants everyone to be involved. Very liberal (laughs).
GLS: I think she said that last season, she even advised somebody of the players they should put in to play against her.
BK: I would never do that.
EM: Yeah, I'm too competitive. I like everyone to be involved, as I said. Helped Sam last week. But not at the expense of my own team's success, I would say. If Sam was playing me, I wouldn't have said anything.
GLS: Paige did mention that there's a staff versus players rivalry, but then immediately admitted maybe this is just something that's in her head. But then Kate did back her up, and said it's maybe unspoken, but it does matter for her as well. Is that something you feel strongly about, or are you just trying to beat everybody?
EM: I am trying to beat everyone. However, given the choice if I am not to win, I would definitely want a player to win. I'd be really disappointed if a staff member won.
GLS: Is there any staff member where you would feel less disappointed if they were to win?
EM: Let me have a look at the league (checks the league standings) Hmm...definitely don't want Mike Trinh to win. (keeps checking) No, I don't want any of them to win. I want my girls to win. Any of the girlies.
GLS: What's the biggest match of the season for you?
EM: Well, I like to play Paige, because I know that she's locked in. This is a battle of two people who've thought about what they're doing this week. So I'd say in general, Paigey, just because I know she is invested in the game.
GLS: Have you played her yet?
EM: Yes. I...think she beat me, actually. I think she was one of my two losses.
GLS: Have you had any other tough losses, or...well, you said you like to really let people know when you've succeeded. Are there big wins that you want to let the world know about?
EM: I don't remember, to be honest. It's very much like real football. Like, once the game's gone, we park it and onto the next. (laughing) I can't remember what scores I've had, to be honest.
GLS: That's the athlete mentality.
EM: Exactly.
GLS: Who are you facing this week?
EM: I have Ben Berczek, our head of operations.
GLS: I think he was 3-3 the last time I got an update.
EM: Yeah, he's now 4-4. I never think the record matters, to be honest. It feels so random.
BK: More of a points scored thing?
EM: Yeah, I'm like, what's the points prediction saying? Currently, it says I have a 54% chance to win, so we'll take it.
GLS: Is this your first experience with fantasy sports?
EM: I did fantasy football — real football — back home. My dad and his lacrosse team used to have a league, and we would do an auction in person. Everyone would get, I don't know, £50 million to spend, and then we would all be at a big barbecue, and people would bid for players. It was really fun actually. So we did that quite a few years, and one year I did the Fantasy Premier League, entered it, but then I just lost interest because my team was bad. I never really committed to it the way I have committed to this fantasy football, to be honest,
GLS: Fantasy football being head-to-head is so much better than total score. I need someone to play against.
EM: Yeah, I agree. I think it's a fun format.
GLS: You've been to NFL games here and back home. How many have you been to?
EM: Three. I've been to two Jags games in London, and then I went to a Commanders game last year. But I've not been to the Jags in the U.S. yet.
GLS: Big occasion.
EM: Yes. I'm excited. I told Paige she could borrow — Paige is going to come with me — I told her she could borrow one of my shirts.
GLS: My understanding is that she's a Patriots fan.
EM: Yeah, she did say maybe it was like bad luck or something, and I was like, 'well, it is what it is, you've got to support the Jags.' I was like 'would it make it better if you wore the one that says Morgan on the back?' and she was like, 'yeah,' so she'll be wearing my shirt, and I'll be wearing Trevor's, probably.
GLS: I guess in her head, she can be a fan of you.
EM: Exactly, I think that's the thinking.
Spirit fantasy league standings — Week 8
- Sara Wojdelko (7-1)
- Pat Lyle (6-2)
- Esme Morgan (6-2)
- Adam Donaldson (6-2)
- Kaylie Collins (5-3)
- Madison Haugen (4-4)
- Mike Trinh (4-4)
- Ben Berczek (4-4)
- Gabby Carle (3-5)
- Kate Wiesner (3-5)
- Paige Metayer (2-6)
- Sam Warrington (2-6)
- Sam Pittman (2-6)
- Jordan Small (2-6)
Comments ()