It’s fantasy football time! And here’s a little story…

I used to LOVE fantasy football. I ran the league, did the research, made the trades…the whole thing. But I didn't love the person I became every fall. At some point, I realized I couldn't be flipping a coffee table over a fumble.

What I do miss is the thrill of finding a diamond in the rough before everyone else. Is there any better feeling than calling a breakout before it happens and looking like a genius?

For me, no one embodied that feeling more than Peyton Hillis. His magical 2010 season won fantasy championships, earned him a fan-voted Madden cover, and turned an unlikely running back into a legend.

This week, Mike Wright of the Fantasy Footballers joins me to remember fantasy football's greatest surprise heroes, the players you swore lifelong allegiance to after one magical season, and preview the first round of the 2026 fantasy draft with a mock Round 1.

Welcome to Episode 005 of REAL DEAL. I'm Tony Reali, and I'm so happy you're here

For more from Mike Wright and the Fantasy Footballers:

• The Fantasy Footballers Podcast - TheFantasyFootballers.com
• 2026 Ultimate Draft Kit - UltimateDraftKit.com

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