Richard Sherman is entering a new season with a new NFL team in 2018. With it, the All-Pro and Super Bowl-winning cornerback has also become the league’s newest fantasy football mogul.
Sherman, now with the 49ers, is the co-founder and brand ambassador for the just-launched daily fantasy gaming app called Daily Number. He talked to Sporting News about why he chose DFS for his first foray into fantasy football, what he thought about fellow corner Jalen Ramsey’s recent trash-talking turn and how the offense in San Francisco is looking with Jimmy Garoppolo.
SN: Why was it the right time to finally dive into fantasy football for you?
Sherman: It’s such a growing industry, and it’s not going anywhere. It’s already had such a profound impact on our league in how it’s managed and how it’s officiated. This version of fantasy football is unique in that you’re not actually playing against players — you’re playing toward a target score.
You can pick whoever you want. It’s simple, it’s easy, it’s quick. You can grab the guys you know, your favorite players or the unknown undrafted guy you know who’s going to have a big season. Depending on whom you pick, it really influences the variables about how big or small the prize that you can get. I was really intrigued by that platform, that version.
This is an entirely different way to think about fantasy sports.
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SN: How much did the number-crunching aspect of it appeal to you as one of the smartest players in the league?
Sherman: I really like that it takes some skills. A lot of times in fantasy sports, it’s kind of luck of the draw. With this, in order to win the really big prizes, you have to take some flyers on guys. If you can find those diamonds in the rough, It will lead to some good times.
Sneak peek at Daily Number, the new DFS site co-founded by Richard Sherman, which launches today. A unique non salary-cap game. pic.twitter.com/bqfmyguyCe
— SN's Vinnie Iyer (@vinnieiyer) August 23, 2018
SN: How much fun was it to poke fun at your trash-talking self in your promotional spot for Daily Number?
Sherman: We kind of took a look my multiple personalities, on and off the field. It’s pretty hilarious. It’s ridiculous, actually.
SN: You have been the king of trash-talking corners. Many have said Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey is "the next you" when it comes to that. What did you think of his recent comments about all those NFL quarterbacks?
Sherman: He’s just speaking his mind. I can’t say anyone is "the next me" or "the next anybody." He’s his own man and doing it his way, speaking his truth. That’s what he believes and is willing to say.
And until someone proves otherwise, you can't say he's wrong.
SN: What is a cornerback’s DNA that makes swagger such a big part of your play?
Sherman: You have to go out there and play arguably against a team's best athlete every single play. You can play 60 plays and if you let him catch only one pass, you’ll be highly scrutinized. You have to come in with a certain degree of confidence. You have to go out there every single play with that in mind.
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SN: You now need to have the NFL's new helmet rule in mind when you go out there. Could it end up being fair to both offensive and defensive players?
Sherman: Everything is more favorable to the offense. That’s the way this game has been designed over the past 10, 15 years. It’s just more ways to manipulate the game to allow the offense to score more points.
It’s unfortunate because it puts the defense at such a disadvantage, but what are you gonna do? You still have to go out there to do your best, do your job. Even with all the rules against you, when you’re out there and being able to do your thing, it’s no better feeling.
SN: One guy you won’t have try to catch and cover this season is your teammate, Marquise Goodwin. From the other side, what’s it been like seeing him evolve into such a complete No. 1 wide receiver?
Sherman: He’s worked really hard at his craft and come back in incredible shape. He's really come out here and had one of the best training camps I’ve seen any receiver have, and I have been around some pretty good ones. He is just taking over that role as a leader in that room and working hard with Jimmy G.
Everyone is seeing the fruits of his labor. I look forward to him impressing a lot of people in the regular season.
SN: How do you describe the connection and chemistry Jimmy has with Marquise now that you’ve seen it first-hand?
Sherman: Jimmy has gotten more comfortable in (coach Kyle Shanahan’s) system and understanding what’s been asked of him, the spots on the field he needs to get the ball to. With Marquise’s speed and how quickly he gets down the field, Jimmy’s had to brush up his mechanics more so that he can hit him in stride. Because if he takes a normal drop and reads it like he normally does, then by the time he lets the ball go, there are not many quarterbacks who can hit a guy who’s already 50 yards down the field on the rush, so Jimmy has had to figure that out.
Right now, they’re (a) finely tuned machine. I look forward to them winning us a lot of ballgames.
SN: With you joining a secondary full of talented young players, how improved do you think the 49ers’ pass defense can be in 2018?
Sherman: If I'm in fantasy, I wouldn't play guys against us, but I understand I’m biased. I also know who Adrian Colbert is, who Jacquiski Tartt is, who Ahkello Witherspoon is and who K’Waun Williams is. These guys are really underrated to most of the world. Not a lot of people outside of San Francisco know who they are.
Just like with Marquise, they’ll be in for a pleasant surprise.
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SN: What’s it been like being the leader of a new group trying to reach that same success you enjoyed in Seattle?
Sherman: It feels good. It feels much the same. I’m a ballplayer, so I look forward to going out there and playing at a high level and letting the chips fall where they may. That’s all I really concern myself with anytime I step on the field.
Here it just gives me a new opportunity, a kind of refresher — new faces, new team, new stadium — but with the scheme being the same. I look forward to the challenge.
