Welcome to the “Dad Moves” article. I feel an introduction is in order for those who don’t already read the article. I’m The Fantasy Football Dad, yes that is my birth name (it’s not). Dad Moves is your one-stop shop for Dad talk and fantasy football advice. If you’re a busy Dad and don’t have time for all that deep analysis Dad Moves is your casual fantasy escape.

Seeing as it’s February I’ll be leaning heavier on the Dad side of things. In April we will be diving headfirst into the NFL Draft. I hope you enjoy the article as much as I enjoy writing it.

Youth Football

When Is the Right Time to Sign Your Kid Up?

I have four sons. My oldest son has been playing football since third grade. He’s a sophomore now and plays cornerback for his high school team. He’s obsessed with it. I can’t get him to take out the trash or empty the dishwasher most of the time but if I  look out my window at 5:30 AM I’ll see him running football drills in the dark. He trains at it like it’s his full-time job. Speaking of a job, I wish he would get one, but anyways.

For the past seven years playing football has been a commitment not only for my son but for my wife and me as well. This summer my twin eight-year-old boys are eligible to play tackle for the first time and lately, I’ve been coming across more parents than ever hesitant to sign their kids up. I can’t say it enough recently so let me write it in Dad Moves’ stone. If you know your kid is going to play football at some point please let your child play at the earliest level!

The early years are when they learn how to properly tackle and take hits. Granted it’s impossible to make football injury-proof. My oldest son broke his forearm three times when he was younger playing flag football. That kid just kept landing hand first. I swear his forearm was just made floppy like in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets when Professor Lockhart misused a spell to make Harry’s arm floppy and boneless. I’m showing my geek hand strong here, so I digress.

I have no issue with flag football. Parents run right out when their kids are as little as four years old to sign them up… I’m one of them. However, in my experience, I have seen more easily prevented injuries occur in youth flag football than in youth tackle football. Flag is the “safe” alternative to tackle. While it is a lot of fun, it doesn’t teach the safety, discipline, or general knowledge of the sport like tackle. If your kid wants to play, and you want your kid to play… plug them in on day one. Trust me it’s a slow first season for the kids. The pace of play can be about as fun as reading “The Great Gatsby” (I know a lot of people love the book, but give me the Leo movie for the soundtrack alone 10 out of 10 times).

If your kid truly loves the sport you’ll find out in year one. Allow them the most training they can get to learn the game at ground zero and protect themselves from future injury. In my experience, it’s the kids that sign up a few years later that are hurting themselves or someone else. OK, done, Dad lecture over… for now.

Let’s Talk Some Fantasy Football!

Aaron Rodgers’ Quest for Solitude and Drama

My thoughts on the Aaron Rodgers “Darkness Retreat” and the fantasy impact for the Packers. If you have followed Dad Moves then you know I have never thought Rodgers is washed. I said he was a little off to start the year and dealing with a mostly young offense. I think Rodgers is one of those players who if healthy can play into his 40s.

However, I am totally spent on the drama of the Aaron Rodgers off-season. I mean I just went away to York, Maine with the family for a weekend, did I call it “The Fantasy Dad’s Coastal Break”? Nope, I didn’t. This week I was on a pod and we got talking about the “Darkness Retreat”. I think it may have been the quietest I had ever been on a podcast. I’m just so tired of giving Aaron Rodgers the off-season attention he so desperately desires. Yes, I get the irony of my last sentence and the fact that I’m going on about it.

Fantasy Football Implications

Let’s discuss the fantasy impact with the Packers. I believe, after all the publicity stunts, Aaron will come back to Green Bay. I’m hoping he shows up as Nick Cage’s version of Castor Troy from Face Off. If he does show up  I expect the Packers to be what they were last season. I do expect  Christian Watson to take a big year two step forward. AJ Dillon should pick up where he left off to close the season and be the stud we thought he would be going into 2022. If Rodgers leaves I’m excited to see what they have in Jordan Love. We have not seen enough of Love in the NFL to pass any judgment. Anyone who says different is just speaking solely on a guess.

Everyone knows I bleed Lions Blue, but I tend to trust Green Bay’s track record with drafting and developing QBs. For this reason and fantasy reason, I would love to see Rodgers take his show to the Jets, but until it happens I firmly believe he stays in Green Bay.

I hope you enjoyed Dad Moves. Next week we will be deep diving into second-year wide receivers. Make sure to subscribe at Belly Up Sports and Belly Up Fantasy Sports to receive articles and content. If you don’t as always I won’t be mad, but I’ll be disappointed. Give me a follow on Twitter @TFFDad