With many options to choose from, deciding which ones are worth listening to is a challenging task.
Occasional deep dives on interesting topics.
Sometimes, the audio quality is distractingly poor.
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Shorter episodes might disappoint some listeners looking for in-depth talks.
Great camaraderie among the hosts.
Offers advanced analytics and growing trends in how the game is managed on and off the field.
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Advanced metrics could be explained a bit more.
Some episodes can be quite long.
Brought to you by Fangraphs, Effectively Wild is a well-rounded baseball podcast.
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Nice banter between the hosts.
Humor isn’t prevalent, although this could be a pro if you only want the facts.
Has become more interview heavy, which may turn off some listeners.
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A Sportsnet Canada property, the 32 Thoughts podcast is highly entertaining and a great resource for hockey fanatics.
Great chemistry and humor.
Features sports and entertainment celebrities.
The Rich Eisen Show (via Twitter)
Can occasionally seem Boston-heavy.
Known for establishing Grantland and The Ringer, Simmons is a force in the sports podcast world.
This podcast often has an impressive guest list, including many prominent athletes.
ESPN
Best NFL Podcast: NFL Daily
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Showcases personalities.
Offers more than the average, mundane rundown of the games.
Previews all matchups from around the league.
Men in Blazers
Hosts go off-topic frequently during some episodes.
Loud sound bites and background music overwhelm the conversation at times.
ATN is hosted by a crew of football scribes that mesh well together, creating an enjoyable dynamic.
Mixes analysis with pop culture, humor, and interviews.
It’s technically not a podcast.
Dominated by football content.
Schefter knows when to get out of the way and let his guests talk.
Episodes aren’t released frequently enough during the season.
The audio quality of recent episodes has suffered.
Best for Fantasy Football: Fantasy Focus Football
Frequent episodes ensure you aren’t digesting stale information.
Daily strategy, previews, and injury reports from ESPN experts.
The show’s structure seems geared towards novice fantasy owners, which can test the patience of advanced players.
This podcast provides an edge in today’s ultra-competitive fantasy football landscape.
Best for Soccer Fans: Men in Blazers
Men in Blazers
Fun hosts.
A deep-rooted interest in growing the game in the United States.
Entertaining for soccer newbies.
Some popular leagues don’t get attention.
Some longtime jokes will fly over newcomers' heads.
FAQ
Don’t be intimidated by the term podcast.
It’s a simple portmanteau of iPod and broadcast and the podcast itself is just an audio file.
We cover how this works in ourHow to Listen to Podcastsarticle.
The ones listed above have no cost associated with them.
