Podcasts are a popular way for sports enthusiasts to stay up-to-date with their favorite teams. With many options to choose from, deciding which ones are worth listening to is a challenging task. We take the hard work out of the equation by listing some of the best sports podcasts currently available.
- Best for Ice Hockey Fans: 31 Thoughts
A Sportsnet Canada property, the 31 Thoughts podcast is highly entertaining and a great resource for hockey fanatics. Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman provide excellent insight into everything taking place on the ice and in the dressing room.
- Best NFL Podcast: Around the NFL
The signature podcast from the NFL.com catalog, Around the NFL gets you caught up on recent games and does a solid job of previewing upcoming matchups from the entire league. ATN is hosted by a crew of football scribes that mesh well together, creating an enjoyable dynamic.
- Best Podcast for Baseball Fans: Baseball Tonight
Hosted by longtime columnist and TV reporter Buster Olney, Baseball Tonight regularly features other ESPN personalities, along with beat reporters from various cities.
With frequently-released episodes (sometimes more than once per day during the in-season) covering the latest happenings around the game, as well as the occasional outside-the-box deep dive on an interesting topic, Baseball Tonight is a worthwhile listen for casual and serious baseball fans alike.
- Best for MLB Trades and Call-Ups: DFA Podcast
Even the most successful big-league teams seem to have a revolving door policy in their clubhouses at times, as shown by the always-busy MLB transaction wire. This holds especially true in the summer months leading up to the non-waiver and waiver trade deadlines in July and August.
Baseball Prospectus writer Bryan Grosnick and R.J. Anderson from CBS Sports breaks down every call-up, trade, or event on the DFA Podcast, analyzing what these mean for the clubs and players involved.
- Best for Baseball Analytics and Emerging Trends: Effectively Wild
Brought to you by Fangraphs, Effectively Wild is a well-rounded baseball podcast. It has an expected slant toward advanced analytics and growing trends in how the game is managed both on the field and in the front office.
Hosts Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan do a good job of keeping things interesting, mixing a bevy of topics in each episode alongside the occasional industry insider guest.
- Best Behind-the-Scenes Look at MLB Front Offices: Executive Access
A baseball podcast with a different spin, MLB.com’s Executive Access gives its listeners more than a glimpse into the front-office folks responsible for constructing their favorite club’s roster. Former longtime Yankees beat writer Mark Feinsand interviews general managers, team presidents, and other key decision-makers for a behind-the-scenes perspective that fans don’t often see or hear.
- Best for Fantasy Football: Fantasy Focus Football
Fantasy Focus Football stands out among a sea of options for those virtual GMs watching their players in action from a bar stool or recliner. Hosted by ESPN fantasy gurus Matthew Berry and Field Yates, alongside reputable injury analyst Stephania Bell, the show breaks down the draft and waiver wire strategies, as well as the coming week’s matchups.
This podcast provides an edge in today’s ultra-competitive fantasy football landscape. It’s one of the main reasons it consistently ranks near the top of the iTunes podcast rankings throughout the season.
