Fantasy Focus Football — "COSTLY MISTAKES That Will KILL Your Playoff Chances!"

ESPN | Field Yates, Stephania Bell, Mike Clay, Daniel Dopp
Date: December 4, 2025

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Liz Loza and producer David (with guest appearances by Scott Fish and some lively listener contributions) break down the emotional rollercoaster facing fantasy football managers heading into the playoff stretch. The episode hones in on frustration, hope, and the costly mistakes that jeopardize playoff chances, blending listener "crash outs" (fantasy meltdowns), expert insights, and a fun interview with Scott Fish about charity in fantasy football. While the ESPN crew isn’t at the foreground, the energy channels the heart of Fantasy Focus: strategic advice, relatable fixes, and community vibes — all as Week 14 looms large.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Playoff Pressure and Lineup Headaches

[00:42 – 01:47]

• Week 14 is framed as the ultimate test, with listeners split into playoff-bound, hopefuls, and the spoilers.
• David's pressure-coping strategy:
  • Early lineup setting, avoiding last-minute tinkering.
  • Chilling with some cold ones and a pep talk.
  • “I try not to tinker with my lineup last minute... I’m just hoping for the best.” (David, 01:16)

Listener “Crash Outs”: Catharsis & Commiseration

[02:21 – 08:44]

• Listeners submit voicemails and messages about soul-crushing fantasy moments:
  • Lamar Jackson Frustration:
    • A listener vents: "Lamar Jackson is now droppable. I don't care what anybody says. Dude's a bum." (Jackson, 02:48)
    • Liz pushes back, noting the athleticism but admitting to legit concerns about his recent production and health.
    • “I am not confident at this point that there is going to be a bounce back… he is the ESPN consensus QB11 heading into week 14.” (Liz, 03:06)
  • Amon-Ra St. Brown Injury/Bust Week:
    • “St. Brown killed me in two leagues. OMG.” (AO44, 05:13)
    • Liz: “Variance is part of what makes this little hobby of ours thrilling… He’s been wildly consistent… but it’s also part of what makes everything so exciting.” (Liz, 05:35)
    • Tangents into debate about condiments (“mayo is disgusting. Ketchup is awesome. Ranch is better than all of them. Next.” (Liz, 06:20))
  • First-Time Fantasy Manager Meltdown:
    • Listener rookie: “I hate it. I’m stressed. I don’t want it to end. My bench loves to show off.” (Melena Celiani, 07:07)
    • Welcomed to “the healthiest, most toxic relationship you will ever be in” — embracing the agony and addiction of fantasy.

Week 14 “Delicious or Impressive” — Positive Spins on Key Players

[10:05 – 15:13]

• Joe Burrow’s Return:
  • “Props to anybody who actually started Burrow who was without T. Higgins… Bengals are 3–0 when Burrow is starting… he is the ESPN consensus ranked QB6 for the week.” (Liz, 10:15–11:40)
  • Week 14 presents a tough matchup, but better times ahead with a strong schedule.
• Terry McLaurin Resurgence:
  • “McLaurin showed up to cook the haters… 22 fantasy points and finally found the end zone… Talent is always the tiebreaker and McLaurin has tons of it.” (Liz, 12:16–13:38)
  • Temper expectations versus Minnesota but keep confidence in him.
• Darren Waller’s Versatility:
  • “He led the team in receiving yards… one fewer end zone target than Jalen Waddle on the entire season despite missing seven games.” (Liz, 13:58)
  • A fine streaming TE in Week 14 for TD-hungry managers.

Opening Up for “Fantasy Therapy” & Victory Laps

[15:13 – 17:49]

• Listener Alex shares a “cash out” — locking up the one-seed despite benching points, serving as a positive counterpoint to earlier woes.
  • “I still sweated out a two and a half point win and locked up the one seed.” (Alex, 15:49)
• Liz turns therapist, asking about holding/letting go of Ricky Pearsall (49ers WR):
  • Alex: “You let Ricky Pearsall walk… just too much risk. Pearsall should be dropped.” (Alex, 17:19)
  • Liz congratulates him for well-reasoned, rational advice — the ideal “fantasy therapy” outcome.

Special Interview: Scott Fish (Scott Fishbowl & Fantasy Cares)

[18:12 – 31:50]

• Origins of Scott Fishbowl:

  • Created to blend experts and fans, originally a giant 96-team league: “Each year we just kept growing… At a certain point we added a charitable element.” (Scott, 19:01)

• Fantasy Cares Charity:

  • Scott’s heart attack inspired a drive to do more — now a national Toys for Tots partner, with impactful toy shopping trips, and charitable campaigns.
  • “If you’re out there and you’re playing fantasy football, take one entry fee, give it to charity. You could do a ton of good with it.” (Scott, 20:58)
  • Liz shares a touching toy-shopping experience — “the best kind of chaos you can experience… there was zero whining… It’s because Fantasy Cares was created in such an organic, honest way...” (Liz, 22:27)

• Diabolical Scoring & Fantasy Philosophy:

  • Scott tweaks rules every year to keep things fresh — even “sabotage droppings” of stars like Justin Jefferson for playoff games.
  • “I made that a thing… it creates interest in what the league is doing, and then they realize, oh, this is why the league exists.” (Scott, 25:13)

• Playoff Sits & Starts:

  • Scott’s playoff “hate”: “I just don’t want any part of Justin Herbert on Monday night. There’s just too many question marks for me.” (Scott, 26:32)
  • Playoff “like”: “I might go RJ Harvey… 14 touches on that half snap count last week.” (Scott, 27:23)

• Rapid-Fire “Fact or Feeling” Game:

  • Fact: Justin Jefferson “might be” the bust of the season.
  • Feeling: “Pop” vs. “soda”… hot Minnesota regional takes (“Duck, Duck, Gray Duck comes from Anka… it’s a Scandinavian game... Minnesota we call it duck, duck, gray duck. The other 49 states… duck, duck, goose. No, thanks.” (Scott, 29:48))
  • J.J. McCarthy as Vikings starter: “I think that’s feeling… they’ll dig in because… they’re going to have other parts to blame and they’re going to keep trying next year…” (Scott, 30:28)

• How to Get Involved:

  • scottfish24 (social) | fantasycares.org for campaigns and donations | scottfishbowl.com for next season sign-ups.

Episode Sign-Offs & Memorable Quotes

• “Today we learned that Brits cannot properly pronounce Joe Burrow’s name, that Scott Fish has some big feelings about gray duck facts, and that win or lose, fantasy morsels are meant to be savored.” (Liz, 32:02)
• “Until next time, may your facts be solid, your feelings be right, and your bust be someone else’s problem.” (Liz, 32:53)

Notable Quotes by Timestamp

• On Lamar Jackson’s down weeks:
  • “There was no excuse, frankly to manage single digit fantasy point total in a gettable matchup against the Bengals at home, no less.” (Liz, 03:06)
• On the agony and allure of fantasy football for first-timers:
  • “It is the healthiest, most toxic relationship you will ever be in.” (Liz, 07:32)
• On Scott Fishbowl’s charity mission:
  • “If everyone did that, we could do a ton of good… we’ve just grown this Fantasy Cares idea into a full blown charity that uses fantasy sports to inspire people to do good with the hobby of ours.” (Scott, 21:09)
• On regional rivalries:
  • “Duck, Duck, Gray Duck comes from Anka. It’s a Scandinavian game… The other 49 states, apparently, you know, all say duck, duck, goose. No, thanks. I will not be diplomatic on that.” (Scott, 29:48)

Timestamps for Key Sections

• Playoff Pressure & Listener Crashouts: 00:42–08:44
• Delicious/Impressive Players: 10:05–15:13
• Fantasy Therapy (Victory Laps): 15:13–17:49
• Scott Fish Interview & Charity Focus: 18:12–31:50
• Fact or Feeling Game: 27:54–31:06
• Closing Reflection: 32:02–32:53

Tone and Style

This episode is equal parts heart, humor, and strategy. Liz Loza’s vibrant, slightly mischievous tone keeps things bouncy and personal, while guest Scott Fish supplies warmth, charity, and sharp fantasy insight. Listeners are drawn in by real stories, cathartic rants, and actionable advice — all in a brisk, friendly, and community-driven atmosphere.

Summary Takeaways

• Trust your gut but avoid panic moves, especially in the playoffs.
• Bad beats & variance are part of the joy and agony of fantasy football.
• Celebrate small victories and seek community solidarity (via therapy and “cash out” stories).
• Give back where you can; the fantasy community shines brightest in charity, as shown by Scott Fish and Fantasy Cares.
• Don’t be afraid to bench struggling stars (yes, even Lamar, even Herbert, per Scott) and ride the hot hands.
• Fantasy football is a delicious, often toxic, but always entertaining companion — don’t forget to savor every morsel, win or lose.