Fantasy Focus Football – “Panic or Patience: When to Bench, Drop, or Stay the Course?”

Release Date: September 17, 2025
Hosts: Field Yates, Mike Clay, Daniel Dopp
Description: The crew dives into which underperforming or struggling fantasy players are causing panic, deserve patience, or merit a benching/drop. Injury updates, rankings reflections, and player debates lead to actionable advice for Week 3 fantasy managers.

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on analyzing player performances through two weeks of the NFL season and separating legitimate panic from the need for patience. The hosts go in-depth on several high-profile and buzzy fantasy players, using recent stats, injury data, and depth chart observations to advise who should be trusted, stashed, or dropped. Segments are split between “players who make Field nervous,” Mike’s “guys he wants to talk about,” and Daniel’s “Panic or Patience” scale. The conversation is lively, good-natured, and filled with debates, subtle jabs, and fantasy wisdom.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Paying Off Last Week’s Bets & Punishments (Starts ~04:00)

• The hosts recap the outcomes of fantasy lineup challenges and start-of-the-week picks.
• Mike “loses” and must wear a PLL Connor Field lacrosse jersey as a punishment (04:51).

“Truthfully, Mike, this does not feel like a punishment, but rather a reward. So enjoy it because I’m going to get more cruel going forward.” – Field Yates [03:11]

• Daniel spins the punishment wheel live and lands on “wear a wig” for next week (06:06).

2. Players Field Is Nervous About (07:15 onward)

A. Minnesota Vikings – Justin Jefferson & T.J. Hockenson

• The offense is uninspiring, with JJ McCarthy not yet clicking at QB.
• Jefferson still has top 10 WR value but has not returned his first-round ADP so far, with only 7 catches through two games.
• Hockenson's target share is concerning, and there’s uncertainty post-knee injury. He’s a fringe TE1 mostly due to the poor state of the position.

“If this Vikings offense does not improve in a hurry, then Justin Jefferson will prove to be a losing pick in the first round… banking on 17 weeks of elite value and you’ve already missed out on two.” – Field Yates [08:06]

• Mike Clay: “Still fringe tight end one, same as you… but it’s going to take the target share going up, and probably a QB change.” [09:53]

B. RB Jordan Mason (Vikings)

• With Ty Chandler out and Mason the expected workhorse, expectations are tempered by a struggling offense. Mike expects he “might play 80% of snaps” but the passing game limitations cap his ceiling (13:15).

C. Ravens TE Mark Andrews

• Mark Andrews, a fantasy staple, now has just one catch in each of his first two games. “Sad. Despondent… Lamar Jackson has been red hot… and Mark Andrews is a ghost.” [13:36]
• Isaiah Likely returning could eat further into whatever small usage remains.

“Certainly can’t start Mark Andrews unless you’re playing in a 20-team league. And even then it might be a stretch.” – Field Yates [14:13]

D. Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr.

• Chemistry issues with Trevor Lawrence and a lackluster offense have dropped him outside Field’s Top 10 WRs into WR15 range. “He’s no longer this guy who has a real shot to win you your week.” [19:26]
• Mike notes difficult shadow coverage upcoming (Derek Stingley Jr.)—not a bounce-back week on the horizon.

E. Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

• Field questions: “Is Marvin Harrison Jr. the next Kyle Pitts?” (23:16)
• Hype and draft capital not translating to immediate elite usage—he’s producing like a Waddle, DeVonta Smith, or Pickens, not a true WR1.
• Mike brings optimism: the Cardinals have been game-script adjusted 4th heaviest in pass rate but haven’t needed to throw much (they’re leading most snaps). As the team faces better opponents, “the five and six targets are going to turn to seven and eight” [25:26].

F. Raiders RB Ashton Gentry

• Huge volume in week one masked usage issues; was on the field for only 56% of snaps last game, losing passing-down work to Zamir White. Poor OL play is a big part of the problem, but Gentry “is averaging 0.6 yards per catch… people, let me reiterate: negative 0.23 yards per rush before contact.” [29:38]

“If you’re going to draft the running back 6th overall… he better have the skill set to play more than 56% of the snaps.” – Field Yates [27:40]

3. Notable Segment: “Guys Mike Wants to Talk About” (35:40 onward)

A. Caleb Williams (Bears)

• “I can’t wait for this Bears – Cowboys game… both defenses can’t stop anyone.” – Mike [36:02]
• Williams is a Week 3 streaming start; top 7 for all hosts, thanks to consistent passing and surprising rushing upside.

B. Jerry Jeudy (Broncos)

• “If you can find a way to get him on your bench this week, you do it.” – Mike [38:39]
• Facing a stingy Packers secondary; Jeudy is outside the Top 30 receivers for the second straight week.

C. Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III

• Mike is more nervous than consensus—Week 2 saw drop-offs in snaps, routes, and targets, despite looking better on the ground.

“You need volume. You can’t just rely on playing a handful of snaps and have elite efficiency. It might be good for Seattle. It’s not good for fantasy football.” – Mike Clay [40:48]

D. Chargers RB Omariyon Hampton

• Snap share dropped from 81% to 62%. Volume still there, but efficiency poor, and split with Najee Harris increasing.

E. Colts WR Keon Coleman

• Massive swing in usage; down to 49% of snaps and 12% target share last week due to heavy rotation and tough matchups.
• But Miami's weak defense in Week 3 provides rebound potential. “One of the widest range of outcomes players right now—he could be WR5 or WR70.” – Mike [46:52]

4. Daniel’s “Panic or Patience” (47:39 onward)

Each player is rated on a panic scale (1 = no panic/patience; 10 = full panic):

Isaiah Pacheco (Chiefs RB)

• Full panic (10/10): “Can’t even beat out Kareem Hunt right now… committee… he is doubly cooked.” – Daniel [49:23]
• Hosts in consensus; he’s a bench/waiver candidate.

Ladd McConkey (Chargers WR)

• Mild panic (3/10, patience): Limited ceiling due to offensive changes; still a top-25ish WR, but behind Keenan Allen and Quinton Johnston in scoring.

Travion Henderson (Patriots RB)

• Frustrated, but still patient: Ramondre Stevenson is blocking him, but the expectation is the rookie will become RB1 as the season goes on.

A.J. Brown (Eagles WR)

• No panic (1/10): Frustrating usage (just 50 total yards so far), but “all the patience in the world.” The Eagles haven’t had to pass; “devil you dance with” when drafting a WR on a run-heavy team.
• Mike Clay: “They have zero passing touchdowns so far. That’s going to level itself out. We've seen this before.” [59:36]

Evan Engram (Broncos TE)

• Major panic: “Should be on benches, possibly droppable… what a major disappointment.” [61:15]
• Adam Troutman and other pass-catchers have usurped a lot of usage, leaving Engram unstartable.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Justin Jefferson:
  “If this Vikings offense does not improve in a hurry, then Justin Jefferson will prove to be a losing pick in the first round.” – Field Yates [08:06]

• On Mark Andrews:
  “Lamar Jackson has been red hot through two weeks… and Mark Andrews is a ghost.” – Field Yates [13:36]

• On Isaiah Pacheco:
  “Can’t even beat out Kareem Hunt right now… if he can’t beat out Kareem Hunt, who is cooked himself, then Isaiah is doubly cooked.” – Daniel Dopp [49:23]

• On Dynasty Leagues:
  “Everyone should play in a dynasty league is what we’re saying here. It just changes the way you look at things.” – Daniel Dopp [55:16]

Important Timestamps

• Punishments and lineup recaps: 04:00–06:19
• Field’s “Nervous” Players: 07:15–30:27
• Quick Board Bet Results: 30:27–33:41
• Mike’s Player Spotlights: 35:40–47:21
• Daniel – Panic or Patience?: 47:39–65:06

Final Recap

Most-discussed Panic Players:

• Mark Andrews, Isaiah Pacheco, Evan Engram

Patience Candidates:

• Ladd McConkey, Travion Henderson, Keon Coleman (possible rebounder)

General Advice:

• Don’t overreact to stars with poor starts (e.g., A.J. Brown, Justin Jefferson), but for TEs and low-upside RB committees, it’s okay to cut bait quickly.
• Monitor usage trends for snap-share declines or changing depth charts.
• Dynasty leaguers should always have their trades ready and capitalize on market swings.

Episode Tone & Style

Throughout, the hosts keep things lively and self-deprecating, balancing friendly ribbing with actionable advice. They frequently cite ranking thresholds, emphasize context, and reinforce that early season results are not destiny—except, perhaps, at tight end.

End of Summary