Fantasy Focus Football – Detailed Summary

Episode: The Best Wide Receiver Starts for Week 2!
Date: September 11, 2025
Hosts: Field Yates, Mike Clay, Daniel Dopp
Theme: Strategic advice and debates for Fantasy Football Week 2, focusing on wide receiver starts, injury updates, rookie usage analysis, shadow cornerback matchups, and deep sleeper picks.

Episode Overview

This episode is a comprehensive Week 2 preview centered on key lineup decisions, particularly for wide receivers. The hosts recap notable Week 1 outcomes, dive into running back and tight end trends, revisit preseason predictions, break down wide receiver/cornerback matchups (with an eye on shadow coverage), and share their favorite deep-dive "long shot" touchdown picks for the upcoming games. The crew delivers deep analysis with their usual blend of humor, inside jokes, and actionable takeaways.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Quick Look Back: “Headlines from the Future”

• Field Yates: Called Daniel Jones ("Danny Dimes") a top-10 QB for Week 1; he actually finished third overall. “He was the third highest scoring quarterback for the entire week… Dimes was great throwing the football. On top of that, he did run the ball seven times. He of course found the end zone as a runner…” (05:45)
• Mike Clay: Predicted Bashaw Tootin would be a top waiver add after Week 1. He flashed with limited volume, but Jaguars traded Tech Bigsby away, opening up the backfield. “I stand by this one for now… there is now room for maybe eight carries this week for Tootin, and if he flashes… could take on a larger role.” (07:58)

2. Rookie Running Back Reassessment

• Mike reviews his rookie RB tiered breakdown after a letdown Week 1—only two top-20 performances.
• Tier 1 (lineup locks): Ashton Genti, Omarion Hampton.
• Tier 2 (bench or spot starts): Trevion Anderson, Dylan Sampson, RJ Harvey, Bill Crosby Merritt (“ideally, you’re not starting”).
• Deep stashes: Caleb Johnson, Bashaw Tootin (as above), others with <5 touches.
• Hosts discuss patience with rookies (“Snaps … took a little while for them to start ramping up. That was the most part for rookies.” – Mike, 13:41), and how draft capital increases the likelihood a rookie will take over soon.

3. RB Handcuff Roles & The Patriots Backfield

• Travion Henderson: Heavy preseason hype – will his role surpass Ramondre Stevenson soon?
• “I’m just asking for … Travion at what, 56 or 60% of the snaps and Ramondre at like 30 or 35% … That’s what we are asking for.” – Field, 14:29

4. Christian McCaffrey’s Peerless Value

• CMC is the Week 2 default first overall pick. Upcoming absence of Brock Purdy doesn't dent his value.
• “Christian McCaffrey had 31 touches in week one, by far the most of any player in the NFL. … I don’t think it really moves the needle ... for Christian McCaffrey’s value.” – Field, 17:14

5. Wide Receiver Landscape & Concerns

• JSN (Jaxon Smith-Njigba): Should continue to see huge target share after 37% in Week 1, especially in a weak Seattle receiving corps.
• Cooper Kupp: “If Cooper Kupp has another like, two catch, three catch game, maybe follows it up… probably welcome to Dumpsville, right?” – Field, 22:10
• Keon Coleman: Seven of eight catches came in garbage time, hosts skeptical he’s a bankable weekly starter yet. (31:04)
• Zay Flowers: Monster Week 1 (28 points on 19 pass attempts), but hosts issue a "buyer beware" about his boom-bust production. “This is just a PSA ... This is not what you’re going to get every single week. He’s not this kind of consistent player.” – Daniel, 41:48

6. Veteran RBs: Real or Mirage?

• Travis Etienne, Breece Hall, Javonte Williams: All posted strong Week 1s, but jobs are safest for Hall/Etn; Williams’ future hinges on efficiency.
• “In terms of confidence ... Williams, then Hall, then ETN” – Field, 26:36

7. Tight End Market Crash... and One Bright Spot

• Evan Engram: Injured, low snap rate. “Worried about Ingram a little bit. I think he’s a bench guy for now, not a drop guy.” – Mike, 35:44
• Mark Andrews: Only 1 target in Week 1, but’ll be fine if Isaiah Likely is out.
• Tyler Warren: Potential breakout, already top-6 TE with an “easy button” role. “He should see a ton of targets… I am just thrilled that we have yet another superstar tight end.” – Field, 40:41

Wide Receiver vs. Cornerback Matchups (Shadow Report)

(44:35-50:41)

Upgrades:

• Chargers WRs vs. Raiders: Raiders allowed the 6th most fantasy points to WRs last week.
• Patriots WRs vs. Dolphins: Miami allowed a big game to Michael Pittman, have banged-up corners.

Downgrades:

• Keon Coleman vs. Jets (Sauce Gardner): Perimeter WR likely to be shadowed by Sauce, who shadowed full-time for first time last week.
  • “I think he comes back to earth this week. So startable but bust rate much higher.” – Mike, 47:58
• Mike Evans vs. Texans (Derek Stingley Jr.): Shadow matchup, tough opener, Evans only 8 pts last week.
• Other Notable Shadows (start them anyway):
  • AJ Terrell → Justin Jefferson,
  • Trevon Diggs → Malik Nabers,
  • Christian Benford → Garrett Wilson,
  • McDuffie → AJ Brown,
  • Reek One → DK Metcalf.

Deep Sleeper “Long Shot” Touchdown Picks

(Long Shot Monopoly Fund – 59:52 onward)

1. Daniel: Olamide Zaccheaus (0.4% rostered) – “Seven targets ... utilized ... even though there’s a bunch of people in that offense.”
2. Field: Noah Gray (0.6%) – “Everyone says it’ll be Kelce, but Noah Gray steady Eddie ... could find the end zone this week.”
3. Mike: Tyquan Thornton (0.7%) – “Over 70% of the snaps last week… three career touchdowns after Sunday afternoon? Four, maybe five!”
4. Producers: Kyle Huescheck (TE dart throw).

Rules: 1% rostered or less, anytime TDs (returns count, no QBs).

Notable Quotes & Fun Moments

“I described Eric Moody’s fantasy team in FF now as overrated. Like Led Zeppelin.”
– Field Yates, 03:30
(In reference to fantasy banter and music fan Eric Moody.)

"I think the more thinking it might be a little bit. Yeah, okay. Maybe more to week two. But you know, I think as we saw last year, there’s going to be games where they’re more... they don’t have to throw it as much..."
– Mike Clay on Keon Coleman’s role, 32:26

“He should see a ton of targets. And I, I am just thrilled that we have yet another superstar tight end.”
– Field Yates, on Tyler Warren, 40:41

“This is just a PSA ... This is not what you’re going to get every single week. He’s not this kind of consistent player.”
– Daniel Dopp, on Zay Flowers’ volatility, 41:48

“If Cooper Kupp has another... two catch, three catch game... probably welcome to Dumpsville, right?”
– Field Yates, 22:10

Important Timestamps

• 05:37 – Headlines from the Future recap (Danny Dimes & Bashaw Tootin)
• 09:19 – Rookie RB segment fallout
• 14:29 – RB snap share/usage – Patriots & Henderson
• 17:14 – McCaffrey discussion and impact of QB change
• 20:15 – JSN’s Week 2 outlook
• 22:10 – Cooper Kupp & “Dumpsville” warning
• 26:36 – Ranking confidence in veteran RBs
• 35:44 – Tight end market crash (Ingram concerns)
• 40:41 – Tyler Warren as breakout TE
• 41:48 – Zay Flowers: the “yo-yo” fantasy WR warning
• 44:35 – Mike Clay's Shadow Report (corner vs. WR matchups)
• 59:52 – Monopoly Fund: deep sleeper touchdown bets

Quick-Hits: Recurring Themes, Laughs & Listener Tips

• The optimism/patience theme for rookie RBs and WRs: Don’t overreact to Week 1 usage.
• Inside jokes (dad dancing, Led Zeppelin trash talk, fantasy waivers as “too deep” to matter, Monopoly long shot bets).
• Emphasis on injury news (updating snaps/roles), and roster churn for middle-bench players.
• Live chat/mailer segment teased but postponed due to time.
• Playbook and “expected fantasy points” (XFP) as resources, with playful banter about how to find them on ESPN.

Useful Takeaways for Fantasy Managers

• Stay the course with rookies (especially highly-drafted ones) after slow Week 1s. Snap counts usually increase.
• Monitor shadow coverage matchups—perimeter WRs (like Keon Coleman) can disappoint vs. elite CBs.
• Don’t panic-drop struggling stars like Cooper Kupp unless poor usage continues for multiple weeks.
• If starting Evan Engram or a similar TE, have a backup plan; monitor health and snap shares.
• For deep leagues, stash players seeing >60% snaps or unexpected targets—sometimes waiver gold emerges quickly.

Next Episode Tease:

• Part Two of the Week 2 preview, plus Thursday Night Football reaction and more entertaining breakdowns.

For more details, lineups, and player evaluations, visit Mike Clay’s Playbook on ESPN and check the expected fantasy points leaderboards every week!

Tone: Friendly, analytical, and conversational, with plenty of inside jokes and audience engagement. The show blends sharp football/fantasy strategy with an accessible, community-first vibe.