Fantasy Focus Football — "The Top Waiver Wires and Lineup Locks for Week 13!"

Date: November 25, 2025
Hosts: Daniel Dopp, Field Yates, Stephania Bell, Mike Clay

Episode Overview

This episode kicks off Week 13 of the NFL season and dives deep into fantasy football strategy for Thanksgiving week. The hosts analyze standout players from Monday Night Football, discuss the current state of their own fantasy league, evaluate key waiver wire stashes, break down recommended lineup locks, and preview the Thanksgiving and Black Friday slate of games. Injury updates and rest-of-season outlooks are also provided, alongside actionable advice for playoff-bound managers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Monday Night Football Recap & Takeaways

[02:29 – 08:46]

• Five-interception Game: Both Brock Purdy and Bryce Young contributed to an ugly game with five picks, impacting fantasy performances.
• Carolina Backfield Disappointment: Chuba Hubbard saw 35% of snaps; Rico Dowdle’s snaps dipped to a 4-week low (65%). His recent regression (three straight games under 53 rushing yards) tempers expectations moving forward.
  • Quote: Field Yates: "The time in which it felt like [Dowdle] was going to win your league has at least temporarily been put on hold." [03:35]
• Panthers’ Goal Line Woes: Odd decision not to give Dowdle a carry from the 1-yard line led to a costly interception.
• Christian McCaffrey Dominates: CMC continues to justify fantasy MVP talk—leads the NFL with 81 catches and is the highest-scoring player in all of fantasy football, averaging 25.7 points per game.
  • Quote: Stephania Bell: "It's hard for me to talk about this because I feel like everyone's going to say you're biased...but you would be hard pressed to find a player who is as valuable to his team as Christian McCaffrey." [05:15]
• George Kittle’s Reliable Production: Stepped up as a safety blanket (13.8 points).
• Luke Pearsall Drops: His lack of production makes him a possible cut, especially heading into a bye and with bad Week 13 matchups.

Fantasy Focus League Update

[09:23 – 10:43]

• League Standings: Trophy Smack’s team is on top, followed by a cluster of middling teams. Daniel, Stephania, and Field bemoan close losses and mid-pack finishes.
• Implications: The hosts joke about the "toilet seat trophy" for underperformers.

Playoff Stash of the Week: John Metchie (Jets)

[10:47 – 13:02]

• John Metchie Profiles As a Playoff Hero:
  • Recently acquired from the Eagles, Metchie has scored in consecutive weeks, racking up solid target shares (7 targets, 88% snaps last week).
  • Garrett Wilson’s ongoing absence increases Metchie’s value.
  • Jets' schedule is highly favorable for WRs, and Tyrod Taylor starting means more passing volume.
  • Quote: Field Yates: "John Metchie is an easy guy to root for...he’s dealt with a lot of adversity early on in his NFL career, including overcoming cancer. So he’s back on the field, that’s awesome to see." [12:18]
• Action: Consider stashing for the fantasy playoff run.

Waiver Wire & Streaming Options for Week 13

[13:07 – 18:44]

• Waiver Wire is Thin: No byes or major injuries diminish urgency.
  • Quarterback Streamer: Jacoby Brissett (Commanders) — Six straight top-12 finishes, consistently over 18.5 points. This is the last “must-use” week with tough matchups coming up.
    • Quote: Daniel Dopp: "Six straight weeks as a top-12 quarterback. But Jacoby Brissett, one more time..." [14:10]
  • RB Deeper Target: Devin Neal (Saints) — Worth adding if Kamara (knee) misses time, but Saints' offense/Taysom Hill cap upside.
    • Quote: Stefania Bell: "If you tell me that Devin Neal is out there in waivers, would I drop Ricky Piersall to go grab Devin Neal...I’d have no problem..." [16:56]
  • WR Deep Calls:
    • Jaden Higgins (Bengals): Trending up with consistent targets (7+ in four of five).
    • Luther Burden (Bears): Five targets in consecutive weeks; emerging as a solid WR3.
    • Andre Yosavas (Bengals): Temporary boost if T. Higgins remains out.
    • Quote: Field Yates: "Luther Burden I think is going to challenge George Pickens for the ratio of every time they touch the ball, something really cool happens." [18:44]

Thanksgiving & Black Friday Slate: Lineup Locks and Matchups

Packers vs. Lions, Thursday 12:30PM

[21:09 – 32:30]

• Lions Locks: Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameer Gibbs.
• Josh Jacobs Watch: Trending toward playing after knee swelling, but monitor up to kickoff.
  • Quote: Stefania Bell: "I do think that there's a good chance that he plays on Thursday. It's not a done deal yet..." [23:45]
• Packers’ WR Problems: None are trustworthy—Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson remain volatile.
  • Quote: Daniel Dopp: "Every week there's volatility in who is the primary target...I'd argue [none] should be confidently started." [25:37]

Cowboys vs. Chiefs, Thursday 4:30PM

[32:37 – 40:37]

• Locks: Rashee Rice, Travis Kelce, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Javonte Williams, Jake Ferguson.
• QBs: Both Mahomes and Dak are lineup locks despite recent downswings and tough matchups.
  • Quote: Field Yates: "You’d be hard pressed to bench either of them... Mahomes hasn’t been great over his past three games...Still, I think I would play Dak Prescott, but if you told me one of these guys was held to 12 fantasy points, I’d be much more confident in that being Dak than Patrick Mahomes." [32:55]
• Chiefs RBs: If Isaiah Pacheco returns, avoid the backfield altogether.
• WRs: Out on Xavier Worthy; his usage and production are unreliable.
  • Quote: Field Yates: "He returned in week four...since then, week five and on—11.1 is his maximum output...so Worthy has just totally faded from a prominent role in this offense." [37:42]

Bengals vs. Ravens, Thursday Night

[41:08 – 51:56]

• Joe Burrow Returns: Fully healthy post-injury, but the Ravens' defense is a brutal matchup (no QB has topped 15 fantasy points against them in the last six games).
  • Quote: Stephania Bell: "I expect this is the full deal on Joe Burrow...he wants to show everyone he's ready." [41:45]
• QB Debate: Jacoby Brissett, Brock Purdy, and others may be safer than Burrow depending on league context.
  • Quote: Field Yates: "Do I think he's an auto start? No...the Ravens D has played good football..." [44:05]
• Lamar Jackson Struggles: Three straight dud games (health and lack of designed runs to blame), but the hosts still advise starting him above Burrow this week.
  • Quote: Field Yates: "I'm taking Lamar." [49:54]
• Skill Players:
  • Jamar Chase and Chase Brown are auto-starts.
  • Mike Gesicki is a TE streamer if Higgins is out.
  • Mark Andrews (Ravens TE) is out of lineup lock status due to poor recent stats, though Bengals are poor vs. TEs.
  • Quote: Field Yates: "He's got eight straight games with 34 or fewer receiving yards...he has five straight games with three or fewer catches." [50:47]

Bears vs. Eagles, Friday (Black Friday)

[51:56 – 60:57]

• Eagles Locks: Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley (reluctantly), A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith, Dallas Goedert.
• Saquon’s Frustration: Discussion of his recent struggles and why most managers still have to start him.
  • Quote: Field Yates: "Saquon Barkley and Justin Jefferson are vying for the least enjoyable experiences to have on your fantasy roster this season..." [53:03]
• Bears’ RBs and Rome Odunze:
  • Kyle Manungai is seeing more goal-line work and is now slightly ahead of DeAndre Swift in some rankings.
  • Rome Odunze is still a shaky but usable flex, benefiting from consistent target volume despite the offense’s inconsistencies.
  • Luther Burden and Colston Loveland (TE) are emerging names but are deep league/future stashes for most.
  • Quote: Field Yates: "He's de-escalated from wide receiver one territory...to, like, wide receiver two/flex consideration..." [56:14]
• Tight Ends:
  • Colston Loveland is a deep streamer but faces a stiff Eagles defense against TEs.
  • Quote: Daniel Dopp: "Even though we love Colson Loveland...it would be a tough one for me this week." [60:57]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Christian McCaffrey’s Value:
  "It's his vision when he's running. He finds holes, he's patient. He does all of the things they needed him to chew up time essentially."
  — Stephania Bell [05:50]

• On John Metchie’s Story:
  "An easy guy to root for...a player that's got some ability, that much has always been clear. Now he's getting some opportunity as well. An interesting name to stash right now."
  — Field Yates [12:18]

• On Jacoby Brissett as a Streamer:
  "Six straight weeks as a top-12 quarterback. But Jacoby Brissett, one more time..."
  — Daniel Dopp [14:10]

• On Saquon Barkley’s Struggles:
  "Saquon Barkley and Justin Jefferson are vying for the least enjoyable experiences to have on your fantasy roster this season..."
  — Field Yates [53:03]

• On Jameson Williams’ “Feast or Famine” Play:
  "If that's the push I'm trying to make, he could be that guy...This is the time to swing for the fences. Right. And, and to me, that's what he is. He's the guy that you throw in there if you feel like I need to go with the dart throws that are not going to net me a safe floor."
  — Stephania Bell [29:58]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Carolina/San Francisco MNF recap: [02:29 – 08:46]
• Fantasy Focus Show League update: [09:23 – 10:43]
• Playoff stash (John Metchie): [10:47 – 13:02]
• Waiver Wire Streamers: [13:07 – 18:44]
• Packers vs. Lions Thanksgiving Preview: [21:09 – 32:30]
• Cowboys vs. Chiefs Thanksgiving Preview: [32:37 – 40:37]
• Bengals vs. Ravens (Thursday): [41:08 – 51:56]
• Bears vs. Eagles (Friday): [51:56 – 60:57]

Tone & Style

• Conversational, knowledgeable, and humorous; the hosts balance data-driven takes with relatable frustrations and optimism for fantasy managers navigating the season.
• Frequent good-natured ribbing about league results and personal biases (e.g., Stephania’s 49ers fandom).

Summary: Actionable Advice

• Waiver Priorities: Thin week—stash John Metchie, consider Devin Neal (if Kamara is out) and sprinkle in deep WRs like Higgins or Burden for upside.
• Streaming QBs: Jacoby Brissett remains a one-week rental play.
• Lineup Locks: Stick to established studs, even if recent performances disappoint (Saquon, CMC, etc.), but temper expectations.
• Package Receivers: Fade all in non-deep leagues; the volatility makes them unreliable.
• Lions Receivers: Jameson Williams is the definition of boom/bust — deploy only if you’re desperate for upside.
• Monitor Injuries: Watch for Kamara, T. Higgins, Josh Jacobs, and others as actives/inactives will swing values at the fringe.
• Tight Ends: Mark Andrews’ floor is alarming; seek streamers when possible against favorable matchups (like Bengals' weak TE defense).
• Thanksgiving & Black Friday: Lean on your stars, but be willing to swing with upside bench players if your matchup calls for risk.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone juggling the last-minute realities of the playoff push, offering both concrete recommendations and big-picture strategy in a jam-packed NFL week.