THREE guys where the Fantasy HYPE is real | Facts vs Feelings

Summary

Podcast Summary: Fantasy Focus Football - Episode “THREE guys where the Fantasy HYPE is real | Facts vs Feelings”

Release Date: August 7, 2025

Hosts: Field Yates, Daniel Dopp, Mike Clay, Stephania Bell, Producer David Presley

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1. Introduction to Facts vs Feelings

The episode kicks off with Liz Loza humorously addressing the listeners and introducing the segment "Facts vs Feelings." Producer David Presley sets the tone with a playful disclaimer emphasizing the unpredictable nature of fantasy football, urging listeners to "trust your gut" and treat Average Draft Position (ADP) as "a suggestion, not a command" (01:20).

2. Understanding "Drum Beat Players"

Definition and Importance

David Presley introduces the concept of a "drum beat player," prompting Liz to define it:

“Simply put, a drumbeat player is just someone who is starting to catch fire. There are whispers right now, but the crescendo is increasing.” (01:39)

These players are gaining traction and their ADP is on the rise, making them valuable targets for fantasy managers to monitor.

3. Player Spotlights and Analysis

a. Trevor Lawrence

Rising Fantasy Potential

Field Yates discusses Trevor Lawrence's evolving role and potential in fantasy football:

“With Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter in the mix, Lawrence is set for quite the bounce back.” (02:06)

Key Points:

• Lawrence’s average depth of target increased after recovering from a shoulder injury.
• The addition of key players like Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter enhances his offensive capabilities.
• Optimism surrounds his potential to break into the top-tier fantasy QBs this season.

b. Cam Scatterboo (Giants RB)

Prospects and Risks

Mike Clay delves into Cam Scatterboo's versatility and potential impact:

“Cam is a tackle-breaking machine and is gaining buzz as a receiver out of the backfield.” (03:41)

Key Points:

• Scatterboo showcases both rushing prowess and receiving skills, making him a dual-threat.
• He is currently drafted one spot ahead of Tyrone Tracy, signaling growing confidence among managers.
• Concerns include the Giants' offensive line quality and Scatterboo’s high ADP, presenting a potential risk-reward scenario.

c. Jameson Williams (Lions WR)

Evolving Skill Set and Value

Stephania Bell highlights Jameson Williams' transformation and fantasy value:

“His usage evolved from being just a deep threat to a more intermediate receiver under a new offensive coordinator.” (05:46)

Key Points:

• Williams averaged over 17 yards per reception, showcasing his explosive playmaking ability.
• Increased targets and receptions indicate his growing role in the Lions' offense.
• Projected as Detroit’s second wide receiver option, Williams offers substantial upside at a value position.

4. Deep Dive: Fantasy Stats and Research with Liz Loza

Fantasy Points vs. Expected Fantasy Points

Liz Loza provides insightful commentary on the interpretation of fantasy statistics:

“Fantasy points will tell you what happened. If you're using it as a predictive tool to see what will happen, fantasy points really doesn't do it for me.” (11:10)

Key Points:

• Overreliance on raw fantasy points can be misleading for future performance predictions.
• Emphasis on "expected fantasy points" as a more reliable metric for forecasting player performance.
• Example of Jaden Daniels illustrates how a single high-scoring game can skew perceptions without reflecting sustained performance.

Creative Research Approaches

Liz emphasizes the importance of creative and detailed research in fantasy football, balancing numerical analysis with understanding player dynamics:

“In research, I get to do both [working with people and numbers] at a high level.” (10:27)

5. Current Trends in Fantasy Football

Integration of Betting Lines

Field Yates discusses the growing relevance of betting lines in fantasy decision-making:

“If you're not looking at the projected total of the game or the spread of the game, I think you're really leaving free information out on the table.” (15:16)

Key Points:

• Betting lines offer additional data points that can inform lineup decisions.
• Utilizing sportsbook information can provide a strategic edge without necessitating personal betting participation.

6. Liz Loza’s Fantasy Hot Take: Nico Collins

Nico Collins’ Ascendant Trajectory

Liz delivers a bold prediction regarding Nico Collins:

“Whether it's Burrow and Chase, whether it's a Monroe and Golf, your tandem. Nico and Stroud has been better.” (16:27)

Key Points:

• Collins is poised to become a top-tier receiver, potentially achieving a "triple crown" in fantasy football.
• His strong chemistry with quarterback CJ Stroud and continued development under the coaching staff are pivotal.
• Projected as a high-value draft pick, Collins offers significant upside compared to his current draft range.

7. Interactive Segment: Fantasy Jeopardy

Engaging Trivia and Player Knowledge

In a fun and engaging segment, the hosts participate in "Fantasy Jeopardy," testing their knowledge on player statistics and historical sports trivia. Notable moments include:

• Question on Quarterbacks:

  • David: “He posted career highs in completion percentage, passing yards, touchdowns and passer ratings.” (18:22)
  • Liz and Kyle's attempts: Incorrect guesses highlighting the challenge of balancing facts with feelings.

• Cereal Trivia:

  • Question on iconic cereals featuring athletes:
    • Answer: Wheaties, originally introduced as "Washburn’s Gold Medal" in 1926 with Lou Gehrig as the first athlete featured.

• Wide Receiver Identification:

  • Question on a wide receiver's performance spike:
    • Answer: Jameson Williams (21:40)

• Running Back Question:

  • Question on a running back’s performance decline:
    • Answer: Travis Etienne (24:07)

This segment not only entertains but reinforces the hosts' deep knowledge of player performances and historical contexts.

8. Fantasy Therapy: Audience Q&A

Addressing Listener Concerns

The hosts tackle pressing fantasy football questions from listeners, providing expert advice and candid opinions.

• Question on Christian McCaffrey (CMC):

  • Kyle’s Response:

    “CMC is here and healthy. Do we know that he is a difference-maker when on the field? Yes.” (27:19)

• Question on Kyle Pitts’ Resurgence:

  • Kyle’s Response:

    “Over his last three games with Panics under center, he managed a total of seven catches, 66 yards, and a single touchdown.” (27:29) “This position is so volatile and there are so many other late-round options.” (28:05)

• Question on Travis Hunter’s Impact:

  • Kyle’s Response:

    “There is an unprecedented role as a two-way player. He’ll play a good amount of snaps on offense, but it’s an experiment.” (28:22)

These exchanges provide listeners with practical advice while maintaining an entertaining and relatable tone.

9. Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Summary of Insights

In the closing segment, Host Liz Loza encapsulates the episode's primary lessons:

“Today we learned that average depth of target matters, that fantasy points may not necessarily [be predictive], and that keeping your ear to the ground is essential.” (29:41)

Key Takeaways:

• Average Depth of Target (ADOT): A critical metric for assessing quarterback and receiver value.
• Fantasy Points Limitations: While useful for historical analysis, they should not be solely relied upon for future predictions.
• Monitoring Drum Beat Players: Staying informed on emerging players can provide a strategic advantage in drafts and weekly matchups.

Final Remarks

Liz encourages listeners to explore her comprehensive article on Drum Beat Players available on their website and highlights the availability of the Fantasy Focus podcast five days a week.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• David Presley on Fantasy Football Disclaimer:
  “Fantasy football is a game of inches, luck, and irrational confidence. Proceed with caution, trust your gut, and remember, ADP is a suggestion, not a command.” (01:20)

• Liz Loza on Fantasy Points:
  “Fantasy points will tell you what happened. If you're using it as a predictive tool to see what will happen, fantasy points really doesn't do it for me.” (11:10)

• Liz Loza’s Hot Take on Nico Collins:
  “Nico and Stroud has been better [than other QB-WR tandems], so a little bit of a bounce back season from Stroud wouldn't hurt this argument.” (16:27)

• Kyle Soppi on Using Betting Lines:
  “You just have to absorb the information. Sportsbooks... they're smarter than me. They're smarter than you.” (15:16)

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Conclusion

This episode of "Fantasy Focus Football" provides a blend of analytical insights and engaging conversations, offering listeners valuable strategies and perspectives for the upcoming fantasy football season. From evaluating emerging players like Trevor Lawrence and Cam Scatterboo to dissecting the nuances of fantasy statistics and leveraging betting trends, the hosts deliver comprehensive content tailored to both novice and seasoned fantasy managers.

Listeners are encouraged to stay informed, utilize diverse data sources, and maintain a balanced approach between facts and intuitive decision-making to enhance their fantasy football success.

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Timestamps Reference

• Introduction to Facts vs Feelings: 00:28
• Definition of Drum Beat Players: 01:39
• Trevor Lawrence Discussion: 02:06
• Cam Scatterboo Analysis: 03:41
• Jameson Williams Spotlight: 05:46
• Fantasy Stats with Liz Loza: 10:27
• Betting Trends in Fantasy: 15:16
• Nico Collins Hot Take: 16:27
• Fantasy Jeopardy Segment: 18:22 - 24:17
• Fantasy Therapy Q&A: 27:19 - 28:22
• Conclusion and Takeaways: 29:41

Note: The timestamps are indicative based on the provided transcript excerpts and correspond to the segments discussed above.

Transcript

[Liz Loza]

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[Liz Loza]

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[Kyle Soppi]

If you came here looking for fantasy Focus Surprise. You now get that show five days a week, plus this one, which is Facts versus Feelings. So welcome. I am Liz Loza, and today's fact is that you always have to keep your ear to the ground. You know me, but you may not know my producer. It's Mr. David Presley. Hi, Dave.

[David Presley]

Hey, Liz. How's it going? It's good to see you.

[Kyle Soppi]

It's great to see you when people listen to this. Next week, though, I will be where you are right now.

[David Presley]

Well, I think you just invented time travel. It does not look like you are in the Los Angeles office, though. Where are you?

[Kyle Soppi]

That is a great observation. I am neither in Los Angeles nor Bristol. I am, in fact, in my mom's basement in Chicago.

[David Presley]

Oh, well, how the mighty have fallen.

[Kyle Soppi]

Oh, man. Just. Why don't you just play that disclaimer right now, please?

[Liz Loza]

Okay.

[David Presley]

Fantasy football is a game of inches, luck, and irrational confidence. Proceed with caution, trust your gut, and remember, ADP is a suggestion, not a command. Mock draft's a fantasy. Your real draft is one. And just because you heard it on this show doesn't mean you should do it. If all goes wrong, just say your account was hacked. All right, Liz, I got a question for you. What the heck is a drum beat player?

[Kyle Soppi]

Simply put, a drumbeat player is just someone who is starting to catch fire. There are whispers right now, but the crescendo is increasing. Probably the ADP is also increasing. And so just someone to maybe keep an eye on at the moment.

[David Presley]

All right, so the first player on the list that we got here is Trevor Lawrence. People might have been keeping an eye on him for a few years and it hasn't happened yet. So, you know, can sunshine get it done this year? Are we. Are we excited? Is the drum beat real?

[Kyle Soppi]

Well, first credit to Joey Wright, who came on our first episode of Facts vs. Feelings in June and said that his spiciest hot take was that Lawrence would finish as a top 12 fantasy contributor at the position. Super spicy. But since then, I am hearing Lawrence become more and more popular in QB sleeper circles. And I get it Liam Cohen, now the offensive coordinator in Jacksonville. Obviously with Baker Mayfield. Last year he helped Mayfield put together a career effort. We had Brian Thomas Jr enter the chat last season and while Lawrence was the QB13 in terms of fantasy points per game both in 2023, in the first nine games of 2024 before her hurting his shoulder and having to miss the rest of the season, his average depth of target increased massively. In fact, he was the QB2 in average depth of target last year And Brian Thomas Jr. Was that difference maker. So now there's the hope that Brian Thomas Jr. In a full healthy season can help propel or pull Lawrence into better production. Throw in Travis Hunter into that equation and now it looks like Lawrence is set for quite the bounce back.

[David Presley]

I'd love to see it because the hype for Lawrence coming into the league was real and we've just not seen it yet. Speaking of coming into the league, we got one of my favorite names, new names in the league, Cam Scatterboo on this list next for the Giants. I love it. He's a big boy. I'm hearing some good things coming out of camp with him on the receiving side too. But we've got Tyrone Tracy at the Giants. Obviously had a bit of a breakout last year. What are we thinking on the drum beat for Cam?

[Kyle Soppi]

I mean, I think if you are looking into Cam's playing style, his name should be Scatter Boom because he is a tackle breaking machine. He also, and we love to see versatility in fantasy, is getting buzz in Giants camp for his work as a receiver out of the backfield. So now we have a power rusher who can also catch the ball. And it needs to be noted that both Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary have received, at least up until this point, the majority of first team reps in camp. But Scottaboo is making all of this noise. His ADP is climbing and Tracy, though he did have to use your phrase, a bit of a breakout last year, he also registered five fumbles and five drops.

[David Presley]

Yes he did.

[Kyle Soppi]

So Tracy so Tracy is set to begin the season I believe is the team's RB1. But if he continues to be clumsy with the ball, there is an opportunity for Scatter Boo to overtake him. No? Now that's a lot of ifs, especially given the fact that Scatterboo is being drafted one spot ahead of Tracy right now in the beginning of August. So I have a feeling that Scatter Boo's adp, because he is such a highlight worthy player, is going to continue to grow. But the Giants offensive line is like gross and the strength of schedule is not great. So my worry is as much as I love the player, he is going to really be quite expensive and I just am not going to end up liking the adp.

[David Presley]

Yeah, I'm the same. You know, it's not. You waited on Tyrone last year and he paid off dividends. You got to. You got to pay up the cam and. And that's going to. That's going to be risky.

[Kyle Soppi]

Interesting though because he's like the ultimate facts versus Feelings player, right? Because the facts aren't great but man, the feelings feelings are good. Yeah.

[Liz Loza]

Yeah.

[David Presley]

Big time. Big time. Speaking of a play that gives me all the feels, it is Jameson Williams the last player on our list. He's outside the top 40 and catches and targets his entire career, which is a little scary. But are we believing the hype, Liz? Are we believing the drum beat as we head into the season?

[Kyle Soppi]

Well, I'm not sure, Dave, that you need giant volume when you're a player who averages over 17 yards per reception. That's one of the great point glorious things about his skill set. He is so fast. But to your point, I mean he was second in targets behind only Amon Ross St. Brown last season. So the Lions wide receiver too, not a bad player to invest in. Also, his usage evolved from 2023 to 2024. He was no longer just utilized as a deep threat. He in fact was utilized much more frequently and he ate in the intermediate level of the field. So now we have a player who is evolving his route tree, who is evolving his skill set and he has a new offensive coordinator in Joe Morton who has, per Jameson Williams, a wonderfully aggressive playbook. So while Ben Johnson has obviously done wonders for the Lions offense, we love when a player is like, I love this new offensive coordinator. He's really opening things up for me. I mean that is the kind of language we want to hear out of a player. And Dan Campbell has mentioned many times how Williams has grown both personally and professionally. So I think everything is here right now for Williams to potentially have another career effort to plus he's being drafted in like the wide receiver 30 range just for context, somewhere between George Pickens and Roma Dunze, which means you could have Detroit's wide receiver two as your flex.

[David Presley]

Yeah, that is some intriguing value and we do love value here. On facts versus feelings.

[Kyle Soppi]

On WhatsApp, no one can see or hear your personal messages. Whether it's a voice call message or sending a password to WhatsApp it's all just this. So whether you're sharing the streaming password in the family chat or trading those late night voice messages that could basically become a podcast, your personal messages stay between you, your friends and your family. No one else, not even us. WhatsApp message privately with everyone.

[Liz Loza]

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[Liz Loza]

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[Kyle Soppi]

Hello, Liz.

[Liz Loza]

Hey, Liz, what's going on?

[Kyle Soppi]

Oh, my goodness. I know this voice anywhere. It is Kyle Soppi, also known as Thirsty Kyle to you fantasy Focus listeners. Kyle, thanks so much for calling in.

[Liz Loza]

Of course. This is the only way you start fantasy football season. It's almost August. I'm talking to my girl, Liz. What more could I ask for?

[Kyle Soppi]

I mean, if that's all that makes you happy, then I consider myself pretty lucky.

[Liz Loza]

I'm a simple person.

[Kyle Soppi]

You and I only had about a season or a year to work together before you went on to other adventures. Do you want to tell our listeners who may not know what you've been up to since being on Focus?

[Liz Loza]

Yeah, I'm holding down analytics, fantasy betting, all that good stuff over Pro Football Sports Network. We're doing big things over there. It's a small crew. It's not quite like quite like what they got going on in Bristol there, but I like it here. I get to talk about sports for a living. So that part's never going to change.

[Kyle Soppi]

You started at ESPN as a researcher, so I want to talk to you about that particular skill set because I feel like there are some misconceptions about fantasy researchers. Would you agree? And if so, what are they?

[Liz Loza]

Yeah, for one, this is my basement. I don't live in my mom's basement. I have a basement all my own. So that's step one here. Just as far as misconceptions go. But as far as the research gig as a whole, I think people like to paint by numbers to some degree. They think it's a one size fits all. You can just hire somebody off the street. And to some level that's true. But I like to take pride in the creativity of the job that we. Researching for Liz, researching for field Daniel, Matthew. I like working with people as much as I like working with the numbers. And in research, I get to do both at a high level.

[Kyle Soppi]

Stats is interesting because there is this argument, right, that you could find a stat to support any particular argument. And because there is now so much data at our fingertips that feels to be a little bit true. And so as not just a fantasy analyst, but as a fantasy enthusiast, there is this bit of a conundrum as to like, what you should pay attention to and what is just really noise. So I want to ask someone like you, who deals in stats every single day and got the beginning of your career doing research, is there a stat that the public overvalues and is there one that managers perhaps undervalue 100% on both regards here.

[Liz Loza]

As far as what fantasy managers overvalue, it's gonna sound a little counterintuitive here, but it's fantasy points. Like, I'm not, not big into fantasy points as a fantasy points predictor here. I think it depends how you define stats, right? If you define stats as a way to tell the story of what happened, fine. Fantasy points will tell you what happened. If you're using it as a predictive tool to see what will happen, fantasy points really doesn't do it for me. I mean, you think about Jaden Daniels last year, he hit that Hail Mary against your Bears, Week eight, nine, whatever it was.

[Kyle Soppi]

Thank you. That was almost.

[Liz Loza]

Yeah, sorry. You know, I. We haven't talked for a while, Liz. I gotta, gotta make up for lost time here. But that was 35% of his passing points for that day on a single play. The point expectancy for a pass like that trailing final minute of the game, all that good stuff from 50 yards out, negative 0.1 fantasy points. He scored 6.1 points. So, like the fantasy point doesn't tell the story of what happened. And he wasn't a top 15 quarterback for the three weeks after that. He, even though people were excited that he threw for over 300 yards, he had the touchdown, he had the highlight, all that good stuff was all great and it probably won you your matchup in week eight. But if you were using it to make decisions moving forward, it wasn't really telling the whole story. And I mean I'm cherry picking that one example because it proves my point, which is kind of a larger point here. Right, but he wasn't a top 15 quarterback for the next three weeks. You could have potentially gotten ahead of that by overlooking the Hail Mary, saying that yeah, it happened. It wasn't really predictive of anything though.

[Kyle Soppi]

Okay, but don't you think that right now we're in draft season that an average number of fantasy points, of course noting you know, who was on the field and if somebody was sidelined, etc. All of the things that you should responsibly note. Don't you think that an average of fantasy points, even if there is a dud game and a spike game, can give you a general idea of a player's potential possible range of outcomes?

[Liz Loza]

A general idea, of course. I would like to look at expected fantasy points. So you're looking at how did he do on deep passes? Did he over underachieve there is this quarterback good or bad. Like the further you get into this onion, you could just keep on unlever, unpeeling. There we go. I knew I would get there. As far as the term, I didn't know what you do to an onion. You peel an onion, you unravel fantasy stats, they go together somewhere in that analogy. But yeah, the deeper you look at it, if you look at it in Jaden Daniels, he had a great season. That Hail Mary doesn't undo any of that. And I draft him this year, I have no qualms about that. But in season analysis and or just looking at the box score, if you're looking at an average, I think you're underselling it. But if you're looking at 17 games of data, that's a little bit different. Even though if it sounds pretty similar.

[Kyle Soppi]

Okay, Kyle, so fantasy points are perhaps overvalued by the general public. What are people undervaluing?

[Liz Loza]

Yeah, I mean it's kind of where we were going with that first conversation. It's how they get to those points. So for me it's expected fantasy points and everybody has a different way of calculating that. Mike Clay does it differently than I do do it differently than you would. It's all minutiae at some level there. But you need a way to quantify and kind of level the playing field. Adot does that to some level. But if, If Jane Daniels 52 yard touchdown pass on a Hail Mary that shouldn't have ever happened counts the same as a screen pass that goes the Distance. I think you're losing something there. In terms of predictive power, obviously, the fantasy points all count the same. I'm not asking anybody to give those points back from week eight of last season. But if you're looking forward, I need points accumulated in a sustainable way. And when you look at whoever's expected points metric, you get there a lot quicker than if you're using just raw fantasy point data.

[Kyle Soppi]

All right, well, I guess that makes sense that you would prefer to use expected points as a predictive metric versus fantasy points. That happened in the past. No, not too much of a surprise there. What is a trend? Because I do feel like expected points has become a bit trendier. It's kind of a hipster stat right now. Is there a trend that maybe the more casual fantasy player has yet to catch on to in your estimation?

[Liz Loza]

Yeah, that's what people generally say about me. Big hipster over here. That's. That's generally. Take away.

[Kyle Soppi]

You are giving Williamsburg vibes like I have never seen.

[Liz Loza]

I don't know what Williamsburg is, but if it's hipster city, then that's where I'm at. Liz, I'll take your word for it here. As far as a trend goes, betting is becoming more and more popular, more and more legal. If you're not looking at betting lines, I'm not saying you have to bet your paycheck on the Patriots to cover or win Moneyline or anything like that. You don't have to participate. You just have to absorb the information. Sports books. Like them or hate them. They're smarter than me. They're smarter than you. They're smarter than just about everybody out there. That's why they build big casinos. So if you're not looking at the projected total of the game or the spread of the game, I think you're really leaving free information out on the table that your competition is going to be using and leveraging against you and making lineup decisions.

[Kyle Soppi]

I think that is 100% spot on. Again, I love that you make the point that someone doesn't have to bet, but using the information just allows for another resource that can help you make a more informed decision to. You and I worked on a betting article together the year we were working together. So I think that's a perfect way to come full circle. Before I ask you what your favorite fantasy hot take is for 2025.

[Liz Loza]

2025. Nico Collins is 2024. Jamar Chase. He's going to be the number one player at the position. We're talking triple Crown. We're talking all the good things and the toppings that you could possibly ask for with Nico Collins. He's run 695 routes for his career with CJ Stroud and that tops the first 695 routes that any receiver has run with any quarterback that's going right now. Whether it's Burrow and Chase, whether it's a Monroe and Golf, you name your tandem. Nico and Stroud has been better. We obviously need him to stay on the field. A little bit of a bounce back season from Shroud wouldn't hurt this argument. But Mixon's already banged up the guys behind him. I'm not worried about. You got a pair of rookies, you've got Dalton Schultz. Like, forgive me if I'm not too worried about that triple crown coming for Nico Collins in 2025.

[Kyle Soppi]

All right, would you rather draft Malik Neighbors or Nico Collins?

[Liz Loza]

The answer is gonna be Nico Collins. For all these lists, he's my top ranked receiver and number two ranked overall player.

[Kyle Soppi]

Wow, that is a spicy, spicy take. I would expect nothing less from Thirsty Kyle. You wanna play a game next?

[Liz Loza]

I'm. I'm a big games guy. What do you got?

[Kyle Soppi]

A little something called Fantasy Jeopardy. We're gonna call in producer Dave to help us with this one, okay?

[Liz Loza]

Sure.

[David Presley]

How you doing, Kyle? It's good to see you.

[Liz Loza]

I'm doing good. Presley, Long time no see.

[David Presley]

I know. Can you believe they put me on camera in a microphone?

[Liz Loza]

It's crazy. The backwards hat and everything. They should put you on camera while you're bowling because you're awfully good at that. I'm not saying you're not a good producer, but I'm guessing the, you know, the.

[David Presley]

Are you saying I'm a better bowler than producer?

[Liz Loza]

I didn't want to say it, but you're a pretty darn good bowler.

[David Presley]

All right, well, let's see how you guys are good at Jeopardy. Because this is basically something that you're familiar with. Kyle. They're more blind resumes than anything else. I have a few down here. I'm going to be looking down at my laptop screen. So forgive me for not looking at you guys while I'm doing it. I am going to read descriptors for players, but also Kyle's favorite thing on planet Earth cereal. All right, this is a quarterback. He posted career highs in completion percentage, passing yards, touchdowns and passer ratings. Last season he was ranked third in the NFL in passing yards, untied for second in touchdown passes, and he finished QB4 in fantasy points per game.

[Kyle Soppi]

It's total touchdowns, not just passing touchdowns.

[David Presley]

Yes, correct.

[Liz Loza]

Oh, that. That throws a wrench in this. Lamar would have been an easy answer. Probably career highs across the board, but I think he was probably quarterback one or two, so that rules that out. Total touchdowns. I was leaning Goff or somebody like that.

[Kyle Soppi]

Well, golf is coming off. Correct. But if it's total touchdowns, then I'm thinking it's probably one of the more mobile options.

[Liz Loza]

You would think so. Allen and Lamar were too high. Hurts. Maybe that's. He would have had all the touchdowns. He's never thrown for 25 touchdowns in a season, so would he have had enough touchdowns that. I think it's possible. But he didn't have the yards.

[Kyle Soppi]

I think I would say Jalen hurts, but. But Jared Goff is a compelling answer. Let's just see. David, which one?

[David Presley]

Baker Mayfield.

[Liz Loza]

Duh.

[Kyle Soppi]

Neither one of us was right.

[David Presley]

All righty. This is a cereal. This is a cereal launched in 1952 by Kellogg's. It's one of the top five best selling cereals in the U.S. the mascot contenders were Katie the Kangaroo and Elmo the Elephant. In other countries, it's often called Frosties.

[Kyle Soppi]

Oh, come on.

[Liz Loza]

Yeah, I'll give Liz the floor on this one.

[Kyle Soppi]

No, you can totally have it. You get it, Tiger.

[Liz Loza]

Yeah, get it, Tiger. Frosted Flakes. Yeah.

[David Presley]

I wasn't gonna give you guys that last hint because it was too easy, but I thought the other ones were a little bit too difficult. All right, onto a wide receiver. In 2023, he posted an impressive 80% increase in yardage and 47% spike in targets. In 2024, he scored career highs with 100 receptions, 1130 yards, and 6 touchdowns. From week 9 onward, he averaged a staggering 17.7 points per game PPR with around 9 targets per game and ranked inside the top 8 wide receivers in scoring per game during that time.

[Liz Loza]

All right, so we're talking 1100 yards, big increase. The. The totals and the summary was leading me to lad McConkey, but he was a rookie, so obviously you don't have Those increases from 23 to 24.

[Kyle Soppi]

I am wondering if the 23 to 24. I don't want to say, oh, I.

[Liz Loza]

Think I got a good one.

[Kyle Soppi]

I think I got it. Okay. Who else are you thinking? I mean, I. I was thinking maybe it was Drake London.

[Liz Loza]

I was trending toward somebody in that general age. I was going JSN with the big switch spike there. Late season spike could come in big this year.

[Kyle Soppi]

Well, we. I do feel like jsn. Well, we're questioning whether. I don't think Drake London had triple digit grabs, but I do think jsn, given his role on that offense, could.

[David Presley]

Give me that answer.

[Kyle Soppi]

All right. JSN.

[Liz Loza]

Yes.

[David Presley]

Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.

[Liz Loza]

Let's go.

[David Presley]

Second serial. Invented in 1921. Completely by accident, it was the first ever serial to use a radio jingle. In 1926, Lou Gehrig was the first athlete ever featured on the box and it officially debuted in 1924. But I'm not going to tell you the name because I'd give it away.

[Kyle Soppi]

Do you. You got it.

[Liz Loza]

No, I don't. Based on Liz's reaction. I love where we're going as a team here. This series is a hundred years old. I have no idea.

[Kyle Soppi]

See, you have to think critically and you have to be a bit of an analyst. You can't just use numbers, Kyle.

[Liz Loza]

There's more.

[Kyle Soppi]

There aren't just facts. You got to use a little bit of feeling when you're answering questions. So is there a cereal box that regularly features prominent sports figures?

[Liz Loza]

Yes.

[Kyle Soppi]

Still to this day.

[Liz Loza]

An orange box.

[Kyle Soppi]

Yeah. What is that called?

[Liz Loza]

That's Wheaties.

[David Presley]

Hey.

[Liz Loza]

All right, I'm going to research here, Liz. Just breadcrumbing me to the right. Answer that. Hold on.

[David Presley]

You want to. You want to hear the original name? Washburn's gold medal. Whole wheat flakes.

[Liz Loza]

Sounds appetizing.

[David Presley]

Yeah, right. All right, onto your final player. This is a running back. In 2023, he rushed for 1,008 yards and had 11 touchdowns, finishing as RB7 in points per game. In 2024, he posted only 558 rushing yards and just two touchdowns, finishing as RB33 on the season. He was the seventh most targeted running back in 2024, and he only averaged 3 point yards per carry and 6.5 yards per catch.

[Kyle Soppi]

Okay. I feel like this is a player who was potentially Wally pipped by a younger backfield mate.

[Liz Loza]

I would agree. 500 yards. You're not getting a lead role in getting 500 yards. I would get that.

[Kyle Soppi]

I am leaning towards Rashad White.

[Liz Loza]

Rashad White. Did he have. What'd you say, Presley? 1100 rushing yards in 2023.

[David Presley]

In 2023, 1008 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns finished as RB7.

[Liz Loza]

Oh, I think the Bucks are too good. But I can't give you a better answer right now. I'm thinking sound like the AFC South.

[Kyle Soppi]

Oh, also be Travis etn. It could also be Travis etn.

[Liz Loza]

That was kind of the direction I was going because you said Wally Pipped. And the first name that came into my head was for that one.

[Kyle Soppi]

It could be Travis etn. All right, we have to make a decision.

[Liz Loza]

I prefer that one if you're asking me to pick, but again, you're driving the ship here.

[Kyle Soppi]

All right, let's go with. Let's go with Travis etn.

[David Presley]

Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.

[Kyle Soppi]

Two out of three.

[Liz Loza]

Two out of three. That's passing, Liz, no matter what school you go to. That's passing.

[Kyle Soppi]

Also, do you love how we work through that together? Like you didn't have something. We found somebody who was kind of close, and then we ping pong back and. Oh, I miss you, Kyle. That was super thirsty.

[Liz Loza]

That was so good. I've never, like. It's been a long time since I've had a group project where both sides kind of contributed.

[Kyle Soppi]

Oh, my gosh. I mean, I need a cigarette after that. That was fantastic. Kyle, can you please tell everybody where they can find you and your work throughout the 2025 season and beyond, hopefully?

[Liz Loza]

Sure. I'm the old X machine. I'm Kyle Sopi. So P P E P F N on Twitter, I tweet out my articles. Anything you need. Content wise, we get this 30, 000 word article every week to get you prepped and ready for every week of action. There's gonna be a lot of words. There's gonna be a lot of numbers. You can sift through it, control, find the guys you want to find all that good stuff. The numbers research will be done. All you gotta do is click on it and see where your guys stand.

[Kyle Soppi]

Kyle, thanks so much for stopping by Facts versus Feelings. Let's catch up soon. Make your next move with American Express Business Platinum. Enjoy complimentary access to the American Express.

[Liz Loza]

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[Kyle Soppi]

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[Liz Loza]

Terms apply.

[Kyle Soppi]

Learn [e-mail] Business Platinum AmEx Business Platinum Built for business by American Express.

[Liz Loza]

Put us in a box. Go ahead. That just gives us something to break out of. Because the next generation 2025 GMC terrain elevation is raising the standard of what comes standard. As far as expectations go, why meet them when you can shatter them? What we choose to challenge, we challenge completely. We are professional grade. Visit gmc.com to learn more.

[David Presley]

All right, Liz, it's time for a new segment I'm calling Fantasy Therapy. You sent out a call for people's most pressing questions. I've got the questions, you've got the answers. Are you ready?

[Kyle Soppi]

Sure.

[David Presley]

All rightorius Baumont wants to know can I have faith in CMC at some point in the first round? Gross.

[Kyle Soppi]

Gross. Not gross. You are brave for asking the question because you are definitely not alone. And the simple answer is yes. Kyle Shanahan has said that CMC is here and healthy. Does that mean that CMC is going to stay healthy the entire year? No. But do we know that he is a difference maker when on the field and yes. And do we know that Kyle Shanahan has a generational connection to this player? Yes. So he's going to get used and he's going to produce and you just have to take the leap and believe.

[David Presley]

So much anxiety. All right, this second question comes from Reese TJ and it's Doozy says will we see Kyle Pitt's resurgence with Panics this season?

[Kyle Soppi]

Girl, if he wanted to, he would. I was all in on a bounce back with Arthur Smith out of the building last year and it didn't happen. Over his last three games with Penix under center, he managed a total of seven catches, 66 yards and a single touchdown. Forgive me for not believing this man refuses despite the number of chances given to love me up properly. So I am moving on.

[David Presley]

Like just maybe it's his year list. Maybe it's his year.

[Liz Loza]

Cool.

[Kyle Soppi]

Maybe it's his year. But you know what? There is. This position is so volatile and there are so many other late round options that why bother?

[David Presley]

Oh, I love it.

[Liz Loza]

All right.

[Kyle Soppi]

Fish in the sea, baby. There are so many more fish in the sea.

[David Presley]

Love it. Final question from Dpeak24 is Travis Hunter going to be an impact player on offense? Thanks and you look amazing as per usual. Aw, thanks dp.

[Kyle Soppi]

See, even Dave said thanks. He took that one personally. So I don't think the Jaguars would have drafted Travis Hunter second overall this past April if they didn't intend for him to be an impact player. There's obviously a giant asterisk here though, because he is in an unprecedented role as a two way player. I do think he'll play a good amount of snaps on offense, but there's an experiment here going on and I'm not sure I want to invest in like the wide receiver 35 flex range on a rookie who's an experiment, especially when, yes, I'll have to reach a little bit. I can also get a Jameson Williams like we talked about earlier or George Pickens or Romo Dunes to fill that flex role. So up to you. Will he be an impact player? Sure. Is it going to be worth it in fantasy?

[Liz Loza]

I don't know.

[David Presley]

Yeah, I think it's going to go one of two ways. Either you draft Travis Hunter and you need therapy, or you are against Travis Hunter and you need therapy. Either way, I'm not getting involved. And that was it. That was the first iteration of fantasy therapy. Your bills will be in the mail, people. Make sure you get all of that cashola straight to Liz Loza. And now I think it's time for Last Call.

[Kyle Soppi]

Today we learned that average depth of target matters, that fantasy points may not necessarily, and that keeping your ear to the ground is essential. Remember to listen for the drum beats and decide whether they're evidence of a potential crescendo or beginning to fall flat. Big thanks to Kyle Soppi for joining the show and as always to producer Dave Presley for being in my ear. Go ahead and check out my full length Drum Beat Players article available on the dot com and listen to the Fantasy Focus podcast, now available five days per week. Until next time. May your facts be solid, your feelings be right, and your bus be someone else's problem.