
Week 14 Recap: What We Learned for YOUR Playoff Strategy
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Daniel Dopp
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What's good friends? Welcome into Fantasy Focus Football presented by Wingstop alongside Field Yates and the Stefania Bell My name is Daniel Dopp. Excited to bring you everything that was week 14 except for a Monday Night Football game. The majority of the regular season or the first week of your playoffs are now in the book. We're going to recap a bunch of that stuff. I'll also talk about a Monday Night Football game. How are you guys doing after what it was for us, I think was it for the fact that we made it here. We made it.
Stefania Bell
We all we've gotten to this point.
Daniel Dopp
Exactly.
Stefania Bell
And we're still present.
Daniel Dopp
Yeah, I like that.
Field Yates
Does either of you play in a league where the playoffs have already begun? And I'll exclude the Scott Fishbowl for the purposes of this conversation.
Daniel Dopp
That was going to be the only one that I was going to talk about.
Stefania Bell
No, not yet.
Field Yates
I like when getting in a lot.
Stefania Bell
Of getting a lot of nail biting for one.
Field Yates
Stefania Bell yes, we absolutely love the Scott Fishbowl. Scott does an amazing thing. I also love when we talk about the various components of the Scott Fishbowl in the context of other fantasy topics where it's like in this league where tight ends get 1.7.
And every third down reception counts for 4.8 times. I need to score exactly 212 points to qualify for the playoffs in a tournament of 5,000 people.
Daniel Dopp
I'm not sure 212 would get you there with some of the scores that are scored in fishbowl to be honest.
Field Yates
But anyways, yes, I do not play in any leagues where the playoffs have begun yet But I have heard of people that are playing in multi week playoffs that began in week 14. But for most people, the main attraction begins in week 15 and we have some winners, losers, studs, duds and everything in between.
Daniel Dopp
Yes, we do. It's gonna be a ton of fun. For today's show, quick shout out to our friends over at trophy smack. Visit trophysmac.com use the promo code focus10 for 10% off your order over at Trophy Smack. Thank you very much. I got confused. I was like, what am I hearing in my ear? But we love our friends over at Trophy Smack.
Stefania Bell
Yeah, yeah.
Daniel Dopp
And our buddy Eric Moody hanging out in chat, the YouTube chat. Follow him on social media, Rick and Moody and dive into the YouTube chat. If you are live watching the show, he'd love to answer your questions about what you should do with your playoff roster and ways that you can make sure that your lineup is good to go heading into week 15. All right, first and foremost, before we dive into our Monday morning blitz, I do want to ask this question. Stefania, I've heard the rumor that heroes live forever but legends never die. Is that true?
Stefania Bell
I just never die. I'm trying to see if I can get. We'll just move the cup.
Daniel Dopp
We'll move the cup here for one second. Yeah. So we got a shirt.
Stefania Bell
Yes. So this, this was gifted to me by Mike Clay. So I am paying homage to, to Mike Clay in absentia. But this is the wonderful and talented Jennifer Coolidge, who played Tanya in the White Lotus. And Mike and I were like glued to every season of the White Lotus except for one year I, I broke the spoiler about what happened because it was his fault for not keeping up.
Daniel Dopp
Let'S be honest, the spoiler bell.
Stefania Bell
But you know, the legends never die. Listen, I might, I might not have made the Fantasy Focus Podcast league or even been even close at any point all year. But I'd like to say that Mike still thinks legends never die. So this is a homage to him and to all of you who maybe, you know, maybe you're on the outs of the playoffs, but maybe you still have something to play for in your league.
Daniel Dopp
That's right.
Stefania Bell
Or there are a lot of leagues now. There are these mini playoff leagues that you can do that are just a few weeks where you're doing something fun and interesting. So we hope that you're going to stay tuned and keep listening to all the advice we have for whatever type of league you're playing in the playoffs or, you know, just avoiding that last place punishment.
Field Yates
It's ironic because Mike gave me something yesterday. He gave me a taunt in the app when one of his players scored a touchdown against.
Daniel Dopp
Oh, weird.
Stefania Bell
Those are so funny.
Daniel Dopp
Yeah, it's funny.
Field Yates
Better to get a T shirt versus a taunt.
Daniel Dopp
He sent me a picture of two birds he was going to give me. So I'm surprised. I guess he was an animal lover, but I was.
Stefania Bell
I am just loving the sound effects today by the way. Mike gave me the shirt and he's like well, it was only $5 so I had to get it for.
Daniel Dopp
Wow. Wow. You gotta call that out.
Field Yates
You don't.
Daniel Dopp
You don't need to do that.
Stefania Bell
People, this is a poll question for the chat. Do you, do you ever reveal the price of a gift?
Daniel Dopp
You always take the sticker.
Field Yates
A lot of money on it. You're like you want to show off. But Mike likes to show off how rich he is. Yeah, Ice to Miami once a week. So anyways, we digress.
Daniel Dopp
For what it's worth, I do like your shirt as well. Here field like a little bit. Looks nice.
Stefania Bell
Like Natalie Cloud covering up some T shirt that is not trail on Burke's catch.
Daniel Dopp
All right, with that let's dive into our Monday morning blitz. Winners, losers and what the heck. Players field. I'm going to start with you with our big winner of the week or.
Field Yates
Your big winner of the week. Oh my gosh. Leaping Allen. How incredible was this guy who kind of took this game over almost by himself. The Bills defense definitely helped. Christian Benford had a touchdown for a interception return for a touchdown. They had back to back picks did the Bills of Joe Burrow and the Bengals. But how about Josh Allen's final numbers for the day? 251 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. He had three passing touchdowns and just six incompletions. He also carried the ball nine times for 78 yards and a touchdown. 40 of those 78 yards came on just one long long run. Also end of the game the Bengals have a third and 14. They have forced of Buffalo opportunity if they get a stop to get the ball back down by five. And with the way this game was going, you have no idea what could happen. Joe Burrow had four passing touchdowns of his. Josh Allen scampers for a 20ish yard run. Puts the game on ice. The Bills improved to if my Math is correct, 9 and 4. Josh was remarkable. Highest scoring quarterback on the slate. I don't think that changes after Monday night Football dude.
Daniel Dopp
And in the snow. Like for this to be a snow game and it wasn't like a little bit of snow.
Stefania Bell
It was a snow globe game at the beginning.
Daniel Dopp
It was very fun to watch. I was wondering if it was going to impact any of his passing. And not only did it not impact any of the passing, I mean 250 yards, that might be less than what Josh Allen normally does, but he still found the end zone a bunch of times.
Field Yates
Yeah.
Daniel Dopp
And that run that he had was the longest touchdown run of his career. In a snowy. I can't believe that was the longest touchdown run of his career.
Stefania Bell
So he's made for like he and Buffalo are like so great.
Daniel Dopp
Yeah.
Stefania Bell
My winner was actually someone who was on the other side in that game. But he just had such a spectacular performance as T. Higgins. Yeah. And T. Higgins, remember just a couple of weeks ago, a very scary concussion injury. So this was his first came back. He comes back to produce two huge touchdown receptions including a one handed grab in that snow. I mean it was hard enough. Might replace the trail on Burke's catch.
Daniel Dopp
Yeah, it was good.
Stefania Bell
But in the snow to be able to make a catch like that, get his feet in. 27.2 fantasy points. Wide receiver 4 on the week through Sunday night games. Just a lovely performance by T. And so happy to see him come back from injury and be that successful.
Field Yates
One last note, he actually did get checked for a concussion during the game yesterday. He took a. He actually fell backwards onto the turf. They quickly checked him. He was allowed back into the game. The Bengals play the Ravens next Sunday. Who is your winner, Daniel?
Daniel Dopp
My winner is a little bit farther on down our list. Maybe someone that normally wouldn't have chosen. However, it was a career day as this guy spontaneously breaks out. Tony Pollard against the Browns defense. Nobody saw this coming, to be honest. 25 carries, that was a season high for 161 yards. That was a career high and the most yards that the Browns have allowed to a running back this season. He had two touchdowns, his only two touchdown game as a Tennessee Titan. So you love that. And it's the only two touchdown game that the Cleveland Browns have given up to a running back this season. Total of 28.1 fantasy points. It was his fourth best game of his career. The best game that he's had since joining Tennessee. We did not see this coming. We had him ranked as probably like running back 25 because this was a really difficult matchup and he just did things that I did not expect expect Tony Pollard to do.
Field Yates
Yeah. Congratulations everybody who moved up from 9th to 8th place with this performance from.
Daniel Dopp
Tony Pollard yesterday only started in 31% of leagues.
Field Yates
Probably too little too late. But that being said, nice to see the Titans get a win. They no Longer have the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but much to be determined over the next four weeks. My loser of the week. I'll make it short. I'll make it not so sweet because we have done this all too often recently is Justin Jefferson. We actually saw the best probably version of JJ McCarthy we've seen this season and Justin Jefferson went off for a total of two catches for 11 yards. Guys, I don't know what to say anymore. I'm not going to belabor the point. We can talk about it during the week I thought I was being conservative with my ranking on Justin Jefferson. Last week we had our board bet I had him outside my top 20. It turns out I needed to have him outside my top 50, maybe even my top 100. Yet another forgettable day for Justin Jefferson. It's not his fault, but this is not his year.
Daniel Dopp
Dude, it's so frustrating because JJ McCarthy understood half the assignment. Like he took advantage of that matchup, all the things that you had talked about. And then he threw two touchdowns to Josh Oliver and then another one to TJ Hawkinson and it just felt like Justin Jefferson was not even on the radar for JJ McCarthy.
Field Yates
Here's what I I'm just going to forecast the next few days ahead. Someone's going to say, hey, you know Jefferson, I get it, it's been really bad, but you have to keep starting him. It's the playoffs. If you made the playoffs of Justin Jefferson, bravo.
Daniel Dopp
You probably made it in spite of Justin Jefferson over the last four months, if not longer.
Stefania Bell
Again, we'll talk about it more later, but go look at Kevin OConnell's comments on the whole thing because he talks about it.
Daniel Dopp
Deal? Deal. And we'll check that out.
Stefania Bell
My loser was every packers wide receiver not named Christian Watson or Jaden Reed. I mean, welcome back Jaden Reed, but boy, if you started Matthew golden coming back0 Romeo Dobbs, who's had a couple0 Don Tavian Wicks. Never heard of him.
Daniel Dopp
So you but Bo Melton caught a touchdown. Stefania.
Stefania Bell
It is really. It is like roulette there. Although we're going to come back to this another section of the podcast because I do have a theory going forward. But yeah, loser was you can't get much worse than zero. Although I think who was it was Day Flower who is negative.
Daniel Dopp
We didn't need it. He had 0.6.
Field Yates
For Tyrod Taylor, a popular streaming option, by the way.
Daniel Dopp
And.
Stefania, I'm sorry, tell me your player one more time. It just blinked in my head. As receivers, Christian Watson has at least 18 fantasy points in three of his last four games. Okay, if we're going to talk about it in a bit, we'll save it.
Stefania Bell
My this was my losers were the.
Daniel Dopp
So this was everyone other than Christian.
Field Yates
Watson and Jaden Reed, who did return and played pretty well.
Daniel Dopp
Love to see him back on the field. Absolutely my loser. It does not make a difference how much volume you are getting. If the production doesn't follow a Mecca abuka, it just does not matter. Two catches for 15 yards on nine targets. Again, we got the volume again. Three and a half points, under 10 fantasy points in seven of his last eight games. Last time I checked, you don't win fantasy matchups with targets. But I just want to ask, do you guys win fantasy matchups with targets?
Field Yates
I mean, Scott Fishbowl you might, but besides Scott Fishbowl, probably not.
Daniel Dopp
Yeah, it's another really good matchup this week against the Falcons too, which is so. No. Like, this is the thing. If I said to you in life you did something seven out of eight times and seven out of the eight times it sucked, would you do it a ninth time?
Field Yates
I mean, I've tried salmon more than eight times. There you go.
Stefania Bell
Okay, I didn't know that we had that in common.
Field Yates
You hate salmon.
Stefania Bell
I hate salmon. It's such an unpopular take. And yet there are two of two.
Field Yates
I'm gonna buy you a T shirt. I know I'm buy you a salmon colored T shirt.
Stefania Bell
I don't eat all fish, but salmon. It's something about the orange salmon. Because albino salmon, which I've had, is actually quite good, but rare. So anyway, moving right along, we got.
Daniel Dopp
An albino salmon reference on the podcast today.
Stefania Bell
You live in the Bay Area, you.
Field Yates
Oh, that's true.
Stefania Bell
You encounter different things. Yeah, there was something I wanted to say.
The Buccaneers play Thursday and Mike Evans could potentially return too. So I think it makes Buka thing even tougher.
Field Yates
What a curious year for a book. And I, I, I always forget to do this in the moment when I see it, but it's social media and you're scrolling fast. But somebody noted that basically at the beginning of the season was absolutely dominating on rare efficiency. It was like he turned five targets into four catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns. And you're right, this guy's a top eight wide receiver now. He's getting all the volume and he is not performing. But yeah, he is this week.
Daniel Dopp
He got his Godwin back. Not got him back, but he was there last week. But like you had talked about how maybe this would be better if he does have another wide receiver opposite him because it seems like as the wide receiver one next. Yeah, maybe he needs Mike Evans back as well. I feel like he's Justin Jefferson, but without the pedigree that we've seen of multiple years in the NFL as Justin Jefferson. So when I go into next week, even though you're getting nine targets a game, it's the same thing. For me. If I got to the playoffs, it's probably in spite of Emeka Abuka and I think I'd be okay benching him if I got. We'll talk about it as we get into the week. So.
Field Yates
All right, here we go.
Daniel Dopp
Tough one for me. What the heck, Field?
Field Yates
My, what the heck? You guys are nailing it. All kinds of camaraderie on the show today. Dawson Knox had a huge day yesterday.
Daniel Dopp
Oh my gosh.
Field Yates
You're saying to yourself, what does that have to do with anything? Right? Seven catch, seven targets, six catches, 93 yards, plus a two point conversion for Dawson Knox. Because here's the problem is even though Dalton Kincaid had over 14 fantasy points, those points were supposed to go. Yes, they were all entirely to Dalton Kincaid. Thank you, Field Knox, 17.3 fantasy points. But just for fun, I did want you guys to note how many points this season the Bengals or how many catches, yards and touchdowns the Bengals have allowed. Two opposing tight ends. I love it. This is just, it's like laughable. The Bengals have now allowed and were through 14 weeks of the season, 13 games, 97 catches, 1258 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns. The Bengals have been as bad as you could possibly be defending opposing tight ends. What the heck? Dalton, Dawson Knox. I'm confusing their names.
Daniel Dopp
Dalton King.
Stefania Bell
Yeah, I mean DK or their initials.
Field Yates
Both could start. Yeah. If you could find a way to start all Bills tight ends yesterday, you would have done well because also Jackson.
Daniel Dopp
Haas sort of scored in the.
Field Yates
Yeah. Anyways, I was supposed to all go to Dalton Kincaid. That being said, Dawson Knox, solid day. Who's that for? You.
Stefania Bell
You know, I'm still back on the. I think where you were starting with your Josh Allen, you know, highlight performance. My. What the heck was Joe Burrow. What were you doing throwing to Benford who was coming in, you know, unchecked on that corner blitz and he tried to lob it over and he Essentially said that after the game, he tried to lob it, but he just didn't get it high. It was like, you know when you've played in the backyard football and you're like, I'm just going to just gently lob it. And then someone. Because, you know, this is families on turkey bowl day or rec league football. They got to go all out. An uncle or a cousin.
They'Re going to make the catch and they're going to pick six and you're going to feel embarrassed. Well, that's what happened to Joe Burrow yesterday, and he had such a nice start to the game that I was like, what are you doing? Like, you guys. I think that turned the game and that began the loss for the Bengals because they look like they had a shot. They were. It was match for match. And then after that, he threw another interception shortly after. It was. It was beginning at the end. So that play was just a little crazy. Like, it felt so un. Burrow. Like for someone who's been so accurate to just kind of lob it and underestimate how high he had to throw it, and it ends up going for a touchdown the other direction.
Daniel Dopp
That's really frustrating. I was trying to look to see how long that interception return for a touchdown was, like 64 yards or something. It was the longest pass that Joe Burrow completed of the day, which is like. Like a Kevin Pulsar stash.
Field Yates
Yep.
Stefania Bell
Don't have any ideas.
Field Yates
What's your last.
Daniel Dopp
Last one? If I told you what the. Okay, what the heck? If I said to you coming into the week that Quinn, Sean Judkins was going to get almost seven points from the receiving part of his game, you'd say, what? Yeah, sign me up. That sounds good. What's he going to finish with, like 15, 18? No, he finishes with, like nine fantasy points. Guys, it's so frustrating. 14 carries for 26 yards, 1.9 yards per carry. But then you look at what he did through the air. I mean, I get it. It was only one catch. One catch for 58 yards. I'm not sure that, like, that happens very often for him. Right. So if you say to yourself, you're finally going to get almost seven points as a receiver in a matchup against the Titans that you feel, like, pretty okay about. To be honest, he only played 45% of the snaps. I was kind of surprised by that.
Field Yates
This. Well, I. Here's the thing about right now, Quinton Judkins is being utilized as a player that when they're either early down situations or they're playing with the tire lead, they're going to play him. But yesterday for much of that game, Tennessee was up more to come on the Browns office in just a bit, but Judkins kind of is what he is. Needs to score a touchdown to really pay off.
Daniel Dopp
Dylan Sampson had more fantasy points than Quinn shot Judkins yesterday.
Field Yates
Late for Dylan Sampson as well obviously. All are almost so frustrating though the air.
Daniel Dopp
I thought for sure he was going to get in the end zone. Thought that was going to be a good game.
Field Yates
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Daniel Dopp
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Field Yates
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Daniel Dopp
All right, let's talk about some takeaways here. We're gonna dive into the rest field. I'm gonna start with you.
Field Yates
And just a reminder people, it's week 14 going into week 15. Like the number of takeaways we have should be lower, right? I'm not gonna like if something happens in an outlier fashion in week 14. I'm not going to say that that matters as much going into week 15 as things that have been sticky for like two months now. But we did see something yesterday that has been a bit of an outlier. That is logical that there is a chance that we see something closer to this than where it has been for much of the year. And that's DK Metcalf's usage yesterday. I hope so for the Steelers. I mean it'd be one thing if it was Ben Skoronic having 12 targets at 148 yards. DK Bleeping Metcalf, who got traded for a second round pick and also got a contract for $33 million this past off season per year like he had seven catches, 148 yards, 12 targets. All of those were highs for DK Metcalf as a Steeler. This team made a concerted effort to throw the football down the field. He had three completions of 20 plus air yards yesterday. If you watch fantasy football now, you know that there was a total of one since week nine.
Stefania Bell
I was saying I think the Steelers did watch because then they changed that.
Field Yates
And the only thing that I will say and I'll be quick on these is the Steelers talked about their wide receivers a lot this past week and seemed like they were understanding that they were not getting nearly the most out of this group and they needed more. They played the Dolphins Monday night. Stefania, he is banged up and we learned about that this morning.
Stefania Bell
Yes, DK Metcalf spent the night in Baltimore. Apparently after experiencing stomach pain on the plane, the team decided that he should remain in Baltimore for observation. Sounds like he will go home today and he checked out. If you're wondering why I didn't see it feel that we're talking before the show that he took a big hit to the center. So stomach pain can be so many things, right? It could. Are you thinking upset stomach? That kind of pain? Could it be pain from trauma because he took a big hit and you're looking at making sure the spleen is okay and you don't want anything to happen while you're in flight. Steelers always very good at this medical decision making. So did the a conservative thing and made sure he was all right. But it sounds like he checked out fine.
Daniel Dopp
So it's not because he was sick to his stomach from carrying my fantasy team. He had to stay there for an actual.
Field Yates
I tell you what, DK showed serious dog yesterday on top of all the production of receiver for those that maybe missed it and we'll end it here. 2 minutes, 2 minutes ish left in the game. The Steelers are punting from deep in their own territory. Up 27, 22. They had some injuries to their normal gunners, which is the player who lines up in basically a wide receiver formation on the punt team runs down. It's a pretty reckless job. You are wrestling with one or two vices and you're basically throwing yourselves into harm way. Harm's way. DK Metcalf played gunner for them for the first time since I think it was high school for DK Metcalf yesterday. So that was pretty cool from him. Let's see whether this matters going forward.
Daniel Dopp
If I'm a punt returner and DK Metcalf is lining up at gunner. Yeah, I don't. I'm not interested in that smoke. Like you can miss me with that.
Stefania Bell
Yeah, it's like running into a smoke. Steel wall.
Daniel Dopp
I'm going to go for you guys. Mind if I go second? How about Lamar Jackson getting back on track now? The eye test maybe didn't feel quite as good as what the production turned out to be. If you watch this game, it wasn't necessarily ideal. Maybe Stefania, you'll talk about that in a minute. However, numbers weren't terrible. 219 passing yards with a passing touchdown and an interception. But most importantly, seven carries for 43 yards and a rushing touchdown. Back to a little bit of the Lamar that we had seen. Finally utilizing his legs, not full on like classic Lamar, but enough to be able to get us to a spot where it didn't feel like we got crushed if we started him here this week, only his second 20, excuse me, 20 point game since week three and it is his most rushing yard since week four. So we needed this because we talked about it coming into it. If you trusted Lamar Jackson this week, you were full on just believing in the matchup. Stefania, how'd you feel watching this?
Stefania Bell
I felt very differently and I was. That was exactly the eye test. And the thing is, we talked yesterday about in the game since he'd been back from a hamstring injury, he had only one game where he had over 35 yards rushing and that was 36 yards rushing. Right. So this was the most he's had since coming back from that. But if you've watched him, which I was determined to really keep a close eye on him because the consistency of him being on the injury report, the missing practice during the week so that he's available to play everything tells you he's not 100% and I don't think he's even denying it. He's Basically when he talks, he's like, I'm good enough and I'm good out there. He got his foot stepped on in practice this week, so it was yet another new injury for him. There was a play where he scored that touchdown, Daniel, and he hesitated. He did everything he could to not be the guy running it into the end zone. It was a desperation like nothing. Like, he reminded me of my dog who's a little skittish, you know, and sometimes when he wants to go in his crate, he's like, I don't know if I should go over the lip of it or not. Back and forth. And then he finally goes. That, to me, was Lamar Jackson in the sense of the hesitation. You never saw that with him before. You saw an. An aggressive runner when he had run by design or run to make a play. He is still hesitant. That is what I see and that is what makes me nervous going forward. And I don't know. Here's what we don't know and you're not going to know it till you see him play again. Was yesterday a building block to getting back and going, okay, I did this and I came out of it okay and I'm better and it helps going forward. Or was he like, yeah, I. I still don't feel great. He's still off with his. Some of his passes. The accuracy is off and that can be a lot from your lower body as well. So I'm just not convinced that he's really better. And for me, fantasy playoffs, I had a decision to make yesterday. I started Joe Burrow in place of Lamar Jackson. It was pretty close. Burrow still ended up ahead. If he hadn't had two picks, he would end up significantly ahead. But. But I don't know if I feel comfortable starting Lamar Jackson in my playoff game next week. And I have that same decision.
Field Yates
They play each other next week. A testament to Lamar that he didn't look great to you, wasn't great as a passer, and he still nearly had as many fantasy points as Joe Burrow on a day in which Burrow throws four passing touchdowns. So Lamar special. Maybe not fully back all the way yet.
Daniel Dopp
Can I say one last thing? Shout out to Lamar for making sure that he got our guy Zay Flowers involved. Because if you started Zay Flowers this week, it was huge for you. Eight catches on 11 targets for 124 yards and 20.6 fantasy points. So there may have been a little trepidation there starting him because like you guys talked about Lamar's passing Game has not been great recently.
Field Yates
We can pack this in here together. Stefania, I can ask you about Devon Hin before I talk about what it looked like after he left the game.
Stefania Bell
Oh, yes. Well, he left with a rib injury and you always worry about that with the running back because it's not just a matter of protection from externally if he is cleared to ultimately play the next week. But it's internally. Every time you breathe, every time you stretch, everything you do hurts if you have rib fractures. So stay tuned to see what he's able to do. But I am a little bit concerned. It sounded like Mike McDaniel was a little.
Daniel Dopp
Have you ever had a real rib injury?
Field Yates
I have not and I'm very thankful for that.
Daniel Dopp
I had Manny, my son once hugged me sideways. He's a big guy and it popped a rib while he was hugging me. And for the next week I was like, I've never felt it's so sharp. Yeah.
Stefania Bell
And they each have like their own nerves that go to.
Daniel Dopp
I'm just doing. That's like me getting out of bed. I'm not playing a physical sport like football.
Field Yates
So anyways, they play next Monday night. So he has an extra day to get back to closer to 100% after Devon HN left. And this is a look ahead and Daniel will do the waivers tomorrow. If Han is unavailable next week, it is going to be the Jalen Wright show. He had 24 carries for 107 yards yesterday. Three targets, zero catches, but he totally dominated snaps and touches. Ollie Gordon was very much not a fact. So file that away. We'll discuss it more tomorrow on waivers.
Daniel Dopp
I thought that was. It's so interesting because that makes me think of the Rams where we thought last year when they or this year when they drafted Jarquez Hunter that like he's going to be the guy. Blake Corum's not the guy. Now that we've seen more Blake Corum, right? Well, we saw last year they drafted this guy Jalen Wright, but then this year they drafted Ollie Gordon. All right. Jalen Wright's not. Must not be a thing. And we're going to see how that works out with those backfields. I got another backfield I'm going to talk about really quickly.
Stefania Bell
I was just going to jump in right there because I My next takeaway was about Blake Corum.
Daniel Dopp
Please.
Stefania Bell
And so it just since you. That Blake Corum no longer just an insurance policy. Like I think the Rams have made a concerted effort to get him more involved. Yesterday 26.1 fantasy points for Blake Corum 17.7 for Kyron Williams Blake Corum the week before 14.1 fantasy points like I I've never thought that Sean McVay would use two running backs until now and I feel like there is a definitive effort to engage both running backs in the game. They bring a different type of thing. Blake Corm looked explosive. He's looked at the last two games. The Rams offense is just on fire. So why not play with all the toys? I mean they, they certainly can. But I to me, who in one of my leagues I did start Blake Corum because that was my choice and ended up being fortunate with that. I'm not saying he's going to produce over 25 fantasy points next time, but I do think that he's going to consistently be involved.
Daniel Dopp
Here's the Can I talk about the Rams really quickly? Because this is the thing for me when I looked at the Rams, okay, because both of these running backs had monster days like you just talked about. Stefania Kyren Williams 13 carries for 84 yards and a touchdown. Two catches for 13 yards, 17.7 fantasy points Blake Corum 12 carries. So neither one of them had more than 13 carries for 128 yards and two touchdowns. He had one catch for three yards. So neither one of them are really catching the football. They're both kind of touchdown dependent running backs. But in this offense, I guess if the one guy that lost this week is if you're not going to get in the end zone devonte Adams. This is what a non devonte Adams game looks or non touchdown devonte Adams games looks like.
Field Yates
Yeah. Only thing I'll say on this one is I think the question going into the playoffs is is this about the Rams having two starting running backs or is it about having a player that was once a top 10 running back that might be closer to 20 in Kyron Williams because Corum's been great but you know, a little more feast or famine nature to these two backs compared to where Kyron Williams was a lock it in starter every week.
It may not matter as much for this week given the matchup. We'll talk about that in a second. But there's a case that Marvin Harrison Jr's health status is one of the biggest storylines for the rest of the year because when he's out, Michael Wilson, and I don't think I'm exaggerating, becomes Jerry Rice.
Daniel Dopp
He's the best wide receiver in the NFL.
Field Yates
So let's talk about this here for a second. Three games with Marvin Harrison Jr. Being out. Let me give you the numbers here for our Michael Wilson. Fifteen catches for 185 yards. That seems pretty good, right?
Daniel Dopp
Pretty Good, yeah.
Field Yates
And 10 catches for 118 yards.
Daniel Dopp
That's also pretty good.
Field Yates
Finally yesterday, 11 catches, 142 yards and two touchdowns.
Daniel Dopp
Feels like a pattern's developing field.
Stefania Bell
Yes.
Field Yates
So obviously the Cardinals are very thin at wide receiver. Marv is out yesterday. Greg Dorch is on ir. Zay Jones is on ir. It was basically the Michael Wilson show with very quiet by his own standards, frame McBride Day. Right. Like five for 58. I would do a backflip for like Theo Johnson on my team to get five for 58. McBride. I'm like, damn it.
Stefania Bell
Anyways, I was playing against.
Field Yates
Yeah, Michael Wilson. Just an unbelievable day. They play the Texans next week. So if you go to the projections and you're like, even if Marv is out, Michael Wilson's only projected for like 12 fantasy points. Well, he was basically like Rasheed Rice esque. And Rasheed Rice, as we saw last night, was very much good. The clamps were put on because that Texans defense is ridiculous.
Daniel Dopp
Is this the new pass catching wide receiving duo for the Arizona Cardinals for the next 10 years?
Stefania Bell
You're, you're, you're picking up what my take was just was exactly dovetailing off of that. Which was it doesn't matter what their record is or that the majority of their starters, I mean really, they are playing elevated backups across the board from Jacoby Brissette at quarterback, all their running backs. All their running backs to their pass catchers.
Daniel Dopp
Yep.
Stefania Bell
Reset. Wilson, McBride are worthy of consideration for your fantasy football playoffs. And now I did look at the matchup next week. We got Houston, Texas, bad Texans. Texans is a problem. I still, you know, they've had some tough matchups and Jacobe Brissette is still looking for those two guys. And those two guys are playmakers. Yesterday was a tough matchup and some of the routes that. It's the way that Wilson and McBride both managed to get open. McBride was doing a lot of other work yesterday which hindered some of the pass catching, but I still think you take your chances with him. Then they play Atlanta, then they play Cincinnati.
Field Yates
So, you know, by the way, Jacoby Brissette, 40 plus passing attempts was one of the questions at red zone yesterday.
Daniel Dopp
What'd he get to?
Field Yates
Never a doubt. 44 for the. Yes. What's next?
Daniel Dopp
What he does.
Stefania Bell
Unreal.
Daniel Dopp
How about RJ Harvey popping off at the right time for fantasy managers back to back 20 point games this last week. 17 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown, plus really good receiving game work. Six catches for 25 yards, total of 22 fantasy points. And if you remember last week, if you don't, I'll tell you about it. 13 rushes for 35 yards but two touchdowns and another three catches for 27 yards. Back to back games over 21 fantasy points this week. His career career highs in carries, receptions and touches. He now has five straight games with multiple receptions. He's getting utilized in the passing game. He is still their goal line back. He's clearly their number one back. Yes, there are other people there that is, you know, helping spell him. But without J.K. dobbins being there, it is the RJ Harvey show with other people just filling in when he needs.
Field Yates
A yes, I'm nervous though. Let's talk about the schedule.
Daniel Dopp
Schedule's not great.
Field Yates
They choose the schedule, the Broncos don't. And by the way, they're 11 and 2. There's nothing to apologize here.
Daniel Dopp
The packers next week.
Field Yates
He started three games. One of them wasn't great. Who was that against? The Chiefs.
Daniel Dopp
Yep.
Field Yates
He played two games against the Commanders and the Raiders. They stink to high heavens. Yep, the Broncos now play over the next three weeks, packers first place team, Jaguars first place team and the Chiefs, who even if they aren't a first.
Stefania Bell
Place, their defense looks really good.
Field Yates
Defense ain't the problem right now in Kansas City. So you have gotten back to back solid weeks for RJ Harvey. I am concerned about a dip going forward.
Daniel Dopp
We'll see how that works.
Field Yates
Yeah, we mentioned the name earlier. I'll just briefly just reiterate. Christian Watson has been remarkable for the Packers. It's off the charts efficiency. But over his last four games he now has five receiving touchdowns, including two more yesterday, four catches, 46 yards. Is there a chance that he turns into a pumpkin in one of these games coming up soon?
Daniel Dopp
Absolutely.
Field Yates
For sure. He played the Packer. They played the Broncos this weekend. That's a darn good pass defense. But if you either added Christian Watson off of waivers or drafted him for some reason this preseason and held on tight, Stefania, you have reaped the benefits for the past four games.
Stefania Bell
And that's, you know, kind of going into what my next take was was are we seeing the best version of what the packers offensive components are that are playing together minus obviously Tucker Kraft who was lost for the season. But if you look at Josh Jacobs on the ground who produced 17.2 fantasy points yesterday and actually by the way I thought that was the best Josh Jacobs has looked running in a while and definitely looked past the knee issue that had held him up recently. Even even though, you know, tough as nails and played as much as he could, he really ran like himself yesterday. But Christian Watson, to your point, who I think is now looking like the receiver that they wanted him to be when they drafted him. But health has been such a challenge for him. This guy tore ZCL in January of last year. Let me remind you, he looks unbelievable. Like he's playing out of his mind. And then Jaden Reed. It was only 9.3 fantasy points, but it was first came back four targets and also two carries for Jaden Reed. So I feel like these are the packers components that despite the fact they have all these different potential mouths to feed, so to speak, I think you're. I feel like Jordan loves this. We're going to settle in on these stars.
Field Yates
By the way, Jaden Reed. It was early. Like right away, I think it was two of their first four plays from scrimmage were opportunities for Jaden Reed. Daniel, anything else from you?
Daniel Dopp
I can't wait till we don't have to talk about packers wide receivers anymore because I just don't know how to figure it out.
Stefania Bell
But I think, I wonder. I actually believe we're starting to see it take shape.
Daniel Dopp
I hope so. There's a part of me that still wants and this is probably just never going to be Christian Watson's game. But like his last, his three games that he's had over 18 fantasy points, he's had four catches.
Field Yates
Yeah.
Daniel Dopp
Like it's just because he's getting so many. He's a big play waiting to happen. Right.
Field Yates
He's on the short list for best deep threats in the NFL.
Daniel Dopp
Absolutely.
Field Yates
A remarkably talented deep field receiver.
Stefania Bell
Yep.
Daniel Dopp
You know who else is remarkably talented that doesn't get a lot of love? I kind of feel like he sort of replaced James Conner as the unsexy running back. To me, it's Travis Etn. Best game of the season this last week. 20 rushes, 74 yards, two touchdowns, plus a catch in the passing game. 21.2 fantasy points. He was quite inefficient, but two touchdowns can cure a lot of that. 21 touches. That's the fifth time in the last six games that he has had at least 18 touches as the leader of this backfield. Jaguars dominated the Colts. It was kind of a weird game, to be honest. There's some stuff that happened in that game. I know we're going to talk about. But hopefully Travis etn if you utilized him here, he's just not a not he's not a sexy guy that we talk about. Like we don't talk about Travis ETN.
Field Yates
A lot feel differently.
Daniel Dopp
Yeah, but that's true. However, loved him this week. If you utilized him and he has been a good part of this Jags offense the last couple weeks.
Field Yates
He was the best running back in the game yesterday.
Stefania Bell
Issues with Travis Etienne?
Field Yates
Well, it's I think the lingering over.
Stefania Bell
From early in the season, I think.
Field Yates
The concern would be pretty straightforward is he's run a lot.
Daniel Dopp
Yep.
Field Yates
He has not been super efficient and he's not seen much in the passing game. So that does create a slightly higher level of variance compared to a guy like James Conner last year where it was like five catches a game that even if he had 36 rushing yards, you're getting some good pass game utilization. But he is solid. Travis Etienne has been really solid. So much for those this next week. This week they.
They play someone good.
Daniel Dopp
Travis ETN plays the.
New York Jets.
Field Yates
I said someone bad.
Daniel Dopp
And then they play the Denver Broncos in Denver and then they're in Indianapolis.
Field Yates
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Daniel Dopp
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Field Yates
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Daniel Dopp
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Field Yates
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Stefania Bell
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Field Yates
I just got a couple more we can do quick here. Just Roman Newses absence didn't really mean a lot for the Bears in terms of their deployment of wide receivers. Lamide Zaka has played a larger role. Luther Burden had four catches for 67 yards. Colson Loveland had four catches for 29 yards and a touchdown. But it wasn't like, hey, somebody stepped into the odunze role.
Daniel Dopp
I feel like there's one name that you're just like not saying as a part of the Bears.
Field Yates
DJ Moore didn't do anything. Yeah.
Daniel Dopp
Is that what it was? He just did nothing.
Field Yates
Nothing. DJ Moore, I think had a catch. So if I don't.
Daniel Dopp
Oh, he did one catch for negative four yards. That's your negative. Stefania.
Stefania Bell
There you go.
Field Yates
So not much there from from the Bears passing game minus Roma Dunes A. Devin Neal is the Saints running back until Alvin Camara returns. And there's actually a chance, given their schedule that this might have a little bit of value for the next three weeks. Over the last two games, Devin Neal, 13 carries plus three catches yesterday, 19 carries with a touchdown plus a catch as well. How about the next three games? Week 18 will exclude for a moment, but the next three games from New Orleans are Carolina, the jets and the Titans. I think Carolina is obviously the toughest of those three games. Alvin Camara could return this week for all we know, but if he doesn't, there's actually a chance that, like, there's top 25ish value here for Devin.
Daniel Dopp
I mean, Alvin Camara coming back is just solely about him wanting to play football.
Field Yates
I think. I think people are. This conversation has bubbled up a lot recently, and I think we should just put a pin in it. If a player is healthy enough to play, a, he's going to want to play and B, he's going to play. Like, I think that's like ridding these players of their livelihood is. We can say it's smart business and things of that nature. But like, for the first three quarters of yesterday's game, everybody who was saying Joe Burrow's insane for returning was sitting there like, holy crap. Are the Bengals a team that no one wants to play?
Stefania Bell
Yes. Joe Burrows back. And Joe Burrow brought up a great point on this topic, which was, you know, we want to give the fans, like, they're paying to come see this football. Like, I'm not just going to sit when I'm healthy and we're trying, you know, I just loved everything he said because, like, yes, it's getting late early because that loss yesterday hurt them, but they are trying to put on a good show for the fans. He wants to give them that. They deserve this. They deserve to see.
Daniel Dopp
Hold on, let me call Adam Silver really quickly. And I'll let you say this.
Field Yates
I would just say that, like, where I think there is a legitimate point made that teams and players have to be smart about is that if you're playing through something and it's like you're battling through it and you get through a game and it's like, like, you know, if Justin Herbert and the Chargers were out of playoff contention, it's like, dude, your hand is broken, man. Like, it's. It's okay to take a week off. I get it. But when a player is like medically cleared to go, I expect them to play. Even if their team. Weeks 18, maybe we'll have a different conversation. But week 14, I think people are still like, let's just like, let's get.
Stefania Bell
Back to our jobs. Like, let's not throw the whole month away.
Daniel Dopp
Right?
Stefania Bell
Speaking of teams who are going to have to figure out who to play, my question is, what are fantasy managers supposed to do with their Colts players in the immediate future? Because.
Anthony Richardson, we do not know. I was chatting with Stephen Holder yesterday. Covers the Colts for us. Anthony Richardson, remember, fractured orbital to bone, still on injured reserve. Shane Steichen said he expects him to return this season, but I really wonder if that's going to be the case. It's a bit of a different conversation, but that for people who don't know, he fractured his orbital bone in an incident that happened when he was working out at the facility, had to have surgery. That's ice.
Field Yates
It was a ball, right?
Stefania Bell
No, no, it was the thera bands that they work and the buckle broke that they anchored to the door, sometimes came back and smacked him in the face. So like a metal racket.
Daniel Dopp
Oh, my God.
Stefania Bell
And then it fractured his eye socket. Had to have surgery.
But not only that, his vision was impaired from the swelling. And so, you know, there's a lot of things that he's working through. So I, I got a little aggrav in some social media comments about why isn't he out here. It's like there is a very serious injury that happened. Just hasn't been talked about. So in any event, put him aside. We have really no idea. And you're not rushing that back?
Field Yates
Correct.
Stefania Bell
Okay. And then Daniel Jones, that is, you know, bearing the lead A bit. But he tore his Achilles yesterday. It was just so sad because he had been playing through this fibula fracture on his left leg and clearly uncomfortable. Clearly some difficulty moving, but could be out there from a safety perspective. Wanted to be out there. Tears the opposite Achilles. And you can get into Was he overcompensating because he's loading his right leg a lot more as a result of the left leg being problematic. There's no way to really know biomechanically. We think maybe that had something to do with it, but it doesn't matter. At the end of the day, he tore his Achilles. That's the end of his season and surgery forthcoming and a lengthy recovery. But now what do you do for fantasy purposes with the rest of your Colts players? Riley Leonard will be the expected quarterback going forward.
Daniel Dopp
Can we start with the running back? Because that feels like the easiest one out of all of them.
Field Yates
You have to keep playing Jonathan Taylor. But is there been a more And I'm like regretting that I wasn't more passionate about this yesterday on the show. And I'm like, guys, are we concerned at all about Jonathan Taylor facing off against the number one rush defense in the NFL? This is three out of four bad games for Jonathan Taylor. And the rubber like is meeting the road going forward with their schedule. Like, just read it for people schedule.
Daniel Dopp
They take on Seattle, then they take on San Francisco, then they take on Jacksonville. And you mentioned the. I just want to say this last handful of weeks, week nine, 7.7 fantasy points. Week 10, 49.6. Like, that was the huge game Europe game. Here are the next three. 8.6, 15.1 and 11.4. That's earlier on in the season. It was all 23, 25, 31. It wasn't games like this.
Field Yates
He's not getting much passing game utilization. You're going to keep playing playing Jonathan Taylor. He's going to rank very high each and every week. But it's a scary proposition facing Seattle this week. Tyler Warren will continue to rank inside of our top 10 to 12 of tight ends because A, he's amazing. B, there's like no good tight ends.
Daniel Dopp
Agreed.
Stefania Bell
By the way, Tyler Warren is now the emergency quarterback for the Colts.
Field Yates
And then he's Taysom Hill. Yeah. And then Michael Pittman Jr. You know, there's a downgrade here.
Daniel Dopp
I think he's impacted the most out of everybody.
Field Yates
Yes. Because he was the closest to being a lineup block amongst wide receivers. Alec Pierce played well yesterday. Five for 80 and a near touchdown for Pierce. My Last takeaway is I just want to give a shout out to Shador Sanders.
Stefania Bell
Yes.
Daniel Dopp
Yes.
Field Yates
Good ball down Shador.364 passing yards, three passing touchdowns. He actually ran the ball for 29 yards as well. Plus a touchdown.33.46 fantasy points or Shador Sanders second most of the week behind only Josh Allen amongst quarterbacks. I think he'll remain quarterback two for the week with Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts yet to play and his production coincided or led to a gigantic Harold Fannin Jr. Day. Eight for 114 and a touchdown. He is tight end one on the week. The Browns are going to continue to start Shador Sanders every single week. We'll see what the future at that position for them looks like going forward. I have a mock draft coming out on Wednesday. Call that a tease in the business, but Shador Sanders definitely deserves some love for a huge performance. Clearly. I mean clearly the Browns best option at quarterback this season. Clearly.
Stefania Bell
Yeah. Beautiful pass in the end zone.
Daniel Dopp
Yes.
Stefania Bell
It was one of my favorite plays.
Daniel Dopp
Love Harold Fannin too. He has become one of those guys that you can count on as a low end, tight end one. And if Shador is going to keep doing things, hopefully maybe we can build upon that.
Field Yates
Rounds for the Bears next weekend. FYI prospects there.
Daniel Dopp
Browns feels like Bears battle star Galactica like it. All right, last one. I'm just going to do a quick shout out because we did a ceiling segment I believe on Wednesday. Hey, if you need some ceiling, play some dart throws this week. If you did start my guy, Rashid Shahid, he got a punt return touchdown and that's okay, it still counts. Not only that, but he had four catches on five targets for 67 yards for 16.7 fantasy points. So if you threw that dart, that could have been a guy that could have helped you out. I just want to give a shout out to Rashid Shahid with his best game as a wide receiver as well for this Seahawks team. All right, let's dive into a couple of injuries here, unfortunately. Stefania.
Stefania Bell
That's right, we have. We already referenced Von Achan and Daniel Jones. Jaden Daniels, very scary moment.
Daniel Dopp
Yeah, it was.
Stefania Bell
He went down and was, you know, you could see was uncomfortable and kind of reached for his elbow. Goes off with the medical group to have it evaluated. Comes back later standing on the sideline. We hear his return is questionable because of the elbow. Dan Quinn after the game said, you know, is this much of a scare as anything I. When you hyperextend, so that means your joint goes beyond its normal range of motion, it and things can get damaged. And we saw what happened. He had a weird injury when he went for bracing his arm for a fall and that's when his elbow dislocated. Even if you don't have extensive structural damage that requires surgery, everything's a little more sensitized, if you will. So if something happens where it either threatens that joint, you hit it wrong or you get it bent a little, just something your instinct is going to be to freeze up. And also it's still uncomfortable, you know, so those things are going to happen. And I think it was more of a scare than anything else. He could have returned to the game but Dan Quinn felt like, listen, there were not going to be two bad choices like that. But as far as continuing, I do think we're going to see him play again. It's everything that you said earlier field and Dan Quinn said is still a young quarterback who needs to have these reps. And he was actually pushing to go back in. So you know he's got to play better. He has. And the only way to play better is to get back out. Remember he's been hurt. I'd love to. I have to go back and look at like the number, the calculus of how many games. But J. Daniels has only had a few healthy games this year. So wouldn't it be nice if you can go back and like at least finish performing on a high note, not go into the off season with all the question mark marks.
Daniel Dopp
This injury happened in the third quarter.
Stefania Bell
I don't remember.
On the sideline in the fourth quarter. I remember that.
Daniel Dopp
I just want to say that because you saying he has to play better like I don't want to. It already sucks with Jaden Daniels, but before he got hurt he was not playing well. Like 9 of 20 for 78 yards and an interception wasn't really utilizing his legs super well like it was.
Field Yates
Much of the discourse has been around his health this year. Not enough has been around the fact that he just simply hasn't been this otherworldly second year quarterback.
Stefania Bell
And then just think you're adding into the mix. This is where I take the health part. You, you, you're not playing well and then you're not, you're, you're, you're maybe apprehensive about coming back after a couple of big injuries and people are in your ear about not getting hurt. It changes the way you play and so you, those two things have to get assimilated so you can start returning to the player that you were before you had all that noise in your head. That's why he needs a couple good games. His teammate, unfortunately, Zach Ertz, who has been a safety valve for whoever's at quarterback for the Commanders, took an awful ugly looking hit to his knee. They talked about concern for his acl. I would be concerned about far more than his acl. Zachary carded off. Just. That's one of those. It's a gut punch. You know, you see a player like that, he's had a couple significant injuries he's come back from. I'll never forget. I really was defending him when he came out of Philly. It was kind of of like as if he was washed up. And I felt like when he got to Arizona, he really got the break and the rehab that he needed to reinvent himself as a bit of an older tight end. And he came out and he was good and he's been good in Washington. Even though didn't they draft Benson?
Daniel Dopp
He did.
Stefania Bell
And yet Zach Ertz has remained like their lead tight end. He's a mature.
Smart guy at the position, has kept himself in great shape, and I just, just really hurt to see that injury happen.
Field Yates
If this is it for him, what an amazing career. We'll talk about that if he decides to make a retirement decision at some point this off season. Should we get the suds and duds? Let's do it. Okay.
Daniel Dopp
A couple of guys had some really big games that we didn't touch on in part because they sort of always have big games. You guys mind if I mentioned Jackson, Smith and Jigba? He's been carrying my fantasy football now team.
Stefania Bell
All guys you love.
Daniel Dopp
I mean, these are all guys that I love. Yeah. But JSN has been unbelievable. And another great game against the Fantasy Falcon. Seven for 92 and two touchdowns, almost three touchdowns. He had another catch in the back of the end zone. Just couldn't get his feet in. But 28.1 fantasy points. This dude is on the short list of best wide receivers in the NFL.
Field Yates
It kind of started slow. Like for a minute I was just going to say that, you know, bam.
Stefania Bell
I was like, of all the times for him not to show up for fantasy managers.
Field Yates
Bam.
Daniel Dopp
Thank you. Thank you.
Field Yates
He was like, he's like, I was awesome. And then Puka Nukua was like, I.
Daniel Dopp
See, I see you.
Field Yates
Yes.
Daniel Dopp
And I raised you was so good.
Field Yates
Puka Nukua, 35 points.
Stefania Bell
You don't even get mad at him. And listen, there's no one who roost against the rams more than 49ers fan. Right.
Daniel Dopp
I will not.
Field Yates
Yes. Yes.
Stefania Bell
And yet I watch him and he goes the end zone. He makes his little heart.
Field Yates
I know.
Stefania Bell
And you're like, he's so playful and so fun as he's running up the score against you. You don't even get mad at it.
Field Yates
Yeah. Seven fantasy point seven for 167 and two touchdowns for Puka. He was ridiculous. More duds than studs this week.
Stefania Bell
I know. But we got to give Jameer Gibbs some love.
Field Yates
Yeah.
Daniel Dopp
A little bit of Thursday love.
Field Yates
Why not?
Stefania Bell
I know. Just remember because. Because Daniel, I know, like you can't always be the one bragging about your lion.
Daniel Dopp
I appreciate it, Stefania. Every once in a while it's nice to have someone else talk about them on the other side. While I love Jackson, Smith and Jigba for my FF now team, I also started Bijan Robinson as my start of the week. I thought I was getting sneaky getting him at RB6.9.4 fantasy points. Just a dud here for this Falcon squad. Unfortunately.
Field Yates
Yeah, he hasn't been a couple fumbles of late. By the way, they play Thursday night. A reminder there. And we'll talk more about Drake London tomorrow because we should have at the very least comments from Raheem Morris by today. They do have to submit a practice report as well.
Stefania Bell
I. Here's the thing. Raheem Morris at the start of last week was like, oh yeah, he looks good. I expect to see him out there. Meaning like backup never practiced. So I don't know that I'm totally confident in Raheem Morris's coach speak index. Yeah. And. And that may be just a communication thing where he thought he was doing better and thought he'd see him at practice. Like, I don't think he's deliberately masking it.
Field Yates
I don't. I don't want to speak for anybody. This is just my interpret. This is just how something that came to my mind is Adam Schefter joining us on fantasy football now. Yesterday we asked him about Drake London and he did mention he said one thing to keep in mind is that Drake London has not yet been paid. The team is going to have its evaluation here. The player and his representation have to think about the player's best interest too. We're a nine team and you're not well enough to do anything during the week prior to a Thursday night football game. Wouldn't stun me. If this is one where they err on the side of caution.
Daniel Dopp
Why would you not fantasy managers.
Field Yates
That's Why? I know but this is different.
Daniel Dopp
Of course I know, I know but.
Stefania Bell
But also fantasy manager. Keep that hat on. Do you want a what Brock Bowers looked like when he was still struggling with a PCL injury playing for you? If that if it's playoff week and you're out there and you're. You're. Now you're. I'm starting you because you're playing but you really can't play at the level that I need you.
Field Yates
And by the way with afs with NFC Geno Smith because that's what Kirk cuz he is it is not good host right now. Yeah we digress duds for this past week. You mentioned Bijon Ashton Jensen. Just feel awful for the kid just giving him just no work whatsoever. Another game where the Raiders like barely possess the football. He had 10 carries, he had two catches. The offensive coordinator change accomplished absolutely nothing. So good job by the Raiders for doing that.
Daniel Dopp
Clean house.
Field Yates
It's going to be an off season of I think some changes there. Genti once again crestfallen. But the worst offensive line in the league. Breeze hall was not much better.
Stefania Bell
I was gonna say in the land of running backs who are underwhelming 4.1 fans actually that whole like oh yeah.
Field Yates
This was a throwaway game for the Jets.
Daniel Dopp
What was the highest scoring New York Jet on the week you think Probably.
Field Yates
Xavier Wilson because he had a kick return for a touchdown.
Daniel Dopp
Isaiah Williams.
Field Yates
Isaiah Williams.
Daniel Dopp
He was 1.4. There you go.
Field Yates
I'm sorry, a couple more duds. DJ Moore we talked about already. I just want to mention the Chiefs, all of them. Just that Texans defense is the truth.
Stefania Bell
Was it talked about me? I'm sorry.
Field Yates
No, no go. No go. I was going to say we talked.
Daniel Dopp
About it last week.
Field Yates
Like is Patrick Holmes a starter against the Texans? What are my talking points? And I should have just been like no, no, no, no, no, no.
Daniel Dopp
Like you had me at Texans. You know how we say like oh you had me at Bengals. Like we need to do the other thing on the other side. You had me a Texas Jacksons.
Stefania Bell
They're so good. Yeah, I was. Last night was one of those nights where I felt like I heard every. It felt like the most physical, hard hitting football game that I saw and I watched a lot of football yesterday and that was just like ratcheted up a notch of how intensely physical it was. Like I thought the whole team was going to leave on a medical card. Defense. Offense for the Chiefs, defense for the Texans because everybody was playing out of their mind. The Texans Defense right now looks like they can't be stopped. And because the Chiefs offense was so unsuccessful, that's what actually helped the Texans offense to be able to score. You know, they, it's not like they did huge drives down the field. Texans defense is winning them games.
Daniel Dopp
Do you guys remember what field temperature was in that game last night?
Field Yates
It wasn't that bad compared to some of the other games we like the.
Daniel Dopp
Bears packers game was like bitterly seven. Yeah, it felt like seven degrees on the field and, and we obviously we got that snow game. We're going to start having some weather games here coming up that we got to contend with in the fantasy field in New England.
Field Yates
There's three teams within two hours of us and I can't imagine the weather is much better at MetLife Stadium or Gillette Stadium.
Daniel Dopp
Agreed. All right, let's dive into Monday Night Football where we don't have to worry about the weather because we're playing in Los Angeles.
Field Yates
Do I move out there somehow?
Daniel Dopp
That's pretty fantastic. We got the Eagles taken on the Chargers and the very first question that I have, Stefania Bell, is what do we know about Omarion Hampton's potential return?
Stefania Bell
I think we expect to see him play tonight. Now he still has to be activated. We have until 4pm okay for him to be added to the ACT active roster. I think you're going to see that happen. But Omarion Hamptons look good in practice. We talked about this yesterday. Wore a yellow jersey initially. Chargers. Because they're the Chargers, they do things a little bit different. Jim Harbaugh doesn't have them in non contact jerseys when they return. He has them in be careful about the player jersey. So in other words, not that you can't hit him, it's just maybe just be mindful of fact that he's dealing with something or coming off of something. You know, it. It's just so funny. I could. Can we just write a book about all the Jim Harbaugh isms? But in any event, Omarion Hampton then shed the yellow jersey and was dressed like his teammates late in the week. Full practices. Coming off that ankle fracture that, you know, he hasn't, he hasn't played in what, almost two months. But I expect him to get a lot of work as well. Now whether they split that with him and Kamani Vidal, I don't think, think. I don't, I don't think he's going to be the only running back like coming back after that much time away. There is the acclimation to football. But I Expect him to get a heavy workload.
Field Yates
I would say this. So the two things that I had on our rundown that I wanted to talk about were Amari and Hampton's usage. That's defying. You just hinted at. And then also can say Quan Barkley got it going. Is there a case that this is the game where you don't know what you're going to get out of literally any player?
Daniel Dopp
Yes, yes.
Field Yates
Like you told me, I think the closest thing to a certainty is probably Jalen hurts. Because even when it's not pretty, you're like, yeah, he ends up getting like a bad night for Jalen's 15 or something.
Daniel Dopp
But like go through the rest of the squad like J.
Field Yates
Brown, like and Devontae Smith.
Daniel Dopp
The same thing. Saquon Barkley. What are we going to get with Saquon Scott?
Field Yates
Remember when he kept scoring touchdowns?
Stefania Bell
Oh, yeah.
Field Yates
And then all of a sudden now he does nothing.
Daniel Dopp
Aranda Gadsden also doing the same thing. Not all the Chargers receivers, especially because of Justin Derby.
Field Yates
Oh, right.
Stefania Bell
And Justin Herbert, just to remind everyone, coming off surgery just one week ago today, it's pretty crazy, but it's also really cool. Had a plate put in where he broke his hand, his non throwing hand. But still, obviously you have to be able to have good ball control. You have to be able to handle the ball. Now they. Harbaugh did say they were giving Trey Lance more reps so he could handle short yardage situations. Basically take the ball under center. But Justin Herbert was also practicing under center even though he wasn't taking snapshots. And they can fashion a splint for him that allows him to be able to control the ball. So it's really protecting the back of the hand. Who knows exactly what they're going to have him wear. We shall see. The bottom line is he'll be out there. Um, and I never, you know, there's. There's ways you look at players who are dealing with certain kind of injuries. This one not worried about the hand. The hardware is in there to stabilize the fracture. It's pain tolerance. If there's anything we know about Justin Herbert, pain tolerance really does not affect him at all. So I don't think that's it. It's really a matter of how is he able to function if he can use his hand well early. I don't think there's any limitations on the way they run the offense.
Daniel Dopp
What the heck are we going to get out of any of these wide receivers though? Because at any moment, any one of them could go off and give us a major game. But at the same point, there's been so much so such a lack of continuity, I guess, within all of their performances throughout the season. Interested to see what it's going to be. If you guys had to pick a game or pick a team in this game game. Would you rather be a Chargers fan or an Eagles fan?
Field Yates
I picked the Eagles yesterday in ff. Now I don't feel great. The game's a coin toss.
Daniel Dopp
I think so, too. I'm gonna go with the Chargers just because they're at home.
Stefania Bell
I can't remember who I picked in this game. I think I picked the Eagles, but I don't feel great about it.
Daniel Dopp
Fly, Eagles, fly. Mike gave you a really nice shirt. You know, you can give a little back to him.
Stefania Bell
Give me a $5k.
Field Yates
You're right. The game is in Los Angeles tonight. It might be 30 seconds before it's mentioned how many Eagles fans are going.
Daniel Dopp
To be very possible.
Field Yates
It is going to be very green in that stadium tonight. I mean, you are going to hear it. I guarantee that.
Daniel Dopp
I love it. All right, I got a poll question.
Field Yates
Right, okay.
Daniel Dopp
Yes. We got a poll question that we're going to dive into really quickly. You do not reveal the price of the gift, my friends. America, what are the 31% of those people doing, though?
Stefania Bell
That's Mike.
Daniel Dopp
That's too high of a percentage of.
Field Yates
People spam voting in there.
Daniel Dopp
Just.
Logging on. On both of his daughter's accounts. He's going on his.
Stefania Bell
You say to people, I got a discount. I got this on sale. No, no, no. You like nice gift. You just leave it at that or.
Field Yates
Is that Pima cotton? That's got to be like. That's like 65, 70 bucks minimum, right?
Stefania Bell
I know.
Field Yates
And is that laser printing on there?
Stefania Bell
The tag really on that? You know, gift receipt. Okay. In case somebody doesn't like it, you can.
Daniel Dopp
Sure. Gift receipt, yes.
Stefania Bell
Let's not leave the price tag on people.
Daniel Dopp
All right, well, let's dive into the fantasy Focus mailbag here. A big shout out to our friend Eric Moody, who is always hanging out in J. This question comes from JDLCO3. Y' all staying away from Wilson next week since Jacoby is facing Houston.
Field Yates
We hinted at it. I. It's a real conversation.
Daniel Dopp
It is.
Field Yates
And there are two factors here. It's not just Houston, It's Marvin Harrison Jr. If Marv is back, it's not going to be the same level of target share. Now, Marv didn't practice at all last Week.
Daniel Dopp
Yeah.
Stefania Bell
And it's a heel. It sounds like a heel. Contusion. These are painful. They're slow. So I, I don't think it's an automatic. They might test him out, see how he feels a little bit in practice.
Daniel Dopp
What do you think that feels like as a, as a team to watch the guy that you drafted fourth overall get outperformed by like a third rounder from previous drafts?
Field Yates
I think probably you count the win of the third round pick so much.
Daniel Dopp
More than the loss of the.
Field Yates
Marva's looked better this year.
Stefania Bell
He did. He had such.
Daniel Dopp
He has gotten better.
Stefania Bell
He had such a short window because he really started to look good. And then he had the appendicitis. That was right after the. That.
Daniel Dopp
That's something also that we, you can't. We don't know appendicitis.
Stefania Bell
I felt, I felt really bad for him because I felt like, okay, it's clicking it together now.
Daniel Dopp
You got to be out of.
Stefania Bell
It's never really great with him and Kyler Murray. So to be fair, I don't even know that, that, that you can really talk about Marvin Harrison Jr's potential because we haven't seen it yet.
Daniel Dopp
All right, let's dive into another question here from our chat. This one. Oh, this one comes from.
Peter D. Calvin wants to know, how do you not use DJ Moore at all? There's no room. You're losing, but you just have one of the best wide receivers in the league just run blocking field Yates.
Field Yates
Okay, so I don't know that I agree with the idea that he's one of the best receivers in the league.
Daniel Dopp
All right, all right.
Field Yates
Also, honestly, I got to be. I got to tell you, like, am I going to question Ben Johnson? Like, they have a, they have a play to score. I mean, they almost scored 28 points yesterday against one of the best defenses. Like, I don't know. I thought once they let Caleb kind of rip it in the second half, he looked really good and that was a great game. I don't know, man. Look like you thought so.
Daniel Dopp
I didn't think Caleb looked really good. I thought he looked fine.
Field Yates
He had a couple like 70% of his pass.
Stefania Bell
You're thinking about the one play in the end zone with. It was the little. With the tight. Well, again, they actually was interesting on get up because they showed that play execution Dominique Foxworth was showing when it worked like how it all worked.
Field Yates
And it worked perfectly against the Eagles last week.
Stefania Bell
Yes. And so it was really the same play. And there's a couple Things as to whether, you know, when. When quarterbacks are throwing to where someone is supposed to be. You just never know what actually happened. Totally. So I think Caleb has looked really good this year.
Daniel Dopp
He. I have seen him looked a lot better. He had a dart, he rolled out to the right down the sideline that I think he threw to Cole Comet. That was just a beautiful throw. Like, I've seen him do some really great stuff.
Field Yates
I think he threw for like 200 yards and two touchdowns. The second half.
Daniel Dopp
In the second half. Okay. All right. Well, I'll believe you.
Stefania Bell
Field.
Field Yates
I don't know what was his final numbers for this today?
Daniel Dopp
It was not what you said. 186 yards total for two touchdowns, one interception, four carries for 15 yards, 19 for 35. So it was just over 50%.
Field Yates
Dude, he. So he started the game 0 for 5.
Daniel Dopp
Yes, he did. No, no, he was like, at halftime, he was. It was like three for 10 or.
Field Yates
Or four for like 14 yards. Okay, one eight, one seven. Two touchdowns in the second half.
Daniel Dopp
That's a lot better.
Field Yates
It was pretty good.
Daniel Dopp
Better.
Field Yates
That's pretty good.
Stefania Bell
Better in the second half.
Daniel Dopp
Let's ask another question.
Stefania Bell
Question.
Daniel Dopp
We'll do one more. One more here for our friends. This one comes from King Ransom.
Field Yates
These are the important questions.
Daniel Dopp
When putting on your shoes, do you go, sock, shoe, sock, shoe, or sock, sock, shoe, shoe?
Field Yates
Only one way to do it.
Stefania Bell
There's only one way. Sock, sock, shoes. Also, you know, no. No shoes in my house. What was that noise, in fact, for? That should have been applause. Because that is the right answer. Because I don't put my shoes on until I'm ready to leave the house. Because I'm not a shoes in the house. House gal.
Field Yates
It's sock, sock. It's sock, sock, shoe, shoe. And I don't even know why you would do sock, shoe, sock, shoe. That's weird to me.
Daniel Dopp
Yeah, it would feel weird to have a shoeless foot. Like, with. No, just a bare foot with a full shoe on the other side.
Field Yates
I also want to know if there are other parents with kids out there whose kids somehow seem to bat like 800 and putting the shoe on the wrong foot.
Stefania Bell
Wrong foot. Oh, yeah. Cause little kids shoes are just like, kind of.
Field Yates
They are very like. It's basically the same shape.
Stefania Bell
It's hard to tell sometimes to be fair. Fair to the child. Yeah, that's right.
Field Yates
Amazing how it's like it's a 50, 50 shot on paper and it's wrong 80% of the time.
Daniel Dopp
Are you still using. Do you use Velcro for little kids or when do you teach them the rabbit around the tree thing?
Field Yates
My older, who turns 4 next month, is starting to learn loop soup pull.
Daniel Dopp
But loop soup pull.
Stefania Bell
Okay. What is rabbit.
Field Yates
Rabbit ears.
Daniel Dopp
Yeah, you do the rabbit ears. I feel like there's been a lot based on where you grew up in the country. There's a lot of different ways in which you were. Like the terminology to tie your shoe.
Stefania Bell
I've never heard the rabbit around. Can you. I don't. I'm not seeing you.
Daniel Dopp
I can't. I can't still put it on the tree.
Field Yates
I don't think involved boots on right.
Daniel Dopp
Now, so I don't even. I can't even wear.
Field Yates
Okay.
Stefania Bell
Child.
Daniel Dopp
Yeah. Loop, swoop, pull.
Field Yates
Shout out, big daddy. You loop it, you swoop it, you pull it. But yeah, mine's a great movie. Both. Yeah, they're amazing.
Stefania Bell
You know what? My dad's was. This is how you do it. Learn it.
Field Yates
Oh, that's okay.
Daniel Dopp
Well, that was a different time period, Stefania. Different time period. That's fair. All right, that's gonna do it for our show today. Thank you so much for hanging out. Today's show is presented by Wingstop. Make sure that you come back and hang out with us tomorrow. Gonna be a very fun show Tuesday. Applause. We'll recap Monday Night Football. Get you ready for week 15. Don't forget to love each other. Be kind to yourself. Have fun watching my football. We'll see you guys tomorrow.
Sam.
Field Yates
The NBA is happening Christmas day.
Five games, one unforgettable lineup.
Daniel Dopp
That's what Christmas is all about.
Field Yates
Buckets for breakfast, breakaways for dessert. It's the holiday tradition is our day.
Daniel Dopp
With star power from across the globe.
Stefania Bell
The stars, they are going to be out. The best gift.
Field Yates
You don't even have to unwrap it.
Daniel Dopp
We want to say Merry Christmas and happy New Year NBA.
Field Yates
Christmas day begins at noon eastern on ABC and espn.
Hosts: Field Yates, Stephania Bell, Daniel Dopp (Mike Clay out)
Podcast: ESPN Fantasy Focus Football
This episode recaps pivotal Week 14 action—crucial for fantasy managers on the cusp of the playoffs or already in fantasy postseasons. Field, Stephania, and Daniel break down standout performances, surprising letdowns, shifting injury landscapes, and actionable takeaways for Week 15 onward. The tone is lively and personable, balancing sharp football insight with humor and banter.
Dawson Knox, TE, Bills:
Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals:
Quinshon Judkins, RB, Titans:
For Week 15 and fantasy playoffs:
Trust usage trends, monitor health news, and don’t be afraid of hard lineup decisions—even if it means benching a big name for the “hot hand.”