Fantasy Focus Football: Week 16 Waiver Wire + DO NOT Starts | Fantasy Focus 🏈
Date: December 16, 2025
Hosts: Field Yates, Stephania Bell, Daniel Dopp, (plus Mike Clay & Eric Moody contributions)
Episode Overview
This episode dives deep into strategy and player recommendations for Week 16 fantasy playoffs, with emphasis on navigating the waiver wire, injury updates, and key “do not start” candidates. The crew offers help for both playoff contenders and those already eliminated, blending expert insight with friendly banter and some memorable stories.
Main Topics & Key Discussion Points
1. Motivating the Fantasy Community (01:48)
- Shoutout to eliminated managers who keep listening for love of the game.
- “For those of you that have been knocked out and just enjoy the entertainment and hopefully laughs that you get from this show, shout out to you.” – Field Yates (01:48)
- Even with two weeks left, the team stresses they’ll sprinkle insights useful for draft prep next season.
2. Major Injury News & Impact
- Jaden Daniels Out for Season (04:00)
- Overview of Daniels’ dislocated elbow, the re-injury, and Commanders’ decision not to IR him, so he can still practice.
- “No more Jaden Daniels on the football field.” – Stefania Bell (05:12)
- Fantasy impact: Marcus Mariota becomes an emergency QB option, but tough matchup vs Eagles.
- Patrick Mahomes Surgery Update (27:22)
- Mahomes had both ACL & LCL repaired by Dr. Dan Cooper; may complicate timeline.
- “Just for people to monitor this, it's not a straightforward ACL.” – Stephania Bell (28:53)
3. Monday Night Football Recap – Chaos for Managers (07:30)
- Unexpected TDs from fantasy non-factors: Connor Hayward, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Daniel Smith.
- “Last night was maybe the perfect in like the worst type of fantasy football game... randomness everywhere.” – Field Yates (07:43)
- Only standout: Devon Achane hit 18.7 pts (ironically “solid” vs 28.5 projection).
- Waddle & Warren disappoint; Gainwell’s decent night due to illness/snap changes.
4. Playoff League Check-In (17:21):
- Quick recaps of the Fantasy Focus Show League. Some fun trash talk and projections for the semifinals.
5. Playoff Stash of the Week & Waiver Wire Targets (20:19)
Stash Pick – Colby Parkinson, TE, Rams (21:08)
- “Since week 10. Six touchdowns in his last seven games. That's most touchdowns by a tight end in that timeframe... tight end four in that span.” – Stephania Bell (21:14)
- Noted as only 10.5% rostered and especially valuable with Devonte Adams potentially out.
Waiver QBs for Mahomes Managers (22:50)
- C.J. Stroud (51% rostered): Indoors vs. Raiders, hope for a “safe 250 and 2.”
- J.J. McCarthy: Back-to-back 20+ pt games against Giants (monitor NY weather).
- Lean slightly toward Stroud, but McCarthy is strong fallback.
Other Injury Replacements & Adds
- Michael Carter if Bam Knight out in Arizona
- Jacory Crosby Merritt as a monitor option in WAS backfield
- Rookies ascending (like Luther Burden) for next year, or DJ Moore if available.
6. Key Injury Updates (31:16, 32:27)
- Bam Knight (ankle) likely out, Michael Carter next up for Cardinals.
- Roma Odunze (foot) and Luther Burden (ankle) injuries discussed; Odunze may be shut down for rest.
7. Streamer Tight End & Defense Options
- Dalton Schultz (40:01): Seven of last ten games >11 pts; viable streaming option.
- Kelsey vs. Minshew vs. Schultz with Stroud: “That's the one people are wondering about.” – Field Yates (40:40)
- Streaming Defense: Bills vs Browns, Saints vs Jets, Falcons for sacks.
8. Special Guest – Eric Moody Joins (42:05)
Chat Check-in & Hot Topics
- Moody lists trending players with uncertain value: Ashton Jeanty, Matthew Stafford, Justin Jefferson, Michael Wilson, Tyler Warren, Dak Prescott, Jonathan Taylor.
- “All good things about Michael Wilson... We don't want Marvin Harrison Jr. to return because Wilson is playing well.” – Eric Moody (43:08)
Jonathan Taylor Outlook (49:01):
- “Absolutely you should start him. He's still a low end RB1... that Colts offensive line ... will be the saving grace” – Eric Moody (47:04)
Fantasy Regrets/Successes
- Coveted playoff heroes: Jameer Gibbs, Trey McBride, George Pickens.
- Hosts joust about ageism (Mike Clay’s bias vs. older players); fun with rankings, trash talk.
9. Gut-Feel Start/Sit Advice for Week 16 (53:41)
Moody’s Bullish Plays:
- Jacoby Brissett: “Top 12 fantasy finish in each of his nine starts.”
- Colby Parkinson: Loves Rams 13-personnel usage and matchup.
Players to Avoid:
- Kenneth Walker III & Zach Charbonnet (full committee / tough defense)
- Justin Jefferson (“pretty self-explanatory”)
- Jackson Dart vs. Vikings (“concerned about him running around out there not protecting himself”)
10. 2026 Lookahead Candidates (55:45)
- Ashton Jeanty: Cited if Raiders’ O-line improves, he could leap to top-10 RB status, citing this year’s Jonathan Taylor jump.
11. Rapid-Fire Mailbag (61:21)
- Rashee Rice without Mahomes: Still start-worthy, “top 10 WR this week with Gardner Minshew.” – Field Yates (61:21)
- Replace Mahomes? Bo Nix suggested for legs and home matchup.
- Derrick Henry “too old?” No! Still top-five NFL rusher; workload/TDs inconsistent but remains valuable.
- Dawson Knox a sleeper TE? Hesitant; outside top 12 for Field. Last week’s line misleading due to matchup/TD dependency.
Notable Quotes & Moments
- “Randomness everywhere... Connor Hayward scores a tush push touchdown after Jalen Warren gets back to back carries from the one yard line.” – Field Yates (08:27)
- “The only question I have about Jaden [Daniels] right now is where is his confidence at?” – Field Yates (05:37)
- “Detroit Lions had only allowed two rushing touchdowns to a running back since week four... then they allowed three rushing touchdowns in three quarters.” – Daniel Dopp (13:08)
- “Is Derrick Henry too old? The answer is no, of course not... He is now a top five rusher for the NFL season.” – Field Yates (62:32)
- “Just draft Christian McCaffrey if you don’t like running back by committees next year.” – Daniel Dopp (58:21)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 01:48 – Shoutout to eliminated players & context for semis/finals
- 04:00 – Jaden Daniels shut down, injury breakdown
- 07:30 – Monday Night Football recap (disaster for managers)
- 17:21 – Fantasy Focus Show League update
- 20:19 – Playoff stash segment (Colby Parkinson profile)
- 23:19 – Waiver QBs for Mahomes replacements
- 27:22 – Mahomes surgery news (ACL & LCL), implications
- 31:16 – Injury update blitz (potential RB pickups)
- 40:01 – Schultz vs. Kelsey debate, TE streaming
- 42:05 – Eric Moody Joins: chat pulse, popular players, Taylor
- 49:01 – Taylor’s value and offensive line impact
- 53:41 – Moody’s gut calls: bullish/bearish plays
- 55:45 – 2026 Lookahead: Ashton Jeanty
- 61:21 – Mailbag: Rice without Mahomes, QB streamers, Henry’s age, Knox as sleeper
Tone & Takeaways
The show remains light, playful, and engaging, with the hosts ribbing each other while providing sharp, actionable fantasy advice. Injury updates are thorough but not overly technical; waiver/streamer advice is given with nuance and attention to playoff context; and all insights are spiced with humor and a palpable sense of community (especially with chat shoutouts and Moody’s participation).
Best advice this week:
- Stash Colby Parkinson at TE.
- Prioritize C.J. Stroud or J.J. McCarthy if you need a playoff QB.
- Monitor late-breaking injury news for last-minute RB/WR pivots, e.g., Michael Carter, Jacory Crosby Merritt, rookies like Luther Burden.
- For defense, the Bills or Saints are your top Week 16 streaming options.
Biggest “do not start”:
- Seahawks RBs (Kenneth Walker/Zach Charbonnet) due to untrustworthy split and brutal matchup.
- Jackson Dart (at QB), Justin Jefferson (matchup/injury concerns).
Memorable closing message:
“Make sure you love each other. Don’t forget to love each other and be kind to yourself, guys. You deserve it.” – Daniel Dopp (65:33)
For more rankings and gut calls, tune in to their Wednesday episode!