Fantasy Focus Football

Episode: Week 4 SHOCKER! Why Your Second Option is Outperforming Your First
Date: September 25, 2025
Hosts: Liz Loza, Producer Dave, Special Guest: Tom Everett Scott

Episode Overview

This episode centers on a surprising mid-season theme: how fantasy football’s so-called "second options" are unexpectedly outperforming "first options" through the early weeks of the 2025 NFL season. Liz Loza and Producer Dave break down key fantasy trends, dispense strategic advice, respond to listener questions in "Fantasy Therapy," and welcome actor and serious fantasy player Tom Everett Scott for a lighthearted and insightful segment. The show mixes actionable fantasy insights with fun banter and celebrity stories.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Second Options Rising: "Outperforming Your First Pick" (02:36)

• Baker Mayfield Surging Despite Adversity

  • Liz dubs him "Baker the Phoenix Mayfield," emphasizing the number of obstacles he's overcome—injuries to key teammates, missing linemen, rookie receivers stepping up—yet, Mayfield remains a top-10 fantasy QB (QB8 in Week 3) largely thanks to his surprising rushing output.
  • “Baker Mayfield is a top 10 fantasy producer at the position and no one deserves it more.” – Liz (03:44)
  • Stats: 116 rush yards (QB4), nearly 19 fantasy points/game last year when Evans & Godwin missed time.
  • Outlook: Tristan Wirfs and Chris Godwin might return in Week 4, possibly easing Mayfield’s difficulties.

• Ladd McConkey Disappointing

  • Entered the season over-drafted at peak value; hasn't delivered end zone targets (zero so far) despite high passing volume in the Chargers' offense.
  • “Everyone thought Keenan Allen was washed and Quentin Johnson was a bust... McConkey has not much to show for it.” – Liz (04:56)
  • Ranked just outside Liz’s Top 25 WRs in Week 4.

• Ashton Genti Frustrations

  • High preseason expectations, but production lags (less fantasy points/game than Javonte Williams, Chuba Hubbard, JK Dobbins).
  • Offensive line issues: “Raiders run block win rate... worst in the NFL.”
  • Silver lining: Facing the Bears (poor run defense). Week 4 is pivotal. “If this doesn’t work this week, then we really do have to reconsider everything. I am staying patient though.” – Liz (08:29)

2. Fantasy Therapy – Listener Q&A (09:14)

Key Questions:

• BDJ Underperforming
  • “The connection between [Trevor] Lawrence and [Brian Thomas Jr.] does not exist... But because we know BTJ’s talent, I am still ranking him as like a middling WR2.” (10:09)
• Bo Nix Disappointment
  • Dual-threat promise unfulfilled: “He’s not scoring the rushing touchdowns... but he is still QB7 in rushing attempts.” (12:17)
  • Passing game struggles, but he might be viable due to volume and design runs.
• Anxiety About Zach Charbonnet’s Foot Injury
  • Optimism for Week 4, but urges considering trades to "buy low" on upside backs as insurance.
• Chase Brown Worries with the Bengals
  • “Quarterback is directly tied to the running back’s value... I think we have to manage our expectations and assume the worst here.” (15:27)
• Should Bob quit fantasy?
  • “No Bob, this is part of the journey... You can never feel comfort without knowing discomfort.” (16:11)

3. Special Guest Segment: Tom Everett Scott (19:00)

Tom's Fantasy Bona Fides and Celebrity Banter

• Tom is in 9 managed leagues (down from 12!) and balances acting work with serious fantasy competition.
• Fun asides about celebrity leagues, drafting from movie sets, and managing life/work/fantasy.

Tom’s Fantasy Season So Far:

• Biggest Problem Player: TreVeyon Henderson (multiple leagues, spent premium picks, still waiting on breakout).
• Pleasant Surprise: J.K. Dobbins—providing solid RB2 production while Tom waits for other players to pay off.
• Favorite Confident Sit: “Colston Loveland... was like a confidence sit after week one.” (26:08)
• Most Excited to Start: Emeka Egbuka, who Tom feels is primed for a breakout with Mike Evans out (26:30)

Game: Blind Resume

Liz quizzes Tom on player performance using anonymous “blind” stats and playful clues. Notable entries:

• Patrick Mahomes surprisingly leading team in rushing (28:16)
• Marvin Harrison Jr.: “Desert dweller” underperforming, slippery hands.
• Puka Nacua: LA darling, leads league in catches/yards.
• Fun Celebrity Curveball—Tom Hanks as the most famous contact in Tom Everett Scott’s phone!

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Baker Mayfield’s Grit:
  • "Nothing stops this guy. No Liam Cohen? So what? No Tristan Wurf? Not a problem. No Chris Godwin? That's fine. I'll elevate the rookie." – Liz (03:02)
• Listener on Bo Nix:
  • “My feelings are that Bo Nix sucks... I took him and Chase Brown and I'm in the deep, deep depth of you-know-where.” – Drew from Greenville, SC (11:19)
• On Chasing Value and Suffering in Fantasy:
  • “You can never feel comfort without knowing discomfort.” – Liz (16:11)
• On drafting from a movie set:
  • “I might have even missed action because I was on my phone trying to pick something. I mean, it was. Yeah. I wasn’t proud of it.” – Tom (22:49)

Timestamps – Important Segments

• 02:36 – Main theme: Second option outperformers, Baker Mayfield profile
• 04:56 – Ladd McConkey, Chargers’ WR analysis
• 06:16 – Ashton Genti struggles and Week 4 outlook
• 09:14 – Fantasy Therapy Q&A begins
• 10:09 – Brian Thomas Jr. assessment
• 11:19 – Bo Nix frustrations (caller: Drew)
• 13:20 – Concern over Zach Charbonnet (caller: Nick from Idaho)
• 15:27 – Worry about Chase Brown as a fantasy asset
• 16:11 – Should I quit fantasy? (“No, Bob…”)
• 19:00 – Tom Everett Scott joins; celebrity/fantasy stories
• 23:45 – Tom’s “biggest problem” player: TreVeyon Henderson
• 24:09 – Pleasant surprise: J.K. Dobbins
• 26:08 – Tom’s favorite “sit”: Colston Loveland
• 26:30 – Most excited “start”: Emeka Egbuka
• 27:19 – Blind Resume game with Tom
• 28:16 – Surprise reveal: It’s Patrick Mahomes
• 31:54 – Puka Nacua as the freshest LA fantasy star

Tone & Style

The episode blends actionable fantasy football strategy with witty banter and candid, self-deprecating humor ("I owe a lot of people dinner these days." – Liz, 09:05). The hosts foster a welcoming, relatable vibe, encouraging listener participation and balancing serious takes with pop culture and league anecdotes.

Conclusion

Key Takeaways:

• "Second options" like Baker Mayfield and Puka Nacua are thriving while many assumed first picks are struggling.
• Don’t be stubborn—adjust your outlook as seasons evolve; patience and flexibility pay off.
• Listener questions highlight the frustrations and rewards of fantasy football's unpredictability; empathy and humor help.
• Even fantasy experts and celebrity guests agonize over lineup decisions and busted sleepers!

As Liz wraps:
“We can choose to remain stubborn and locked in on the story we initially told ourselves, or we can admit that we tripped and need some unexpected help getting upright again.” (36:26)

For next week: Read Liz’s "Facts vs. Feelings" column and send in your fantasy questions via voicemail or social media!

[End of Summary]