Fantasy Focus Football – Week 8 Fantasy Expectations: How To Survive Bye-maggedon!!

Date: October 23, 2025
Hosts: Liz Loza (guest host), Producer Presley, with guest Sam Holt
Note: This episode is part of the “Facts vs. Feelings” segment, included in the Fantasy Focus Football content slate.

Episode Overview

This episode dives into Week 8’s “Bye-maggedon,” when six NFL teams are on bye, leaving fantasy football managers scrambling for quality lineup options. Liz Loza and Producer Presley break down key streaming options, answer audience questions, discuss trade etiquette, and host special guest Sam Holt for rapid-fire “Fact or Feeling” games and analysis for the remainder of the season.

The tone is vibrant, playful, and highly interactive, blending data-driven advice (“facts”) with the all-important emotional angle and fun.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Managing Expectations in Fantasy Football

• Liz sets the scene: “You can set expectations all you want, but you can’t control the outcome.” (00:00)
• Producer Presley delivers the recurring show disclaimer, emphasizing that fantasy football hinges on “inches, luck, and irrational confidence.” (01:21)

2. Week 8 Streaming and Waiver Wire Targets

Quarterback: Joe Flacco (CIN)

• Flacco has exceeded expectations since starting for Cincinnati, scoring 18+ fantasy points in back-to-back games.
• Key Stat: 300+ passing yards in 9 of his last 21 starts (since 2022).
• Liz: “He is resuscitating this Bengals offense and proving standalone value as a streaming option.” (01:46)
• Flacco is a strong streamer vs. the Jets (fourth-highest QBR allowed, no INTs all season).

Wide Receiver: Courtland Sutton (DEN)

• Sutton is called a “steady Eddie” with five games of 16+ points, only surpassed by three WRs: JSN, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Puka Nacua.
• Good matchup vs. DAL (second-most WR points allowed).
• “He enters the week with an awesomely high floor. He’s my wide receiver 17 heading into this by Magaddon situation.” (03:56)

Tight End: Chigoziem Okonkwo (TEN)

• Despite a Week 7 goose egg, Okonkwo is still second on his team in routes run and third in looks.
• Colts (this week’s opponent) have allowed the fifth most points to TE in the last two weeks.
• Liz: “Chig himself registered a season high... when he faced the Colts back in Week three.” (05:44)

3. Bye-maggedon Flex & Waiver Wire Targets (DMs/Q&A)

[06:42]

• Liz references Eric Karabell’s column and highlights:
  • Tyjae Spears, Kyle Manangai, Brashard Smith (stash options)
  • Woody Marks: “Offers value as a pass catcher… San Francisco’s defense has allowed the 8th most catches to RBs… could have flex appeal.”
  • Tyler Allgeier: “Managed double digit touches in each of Atlanta’s wins…good volume this week vs. Miami.” (07:36)

“What to do with Tee Higgins?”

• “The Joe Flacco effect is real… got Higgins on the WR2/WR3 bubble for week 8.” (08:18)

Rest of Season: Cade Otton or Orande Gadsden?

• “Gadsden has the higher ceiling… week-to-week streaming and playing matchups is key, particularly for TEs.” (08:46)

4. Fantasy Therapy (Listener Questions)

Voicemail: AJ Brown or Jordan Addison? [09:42]

• Liz for Brown:
  • “Brown as a low-end WR1 and Addison as like a low-end WR2 for fantasy purposes this week.” (10:00)

Voicemail: Trade Etiquette [11:08]

• Listener feels accused of insulting others with trades.
• Liz’s advice: “Put the players you’re willing to move on the trade block—transparency disarms people…then get in there and fleece them.” (11:44)
• Fun 80s analogy: “Like, go to the gas station and people would have, like, gold chains in their trench coats...” (12:56)

5. Special Guest: Sam Holt Joins for “Fact or Feeling” [13:38]

Game Highlights and Notable Answers:

• Travion Henderson is the biggest bust: "Absolute fact... Going into the season he was ranked RB20..." (15:28)
• Mimosas as the essential brunch drink: Sam: “Fact, it does not make a brunch without a mimosa.” Liz: “Feeling! Bloody Mary’s the quintessential brunch beverage.” (16:13 - 16:52)
• Mike Tomlin never winning a 2nd Super Bowl: “That is a feeling... We go forward and continue to improve.” (17:14)
• Trade veto is the worst invention: Sam: “Fact... Only time it should be used is obvious collusion.” (18:22)
• Rashee Rice, top 5 WR rest of season: Sam leans towards “fact,” Liz thinks “top 10” is more realistic. (20:10 - 21:57)

6. Targeted Week 8 Advice and League Winner Picks

Trade Targets:

• Sam loves “buy low” on Chase Brown, especially with Joe Flacco unlocking the Bengals offense. (22:38)
• Potential “under-discussed” league winner: Matt Stafford for his consistency and the value he provided at a low draft cost. (24:24)

Bye-maggedon Fills & Week 8 Starts/Sits: [25:41+]

• Tyler Allgeier highlighted again as a strong flex vs. MIA.
• Favorite Week 8 Start: Cade Otton (only 35% rostered—check your wire!) (27:00)
• Most Confident Sit: “Can I say all the Dolphins except for Devon Achane?” (27:42)
• 2nd Favorite Start: Jonnu Smith (Steelers TE)—great matchup vs. Packers for TEs. (28:53)

Notable Quotes

• On Flacco:

  • Liz: “Had to drive four hours to become elite once again.” (01:46)

• On Chigoziem Okonkwo:

  • Liz: “The heart wants what the heart wants and the heart has never wanted Chig more.” (04:16)

• On trade offers:

  • Liz: “Just be the monster, bro. Like, who cares? But I think it's sweet that you do care because manners are important...” (11:44)

• On brunch:

  • Sam: “It does not make a brunch without a mimosa...unless it is a bottomless mimosa flight.” (16:13)

• On Miami (sits):

  • Sam: “Can I say all the Dolphins except for Devon Hn...I've got way too much Devon Hn to not start him. But everybody else, you could find so many arguments to bench…” (27:42 - 28:45)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Setting expectations & show intro: 00:00–01:21
• Joe Flacco as a streamer: 01:21–02:45
• Courtland Sutton analysis: 02:45–04:02
• Chigoziem Okonkwo (TE) streaming: 04:02–06:06
• Mailbag & waiver talk: 06:13–09:37
• Voicemails: 09:37–13:38
• Guest Sam Holt joins, Fact or Feeling: 13:38–22:32
• Trade/waiver week advice: 22:38–27:28
• Starts/Sits/Streaming: 27:28–29:28
• Outro/episode recap: 31:02–32:05

Concluding Reminders

• “May your facts be solid, your feelings be right, and your bust be someone else’s problem.” (31:02)
• Check out Liz’s Week 8 column on the dot com and the guest’s media by following Sam Holt on X (@SamanthaRHolt) and her “Unbinged” podcast.

Summary

This energetic “Facts vs. Feelings” episode is rich with actionable Week 8 streaming advice, playful banter and relief for managers navigating “bye-maggedon.” With expert insight on Joe Flacco, Courtland Sutton, and Chig Okonkwo plus clever solutions for trade etiquette and lineup dilemmas, listeners will feel equipped, entertained, and ready to survive even the roughest bye-week storm.