Fantasy Football Today – “A Better Way to Play Fantasy Football? Also, Week 18 Waiver Wire!”

Date: December 30, 2025
Hosts: Adam Aizer, Dave Richard, Jamey Eisenberg
Theme: A deep dive into the inherent luck of fantasy football championships and a comprehensive breakdown of the week 18 waiver wire—including practical strategies, positional priorities, and outlook for next season’s formats.

Overview

This episode is built around two central themes:

1. Questioning the Traditional Fantasy Format: The crew has an honest conversation about how much “luck” impacts fantasy championships, whether alternative playoff structures make sense, and what practices could better crown the season’s most deserving manager.
2. Week 18 Waiver Wire Essentials: With injuries, playoff restings, and unusual lineups coming in the NFL's final regular season week, the hosts offer detailed advice for last-minute pickups and strategies for managers somehow still competing in Week 18.

Rethinking Fantasy Football’s Playoff Structure

Luck vs. Skill in the Finals

• Both Adam and Dave express frustration at how much bad luck can impact playoff outcomes (04:32).
  • Adam: “I'm not a worse player this year than I was last year when I won four times as many leagues. … a lot of it is luck.” (06:28)
  • Dave: “Every year… I build great teams, make the playoffs in at least half my leagues, and then fantasy playoffs come, crazy stuff happens and they, they fall apart." (03:51)
• Specific examples include unexpected breakout performances, like Brock Purdy carrying teams (“Who had Brock Purdy in their lineup? ... we couldn't have forecasted that.” 04:36).

Proposed Alternatives to Traditional Playoffs

• Adam’s favorite idea: No head-to-head matchups in the fantasy playoffs until the championship. In early rounds, the top scorers advance, ensuring strong teams aren’t eliminated by one-off flukes (06:32).
• Consideration of “roto” or total points league formats, though acknowledging that “it eliminates teams very early. They have no chance and they stop playing.” (06:54)
• Apex Scoring: Another mentioned format combines head-to-head records with a bonus win for finishing in the upper half in points each week (07:49).

Celebrating Head-To-Head Drama

• Despite frustrations, the hosts note the “fun” of head-to-head championships and friendly rivalries (08:14).

Notable exchange:

• Dave: “Part of the fun of fantasy is the head to head matchup. … I would have certainly relished it for at least a couple of days knowing that I beat Jamie." (08:14)
• Jamie: “Getting rid of head to head is the impetus of the conversation because of the random players that won leagues.” (08:54)
• Adam: “There’s nothing you can do about it. … It’s one week, it’s head to head. You obviously had a good team. It’s just kind of in [the] fantasy gods’ hands…” (09:05)

Rewarding the Regular Season

• Consensus: At minimum, leagues should reward the season’s top scorer or top seed with something—cash, a trophy, or other recognition (14:39).

Week 18 Waiver Wire Breakdown

[18:23] - Top Waiver Priorities

Running Backs

• Malik Davis (Broncos):

  • Top priority if Javonte Williams is out: “He was the guy with 20 carries for over 100 yards." – Jamie (18:29)
  • Dave: “Malik Davis is, like, eons better [than other RBs on waivers].” (52:13)

• Other Options:

  • Dylan Sampson (Browns): Noted pass game upside, especially if game script turns negative. – Jamie (33:37)
  • Emmanuel Wilson (Packers): Could get bell-cow work if Green Bay rests starters (33:37)
  • Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Audric Estime: Deep desperation plays, both splitting time and lacking upside (32:57)

Quarterbacks

• Tyler Shuck (Falcons): Strong playoff performer, potential even in tough matchup
• Bryce Young (Panthers): “Last time he faced the Bucs, he went for 21 fantasy points…should be a good opportunity.” – Jamie (30:29)
• Cam Ward (Jags): Solid floor, works as a 2QB option (30:29)
  • “Shuck is the only one I would consider as a borderline starter.” – Jamie (32:54)

Tiers:

• Jamie: Shuck, Young, Ward (32:15)
• Dave: Shuck, Ward, Young (48:10)

Wide Receivers

• Luther Burden: Exciting young WR if healthy: “Looks like a future star” (19:41)
• Parker Washington (Jaguars): 20 targets in last two games, high snap share, big role for Trevor Lawrence (35:56)
• Ricky Pearsall (49ers): Another option with big recent performances (52:54)
• Jalen McMillan (Seahawks): “I loved the way Jalen McMillan looked last week…” – Dave (36:54)

WR Rank Consensus:

• Burden #1, Pearsall/Washington next (53:42)
• Dave: “Burden. 1, Pearsall. 2, Washington 3.” (53:52)

Tight Ends

• Jake Tonjas (49ers):

  • “He’s available in 83% of leagues. If he ends up starting … I would go after him, but we don’t know at this point if that’s going to be the case.” – Dave (38:44)
  • If Kittle is out, Tonjas' floor/ceiling is strong; otherwise, pivot to Michael Mayer or A.J. Barner.

• Other TE options:

  • Juwan Johnson, Colson Loveland, Dalton Schultz—all quality streamer/week-winning potential (56:26)
  • A.J. Barner (Seahawks): Trending up, with increased targets and route participation (57:43-58:53)
  • Michael Mayer (Raiders): Worth using over deeper desperation options.

  Notable quote:

  • “Would you start Jake Tonjas over any of those guys?”
  • Dave/Jamie (in unison): “All of them.” (57:08)

DST & Kicker Streamers

• DSTs: Vikings (against likely GB backups), Ravens, Bengals (“ten or more fantasy points in four of their past six games.” – Dave 42:06)
• Kickers: Eddie Pinero, Will Lutz, Andres Boregales (43:01)

Week 18 News & Notes

[23:31]

• Player Injuries & Potential Restings:
  • Rams expect to play starters but could pull them early if seeding is set (28:01)
  • Chargers to start Trey Lance, sit Justin Herbert; careful with their skill players (24:15)
  • Packers, Bills: Expect possible aggressive resting
  • Possible pulls for Patriots, 49ers, and others as playoff scenarios develop in real-time (27:34; 29:05)
  • If the Bills rest, Ray Davis may be a preferable play over James Cook (27:52)
• Injury updates to skill players: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Luther Burden (quad), Jalen Waddle, Marvin Harrison Jr., Rashid Shaheed, among others—statuses all fluid (25:21)
• Offensive line updates: Tampa Bay and Cleveland among teams with significant OL injuries (26:58)

Key Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Waiver Desperation:
  • "When I say I like these guys, these are like I'm really stuck at running back and these guys are available and I need A plug and play for week 18.” – Dave (52:00)
• On Accepting Playoff Variance:
  • “There’s nothing you can do about it. … You obviously had a good team. It’s just kind of in [the] fantasy gods’ hands.” – Adam (09:05)
• On Week 18 Lineup Precautions:
  • “If you’re the Josh Allen manager…be prepared in case they have nothing to play for on Sunday and he won’t play a full game.” – Adam (48:33)
• On Tight End Options:
  • Q: “Would you start Jake Tonjas over any of those guys?”
    Dave, Jamie (in unison): “All of them.” (57:08)

Awards, Championships & Listener Callouts

• Winners in FFT leagues celebrated, including shoutouts to Ryan Van Hoven (“La Porta Potty”), Jamie & Todd Rones, and listener league winners like Cody Smith and Johnny Airport (21:31, 22:34).
• Adam: “Thanks to all of our listeners for being a part of all these leagues. It’s pretty amazing.” (23:31)

Closing Thoughts & Looking Ahead

• Playoff energy and optimism: While bemoaning bad beats, the crew keeps a light tone and looks forward to “next year” talk and further offseason analysis.
• Reminders: There’s no Thursday FFT show this week, but look forward to Friday’s Start/Sit preview and offseason content about 2026 rankings.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Main playoff structure conversation: 03:30–15:08
• Top Week 18 Waiver Targets: 18:23–24:15 (with updates throughout)
• Team rest/injury news: 23:31–29:00
• Positional rankings (QB/RB/WR/TE): 30:29–59:49
• DST/Kicker streamers: 41:14–43:21
• Listener/winner shoutouts: 21:31, 22:34
• Game recap (Falcons-Rams): 43:01–47:53
• Waiver recap and final Q&A: 47:53–59:49

Summary Table – Top Waiver Priorities by Position (Week 18)

| Position | Top Targets | | ---------- | ---------------------------------------------- | | RB | 1. Malik Davis (Broncos) | | | 2. Dylan Sampson (Browns) | | | 3. Emmanuel Wilson (Packers) | | QB | 1. Tyler Shuck (Falcons) | | | 2. Bryce Young (Panthers) | | | 3. Cam Ward (Jaguars) | | WR | 1. Luther Burden | | | 2. Parker Washington (Jaguars) | | | 3. Ricky Pearsall (49ers) | | TE | 1. Jake Tonjas (49ers, if Kittle sits) | | | 2. Michael Mayer (Raiders) | | | 3. A.J. Barner (Seahawks) | | DST | Vikings, Ravens | | Kicker | Eddie Pinero, Will Lutz, Andres Boregales |

Tone: Conversational, witty, a mix of playful rivalry and practical advice.
Overall lesson: Embrace the chaos of fantasy, be proactive on waivers (especially with late-season uncertainty), and consider new ways to make your fantasy leagues more fun and rewarding—despite the ever-present role of luck!

Notable Ending Quote (on the playoff heartbreak):
Adam: “A lot of it is luck, and you do have to ask yourself, is there a better way to do it?” (06:44)

Dave: “Hopefully next year, we all get a little more luck in the fantasy playoffs!” (60:33)