Fantasy Football Today: Best and Worst Second Half Performers! What's Legit? What's Misleading?
Episode Release Date: February 19, 2025
Introduction
In this episode of Fantasy Football Today, host Adam Aizer, along with analysts Dave Richard, Jamey Eisenberg, and Heath Cummings, delve into the best and worst performers from Weeks 10 through 17 of the 2024 NFL season. The discussion aims to help fantasy managers understand which players surged or underperformed in the second half of the season, providing insights into their potential future performances.
Best Performers of the Second Half
Key Performers Discussed:
- Chase Brown (RB)
- Bucky Irving (RB)
- Jerry Judy (WR)
- Jordan Addison (WR)
Highlights:
- Chase Brown emerged as a top-tier running back during the latter half, consistently delivering strong performances.
- Bucky Irving showcased exceptional efficiency, leading to high fantasy points despite a limited number of games.
- Jerry Judy and Jordan Addison both surged to become standout wide receivers, with Judy transforming into a reliable target and Addison benefiting from increased red zone opportunities.
Notable Insights:
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Heath Cummings rated the legitimacy of their performances, giving Chase Brown and Bucky Irving a 7 out of 10, Jordan Addison a 6 out of 10, and Jerry Judy a 4 out of 10 due to uncertainties around their team dynamics and future roles.
[11:24] Heath Cummings: “I am a little hesitant on all four of them. ... I think we sort of knew that ...” -
Jordan Addison's improvement was linked to increased red zone targets and a drop in Average Depth of Target (ADOT), enhancing his reliability as a touchdown scorer.
[12:27] Adam Azer: “Jordan Addison ... he's a touchdown machine.” -
Jerry Judy benefited significantly after Cedric Tillman's injury, becoming a primary target and increasing his touchdown potential.
[23:05] Adam Azer: “... only started to look like the guy that was drafted as a first-round talent ...”
Quote Highlight:
“Jerry Judy is amazing. He is the number three wide receiver per game. In fantasy, he's on pace for 19 yards, seven touchdowns, 168 targets.”
— Adam Azer [27:24]
Worst Performers of the Second Half
Key Underperformers Discussed:
- Jalen Hurts (QB)
- Kyler Murray (QB)
- Travis Etienne (RB)
- Jaden Reed (WR)
Highlights:
- Jalen Hurts saw a decline in pass attempts, impacting his fantasy quarterback ranking.
- Kyler Murray struggled with inconsistent performances and a lack of touchdown passes.
- Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby failed to meet expectations, averaging low yards per carry and falling outside the top 40 running backs in fantasy points.
- Jaden Reed did not secure enough targets, resulting in poor fantasy output despite some potential upside.
Notable Insights:
-
Adam Azer expressed frustration over Jalen Hurts' reduced pass attempts and fewer touchdowns, which detracted from his overall fantasy value.
[35:05] Adam Azer: “He missed two. Oh. But I'm giving you per game per game. He was QB10.” -
Heath Cummings noted that while there were opportunities for improvement, the lack of consistent performance from players like Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby posed challenges for fantasy managers.
[38:35] Jamie Eisenberg: “... Tank Bigsby, I think they're going to kind of be a problem for each other.”
Quote Highlight:
“Kyler Murray had a lack of consistent touchdowns and running opportunities, which severely limited his fantasy quarterback potential.”
— Jamie Eisenberg [37:45]
Trade and Draft Discussions
Key Topics:
-
Trade Evaluations: The panel discussed potential trades, such as trading Jameer Gibbs for Bucky Irving, evaluating the benefits and risks involved in such moves within a Super Flex PPR league context.
[47:38] Jamie Eisenberg: “So Gibbs, you're getting back a starter who's not as good...” -
Draft Strategies: Emphasis was placed on considering players like Chase Brown and Bucky Irving in early to middle rounds, analyzing their long-term viability and immediate impact based on their second-half performances.
[10:20] Jamie Eisenberg: “Chase Brown, Bucky Irving, Jerry Judy, Jordan Addison.”
Notable Insights:
-
Heath Cummings advised caution when relying solely on yardage metrics, suggesting that opportunity and role within the team are more critical indicators of future performance.
[21:27] Heath Cummings: “I think that both of them proved how good they can be to their respective coaching staffs...” -
The discussion highlighted the importance of understanding team dynamics and potential offseason changes that could affect player performance and fantasy value.
[26:29] Jamie Eisenberg: “... Tegni could be in a consensus top two pick even in Super Flex.”
Quote Highlight:
“Chase Brown and Bucky Irving showed in 2024 that they could be amazing fantasy options fantastic for their teams.”
— Dave Richard [17:30]
Fantasy Football Tips and Breakouts
Key Recommendations:
-
Breakout Candidates: The panel identified emerging players and potential breakout stars based on their second-half performances, advising listeners to monitor these players for future drafts and roster adjustments.
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Roster Management: Tips were provided on managing rosters, trading effectively, and leveraging draft picks to maximize team performance in the upcoming seasons.
Notable Insights:
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Adam Azer encouraged listeners to explore CBS Sports HQ for comprehensive sports coverage, emphasizing its utility in staying updated with all major sports events relevant to fantasy football.
[08:06] Adam Azer: “You should check out CBS Sports HQ...” -
Heath Cummings emphasized the depth of the running back class, suggesting that the 2025 draft class is strong with multiple viable options, which could push older running backs out of favor.
[49:31] Heath Cummings: “It's definitely deeper. There's a ton of solid running backs...”
Quote Highlight:
“These two are definitely going to be in that range of wide receiver threes who could become easy wide receiver twos if things break right for them.”
— Adam Azer [30:04]
Listener Questions and Community Interaction
Featured Questions:
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Case FantasyFootball.com: “Would you trade Jameer Gibbs for Bucky Irving in a 12-team Super Flex PPR league?”
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Chad’s Dynasty Team: “Should I trade Bucky Irving and Cedric Tillman for higher draft picks and draft capital?”
Highlights:
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The panel provided nuanced answers, weighing the immediate benefits of acquiring high-performing players against the long-term value of draft picks and team rebuilding strategies.
-
Emphasis was placed on understanding league formats (e.g., Super Flex, PPR) when making trade decisions to ensure optimal team performance.
Quote Highlight:
“If you're rebuilding, you want as much draft capital as you can.”
— Jamie Eisenberg [50:25]
Conclusion
The episode concluded with a preview of upcoming content, including FFT Express breakouts and insights into free agency. The panel reiterated the importance of analyzing both player performance and team dynamics to make informed fantasy football decisions.
Final Thought:
“These are two receivers that are perfect to take as wide receiver threes in fantasy drafts this year... there’s certainly more upside for things to break right for Judy.”
— Adam Azer [30:04]
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
-
Heath Cummings on player legitimacy:
“I am a little hesitant on all four of them... [11:24] -
Adam Azer on Jordan Addison’s touchdown machine potential:
“Jordan Addison... he's a touchdown machine.” [12:27] -
Jamie Eisenberg on Kyler Murray’s inconsistent performance:
“It was a lack of consistent touchdowns and running opportunities... [37:45] -
Dave Richard on Chase Brown and Bucky Irving’s fantasy potential:
“Chase Brown and Bucky Irving showed in 2024 that they could be amazing fantasy options...” [17:30] -
Heath Cummings on Chase Brown and Bucky Irving’s efficiency:
“...they proved how good they can be to their respective coaching staffs.” [21:27]
Closing Remarks
Stay tuned for the next episode on Thursday, where the crew will discuss FFT Express breakouts and provide a preview of the upcoming free agency moves. Whether you're a seasoned fantasy manager or a newcomer looking to dominate your league, this podcast remains an invaluable resource for all your fantasy football needs.
Note: Advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections have been excluded to focus solely on the valuable discussions pertinent to fantasy football strategies and player performances.