Fantasy Football Today: Beyond the Box Score (Nov 3, 2025)

Episode Highlight: Panthers & Bears Offensive Changes, Seahawks Dominate, and Is Matthew Stafford a League Winner?

Episode Overview

In this lively breakdown, Adam Aizer is joined by analysts Jacob Gibbs and Dan Schneier to dive deep "beyond the box score" of recent fantasy football action. The trio explores big offensive shifts for the Panthers and Bears, marvels at the surging Seattle Seahawks, debates the fantasy value of players such as Rico Dowdle, Romo Odunze, and Matthew Stafford, and weighs in on crucial positional trends and trade scenarios. The episode is packed with advanced stats, candid eye-test opinions, and actionable takeaways for fantasy managers looking to separate signal from noise as the season heats up.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Seattle Seahawks: A 'Perfect Killing Machine'

• Seahawks Overwhelm, Commanders Falter
  The Seahawks trounced Washington 38–14, leading Jacob to proclaim, "Seattle is like a perfect killing machine right now… The defense is even scarier." (04:24)

• Commanders' Offense in Disarray
  Once-promising fantasy options are now "basically a dead offense," with even stars like Debo Samuel downgraded to "maybe fine." Injuries (esp. Terry McLaurin) compound the woes.
  "You want to play any of them? Maybe Debo… it's ugly." (05:02)

• Washington's Ground Game Lacking Creativity
  Dan: “They were able to scheme up things in the run game last year... That just seems to be out this year.” (06:11)

• The Fall of Brian Robinson Jr.
  Jacob flags his hesitancy and unclear role: "He, for one, doesn’t look good at all… I see no real path to him mattering for fantasy." (07:17)

• Seattle’s Receiving Explosion: JSN and Tori Horton

  • “Jackson Smith-Njigba is averaging 4.47 yards per route run. I can't imagine anyone's ever done that over a full season." - Adam (08:56)
  • Tori Horton: Every 4-target game = at least one TD.
    Dan: "He’s so good, man. He’s a baller." (10:05)
  • Horton > Cooper Kupp? Dan: "They're a better team with Horton on the field than Cooper Kupp. That looks so obvious to me." (10:49)

Takeaway for Fantasy

• JSN is a weekly must-start. Horton is a deep-league, high-upside stash if his role grows.

2. Seattle RB Situation: Walker vs Charbonnet

• Walker’s recent usage and involvement near the goal line were noted (12:37), but trust is waning:
  • Dan: “Can we trust them? That's probably the better question. No, I don't think so… Charbonnet is a touchdown or bust type play.” (13:00)
• Jacob highlights: “The usage did shift his way a little bit, so it’s possible…it’s a sign of hope.” (13:19)

Takeaway for Fantasy

• Both are low-floor FLEX options; only start when desperate.

3. Advanced QB & RB Analysis

Justin Herbert: Quiet Fantasy Monster

• Jacob reveals Herbert leads all QBs in rushing yards:
  “He’s basically what we thought Drake May would be… even with middling O-line and pass catchers.” (23:37)
• Adam: “I think the positives will outweigh the negatives.” (25:04)

Rico Dowdle: Top-10 RB ROS?

• Adam asks: "Buy or Sell: Rico Dowdle is a Top 10 running back rest of season?" (32:41)
• Jacob: “If he’s getting all the touches…that’s a top-10 running back. It just is. But I don’t know, necessarily, if you can extrapolate over a larger sample size.” (36:22)
• Dan compares him to Quinchon Judkins: "So dependent to me on can the Panthers score?" (34:37)

Schedule Watch

• Panthers' schedule: A few positive scripts (Saints, Falcons), but several potential trouble spots (49ers, Rams, Bucs, Seahawks). (34:39)

4. Panthers & Bears: Offensive Revamps & Key Players

Tedro McMillan’s Struggles

• Adam: “He’s the number 35 receiver per game, his rookie season reminds me of Garrett Wilson’s, Chris Olave’s rookie years.” (31:19)
• Volume is there, but big plays are not: “He almost never makes Whoa plays. One catch all year longer than 29 yards—and that’s awful.” (30:03)
• Dan: "It's not just Young, it's this Panthers pass protection... and that holding back McMillan's upside." (28:39)

Rico Dowdle—Will Role Sustain?

• Concerns Dowdle (16th in PPR ppg) may not stay in positive game scripts; tough end-of-season matchups flagged. He doesn't catch enough passes for elite PPR ceiling, but Adam: "Seven of the top 12 RBs in PPR average three or fewer catches per game." (36:17)

Bears: Romo Odunze and the Ground Game

• Question: “Romo Odunze is a matchup-dependent flex at best?” — All analysts disagree.
• Dan: “[Odunze is] like a top freaking eight receiver like we’ve seen at best. I don’t know about that.” (38:50)
• Bengals D was designed to take Odunze away; offense is more balanced now, and while his upside is capped by team volume, he remains a weekly WR2. (40:37)

5. Waiver & Streamer Radar: Indy WRs, Green Bay TEs, & More

• Alec Pierce & Josh Downs “Must Roster”?

  • Jacob: “I like these guys a lot. They're playing really well.” (58:04)
  • Pierce is the better fantasy bet for big plays, but both are boom/bust roster fillers for needy teams down the stretch.

• Green Bay TE replacement post-Tucker Kraft injury

  • Musgrave is a speculative add, but tight end streamers are situation-dependent.
  • Dan: “I was a huge Musgrave fan coming out of college… I’m open to it.” (19:26)
  • Jacob, on likely: “He’s like the Tori Horton of tight ends—if something were to happen to Andrews, he’d become really relevant.” (19:46)

6. Speed Round: Buy or Sell

DK Metcalf Droppable?

• All: Hard sell. Adam: “He's 26th per game. No, you can't drop DK Metcalf." (51:07)
• Schneier: “At this point, I think he's almost like a touchdown or big play bust type of fantasy start." (50:35)
• Jacob: “Cortland Sutton and Metcalf… Their numbers are nearly identical.” (51:53)

Matthew Stafford is a League Winner?

• Dan: “Bye. He’s got two amazing weapons…one of the best arm talents…really no reason not to like Stafford right now.” (53:12)
• Jacob notes the unsustainable 7.7% passing TD rate and cautions regression; Adam adds game script could mute upside, reminiscent of Goff's 2022 second-half leap. (54:16–56:16)

Kyle Monangai to Overtake DeAndre Swift?

• Jacob: “I think it makes the most sense they'll use both… Manangai has worked his way into a larger role here.” (43:32)
• Dan: “I would have to bet that he would be getting more touches rest of season. Though I still think I'd rather have Swift in fantasy because of the receiving role.” (46:38)

Notable Quotes & Timed Highlights

• “Seattle is like a perfect killing machine right now.” – Jacob Gibbs (04:24)
• "They're a better team with Horton on the field than Cooper Kupp. That looks so obvious to me." – Dan Schneier (10:49)
• "He, for one, doesn’t look good at all… I don't feel any hope at all [for Brian Robinson Jr.]." – Jacob Gibbs (07:17)
• “Jackson Smith-Njigba is averaging 4.47 yards per route run. I can't imagine anyone's ever done that.” – Adam Aizer (08:56)
• "If he's getting all the touches, that's a top-10 running back." – Jacob Gibbs on Rico Dowdle (36:22)
• "[Romo] Odunze is way ahead of a guy like Tetterol McMillan for rest of season, right? You would think, yeah." – Adam (42:17)
• “Cortland Sutton and Metcalf… Their numbers are nearly identical.” – Jacob (51:53)
• "Matthew Stafford has never had a wide receiver nearly as good as this [Devante Adams]." – Dan (54:16)*

Important Timestamps

• Seattle v. Washington (team trajectories, JSN/Horton discussion): 04:24–12:37
• Seattle RB breakdown (Walker/Charbonnet): 12:37–13:55
• Advanced QB discussion (Herbert/May): 23:37–26:03
• Panthers/Bears WRs (McMillan, Odunze): 28:02–43:32
• Rico Dowdle as RB1 debate: 32:41–36:52
• Buy/Sell: DK Metcalf, Matthew Stafford, RB touches (Monangai/Swift): 49:02–56:40
• Indy WRs’ value: 56:56–61:41

Final Thoughts and Episode Flow

The episode moves at a brisk, conversational pace and is full of quick pivots between advanced stat breakdowns, film takeaways, and spirited “buy or sell” debates. The hosts balance data-driven analysis with anecdotal fantasy wisdom, giving listeners a nuanced view of the ever-changing NFL landscape—and actionable advice for their rosters.

For Listeners:

• JSN, Romo Odunze, and Alec Pierce are the kind of upside stashes that could swing playoff matchups.
• RB situations in Carolina and Chicago demand close monitoring as volume and roles shift weekly.
• Matthew Stafford may be peaking, but regression/gamescript risk is real; adjust QB expectations accordingly.

Whether eyeing the waiver wire or angling for playoff trades, this episode is a comprehensive guide to outsmarting the box score and winning your fantasy league down the stretch.