Fantasy Football Today – Episode Summary

Episode: Fill in the Blank, Start or Sit (DAL-PHI; KC-LAC), Super Bowl Picks!
Date: September 3, 2025
Hosts: Adam Aizer, Dave Richard, Jamey Eisenberg, Heath Cummings

Episode Overview

The crew is back previewing meaningful NFL games for fantasy managers, focusing on Week 1 Start/Sit advice and the "Fill in the Blank" segment. They analyze the key fantasy storylines for the Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Thursday) and Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Friday, in Brazil), discuss depth chart surprises, debate recent rule changes, share draft regrets, offer league winners and Super Bowl predictions, and field live chat questions. Expect candid banter, draft philosophy debates, and actionable advice for the opening week.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFL Depth Chart & News Notes (02:19–08:56)

• Early depth charts:
  • Jaguars (Etienne and Bigsby as co-starters) and Texans (expected to use four RBs) present early-week backfield confusion.
  • "I wouldn't read too much into where they're starting on the depth chart. We'll see how they're used in games..." – Jamey (03:07)
• Washington Commanders' RBs: Noted for a crowded depth chart, surprise possibility of all being active on game day (03:26–03:47).
• Jalen Warren's role with the Steelers clarified: expected to be the lead back per Mike Tomlin (05:04–06:16).
  • "Warren is just their most consistent lead back and until that changes, he should be expected to be the feature back" – Dave (05:47)
• Team RB usage trends: More squads (including Jaguars and Texans) are leaning toward multi-back usage, making committee approaches more prevalent (04:00–04:14).

2. Banter: Rule Changes and League Settings (08:28–10:18)

• Kickoff rule change ranted: Adam dislikes the touchback now at the 35-yard line ("Why don’t we just start them at the opponent’s 35?" – Adam, 08:18)
• Tight End premium and scoring systems debated:
  • Adam is anti-TE premium. Heath notes: "Makes Brock Bowers and Trey McBride too good" (08:45).
  • First down vs. PPR scoring:
    • "A better way to give fantasy points, if you’re trying to reward things that matter in football." – Dave (20:32)

3. Most Revealing Games For Fantasy (09:19–10:18)

Each host picks which game they think will be most telling:

• Vikings-Bears (Jamie)
• Packers-Lions (Dave)
• Chiefs-Chargers (Heath: "what many people are calling the most interesting game of the week" – 09:51)
• Carolina-Jacksonville (Adam: "a very fun fantasy game" – 09:58)

4. Fill in the Blank & Draft Philosophies (12:27–16:15)

• Stacking tight ends:

  • Heath drafts Bowers (22nd) & McBride (27th) in the same draft.
  • "I was kind of planning on taking McBride at 22. Bowers fell there and for me, that’s a great value..." – Heath (13:05)
  • Adam: "That was the stupidest thing you’d ever done," but Heath stands by it, hoping to dominate TE & Flex.
  • "Hopefully I win tight end and flex every week...if one of them is only 14 FPPG, I'm gonna feel like an idiot." – Heath (15:00)

• Biggest Draft Mistake Regrets:

  • Not getting enough exposure to favorite rookies.
  • “I have zero Jahmyr Gibbs. That makes me sick.” – Adam (19:06)

5. Week 1 Start/Sit – Thursday: Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles (23:40–32:46)

Quarterbacks

• Dak Prescott:
  • Recent success vs. PHI but faces a revamped defense (23:40)
  • "He’s not in my top 12...I love Dak, I don't love him this week." – Heath (24:46)
  • Prefer starting Trevor Lawrence, Drake May, or Kyler Murray (24:37–24:46)

Running Backs

• Javonte Williams: Sit over most other options, slight value vs. back-end FLEX types (25:27–26:16)
• Philly RBs: Not discussed explicitly, but context suggests caution due to usage splits.

Pass Catchers

• CeeDee Lamb – must-start.
• George Pickens:
  • “He’s a number two receiver.” – Jamey (29:58)
  • "Pickens and Smith over Warren." – Jamey (31:06)
• Devonta Smith/George Pickens: "I think they're the same guy, but I'd lean to Pickens." – Heath (30:30)
• Tight ends:
  • Ferguson & Goddard preferred over “streamers,” slightly favoring Ferguson (31:29–31:34)

Eagles DST

• "Any hesitation to start them?" – Adam
  • "None." – Jamie, Heath (32:46)

6. Friday Night in Brazil: Chiefs at Chargers (32:56–40:44)

Friday Scheduling

• Heath, as a Chiefs fan, would rather keep the classic schedule: "I like high school football on Fridays, college on Saturday, NFL on Thursday, Sunday, Monday." (33:13)

Starts

• Chiefs "Must-Starts": Mahomes, Worthy, McConkey, Kelsey (if no Rice)
• Chargers: Lad McConkey–"must-start," Xavier Worthy–locked in.
• Isaiah Pacheco & Omariyon Hampton:
  • Both described as low-end RB2/FLEX; split opinions on who is better Week 1, but both lines are similar (rushing attempts/receptions).
  • "Pacheco & Hampton have the same rush attempt line, 11.5," – Heath (36:38)

RB Usage Context

• Both teams' rushing defenses have fluctuated; Chiefs struggled against the run late last year, Chargers rely on scheme (37:43–37:49).

Wide Receivers

• Keenan Allen: Target expectations discussed; Heath expects ~7 targets/game (39:22).
• Worthy vs. Pickens:
  • "Last 6 games from Xavier Worthy, he was averaging 20 fantasy points per game." – Heath (40:27)
  • "It's not close for me, it's Worthy." – Heath (40:18)

DST

• Preference to cut Chiefs DST if possible; Cardinals DST a better play Week 1 (43:07).

Quickfire Start/Sit from Chat (43:13–45:21)

• Preferences overwhelmingly support Name Brand starters (e.g., Deebo over Pacheco/Hunter; Sutton > Hampton; Henderson > Hampton at RB).

Sleepers (45:41)

• Marquise Brown (Jamey): “can score a 30-yard touchdown and do nothing else.”
• Rashard Smith (Dave): Deep sleeper for Chiefs as a pass-catching RB.

7. Super Bowl & Division Predictions (49:30–56:54)

Picks Recap

• AFC (all hosts):
  • East: Bills
  • North: Ravens (Jamie: Browns)
  • South: Jacksonville (Adam bold: Houston)
  • West: Chiefs (Dave trolls: Denver)
  • Wild Cards: Many include Cincinnati, Chargers, Denver, New England, Miami
• NFC picks vary:
  • East: Eagles or Commanders (Jamie)
  • North: Packers/Lions split
  • South: Tampa Bay
  • West: Niners, with one Rams

Super Bowl Winner Picks:

• Jamie: Bills over Packers
• Heath: Chiefs over Commanders
• Dave: Ravens over Bucs
• Adam: Detroit over Kansas City
• Producer (Schaefer): Eagles over Ravens

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you get the first down on third and one, it’s more valuable to have three more downs, especially if the guy that catches the five-yard pass is on third and six.” – Heath (20:53)
• “I have zero Jahmyr Gibbs. That makes me sick.” – Adam (19:06)
• "Warren is just their most consistent lead back and until that changes, he should be expected to be the feature back..." – Dave (05:47)
• “I don't really like [wearing a tie as a bet], but I'm not gonna lose, so that's fine.” – Heath (58:49)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• News/Notes & Depth Charts: 02:19–08:56
• Rule Change Rants & Format Debates: 08:28–10:18, 20:24
• Most Revealing Game for Fantasy: 09:19–10:18
• Draft Philosophy & "Regret" Fills: 12:27–16:15, 18:05
• Cowboys/Eagles Start or Sit: 23:40–32:46
• Chiefs/Chargers Start or Sit: 32:56–41:27
• Lightning Round Starts/Sits: 43:13–45:21
• Super Bowl/Division Picks: 49:30–56:54

Tone & Banter

• Approachable, lively, and irreverent with classic FFT chemistry.
• Draft and scoring debates are strongly opinionated but playful.
• Traditional end-of-preseason optimism, quick-fire start/sit clarity, and some gentle audience trolling (especially in picks).

Useful For…

• Start/sit decisions for Week 1 (Cowboys/Eagles, Chiefs/Chargers).
• Understanding uncertain RB situations and why patience is needed.
• Evaluating which draft strategies work (and don’t) from expert perspectives.
• Prepping for waivers (rookie RB FOMO, veteran sleepers).
• Knowing which league settings and rules FFT experts recommend (hint: not TE premium for Adam).
• Season-long context with division, playoff, and Super Bowl predictions.

This summary provides a thorough, conversational map of the episode for anyone who missed it or wants to revisit key advice and analysis ahead of Week 1.