Fantasy Football Today – "Mailbag and Fantasy Cops! (11/01 Fantasy Football Podcast)"

Date: November 1, 2025
Hosts: Adam Aizer, Jamie Eisenberg, Dan Schneier

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the weekly mailbag with a mix of fantasy football advice, trade analysis, lineup pondering, and a slice of playful banter. The hosts also don their Fantasy Cops hats to resolve tricky league disputes and debate fantasy football's most contentious administrative questions. Throughout, they keep things interactive, pulling in YouTube comments and live questions, sharing relatable personal stories, and sprinkling the discussion with Halloween-tinged humor.

Main Segments and Key Insights

1. Opening Banter and Injuries Update

(02:00 – 08:38)

• Halloween Jokes & Vibes: Dan gets grilled about his feelings on Halloween (spoiler: he doesn’t hate it, just doesn’t dress up).

  • Jamie quips about Dan’s “toothpick factory” and nose strip (04:07), leading to a humorous discussion on adult breathing issues and deviated septums (04:07–04:24).

• Major Injury News:

  • Travis Hunter (Jaguars) placed on IR. Outlook for his fantasy managers:
    • Jamie: “Hold him for now in IR, but this could be season-ending… It sucks.” (05:29)
    • Dan: “Parker Washington will quickly work his way onto our fantasy radar.” (06:23)
    • Jamie: “Now is Brian Thomas Jr.'s time to step up, but the schedule is brutal.” (07:48)
  • Brian Thomas Jr.’s Value: Elevated, but skeptical about his upside due to shoulder injury and tough schedule.

• Other Key Notes:

  • Offense/defensive injury updates across Detroit, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and more.
  • Stevenson’s possible absence impacts the RB landscape in New England.

2. Mailbag: Start/Sit and Trade Questions

(11:09 – 39:27)

A fast-paced segment full of decisive advice and analysis on trade offers and lineup decisions.

Notable Start/Sit and Trade Calls

• Pumpkin-Spice Hot Takes: Pumpkin pie takes center stage—with Adam calling it “gross” and Jamie championing it.

  • "Pumpkin anything is gross.” — Adam (11:09)
  • Lively debate ensues; Dan and Jamie defend pumpkin pie.

• RB Start/Sit Dilemmas:

  • Travion Henderson (if Stevenson is out):
    • Jamie: “You view him as a low-end RB2, high-in flex…” (09:50)
  • Tyrone Tracy vs. Bam Knight:
    • Jamie: "Tracy." (12:24)
  • Romeo Doubs or Jauan Jennings:
    • Jamie: "Jennings."
    • Dan: "Dobbs." (16:02)
  • Kendrick Bourne or Parker Washington:
    • Jamie: "Yes" (drop Bourne for Parker). (16:11)

• Trade Debates:

  • Devonte Adams & Kamani Vidal for Barkley & Bigsby?
    • Jamie: "If you really believe in Barkley, make the trade." (12:56)
    • Dan: "I think I do it." (12:59)
  • Give AJ Brown and Aaron Jones, get Garrett Wilson and Trey Benson:
    • Dan: "Give it a B plus… definite upgrade Jones to Benson." (29:32)
  • Debo Samuel and late 2026 2nd for Cam Skattebo and late 3rd (Dynasty):
    • Dan: “Would not do this in dynasty. Somebody trying to buy low on Skattebo.” (30:00)
    • Jamie: “Aim higher than Debo. Not an awful deal, but you need better.” (30:06)

• Target/Volume Analysis:

  • Adam explains the importance of "seeing the fewest pass attempts" (19:59), relating WR performance to opposing teams’ passing tendencies.
  • Jamie: “You got to take into account who they played too…” (20:53)

Notable Quotes

• “We drafted this kid second round at the latest and he's been a bust.” — Jamie Eisenberg on Brian Thomas Jr. (07:48)

3. Deep Dives and Dynasty Talk

(30:00 – 39:27)

• Jam-packed dynasty analysis, with the hosts dissecting value differences in dynasty leagues—especially logging aging stars, IR shenanigans, and trade deadlines.
• Advice for teams in “win now" mode: leverage and expectations for young RBs like Skattebo vs. aging-but-productive WRs (e.g., Keenan Allen, Deebo Samuel).
  • “You have to give up something to get it.” — Jamie (33:31)

4. Fantasy Cops: League Disputes and Rules

(43:01 – 52:13)

Fantasy’s lawmen answer questions on IR handling, tanking, and keeper/waiver rules.

Key Disputes and Rulings

• IR Slot Rules (43:01–46:38)

  • Should managers be allowed to stash “out” (not just IR-designated) players?
  • Jamie: "I don't have a problem if they're OUT… but they have to be ruled out." (46:26)

• Tanking & Points Restitution in Dynasty

  • Scenario: New manager tanks Week 1 not knowing it was forbidden by unwritten rule, then wants his “real” points restored after the fact.
  • Jamie: "You're stuck with it, you're not going back and changing the scoring." (48:17)
  • Dan: "This is on the commissioner… but in managed dynasty, this is why best ball is better." (49:22)
  • Adam: “I actually don’t like dynasty anymore. …It’s just about health.” (51:05)

• Keeper Rule Fairness

  • Discussion on whether dropped/drafted players who get re-added midseason (e.g., Malik Nabers) should keep their original draft-round value or default to “free agent” value.
  • Jamie: “I don't have a problem with this rule, but you know there's going to be scenarios like this…” (53:58)
  • Dan: “It should just be the round the player was drafted in. I do not like the reset with free agency.” (54:43)

5. Rapid Fire Q&A: Spotify, YouTube and Closing Banter

(56:09 – 72:12)

• Lighting round of lineup and trade advice.
• Noteworthy questions:
  • “Start two: Ken Walker, Bam Knight, David Montgomery?”
    • Jamie: Knight, Montgomery. Dan: Walker, Montgomery. (56:33)
  • “Pick one: Kareem Hunt, Rico Dowdle, Bam Knight.”
    • Jamie: Hunt. (71:16)
• Fun audience interactions & recurring listeners called out (“Johnny Airport”—the show’s unofficial mascot).
• Dan’s hilarious story about being recognized in public by a listener watching the pod at the poker table (65:53).

Closing Notables

• Running gag about Dan’s nose strip for his deviated septum and its “performance-enhancing” effect.
• Final takeaway: hosts urge playing the waiver wire smart, trading from strength, and keeping league rules clear and fair to avoid disputes.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Dad Joke Corner:
  • “Egon Tarskarian” username pun (04:32)
• Pumpkin Pie Riff:
  • Adam: “Pumpkin anything is gross.” (11:09)
  • Jamie: “Pumpkin pie is so fantastic.” (12:13)
• League Rules Real Talk:
  • “It’s not even dynasty—it’s deep leagues with crazy big benches, no waiver wire. It is just about health, you know?” — Adam (51:05)
• Poker Table Recognition:
  • Dan: “I look down, and he hits pause… It’s you two on Mailbag… He’s watching Mailbag from that day!” (65:53)

Summary Table – Advice Reference

| Topic/Player | Advice/Comments | Timestamp | |---------------------|------------------------------------------------|-----------| | Travis Hunter (Jaguars) | Hold in IR, could be season-ending | 05:29 | | Brian Thomas Jr. | Uptick, but “not a must start guy yet” | 07:48 | | Parker Washington | Worth a waiver pickup (over Bourne) | 16:11 | | Travion Henderson | Low-end RB2, high-flex if Stevenson out | 09:50 | | Devonte Adams & Kamani Vidal for Barkley & Bigsby | If you believe in Barkley, make the trade | 12:56 | | Out slot IR rules | Only if officially "out" — not questionable | 46:26 | | Tanking/Points change | No retroactive points; commissioner should enforce promptly | 48:17 | | Keeper after drop | Should keep original draft round. “No free agent reset.” | 54:43 | | AJ Brown & Aaron Jones for Garrett Wilson & Trey Benson | "B+" deal, slight upgrade | 29:32 |

Episode Tone & Style

The crew blends sharp, actionable fantasy analysis with the energy of friends ribbing each other at the bar. They're not afraid to hot-take candy or pumpkin pie, poke fun at dad jokes, or go off on tangents about real-life breathing struggles. Listener engagement is strong throughout—with rapid-fire lineup help, serious dynasty talk, and copious laughs.

For those seeking critical advice, league wisdom, and pod camaraderie, this episode delivers a little bit of everything—and a clear reminder: clarify your league rules, check your IR spots, and keep those pumpkin pies far away from Adam Aizer.