Fantasy Football Today Podcast Summary

Episode: Start or Sit (AFC): Ja'Marr Chase, Chargers WRs, Daniel Jones and Many More
Date: October 2, 2025
Hosts: Adam Aizer, Jamie Eisenberg, Heath Cummings

Episode Overview

In this episode, Adam, Jamie, and Heath break down every AFC home game for Fantasy Football Week 5. They offer detailed Start/Sit advice, dive into recent news and injury updates, and debate trade strategies. Featuring critical insights on stars like Ja’Marr Chase, budding RB situations, and the viability of several streaming options, the episode is a must-listen for fantasy managers seeking an edge.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Players the Analysts Love This Week

(02:26 - 06:46)

• Heath's Picks:

  • Cam Scatter Boo (Saints): Near top-12 play.
  • Jalen Waddle (Panthers): Strong WR2, ranked around WR16-WR17.
  • Tommy Tremble (vs. Miami): “Top 10, he's 8 in my TE rankings.”
    “23% target share to tight ends for Bryce Young and the Dolphins are terrible against tight ends.” – Heath (02:57)

• Jamie’s Picks:

  • Justin Fields (vs. Cowboys): “Three straight QBs have finished top-4 or 5 vs the Cowboys.”
    “Hopefully what we saw last week continues. He should take advantage of this defense.” – Jamie (05:04)
  • Woody Marks (at Ravens): “Playing a depleted defense, role in passing game is growing.”
  • Tetiro McMillan (at Miami): “Due for a big game, could see 8 targets like Pittman and Garrett Wilson have.”

Players to Avoid This Week

(06:46 - 10:17)

• Jamie:

  • Bo Nix (at Philadelphia): “It’s a bad setup. All streamers over him.” (07:42)
  • AJ Brown & Jordan Mason (at Browns): Tough matchups, low upside.

• Heath:

  • Tee Higgins (vs. Lions) and Jordan Addison (vs. Browns in London): “Targets have disappeared with Jake Browning. Addison is just a No. 3 in bad matchups.” (10:17)

Waiver Wire & Injury Fallout

(12:48 - 17:59)

• RB Injuries:

  • Trey Benson (IR), Bucky Irving (week-to-week), Chuba Hubbard (calf):
    “If Chuba’s out, Rico Dowdle is my favorite one-week option... otherwise, Michael Carter holds more longer-term value.” – Jamie (14:00)
  • Cardinals Backfield:
    “Game flow sensitivity: Carter when leading, Demercado when chasing points.” – Jamie (15:41)

• Waiver Advice:

  • Michael Carter a hot commodity but “uncertainty remains on touches.”
  • Brashard Smith, Isaiah Davis among the deep stash options discussed.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Dalton Kincaid’s struggles:
  “He and Dallas Goedert are the most fraudulent top-10 tight ends right now.” – Heath (03:23)
• On Jamar Chase trade skepticism:
  “If they’re not in the meeting room just saying ‘throw to him as much as possible,’ they’re nuts. Feed the kid.” – Jamie (29:50)
• Fantasy League drama & roster rules:
  “You can’t make a trade to get out of an illegal roster... drop someone!” – Jamie/Heath (59:43)
• On Vikings-Browns in London:
  “This is a complete avoid outside of Judkins and Jefferson. Everyone else is a desperation play.” – Jamie (36:59)

Deep Dives: One Question for Each Game

(20:25 - 40:19)

Sample Highlights:

• Detroit at Cincinnati:
  “Jamar Chase, David Montgomery, then big gap to Chase Brown and T. Higgins...feeling Montgomery is set up for a bounce back, but Chase Brown edges him in PPR.” – Jamie & Heath (21:00, 27:26)

• Las Vegas at Indianapolis:
  “Start Ashton Genty and Michael Pittman. Myers is a locked-in WR2 due to slot matchup.” (41:00)

• Washington at Chargers:
  “Start all Chargers WRs you have, including Lad McConkey. The implied team total is high. McConkey has to ‘get right’ sooner or later.” – Heath (51:20)

AFC Home Games – Key Player Discussions

Detroit at Cincinnati

Stat: Montgomery has only gone back-to-back games without a TD once as a Lion. Cincinnati allows multiple RBs to post double-digit points often.

• Start: Jamar Chase, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery
• Debate on Chase Brown (PPR preference over Montgomery for Heath)
• “We have to make Chase happy; they should force-feed him.” – Jamie (29:50)

Minnesota vs. Cleveland (London Game)

• Avoid: Outside of Justin Jefferson and Quinton Judkins (“must start”) the rest are fades. Jordan Mason a desperation play only.

Las Vegas at Indianapolis

• Start: Ashton Genty, Michael Pittman, Jacoby Myers
• “Colts slot coverage is a mess. Myers the better play than Daniel Jones this week.” – consensus (41:00, 22:21)

Washington at Chargers

• Confident Starts: Keenan Allen, Quentin Johnston, Lad McConkey, Justin Herbert
• Sit: Commanders RBs in favor of waiver RBs like Carter or Demercado.

Kansas City at Jacksonville

• Start Patrick Mahomes (“Top-4 no matter the matchup.”)
• “Jaguars run D quietly strong—no RB TDs allowed yet.” – Jamie (61:03)
• “Xavier Worthy is locked into lineups over most boom/bust WR3s.”

New England at Buffalo (Sunday Night)

• Jayden Daniels & Drake May: Both top-12 QBs for the week, though Jamie slightly cautious based on matchup and Daniels' knee.
• Patriots RBs: Fades. “Would start Michael Carter over any of them.” – consensus (71:52)
• Start Stefon Diggs, but temper expectations (WR29–34 range)

Dallas at Jets

• Start All Key Cowboys and Jets: Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, George Pickens, Jake Ferguson (TE top-2)
• “Dak is a borderline start. Volume could be limited based on Jets’ pace.” – Heath (75:20, 79:14)
• Mason Taylor (Jets TE): Desperation streamer, but on the rise.

Rapid-Fire Start/Sit Comparisons

• Michael Carter over Jameson Williams, Darius Slayton, Commanders RBs, and Brian Thomas Jr. in non-PPR—Heath & Jamie (32:18, 32:27)
• Quentin Judkins is a clear RB1 over Montgomery/Brown for both analysts
• Keenan Allen over Lad McConkey & Jacoby Myers this week

Key Timestamps

| Segment | Discussion Highlight | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|------------| | Love/Hate Players | Analyst “starts of the week” | 02:26–06:46| | Waivers & RB News | Bucky Irving, Trey Benson, Carter, RB drama | 12:48–17:59| | Deep Dives: One Q per Game | “Start Chase Brown over Montgomery in PPR?” | 20:25–40:19| | Detroit @ CIN Analysis | Montgomery bounce-back, WR rankings | 26:19–33:21| | Minnesota vs CLE (London) | Judkins must-start, others fades | 34:02–40:19| | Chargers WR Room | Start all three, bet on McConkey bounce-back | 51:20–52:00| | Start/Sit RB/WR Debates | Carter, Slayton, Jamo, Higgins, etc. | 32:18–32:46| | Chiefs/Jags RB Room | Pacheco versus Carter, Chiefs run D | 61:29–66:31| | Cowboys/Jets – Dak Debate | Volume, D matchups vs. projections | 78:12–80:28|

Analyst Insights & Trade Talk

• On roster management & waivers:
  “Sometimes you've just got to get your guy if you’re desperate, even if it takes $26 out of your $1000 budget.” – Jamie (14:42)
• On positional depth:
  “RB is weirdly deep from RB18 to RB28—all flawed but all startable.” – Heath (38:37)

TL;DR – Essential Takeaways

• RB waiver drama dominates the week: Michael Carter and Rico Dowdle are top adds depending on immediate vs. long-term need.
• Chase and Montgomery are “start your studs,” but boom/bust risk is real for guys like T. Higgins, Jameson Williams, and Jordan Addison.
• Streaming QBs: Fields, Daniel Jones, and Baker Mayfield among viable starters, but matchups are key.
• TEs: Tommy Tremble, Brenton Strange rise toward top-12 thanks to matchup and injuries elsewhere.
• WR pivots: Start Myers, consider McConkey and Johnston in high-total games; Keenan Allen is a WR1 lock.

For full rankings, injury updates, and more, catch the next episode or join the live streams Sunday morning at youtube.com/fantasyfootballtoday.