Fantasy Football Today – Start or Sit (AFC): Rhamondre Stevenson, Steelers RBs, Jaylen Waddle and More

Date: December 25, 2025
Hosts: Adam Aizer, Dave Richard, Jamie Eisenberg (Heath Cummings not present in this episode)

Overview

On this festive Christmas episode, the FFT crew tackles critical “Start or Sit” decisions for AFC fantasy matchups in Week 17. Adam, Dave, and Jamie provide rankings, player analysis, and injury updates as fantasy leagues hit championship week. They discuss players to love and avoid, high-leverage incentives, playoff implications for the Rams and Steelers, and answer listener start/sit questions.

The hosts deliver an episode dense with actionable advice and nuanced situational takes, built around key matchups, incentive-chasing players, injury comebacks, and tricky weather forecasts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Players to Love This Week

Jamie Eisenberg:

• Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars QB) vs. Colts
  • “Start of the week. Obviously recognizing what he's done for the last five games... Top five quarterback for me this week.” (03:52)
• Stefan Diggs (Patriots WR) vs. Jets
  • Chasing contract incentives (4 catches for $500k, 131 yards for another $500k)
  • “Love the setup for him. Love the setup for Lawrence and both should be great.” (04:38)

Dave Richard:

• Rhamondre Stevenson (Patriots RB) at Jets
  • “Jets have allowed almost 23 PPR points to a lead running back in three of their past five games since they traded away Quinnen Williams.” (05:15)
  • If Travion Henderson sits, Stevenson is a solid RB2/flex.
• Caleb Williams (Bears QB) at 49ers
  • “He’s in a spot where I think he can be a top-10 quarterback this week and come through for fantasy managers.” (06:18)
  • Noted 49ers’ recent struggles vs. QBs.

2. Players to Avoid

Dave Richard:

• Rico Dowdle (Panthers RB) at Seahawks
  • “I could not be more done with Rico Dowdle.” (08:10)
  • “Seattle’s run defense… not a spot where I feel comfortable with Dowdle.”
• Zay Flowers (Ravens WR) at Packers
  • “Every time I update my rankings I find myself just moving Zay Flowers down a little more each time because of the downgrade at quarterback.” (08:10)
  • Only a flex play with Huntley likely starting.

Jamie Eisenberg:

• Marvin Harrison Jr. (Cardinals WR) at Bengals
  • “Only 29 snaps last week, only got three targets, only the one catch.” (10:18)
• Justin Herbert (Chargers QB) vs. Texans
  • “Since the offensive line fell apart… five straight games, 16 fantasy points or less. This is not going to be a great game for Justin Herbert.” (10:46)

3. Incentives Watch: Players Chasing Payouts

Notable Mentions (21:24, 22:34, 23:00):

• Stefan Diggs: 4 catches/$500k, 131 yards/$500k.
• Rico Dowdle: 70 total yards/$1M.
• Hunter Henry: 3 catches/$250k.
• Juwan Jennings: 60 receptions or 600 yards/$666k each.
• Khalil Shakir: $150k per next two touchdowns.
• Tony Pollard: 151 yards/$250k.
• Matt Collins: 4 catches/$400k.

Jamie: “This could be a throw to score, run to win type of game for the Patriots where they pass early and run late and get these guys [their incentives]…” (76:15)

4. Injury & Rest-Related Start/Sit Watch

Rams & Steelers Playoff Scenarios (13:01–17:43)

• Teams could rest starters if playoff seeding is locked.
• Jamie: “Not as of now... you're not going to sit Puka [Nacua] because if Staffer's going to play, obviously Puka's gonna be out there...You're not going to sit Kyron unless we know something...You're not going to sit the Steelers running backs unless we know something.” (13:46)
• Dave recommends rostering Kirk Cousins/Garoppolo for Stafford insurance (16:26).

Key Injuries

• Lamar Jackson: not practicing, could still play Saturday.
• Travion Henderson (Patriots RB): concussion protocol, monitoring status.
• Jalen Warren (Steelers): banged up, could cede work to backup if rested.
• Various OL/DL injuries affecting key matchups, e.g., Texans possibly missing OT starters, Packers WRs healthy.

5. Game-by-Game AFC Start/Sit Tips

Houston @ Chargers

• Trust: Nico Collins (“You’re going to start him anyway, it’s Nico Collins, for crying…” – Dave, 32:56), Dalton Schultz (top 7–9 at TE).
• Chargers RBs: Omarion Hampton a strong start if Vidal is out – “Relatively high. …If he was running well all the way through, we probably have him ranked somewhere in the top 10.” (35:40)
• Caution: Herbert a low-end QB1, Lad McConkey "poor man's Nico Collins"; avoid other WR/TEs.

Philadelphia @ Buffalo

• Both QBs (Hurts & Allen) are must-starts but expectations lowered due to injuries and matchup.
• Dallas Goddard: “not a slam dunk start, nor should he be in this matchup.” (49:39)
• Prefer Schultz/Juwan Johnson over Goddard; even Colson Loveland if both Mizzou WRs out.

Tampa Bay @ Miami

• Evans: “Top 12ish type of wide receiver, figure he scores again…” (54:15)
• Waddle: Jamie has him WR21, Dave WR29.
• Bucky Irving: back-end RB2; limited passing role but volume.
• Abuka: “Just can’t trust him right now. …Tank job with Evans back.” (56:41)

Jacksonville @ Indianapolis

• Trevor Lawrence: top-5 QB.
• Jacoby Myers: must-start WR.
• Colts WRs (Downs, Pittman, Pierce): Rank after Myers, with Parker Washington/Brian Thomas Jr. in deep-league conversation.
• Brenton Strange: streaming TE for both sides; matchup exceptional; modest target share but strong TD upside.

New England @ Jets

• Rhamondre Stevenson: RB2, love him if Henderson sits.
• Stefan Diggs: strong WR2 via target volume/incentives.
• Hunter Henry: top-8 TE with incentive-based upside.
• Breece Hall: Outside top 24 RBs; “Can't trust Breece Hall right now.” (77:39)

Pittsburgh @ Cleveland

• Steelers RBs: Both Gainwell (in PPR) and Warren are top 24, with preference shifting if Warren’s health is in question. (29:03)
• Browns RBs: If Dylan Sampson plays, could be a low-end RB2/Flex; “Big upside in PPR.” (81:11)
• Passing games: Avoid, unless desperate—John Metchie and possibly TE Tyler Warren.

New Orleans @ Tennessee

• Start: Chris Olave and Juwan Johnson (TE6).
• Sit: Estime (NO RB) and Taysom Hill (tough run D).
• Tony Pollard: Only fringe/low RB2 in PPR.
• Tyler Shuck (Titans QB): Deep sleeper, “Top 15 QB, and I am starting him in a championship.” – Dave (84:01)

Listener Start/Sit Q&A – Memorable & Useful Moments

• Devonta Smith vs. Bucky Irving: “I have Irving a little bit ahead of Devonta Smith.” – Dave (49:14)
• Michael Carter, Rico Dowdle, A. Buka:
  • Jamie: “I'll take Carter. Even with no catches last week…” (59:30)
  • Dave: “Probably have Dowdle ranked the highest of the three.”
• RB Rankings Amid Injuries:
  • “If Videl played, would Hampton be a top 24 back?”
    “Yes.” – Jamie (41:05)
• Start Both Steelers Running Backs?
  • Adam: “I'm excited, I'm starting both of them in one league now.” – Dave: "That's great." (79:46)
• Breece Hall vs. Dowdle:
  • Jamie: “I'd start Michael Carter over him. I'd start Blake Corum over him. Like, I can't trust Breece Hall right now.” (77:35)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “You're not here for the Christmas spirit…You're here to kick some ass in your fantasy leagues. That's what Christmas is all about."
  – Dave, (02:53)

• “I could not be more done with Rico Dowdle.”
  – Dave, (08:10)

• “Jets have allowed almost 23 PPR points to a lead running back in three of their last five games since they traded away Quinnen Williams.”
  – Dave, (05:15)

• “If you've got Stafford, see if Kirk Cousins is available…that way if you get to Monday and Stafford's inactive...then you can pivot.”
  – Dave, (16:26)

• “[Stefon Diggs] needs another four catches for half a million dollars, another 131 yards for another 500,000. So he’s chasing incentives. …Love the setup for him.”
  – Jamie, (04:38)

• “If [Jalen] Warren is ruled out for whatever reason, then Gainwell to the moon. Yes.”
  – Jamie, (67:59)

Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 02:26–08:10| Players We Love / Avoid (Kickoff, rapid-fire) | | 13:01–17:43| Playoff Scenario Risks: Rams/Steelers | | 21:24–23:00| Contract Incentives Tracker | | 23:41–26:44| Injury/News Roundup | | 25:51–41:14| Game-by-Game Rapid Start/Sit, Listener Q&A Begins | | 44:04–48:49| Eagles @ Bills Analysis | | 54:15–58:32| Bucs @ Dolphins Deep Dive, Waddle/Irving | | 61:08–67:53| Jags/Colts Deep Dive, RB/TE Debates, more Q&A | | 71:33–74:07| Patriots WR Tiers: Diggs / Hollins & Incentives | | 79:34–82:40| Steelers/Browns and Flex Running Back Puzzle | | 83:34–85:37| Saints @ Titans: Avoid NO RBs, Deep QB/TE streamer | | 85:44–86:49| DST rankings, quickfire finales |

Tone & Final Take

The podcast maintains the crew’s signature casual energy and camaraderie (“That’s what Christmas is all about—kicking ass in your fantasy leagues!”), with relentless stat citations, injury calculations, and start/sit contingency trees. There’s emphasis on contract incentives and player motivations, plus lots of practical advice on how to handle late-in-week uncertainty and playoff clinching scenarios.

Bottom line: Listen if you want every significant AFC start/sit angle explained—especially if you have challenging flex decisions, RB injury headaches, or are tracking end-of-season contract incentives!

For More Answers

Tune in to the companion NFC episode and Sunday morning live shows for all lineup-breaking news and last-minute start/sit advice.