Fantasy Football Today (CBS Sports)

Episode Summary: Start or Sit (AFC): Tough RB Calls, Bounceback Games for Patrick Mahomes? Zay Flowers? Rome Odunze?
Released: November 20, 2025

Episode Overview

This week's FFT episode, hosted by Dave Richard alongside Jamie Eisenberg and Heath Cummings, dives into AFC Start/Sit decisions for Week 12. With a struggling running back landscape, unpredictable wide receiver performances, and bounceback hopes for big names like Patrick Mahomes and Zay Flowers, the team delivers actionable advice, debates player outlooks, and provides rankings context for listeners making lineup decisions. Key discussions focus on exploiting matchups, injury impacts, and the viability of both returning and backup players in a pivotal fantasy week.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Players the Crew Loves This Week

Jamie Eisenberg’s Picks ([03:05])

• Jared Goff vs. Giants — “This is the Jared Goff scenario I love…Huge favorites at home against a defense that stinks against the pass.” (Jamie, 03:05)
  • Giants allow 3rd-most fantasy points to QBs; all analysts consider Goff a top play.
• Alvin Kamara vs. Falcons — Noting the Falcons’ recent struggles against RBs: “They’re No.1 in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs in the last five weeks.” (Jamie, 03:39)
  • Encourages stashing Devin Neal as a possible future league-winner.
• Michael Wilson vs. Jaguars — “Jacoby Brissett, three of five starts: forty-four plus pass attempts...Michael Wilson should be close to double-digit targets in a very favorable matchup.” (03:39)

Heath Cummings’ Picks ([05:37])

• Brock Purdy vs. Panthers — “Must-start quarterback rest of the season…49ers are efficient passing, 27.75 implied total.” (05:37)
• Jacoby Brissett vs. Jaguars — “At least 23 fantasy points in every start…Why not? Dave's got him top five.” (05:37)
• Jameson Williams vs. Giants — Loves the Lions passing game usage, especially sans Sam LaPorta.

Toughest Positions: RB & WR Attrition ([26:52])

• Running back is “a lot better than wide receiver, but everything’s kind of bad…fifteen of the top 36 WRs not playing this week. A dozen committees at RB.” (Heath, 26:52)
• “Many are reluctant starts…They would be sits if we had better options.” (Jamie, 26:24)

Players to Avoid This Week

Heath’s Sits ([07:47])

• Daniel Jones @ Chiefs — Less than 20 fantasy points per outdoor game.
• Sean Tucker @ Rams — Efficiency won’t transfer and Rashad White still involved.
• Kareem Hunt vs. Chiefs — Isaiah Pacheco’s return kills value.

Jamie’s Sits ([08:50])

• Ashton Jeanty vs. CLE — Raiders OL generating the least yds/carry, game script negative.
• Caleb Williams vs. PIT — Steelers’ last three games: “fantastic against QBs.” Prefers Purdy, Brissett, Darnold over him.
• Dalton Schultz vs. BUF — “Playing the tight end erasers... Production against them has been absolutely miserable.” (10:53)

Notable News & Injury Updates ([12:06–16:27])

• Lamar Jackson missed practice (ankle); not a certainty to play.
• Joe Burrow limited; coach not yet optimistic on Sunday status.
• RB Landscape:
  • Trey Benson’s practice window open.
  • Josh Jacobs, Jalen Warren, Bucky Irving — All injury question marks.
  • Ramondre Stevenson trending toward playing; "if stuck, can use him," but prefers Henderson in most cases.
• WR/TE Updates: Marvin Harrison Jr. OUT, Xavier Worthy questionable, Khalil Shakir in, Dalton Kincaid OUT.

One Key Question—Quick Hits Per Game

Indianapolis @ Kansas City ([19:50])

• Colts WRs: “Pittman’s a low-end WR2, Alec Pierce a boom-bust WR3, don’t want anyone else.” (Heath, 19:50)
• Chiefs Trend: 10 big plays surrendered in last 2 games, suggesting downfield potential for Pierce.

Pittsburgh @ Chicago ([20:01])

• Rome Odunze: “Definitely starting this week, given state of position.” (Jamie, 20:04)
• Steelers see most pass attempts in NFL; 9 straight QBs over 33 pass attempts.

Jacksonville @ Arizona ([21:12])

• Jaguars receivers: Jacoby Myers and Parker Washington are WR3 types, but volume is concerning.
• Trevor Lawrence: Only viable in superflex/large leagues.

New England @ Cincinnati ([21:45])

• Travion Henderson (NE) vs. Chase Brown (CIN):
  • Jamie: Henderson over Brown, regardless of Ramondre status.
  • Heath: Brown if Ramondre plays, Henderson if not.
  • Stat: Cincinnati has surrendered 16.7+ PPR points to a RB every week.

Cleveland @ Las Vegas ([22:49])

• Ashton Jeanty vs. Quinshon Judkins:
  • Heath: “Jeanty for me, the target volume is key.”
  • Jamie: “Judkins, slightly. He’s gonna get the ball.”

Seattle @ Tennessee ([24:01])

• Ken Walker: “Should be a good game if they stick to giving him opportunities…would start him over Judkins and Jeanty.” (Jamie, 24:01)

Jets @ Baltimore ([25:21])

• Breece Hall vs. Zay Flowers:
  • Heath: “Hall for me, but close. Both likely must-starts due to weak WR week.”
  • Jamie: “Many RBs this week are reluctant starts.”

Rankings Debates and Start/Sit Decisions

• Patrick Mahomes: Strong home splits, high start confidence.
  • “Should be a bounce-back.” (Jamie, 34:06)
• KC WRs: Rashee Rice is an easy start; Xavier Worthy barely a top-36 WR, closer to WR3/4 territory.
  • “He and Mahomes just can’t connect on the deep ball.” (Heath, 35:23)
• TE Debate: Tyler Warren slightly over Travis Kelce this week, but “wouldn’t be surprised if Kelce outscores him.” (Jamie, 36:08)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On reluctant RB/WR starts:
  • “They would be sits if we had better options.” (Jamie, 26:19)
  • “Everything’s kind of bad.” (Heath, 26:29)
• NFL Trend:
  • Heath: “Chiefs are the 15th team since 1990 to be .500 or worse this late and favored vs. a .800+ team. The prior 14 are 14-0.” (Heath, 28:29)
• On the state of waiver wires:
  • “My home leagues, can’t get a QB for the life of me. In CBS/analyst leagues, they’re everywhere.” (Dave, 52:47)
• On Weather:
  • “No bad weather week—really good weather, lots of indoor games.” (Dave/Jamie, 11:42–11:57)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------------|------------| | Start/Sit RB/WR Landscape & Challenges | 03:05–06:43| | Injury updates and news | 12:06–16:27| | One Question for Each Game | 19:50–28:26| | Reluctant Running Back Rankings | 25:37–26:35| | Chiefs-Colts: WR breakdown, Mahomes, TE debate | 30:51–36:12| | Steelers-Bears: Odunze, Steelers WRs/DST | 37:54–44:28| | Jacksonville/Arizona: Jags RB split, McBride/TE talk | 46:10–51:04| | NE/CIN: Running backs, Hunter Henry vs. TEs | 57:12–59:43| | Cleveland-LV: Genti/Judkins debate | 65:03–68:28| | Seattle-Tennessee: Ken Walker/Charbonnet, Titans TEs | 70:52–72:19| | Jets-Ravens: Breece Hall/Zay Flowers; Mark Andrews | 73:02–77:26|

Strategic Takeaways

• RBs: Loads of “reluctant starts”—best to chase volume and matchups; even questionable committee RBs can be viable due to general attrition.
• WRs: Start almost anyone with a defined role; expect volatility.
• RB/WR Handcuffs: Stash new potential workload leaders (e.g., Devin Neal).
• TE Streaming: Target matchups vs. worst defenses (Henry, Brenton Strange if healthy).
• Quarterbacks: Jacoby Brissett and Brock Purdy are preferred streamers/spot starts over risky options like Caleb Williams or Daniel Jones.

Fantasy Advice & Rankings Clarity

• “You have to live in the WR3 range… Anyone in the WR2 range you have to start.” (Jamie, 20:39)
• Pierce’s air yards are attractive in the context of this week’s desperation; Browns RBs all have warts but are hard to fade entirely.
• DST strategy: Jaguars and Buccaneers have great rest-of-season schedules, worth stashing now.
• “It’s not a boost or a killer—Baltimore run D right now is just ‘matchups don’t matter territory.’” (Heath, 73:02)

Closing

The FFT team recognizes the week’s chaos—between injuries, bad offensive environments, and the fantasy playoff push, they aim to provide clarity and confidence as you finalize Week 12 lineups. For the most up-to-date insight, check their Sunday YouTube Q&A and late-week mailbag—plenty of uncertainty lingers!

"Enjoy the games—and remember, sometimes you just need to survive these RB/WR minefields!"
— FFT Crew