Start or Sit (AFC): WINNING Lineup Tips & Players to AVOID (12/19 Fantasy Football Podcast)

Summary

Podcast Summary: Fantasy Football Today – Episode: Start or Sit (AFC): WINNING Lineup Tips & Players to AVOID (12/19 Fantasy Football Podcast)

Introduction In the December 19, 2024 episode of Fantasy Football Today presented by CBS Sports, host Adam Aizer and analysts Dave Richard, Jamey Eisenberg, and Heath Cummings delve deep into strategies for optimizing your AFC lineup. Focusing on the crucial "Start or Sit" decisions, they provide comprehensive insights into player performances, matchup analyses, and key picks to help fantasy managers secure victory in their leagues.

Quarterback Corner The analysts kick off the episode by assessing the quarterback landscape for the week. Heath Cummings initiates a trivia segment, challenging the panel to identify quarterbacks who have struggled consistently against specific defenses.

• Joe Burrow's Struggles: Heath states, “Joe Burrow… he always has this thing with Cleveland. [03:24]” highlighting Burrow’s underperformance in recent matchups against the Browns.

• Lamar Jackson vs. Steelers: The discussion shifts to Lamar Jackson, with Heath noting, “Mark Andrews, I think you have him as a top seven tight end. He has never scored in 10 games against the Pittsburgh Steelers… [20:22]” emphasizing Jackson’s inconsistent fantasy output against the Steelers’ defense.

• Start or Sit Recommendations: Adam advises, “I would start Allen over him and I would start Joe Burrow over him this week. [43:51]” suggesting Josh Allen and Joe Burrow as more reliable quarterback options for the upcoming game week.

Running Back Rundown The panel provides a meticulous analysis of running backs, focusing on who to start and who to avoid based on matchups and recent performances.

• Bucky Irving’s Potential: Adam shares his optimism for Bucky Irving, stating, “Bucky's typically giving you some good numbers all the way around. [07:27]” positioning him as a top contender for a top 12 finish this week.

• Players to Avoid: Jamie warns against starting Isaiah Pacheco: “I'd like to avoid Isaiah Pacheco. [09:06]” citing his limited touches and poor performance against the Texans’ run defense.

• Jerome Ford's Volatility: The inconsistent performance of Jerome Ford is discussed, with Heath mentioning, “Jerome Ford's guaranteed to get you even those 10 PPR points. [71:14]” highlighting his potential but also his unpredictability.

Wide Receiver Watch Wide receivers are dissected with a focus on consistency and matchup advantages.

• Zay Flowers vs. Jerry Judy: Heath critiques Zay Flowers, noting, “Zay Flowers has not had a single game with anywhere between 12 and 18.4 PPR fantasy points per game. [26:10]” while Jamie prefers starting Jerry Judy for his potential upside.

• Top Picks: Jamie emphasizes the importance of targeting teams with high implied totals, saying, “The Packers, Buccaneers, Bills, Lions, Bengals, Cardinals, Ravens, and Falcons are the only seven teams this week with an implied total over 25. [06:11]”

Tight End Talk The tight end position receives attention, especially concerning Mark Andrews and emerging talents.

• Mark Andrews’ Drought: Heath expresses concern, “Mark Andrews… he has never scored a touchdown in four straight games in his career. [20:22]” questioning his reliability against the Steelers.

• Alternative Options: Adam suggests, “I would start Strange over him. [21:46]” advocating for Brenton Strange as a more dependable tight end option.

Defense Decisions Defensive units are evaluated based on their recent performances and upcoming opponents.

• Bengals vs. Steelers/Ravens: Jamie recommends starting the Bengals DST, “I think I go Bengals, Ravens, Falcons, Steelers. [49:49]” due to their favorable matchups and recent defensive performances.

• Colts and Patriots DST: Adam highlights the improvement of the Colts DST, noting, “This Colts defense has played really well lately. [73:14]” making them a viable option against the Giants next week.

Waiver Wire Wonders The analysts spotlight key waiver wire pickups that could provide significant value for fantasy teams.

• Jacoby Myers and Connor Cook: Heath recommends picking up Jacoby Myers, especially if Aiden O'Connell is active, stating, “We're expecting Aiden O'Connell back. [85:43]”

• Emerging Running Backs: Travis Etienne and Alexander Madison are discussed as potential assets against the Jaguars, with Jamie noting, “He's got a low end, number two running back… [33:13]”

Injury Updates and Player Status Staying informed on player injuries is crucial, and the panel provides updates that could influence lineup decisions.

• Bucky Irving’s Back Issue: Adam mentions, “Hope he's got no issues with his back. [07:34]” expressing hope that Irving remains healthy to perform optimally.

• Mark Andrews' Availability: Concerns are raised about Andrews potentially sitting due to past performances against certain defenses, impacting tight end decisions.

Strategic Insights and Tips Beyond player evaluations, the hosts share broader strategies to enhance fantasy team performance.

• Leveraging Matchups: Jamie emphasizes selecting players from teams with high implied totals, reinforcing the importance of favorable matchups: “If I have players on those teams in my lineups this week… [06:11]”

• Balancing Risk and Reward: Adam discusses the importance of balancing high-risk, high-reward players with consistent performers to maintain a competitive edge.

Notable Quotes

• Adam Aizer: “It pays to Discover. Based on the February 2024 Nielsen report. [00:25]” (Note: This appears to be part of an advertisement and may be excluded from key content summaries.)

• Heath Cummings: “It's just crazy. [04:01]” reflecting on Joe Burrow’s inconsistent performance.

• Jamie Eisenberg: “It's one of those games where you just can't sit at this point unless you like.” regarding Joe Mixon’s tough matchup.

Conclusion The episode concludes with a recapitulation of key decisions and a reminder to fantasy managers to stay vigilant with player performances, injuries, and matchup analyses. The hosts encourage listeners to leverage their insights to make informed start or sit decisions, optimize waiver wire pickups, and ultimately dominate their fantasy leagues.

Final Thoughts Fantasy Football Today offers an in-depth analysis tailored for AFC-focused leagues, blending statistical insights with strategic advice. Whether you're a seasoned fantasy manager or a newcomer aiming to climb the ranks, this episode equips you with the necessary tools to make informed decisions and enhance your team's competitive edge.

Transcript

[Adam Azer]

Hey FFT listeners, did you know Discover.

[Heath Cummings]

Is accepted at 99 of places that take credit cards nationwide? That's right, 99%.

[Adam Azer]

And every time you make a purchase with your card, you automatically earn cash back.

[Heath Cummings]

That could mean earning rewards when you.

[Adam Azer]

Buy those last minute tickets, those overpriced concessions and that takeout you ate at home after you bailed on meeting your.

[Heath Cummings]

Buddies at the bar. Well, wherever you spend game day, remember.

[Adam Azer]

It pays to Discover. Based on the February 2024 Nielsen report.

[Heath Cummings]

Learn more at discover.com credit card this holiday season, surprise everyone on your list with the best gifts tickets. To see their favorite artists live, go to live nation.com gifts and find an event. Who needs another tie? I want to go to a concert. I bet you do too. Or a comedy show on Live Nation. You can choose from thousands of concerts and comedy shows including Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Metallica, Rascal Flats, Sarah Silverman, Trans Siberian Orchestra, Matt Rogers, Phantogram. They have something for everyone on Live Nation. And there are so many more. Share a memory together or give a gift they'll never forget. Find the most exciting gift for every fan@live nation.com gifts that's livenation.com gifts attention all of you hungry people. I've got a new favorite snack. It's a hassle free snack, perfect for any occasion. I'm talking about wonderful pistachios. Specifically wonderful pistachios. No shells. Wait until I tell you the flavors they have. They're incredible. And I love pistachios, but I don't love peeling the shells. With wonderful pistachios, no shells, you open the bag, you reach in, grab a handful of pistachios and eat them. So let's talk about the flavors. My favorite is sweet cinnamon followed by sea salt and vinegar. Love those two. I also love the honey roasted and the smoky barbecue is really unique. They also have chili roasted, sea salt and pepper and jalapeno lime. So believe me, you're going to find several flavors that you love. So if you're just walking around the kitchen looking for something to eat or maybe you're tailgating at the game, wherever you are, reach for some wonderful pistachios, no shells. Visit wonderful pistachios.com to learn more.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

This is Fantasy Football TODAY from CBS Sports.

[Adam Azer]

Wanna play?

[Heath Cummings]

Can you believe this?

[Adam Azer]

No, I can't.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

It's time to dominate your fantasy league.

[Heath Cummings]

Off to the ra.

[Adam Azer]

He stays at his feet.

[Heath Cummings]

This is going to go the distance.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Now here's some combination of Adam, Dave, Jamie, And Heath.

[Heath Cummings]

Oh, what's going on? You ready to set some lineups? You ready to win and move to the fantasy football championship round? That's what we're here to help you with. Welcome to fantasy football today presented by BetMGM, the sportsbook. Born in Vegas, Adam Azer with Heath Cummings. Jamie Eisenberg will be joining us shortly. It's a weird week. Heath. You, you know these quarterbacks we were just talking about you. Would you say you have five that you like this week?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Five quarterbacks that I like this week.

[Heath Cummings]

And you know what? I'm going to go right into our trivia question because I'm going to pour some cold water on even five, which must start. Quarterback has not scored more than 20.6 fantasy points in six point per passing touchdown leagues in five straight matchups against this week's opponent, Lamar Jackson. That is half of the answer. There is another one.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Josh Allen.

[Heath Cummings]

No.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Jalen Hurts?

[Heath Cummings]

No. I mean maybe. But there's only one. I doubt it. But there's only one that I know.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Who is it?

[Heath Cummings]

It's Joe Burrow. He. He, I. He always has this thing with Cleveland. They have his number. It is really weird. He hasn't played them yet this season.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Well, I, I do think he has.

[Heath Cummings]

I'm sorry. He has. And he scored. He didn't have a good game.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yeah, I, I do think that that would be like if you wanted to have concern about Joe Burrow or even Josh Allen in like both of those games could be games where the other team's offense is so bad that they just don't need to do that much.

[Heath Cummings]

It's just crazy. So for, for Burrow, his highest amount of points against Cleveland in the last five meetings is 20.6 in PP in six pointer passing touchdown leagues for Jackson, he has never scored 20 fantasy points against the Steelers and he's only faced them five times. He's missed a lot of Steelers games, but only one of them have been at home. So I'm hoping a little home cooking can help Lamar Jackson. Actually, I don't care because I don't have any Lamar Jackson so.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Well, how could anybody who has Lamar Jackson care like where they have Jaden Daniels who was so fantastic against Philadelphia the first time that he played him.

[Heath Cummings]

So I got a text yesterday from a friend that said, hey, I think he used the word sacrilegious. Would it be sacrilegious to sit Lamar Jackson for Kyler Murray with given the matchups Kyler against. I don't think.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yeah, I don't think it says anything to do with religion. But I do think that, like what you feel so much more confident in Kyler Murray, who's basically been good once in the last month.

[Heath Cummings]

That's what I said. I said he hasn't been good enough to justify. It's like, I see where you're coming from, but that's how people are feeling. They're nervous. But you know what? There just really aren't a lot of slam dunk quarterbacks. So you're not. You're. You're in, as Jamie would say, the same canoe as a lot of other fantasy managers. So how about we talk about players we love? Who is a player you love this week? Heath.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

So I told you I was going to do this, and I hope it works well. But one thing I noticed, and it's directly related to what the quarterback situation that you talked about was there's only seven teams this week with an implied total over 25. We're going to talk about the other end of this spectrum in just a moment, but the Green Bay packers, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Buffalo Bills, the Detroit Lions, the Cincinnati Bengals, the Arizona Cardinals, the Baltimore Ravens and the Atlanta Falcons are the only seven teams this week with an implied total over 25. I love it. If I have players on those teams in my lineups this week, and if I've got a tiebreaker, I'm going to lean towards players on those teams.

[Heath Cummings]

Can you say it one more time?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

The packers, the Buccaneers, the Bills, the Lions, the Bengals, the Cardinals, the Ravens, and the Falcons.

[Heath Cummings]

All right, let me throw just a couple names at you here. Marvin Harrison Jr. How do you feel about him?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I figured what would happen here is I'm going to give you the other list in just a moment. You're going to ask me about the best players on each of those teams. So listen, I think Marvin Harrison Jr. Is someone I feel great about if he's in my flex butt. Because, man, that could be the hammer from the flex that wins me the matchup. And if my flex is bad, it's probably okay.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay, here's a good one. Marvin Harrison Jr. Or Jerry Judy, from.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Our chat, I am probably going. That's. That's kind of the weird thing because the Cleveland Browns do make the other list, but their implied total has not moved as much as you and I. And I think Jamie would all agree the difference should be between a game started by Jameis Winston and a game started by Dorian Thompson Robinson. It's only down to like 19.75. So Judy hasn't fallen as far in my projections as I would like, but I'm just gonna force him down in the rankings. I think I'd probably start Marvin.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay. Hey, Jamie. What's going on? Hey, guys, do you want to give us your start of the week?

[Adam Azer]

Sure. Bucky Irving is the start of the week. Hoping that he's got no issues with his back. I wasn't thrilled that he's still on the injury report, but I'm sure it's just maintenance more than anything because not practicing most of the week last week and still played and had over 100 yards once again. So taking on a Dallas defense that's gotten better against the run lately, but I just trust Liam Cohen and the offensive system there for Tampa Bay. They've just been so fantastic at running the ball. Hopefully he doesn't lose a lot of work to Rashad White. He's clearly going to share, but both guys have shown the ability to be successful. I just think Buckier has got a chance to be a top 12 running back this week just based on his opportunities. Hopefully he goes for the positive instead of the negative in the receiving yards, because last week he had two catches for minus 4 yards. But Bucky's typically giving you some good numbers all the way around. 115 yards rushing last week, 54 yard run. Didn't show any signs of being, you know, hampered by the back. I think he's gonna have an opportunity again for a potential top 10 finish.

[Heath Cummings]

All right, Bucky Irving and then players to avoid. So he wants to give us the other end of that list.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Nine teams this week, and this is terrible. Like, how are there nine teams with an implied total below 20? You do not generally want to start players with an implied total below 20 points. New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars. Now, I will say this one's gone back and forth. The Raiders are not on the list because it seems like every day that I look, a different team is favored in this game. Right now, the Raiders are favored. So Jacksonville is on the list, but the Raiders are not far. The Tennessee Titans, the New York Giants, the Cleveland Browns, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Houston Texans, and the Denver Broncos.

[Heath Cummings]

All right, obviously, we're not gonna sit Nico Collins. We're not gonna sit Cortland Sutton, Malik.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I'm not gonna say Joe Big. I'm not gonna say Joe Mixon either.

[Heath Cummings]

That's it. Well, yeah, that's an interesting one, though, because what a horrible matchup. But we'll talk about that in a little bit with one question for each game. So, so he's not saying avoid all these guys saying, think about this is a low scoring week. It looks like this could be a tiebreaker. Saints, Patriots, Jaguars, Titans, Giants, Browns, Steelers, Texans, Broncos. These teams are implied to score fewer than 20 points. Jamie, who are you avoiding?

[Adam Azer]

I'd like to avoid Isaiah Pacheco. I wish we would have been saying this for the last three weeks. He's just not getting the job done. Not getting enough playing time. You thought, okay after the second game where he had 16 total touches. Now it's, you know, opportunity to beat up the Browns and he didn't beat up the rounds. So it's, it's frustrating taking on a Texans run defense number four in terms of fewest fantasy points allowed to the position. They did a great job in slowing down Devon Hn in the run game last week. Pacheco's not doing enough in the passing game. Four catches in the three games since he's come back in week 13. So while I thought, I think a lot of people, myself included, were hoping for somewhat of a savior for your fantasy team going into the playoffs. He's been the absolute opposite. So tough matchup, bad quarterback right now in terms of injury, most likely at least. Could be a rough game for Pacheco.

[Heath Cummings]

Once again, I will give a little bit of good news because it does maybe look like it could be a low scoring week. It doesn't. As of now, as of Thursday morning, doesn't seem like we're going to have that terrible weather anywhere. You know, it doesn't seem like we're going to have one of those games in Chicago where it's 4 degrees and snowing all day and no one can operate the offense or anything like that. So that right now at least is a positive. It'll be cold, but nothing too crazy. All right. Hey, listen, if you wouldn't mind, if you got 30 seconds to spare, please vote for us. Go to sports podcast group.com and go to Vote now. Best Fantasy betting and Gaming podcast. Scroll down and find fantasy football today. And then again, it takes about 30 seconds. And if you wouldn't mind voting for us, that would be awesome. We'd love to win this award again. It would mean a lot to us and you can help get us there. So please, if you wouldn't mind. Sportspodcastgroup.com Vote now. Best fantasy betting and gaming podcast. Vote for FFT. Also, the holiday season is here. It is the perfect time to crown your fantasy football champion. Hopefully that's you. You can buy something to celebrate a Championship or something to tease the league's biggest loser, go to Fantasy football. Today's new fan shop. Powered by Shop Sense. It has everything you need. Trophies, T shirts, any gear to make your league unforgettable. And that's not all. If you need a gift for the ultimate fan or you're looking to upgrade your fan cave, we've got you covered with everything from sports memorabilia to game day decor. Perfect for the holiday season. Visit the shop [e-mail] sports.com fantasy get everything you need to make this season legendary. Use the link in the episode description or scan the QR code on your screen to shop now. It is shop cbs sports.com fantasy very cool stuff that we're looking at right now. You're going to like it. Everybody got their holiday shopping done?

[Adam Azer]

No, no, no.

[Heath Cummings]

Oh man, it's tough. It's tough to pull it off this time of year and I think I'm like a little bit too late to get, to get like to order stuff online. I think I missed it. I got to go to a store, get a gift card or something. I don't know. I'm not good at gifts. I'm very bad at gift giving. I'm one of the worst.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I, I'm seasonal.

[Heath Cummings]

What does that mean?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I'm pretty good at gift giving when it's not football season.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah. Well no you're not. Should be the case for me. I could see that it should be the case. But yeah, all right, fine. At least I'm not alone during football season. News and notes all right, so we know Dorian Thompson Robinson starting but that's not necessarily for the rest of the season. That is a week to week basis for the Browns.

[Adam Azer]

Mason Rudolph, this question on Sports Network yesterday, would you give any thought to in a like you're deciding Jerry Judy versus we had the question Marvin Harrison, you know somebody in, in that same range. Any consideration to Thompson Robinson could stink and they bench in mid game.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I mean he probably is going to stick.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, I don't know.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

It seems like can we get somebody at the, at the next press conference just ask how bad does Dorian Thompson Robinson have to be for you to pull it out of the game.

[Heath Cummings]

Speaking of press conferences, do not tell Titans head coach Brian Callahan that his team is soft.

[Adam Azer]

Yes you should. That's how you get good clips.

[Heath Cummings]

Holy cow. He went on, I don't know, nearly two minute rant which he wasn't screaming or anything but he was using very profane language. And then at the end what a line to finish it off. So if you haven't seen it, it's, it's worth your time. But Mason Rudolph's gonna start Geno Smith. Looking good. You guys ranking Geno Smith yet against Minnesota?

[Adam Azer]

I wouldn't start him against Minnesota. No.

[Heath Cummings]

But you ranked him.

[Adam Azer]

No. Well, I mean, ranking. Yeah, he's not, he's not making the top 24.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Okay. Yeah.

[Adam Azer]

I would start Michael Penix over him, if that's a question.

[Heath Cummings]

No, no. But I'm just. You are expecting him to start.

[Adam Azer]

We are treating the receivers as if he is starting. Yes. And I, I do think it's much better than Sam Howell. I mean, Sam Howell played basically the entire second half, right? Most of the second half. Yeah. And could not get away from any pressure like the offense. It really is a credit to Geno Smith that he's been able to avoid pressure as much as he had because that offensive line's been a disaster.

[Heath Cummings]

Oh, and it's a little disappointing for me because I used to love going oh for Sam Howell, but I guess I don't get to do that. Led the NFL and pass attempts last year, by the way. So Drew Locke is going to start for the Giants. Pennock starting Baker Mayfield missed practice. We think that's nothing to. It's on my low was limited with a hip issue. He should be fine. Aiden O'Connell and Patrick Mahomes practiced in full. Are you guys expecting Aiden O'Connell to face the Jaguars and Patrick Mahomes to face the Texans?

[Adam Azer]

Yes.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah. Okay. I knew my homes was going to play. I like this. He's so obviously was going to play.

[Adam Azer]

As a Chiefs fan. Do you want him to play? The game is Wednesday and.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

He'S fine. Yeah, like, I, I, I, I thought he was going to play on Sunday night.

[Adam Azer]

Just, he's fine.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

The nice thing is just win two games in five days, which isn't really that big a deal, and then he gets 24 days off.

[Heath Cummings]

So funny. All right, what else? Oh, yeah, I was gonna read something about Kirk Cousins from CBSSports.com But I just encourage you to go read it. Cody Benjamin wrote an article about what the Falcons can do in terms of the money they owe Kirk Cousins and they could just cut him and read the story. Running back news. All right. Both Seahawks running backs missed practice. Zach Charbonnet has an oblique injury. Ken Walker did some walkthrough activities, but he missed practice. Is anybody picking up another Seahawks running back right now?

[Adam Azer]

I did in our podcast league. You know, I think if you're in a deeper format and you're stuck. It's not a bad idea to speculate on Kenny McIntosh. Just he seems like he'll be the next man up. But again, you got to be talking desperate situation to trust the third string running back against the Vikings, you know, that's a really good run defense. But you know, when we're talking about Amir Abdullah and we might be talking about Patrick Taylor again and you're, you know, looking at some of these situations where we're on to third string and fourth string and fishing running backs, you know, it's. He's in that, he's in that conversation, you know, so he'd be, he'd be right around Kendra Miller if he starts, he'd be right around, you know, for me at least. Like the Chiefs running backs and the Steelers running backs and you know, high inflex.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah. And we're a long way from him, you know, being the starter who. It's not uncommon for guys to miss practice on Wednesday, so Charbonnet, he didn't leave the game with an injury, so, you know, we'll see. Isaac Garendo missed practice with a hamstring injury that he apparently sustained last week. So I had a bunch of bids in dropping Patrick Taylor. I canceled all of those. We'll just see what happens there. We'll hold on to Taylor for now. Breeze hall was not on the injury report. That was good news. Roshan Johnson practiced, but he didn't practice though.

[Adam Azer]

That's weird.

[Heath Cummings]

That. Yes, that was weird. Okay, we'll keep an eye on what happens with Breeze Hall. Roshan Johnson practiced in full. David Montgomery is not on IR yet, but I still dropped him thanks to some help from Jamie. I was like, should I drop you? Think it's okay to drop Montgomery? He's like, yeah, so he might come back at some point, maybe in the playoffs, but you can drop Montgomery. Zahlil McLaughlin out tonight. The Saints signed Clyde Edwards Elaire to their practice squad. Sincere McCormick out for the season. Tony Pollard missed practice. No surprise. Tyrone Tracy Jr. Was limited with an ankle injury at wide receiver. Marquis Brown practiced in full. How about that? George Pickens missed practice, so he's not looking great right now. They're playing Saturday. Jalen Waddle missed practice. Cedric Tillman still in the concussion protocol, but might play this week at Cincinnati. Tight end news. David Najoku missed practice. Please get back out there. Zach Ertz missed practice. Will Disley. Will Disley is out, but Jamie Hayden Hurst is likely to be activated tonight for the Chargers. Does that change anything for Stone smart.

[Adam Azer]

It's not great, you know, I mean, knowing that there's another guy there that they clearly have trusted in the past. It's just a matter of, you know, how much will they go back to him or, or lean on. On Smart. But, you know, any leagues where you were counting on him, I would probably be a little bit cautious. So clearly, if Breton Strange is there, make that move and, and pivot to, you know, what, what should be a better situation. And then, I mean, I'm not, I'm not starting smart this week. I'm going to drop him outside the top 12.

[Heath Cummings]

All right. On defense. Well, actually, let me go to the offensive line. Trent Williams, very unlikely to play, it seems for the 49ers. Chicago left guard Tevin Jenkins missed practice with a calf injury. And Ryan Kelly, the center for the Colts, he expects to play this week. Be nice to get him back against Tennessee. Patrick Surtan will play tonight. Other big T.J. watt was limited. Larry Ogan Joby was limited. But a couple of defensive backs I believe missed practice for the Steelers. Double check on that young way. KU is on ir. Don't start him. And Giants edge rusher Brian Burns has an ankle injury, so he's considered day to day right now as they are dropping like flies on the Giants defense. All right, we got to get to one question for each game. Before we do that, I'm going to give you my favorite stat of the week. It is making me a little nervous. Guys. Mark Andrews, I think you have him as a top seven tight end. He has never scored in 10 games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and he scored a touchdown in three straight games. Currently, he has never scored a touchdown in four straight games in his career. Oh, my gosh. Is anybody nervous about Mark Andrews with this history?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

He's a tight end.

[Adam Azer]

I did, I did drop him when you in the rankings a little bit when you told me the stat, just because he's been so touchdown dependent. So he's still a number one tight end. Like I would start Strange over him, but that's in, in ppr. That's the extent of it. I mean, look, at some point he's gonna find the end zone against the team. You know, it's just there's, there's, there's too many, too many times will they face each other. And I wonder how many times because it's happened a few that Lamar did not play in some of the games where Andrews has faced him. So take that into account. But yeah, he's, he's not. He's not outright benchable because of that.

[Heath Cummings]

What's.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

What's more worrisome? Mark Andrews never scoring a touchdown against the Steelers or Sam laporta never scoring a touchdown outside.

[Adam Azer]

What, what's the bigger sample size? Because we said laporta was six games outdoors. Right.

[Heath Cummings]

Ten games for Mark Andrews.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

So it is a bigger sample size for Andrews. Probably the same sample size for Andrews with Lamar Pr.

[Heath Cummings]

Lamar has only played the Steelers five times less.

[Adam Azer]

There you go.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah. Am I right about that? I'm pretty sure I'm right about that. Five times. Four of them.

[Adam Azer]

Well, as Andrews played in all those, though, that's quite. That's also.

[Heath Cummings]

I think so.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Oh, Andrews has missed, actually. Maybe.

[Heath Cummings]

Maybe not. Maybe not. But yeah. So Andrews Andrew, zero touchdowns in 10 games against the Steelers. In 26 games against his other two division rivals, he scored 18 touchdowns. Crazy stuff.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

All right, I just say, like, we're not doing the Steelers game today or this Lions game today, right?

[Heath Cummings]

Correct.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Okay, so Dave's gonna have some fantastic Jared Goff cold weather stats.

[Heath Cummings]

I'm telling you, it's not a single quarterback. All right. Except Josh Allen. Just start him. All right, we're. We'll be right back with one question for each game on fantasy football today.

[Dave Richard]

As someone who just recently got engaged, I can tell you firsthand how exciting and how a little overwhelming the whole process can be. If you're looking back on all the memories you've made with your partner and you're already dreaming about the future together, you're planning on taking the next big step. I recommend sourcing your engagement ring from blue nile.com Blue Nile is the original online jeweler since 1999, offering you a larger, more brilliant piece than you can imagine at a price you won't find anywhere else. That's why they offer a diamond price guarantee. They'll meet or beat a competitor's price on a comparable diamond so you can feel great about your purchase. Blue Nile is also committed to the highest ethical standards in sourcing diamonds and jewelry, so you can feel great about that, too. They offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee, free shipping and returns, along with lifetime service and repairs. Plus, every order is insured and arrives in discreet packaging, so no worries there. And in most cases, they can even be delivered overnight, just in time for that last unforgettable moment in 2024. Right now, go to Bluenile.com and use code FFT for $50 off your purchase of $500 or more. That's $50 off with code [e-mail] Bluenile.com hey, everyone. I want to share a little about our experience hosting on Airbnb. We decided to give it a try as a way to earn some extra income, and it's honestly been a great decision. The process was super easy to get started, and the flexibility is amazing. We can choose when we want to host, which works around our schedules. One of the best parts about hosting is getting to share our favorite local spots with the guests. Whether it's top restaurants, beautiful beaches, or the best golf courses in town, it's so rewarding when guests enjoy the same places as we do. Hosting has not only helped us earn extra income, but it's allowed us to make the most of our space. If you've got extra space or travel often, hosting might be a great fit for you. Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how [e-mail] host what is going on, guys?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

It is Kyle Long from Pushing the Pile podcast, and I just wanted to give a quick shout out to our partner, Travis Matthew. Clothing designed for comfort and confidence no matter where the day takes you. And I gotta say, I'm a guy who likes to play golf. And the new thing in golf is style and comfort. It used to be discomfort in golf. Now Travis Matthew is here to save the day with the OTC Tec Chino. The ultimate grab and go pant. Casual versatility at its finest. Slightly tapered at the leg while keeping the feel you love around the waist. And when I get home from work, I love throwing on that cloud waffle hoodie and sitting on the couch. And you know who loves it more than me? My daughters. They love to cuddle with me when I've got my Travis Matthew on because they know it is the softest and most comfortable fabric that I own. So make sure that you visit www.travismathieu.com to get your own product.

[Heath Cummings]

All right, folks, here we go. One question for each game, starting with Pittsburgh at Baltimore.

[Adam Azer]

Starter sit Zay Flowers, high end, number three receiver. You know, he. He's. He's been a little unlucky. Did score a touchdown last time these two teams met, but under 12 PPR points now for whatever. Ever since the Broncos game, which I believe was weeks seven, six or seven, it's. It's been a pretty long time since we've seen him have a monster game. So if you look at what the Steelers have allowed the last couple of weeks, there's been a lot of big games to wide receivers, but that's Jamar Chase, that's the two Eagles guys. You know, Flowers has just been overshadowed a little bit by Rashad Bateman scoring touchdowns, Mark Andrews scoring touchdowns. So I think you're clearly starting him in three receiver leagues. You've probably been doing so all along. I would start more. Jerry Judy, for example.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I would start him over Jerry Judy. I'm not sure if I've got that currently, but that's the way I'll, I'll end up. Yeah, he's like the very top of the. I don't love my wide receiver, so I'm gonna start this guy.

[Heath Cummings]

Zay Flowers has not had a single game with anywhere between 12 and 18.4 PPR fantasy points per game. He is either below 12 or 18 and a half or more. That makes him a consistent tough call. Very strange. Houston at Kansas City. Who are some guys you would start over? Joe Mixon, who has the toughest matchup in fantasy and has been horrible in tough matchups? Who are some guys you'd start over?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Joe Mixon, Saquon Jacobs, Gibbs and Chase Brown.

[Heath Cummings]

Wow. You have him fifth. Okay, Jamie.

[Adam Azer]

I'm a little bit lower, but it's basically just all the mustard guys. Like, he's just one of those guys. You just can't sit at this point unless you like. I love Bucky Irving this week. I'm not doing that.

[Heath Cummings]

Why? Okay, tell me what.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I might move Bijan ahead of him.

[Heath Cummings]

You don't have Bijan Robinson ahead of Joe Mix it. Are you kidding? How? But like, he's Bijan. Yeah, but like, he's been. He was terrible last week against the Dolphins. He was terrible against the Titans. He was good one time against another tough run defense. And, and by the way, he was terrible last week with like four catches because he does get four to six targets every week now, which he had five catches if I. Yeah, and he was still terrible.

[Adam Azer]

I think the, the concern is. The concern for me is not so much the, the matchup as daunting as it is. Is he healthy?

[Heath Cummings]

That's right. Right. All right, Heath, Come on. Any bet in the world. Bijan versus Vixen.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I just said I might move be. I didn't. I, I, I didn't take a hard stance at all.

[Heath Cummings]

All right, all right, fine. It is tough with the state of running back. It is tough to, to sit Joe Mixon.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I don't want to sit Joe Mixon. He's probably going to touch the ball 20 times.

[Heath Cummings]

All right, Rams are at the Jets. Rank the wide receivers. I'll start Puka Nuku 1. Now rank the rest.

[Adam Azer]

Adams 2, Cup 3, Wilson 4.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yep. And full PPR.

[Heath Cummings]

Adams Cup. Wilson, you said okay, I'd go Wilson.

[Adam Azer]

We haven't heard it, but I'm sure there's a squeaky wheel game coming for Cooper Cup.

[Heath Cummings]

San Francisco's at Miami. Tyreek Hill or Juwan Jennings.

[Adam Azer]

I'm still Tyreek.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

It's Jennings for me.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay. Cleveland at Cincinnati is this. Start them all, sit them all.

[Adam Azer]

No drone. Ford's decent start.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Jerome Ford is a number two running back.

[Heath Cummings]

How do you feel about Najoku if he plays?

[Adam Azer]

He'd be a low end tight end one. He'd be right around where I have Andrews.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yeah, he'd be behind Andrews for me, but he'd probably be in the top 12.

[Heath Cummings]

Tennessee's at Indianapolis. Are there any must start players in this game?

[Adam Azer]

Jonathan Taylor and Tony Pollard. If he gets in any semblance of full practice, you're probably still starting him anyway though.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay. So last week, I mean I kind of view this matchup similar to last week's for Jonathan Taylor. And I know we were. I don't know if Heath was. But I know you and I, Jamie, were apprehensive about Taylor and ended up being right, I guess because of the fumble, but ended up being wrong because he should have had 18 points in that game. But I mean, still a tough, a good run defense and a guy who if we're lucky, he's going to catch one pass.

[Adam Azer]

Basically it's back to back weeks with over 20 carries. I don't think the Titans, despite the quarterback change, are running away from the Colts. I think you kind of know what you're getting. And what we've seen from the Titans the last two games is Chase Brown ran well against them, Brian Robinson ran well against them. So Jonathan Taylor, especially Ryan Kelly plays. And I'm sure he's pissed and motivated, you know, especially after what he said following the game. Like, I'm not worried about John.

[Heath Cummings]

All right, New England at Buffalo. Who's a better flex? I'm going to give you two questions for each of these last two games. Ramandre Stevenson or Khalil? Shakir.

[Adam Azer]

Shakir and ppr?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yeah, I think so.

[Adam Azer]

I mean he's so locked in right now. It's like eight straight games of seven plus targets. It's back to back weeks with a touchdown. It's like 15 PPR points or more in three of his last four. He's the guy, he's the. He's Josh Allen's Guy Dalton Kincaid or Hunter Henry? Kincaid. For me. I think this is, we saw it a little bit last week. Seven targets in his first game back. He's got a pretty nice track record, which is, you know, saying something for him because he's been a disappointment. But he's got five games this season with seven targets. Four of those he's been 9.3 PPR points or more. So as we know, that's a borderline starter. Henry has been disappointing the last couple of games, and the Bills, despite what Sam Laporta did last week, have been fantastic against tight ends. So I think Henry's going to be in a little bit of trouble. I, I downgraded him a little bit this week.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I'll, I'll go with Henry. Like, I, I, this would be a good place to implement the tiebreaker if you want to, for just like the number of points the teams are supposed to score. But neither one of these tight ends score touchdowns or really see targets in the end zone. I like those, those games where Concade's had seven or more targets. He's had 53, 32, 51, 47 yards. He's just been bad.

[Heath Cummings]

He only played like half the snaps last week. But I just, I did have a stat on Hunter Henry I wanted to give. It was, I'm calling it the comforting stat of the game.

[Adam Azer]

Well, he only played half the snaps because, I mean, they were just blowing out the team they played.

[Heath Cummings]

They were, yeah. Hunter Henry's had two bad games since Week 7. In those two games, Drake May threw 25 passes and 23 passes, including last week, 25 passes at Chicago in an easy win. 23 passes last week at Arizona, which was weird as they were losing, but I think they didn't have the ball much. But whenever he's had a normal game, Drake may, you know, 30 or more pass attempts, Hunter Henry scored 9.4 or more PPR fantasy points. So that put me at ease a little bit with Hunter Henry not saying, you know, I think he's close with Kincaid, but if you have Henry and, you know, want, want to be encouraged, there's that. Jacksonville's at Las Vegas. Are we going right back to Jacoby Myers?

[Adam Azer]

Yes.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

If Aiden O'Connell's playing. Absolutely. 100 for sure.

[Heath Cummings]

Would you start Jacoby Myers over Garrett Wilson if O'Connell's playing? You would?

[Adam Azer]

Yeah.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay. And then let's spend a little bit of time on this because it's our last game and two of the most popular waiver wire players who, you know, speaking about The Raiders guys. But who is your favorite running back in the Jacksonville Las Vegas game?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Travis ETN, Alexander Madison.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay. And they are ranked where.

[Adam Azer]

ETN is like 23 and Madison is like 26.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I've got Madison at 24.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay, so borderline starts. All right, we'll talk more about that. I call that the movable option, movable object versus the stoppable force. With the movable object being Jacksonville's run defense and the stoppable force being the Raiders running backs.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

It's. It could be both teams, couldn't it?

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

The only difference is, and I like it hasn't. I don't know if this has shown up in the stats or not, but I do think the Raiders defense, espec especially their front, has been playing a lot better.

[Heath Cummings]

Interesting. They don't have Crosby now, but if we're just talking about against the run. Yeah, interesting. Yeah. It's just like the Tennessee Indianapolis game, the Jacksonville Las Vegas game. There's some really good matchups there, but players we don't necessarily want to trust. Necessarily want to trust. If you haven't signed up for BetMGM yet, you can do that and you can get up to a fifteen hundred dollar first bet offer on your first wager with BetMGM if you use the bonus code fantasy. Download the BetMGM app and sign up using that bonus code Fantasy. Deposit at least ten dollars and place your first wager on any game. And you'll receive up to fifteen hundred dollars in bonus bets. If your bet loses. Just make sure that you use the bonus code Fantasy when you sign up. Saturday football. I love it. Houston's at Kansas City. I mean, my stat of the game is all about Joe Mixon. James Cook, Chupa Hubbard and Jerome Ford are the only running backs with more than 13.2 PPR fantasy points against the Chiefs. That includes Bijan camara, Derrick Henry, J.K. dobbins, Jordan Mason. But you, you guys are not concerned.

[Adam Azer]

I guess I, I think again, you know, you got like, we just got this question, you know, Joe Mixing or Chuba Hubbard. You could certainly make the case Chuba Hubbard for, for Joe Mixon. That, that's, that's very valid given what the body of work has been for both of these guys and the matchup for both of these guys. I think the one thing about you get to this point is how cute do you get with your lineup when somebody like he said is going to get 20 touches and you just listed, you know, three running backs that you know. James Cook, for example, fell into the end zone twice against the Chiefs, Joe Mixon can, they can get a pass interference on the one and he scores and then he gets five catches and you're still talking about a great day, you know, for a guy that may run for 50 yards. So it's, it's certainly tough. It's not ideal. I just think you got to have such a, a great situation.

[Heath Cummings]

You do.

[Adam Azer]

This is one, you know, again, make the case for James Cook, who's going to probably share with two other guys and they, they may be up three touchdowns and James Cook has done nothing. And then it's Ray Davis time.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Also, like we've talked about how this Chiefs defense hasn't been the same in their last four or five games. The Browns running backs averaged 7.8 yards per carry last week against them. Yeah, the Chargers were terrible, but they are terrible. The Raiders running backs average 4.7 yards per carry against the Chiefs. They've given up five touchdowns in their last four games to running backs.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah. Now that is one thing that, because I have mixed it in two leagues and obviously I'm starting them, I don't have a choice. But that is one thing that, that got me a little bit more hopeful is that maybe the Chiefs run defense is starting to show some cracks.

[Adam Azer]

But they got to be tired. I mean, you know, who do they get Wednesday on Christmas Day? Steelers like, could be a great day for Naji and, and you know, Jaylen Warren could be. Gosh, yeah.

[Heath Cummings]

Not who I want to be trusting if I fit it right.

[Adam Azer]

But still, it's, you know, tired defense, man.

[Heath Cummings]

All right, so let's keep it simple here. We have a lot of games to preview. Sit CJ Stroud. Start Nico Collins. Start Joe Mixon. Sit Tank Dell. Right?

[Adam Azer]

Yeah.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yes.

[Heath Cummings]

We haven't talked about Dalton Schultz, but you know, he's usually decent. He was horrible last week. He was horrible three weeks ago, but he's got a lot of like decent games. Is. Would you start Dalton Schultz or Stone Smart?

[Adam Azer]

It's funny you say that. I, I have that decision to make now in, in a dynasty league. And I'm going to pivot to Schultz because I'm nervous with Hayden Hurst playing.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Over under one and a half games this season for Dalton Schultz with double digit fantasy points under over. He has one.

[Heath Cummings]

Damn it.

[Adam Azer]

It was week 13 against Jacksonville.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

That's the only time he scored more than nine, more than 10 fantasy points all season long.

[Heath Cummings]

How much does your outlook of this game change if Carson Wentz is the quarterback compared to Mahomes I mean, we.

[Adam Azer]

Talked about this on Tuesday that the Texans were the number one DST to get. When Mahomes practiced in full. I dropped them from number one in my rankings to 10. So this is a, it's clearly a game changer. You know, I'm still nervous because he is practicing full. He's not right. You know, so this is, you know, an iron man doing iron man things. But it's, it's tough to think that he's going to be the same guy with this pass rush on him. They're second in the NFL and sacks. So the Texans are going to make things very uncomfortable for Mahomes, who's been very uncomfortable when healthy behind this offensive line. So Hopkins against Stingley a lot. I'm out. I think Worthy is the. Is the best receiver for the Chiefs right now because they're trying to manufacture targets. They're giving him, you know, some carries. He's not a great start, but he's, you know, desperation number three receiver. And Kelsey, you're starting really all season by default. More so than he's been great because he hasn't been great.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Like this game opened with an over under I believe of 42. When I looked at on Tuesday morning and I was doing projections and the Chiefs were two and a half point underdogs. So you're looking at the Chiefs scoring somewhere around 18, 19 points. It's gone up now. Chiefs are three and a half point favorites. Worthy and Hopkins are completely off the board if Carson Wentz is starting. They are for me. High end flexes with Patrick Mahomes. Kelsey is in that tight end 12 conversation. If Carson Wentz is starting, Kelsey's a top six tight end that you don't think about if Mahomes starts.

[Heath Cummings]

Am I crazy for thinking that Wentz could just, could be, you know, perfectly fine. I don't think he's going to go out there and be horrible.

[Adam Azer]

I think that what you're. What you should be weighing is Wentz versus injured Mahomes.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Wins. Could be fine. But the, the Chiefs pass catchers aren't must starts with Mahomes.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, of course.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Well, except for a small downgrade. Takes them out of the conversation for the most part.

[Heath Cummings]

Speaking about and you. Jamie already said let's try to avoid Isaiah Pacheco. Speaking about Kelsey though, who do you guys have ranked ahead of Kelsey and we're expecting right now we are expecting Mahomes to play. He's practicing in full. So let's, we're just, let's just go.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

With that Again, like we could just listen to what he's. And I know players and teams lie to us all the time, but he said on Tuesday, this is not as bad as the one that I had against Jacksonville in the playoffs and the one he had against Jacksonville in the playoffs. He played six days later and threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns. Like he says he's okay. He was out there doing stretching two days later, standing with all of his weight on one foot.

[Heath Cummings]

All right, so then, you know what? Like, I should probably ask him homes questions here. Tua, Purdy. Stafford Mahomes.

[Adam Azer]

Stafford, Purdy, Mahomes.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Tua my homes. Stafford, Mahomes to a Purdy.

[Heath Cummings]

Bo Nicks.

[Adam Azer]

Tonight we're gonna talk the 49ers game, right?

[Heath Cummings]

Probably tomorrow. Oh, no, no, no. Today.

[Adam Azer]

Just to give you. By comparison, Purdy is great. Great after losses.

[Heath Cummings]

Oh, yeah.

[Adam Azer]

Oh my gosh. Like, great.

[Heath Cummings]

Oh, wow. Thank you. Jamie.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

How many games is Breck pretty lost?

[Adam Azer]

He lost five this year and he's been great in all five after.

[Heath Cummings]

Oh, well, looks like I'm starting him against Jamie in the podcast league. Fire it up. All right, so Mahomes, where's. He is your top 12 for you guys?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

No.

[Adam Azer]

No.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay, you have to start Bo Nix ahead of him or Herbert ahead of him.

[Adam Azer]

I would start Mahomes over Herbert. I would start Knicks over Moms.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Strongly prefer Mahomes over both.

[Heath Cummings]

All right, but then. But we don't know for sure that he's gonna play. But you know, maybe you can just.

[Adam Azer]

No, he's fine. I guess you gotta assume he's playing.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Like if he has three straight full practice designations. I think it's. It is it had a guy that did that and then missed it.

[Adam Azer]

Is. It is funny that we. We are considering, you know, because you asked the question Mahomes versus Herbert and Herbert's ankles might be worse than.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Right.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay, so let's. I just realized that I deleted the Pittsburgh notes from. From the doc. From the notes that I sent you today. So let me get that. That's gonna be our next game. Pittsburgh, Baltimore. Both DSTs, by the way, For. For this game. Kansas City, Houston are in play. They're like 10ish or something. I don't actually, I don't know where Heath has the Texans DSD, but 14. Okay, so they're both around. They're low end starters. All right, let's go to Pittsburgh and Baltimore and how much do you guys care about Lamar Jackson's bad history against the Steelers and Mark Andrews and all that? And and the fact that, as Dave brought up last time we talked about Steelers, Ravens, they don't score a lot of points. No team has scored more than 20 points in eight straight games in this rivalry.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I don't like it. It doesn't make me feel warm and fuzzy inside. What. What. What could you possibly do about it?

[Adam Azer]

Yeah, look, you're starting Lamar Jackson. Just the thing you have to do when you look at him is just don't expect him to be Superman to win your week. Just expect him to be normal. So 25 points is still realistic. 35 points is probably not realistic.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I. I think it's the first time maybe since week one that he is not my QB one. So we have. I have downgraded Lamar Jackson.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay?

[Adam Azer]

He's. I would start Allen over him and I would start Joe Burrow over him this week.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay, Jamie, you missed it. But Joe Burrow. 6. Five straight games with fewer than 21 points against the Browns.

[Adam Azer]

Different Browns team. It's a different Joe Burrow.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah.

[Adam Azer]

You know, you want to. You want to talk MVP if. If their record was different. Yes.

[Heath Cummings]

He should eat.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

He should be the mvp. Look how valuable he's been. They've almost won half their games.

[Heath Cummings]

Oh, it's all. It's totally his fault. It's his fault that they stink. Okay, so anywho. So Jackson and Henry are must starts? Is that it? Am I missing must starts? Yeah. Yeah, that's it.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I. I like. I know that he hasn't scored a touchdown against him in 10 games or whatever, but I think in this current tight end landscape, Mark Andrews, the mustard.

[Adam Azer]

I would start strange over him. So I think anytime we have waiver wire guy versus somebody, if you could pick up a waiver wire guy, like, I would do it.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yeah, I. I would rather. I'd rather trust Andrews.

[Heath Cummings]

Question here from Iron Mike. Naji Harris or Javante Williams? Ppr.

[Adam Azer]

Naji.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yeah.

[Adam Azer]

You know, it's funny. Like, we're. And we should be critical of. Naji scored 13 PPR points against the Ravens last time these two teams met.

[Heath Cummings]

Well, if you look at Naji's catches, he has some weeks where he has a lot or, you know, three or four. Some weeks where he has zero.

[Adam Azer]

He has won the last two games.

[Heath Cummings]

But I try to kind of figure it out, and it could just be fluky, but it sort of coincides with when he faces a team that gives up a lot of production in the receiving game to running backs. He catches passes. When he faces teams that are good against pass catching, running backs he doesn't. And guess what? The Ravens are really bad in that they give up a lot of production. The fifth most receiving yards to running backs. And what did he have first time against them? Four catches, four catches for 30 yards.

[Adam Azer]

Both running backs had four.

[Heath Cummings]

So I know people aren't going to start Jalen Warren, but Najee Harris or a Raiders running back.

[Adam Azer]

I would start Madison over Naji. I would start Naji over Abdullah.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I agree.

[Heath Cummings]

Naji Harris or Jerry Judy.

[Adam Azer]

Naji and non PPR Judy and full.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Love it. I'd also. We'd also start Jerome Ford over Naji.

[Adam Azer]

Yep.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay.

[Adam Azer]

What about what makes it over Naji too?

[Heath Cummings]

Okay? Yes. What about if George Pickens plays, would you start him?

[Adam Azer]

He would be a low end, number two receiver, high end, number three receiver. Just from the concern of how healthy is he?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Right?

[Heath Cummings]

Right. Yep. Because he hasn't practiced yet and they're playing on Saturday. And Pat Friarmuth or Mark Andrews, Brenton Strange or how we feel about Friarmouth.

[Adam Azer]

I would start Friarmouth over Andrews. His only bad game really since Russ has taken over is the Steelers game. So take that for what it's worth is the Ravens. Excuse me, but he's got a touchdown in three straight games. Clearly two of those without Pickens. And he's kind of been living in that 9.9, 10 point range or more in the last five weeks. So you know, you gotta, you got a guy that's more involved and I think really the best pass catcher for the, the Steelers that, you know, not the running backs, you know. So Russ is trying to be creative because the guys downfield aren't making plays. It's Calvin Austin, it's Pat Friarmouth and it's, you know, Jalen Warren. For the last two weeks I've got.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I've got him top 12. I'd go Andrews, Moose Strange, but he's, he's a start.

[Heath Cummings]

Where do you guys have Derrick Henry this week? 11:10, Bucky Irving or Derrick Henry?

[Adam Azer]

I just made that switch last night to put Henry ahead of Bucky just because of the, the shared situation. But when I started the week it was Bucky at 11, Henry at 12. I put Henry at 11 and Bucky 12, Henry.

[Heath Cummings]

How about Zay Flowers or Naji Harris Flowers and pbr.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I've got flowers in. Yep, flowers in full and half, but not in none.

[Heath Cummings]

Trying to think of some of the trending names at wide receiver in recent weeks. So guys like Adam Thielen, Jerry Judy, who else? Who may we have picked up like Christian Watson or Romeo dobbs or something.

[Adam Azer]

McMillan.

[Heath Cummings]

McMillan. Would you start any of these guys over Zay Flowers this week?

[Adam Azer]

Nope. No. But it's close with Thielen. It's close with McMillan. I don't remember all the names. You said I would start Flowers over duty packers receivers. I would start him over the packers receivers.

[Heath Cummings]

All right, so let me finish up with this. What we've got guys like Justice Hill, Rashad Bateman, Calvin Austin, Jalen Warren. Do you like any sleepers in this game?

[Adam Azer]

I think Jalen Warren is going to be, you know, last week was the first time in like the last six weeks he's been under nine PPR points, you know, so he's been pretty consistent. Got you 10 in this game the last time these two teams met. This is one of those teams that, you know, struggled. I think they're top six in receptions allowed to running backs for the season. So with no pickings with a pass rush, that's going to be a problem for Russ. I think he's going to throw to his backs a lot. In the last two games, it's been more and more so than the Naji. So again, you don't want to start him. But if you're down running backs, if you got concerns about match, I like them better than Pacheco. I like him better than the Chargers guys, the Broncos guys, you know, so he's, he's a high end. Flex.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yeah, I agree with all of that. I've got it. Warren, then Hill, then Austin. They are all basically within a half a point of nine in the projection. So they're all kind of the same guy. But Warren will be my favorite.

[Heath Cummings]

Would you guys start the Bengals DST and or the Falcons DST over the Steelers and Ravens?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yes, Bengals for sure. I think I go Bengals, Ravens, Falcons, Steelers.

[Heath Cummings]

Alrighty.

[Adam Azer]

Especially like the Bengals defense more than the Falcons defense. And I don't disagree with you. I mean, it's just, you know how bad the Bengals defense has been. The Falcons have been actually pretty good the last three weeks.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yeah. I think Dorian Thompson. Robinson is uniquely bad.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah. Yeah. All right, Rams are at the Jets. Okay, who do you like better, Matthew Stafford or Aaron Rodgers?

[Adam Azer]

Stafford.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Rogers for me.

[Heath Cummings]

Do you guys really like. You like like them or. Or what? Like, how are we feeling about your. Your favorite quarterback in this Rams jets game? Heath?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I think I am on maybe Rogers Island. I haven't seen where Dave has him ranked. I know Jamie's not as excited, but I've got Stafford just kind of as a borderline QB. 1 Rogers is a top 10 guys average 20 and a half fantasy points per game since Devonte Adams joined the team. 289 yards in each of his last two games. Didn't do that once in the first 13 weeks. Head coach says that he's finally healthy and you're seeing the real Aaron Rodgers. I think he's going to finish the season strong.

[Adam Azer]

What is the comparison prior to last week from what you said about Rogers to what Stafford has done since Puka and Cooper Cobb will come back.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Prior to last week Stafford was much better. I think Stafford's probably been just slightly better than Rogers. He has since. Since he had both of those guys than Rogers has been.

[Adam Azer]

Yeah.

[Heath Cummings]

Significantly better. I can give you the 17 game paces for since the two receivers return.

[Adam Azer]

It's basically week eight for both, right?

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, I don't know but it's 4400 yards, 34 touchdowns, six interceptions for Stafford. That's a hell of a pace.

[Adam Azer]

That includes last week, right?

[Heath Cummings]

That includes last week. It was even better before last week for Rogers. It's 3,970 yards. So that's like 400 less. 30 touchdowns, six interceptions. Okay. The touchdowns interceptions are fairly similar. The yards much in favor of of Stafford.

[Adam Azer]

I think for both of these guys like I. The defenses sway this for me. You know I'd rather take on the jets defense and the Rams defense. I know that they were awful, God awful against Josh Allen. Most defenses are God awful against Josh Allen. You know how much of the game that they. The. The defensive performance against Brock Purdy was the rain and Purdy not being good in those elements. Rogers was amazing last week and a half against Jacksonville. So I think Rogers is a good start. I think Stafford's a little bit of a better start. I would take Stafford.

[Heath Cummings]

All right. I like.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Are the Rams the only West coast team 1:00 game on the East Coast?

[Adam Azer]

Well, that depends. Did they stay in the east coast? City of Madison, Wisconsin.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Coming off that San Francisco game and playing an early game at the Jets. That's a thing.

[Heath Cummings]

Long week though Thursday it is a.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Long week but it's physical game.

[Heath Cummings]

This is one of these storylines that, that I used to bring up a lot and I just never bring up anymore.

[Adam Azer]

Well, travel's a lot different now and I, I don't, I don't think historically the, the Thursday to following Sunday turnaround is as bad. It's usually the Monday to Sunday that you, you don't love. Monday night then east coast it's also.

[Heath Cummings]

Going to be cold. It's going to be very cold. I think it might, this might be the coldest game of the week. Jets, you know it's going to be frigid this weekend.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yeah. Indoor team in a cold game.

[Heath Cummings]

Hate this state. Kyron Williams, any hesitation with Kyron Williams?

[Adam Azer]

Have you seen the jets tackle?

[Heath Cummings]

So the jets have gotten pretty good against running backs actually the last few weeks. James Connor 2.8 yards per carry. Jonathan Taylor 2.4. Ken Walker 3.1. Devon H.N. 1.7. Tank Bigsby 3.8. Travis Etienne though, 4.6. So I just bringing that up here, like how do you. Kyron Williams or Derrick Henry? They're kind of similar, right?

[Adam Azer]

Kyra?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

They are kind of similar. I have Chiron two spots behind Henry.

[Heath Cummings]

All right. He's gonna be a start. Read a question from the chat. Stafford or Jared Goff?

[Adam Azer]

Stafford for me.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I've, I've cut golf right now.

[Heath Cummings]

All right, golfer Rogers for you. Heath.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I'm going to make the move to Rogers this morning.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay. Looking forward to breaking that one down tomorrow. Cooper cup so Puka's a must start. Cooper cup is a number two receiver. And like how confident are you guys in Adams cup and Wilson?

[Adam Azer]

Fairly confident. I mean, you know, Adams is coming off just a ridiculously amazing game. He's not going to do that again because he's not playing Jacksonville, but he's still a must start receiver. And I wonder if, you know, you had the sideline rant from Garrett Wilson that I think we've all seen by now where he's arguing or pleading for the, the fade route from Sean Jefferson, their wide receiver coach, that you wonder if there may be a few more throws in his direction this week as opposed to Devonte Adams. You know, a little squeaky wheel coming, but they're, they're both, I think, just easy starts at this point. You know, just, you can nitpick this guy versus that guy, clearly. But I, I think in a blanket statement they're, they're number two receivers or Adams is a number one receiver and Wilson's number two.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

That's that. And I kind of sold Adam short earlier this year and maybe celebrated the bus call a little bit too soon on Devonte Adams. But like he's got 11 or more targets in five of his last six games and he scored at least 17 fantasy points in four of those games. It's not, it was a one week explosion and one of the greatest halves of football that any wide receivers ever had. But he's been incredible basically since Halloween.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, I'M gonna ask the chat if they have any Cooper cup questions because he's obviously been kind of up and down lately. We're gonna sit the tight ends in this game, and then we spent a lot of time on Breeze hall yesterday, so I don't want to do that again necessarily. But you guys have him as a, like a number two or borderline flex, basically.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

If he's legitimately not on the injury report again today and he wasn't on the injury report yesterday, if he's. If he's just practicing in full and not even listed, then I will be moving him up significantly. This before tonight's game. He's a. He's a high end, number two running back. If he's. If they're saying he's 100, fine. I'm just gonna believe him.

[Adam Azer]

I have a very difficult call in one matchup where my four running backs are. Charbonnet Irving, Breeze Hall, Jonathan Taylor. Not a bad problem to have, but a lot of questions. Clearly, Irving is locked in for sure and Charbonnet is locked in for sure if he's healthy and Walker's out. But if Charbonnet's out, then I got a tough call between Taylor and Bristol.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

So I. I'm facing Dave in our yolo league and I've got a very difficult call with Breeze hall and Keenan Allen and Devonte Smith.

[Heath Cummings]

Oh, wow. That is tough. Ppr, I assume.

[Adam Azer]

You know what's. What's interesting is had I beat you, yeah. He'd be playing the easiest matchup. Not that there's an easy one left, but the easiest matchup on the table. And now he's got a dog fight with you. Down Montgomery and down. Most likely Alvin Kamara.

[Heath Cummings]

For the record, I would start Jonathan Taylor over Breeze Hall.

[Adam Azer]

Jamie, I. I would as well. But it's to Heath's point. If he practices in full, it makes it a tougher call just because he's now going to look much better. But I think Jonathan Taylor is in a little bit better spot just because both guys are catching passes right now.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Especially if we get like, Breeze Hall's fine and Braylon Allen's out.

[Adam Azer]

Isaiah Davis is also banged up too.

[Heath Cummings]

That's part of it, yeah. And by then, for the record, Heath, Breeze hall vs Keenan Allen, Devonte Smith. I have absolutely no idea what I would do. So good luck.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Thanks.

[Heath Cummings]

Some cup questions. Cup or Brian Thomas Jr. In PPR?

[Adam Azer]

Thomas?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Oh, yeah.

[Heath Cummings]

Cup or Khalil Shakir?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yep.

[Heath Cummings]

Cup or Bucky Irving?

[Adam Azer]

I would go Bucky in all formats.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I think I would. I would too.

[Heath Cummings]

Cup Kendra Miller, Tajie Spears.

[Adam Azer]

The only way that this is a comparison is if Tony Pollard is out. Yeah, and then I would go Spears over Cup.

[Heath Cummings]

All right, let's move on to our next game. But first, let's move on to a commercial break. We'll be right back on Fantasy football today with San Francisco at Miami.

[Adam Azer]

Holiday magic is in the air and.

[Heath Cummings]

DSW has got all the shoes to.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Make your season extra merry.

[Heath Cummings]

Believe you've got parties to attend and.

[Adam Azer]

List to check twice.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

So DSW is taking care of the details like gifts to make their eyes all aglow styles that bring joy to your world. Brands everyone wants like Ugg, Nike, Birkenstock and more and deals to make your budget bright.

[Heath Cummings]

Find the perfect shoes for you and.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yours at a DSW store near you.

[Adam Azer]

Or dsw.com this episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Whether you love true crime or comedy, celebrity interviews or news, you call the shots on what's in your podcast queue. And guess what?

[Heath Cummings]

Now you can call them on your auto insurance too.

[Adam Azer]

With the name your price tool from Progressive. It works just the way it sounds. You tell Progressive how much you want to pay for car insurance and they'll show you coverage options that fit your budget. Get your quote [e-mail] to join the over 28 million drivers who trust Progressive Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates.

[Heath Cummings]

Price and coverage match limited by state law, the holidays are all about sharing with family meals, couches, stories, Grandma's secret pecan pie recipe. And now you can also share a cart with Instacart's family carts. Everyone can add what they want to one group cart from wherever they are.

[Adam Azer]

So you don't have to go from.

[Heath Cummings]

Room to room to find out who wants cranberry sauce or who should get mini marshmallows for the yams or collecting votes for sugar cookies versus shortbread. Just share a cart and then share the meals and the moments. Download the Instacart app and get delivery in as fast as 30 minutes. Plus enjoy free delivery on your first three orders. Service fees and terms apply. So little hat tip here to Dave who sent me a link. Dave sends these links on True Media, which is our one of our statistical databases. Really good research. I never really know how to read them. I'm just not smart enough. I'm going to need him to kind of break it down for me. But the gist of the link was quarterbacks who have who are in the Kyle Shanahan system have not fared well when they face Kyle Shanahan. So it's something to keep in mind for TUA this week against San Francisco. Anyway, we did spend a lot of time on Purdy and tua. Jamie, you like Purdy better. Heath, I forget who do you like better?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

You know, it's. I, I started out with TUA pretty significantly ahead of Purdy and every time I go check the, the line, this game gets closer. It's now a one point game in terms the Dolphins are favored by one. This is another team going across the country, the 49ers. But it's a 4:30 game so. And the Thursday, so maybe it doesn't matter. I think I'm gonna be making the change to Purdy this afternoon.

[Heath Cummings]

Oh, I hate this game. It's game of the week as you remember. But it stresses me out so much. Every single decision. Except for A Chan. He's the only one. Oh, sorry. And the tight ends. I, I would, I stress out over every single one.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

How like I don't understand the game of the week thing at all. Like it, it's a game with two teams that are, that are not going to the playoffs.

[Heath Cummings]

It's just gonna.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

And two teams that don't have top 12 quarterbacks.

[Heath Cummings]

It's going to be a good game. It's just going to be a good game. That's a great game. But you know, I'm starting to rethink.

[Adam Azer]

That it's got the potential to go either direction because, you know, you have two offenses that are coming off disappointing performances. You have a defense in San Francisco that's, you know, I think showed last week that they have the potential to be back to where they, they potentially have been, you know, for the, the last couple of years. And you have a Dolphins defense that's played well, surprisingly for the majority of the season. So I, I don't know really what to expect unless Tua shows up and has a big game. Because if Tua doesn't have a big game, then the 49ers have a chance to, I think blow them out.

[Heath Cummings]

So the other thing is like two is always. So I think he's always bad against good teams. But I can't, I can't sit here and call a 6 and 8 team a good team. You know what I mean? Like, I don't know what's any. Who, who do you start in this game with conviction? H. And we start with conviction, the tight ends. Even though San Francisco is so good against tight ends. But we have to start John Owen Kittle. Is there anyone Else you're like, oh, yeah, no doubt about it. I'm starting him.

[Adam Azer]

Tyree Kill is like Joe Mixon to me. Like, you got to have just a loaded roster to bench him.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I'm starting Juwan Jennings.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay.

[Adam Azer]

Yeah.

[Heath Cummings]

You don't feel that way about Juwan.

[Adam Azer]

Jennings, Jamie, they're relatively close, but, I mean, Jennings is. Is somebody that was picked up off waivers for a lot of people once the injuries happened. So you may have a loaded roster. Like I said, I like Tyreek slightly better than Jennings, so I. I don't view them the same. Exactly.

[Heath Cummings]

Do you like Garendo if he plays, do you like him better than Breeze Hall? Do you like him better than Jonathan Taylor?

[Adam Azer]

At this point, it's hard to say that he's safe, you know, because he's been dealing with, you know, knee injury and now hamstring injury. And clearly they don't run the ball the same without Trent Williams.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yeah, he's. He's right, like, definitely behind Taylor for me. Right in that range where he was ahead of Breeze hall at the beginning of the week. And if Bries Hall's got a good practice report today, then Bries hall is going to be ahead of him by the end of the day.

[Heath Cummings]

All right. A running back had 73 or more rushing yards in each of Miami's first five games. That not has not happened since nine straight games. 73. No running back has reached that mark. They're allowing about 4, 3.9 yards per carry to running backs in their last eight games. They're just a really good run defense. It doesn't always matter for San Francisco, but. But it might. Jennings is a number two wide receiver. Dave is lower on Jennings. I would like to get his opinion on that, but he's. He's not here. And then we like the tight ends as mentioned. See? So how about the quarterbacks in this game or Jared Goff?

[Adam Azer]

Purdy Golf. Purdy Golf Tour Golf over both the.

[Heath Cummings]

Quarterbacks in this game or Kyler Murray? Kyler over both Kyler the quarterbacks in this game or Sam Darn. No, Darnold. Easy, right? How about. How about. No, I know. I mean, it's easy. Jordan Love.

[Adam Azer]

Purdy. Love to love of a. You want the stat the 2. The Purdy stats after a loss?

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Adam Azer]

So in four or five games after a loss this season, he scored at least 26.1 fantasy points. The worst game was a 16 point game. Now that's you. You. You have to somewhat azer stat that because he did not play after One loss. So he missed the packers game because of the injury. And then you can't credit him for the packers loss because he did not lose that game. Oh, so the Bills game is not necessarily him coming off of a loss.

[Heath Cummings]

I like that. I love that. I would, I would Acer stat out the Bills game anyway. It doesn't count. It was in.

[Adam Azer]

Well, it's, it's not his loss. Like that's Brandon Allen's loss.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, I agree.

[Adam Azer]

Now you could say, you could say that the lot the Bill, I think this is where he's going. You could say that the. I think it was the Cardinals. The Seahawks loss. You could say that the Seahawks loss. And then his next game was technically the Bills game. So he is coming off of a loss there. But again it's. We'll say it's directly after a loss.

[Heath Cummings]

Love that. Love that. Love directly after his loss.

[Adam Azer]

But the like you go back week three, remember he didn't have two of his guys in week three against the Rams. They had just lost to the vikings. Hit a 30 point game.

[Heath Cummings]

Oh, wow.

[Adam Azer]

So he, he's been. I don't remember all of them, but the Cardinals lost. He bounced back after that one. Like he, he's. It's just his numbers after loss. I've been pretty good.

[Heath Cummings]

That was really to. To help Azer beat you in the podcast league. With Azer stats, nothing could be finer. Thank you very much.

[Adam Azer]

Well, you were starting him anyway.

[Heath Cummings]

I was, yeah. It was him over Bo Nicks. I'm going to start him. So let's go with. I'm going to give you some Juwan Jennings Tyree Kill questions. Would you start a health A playing Tony Pollard or Juwan Jennings? Tyreek Hill. And let's say it's half ppr, make it a little harder for you.

[Adam Azer]

Healthy Tony Pollard.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, he's playing. He's not going to be healthy, but.

[Adam Azer]

He'S playing the receivers.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I'm starting Pollard.

[Heath Cummings]

Joe Mixon or Tyree Kill slash Juwan Jennings.

[Adam Azer]

Mixing, mixing.

[Heath Cummings]

How about T. Higgins?

[Adam Azer]

Higgins over everybody you've just said.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

How about you can saddle?

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah. Okay.

[Adam Azer]

We probably should talk about Patrick Taylor if Grando's out.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, yeah, let's talk about that. Where would you rank him if Grando's out?

[Adam Azer]

Probably a high end flex 30.

[Heath Cummings]

Compare them to the other waiver wire guys.

[Adam Azer]

Behind Jerome Ford. Ahead of Kendra Miller. Behind Alexander Madison.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

If Camara was ruled out by the time Taylor played, I would start Kendra Miller over him too.

[Heath Cummings]

All right, that's it for this game. Finished with this game. Moving on to Niners. DST, by the way, is like top 12. Cleveland at Cincinnati. Stat of the GAME the Bengals have allowed 42 yards or a touchdown to 12 tight ends in their last nine games, including Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kohler, Jordan Akins, Grant Calcatera, Pat Friarmuth, Chigokonkwo, and Josh Wiley. This is a great matchup. David Nijoku, how did he do? Obviously, he didn't practice on Wednesday, but if he plays, how did he do? In three games with Dorian Thompson Robinson last year, David and Joku had six to seven catches, 46 to 59 yards, 10.6 to 12.6 PPR fantasy points. In all three games, he did not catch a touchdown. So if Najoku. If Najoku plays, would you start him or Mark Andrews? Andrews, would you start Najoku or Strange?

[Adam Azer]

Strange. And ppr. Najoku and none strange.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Okay. And I think it's worth noting that we don't have to totally go back to last year either. Dorian Thompson Robinson threw 24 passes against the Bengals this season.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

On those 24 passes, the. The Browns gained 82 yards. He had. Two of them were intercepted so bad.

[Heath Cummings]

I can't believe they made this decision. So then convince me that I should start Jerome Ford on this terrible team.

[Adam Azer]

The Bengals have allowed seven running backs in the last five games to get 10.4 PPR points or more.

[Heath Cummings]

Is that what you're expecting? You're expecting 12ish points?

[Adam Azer]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Heath Cummings]

All right. What did I say? 90 yards or a rushing touchdown to a running back in every game?

[Adam Azer]

Yeah.

[Heath Cummings]

That's insane. You know, what concern I have, I think I briefly brought it up is like they never. They almost never let Jerome Ford have a lot of work. They'll get a deontay. Deontay Foreman or somebody will be in there. He just. They don't really give him that big workload. I wonder what's going to happen this week.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Well, the thing I like about Jerome Ford is he's got the ability to make the big play. Yep. So if. If he only has 14 touches and hopefully one of them goes for 30 yards.

[Heath Cummings]

Three career carries of 60 or more yards for Jerome Ford. That is insane.

[Adam Azer]

You go to Ryan's comment about Jerome Ford, the starting running back for the first five games season. It's a great point and it's something that's been frustrating me the entire week about Jerome Ford. But in two of the. The five games now, he didn't get the. The entire, you know, workload for the The Browns, as you've talked about, Adam quite a bit, you know that they've mixed in somebody else early in the season, but two of the first five games when he was healthy, he got hurt. In week six, he had 15 plus PPR points. So we're obviously not talking about a safe option here. You know, there, there's, there's not. Yeah, Jerome Ford's guaranteed to do this. Jerome Ford's guaranteed to get you even those, those 10 PPR points. It would be a lot more comforting if it was Jameis Winston, you know, because the quarterback situation feels bad. The, the production from him has been, you know, sort of sketchy. But as he's just alluded to, he's got big play potential. You know, he's shown that. Adam, you did one of the questions on who's got more, right? It was Jerome Ford versus the rest of the AFC north, right?

[Heath Cummings]

No, it was Jerome for who has more 60 plus yard runs in his career, Jerome or the four starting running backs in the NFC North.

[Adam Azer]

NFC North.

[Heath Cummings]

And it was the NFC north guys. But it was just impressive that he's got three carries of 60 or more yards. And Jamie, he averaged 12 PPR fantasy points per game the first five games of the season.

[Adam Azer]

Right? There were two big games and three stinkers. You know, so there, there's, there's risk. But again, you look at it, this is a bad defense that they're facing since Logan Wilson's gone down. So there's optimism here. There's no certainty here. So, you know, to Ryan's question, I, I, I think it's valid, but there's, there's, there's enough of a sample size and you go back last year, you know, there's enough of a sample size where Jerome Ford did some nice things when Naji, when, when Chubb hurt his, his knee in week two. So there, there's a lot to like about drone Ford situation. It's just not. No guaranteed. All right.

[Heath Cummings]

Jerry Judy is a top 30 wide receiver. He's like 24th ish for you guys.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

He's moving down.

[Adam Azer]

No, he's barely inside the top 30 for me.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay. So, yeah, I think I give him.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

A 27th and 29 and I now have him.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay. This stinks. What a bummer. Start all the Bengals except for Micah Sicki moving on to. Oh, you guys like the Bengals. DSD Tennessee is at Indianapolis. Stat of the game. This was actually surprising to me. I mean, I knew that the Colts defense had been playing better, but in their last nine games since Week 6, the Colts have allowed the sixth fewest passing yards in the NFL and the third lowest yards per attempt. And this great run for the Colts started with a Titans game. But it's just something to consider. If you're thinking about Mason Rudolph, who's been good, or you think about Calvin Ridley, maybe, you know, this, this Colts defense actually has been. Has been quite good. And in their last five games, no wide receiver has more than 13.2 PPR fantasy points. That's Jets, Bills, Lions, Patriots, Broncos. None of them even reached 14 points. All right, so anyway, Calvin Ridley or Jerry Judy.

[Adam Azer]

Really?

[Heath Cummings]

Are they close?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yes, they're both number three wide receivers.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay, Mason Rudolph, did he crack your top 24?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yes, he is currently number 24.

[Heath Cummings]

Someone asking in the chat, Drake May or Mason Rudolph?

[Adam Azer]

Rudolph.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Rudolph. I mean, how can you start. Not start. Mason Rudolph, like three days before Christmas?

[Heath Cummings]

That's what I'm saying. Rudolph or Geno Smith?

[Adam Azer]

Rudolph. Yep. Okay.

[Heath Cummings]

Talk about the. I guess you guys like Jonathan Taylor. Who would be your favorite running back in this game?

[Adam Azer]

Pollard. If he's been healthy this entire stretch, it would be Pollard, but I'm just nervous that he's fighting through this ankle injury. So Taylor.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I've got Taylor 14, Pollard 15. So.

[Heath Cummings]

All right, hypothetical. Pollard's out. Who's your favorite running back?

[Adam Azer]

Spears.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yeah, Spears will be higher than Pollard.

[Heath Cummings]

Oh, gosh, please. Spears. I have every league pretty much just. Oh, thought I was gonna get that last week. Didn't happen. Sorry. That's mean. That's mean. I shouldn't be saying that. Sorry. Tony Pollard.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

You just want Tony Pollard to rest.

[Heath Cummings]

I do rest.

[Adam Azer]

So that.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

And we get a couple of these because I think Camara is kind of in a similar situation. They've been talking on the broadcast about how Alvin Camaro really wants to have his first 1000 yard rushing season, and he's not far away from that at all. Tony Pollard is only 18 yards away from his third consecutive 1000 yard rushing season.

[Heath Cummings]

Wow. So you can get that next week. Jiggle conquo is about 15th or 16th in the rankings. Anthony Starter said Anthony Richardson. And you know what? The Tennessee Titans are actually pretty horrible against mobile quarterbacks.

[Adam Azer]

They're very horrible. They're. They're top five and rushing touchdowns allowed for the season with five. I think they're fourth.

[Heath Cummings]

Fourth most. Yep.

[Adam Azer]

It's, it's, it's not a bad matchup. It's just a matter of, you know, how much trust you have in Anthony Richardson. So I went to one league where I Advanced did waivers last night and Richardson was my quarterback and there's nobody else that is worth picking up of the, you know, replacement option. So I, I, I'm sticking with Richardson. He's, he's, for me, he's in that same range of Stafford and Rogers and Purdy and, and Tua. You know, it's just, it's risky. It's absolutely risky. But it would not surprise me if he has another good game on the ground. He's been 40 plus yards on the ground in four straight games. He's got four rushing touchdowns in his last four games. So that gives him the opportunity for a good outing. And man, was he on his way to a great game. First drive, he runs for a touchdown. It's like, here we go. I thought he's gonna play well. And he poop the bed once again.

[Heath Cummings]

So Richardson or Herbert from the chat?

[Adam Azer]

Richardson.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I'd start Richardson over both quarterbacks tonight.

[Heath Cummings]

I guess you'd start over Mason Rudolph then.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I would.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay, how about Josh Downs and Michael Pittman compared to Jerry Judy and Calvin Ridley?

[Adam Azer]

They're behind both of those guys. Downs had a great game against the Titans the first time around, but that was with Flacco. So he's got seven targets in each of the last two games with Richardson. He's got under seven PPR points or under eight PPR points in each of the last two games of Richardson. So he's just become too risky at this point to say must start receiver. But there's a great match up here based on what we've seen from this Titans defense the last few weeks. Like they just give up so much production to wide receivers. Pittman to me is just too tough to trust because he's just not been good with Richardson over the course of their time together.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

They're, they're wide receiver 40 and wide receiver 41 for me. So I would rather not start a.

[Heath Cummings]

DST in this game.

[Adam Azer]

It's, it's interesting that the Colts DST from our projections is really high. I don't know how much that's factoring in. More Levis's numbers than Right. Rudolph's numbers. I do think you should be rostering the Colts DSD because they get the Giants next week. So you know, if you don't have a better option for this week, you take your chances against what has been a bad offense and then hope that you make it through. And then you get the Colts against the Giants. But you said it. This Colts defense has played really well lately. They just turned over you Know Bo Nicks three times with three picks. It's kind of been a little underrated story for them that their defenses kind of kept them in a lot of games for the majority of the season.

[Heath Cummings]

New England's at Buffalo. I already gave you the comforting stat of the game about Hunter Henry. When Drake May throws more than 30 passes, Hunter Henry has a solid game. Jamie likes Kincaid better than Henry. Heath likes Henry better than Kincaid. And I'm not sure if I asked this as a follow up, but would you start either of them over?

[Adam Azer]

Mark Andrews, Kincaid and ppr?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

No.

[Heath Cummings]

All right, so we've got for the Bills, Josh Allen, James Cook, easy starts. Khalil Shakir is wide receiver.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

What?

[Heath Cummings]

For you.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

He's the number three.

[Adam Azer]

He is ranked as a number three receiver, but this is one of those mustard guys. Like he's. He's just been so good.

[Heath Cummings]

You get a lot of targets? Well, I mean, not a lot, but seven, eight targets. Pretty.

[Adam Azer]

He's got eight straight games with seven or more targets.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah. And he catches so many targets. So it's a lot of catches. It's a high floor. Yeah, go ahead.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Sorry, I. Yeah, I just think like there, this is a game that the Bills can just do whatever they want and they do have all of the pass catchers healthy. This. We've seen a lot of Josh Allen games this year where he throws fewer than 30 passes that he could do that and still score a lot of fantasy points. But this, I do think there's a little bit of risk of a. Of a bad game from Shakir here.

[Adam Azer]

It certainly could be. You also wonder though, like, is this the pad the stats game for the mvp?

[Heath Cummings]

Shakir has scored double digit PPR fantasy points in every game he's played a normal snapshare. He's had a couple games. He left one game with an injury. I think there had been a blowout. But normal snapshare, which isn't even that many. It's 70 ish percent double digit PPR fantasy points every game this year. That's amazing.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Right? There's just been a lot of those that were 11.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah. Yeah. That. That's not a great game.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Right. So I.

[Adam Azer]

Not lately though.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

It's not. Not the last two weeks.

[Adam Azer]

Yeah. Three of the last four. It's 15 plus points.

[Heath Cummings]

All right. Is there any. How do you feel about Ramandre this week?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Flex.

[Adam Azer]

He's a flex. It's a great matchup. I mean, no, they're number two in fantasy points allowed to the position and he's getting a Lot of work, but couldn't do it against the Cardinals last week. Antonio Gibson is getting about seven touches per game, you know, so that's a little bit of a factor right now. It's just that they're. They're 14 point favorites on the.

[Heath Cummings]

Or.

[Adam Azer]

14 point underdogs on the road. On the road, you know, so. Oh, this feels like a blowout by halftime, which is a game you'll hate.

[Heath Cummings]

It's terrible for Ramandre. Okay. And I don't think I would start. I would start Madison over him. I would not start Abdullah over him.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Right.

[Adam Azer]

I wouldn't ppr.

[Heath Cummings]

You know, Amir Abdullah, we're about to talk about him. He has two games this year with more than 16 receiving yards. Two games this year with more than three catches.

[Adam Azer]

It's been reasonable the last five.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, I know, but still, like, I don't know, it's a lot of faith to put in Amir Abdullah. No, it's not a lot of faith. It's not like we're putting a lot of faith in him, but it's some faith put in him. That's it for this game. And no, no Patriots wide receivers. And Drake may usually scores about 20 point. He runs a lot. But no, I don't think we want to start him. Buffalo dst. We're going back to the Bills dst.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yep.

[Adam Azer]

Yep.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay. Jacksonville's at Las Vegas. The stoppable force versus movable object. Seven of the last eight lead running backs against the Jaguars have averaged 4.9 yards per carry or better. Enter Alexander Madison. He averages 3.3 yards per carry. Per carry. The Jaguars allow the second most receiving yards per games per game to running backs. Enter Amir Abdullah. Two games a season with more than three targets. Two games this season with more than 16 receiving yards.

[Adam Azer]

But you gotta stop that, though. It's a lot.

[Heath Cummings]

He's been. He's been this guy all year. He's been there. Well, that's not true, actually. I guess when Zamir White and Mad.

[Adam Azer]

The last five games.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay, but they're. All right.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Well, two of the last five games he has more than three targets.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, but Madison missed some of those games. Right?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Right.

[Heath Cummings]

So like two of the last two.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Of the last five is not even a good.

[Adam Azer]

It's not. It's not safe. I'm just saying, like, the sample size you have to use is when all these guys were beat up.

[Heath Cummings]

All right, but now Madison's back. All right. Okay.

[Adam Azer]

I mean, I think Madison is the running downs guy and Abdul is the passing downs guy.

[Heath Cummings]

That's probably true but I actually think there's a chance Madison out catches him just with his first catches. 100.

[Adam Azer]

Yeah, I think in hurry up situations if they're trailing then Abdul is gonna. Heath said it best on Wednesday show. And, and like I said, I qualified it from, from Tuesday because at that point we thought Ritter might be starting. If Ritter was starting, I would, I would like Abdullah better than Madison because Ritter stinks and is not going to throw the ball down the field at all. So now Madison is the better of the two running backs and if you think that the Jaguars are going to be playing with the lead, then Abdullah probably is going to have the better game. If you think that the Raiders are going to be playing with the lead, then Madison is going to probably have a better game in a, in a back and forth game. It probably favors Madison. Look, he's got more touchdown potential and he may have just as much receiving potential because that was his role earlier in the year. So there's no guarantee either way who's going to be the pass catching guy here because it's the Raiders. They're just not a very good team. But I think Abdullah's five game sample size of White being hurt, Madison being hurt, McCormick being hurt. You know, no real certainty here. He's shown you a little bit of something that you can say, okay, maybe there's some hope here.

[Heath Cummings]

Would you guys start Madison or DeAndre Swift?

[Adam Azer]

I kind of like Swift this week with the injuries for Detroit, so I'd go Swift. But they're close.

[Heath Cummings]

Swift Madison or Tyrone Tracy?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Tracy.

[Adam Azer]

Tracy. But again, they're close.

[Heath Cummings]

Madison or Devonte Smith?

[Adam Azer]

Smith.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I'll go Smith and ppr Madison, everything else.

[Heath Cummings]

All right, we're going to start Brian Thomas Jr. Brenton Strange is not someone that we've got an agreement on here. Jamie's higher on Brenton Strange. She has.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

He's top 12 for both of us though.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay, okay. 7th for Jamie, 6 for Dave, 11th for Heath.

[Adam Azer]

He has very little gets, by the way.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay, okay, okay. I've been doing that a lot today. He has. Brenton Strange has I think six catches this year of 20 or more yards. Evan Ingram has two. Evan Ingram actually is having such a bad season. He. Of all the tight ends, yeah, 34 or 34 tight ends, I think had 40 or more targets. He's dead last. Evan Ingram in yards per target. Just awful.

[Adam Azer]

So I wonder if the Jaguars move on from him.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, I mean, I'm just saying like if you could live with, with the floor of what Ingram was giving you and maybe have a better player and an unbelievable matchup. Holy cow. The Raiders are horrible against tight ends. Now. I'm excited, actually, to start Brenton Strange.

[Adam Azer]

But you have him in almost all your playoffs.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, I do have them. I am starting to be like, three leagues.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I think in the magazine league, you and I were the only ones who added anybody, and we both added, like, three players. You added somebody, and then I added Strange, and then you added Abdullah. I think it was. It was interesting, I think, to watch that go back and forth.

[Heath Cummings]

I think I added before Strange because I have Jalen.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

You added before Strange.

[Heath Cummings]

I have Hunter Henry in that league, and I would start Henry over Strange. I mean, what I think is probably.

[Adam Azer]

Pretty close for you guys, but the Chiefs are activating Marquis Brown to play Saturday.

[Heath Cummings]

By the way, stat of the game. Travis Etn is averaging one broken tackle for every 56.5 carries, worst in the NFL. Yikes.

[Adam Azer]

He's not good. But here come the Raiders, you know, so the thing about ETN gotta buy into the. The playing time last week, you know, so 76 of the snaps, whatever it was, it was second most or most he's played all season.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah.

[Adam Azer]

And he's giving you 11 PPR points or more in each of the last two weeks without a touchdown. So he's rallied a little bit based on how crappy his season has gone to the point where he's in the discussion with some of these other running backs that we've talked about. You know, Tyrone Tracy and I like him better than the Chiefs guys, better than the Steelers guys. Like, there's a chance here. Free 10.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay. And we, like, we love Brian Thomas Jr. And Jacoby Myers. We're expecting Aiden O'Connell back. So that's a guy who has been really terrific against the Jaguars, who allow the third most fantasy points to wide receivers. And we're back.

[Adam Azer]

Can he score a touchdown?

[Heath Cummings]

By the way, he was the guy, right. How long did it take him to score his first touchdown? Jacoby Myers. Yeah. Remember, he had a crazy streak. And then I feel like he had one that was called back. He went a long time without a touchdown.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I think. I think Trey McBride may have just broken his record for most targets in a season without a touchdown.

[Heath Cummings]

Really?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Now, hopefully McBride's gonna break that record.

[Heath Cummings]

Wait, Deon Johnson doesn't have that record.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

One of the coolest things is that Trey McBride has zero receiving touchdowns, but he still scored more touchdowns this year than Hunter Henry. That's crazy because he has a fumble Recovery and a rushing.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah. So Deontay Johnson must have that record, right? 147 targets without a touchdown in 20, 22. I think we're good with this game here.

[Adam Azer]

Did I host the show?

[Heath Cummings]

What do you mean?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Time?

[Heath Cummings]

Oh, yeah. Super long. Sorry about that. We are out of here. And good luck, everybody. Get, hopefully some good fortune tonight. Get us off on the right foot. Although I wouldn't mind Jamie having a horrible night tonight and coming into the podcast like he did last Friday. That was entertaining.

[Adam Azer]

Oh, let's see. Against you or in general?

[Heath Cummings]

Just me. Just me. Yeah.

[Adam Azer]

Yeah. I'm trying to think. I don't. I don't have a lot of Broncos Chargers guys left.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Either has Sutton, so that could. That could make things terrible for you.

[Adam Azer]

In the podcast league.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yeah. And I don't see that Jamie has anybody starting tonight in that same league. I'm playing the only listener that advanced. Congratulations, Benjamin Cherry. And what's that good for us?

[Heath Cummings]

The three of. Three of us in the final four in the podcast league.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yeah. Really making it fun for the people who listen.

[Adam Azer]

We do have one list. We do have two lists.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah. Todd Rose.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yeah, Todd. I'm sorry, I don't have anybody, but Benjamin doesn't have anyone. So we're just relaxing tonight.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah. Watch the mix. Mix. Mixed Timberwolves. Take care, everybody. We'll talk to you tomorrow. Thanks.

[Adam Azer]

Paramount Podcasts now streaming on Paramount. Plus, you do have a lot going on.

[Heath Cummings]

I'm fine.

[Adam Azer]

You just lost your dad, got a brand new baby, an unemploy, you got no money.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay, okay. From the brains behind the Big Bang.

[Adam Azer]

Theory and young Sheldon. Cut the baby down. You won't fool around. To Mandy and Georgie in their new home.

[Heath Cummings]

Love you.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Love you, too.

[Heath Cummings]

Georgie and Mandy's first marriage. New series now Streaming on Paramount.

[Adam Azer]

Plus new episodes CBS Thursday, 8, 7 Central.