Fantasy Football Today (CBS Sports)

Episode: Start or Sit (AFC) – Woody Marks, Courtland Sutton, Isaiah Likely, TreVeyon Henderson
Date: December 11, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into crucial start/sit decisions for AFC players heading into Week 15—fantasy football playoff time. Hosts Adam Aizer (absent but referenced), Dave Richard, Jamey Eisenberg, and Heath Cummings offer analysis on tricky matchups, “must start” and “must avoid” players, injury updates, and audience questions. With elite offenses facing stout defenses, the crew debates risk tolerance and opportunity, aiming to guide listeners through one of the most stressful and uncertain weeks of the fantasy season.

Main Themes

• Navigating “the worst week” of the year, with premier offenses running into elite defenses.
• Evaluating RB and WR depth chart options in light of injuries and recent trends.
• Playoff urgency—risk management and upside chasing versus “playing it safe.”
• Answering tough start/sit listener questions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Week 15: The Worst, Most Anxiety-Inducing, or Just More Dramatic?

• Dave: Opens by declaring "Week 15 is the worst. I truly hate it with a passion." (03:12)
• Heath: "Now you're going to complain about having too many options." (03:22)
• Great fantasy offenses are facing great defenses—example after example listed (Rams vs. Detroit, Pats vs. Bills, Chiefs vs. Chargers, etc.).
• “We all have great teams now; with byes done it’s good vs. good. This is where it gets brutal.” (Jamie, 17:51)
• Best Ball for a Week? Brief but lively debate about whether “best ball” or in-game bench swaps should ever be allowed in week 15 given the stress and randomness. (18:26)

Players the Analysts Love for Week 15

Jamey’s Favorites

• Brock Purdy vs. Tennessee
  • “Home game off a bye against the Titans feels like a layup.” (06:30)
  • Titans "miserable against almost every QB."
• Woody Marks vs. Arizona
  • "26 carries last week was wild, but even with less volume he’ll smash since Arizona can’t stop RBs.” (07:06)
• Dalton Kincaid at New England
  • Already burned them once, 6/108 in Week 5. “Feels like a slam dunk.” (07:33)
  • Patriots are “really struggling” vs. tight ends.

Heath’s Favorites

• Jackson Dart vs. Washington
  • “A must-start QB this week. Washington defense giving up 23 points per game to QBs.” (09:29)
• Harold Fannin Jr. at Chicago
  • “Start Harold Fannin over almost everybody. Not McBride and Kittle, but everyone else.” (10:28)
• Rico Dowdle at New Orleans
  • “Top 12 RB. The Panthers' run game is rolling; I think we get 35 rush attempts between Dowdle and Chuba.” (11:00)

Players to Avoid

• Bo Nix at Packers
  • “Been mediocre, and I do not want to trust him against a defense as good as Green Bay’s.” (12:10)
• Aaron Jones at Dallas
  • “We don’t even know if he’ll out-touch Jordan Mason—and Dallas’ run D is awesome now.” (12:10)
• Brenton Strange at Jets
  • “Low volume passing; even if he gets four targets they might mean nothing.” (12:10)
• Jacoby Brissette (vs. tough Texans D)
  • Jamey: “His run of eight straight games with 20+ points ends here. Bad spot—bench him for someone like Mariota.” (13:39)
• Michael Pittman & Christian Watson
  • Jamie: Pittman "at best a starter in three WR leagues," Watson: “Touchdown dependent; terrible matchup vs. Surtain and the Denver secondary.” (14:53)

Injury & Lineup News Rundown (20:01–23:59)

• QB injuries: Justin Fields/Taylor in question, Geno Smith unlikely, possible Riley Leonard at SEA (and the Philip Rivers drama).
• Woody Marks and Nick Chubb: Both missed practice, but Marks still expected to play.
• RBs: Breeze Hall, Josh Jacobs, Alvin Kamara (possibly out).
• WRs: Drake London (out Thursday), Mike Evans, Jalen McMillan (eligible), Marvin Harrison Jr. (day-to-day—major for Michael Wilson's status).
• TE: Kyle Pitts (expected to play), Kincaid and Hockenson banged up.

Listener Q&A and "One Tough Question" Per Game (23:59+)

Sample Start/Sit Debates:

Chiefs v Chargers (23:59)

• Start any Chargers?
  • Heath: “Maybe Omarion Hampton if he’s healthier—otherwise, tough sledding. McConkey as WR3 if you must.” (23:59)

Bills at Patriots (24:36)

• Henderson or Diggs?
  • Jamie: “Henderson. Diggs floor could be 4, while Henderson is more reliable, even with Stevenson back.” (24:57)

Green Bay at Denver (25:32)

• Rank: RJ Harvey, Courtland Sutton, Christian Watson
  • Heath: “Harvey, Sutton, Watson.” (25:40)

Bengals at Ravens (26:11)

• Zay Flowers: Start or sit?
  • Jamie: “Starter in 3WR, borderline in 2WR. Bengals have been brutal for WRs lately. Not a slam dunk.” (26:33)
  • Heath: “If Bengals are better offensively this time, might mean more targets for Flowers.” (27:17)

Raiders at Eagles (28:18)

• Rank in PPR: Ashton Genti, Barkley, Devonta Smith
  • Heath: “Genti, Barkley, Smith.” (28:18)

Dolphins at Steelers, DK Metcalf (30:09)

• Jamie: “Still a low-end No. 2 WR, don’t get overexcited by last week.” (30:09)
• Both analysts would start Woody Marks and Harold Fannin Jr. over Metcalf this week.

Jaguars DST or 49ers DST? (82:50)

• Jamie: “Jaguars this week, but rather roster the 49ers for the next two.” (82:50)
• Heath: “Jaguars one spot higher.” (82:56)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dave R (on Week 15 matchups):
  “There are a lot of great offenses playing great defenses this week, and that stinks.” (05:03)
• Jamie E (on managing RB ranks):
  “It gets to a point where, if I have these guys on my team, who would I actually start? If I wouldn’t do it myself, I can’t recommend it to listeners either.” (08:09)
• Heath C (joking about fantasy bench management):
  "My 16-year-old wants to invent a league where, if your player sucks in the first quarter, you can bench him MID-GAME like the NFL." (18:30)
• Jamie E (on Noah Brown vs. Michael Wilson): “He’s never been as good as Michael Wilson.” (55:15)
• Heath/Listener Q&A:
  "Every time you ask me a defensive question, I have to go click on my defensive rankings..." (52:10)

Time Stamped Highlights

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |:-----------:|:------------------------------------------------------| | 02:28 | Show proper intro; Playoff pressure discussed | | 03:12 | Dave declares Week 15 “the worst” | | 06:21 | Jamey on favorite plays: Purdy, Marks, Kincaid | | 09:29 | Heath’s picks: Dart, Fannin Jr., Dowdle | | 12:10 | Heath’s sits: Nix, Jones, Strange | | 20:01 | Rapid-fire injuries and lineup notes | | 23:59 | Charger/Chiefs: Any Charger to trust? | | 24:57 | Henderson vs. Diggs | | 26:33 | Zay Flowers start/sit debate | | 28:18 | Barkley/Genti/Smith ranking | | 30:09 | DK Metcalf trust level (comparison to Marks, Fannin) | | 37:29 | Purdy, Mahomes, Hampton start/sits | | 41:05 | Drake May’s expectations v. Buffalo | | 44:43 | Judkins/Jenkins analysis | | 50:02 | RJ Harvey versus tough Green Bay matchup | | 59:18 | Jaden Higgins, Dalton Schultz quick takes | | 61:43 | Bengals-Ravens: “Start them all” | | 62:27 | Isaiah Likely: Is he THAT likely? | | 69:42 | Eagles/Raiders: Hurts, Barkley, Smith, Goddard | | 72:28 | Miami/Pit: Injury/backup RB contingency chat | | 77:10 | Jets-Jags: Breece Hall worries | | 81:50+ | Lightning-round Q&A; DSTs & Flexes |

Miscellaneous Insights

• Emphasis on “variance” this week—big-name stars could flop in tough spots, while unlikely flex plays might be league-winners.
• Strong encouragement to consider recent touch trends, injury reports, and not overreact to one week’s disappointment.
• Heavy warning for players like Christian Watson and Breece Hall due to brutal matchups—major "volume and touchdown dependency."
• Several recommendations to “start both” or “avoid both” among RB duos—context and floor/ceiling balance crucial.
• Tight end discussion highlights uncertainty, but consensus “start” on active/playmaking TEs like Likely, Kincaid, Fannin.

Final Takeaways

• Woody Marks, Dalton Kincaid, Brock Purdy: Among the best “starts”—excellent matchups + usage.
• Aaron Jones, Brenton Strange, Bo Nix: Avoid if possible due to matchup, usage, and volatility.
• Week 15 is a nightmare for otherwise safe starters—with top talents running into tough defenses, expect a wild playoff round.
• QBs and TEs: Streaming options (Dart, Kincaid, Likely) are very much in play; don’t get married to big names if the matchup is terrible.
• The hosts encourage listeners to consider their own risk thresholds and bench/firewall management.
• Respond to late injury updates—especially for second-tier RBs and WRs.

Notable Rankings & Cut/Start Lines

• Woody Marks: RB1/2, top 15-18, must-start over risky "name value" RBs in bad matchups.
• Brock Purdy/Jackson Dart: Start both over Mahomes if feeling bold.
• Dalton Kincaid/H. Fannin Jr.: Both firmly top-10/7 at TE.
• Christian Watson: Low-end WR2/high-FLEX, but flagged for “touchdown-or-bust” against Denver.
• Zay Flowers, Devonta Smith, Ladd McConkey: Clustered WR3 range, startable but with risk.

Summary Table: Key Start/Sit Calls

| Player | Start/Sit & Reason | |----------------------|:----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Brock Purdy | Strong start. Cake matchup; safer than Mahomes/Dak Week 15. | | Woody Marks | Must start/high upside; volume + Arizona’s run D struggles. | | Dalton Kincaid | Slam dunk TE; NE can’t stop TEs, already burned them. | | Harold Fannin Jr. | “Start over almost everyone” except McBride/Kittle. | | Rico Dowdle | Top 12 RB, volume + matchup; ride the hot hand. | | Aaron Jones | Avoid. Dallas D, unclear usage, floor too risky. | | Bo Nix | Sit. Bad on road; GB D is tough at home. | | Zay Flowers | Start in 3WR, risk/reward in 2WR leagues. Play only if you need ceiling. | | Christian Watson | Very risky, only use in deepest/big-play dependent spots. Touchdown or bust versus Broncos. | | Trevor Lawrence | Sit—low volume; even current “hot streak” doesn’t guarantee fantasy payoff. | | Breece Hall | Sit if you have even a halfway-reasonable alternative; awful in “bad game”/“tough D” scripts this year. |

For Fast Reference

Timestamps for Segments

• Intro & Main theme: 02:49–06:00
• Start/Sit “Players We Love/Dislike”: 06:07–15:14
• Injury/Lineup News: 20:01–23:59
• Game-by-Game Q&A: 23:59–82:09
• Quick-fire Q&A / Rankings: 82:10–83:14
• Closing remarks: 83:14–end

“Memorable Quote” Hall of Fame

• “You hope that your good players shine through in some tough situations, or your opponent sucks because of it.” – Jamie E. (05:52)
• “If sitting that guy [Brissette] because he’s facing the Texans is going to make you feel dumb for the next six months, there’s still reason to have hope.” – Heath (53:46)

[End of summary – All analysis covers the podcast's original tone, structure, and major insights for listeners preparing for the AFC week15 fantasy football playoff slate.]