Podcast Summary: Fantasy Football Today Episode: "Start or Sit (AFC): Zay Flowers, Deebo Samuel, Najee Harris and More!" Release Date: November 28, 2024

Introduction

In this episode of Fantasy Football Today, host Adam Aizer teams up with analysts Dave Richard, Jamie Eisenberg, and Heath Cummings to navigate the complexities of Week 13's AFC matchups. The crew provides in-depth analyses on which players to start or sit, offering strategies to help listeners dominate their fantasy leagues.

Main Segments

1. Start or Sit Decisions

AFC Matchups Overview: The panel discusses seven key AFC home games, emphasizing the importance of matchups in making informed start or sit decisions. The games covered include:

• Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars
• Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots
• Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos
• Los Angeles Chargers at Atlanta Falcons
• Philadelphia Eagles at Baltimore Ravens
• San Francisco 49ers at Buffalo Bills
• Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals

Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars

• Start: CJ Stroud (Jacksonville Jaguars)

  • Dave (03:04): Highlights Stroud's potential against a Jacksonville defense that allows the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.
  • Jamie (18:38): Agrees with starting Stroud over other quarterbacks like Bucky Irving due to favorable matchups.

• Sit: Deebo Samuel (Chargers)

  • Jamie (07:30): Advises against starting Deebo Samuel due to uncertainties around his quarterback and potential limited playtime.

• Notable Quote:

  • Dave (03:49): "Jacksonville's number one and most fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks, an opportunity potentially for a shootout here if Trevor Lawrence does play."

Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots

• Start: Michael Pittman Jr. (Colts)

  • Dave (19:17): Considers Pittman a strong WR3 option against a Patriots defense that has struggled against wide receivers.

• Start: Anthony Richardson (Patriots)

  • Jamie & Heath (33:52): Recommend starting the high-upside QB Richardson against a weak Patriots defense that gives up big plays.

• Sit: Jonathan Taylor (Colts)

  • Dave (34:18): Suggests sitting Taylor due to inconsistent performances and reliance on the run game against a tough Patriots defense.

• Notable Quote:

  • Jamie (33:52): "Anthony Richardson has a 29 to 30 point upside every time he steps on the field against a terrible defense."

Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos

• Start: Elijah Moore (Cleveland Browns)

  • Jamie (20:30): Favors Moore as a reliable WR option given Cleveland's dynamic passing game.

• Sit: Jerry Jeudy (Cleveland Browns)

  • Dave (42:29): Recommends sitting Jeudy due to Denver's strong pass defense and inconsistent target distribution.

• Notable Quote:

  • Jamie (45:53): "If there's no Tillman, I'd start Elijah Moore. If Tillman plays, he might be the riskiest WR3."

Los Angeles Chargers at Atlanta Falcons

• Start: Justin Herbert (Chargers)

  • Dave (50:55): Advocates for Herbert given Atlanta's history of allowing high fantasy points to quarterbacks.

• Start: Lad McConkey (Chargers)

  • Dave (51:14): Endorses McConkey for his big-play ability, noting his four receptions of 16+ yards in the last four games.

• Sit: Quentin Johnston (Chargers)

  • Dave (53:05): Suggests caution in starting Johnston due to inconsistent targets and recent drop issues.

• Notable Quote:

  • Dave (50:55): "Justin Herbert is facing a defense that allowed 21+ fantasy points to five straight QBs. He’s a top QB start."

Philadelphia Eagles at Baltimore Ravens

• Start: Barkley Henry (Eagles)

  • Heath & Dave (37:12): Recommend Henry against Baltimore's stout run defense, emphasizing his scoring potential.

• Sit: Mark Andrews (Ravens)

  • Dave (60:23): Advises against starting Andrews due to Baltimore's effective defense against tight ends and his touchdown dependency.

• Notable Quote:

  • Jamie (58:53): "The Eagles defense has been great, but against Lamar Jackson, you can't rely on stopping the run alone."

San Francisco 49ers at Buffalo Bills

• Start: James Cook (Bills)

  • Jamie (63:03): Chooses Cook over Christian McCaffrey, citing McCaffrey’s inconsistent performances and lack of offensive support.

• Sit: Christian McCaffrey (49ers)

  • Dave (62:45): Recommends sitting McCaffrey due to Buffalo’s robust defense and his dependence on offensive linemen play.

• Notable Quote:

  • Jamie (63:03): "Buffalo’s defense is robust and McCaffrey isn't getting the support he needs. Cook is a better choice this week."

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals

• Start: George Pickens (Steelers)

  • Dave (70:44): Endorses Pickens as a must-start given his target volume and the Bengals' defensive weaknesses.

• Sit: Naji Harris & Jalen Warren (Steelers)

  • Heath (68:58): Advises against starting both due to the Bengals' top-tier defense against running backs.

• Notable Quote:

  • Dave (23:37): "The Bengals' defense are number eight in fewest fantasy points allowed to RBs, complicating starts for Steelers' backs."

2. Players to Avoid

• Brian Robinson Jr. (Jaguars):

  • Dave (06:30): Recommends sitting Robinson due to Jacksonville's strong run defense and potential limited involvement.

• Deebo Samuel (Chargers):

  • Jamie (07:30): Advises against starting Samuel amidst QB uncertainties and possible reduced playtime.

• Debo Samuel (Buffalo):

  • Jamie (07:30): Suggests avoiding Samuel due to uncertainties surrounding his quarterback’s availability and overall player ranking.

• Notable Quote:

  • Heath (07:31): "I'm avoiding Deebo Samuel because of uncertainties and potential limited playtime."

3. Players to Love

• Baker Mayfield (Jaguars):

  • Dave (03:04): Highlights Mayfield’s high upside and favorable matchup against a Jaguars defense struggling against quarterbacks.

• Taysom Hill (Rams):

  • Jamie (04:02): Praises Hill’s usage and consistent fantasy production, especially with his versatile role in the offense.

• Notable Quote:

  • Dave (03:04): "Baker, the touchdown maker, has top five upside against the Panthers' terrible defense."

News and Notes

• Injuries:

  • Braylon Allen (Jacksonville): Questionable status impacts running back decisions.
  • Trevor Lawrence (Chargers): Limited practice with potential season-ending injury concerns.
  • Justin Fields (Steelers): Monitoring safety and performance against Bengals.

• Roster Changes:

  • Daniel Jones (Vikings): Discussion on his role and potential growth under new coaching.

• Weather Impact:

  • Philadelphia at Baltimore: Weather conditions could affect player performances, particularly for aerial routes.

• Notable Quote:

  • Heath (29:03): "I dropped Travis Etienne in two leagues today to pick up Braylon Allen because of his questionable status."

Audience Interaction

The podcast features listener questions from emails and tweets, addressing specific player comparisons and lineup dilemmas.

• Example Questions:

  • "Taysom Hill or Hunter Henry?"
  • "Bucky Irving or Jonathan Taylor?"
  • "Jerry Jeudy, Darnell Mooney, or Juwan Jennings if Brock Purdy is out?"

• Notable Advice:

  • Dave (39:00): Suggests starting Bucky Irving over Jonathan Taylor due to better schedule and involvement in the passing game.
  • Jamie (39:16): Emphasizes the importance of not benching top-tier receivers like Jerry Jeudy in favorable matchups.

• Notable Quote:

  • Heath (39:00): "I think you should start both of them if you can, but obviously you can't."

Conclusions and Takeaways

The episode underscores the critical nature of matchup analysis in Week 13. Key strategies include:

• Favoring Players with High Upside: Especially quarterbacks like CJ Stroud and Anthony Richardson facing weak defenses.
• Avoiding High-Risk Players: Such as Deebo Samuel and Brian Robinson Jr. due to unfavorable matchups and uncertainties.
• Leveraging Strong WR Options: Like Baker Mayfield and Elijah Moore to maximize point potential against top defenses.
• Monitoring Injuries and Weather: Which can significantly impact player performances and game outcomes.

Final Notable Quote:

• Adam (72:25): "This is the only podcast you'll need to win your league!"

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Dave (03:49): "Jacksonville’s number one and most fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks, an opportunity potentially for a shootout here if Trevor Lawrence does play."

• Jamie (33:52): "Anthony Richardson has a 29 to 30 point upside every time he steps on the field against a terrible defense."

• Heath (37:12): "If there's no Tillman, I'd start Elijah Moore. If Tillman plays, he might be the riskiest WR3."

• Jamie (58:53): "The Eagles defense has been great, but against Lamar Jackson, you can’t rely on stopping the run alone."

• Dave (63:03): "Buffalo’s defense is robust and McCaffrey isn't getting the support he needs. Cook is a better choice this week."

Closing Remarks

As Thanksgiving approaches, the hosts wish listeners a happy holiday and encourage tuning in for upcoming episodes that will continue to provide valuable fantasy football insights. They remind fans to engage through social media and participate in live Q&A sessions to further refine their fantasy strategies.

End of Summary