Fantasy Football Today (FFT) Podcast Summary

Episode: Start or Sit (NFC): Michael Wilson, Bears RBs and WRs, Josh Jacobs and More Tough Calls
Date: December 26, 2025
Hosts: Adam Aizer, Dave Richard, Jamie Eisenberg

Episode Overview

This episode of FFT focuses on the critical fantasy football start/sit decisions for the NFC slate during Championship Week. The crew dives into matchup breakdowns, injury updates, tough player calls—including Michael Wilson, Chicago's RB/WR rotation, Josh Jacobs, and more—and fields listener questions, all with a high-energy, conversational, and analytical FFT tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Thursday Recap & Quick Takeaways

Timestamps: 04:34–08:49

• Rapid review of Thursday games: No major surprises or actionable changes for week 17 lineups.
• Jamie: “The Vikings defense is just amazing… they’re a championship defense getting wasted right now by poor quarterback play, which sucks.” (06:43)
• Noted that players like Goff and the Lions offense struggled as expected. Gibbs’ down game is in line with tough matchups vs. receiving RBs for Vikings.
• Injuries impacting key starters: Javonte Williams may be out, Malik Davis could be a late-week plug; watch for offensive line status updates.

2. Playoff Implications – Who Might Rest, Who Might Play

Timestamps: 10:42–13:06

• Monitor Rams and Steelers for possible rest scenarios, pending NFC playoff seeding.
• The Rams likely to play their starters unless the game is in hand or playoff status is locked.
• “They're preparing like they have to play… because what if San Francisco loses? What if Seattle loses?” (Dave, 12:01)

3. News & Notes – Injuries and Practice Reports

Timestamps: 13:23–14:43

• Lamar Jackson: Doubtful, almost never play when listed as such.
• Josh Jacobs: Off injury report, trending toward playing.
• WR Updates: Adams, Luther Burden, Rome Odunze, and Christian Watson all have status questions to monitor.
• TE Spotlight: Kittle “shouldn’t be counted on”—Jake Tonges as Kittle’s handcuff.
• Handy tip: Set your league’s add/drop rules to allow late changes in the event of unexpected inactives.

4. Game-by-Game Start/Sit Questions (NFC Focused)

Baltimore at Green Bay

Timestamps: 16:58–36:53

• RBs: Derrick Henry is a start, especially if Jordan Love is out; Jacobs is a RB2 if active but monitor workload and late-in-week practice reports.
• Jamie notes: “A running back has scored 15+ PPR points in 9 of the last 10 games against the Ravens… not a lot of yards, but touchdowns and catches.” (17:44)
• WRs: Zay Flowers is a start for volume; Christian Watson gains appeal with Jordan Love, but otherwise is a flex. Other GB WRs are risky.
• QB: If Love plays, he's a low-end QB1, otherwise fade the GB pass attack.

Chicago at San Francisco

Timestamps: 18:14–47:29

• WRs: DJ Moore remains a start even if Burden returns, but both are in the lower-end WR2/3 range. Burden’s snap count/health is a concern.
• RBs: Swift is a “comfortable but not exciting” RB2 based on volume and pass-game usage.
• TEs: Colson Loveland and Jake Tonges discussed as deep-stream options if Kittle sits; preference given to 49ers TEs over Loveland.
• QB: Brock Purdy is a strong start (QB5/6), only slightly downgraded if Kittle sits.

Giants at Raiders

Timestamps: 19:03–61:29

• Jamie on Raiders RB: “Genti [Ashton Jeanty] is a must-start after last week's monster performance.” (53:10)
• Giants offense is hard to trust: Wondale Robinson has high floor but limited upside; Tracy Jr. is flex viable.
• Jamie: “I think the only Raider that’s a must-start is Genti. Mayer is a borderline streaming TE.”
• Caution about offensive line injuries (Andrew Thomas out) lowering Giants skill player floors.

Seattle at Carolina

Timestamps: 20:05–69:08

• Ken Walker remains the “reluctant” best RB start—volume not ideal, but upside remains in a plus spot. Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard are lower-end flexes.
• WRs: Tetairoa McMillan is a top-20ish volatility play with upside due to likely negative game script for Carolina.
• Dave: “If we don’t love Bryce Young, how can we really love Tetairoa?”
• Michael Carter is a fringe RB2/flex; the matchup is good but reception upside is in question.

Rams at Falcons

Timestamps: 20:43–75:50

• Kyren Williams: low-end RB1/must-start, scores often and gets consistent goal-line work.
• Blake Corum: strong TD-dependent flex; has become the clear red-zone option (see Jamie’s goal-line carry stat: “Since week 9, Corum has 8, Kyren has 6 carries inside the 3.” 71:38)
• Drake London: high-variance WR2/3; health and snap count are key.
• Kyle Pitts: TE4 rank, usage finally trending up in the red zone.

Arizona at Cincinnati

Timestamps: 21:16–84:06

MICHAEL WILSON Discussion:

• Jamie and Dave dive deep into the Wilson/Michael Harrison Jr. split—Wilson has lower slot rate and target share with Harrison active.

• Jamie: “He’s never had a good game with Marvin Harrison Jr. on the field. Why would I start him?” (21:19–27:02)

• Dave: “He’s a big red zone threat... in a high-scoring, high-volume game, you want a piece of that offense.” (25:04)

• Both agree Wilson is a boom/bust WR2/3, with upside if Harrison is limited.

• Other ARI/CIN Notes:

  • Trey McBride: must-start, elite TE option.
  • Michael Carter: risky RB2/flex. Matchup is juicy, but role/gamescript volatility is real.
  • WRs: Harrison is a WR4; fade unless desperate.
  • Start all Bengals as usual in strong matchup.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jamie on Jared Goff: “He was vintage end of Rams Jared Goff… the offensive line was a huge problem.” (08:17)
• Adam on start/sit dilemmas: “A lot of people are chasing points this weekend, so it’s maybe going to alter a few of your lineup decisions.” (06:43)
• Dave on Michael Wilson: “He’s a red zone target… easy to see a high scoring game and you want pieces of that.” (25:04)
• Jamie’s goals for fantasy managers: “Make sure your league… is set up so you can make add/drops before each player’s game time, not just before the first game Sunday.” (12:45)
• The crew’s running joke about Jeff Sills and Simpsons avatars in the live chat (76:17–76:47), highlighting the podcast’s inside humor and listener community vibes.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Thursday Game Recap & Takeaways: 04:34–08:49
• Playoff Scenario/Rest Talk: 10:42–13:06
• Injury & News Roundup: 13:23–14:43
• Baltimore-Green Bay RBs/WRs: 16:58–36:53
• Chicago-SF, DJ Moore/Burden/Swift: 18:14–47:29
• Giants-Raiders, Genti/Tracy/Wondale: 19:03–61:29
• Seattle-Carolina, Walker/McMillan/Carter: 20:05–69:08
• Rams-Falcons, Kyren/Corum/Pitts: 20:43–75:50
• Arizona-Cincy, Michael Wilson/McBride: 21:16–84:06

Player-Specific Start/Sit Advice

• Start With Confidence:
  • Kyren Williams, Ashton Jeanty, Trey McBride, Brock Purdy, DJ Moore (still over Burden), Zay Flowers (target volume), Ken Walker (if desperate)
• Solid RB2/Flex/Streamer:
  • Josh Jacobs (if active), Michael Carter (borderline), Tetairoa McMillan, Blake Corum, Swift, Tracy Jr., Giants options (with caution, O-line issues), Loveland/Tonges (if Kittle sits)
• High Volatility:
  • Michael Wilson (WR2/3, best if Harrison limited), Luther Burden (depends on health), Drake London (injury dependent), Christian Watson (Jordan Love status), Trey Tucker (PPR dart)
• Sit/Fade Where Possible:
  • Marvin Harrison Jr. (outside top 30 WRs), Panthers RBs/WRs other than McMillan, most Giants WRs not named Wondale

Listener Q&A – Highlights

• Heavy focus on nuanced start/sit dilemmas: Michael Wilson vs. Christian Watson; Tracy vs. Flowers; Jacobs vs. Kyren.
• Tony from chat: “Is it crazy to start Brissett, Michael Wilson, and Michael Carter?”
  Jamie: “It is risky, but depends on what else you have. The matchups are all there.”
• Multiple reminders: monitor late injury news, weather for ARI-CIN and other outdoor games.

Conclusion

This episode is essential listening (or reading) for managers with NFC-heavy lineups or tough WR2/Flex decisions in championship week. The FFT crew brings their trademark blend of rapid stats, deep dives, and in-jokes, ensuring listeners are armed with actionable advice and context for every relevant player. The “Michael Wilson” debate stands out as the model for how to approach all thin-margin Week 17 start/sit choices.

For full player rankings, check FFT’s updated columns and join their live YouTube Q&A Sunday mornings for last-minute lineup advice.