Fantasy Football Today – "Waiver Wire! Woody Marks, Sean Tucker, Darius Slayton and Many, Many, Many More"

Episode Date: September 30, 2025
Host: Adam Aizer
Analysts: Dave Richard, Jamey Eisenberg
Theme: Week 5 Waiver Wire Priorities, Injury Updates, and Managing Byes

Episode Overview

This week’s Fantasy Football Today is driven by chaos—from key injuries, approaching bye weeks (Falcons, Bears, Packers, Steelers), and sudden shifts on depth charts. The FFT crew breaks down the evolving waiver wire landscape, featuring top pickups (Woody Marks, Darius Slayton, Darren Waller), deep league stashes, injury contingencies (notably Bucky Irving’s MRI), and FAAB bidding strategies. The tone is urgent but upbeat, mixing strategic breakdowns with playful banter.

Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. Immediate Fantasy Context and Key Injury Updates

• Host Adam sets the scene: multiple top players are on bye, adding stress for fantasy managers—"It's one of those waiver wire weeks. A players to pick up or at least consider picking up." (01:14)
• Bucky Irving's ankle MRI is cited by all as a major wildcard impacting the value of Tampa Bay RBs Sean Tucker and Rashad White. The news was so unexpected that it forced last-minute changes in FFT's waiver column and rankings. (01:43–03:27)
• Other injuries: Trey Benson (day-to-day), Tyreek Hill (possible season-ending ligament & knee injury), Malik Neighbors (out for season).

2. Top Waiver Wire Priorities (Week 5 Focus)

Running Backs

• Woody Marks (Houston Texans):
  • Clear top waiver add for all hosts. Described as a rest-of-season RB2 candidate with a growing snap share and carved out workload ("It's inevitable that he's going to be the best running back in Houston rest of season." – Dave, 17:22)
  • FAAB: 60%+
    • "Everybody wants a running back... be ready to spend a huge chunk of your fab. We're talking north of 60% for Woody Marks." – Dave (17:04)
    • Jamie adds, "If you are sub .500… you're probably spending 60%. This could easily turn back to what the Texans run offense looks like in two weeks...I don't know if I want to cripple my bank account with the idea of what could be at best a flex." (18:24)
• Rashad White/Sean Tucker (Tampa Bay):
  • Conditional on Bucky Irving's MRI news.
  • White: More trusted for passing downs, league-winning upside if Irving's out. FAAB: 50%+ (if Irving's out)
  • Tucker: "I do think Tucker is worth picking up. We don't know how long Bucky may be out...but I would hope at this point that Rashad White has earned enough, shown enough...that he gets the work in all facets of the game." – Jamie (13:11)
  • General advice: "I'd almost put in lowball bids compared to 50...unless we hear before your waivers run...that Bucky Irving's gonna miss some time." – Dave (20:38)
• Kenneth Gainwell (Eagles)—If Jalen Warren is out: Top-3 RB add, potential league winner if workload shifts. (37:42)

Wide Receivers

• Darius Slayton (Giants):
  • Uptick in volume without Malik Neighbors; "In the two games he played without Malik Neighbors last year, he had 11 targets...His role changes, he becomes more of a reliable target." – Adam (07:31)
  • FAAB: 10-15%
• Malik Washington (Dolphins):
  • Next man up for Tyreek's role, especially seen on screens.
• Romeo Doubs (Packers, on bye):
  • Monstrous 3-TD game, but "would be behind the Giants guys."
• Wandale Robinson (Giants):
  • If available, "I take him ahead of Darius Slayton." – Dave (39:12)
• Short-term "patch" WRs: DeMarcus Robinson, Kendrick Bourne (49ers—due to injuries), deeper consideration.

Tight Ends

• Darren Waller (Dolphins):
  • High upside with Tyreek out, caught 2 TDs last week but limited routes. "If he stays healthy...could be immense potential."
  • FAAB: 15-20%; similar to Slayton.
• Brenton Strange: 10+ PPR the last two weeks, decent floor play.
• Mason Taylor (Cowboys): 13 targets in last two, ascending snapshare and potential.
• Tommy Tremble (Panthers): Emerging opportunity with bye/injury issues at TE.

Quarterbacks

• Tua Tagovailoa: Still #1 add for Jamie, despite Tyreek's absence, due to matchup vs Panthers (31:17).
• Marcus Mariota (if Jayden Daniels out): Highest upside streamer, "over 20 fantasy points in all four starts as Commanders' QB." – Jamie (31:17)
• Jackson Dart (Giants): Third due to great matchup and rushing upside.
• Sam Darnold (Seahawks): Close to top three; concern is limited passing volume.
• Deep Leagues: Bryce Young (Panthers), Mac Jones, Cooper Rush, Dylan Gabriel, Spencer Rattler.

3. FAAB/Strategy Advice

• RBs (Woody): Spend big—60% FAAB or more—or less if not desperate. Situation-dependent.
• White/Tucker: Don’t risk half your budget unless you know Irving is out. Otherwise, smaller speculative bids. (20:38)
• WRs/TEs: 10–20% for priority targets like Slayton, Waller; less if streaming or patching byes.
• General: "If you need a win...you spend and figure out the rest." — Jamie (19:56)

4. Position-by-Position Rankings

Running Backs (36:35)

• 1. Woody Marks
• 2. Buccaneers RBs (White/Tucker, monitor injury news)
• 3. Kenneth Gainwell (if Warren remains out)
• 4. Kendre Miller (long-term stash)
• 5. Tyjae Spears
• 6. Rico Dowdle (deep leagues)

Wide Receivers

• 1. Wandale Robinson (if available)
• 2. Darius Slayton
• 3. Malik Washington, IO Manor
• 4. Romeo Doubs
• 5. DeMarcus Robinson, Kendrick Bourne (injury/bye week fillers)
• 6. Rashid Shaheed (big-play upside, bye week plug)
• 7. Jalen Coker (deep stash)

Tight Ends (41:17)

• 1. Darren Waller
• 2. Brenton Strange
• 3. Mason Taylor
• 4. Tommy Tremble (short-term play)

Quarterbacks (31:17)

• Tua, Mariota (if starting), Jackson Dart, Darnold

5. Injury & News Segment [~26:13+]

Important updates impacting waivers:

• Tyreek Hill: Severe knee/ligament, season in jeopardy
  • "Could be career ending." – Jamie (28:13)
• Malik Neighbors: Out for season
• Bucky Irving: MRI with unknown results—drives uncertainty for Tampa RB situation
• Others: Trey Benson (day to day), Miles Sanders (optimism for play), multiple WRs/TEs questionable

6. Shallow & Deep League Targets

Shallow leagues:

• QB: Matthew Stafford
• RB: Rashad White, Kareem Hunt, Brian Robinson Jr.
• WR: Jalen Waddle, Juwan Jennings, Khalil Shakir, Wandale Robinson
• TE: Dalton Kincaid, Dallas Goedert, Kyle Pitts, Juwan Johnson
  Deep leagues:
• QB: Bryce Young, Sam Darnold, Cooper Rush, Dylan Gabriel, Spencer Rattler
• RB: Sean Tucker, Justice Hill, Chris Rodriguez, Burchard Smith, Jaylen Tolbert
• WR: Slayton, Malik Washington, Jalen Coker, IO Manor, Jaylen Tolbert, Tori Horton, Isaiah Bond
• TE: Waller, Mason Taylor

7. Drop-O-Meter Segment [59:54+]

• TJ Hockenson: "Four...actually, the number's eight because it's the Browns and then a bye." – Jamey
• Cooper Kupp: "11...I'm going to wait one more week."
• Jerry Jeudy: "Zero, now...[but] if he's your sixth WR, you probably don't need him."
• Darnell Mooney: "Drop Mooney and add Slayton."
• Keon Coleman, Trey Tucker: Mid-to-high drop-o-meter; consider drop for better upside.

8. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Everybody wants a running back, so be ready to spend a huge chunk of your fab—north of 60% for Woody Marks." – Dave (17:04)
• "If you're sub .500...you're probably spending 60%...this could be a flex at best." – Jamie (18:24)
• "If Bucky Irving's out, they will definitely use both guys [White & Tucker]." – Jamey (23:30)
• “I want the passing downs back in this situation. I do not want the rushing downs back.” – Jamie (13:11)
• "Week 8 is the Big Binato. There’s six teams on bye then." – Dave (11:14)
• "[On Tyreek's injury] It could be career-ending." – Jamie (28:13)
• "If we get major Bucky Irving news, we'll do a bonus podcast—even if it's during Yankees-Red Sox." – Adam (24:32)
• Lighthearted moment: "Jamie’s impersonations are always spot-on." – Dave (51:14)
• Listener dream anecdote: "In my dream, all four of you showed up to my house..." (55:15)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Waiver Wire Top Priorities Announced: 03:53–05:34
• RBs: Woody, White, and Tucker Deep-Dive: 07:06–14:13
• FAAB Discussion (Woody, White, Tucker): 17:04–22:32
• Drop-o-Meter: 59:54–62:44
• Quarterbacks Analysis: 31:17–34:53
• Tight End Rankings: 41:17–43:16
• Injury Update Blitz: 26:13–28:18
• Shallow/Deep League Guidance: 47:42–51:36

Summary Table: Waiver Wire Priorities (FAAB %)

| Player | Position | Situation | FAAB Est. | |--------------------|----------|-----------------------------------|-------------------| | Woody Marks | RB | Rest-of-season RB2 | 60%+ | | Rashad White | RB | If Bucky Irving out | 50-60% | | Sean Tucker | RB | Deep league flier if Irving out | 10-20% | | Darius Slayton | WR | Target uptick, Giants | 10-15% | | Darren Waller | TE | High upside, opportunity | ~15-20% | | Malik Washington | WR | Next man up for Dolphins | 5-10% | | Kenneth Gainwell | RB | If Warren out (top-3 RB pickup) | Up to 15% | | Brenton Strange | TE | TE streamer/floor play | 2-5% |

Defense/Special Teams & Kicker Streamers

• Top DST Stream: Cardinals vs Titans ("Their quarterback said they're 'ass' last week." – Jamie, 45:15)
• Kickers: Chad Ryland, Joshua Carty, Jason Myers

Final Thoughts

This episode is a must-listen (or must-read) for fantasy managers juggling major bye weeks, injuries, and uncertain running back rooms. The crew underscores the urgency for RB help (spend up where needed, especially if you’re in must-win territory) and reminds listeners to check in for late updates on Bucky Irving and others. Bolster your benches with upside stashes, especially at RB, and don't ignore ascending TEs like Mason Taylor and Brenton Strange for weekly plug-and-play.

"We'll do a bonus episode if there's big Bucky Irving news—even if it's during Yankees-Red Sox." – Adam (24:32)

Stay tuned, stay flexible, and good luck on waivers this week!