Fantasy Football Today (FFT): Week 1 Start or Sit (09/07 Fantasy Football Podcast)

September 7, 2025 | Hosted by Heath Cummings & Heath D (filling in for Adam Aizer)

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on last-minute injury news, game-time decisions, and key Start/Sit advice for Week 1 of fantasy football. Heath Cummings and Heath D deliver actionable insights, answer listener lineup questions, and assess how injury updates should shift your fantasy approach, all in the high-energy, bantering style FFT fans love.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mood & Welcome

• Heath C recognizes the excitement:

  “You have a little pep in your step today. You're pumped up.”
  (02:33)

• Heath D’s tongue-in-cheek optimism for Week 1:

  “There's nothing better than a day full of finding out all the wrong things you said the last six months.”
  (02:36)

2. Key Injury Updates and Start/Sit Advice

Christian McCaffrey’s Week 1 Status

• Injury Concern: Calf injury; trending toward playing at 4:05 PM ET.

• Risk Assessment:

  • Heath D has downgraded him:

    “He is currently RB11 for me in the projections and the rankings... there's obviously a little bit of risk.”
    (03:41)

  • Recommends starting safer options (RB18/RB19 range like Tony Pollard, James Cook) if you’re risk-averse.
  • Emphasizes the lack of solid backup options if McCaffrey is ruled out after 4 PM.

• Waiver/Trade Suggestion:

  • Heath C:

    “If you're worried about McCaffrey...you could just try to acquire Brian Robinson.”
    (05:40)

  • Recommendation to manage risk by seeking trades for 4 PM/Earlier players.

Start/Sit Semantic: McCaffrey

• Default Advice:
  • “I think most people are probably going to start him.” (03:41)
• Emergency Pickups:
  • Woody Marks, Kyle Menangai, Blake Corum, Ty Johnson (for late games), but minimal upside (04:41)

Travis Hunter’s Role Update

• Will play “most downs at wide receiver and just a little bit at cornerback” this week (07:12).
• Fantasy implication:
  • Heath D:

    “He's a high upside wide receiver 3. The very definition of it.”
    “Start him over Emeka Egbuka, Jameson Williams, Calvin Ridley for sure.”
    (07:18–07:51)

RB Landscape: RJ Harvey, TreVeyon Henderson, J.K. Dobbins Impact

• Both RJ Harvey and Henderson face uncertain workloads, but Henderson is seen as a “very low-end RB2 in full PPR” (08:26).
• Harvey “just behind that group.”
• J.K. Dobbins could see early touches, which could cap Harvey’s value (08:47).

Wide Receiver and Other Injury Notes

• Green Bay Receivers:
  • Jaden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks are questionable (4:25 PM game). If Reed is OUT, Romeo Doubs is a good floor FLEX, otherwise “I don't want to start Reed, whether he plays or not.” (09:49)
• Darnell Mooney (Chicago): Game-time decision, but expectations are low.
  • “I'm not planning on starting Darnell Mooney if he plays.” (10:22)
• Giants LT Andrew Thomas: Doubtful; downgrades for NYG skill positions e.g., Tracy falls behind Henderson (10:40–10:47)

Backup RB Moves & Waiver Watch

• Cleveland signs Quinshon Judkins (RB): Will NOT play this week. Two-week roster exemption; “wouldn’t expect him to be somebody you want to start before Week 5.” (11:08)
• NYG: Jackson Dart may see the field at QB (small note).
• DET: Jameson Williams gets a big contract extension—not immediate fantasy impact.

Mailbag / Listener Questions (Selected Q&A with Quick Start/Sit Takes)

• Olave or Travis Etienne (Half PPR)?

  • “Travis Etienne for sure.” (11:38)

• Ridley or Jauan Jennings?

  • “I'm pretty scared of Ridley but I'm going to start him over Jauan Jennings.” (11:49)

• Ingram or Hockenson (TE)?

  • “I think Hockenson’s a must-start tight end for at least the first three weeks.” (11:57)

• If McCaffrey can't go: Pollard or Mason?

  • “I'm counting on the touches with Pollard. I'm starting him.” (12:05)

• 3 WR 2 FLEX: Marvin Mims or Adam Thielen?

  • “Let's go with Marvin Mims.” (12:20)

• QB: JJ McCarthy, Caleb Johnson, Caleb Williams or Tua Tagovailoa?

  • “I'm going with Caleb [Williams].” (12:28)

• RJ Harvey or Matthew Golden (Full PPR)?

  • “Golden is right behind that Hunter Ibuka group. I've got him projected for just a little bit more than Harvey.” (12:40)

• Ridley, PierSall, Harvey, Jalen Warren (start two, Half PPR)?

  • “I would start the running backs [Harvey, Warren].” 12:57
  • “With Jennings back, I don't want to start [PierSall].” (12:57–13:08)

• JMO (Jameson Williams) or Jalen Warren?

  • “I'll go with Warren. I'm pretty excited about him. He's a top 20 running back for me.” (13:21)

Memorable Quotes & Fun Banter

• On Start/Sit Pressure:
  Heath D:

  “There's nothing better than a day full of finding out all the wrong things you said the last six months.”
  (02:36)

• On Fantasy Anxiety:
  Heath D:

  “Even if he [McCaffrey] plays this week, we just got a week one scare and reminder that this is one of the scariest players to roster.”
  (06:26)

• On Travis Hunter:
  Heath D:

  “He’s a high upside wide receiver 3. The very definition of it.”
  (07:51)

• On Risk Management:
  Heath C:

  “That doesn't necessarily mitigate the risk...Even if he plays this week, we just got a week one scare.”
  (06:25)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:07 - Episode Kicks Off (Hosts check in, mood/vibes)
• 03:08 - Christian McCaffrey Injury Update and Strategic Advice
• 04:41 - Emergency Planning: Late-Game RB Pickups
• 05:40 - Trade Strategy for Insurance
• 07:12 - Travis Hunter Role and Start/Sit Impact
• 08:26 - RB2/Flex Rankings: Harvey, Henderson, Dobbins
• 09:49 - Packers WR Room: Reed/Wicks Status
• 10:22 - Darnell Mooney Update
• 10:40 - Giants Injury Update: Andrew Thomas
• 11:08 - Waiver Alert: Cleveland RB Room
• 11:38–13:25 - Listener Start/Sit Mailbag (Rapid-Fire Q&A)
• 13:30 - Endnotes on WR/CB Matchups

Takeaways for Week 1 Fantasy Football Lineups

• Monitor Final Injury Reports: Particularly for late window games (4 PM/primetime), keep insurance options handy.
• Christian McCaffrey’s Status: Lean toward starting but have a backup plan; riskier than usual.
• Flex RB/WR Tiers: Upside plays (Travis Hunter, Jalen Warren, Marvin Mims) are favored in several toss-ups.
• Start/Sit Philosophy: Play it safer with early-game, healthy players unless you have true upside subs for late injuries.

This fast-paced, information-packed Week 1 Start/Sit episode arms you with all the key facts, trends, and last-minute takes you need to win your matchups. For deeper dives, join FFT’s team for their live Sunday streams and tune in for post-game recaps. Good luck this week!