Fantasy Footballers Podcast Summary Episode Title: Fantasy Football 2017 - Starts of the Week, Week 1 Matchups, News
Release Date: September 7, 2017
Hosts: Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright

1. Super Bowl Predictions

The hosts kicked off the episode with a lighthearted segment predicting the Super Bowl contenders.

• Mike Wright selected the New Orleans Saints from the NFC, citing their improved defense and Drew Brees's reliability.

  "I think the Saints can win that division... I'm gonna take the Saints to win it all." [02:25]

• Jason Moore opted for a more traditional choice, backing the Patriots, whom he expects to narrowly overcome the Steelers before facing the Seahawks in the Super Bowl.

  "I think the Seattle Seahawks will be the Super Bowl champions this year." [03:30]

• Andy Holloway echoed Mike's initial choice but later shifted his prediction to have the Steelers take the crown, believing Big Ben would secure a final Super Bowl win before retiring.

  "I'm taking the Saints versus the Steelers. Steelers win another Super Bowl." [04:18]

2. News and Updates

The hosts delved into the latest NFL news affecting fantasy decisions.

• Odell Beckham Jr. was a focal point due to his limited practice time, raising concerns about his availability.

  "He's not practicing today either... He's a possible injury risk." [06:01]

• Eddie Lacy's status was discussed, with Mike deciding against starting him against the Packers despite initial optimism.

  "I'm not willing to go start Eddie Lacy against his former club in Week 1." [05:28]

• Leonard Fournette was cleared for Week 1 against the Texans, offering a promising matchup for fantasy owners.

  "Leonard Fournette is not listed on the injury report, so that's good news for owners." [08:43]

3. Fantasy Forecast: Week 1 Matchups

The trio analyzed key Week 1 matchups to guide fantasy roster decisions.

• Patriots vs. Chiefs: Highlighted the Patriots' defense and Kareem Hunt's pivotal role.

  "Kareem Hunt is a depth piece on your bench. Otherwise, if you drafted after the injury, you're going to play him." [10:13]

• Jets vs. Bills: Discussed Tyrod Taylor's start despite his concussion, emphasizing confidence in his performance.

  "I am confident starting Tyrod Taylor against the Jets." [12:17]

• Falcons vs. Bears: Focused on the Falcons' young and athletic defense as a potential streaming option.

  "The Falcons are going to be a very underrated defensive unit for fantasy this year." [15:44]

• Ravens vs. Bengals: Examined Joe Mixon's usage and Danny Woodhead's reliability, advocating for cautious optimism with Flacco under center.

  "Danny Woodhead is just a sneaky up there to running back. One potential on a weekly basis." [22:57]

• Cardinals vs. Lions: Emphasized Carson Palmer's favorable matchup and the Bears' secondary's weaknesses.

  "I'm as confident as possible to start Larry, especially if it was a PPR." [28:10]

• Jaguars vs. Texans: Predicted a low-scoring game with Jacksonville edging out Texans.

  "Jacksonville's defense on paper is great... I think it's going to be a close game." [35:07]

4. Starts of the Week

A pivotal segment where each host shared their top player picks for Week 1 across various positions.

Quarterbacks

• Andy Holloway: Marcus Mariota

  "Mariota is going to roll and I love him in this opening week." [37:06]

• Mike Wright: Carson Palmer

  "I like Palmer to have a great game in Week 1." [38:07]

• Jason Moore: Tyrod Taylor

  "It's a confidence play to tell people it's okay to play him." [38:35]

Running Backs

• Andy Holloway: Amir Abdullah

  "I have confidence plugging Abdullah in this game." [40:27]

• Mike Wright: Christian McCaffrey

  "Christian McCaffrey is just a weapon in every sense of the word out of the backfield." [41:08]

• Jason Moore: Mike Gillislee

  "He is their goal line back and I think he's going to be the back they use to run the clock." [42:04]

Wide Receivers

• Andy Holloway: Devonte Adams

  "Devonte Adams dropped 104 and a touchdown last year against the Seahawks." [43:30]

• Mike Wright: Terrell Pryor

  "Terrell Pryor will take advantage of that matchup against the Eagles." [43:52]

• Jason Moore: Michael Crabtree

  "I think Michael Crabtree gets a touchdown in this game." [47:31]

Tight Ends

• Mike Wright: Zach Ertz

  "Zach Ertz is the one consistent piece of the passing offense." [46:04]

• Andy Holloway: Charles Clay

  "Charles Clay emerged as the top target for the Buffalo passing offense." [46:05]

• Jason Moore: Dwayne Allen

  "Dwayne Allen scores a touchdown every opening game of his career." [47:52]

Kickers

• Jason Moore: Matt Bryant (Atlanta Falcons)

  "Matt Bryant is going to be kickers of field goals due to Atlanta's touchdown regression." [48:45]

5. Key Insights and Strategies

• Flex Position Strategy: Hosts advised placing potentially injured or game-time decision players in the flex spot to retain flexibility.

  "Put them in your flex spot because it just gives you more options." [07:47]

• Matchup-Based Starts: Emphasized starting players based on favorable Week 1 matchups rather than pre-season performance.

  "Play the guys you drafted to start. That's how I approach Week 1." [13:00]

• Confidence Plays: Encouraged taking calculated risks with players who have favorable matchups or historical performance data supporting their Week 1 potential.

  "Amir Abdullah is a dual threat. He can't get game scripted out." [40:46]

6. Closing Remarks

The hosts wrapped up the episode by promoting their upcoming segments, including a DFS-focused show and various sponsorships, while reiterating their commitment to providing expert fantasy football advice.

Notable Quotes:

• Mike Wright: "You can't wait until game time and then think about, oh, shoot, I don't have anybody left to play." [07:47]
• Andy Holloway: "When you're making your start sit decisions this week, play the guys you drafted to start." [13:00]
• Jason Moore: "Dwayne Allen scores a touchdown every opening game of his career." [47:52]

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the primary discussions, expert opinions, and strategic advice shared by the Fantasy Footballers in their September 7, 2017 episode, providing valuable insights for both seasoned and new fantasy football enthusiasts.