Podcast Summary: Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast
Episode: Fantasy Football 2017 - Starts of the Week, Week 15 Matchups, Boom Boom
Release Date: December 14, 2017

Episode Overview

In this episode of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast, hosts Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright delve into the intricacies of Week 15 matchups, provide essential news and updates impacting fantasy lineups, and offer strategic recommendations for starting players. The discussion is rich with expert analysis, humorous banter, and actionable insights aimed at helping fantasy managers secure victory in their leagues.

Who Am I? – Carlos Hyde Game

The episode kicks off with a playful segment titled "Who Am I?" where Mike Wright challenges the hosts to identify a running back based on a series of hints. The player in question is Carlos Hyde of the Arizona Cardinals.

• Mike Wright [02:03]: "12th in rushing attempts, 12th in rushing yards, RB12 in standard scoring."
• Jason Moore [04:24]: "Carlos Hyde. I love Michael Keaton."

This engaging game not only adds a fun element to the show but also highlights Carlos Hyde's consistent performance in the running back rankings.

News and Updates

Injury Reports:

• Kyle Rudolph (Minnesota Vikings): Sidelined with an ankle injury, casting uncertainty over his availability for Week 15.

  • Mike Wright [06:18]: "The Vikings tied in Kyle Rudolph. He has an apparent ankle injury..."

• Adrian Peterson (Arizona Cardinals): Facing a potential season-ending neck injury with no progress reported.

  • Jason Moore [07:08]: "I am ruling him out for the rest of the season."

• Jerick McKinnon (Minnesota Vikings): Limited due to a shoulder injury but expected to be available for Week 15.

  • Mike Wright [07:39]: "Jerick McKinnon... limited list on Wednesday to be aware of."

• Other Key Injuries:

  • Adam Thielen (Minnesota Vikings): Limited with a knee issue.

  • Jimmy Graham (New Orleans Saints): Limited.

  • LaShawn McCoy (Buffalo Bills): Limited.

  • Joe Mixon (Cincinnati Bengals): Returned to full practice but uncertain for Week 15.

  • Andy Holloway [08:25]: "Jared Cook... not in the limited section."

Strategic Insights:

The hosts emphasize the importance of monitoring these injuries closely, as they can significantly impact fantasy lineups. For instance, Carlos Hyde emerges as a reliable alternative to the injured Frank Gore, providing stability to fantasy teams.

Week 15 Matchups Analysis

1. Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions

• Overview: Bears (4-9) face the Lions (7-6) with an over/under of 44.5 points.

  • Mike Wright [12:43]: "Matthew Stafford... averaging 294 passing yards a game, third best in the league."

• Fantasy Implications:

  • Mitch Trubisky (Bears): Considered a safe but not high-upside quarterback.
  • Jordan Howard (Bears): Strong performer but limited by offensive dynamics.
  • Tyreek Hill (Chiefs): Identified as a boom-bust play against a middling defense.

• Top Recommendations:

  • Aaron Rodgers (Packers): Safe start with a favorable matchup.
  • Michael Crabtree (Packers): High upside against a struggling secondary.

2. San Francisco 49ers vs. Carolina Panthers

• Overview: Packers (7-6) take on the Panthers (9-4), with Aaron Rodgers returning from injury.

  • Mike Wright [28:29]: "Aaron Rodgers plays... he's going to be hard-stretched."

• Fantasy Implications:

  • Marshawn Lynch (49ers): Reliable due to Rodgers' presence.
  • Devonte Adams (Packers): Preferred over Jordy Nelson by Mike Wright.

• Top Recommendations:

  • Charles Clay (Bills): "Mr. Necessary," especially in cold-weather games.
  • DeAndre Hopkins (Texans): Essential against a defense that's poor against wide receivers.

3. Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills

• Overview: Dolphins face the Bills in a cold-weather game where both teams are ranked poorly against running backs but better against wide receivers.

  • Jason Moore [25:13]: "Over the past six weeks, Buffalo has ranked 32nd against running backs."

• Fantasy Implications:

  • Jarvis Landry (Dolphins): Reliable wide receiver with consistent targets.
  • Alex Collins (Browns): Phenomenal play in limited opportunities.

• Top Recommendations:

  • Jason Whitten (Texans): Strong against a weak tight end defense.
  • Devin Funches (Browns): High upside with an excellent matchup.

4. Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens

• Overview: Browns (7-6) take on the Ravens (7-6), featuring Deshaun Watson at quarterback.

  • Mike Wright [36:37]: "Deshaun Watson... gives him weapons with Corey Coleman and Josh Gordon."

• Fantasy Implications:

  • Deshaun Watson (Bills): Potential for big plays due to the Ravens' weakened pass defense.
  • Corey Coleman (Ravens): Underrated wide receiver with high upside.

• Top Recommendations:

  • Josh Gordon (Ravens): Valuable against a defense that struggles against tight ends.
  • Mark Ingram (Texans): High-volume running back.

Picks for Starts of the Week

The hosts provide detailed recommendations across various positions to optimize fantasy lineups for Week 15.

Quarterbacks

• Mike Wright:
  • Recommended Start: Case Keenum (Minnesota Vikings)
    • Quote [46:02]: "Case Keenum is delivering each and every week."
• Andy Holloway:
  • Recommended Start: Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers)
    • Quote [47:06]: "If you've picked him up, Aaron Rodgers is a guy that you should start."
• Jason Moore:
  • Recommended Start: Blake Bortles (Jacksonville Jaguars)
    • Quote [48:38]: "Blake Bortles... I like Blake Bortles as a stream a lot."

Running Backs

• Mike Wright:
  • Recommended Start: JJ Stokes (Green Bay Packers)
    • Quote [52:31]: "JJ Stokes to get the bulk of that uptrending arrow."
• Andy Holloway:
  • Recommended Start: Kenyon Drake (Arizona Cardinals)
    • Quote [51:21]: "Kenyon Drake... the running back six."
• Jason Moore:
  • Recommended Start: JJ Stokes (Green Bay Packers)
    • Quote [53:37]: "I like his opportunity... JJ to get the bulk."

Wide Receivers

• Mike Wright:
  • Recommended Start: Michael Crabtree (Dallas Cowboys)
    • Quote [55:25]: "Michael Crabtree... one of those players where I think he's going to be a difference maker."
• Andy Holloway:
  • Recommended Start: Marquis Goodwin (San Francisco 49ers)
    • Quote [53:23]: "Marquis Goodwin... excellent matchup this week against Tennessee."
• Jason Moore:
  • Recommended Start: Devin Funches (Baltimore Ravens)
    • Quote [53:37]: "Devin Funches. He is as of right now my highest ranked tight end who is not an auto start."

Tight Ends

• Mike Wright:
  • Recommended Start: Jason Whitten (Houston Texans)
    • Quote [55:25]: "Jason Whitten is your guy."
• Andy Holloway:
  • Recommended Start: Charles Clay (Buffalo Bills)
    • Quote [57:37]: "Charles Clay, tight end, Buffalo Bills. Mr. Necessary."
• Jason Moore:
  • Recommended Start: Baby Hands Jack Doyle (Detroit Lions)
    • Quote [59:12]: "Baby hands Jack Doyle. He is as of right now my highest ranked tight end who is not an auto start."

Kickers

• Jason Moore:
  • Recommended Start: Matt Bryant (Atlanta Falcons)
    • Quote [59:20]: "You need a kicking giant, so make sure you don't bench the Falcons. Matt Bryant."

Final Thoughts and Predictions

The hosts conclude the episode by reinforcing the importance of strategic player selections and staying updated with injury news to maximize fantasy points. They anticipate Episode 500 to feature special content, including a highlight reel from early days of the podcast, promising fans a nostalgic and entertaining experience.

• Mike Wright [59:52]: "Thanks for listening to today's episode... check out draft.comballers for all of your DFS needs."
• Andy Holloway [60:11]: "Join our fantasy football community on jointhefoot.com and follow us on Twitter @theffballers."

Key Takeaways

• Player Reliability vs. Upside: Balancing consistent performers like Carlos Hyde with high-upside players such as Michael Crabtree is crucial for lineup success.
• Injury Monitoring: Staying abreast of injury reports, especially for key players like Adrian Peterson and Kyle Rudolph, can prevent costly lineup mistakes.
• Matchup Exploitation: Capitalizing on favorable matchups, such as running backs against weak defenses, can provide a competitive edge.
• Strategic Starts: Thoughtful consideration of quarterback performance, wide receiver target distribution, and tight end matchups can significantly impact fantasy outcomes.

This comprehensive analysis and strategic guidance aim to equip fantasy managers with the knowledge needed to optimize their Week 15 lineups and push toward a championship.