Fantasy Footballers Podcast Summary

Episode Title: Fantasy Football 2017 - Starts of the Week, Week 8 Matchups, Andy’s Happy/Sad Game
Release Date: October 26, 2017
Hosts: Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright

1. Introduction

The episode kicks off with a light-hearted banter among the hosts, setting an engaging and friendly tone. They introduce the main segments, including Andy’s Happy/Sad Game—a feature where they evaluate the performance of various fantasy players up to Week 8.

2. Andy’s Happy/Sad Game

[03:02] Andy Holloway: "It's called Andy's Happy Sad Game."

In this segment, the hosts assess their feelings—happy or sad—regarding the Average Draft Position (ADP) of the top 20 fantasy players. They discuss each player’s performance, providing insights into whether their draft choices are paying off.

• David Johnson [03:33]:

  • Jason Moore: "I think you're past the morning phase at this point... definitely sad."
    Jason expresses disappointment, indicating that Johnson's performance has not met expectations beyond the initial weeks.

• Le’Veon Bell [03:43]:

  • Mike Wright: "Oh, you're very happy."
    The consensus is positive, highlighting Bell's consistent performance.

• Antonio Brown [03:46]:

  • Mike Wright: "Very, very happy."
    Brown continues to impress, maintaining high performance levels.

• Julio Jones [04:01]:

  • Jason Moore: "You're sad right now."
    Despite Jones being a top receiver, inconsistencies have left Jason feeling uneasy about his reliability.

• LaShawn McCoy & Devonta Freeman [04:06 - 04:23]:

  • Mike Wright: "Jason likes what I did there."
    Both running backs show promise, with Freeman especially garnering strong approval for his role in the offense.

• Melvin Gordon [04:34]:

  • Jason Moore: "You're thrilled."
    Gordon's impressive weekly performances have solidified his status as a reliable RB2 or RB1 in certain lineups.

• Mike Evans & A.J. Green [05:06 - 05:25]:

  • Mike Wright: "It's going well. It's going happy, swimmingly."
    Evans remains a strong asset, while Green's performance is mixed, leading to some hesitancy despite his high ranking.

The segment continues through all 20 players, providing a comprehensive evaluation of each, balancing happiness with performance concerns. Notable quotes include:

• Andy Holloway: "There’s nothing better than some boom boom. All the news you need to know about fantasy football." [01:34]
• Mike Wright: "You're a little melancholy, but okay. No infinite sadness." [04:04]

3. News and Updates

The hosts cover recent NFL news impacting fantasy football decisions, focusing on player trades, injuries, and team strategies.

• Trade Acquisition: Dontrell Inman [10:25]:

  • Andy Holloway: "The Bears have acquired Dontrell Inman from the Chargers for a conditional 2018 seventh-round pick."
  • Jason Moore: "You are immediately the best wide receiver there."
    The acquisition is viewed positively, suggesting Inman will have a significant impact on the Bears' receiving corps.

• Martavis Bryant's Status [11:03]:

  • Mike Wright: "He is 100% a cut."
    Following off-field issues and poor performance, Bryant is considered a release candidate, impacting the Jaguars' roster.

• Jay Cutler's Availability [11:52]:

  • Mike Wright: "He was expected to be available."
    Discussions revolve around whether Cutler will return or if Matt Moore will retain his starting position, affecting the Colts' quarterback options.

Notable interactions:

• Andy Holloway: "Am I working? Am I fantasy reaping coaches now." [18:32]
• Jason Moore: "It's just a really poor matchup for him to come in, you know, in a short week and play against Baltimore." [12:15]

4. Fantasy Forecast & Week 8 Matchups

A deep dive into upcoming game matchups, evaluating player performances based on opposing defenses, team dynamics, and specific game scripts.

• Vikings vs. Browns [14:21]:

  • Andy Holloway: "Stefan Diggs is traveling with the team."
  • Jason Moore: "The Minnesota Vikings defense against the running back position both on the ground and through the air has been tremendous."
    The hosts generally advise caution when starting Browns' running backs due to Minnesota's strong defense.

• Raiders vs. Bills [26:15]:

  • Andy Holloway: "Tyrod Taylor, my streaming quarterback."
  • Mike Wright: "Dion Lewis has 23+ carries the past three weeks."
    They discuss the Bills' defense against quarterbacks and the potential of Taylor as a safe play.

• Colts vs. Bengals [31:15]:

  • Jason Moore: "Joe Mixon is such a big week for him because the matchup is there."
  • Andy Holloway: "I'm going with Joe Mixon against Indianapolis."
    Emphasis is placed on Mixon's opportunity against a struggling Colts' defense.

• Chargers vs. Patriots [35:10]:

  • Jason Moore: "Philip Rivers should have the job done in this matchup."
  • Andy Holloway: "Queasy about starting fighters against a strong pass defense."
    The Patriots' potent offense is seen as favorable against a defensively weak Chargers team.

• Bears vs. Saints [43:35]:

  • Mike Wright: "I play the Saints D in this game."
  • Jason Moore: "The Bears defense has been really solid this year."
    Evaluations focus on the Bears' defense and the Saints' offensive potential under Drew Brees.

• Falcons vs. Jets [46:21]:

  • Jason Moore: "Falcons' offense struggled last week."
  • Mike Wright: "Devonta Freeman is a big play."
    The hosts suggest streaming options and highlight the Jets' weak defense as opportunities.

Key Insights:

• Strong defenses can significantly impact player reliability.
• Streaming positions based on favorable matchups is a recurring strategy.
• The importance of time of possession in projecting quarterback and running back performances.

5. Starts of the Week

Each host shares their top player picks for the upcoming week, providing rationale based on matchup analysis and player performance trends.

• Quarterbacks:

  • Andy Holloway: "Matt Ryan against the Jets." [50:26]
    Believes Ryan will capitalize against a struggling Bears defense.
  • Jason Moore: "Philip Rivers of the Chargers." [52:17]
    Confident in Rivers' ability to perform against the Patriots' weak defense.
  • Mike Wright: "Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals." [52:12]
    Trusts Dalton against a poor Colts' defense, referencing past performances of the Bengals' offense.

• Running Backs:

  • Andy Holloway: "Joe Mixon against Indianapolis." [55:37]
    Chooses Mixon due to favorable matchups against the Colts' weak run defense.
  • Jason Moore: "LeGarrett Blount, San Francisco." [53:50]
    Picks Blount for his consistent performance against San Francisco's bad run defense.
  • Mike Wright: "Joe Mixon." [55:37]

• Wide Receivers:

  • Andy Holloway: "Nelson Aguilar against San Francisco." [58:16]
    Highlights Aguilar's touchdowns and strong rapport with Carson Wentz.
  • Jason Moore: "Kelvin Benjamin, Carolina." [56:50]
    Believes Benjamin will excel against Tampa Bay's weak pass defense.
  • Mike Wright: "Demarious Thomas, Chiefs." [56:50]
    Expects Thomas to capitalize against the Chiefs' high fantasy point allowance to receivers.

• Tight Ends:

  • Andy Holloway: "Jason Whitten against Washington." [58:16]
    Chooses Whitten for his role and favorable matchup.
  • Jason Moore: "Kyle Rudolph, Cleveland." [60:12]
    Picks Rudolph based on Cleveland's poor performance against tight ends.
  • Mike Wright: "Tyler Croft, Bengals." [60:17]
    Selects Croft due to the Bengals' vulnerability against tight ends.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason Moore: "I had never seen a bucket of fire." [13:07]
• Andy Holloway: "Triple threat... tattoos, grammatically challenged dialogue and responsible grown-up behavior." [10:04]
  Referring to a listener review, adding humor and personality to the discussion.

6. Community and Sponsor Highlights

The hosts promote their fantasy football community, Foot Clan, and their sponsor, Draft.com Ballers. They encourage listeners to join for exclusive content, premium projections, and community engagement.

• Foot Clan Membership Benefits [24:03]:

  • Access to bonus podcasts, exclusive forums, premium projections, flex rankings, and game day alerts.
  • Priced at five bucks a month, with additional perks for higher-tier supporters.

• Draft.com Ballers Promotion [22:28]:

  • Encourages participation in daily fantasy sports with multi-week tournaments and free entry offers for listeners.
  • Mike Wright: "You play against us and you get a free entry to a game."

Notable Interaction:

• Mike Wright: "Harrison Butker has been the number one kicker since he took over." [62:57]
  Playfully discussing kicker selections with humor.

7. Conclusion

The episode wraps up with the final selections for the week, reinforcing the strategies discussed throughout. The hosts maintain an engaging and humorous rapport, leaving listeners with actionable insights for their fantasy teams.

• Final Picks:

  • Andy Holloway: Matt Ryan, Joe Mixon, Nelson Aguilar, Jason Whitten.
  • Jason Moore: Philip Rivers, LeGarrett Blount, Kelvin Benjamin, Kyle Rudolph.
  • Mike Wright: Andy Dalton, Demarious Thomas, Tyler Croft.

• Humorous Sign-Off:

  • Jason Moore: "Harrison Butker over Justin Tucker."
  • Andy Holloway: "Harrison Butker has been kicking butt."

• Call to Action:

  • Encourages listeners to join Foot Clan and engage with the podcast’s community features.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Andy Holloway: "We're playing a game, and it's called Andy's Happy Sad Game." [03:02]
• Jason Moore: "You've got to keep the clock running, keep the score lower." [45:17]
• Mike Wright: "Joe Mixon is such a big week for him because the matchup is there." [31:15]
• Andy Holloway: "I love what the offense can do." [12:15]
• Jason Moore: "Kelvin Benjamin should have a monstrous game this week against this defense that's so beatable." [56:50]

This episode of the Fantasy Footballers podcast offers a comprehensive analysis of Week 8 matchups, providing valuable insights and strategic advice for fantasy football enthusiasts. The hosts balance detailed statistical analysis with engaging banter, ensuring listeners are well-equipped to make informed decisions for their fantasy teams.