Fantasy Footballers Podcast - Episode Summary

Title: Fantasy Football 2017 - Week 1 Studs & Duds, Rising Stars, Injury Tears
Release Date: September 11, 2017
Hosts: Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright

1. Introduction

The episode kicks off with the hosts welcoming listeners to Week 1 of the 2017 NFL season. They emphasize the rollercoaster nature of fantasy football, acknowledging both triumphant starts and disappointing setbacks experienced by fantasy managers.

2. Week 1 NFL Season Overview

The hosts compare the current season's Week 1 performances to the previous year, highlighting significant differences in offensive output and player performances.

Notable Quote:
Jason Moore [02:50]: “There was the canceled game because of the hurricane. So last year you had 48 passing touchdowns. Week one this year, 29... 73 versus 44 touchdowns offensive. This year, week one was an epic poop in their big boy pants.”

3. Touchdown Statistics Comparison: 2017 vs. 2016

Jason Moore presents a compelling analysis showing a decline in both passing and rushing touchdowns in Week 1 of 2017 compared to 2016.

• Passing Touchdowns: 48 (2016) vs. 29 (2017)
• Rushing Touchdowns: 25 (2016) vs. 15 (2017)

He specifically calls out the Kansas City Chiefs' performance, attributing half of the 2017 touchdowns to Kareem Hunt's exceptional play.

Notable Quote:
Jason Moore [03:41]: “Out of those 44 touchdowns, I believe 22 were the Chiefs on Thursday night. And so Kareem Hunt did everything he could.”

4. Key Injury Reports

The hosts delve into significant injuries impacting fantasy football, discussing players like Allen Robinson, David Johnson, Danny Woodhead, and Kevin White.

• Allen Robinson: Torn ACL, out for the year.
• David Johnson: Sprained wrist with uncertain return timeline.
• Danny Woodhead: Hamstring injury, potentially out for over a month.
• Kevin White: Broken collarbone, season-ending surgery.

Notable Quote:
Andy Holloway [13:12]: “If you were a David Johnson or a Love Bell owner, you were disappointed in week one.”

5. Stud Muffins: Top Performers

The hosts identify standout players (studs) from Week 1 across various positions, providing in-depth analysis and future projections.

a. Quarterbacks

• Alex Smith: Stellar performance against the Patriots, with 368 passing yards and significant fantasy points.
• Matthew Stafford: Impressive comeback in a game where his team played poorly in the first half.
• Carson Palmer vs. Andy Dalton: Dalton's underperformance compared to Palmer garners a mixed response.

Notable Quote:
Andy Holloway [22:52]: “Alex Smith was an absolute stud muffin with 368 and 428 for 35 against the Patriots... Does Alex Smith? Do you ride the 46-point fantasy day if you were somebody that had, I don't know, Dalton Palmer?”

b. Running Backs

• Kareem Hunt: Dominated Thursday night, making him a top Week 1 running back.
• Todd Gurley: High workload but questioned efficiency with a 2.1 yards per carry.
• Ezekiel Elliott: NFL appeal suspension creates uncertainty.
• LaShawn McCoy: High touches but faces injuries and competition in the backfield.

Notable Quote:
Andy Holloway [32:36]: “The workload was so high and the passing game utilization is what makes him [Todd Gurley] relevant. But don't... put a crown on his head and say he's a top-five guy because of this 20 fantasy points.”

c. Wide Receivers

• Tyreek Hill: Outstanding performance with four catches for 69 yards and two touchdowns.
• Antonio Brown: Significant yardage and a touchdown, showcasing his consistent prowess.
• Nelson Agholor: Emerges as a surprising performer with six catches for 86 yards and a touchdown.

Notable Quote:
Jason Moore [34:08]: “Tyreek Hill had a great game... four for 69 and two touchdowns. Torched Justin Bethel in the Cardinals secondary.”

d. Tight Ends

• Austin Hooper: Delivered an 88-yard touchdown, highlighting his potential.
• Zach Ertz & Charles Clay: Both stood out, securing valuable targets and showing promise for future games.

Notable Quote:
Mike Wright [39:17]: “Zach Ertz? Yes, because he'll get those targets. And Charles Clay I do buy into because... he’s going to be utilized in this offense.”

6. Rising Stars

The hosts spotlight emerging players who showed significant promise in Week 1, presenting them as valuable additions to fantasy rosters.

• Ty Montgomery: Surpassed career high in touches and scored a touchdown.
• Buck Allen: Increased role due to Danny Woodhead's injury, potential for more targets.
• Tariq Cohen: Impressive performance with eight catches for 47 yards and a touchdown.

Notable Quote:
Andy Holloway [41:15]: “Ty Montgomery... surpassed his career high in Week 1... Buck Allen shocked the fantasy world with 21 carries for 71 yards.”

7. Pooped in Their Big Boy Pants: Disappointing Performances

This humorous segment highlights players who significantly underperformed in Week 1, causing frustration among fantasy managers.

• Andy Dalton: Multiple turnovers leading to a disastrous fantasy outcome.
• DeMarco Murray: Struggled against Oakland, unable to generate expected rushing yards.
• Le'Veon Bell & Amari Cooper: Inefficiencies and limited production impacted their value.

Notable Quote:
Jason Moore [46:02]: “If you play Carson Palmer who was... very bad in a standard league, you're talking about scoring nine points. You're extremely disappointed with that. That's 14 points more than 14 points more.”

8. Conclusion and Takeaways

The hosts advise fantasy managers to remain calm and not overreact to Week 1 performances. They emphasize the importance of evaluating player performances in context and encourage listeners to join their fantasy football community for ongoing support and insights.

Notable Quotes:
Andy Holloway [62:31]: “Take a breath, take a chill pill, and don't read too far into some of these situations.”

Mike Wright [65:11]: “Find your nearest location. Enjoy some sweet draft DFS.”

Key Insights and Recommendations

• Don’t Tilt: Avoid making hasty roster changes based solely on Week 1 performances. Assess player potential and matchups moving forward.
• Monitor Injuries: Stay updated on player injuries as they can significantly impact fantasy value and season-long success.
• Leverage Rising Stars: Consider adding emerging players like Ty Montgomery, Buck Allen, and Tariq Cohen to capitalize on their early-season opportunities.
• Reevaluate Duds: Players like Andy Dalton and DeMarco Murray may require trade considerations or waiver pickups based on their initial performances.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Jason Moore [02:50]: “This year, week one was an epic poop in their big boy pants.”
• Andy Holloway [32:36]: “Don’t put a crown on Todd Gurley’s head because of this 20 fantasy points.”
• Jason Moore [34:08]: “Tyreek Hill had a great game... Torched Justin Bethel in the Cardinals secondary.”
• Andy Holloway [46:02]: “If you play Carson Palmer who was... very bad in a standard league, you're talking about scoring nine points.”
• Andy Holloway [62:31]: “Take a breath, take a chill pill, and don't read too far into some of these situations.”

For ongoing updates and in-depth analysis, join the Fantasy Footballers community at JoinTheFoot.com and follow them on Twitter @TheFFBallers.