Fantasy Football 2017 - Week 8 Matchups, In-or-Out, #MattLife

Summary

Fantasy Footballers Podcast Summary
Episode: Fantasy Football 2017 - Week 8 Matchups, In-or-Out, #MattLife
Release Date: October 27, 2017

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1. Introduction and #MattLife Anecdote

The episode kicks off with the hosts—Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright—sharing a humorous and relatable story under the tag #MattLife. Andy recounts his attempt to treat himself to some Cocoa Pebbles from Target, only to find the entire box consumed by his children. This dry cereal debacle serves as a metaphor for Matt Moore's disappointing performance in his recent game.

Andy Holloway [02:26]:
"I sat there at my kitchen table by myself with dry cereal in a bowl, trying to figure out what to do. And the disappointment... had to have been a parallel to what it was like to be a Dolphins fan or to watch Matt Moore."

2. Week 8 Matchups Recap

The hosts delve into last night's matchup between the Miami Dolphins and the Baltimore Ravens, focusing primarily on Matt Moore's underwhelming performance.

• Matt Moore's Struggles:
  Matt Moore threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns, but his efforts were hampered by the Ravens' strong defense and a struggling offensive line. Unlike previous quarterbacks like Ryan Tannehill and Jay Cutler, the offensive line's shortcomings were a key issue.

Jason Moore [04:03]:
"He [Matt Moore] did throw two touchdowns."

• Ravens' Offensive Strategy:
  Jay Cutler faced significant pressure, leading to a lackluster game plan. Jay Ajayi’s brief 20-yard run was highlighted, but Mike chose to sit him out post-run due to insufficient yardage accumulation.

Mike Wright [04:03]:
"He had that 20 yard run and I turned it off."

3. Running Back Analysis

Alex Collins vs. Buck Allen

The discussion shifts to the Ravens' running back situation, specifically comparing Alex Collins and Buck Allen.

• Alex Collins' Emergence:
  Collins showcased a breakout performance, making a strong case for being a reliable starter despite previously being overshadowed by Buck Allen.

Jason Moore [06:15]:
"I think he's going to be available in a lot of leagues still... Alex Collins put the Baltimore Ravens on his back before that game was known."

• Buck Allen's Role:
  While Collins excelled, Buck Allen remains valuable for his versatility in the passing game, suggesting both running backs could see significant usage.

Andy Holloway [07:59]:
"Buck Allen offers them the passing game flexibility. I think both will be involved..."

Other Running Backs

• Rob Kelly vs. Chris Thompson:
  The hosts debate starting Rob Kelly over Chris Thompson for the Washington Redskins, considering Kelly's potential breakout despite a poor initial performance.

Jason Moore [38:25]:
"I expect Rob Kelly to get well over 15 carries... So I think this is the week that he breaks that."

4. Wide Receiver Insights

DeSean Jackson and Will Fuller

The performance and fantasy value of wide receivers like DeSean Jackson and Will Fuller are scrutinized.

• DeSean Jackson's Potential:
  Despite missed opportunities, Jackson remains a valuable asset due to his explosive play potential.

Andy Holloway [27:13]:
"He's been torching people. If Winston could just improve that accuracy slightly, DJax would have at least three more touchdowns right now."

• Will Fuller's Trade Value:
  Fuller’s trade value skyrockets as many owners are willing to trade him away aggressively, despite his potential for big plays against strong defenses.

Andy Holloway [34:20]:
"He's on 60, touchdown pace... Are you in the flames? Are you in or out?"

5. Injury Reports and DFS Plays

Key Injuries Impacting Week 8

The hosts provide updates on significant injuries and discuss their implications for fantasy lineups and Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) strategies.

• Sam Bradford Out:
  Bradford is confirmed out, affecting team dynamics and QB options.

• Matt Forte and Others:
  Forte’s ongoing injuries continue to be a concern, alongside other running backs like J.K. Dobbins and Zach Kendrick West.

Jason Moore [10:56]:
"Matt Forte... He's made of peanut brittle."

• Golden Tate and Other Wide Receivers:
  Tate’s status remains uncertain, with advice to rely on more stable options like Nelson Aguilar or Juju Smith-Schuster.

Jason Moore [13:10]:
"You have to put someone else in your lineup. Leave Golden Tate on the bench."

6. Expert Draft Segment

In a lively Expert Draft segment, the hosts compete in a mock draft scenario, selecting players from a diminished pool.

• Draft Picks Overview:

  • Andy Holloway:
    Chooses Demaryius Thomas and Dion Lewis among others, balancing his team with solid RB and WR selections.

  • Jason Moore:
    Starts with Kelvin Benjamin and Alshon Jeffrey, aiming for high-upside receivers despite their challenging matchups.

  • Mike Wright:
    Selects Alex Aguilar and Devin Funches, focusing on players with favorable matchups despite overall roster scarcity.

Andy Holloway [53:20]:
"I'm going to grab a player that I think gives me a nice baseline and protects me against that last place finish."

7. Final Thoughts and Strategies

The hosts conclude by emphasizing the importance of adaptability in fantasy football—highlighting the necessity of making informed start/sit decisions based on player performance, injuries, and matchup specifics.

• Adaptability is Key:
  Continuously adjusting lineups in response to real-time developments can make or break a fantasy season.

Jason Moore [42:28]:
"If you don't win a championship at the draft, we're going to get things wrong. You win championships through the year by making the right start sit decisions..."

• Listener Engagement:
  The episode wraps up with mentions of giveaways, listener engagement activities, and promotions for their DFS podcast.

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Notable Quotes

• Andy Holloway [02:26]:
  "And the disappointment... had to have been a parallel to what it was like to be a Dolphins fan or to watch Matt Moore."

• Mike Wright [04:16]:
  "I had disappointment going on, but I'm gonna push through."

• Jason Moore [06:15]:
  "I think he's going to be available in a lot of leagues still... Alex Collins put the Baltimore Ravens on his back before that game was known."

• Andy Holloway [34:10]:
  "I just don't see it happening. The trends... The analytics kind of say Trevor Simeon should be okay because of what Kansas City's been giving up to the wide receivers."

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Conclusion

This episode of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast provides a comprehensive analysis of Week 8 NFL matchups, player performances, and strategic advice for fantasy managers. From the struggles of Matt Moore to the breakout potential of Alex Collins, the hosts offer insightful commentary complemented by engaging anecdotes and expert draft strategies. Listeners are encouraged to stay adaptable and informed to navigate the complexities of their fantasy seasons successfully.

Transcript

[Mike Wright]

Foreign.

[Jason Moore]

Footballers Podcast coming to you from the Play Draft Studios with your hosts, Andy Holloway, Jason Moore and Mike Wright.

[Andy Holloway]

Welcome into this Friday episode of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast. It's always great to be here, to be with you, the Foot Clan, our closest friends, to get ready for week eight. The rest of week eight. We had the start of week eight last night. I'm sure. A story with you. Go ahead, Mike.

[Mike Wright]

Well, if we were going to jump into the recap, but if you have a quick story.

[Andy Holloway]

No, I have a quick story. Sometimes we share these. The what? Dadlife.

[Mike Wright]

Oh, yeah, we got one of those.

[Andy Holloway]

In this case, dad Life and Matlife were very similar as speaking to Matt Moore.

[Jason Moore]

Oh, okay. Is this a Matlock reference?

[Mike Wright]

I was the other with a floor mat.

[Andy Holloway]

Just follow along on this story. The other day, I was in the tar Jay, right? Oh, yes, in the old Tarjay, buying things that you buy at a Target.

[Mike Wright]

Did you pay respects to the dog?

[Andy Holloway]

How do you pay respects to the dog?

[Mike Wright]

There's always that Target dog.

[Andy Holloway]

What, do you pet it?

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, you go sit by it. That's the dad spot.

[Andy Holloway]

You're distracting me.

[Mike Wright]

Sorry.

[Andy Holloway]

I had, you know, whatever you buy at Target in my cart, probably like a spatula and some deodorant and 20 other things. 20 other things. And I hit the cereal aisle, thought to myself, you know what? I'm a big boy, grown man. I can get what I want. So I decided to do a little treatsy, get myself some Cocoa Pebbles. Really looking forward to bringing some Cocoa Pebbles home, eating some Cocoa Pebbles, put them in the cart. This is like two days ago. So this morning. Today's the day, man. I mean, I don't always eat breakfast. I don't always have time. Coming in here to do the show. I go in there, mmm, time for some Cocoa Pebbles.

[Mike Wright]

You're about to fret. Get your fret on. Right?

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah, get my fret on. And. Yeah, they've already been entirely eaten. The whole box of Cocoa Pebbles has been eaten by my children.

[Jason Moore]

Then delicious.

[Andy Holloway]

So at this point, I've got disappointment going on, but I'm gonna push through. I see a box of Life in there. I can get with the life.

[Mike Wright]

Oh, okay.

[Andy Holloway]

Pick up the life. No, everything's good, Mike. Fill up my bowl, head over to the old.

[Jason Moore]

Oh, there's no milk.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah, well, they drank all the milk, but they put the container back.

[Jason Moore]

Oh, that's the worst.

[Andy Holloway]

There was a thimbleful.

[Jason Moore]

So basically, did you pour the, like, last little thimble full on your cereal?

[Andy Holloway]

Yes, I did.

[Jason Moore]

Eat that.

[Andy Holloway]

But then Life cereal absorbs the milk so well. There was no milk. And so that's dad Life. I sat there at my kitchen table by myself with dry cereal in a bowl, trying to figure out what to do. And the disappointment, the eating of dry cereal, that had to have been a parallel to what it was like to be a Dolphins fan or to watch Matt Moore. I mean, you've got the reach, right? It was a reach to play Matt Moore.

[Mike Wright]

Right.

[Andy Holloway]

I reached for the container and the container was empty. And that's what happened last night. It was so empty. I posted this morning how bad Matt Moore played. And I got a reply saying it was the offensive line.

[Mike Wright]

They were bad.

[Jason Moore]

Offensive line was.

[Andy Holloway]

To be fair, you know what you don't hear when it was. When it was Ryan Tannehill, when it was Jay Cutler, it wasn't the offensive line.

[Mike Wright]

Right, right.

[Andy Holloway]

It was the bad quarterback.

[Jason Moore]

That's fair. Now, he did. I know he only threw for 172 yards, but he. He did throw two touchdowns.

[Andy Holloway]

Yes, he did. To Ravens.

[Jason Moore]

Oh, yeah.

[Mike Wright]

See, the way I handled this game, not good was Jay Ajayi was my start of the week.

[Jason Moore]

But.

[Mike Wright]

And no, I mean, he had that 20 yard run and I turned it off. Wait, did something terrible happen after that?

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, no, you're golden.

[Andy Holloway]

I mean, had a 20 yard run, ended 13 for 23.

[Mike Wright]

No, no, he had a 20 yard run. I turned the game off. Yeah, because that's what you got to have, 200 yards.

[Andy Holloway]

Do you play in a fantasy league where only it counts the points? Only during the times you watch.

[Mike Wright]

It's like the tree if it falls in the forest or if I'm not watching those. Those are the only points.

[Andy Holloway]

That jokes aside, let's reflect on last night, man. You know, the Ravens came out, they shut out the Dolphins. Anybody who didn't want Cutler back now wants Cutler back. You can say what you want about the offensive line. This was. I said it yesterday. This is the time. Jay, panic alarm. There's a problem.

[Mike Wright]

I think you're wrong though, Jason. I think that Jay Cutler was actually the saddest Dolphin. There's always like, they're going to make me play again.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, I'm going to. I mean, you're in full panic mode if you can't. Look, the Baltimore defense is good. And we've been propping the Baltimore defense up for a long time now as a very difficult defense to play against. But not so much the run game this year. Yeah, this year it's been the passing game, the you know, the unbelievable corners there.

[Andy Holloway]

Brandon Williams, though.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, that was the thing, though, is Brandon Williams was back last week against the Vikings, and it didn't seem to make a difference. So it was. Well, okay. That's why I felt confident in JI and Williams apparently just needed one more game to warm up.

[Andy Holloway]

There was nobody that you were happy with whatsoever on the Miami side. From a fantasy perspective, I think was what was still, what is still like five fantasy points.

[Mike Wright]

He was three for 40 or 45 for 65. But what you're expecting out of Stills, you're playing him as a wide receiver. Three.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah, that. Okay, maybe you're. Maybe you don't. You're not having the dry cereal moment with Kenny Stills.

[Jason Moore]

Landry was a huge disappointment. Jay was a huge disappointment.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah. So, I mean, on the other side.

[Jason Moore]

Of the ball, you had a true breakout performance from a guy that I think you're going to be able to trust in.

[Andy Holloway]

Alex Collins as a running back.

[Jason Moore]

Two. Two. I think, you know, he's going to be available in a lot of leagues still, even though he's been getting some work. I know he's not available in any of my leagues because you own him. I own him on a lot of them. But, you know, if he's out there, you got to check for him the extra fumble. I mean, his issue. He's looked great. Tony Romo said a million times about how he's leading the league in yards per carry.

[Mike Wright]

They did say that a lot.

[Jason Moore]

Yes. Yes, they did. And the reality is he has looked good this whole year. For Baltimore, the problem was he fumbled and Harbaugh was not having that. Well, he.

[Mike Wright]

Because he already had a historical fumble problem.

[Jason Moore]

Right. And so he was worried about that. And now Buck Allen, at the end of the game, fumbled the ball. And I just think that solidifies, hey, if I. If I'm that coaching staff, it is very difficult now to say Buck Allen should be our starter and Alex Collins the backup. Alex Collins put the Baltimore Ravens on his back before that game was known. If it was out of control and said, I'm going to run for five or six yards every single time you give me the opportunity.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah, I will take the opinion that I think Alex Collins is startable. I don't think that he offers them the same things that Buck Allen offers them. And if you look at the carries last night, it was 18, 17. Collins was 18 for 113 and, you know, dominated, obviously. But Buck Allen offers them the passing game flexibility. I think both will be involved and they kind of found a little bit of an identity last night that they hadn't had all year. Joe Flacco got knocked out of the game. Jeremy Macklin targeted five times. Did have a touchdown on a nice pass by Joe Flacco before Mallet left the game.

[Mike Wright]

Before Flacco left the game.

[Andy Holloway]

Sorry, before Mack.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

So it was nice to see that from Macklin. He may be somebody you can look at. You had the Ben Watson touchdown and honestly, I don't want to talk about that game anymore.

[Mike Wright]

Just quickly for the running back position for Baltimore. I mean, Terrence west has been out with injury. Do you see Jason, because you're the Alex Collins supporter now. It appears when Terrence west is back, you don't see him just right back in it in making this a three headed monster.

[Jason Moore]

He'll be involved. But he was. I mean we've, we've seen Baltimore this year with three players at the running back position getting enough volume. They want to be a running team. But what my point is is that Alex Collins has earned the start, the first man up and I think he's going to retain that. And it's just like for the New York Jets, Matt Forte is a playable asset because he's the first man up in the three headed monster. And that's what I believe Alex Collins will be.

[Andy Holloway]

It's pretty neat to see him break.

[Mike Wright]

Out and he looked fantastic.

[Andy Holloway]

This must be the place to do it.

[Jason Moore]

Baltimore.

[Andy Holloway]

I mean you go to Baltimore. Terrence west, he was the old busted.

[Mike Wright]

Justin for set.

[Jason Moore]

Justin for set. Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

So that's what they wanted to do for years. They hadn't been able to do it for years. It is Friday, which means.

[Jason Moore]

Join the foot clan Friday.

[Andy Holloway]

Every Friday here on the show we reward one of our supporters from JoinTheFoot.com or fantasy football community with a $40 gift card to ShopBallers.com and today's winner is.

[Mike Wright]

Oh, come on over.

[Andy Holloway]

Charles Clover.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, I set you up.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah, you did. Thanks. Charles Clover. You win a $40 gift card at shopballers.com thanks to everybody who supports [e-mail] youm can check out premium projections and our exclusive community and a bunch of other perks and extra show [e-mail] Also a reminder, the DFS podcast is up.

[Mike Wright]

You're darn right it's.

[Andy Holloway]

Today's episode is up. So that is the Fantasy Footballers DFS podcast on iTunes. You can check that out. It's a once a week podcast for those of you who play FanDuel Draft or DraftKings. And how was the episode, Mike? I haven't listened to it yet.

[Mike Wright]

Oh, it is fantastic.

[Andy Holloway]

That's good.

[Mike Wright]

Fantastic. Chris Meaney.

[Jason Moore]

You.

[Mike Wright]

You know that name if you've listened to the show for a while. He was our. Our DFS spot every Friday. We said, man, you're so good, we got to get you on a whole show.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah.

[Mike Wright]

So he's bringing absolute fire this weekend.

[Andy Holloway]

Good deal. And a last reminder here before the weekend. Footclang giveaway.com the sign Ty Hilton and Devonte Adams jersey. We're giving those away because we like to. And it's Friday. There's not a lot of news. So we're going to go right into in n out.

[Jason Moore]

What's it going to pay me fly.

[Mike Wright]

Are you in or out?

[Andy Holloway]

All right. Run down on the injury situation. Sam Bradford.

[Jason Moore]

Out.

[Andy Holloway]

Running backs, Matt Forte.

[Jason Moore]

He'll be in pro size out always. I mean, he's made of peanut brittle.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah. It's really unfortunate, cj, but I'm going.

[Andy Holloway]

Tasty but disappointing.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, that's a very brittle.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, it's perfect.

[Jason Moore]

I love peanut brittle, though.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah.

[Jason Moore]

Does that mean I have to love.

[Mike Wright]

CJ pro size when he's on the field? You do.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, he's good, but you just have to eat him. Yep.

[Andy Holloway]

Out.

[Jason Moore]

He's out.

[Andy Holloway]

Char Kendrick West.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah.

[Mike Wright]

He had the concussion. Expected to play.

[Andy Holloway]

Not a lot of running backs, quarterbacks in that list. Wide receivers.

[Jason Moore]

It's been a pretty good week for injuries.

[Mike Wright]

There's also a lot of teams on by.

[Andy Holloway]

Right. So you have six less teams to weigh in on.

[Jason Moore]

Heel up.

[Andy Holloway]

More Michael Thomas practice in full.

[Jason Moore]

He should be in.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

Stefan Diggs.

[Mike Wright]

He's been practicing. I think we're. I think he's back.

[Jason Moore]

I'm going to lean in. Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

Big storyline. Golden Tate. We expected. No way would we see him again. He's a tough guy.

[Mike Wright]

Two to four weeks.

[Andy Holloway]

This would be week two.

[Mike Wright]

No, this one from the injury.

[Andy Holloway]

He had the by last year. Yeah, he had the buy last year. So this would be two weeks out. So he fits the timeline. Not expected to play. That's what we heard on Wednesday. Then all signs point to him playing on Thursday. Where are you leaning?

[Mike Wright]

I still got to lean out.

[Jason Moore]

I lean out as well. Even though the news is saying in.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah.

[Jason Moore]

If he plays you, do you.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, that's a good question. And my dynasty team needs to know. Jason, if he's in, do you play him?

[Jason Moore]

I think I do.

[Mike Wright]

All right, good.

[Andy Holloway]

I would not.

[Mike Wright]

I'm putting him. Jason already told me to Put him in.

[Andy Holloway]

Okay. Oh, that's a Sunday night game, too.

[Mike Wright]

Sunday night.

[Jason Moore]

Oh, that's. Yeah, the Steelers. Thank you. Thank you. Brooks, what if you picked yourself up.

[Andy Holloway]

A little smooth route Insurance, G. Just in case some insurance.

[Jason Moore]

Brooks.

[Andy Holloway]

Well, he's further down the list and you'll see he hasn't been running them smooth routes last couple days in practice. Oh, all right.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah.

[Mike Wright]

Because he practiced Wednesday, but not Thursday.

[Jason Moore]

Marvin Jones.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah. You need T.J. jones so that.

[Andy Holloway]

So theoretic.

[Mike Wright]

If you're in a redraft. Yeah. Maybe theoretic is out there.

[Andy Holloway]

You got a flax. Maybe you go, Theo.

[Mike Wright]

Other than that.

[Jason Moore]

Yes, Theo would be the answer. But if you can't get Theo or Marvin Jones, then I say you can't rely on Golden Tate because he will be more of a game time decision. So you got to put someone else in your lineup. Leave Golden Tate on the bench.

[Andy Holloway]

Manuel Sanders.

[Mike Wright]

Going out.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, Out.

[Andy Holloway]

Robbie Anderson.

[Mike Wright]

Full practice on Thursday. So I expect him to play Danny Mandola.

[Andy Holloway]

What's the latest?

[Mike Wright]

If he's on the injury report, he's out.

[Andy Holloway]

That's the latest on the footcast yesterday we determine that there's a new rule.

[Mike Wright]

Well, we had to amend because there's Rule 80:11, which is if Julian Edelman is out. Amendola looks like a pretty good play. He's not come through the last few weeks, but now we had. We had to add a sub clause that says if he shows up on the injury report that he's. He will be out.

[Andy Holloway]

That's Rule 80 IR.

[Mike Wright]

Dash 11 IR.

[Andy Holloway]

There you go.

[Mike Wright]

Exhibit A.

[Andy Holloway]

The moral of the story is Danny Amendola is always hurt. He is hurt.

[Mike Wright]

He's dealing with a hyperextended knee. We'll see.

[Andy Holloway]

Willie Snead. Does it matter if he's healthy if he's active?

[Mike Wright]

The Willie Snead story is very confusing.

[Andy Holloway]

I do not have a need for Snead.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, I wouldn't. I think he's going to be.

[Jason Moore]

I think he plays. Do you. I'm not. I'm not going to. I'm not going to play him. I think Chicago is a good defense and I want to wait and see him involved before I go. He should be involved for no reason. Reason due to empirical evidence whatsoever that he will be.

[Andy Holloway]

So juju. Smith Schuster.

[Mike Wright]

He's back practicing.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, he'll. He's in.

[Andy Holloway]

Okay. He could be a very sneaky play.

[Mike Wright]

He could be.

[Andy Holloway]

Am I right?

[Mike Wright]

We'll see. Definitely.

[Andy Holloway]

He tweeted something.

[Jason Moore]

Brian out.

[Andy Holloway]

Did you see his tweet?

[Jason Moore]

His Twitter, his tweet.

[Andy Holloway]

No, no, I'm talking about Juju.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, Juju's Twitter game is great.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah, it's pretty strong that everybody loves me now, but these same people won't start me in fantasy on Sunday. Hashtag fake love.

[Jason Moore]

Oh, man.

[Mike Wright]

Oh, I heard this interview. Sorry, this is a little off the beaten path here, but I heard an interview with Aaron Jones, running back from the Green Bay packers, and he was talking about fantasy football because he plays and he had. He, you know, he drafted himself later on. And he was just talking about how it was exciting to see his ownership going up after the breakout.

[Jason Moore]

So, you know, they're watching.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah, it's really funny. We got to get him on the show.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, like, good for you, Aaron Jones. Just embrace. Embrace the game.

[Andy Holloway]

We should reach out, get Aaron Jones.

[Jason Moore]

I was thinking about that last night, about the fact that as new players come into the league year after year after year, the younger, the newer generation, where fantasy football is part of loving football.

[Mike Wright]

They already play football.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, they all play.

[Andy Holloway]

That's actually a really good point.

[Jason Moore]

And a decade from now, everybody in the NFL will, you know, be much more aware of.

[Andy Holloway]

And you think Carson Wentz walks in and says, hey, Tom Brady, I, you were my first fantasy quarterback.

[Mike Wright]

Something like that.

[Andy Holloway]

That's funny. All right, forecast time.

[Jason Moore]

Fantasy forecast.

[Andy Holloway]

How you doing, Brooks? How's the judge today? Judge is terrific.

[Jason Moore]

Oh, terrific.

[Andy Holloway]

You can tell. You had that slight inflection in the monotone voice.

[Jason Moore]

I know.

[Andy Holloway]

Judge is terrific today. Great day.

[Jason Moore]

I am the law.

[Andy Holloway]

All right. The 49ers take on the Eagles. The Eagles, the heaviest favorites of any game this week. 13 point favorites at home. 46 and a half point over. Under chance of light rain in this game. Not going to matter. Carson Wentz, light him up.

[Mike Wright]

Absolutely.

[Andy Holloway]

My number one quarterback on the week. The 49ers, they're real, real bad. 29th against the run, 25th against the pass. As part of why Jason loves LeGarrett Blunt as a start of the week this week.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, there's a few things in fantasy football that are much more predictable and or metrics that tend to yield massive success for running backs when you are a large favorite at home. Usually that grinding running back has a. Has a big game. At least it's a little bit more predictive. That's why I love LeGarrett blunt this week for sure.

[Mike Wright]

And they're allowing. The 49ers defense are allowing over one. Like over one. As in 1.1. A full rushing touchdown every game.

[Jason Moore]

Which Just means Wendell Smallwood will go off.

[Mike Wright]

I'm with you, Jason. I think that Blunt can have a very solid game.

[Andy Holloway]

Would you rather start Alshon Jeffrey or Nelson Aguilar?

[Jason Moore]

Alshon Jeffrey. If you look at the first seven weeks of the season, Alshon Jeffries cornerback matchup has been rough. I think like the second most difficult in the league. Something. It's unbelievably difficult. San Francisco does not have anybody that is going to shut down El Sean.

[Andy Holloway]

Jeffrey, I understand that argument, but Nelson Aguilar, for me it's the same argument that's been made for the past two weeks. Like the way his year began, I expected an emergence beyond the first five weeks. Now we're saying that same thing in week seven. So I. I've got the start of the week. Stay in the Flames with Aguilar. I just haven't seen anything that makes me go okay, you know, the back to back passes down the sideline. Used to see that from him when he had Cutler. I'm just waiting. I'm still waiting for that to happen.

[Jason Moore]

I think both are great plays this week. If I have Aguilar, if I have Alshon Jeffrey, I'm lining both of them up.

[Andy Holloway]

Pierre Garcon is a wide receiver. What this week?

[Mike Wright]

Two, three. I still think you can start him, especially with game script. With them expected to be trailing.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, he's closer to a three to me. That's why, you know, C.J. beathard, rookie quarterback, on the road against a. A great pass rush is going to be difficult to, you know, capitalize on Pierre Garcon's talent. He will be involved. He's the clear number one target. And Pierre Garcon is great.

[Andy Holloway]

No team has a worse time of possession in the NFL than the San Francisco 49ers. They average 26 minutes of possession per game, the lowest in the league. It's even worse on the road by two minutes, so not a lot of opportunity there. And Beathard is really slowing the offense down.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah. And Carlos Hyde, you would still play him? He's matching the matchup sucks.

[Jason Moore]

But I mean, it doesn't matter. I agree. The matchup sucks. The Eagles run defense just been legit.

[Andy Holloway]

I would.

[Jason Moore]

Carlos Hyde is. I mean, it's going to be rare that you have enough running backs on your roster that you can say, okay, I'm going to bench Carlos Hyde.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah, he's been double digits every week, but won the Indianapolis game. Where wasn't he banged up in that game? So yeah, you kind of have a baseline of utility there. Something, you know, they need to lean on him just to protect Beathard. Which means even if they're down in this game, they'll probably still be going to hide to take the pressure off any other storylines from that game. Zachary, it's your starting him. Would you take a chance on Smallwood? I mean, is he a flex play?

[Jason Moore]

I've got him in my flex right now.

[Andy Holloway]

I guess in the ending, yes, I guess if it's in your flex.

[Mike Wright]

What about George Kittles and Bits? No, no, no, he's out this week.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah, I mean, I just find a better option with a better scenario agreed on a team that has the ball more.

[Mike Wright]

So before we move on to the next matchup, I want to thank today's sponsor, Pristine Auction. This is where we go for all our authentic signatures of our sports heroes.

[Jason Moore]

I just won.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah, you went double DJ yesterday.

[Jason Moore]

I went double dj. I won two David Johnson auctions yesterday on Pristine Auction, signed David Johnson jerseys for an upcoming charity. And I'll go ahead, I'll tell you what, I won the jerseys. 65 bucks.

[Mike Wright]

It's unbelievable.

[Jason Moore]

70 bucks. Oh, 65 and 70 for a signed David Johnson jersey. That is, I mean, I love it.

[Mike Wright]

It's fantastic.

[Jason Moore]

I said, hey, pro tip, pro tip for everybody. Because I've been, I've been, you know.

[Mike Wright]

You better not be giving away my pro tip.

[Jason Moore]

I'm giving it away. Man.

[Andy Holloway]

This is not, this is not good set for us.

[Jason Moore]

Everyone's shaking their head no, don't do it. Set an alarm for 750.

[Mike Wright]

Well, 750 for us.

[Jason Moore]

Yes. Well what?

[Mike Wright]

10 minutes before the auction.

[Jason Moore]

7:50 Pacific right now. 10 minutes before the auctions end and go in there and you can find something and steal things left, right and center. It's. It's amazing.

[Mike Wright]

They have new stuff every single day from the new players, the new stars to. I just saw Thurman Thomas, Buffalo Bills running back. I mean they got new stuff on here every single day. Pristine Auction. P R I S T I n e auction.com. you make a completely free account and when you do that, let them know that the fantasy footballer sent you.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

Also want to thank today's sponsor, a new one I want to introduce you to. Hello Fresh. Hello Fresh is a meal kit delivery service that shops, plans and delivers your favorite step by step recipes and pre measured ingredients. Look, I've been trying hellofresh lately. Not sure why I waited so long to get in on hellofresh. I love eating. It's one of my favorite hobbies.

[Jason Moore]

Do it every day.

[Andy Holloway]

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[Jason Moore]

Footballers 30.

[Andy Holloway]

All right, Panthers. Bucks. Interesting game because we've seen a kind of a tale of two Panthers this year. They've looked dominant at times and they've looked confusingly inactive. Kitty cats.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

And the Buccaneers, they're at home 45 and a half point over under. They're two point favorites at home. Cam Newton, where's your confidence level? I know it's been like, like a Richter scale here. You know, you go all over the map.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, it really is. But the matchup, the matchup says he should be a top 10 quarterback once again against the Buccaneers who are 30th against the pass. It's, it's been tough for Tampa Bay's defense and that's why you've seen these Jameis Winston. 300 yard games on the reg on the ridge for Jameis.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah. So on the Jameis side, you're comfortable playing him against Panthers. 4th ranked Rundy, 4th rank Pasty.

[Mike Wright]

The matchup is tough for Winston, but I think you would still be comfortable starting him.

[Andy Holloway]

All right, let's talk running backs. Christian McCaffrey is in the top 10 in total receptions this year on pace for 100. Jonathan Stewart, a little banged up, probably going to be out there, but hasn't been efficient or effective. How do you feel about Christian McCaffrey? Are you, you know, the happy sad test, we talked about it yesterday. Are you happy or Sad with Christian McCaffrey?

[Mike Wright]

Depends on my league scoring format. If I am in a ppr.

[Jason Moore]

Very happy.

[Mike Wright]

Very happy. If you are in a standard, you're little sad. You've probably cut him. Honestly. Look, here's the yardage is just not there. He has two touchdowns in the past three weeks. But, but total yardage wise it's. It's just not there.

[Jason Moore]

Especially his rushing yardage.

[Mike Wright]

But that's. No, I'm combining last week 46 yards, the week before that 62 yards, then 38 yards. I mean he had touchdowns in two of those weeks, but the yardage is not there. Christian McCaffrey is a PPR specialist right now.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, the last two weeks.

[Andy Holloway]

Danny Woodhead.

[Mike Wright]

Yes, exactly right.

[Jason Moore]

And the last two weeks he's had 17 receptions. So when you've got a guy with that kind of utilization, you have to stick with it. Especially in this matchup. I absolutely play him. But. But yes, that's 17 points that exist in PPR and don't exist in standard. So he is definitely scoring dependent.

[Mike Wright]

Greg Olson could return to practice next week and so we could have Greg Olson coming back soon. Do you have any concerns for Christian McCaffrey's target share once Greg Olson is back?

[Jason Moore]

No, not really. I mean maybe his targets go down, maybe he loses a reception or two a game, but that's a big deal for him a little bit. But my point is Greg Olson helps the offense. He helps the run blocking, he helps the lanes that open up on screens where Christian McCaffrey can get downfield. So whatever he loses, I think he makes up for. So I'm not worried about the long term prospect of Christian McCaffrey due to Greg Olson.

[Andy Holloway]

Calvin Benjamin is Jason start of the week this week at the wide receiver position against this Buccaneers defense that ranks 30th against the pass. On the other side, you're starting Mike Evans, obviously Doug Martin. You roll him out there if you've been playing him. DeSean Jackson's been pretty interesting this year. He seems good for the yardage. Totals have been okay. He's been double digits, I think for the past five weeks. And the Bucks throw the ball 63% of the time. That's the most in the NFL.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, they don't want to, but they have to. They're forced to right now. D Jacks.

[Andy Holloway]

Their defense puts them in a position where they have to.

[Mike Wright]

DJ has been playing very well. I mean his, his box score does not reflect how well he has been playing. I mean he has been torching people. If Winston could just improve that accuracy slightly DJax would have at least three more touchdowns right now. He's been playing great.

[Andy Holloway]

They still have yet to connect. I believe on any type of bomb, he has a screen or not a screen. He has a slant touchdown from Fitzpatrick. But he's been open.

[Mike Wright]

And we say, meanwhile, at least once a week, I see D. Jack streaking down the field wide open, usually getting that target.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah, it just overshoots, but just like a cat down the sideline.

[Mike Wright]

Put that from the cat from last night. Yeah, man, that cat was nibble.

[Jason Moore]

That was nibbly.

[Mike Wright]

Bimbly.

[Andy Holloway]

Okay, go on, go on.

[Mike Wright]

Yes, I said nibble. I think.

[Andy Holloway]

I think you said nibble. That's what I was getting at.

[Mike Wright]

I updated to nimbly. Bimbly.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

No, nimbly. Bimbly. Yeah. Welcome to.

[Jason Moore]

So DJ has been from Harry Potter. DJX has been all right with the missed targets from Jameis Winston.

[Mike Wright]

And they will hit eventually.

[Jason Moore]

Why? Why do we believe that?

[Andy Holloway]

Because he. I mean, it's the law of inevitability. If you're open down the field and Jameis Winston's been able to connect with guys like Mike Evans, I think eventually you're going to see that big play happen. And look, DeSean Jackson remains one of the players I hate playing against in fantasy football because I'm always waiting for one play to define the week. I mean, a couple weeks ago, Golden Tate caught one deep pass, is 15 fantasy points. I just think it's an interesting play. I'm not necessarily like, you know, you might have a better option as a, as a wide receiver too this week.

[Jason Moore]

No, I mean, he's a fair play. He can always. He can always. Boom. And the matchup, you shouldn't be scared too much by the Carolina matchup. If you look at points given up against the wide receivers against that position, you might think, oh, you know, the Carolinas pretty good. I think they ranked, you know, top 10. But that's really skewed by last week's wide receiver performance of the Bears. One reception for eight yards. That was not Carolina's doing. That was Chicago's doing one reception for eight yards from the wide receiver position.

[Mike Wright]

They shut him down.

[Andy Holloway]

It's going to get yourself an Inman skew some numbers.

[Mike Wright]

Cameron Braid is an every week play. Has O.J. howard worked his way into starter consideration?

[Jason Moore]

No, he has his flyer consideration.

[Andy Holloway]

If I had Zach Miller, I'd start O.J. howard. Let's put it that way.

[Jason Moore]

Really?

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah, I would.

[Jason Moore]

Well, Zach Miller's getting.

[Andy Holloway]

Look, when I.

[Jason Moore]

Two receptions a game, right? Max but here's.

[Mike Wright]

Here's the deal. I mean, O.J.

[Andy Holloway]

Howard, but he's getting started week to week. I mean, a lot of the time O.J.

[Mike Wright]

Howard has two very good games and three. No, nay, four awful three. Yeah.

[Jason Moore]

That's pretty. Pretty similar to. I mean, what you're seeing from Zach Miller is he had two games that should have been awful.

[Mike Wright]

Sure. But he.

[Andy Holloway]

I don't like taking that kind of an analytical approach on a rookie. I've said that before. When you look and you just globally say, okay, he's had two good games and four bad games. A player like O.J. howard, he's being worked into a system. As a rookie, you know, he had another way to put it is he had one more reception in last game that he's had the entire season.

[Mike Wright]

Sure.

[Andy Holloway]

So, I mean, does that represent a level up? We don't know that yet. He's certainly worth grabbing and keeping an eye on.

[Mike Wright]

That's why it's. Is he worth a start this week?

[Andy Holloway]

Right. And that's only in a tough situation, I'll put it that way.

[Jason Moore]

At least I have upside.

[Andy Holloway]

I'd play Jack Doyle over him.

[Mike Wright]

Oh, for sure.

[Andy Holloway]

So despite the baby hands, regardless, I'd like to see. Now I'm picturing baby hands. Jack Doyle with really big gloves, like really big catching.

[Mike Wright]

Oh, the fingers.

[Andy Holloway]

So they're folding over because they don't make them small enough. So they're kind of like flapping.

[Jason Moore]

Just his fingers look like they're flapping.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah. And he's a little bit self conscious, but he wears the bigger pulls them.

[Jason Moore]

As tight as he can. They're up the wrist.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah. Maybe he's blowing them up. Oh, the Texans take on the Seahawks.

[Mike Wright]

Meanwhile, his hand is probably larger than my face.

[Jason Moore]

Right. I know. Do they measure tight ends hands at the combines? Because he's probably got like a watermelon sized.

[Mike Wright]

But they're. But they're weaker than baby hands, so doesn't matter.

[Andy Holloway]

It's a grip issue.

[Jason Moore]

The doll hands.

[Andy Holloway]

The Texans take on the Seahawks guys, did you know that? They take them on.

[Mike Wright]

I know it now.

[Andy Holloway]

Seahawks are fighting five and a half point favorites at home in this matchup.

[Mike Wright]

Yep.

[Andy Holloway]

I think that that is a tip of the cap from Vegas to Houston and how they've played this year. I'm a little surprised that the line's that low.

[Mike Wright]

You think that's low?

[Jason Moore]

I completely agree. 100%. Everything.

[Andy Holloway]

I think it's a little bit low for a Seattle matchup. I'd be curious to see what the Average line is for their home games over the last year. 45 and a half point over, under. I'm going to tell you something. I did. I swapped Drew Brees for desean Watson in our listener league this morning. I'm playing desean Watson. I benched Drew Brees.

[Mike Wright]

Okay. I don't. Was Drew Brees on a bye week and I missed it.

[Andy Holloway]

He plays the Chicago. Chicago Bears at home. At home. And I am taking desean Watson.

[Jason Moore]

There must be a water bet here. Oh, oh.

[Andy Holloway]

Head to head.

[Jason Moore]

Waterbeds.

[Mike Wright]

He didn't even push back for.

[Andy Holloway]

I realize it is unconventional, but let me tell you why I did it. I did it because I think the floor for desean Watson in any and all matchups is incredibly high. If you look at. He had a game. Deshaun Watson had a game in Cincinnati this year where he threw for zero touchdowns and he threw for 125 passing yards. He put up 18 fantasy points in that game.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

He followed it with 24, 41, 46 and 30. His efficiency, the trust that the. That they're putting into him, I just think that the floor is incredibly high and the upside is incredibly high. His rushing yardage just raises that baseline. I want the ceiling. I think the Bears are a good defense. It has a lot to do with Breeze as much as it does with Watson. I'm not saying you go. I'm just saying that, look, you're in a position now where you have to make decisions like this with Joshua Watson. What number does he have to put up, Jason, for you to make him an every week start? Automatically this week. So let's say this week he goes out and he puts up a. What if he puts up 18 just like that other game? Does that make him an auto start?

[Jason Moore]

No. I mean, I would say he's got to be greater than 20 to be an auto start every week. Matchup proof guy.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, I mean, I'm. I need to see, you know, 200 yards. 200 to 250 and two touchdowns. So whatever. I'm with Jason, it's.

[Andy Holloway]

Why do you need to see that?

[Mike Wright]

Because I don't.

[Andy Holloway]

I know you listed a fantasy point.

[Mike Wright]

I know you listed off the Bengals game. But to say to put the. Equate the floor to that one really broken play where the, the defense, they.

[Jason Moore]

Just, they gave up for 50 yards.

[Mike Wright]

They gave up on that play. You could even see desean Watson who was shocked. He was surprised that he was still running. And he. So I just, I think that the desean Watson people are Going to be very sad at the end of this.

[Andy Holloway]

Weekend and we waterbedded it so we'll find out. Russell Wilson, you're starting him at home, obviously in this matchup. Lamar Miller, he's been great. He's getting a start. DeAndre Hopkins might be some hesitation. He's a top five wide receiver. You can't bench the near target leader in my opinion.

[Jason Moore]

No, I don't think you can bench him.

[Andy Holloway]

Would you play Crab 3 over Hopkins? I wouldn't, no.

[Mike Wright]

I'd probably still go with Hopkins. They both have tough matchups, but I mean Hopkins against the legion of boom that he's the type of receiver that they can shut down.

[Andy Holloway]

So we will see Will Fuller, everybody wants to start him. I've seen more insane Will Fuller trades this past week than any other trade. Yeah, I've seen, you know, people are going out there and they're trading. They're basically using Will Fuller the way we would tell you to use him, which is throw Will Fuller in with like a quarterback and go get a great wide receiver. I'm seeing this happen. I hope you're not buying in. I mean, I. He's on 60, touchdown pace or whatever that is. So look, is this the week the shoe drops for Will Fuller? Are you in the flames?

[Mike Wright]

More than likely. But like I was saying about Hopkins, where he's the. The way that he plays wide receiver, the. The Seahawks can be beat by speed because if they're trying to press and grab you and Will Fuller happens to shake free on a on one play, then it could be another 50 yard touchdown.

[Andy Holloway]

I love Doug Baldwin. He's going to come on in the second half. He had a great game last week. 10 receptions. Gun to your head, which running back do you start from? The Seattle Seahawks this week? Man, I'm going to take Eddie Lacy and hope he falls into the end zone.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, I'm going to go Lacey as well.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, Lacey had 11 carries. They both had 11 carries last week. But Lacy has actually, to me, looked like a decent running back. Rawls has not ever looked the same as he did before the ankle injury. I've seen nothing from him to make me a believer, so I would take Lacey as well.

[Mike Wright]

What about the play where he thought he scored a touchdown even though everyone else on the field knew there was a penalty? That was pretty fun.

[Andy Holloway]

The Dallas Cowboys take on the Washington Redskins this week. A 50 point over under in my.

[Jason Moore]

Andy's almost upset of the week.

[Andy Holloway]

All right. I don't think the gap between these two teams is as Big as people perceive. Vegas has the Redskins two point underdogs at home. So I'm going to take the Redskins in this.

[Mike Wright]

Really.

[Andy Holloway]

Josh Norman's expected to be back. That's going to make a difference. They have a really good front, the defensive front for the Redskins. The ability to slow down that running game and bringing Josh Norman back into the fold who traditionally shuts, you know, Dez Bryant down.

[Mike Wright]

Now to be fair, last year Dez Bryant against Washington week two over 100 yards and then they he played them again in week 11 or so. He was five for 72.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah, that's not a bad game.

[Mike Wright]

So do not be scared to start DEZ Bryant. I have some concern for Josh Norman, you know, bringing the numbers down for dez.

[Andy Holloway]

But you have a similar situation as a Seattle. You still play him where you're starting to under Hopkins, you're starting Des Bryant. They're both in the top five in targets. The the thing I'm interested in is pretty much everybody in this game in the sense that it's a 50 point over under your starting Dak. He's been on fire. From a point per game perspective, he's one of the best in the league. You're not sitting Zeke, you're not sitting dez. I love Jason Whitten. Washington can't cover the tight end. That's the opportunity there. So those four players are in. What's your confidence level? Jason Mike on Rob Kelly this week, second week back from the injury. Hopefully a game flow that's more conducive to his usage. But do we like Rob Kelly?

[Jason Moore]

I like Rob Kelly. I think that he's going, you know, he's going up against a lesser of the middle of the pack rushing defense. Dallas does not scare me with their rush defense. They're at home. And what, what you saw last week from Rob Kelly in his first week back against the best run defense in the league was a poor performance. So I think a lot of people are going to bench Rob Kelly this week and I think that's a mistake. I expect Rob Kelly to get well over 15 carries and you know, if the over under is true and there's 50 points scored, there's probably going to be opportunities in the red zone that Rob Kelly will get. So I, you know, Rob Kelly hasn't, hasn't scored a touchdown this year so far. I think this is the week that he breaks that.

[Mike Wright]

Rob Kelly has played two full healthy games this year.

[Jason Moore]

Right.

[Mike Wright]

Those games were both against the Eagles. So his numbers look bad. I'm not as optimistic as Jason.

[Andy Holloway]

But you'd go Thompson over him.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah. At this point because Thompson's just.

[Jason Moore]

I would go Thompson over him as well because the. The Dallas Cowboys offense is going to score on anyone. What you see as kind of Watson's ability to be matchup proof is what I think. Dak. Dak will score on anybody. It doesn't matter who you are. And if Dax going to score and if Washington ends up down, then Chris Thompson will be used. I hope, Andy, that you're right and you're almost upset of the week. If. If Washington is ahead, that bodes well for Rob Kelly, but Chris Thompson's just been too electric right now and his utilization has been really well done by Washington.

[Mike Wright]

Right.

[Jason Moore]

I know fantasy owners wish they would just give him the massive workload, but then you would get one week out of him because he would be injured. So I think they're doing it right with Chris Thompson.

[Mike Wright]

Rule 86 is in full effect for me. This particular week. We saw Jordan Reed have a Thanksgiving feast against the Cowboys last year. That was the game where his. He suffered the shoulder injury, yet still absolutely scorched the earth against the Dallas Cowboys. Speaking of hot, who's got the hot hand for the Washington pass catchers? They're gonna Josh Dachshund.

[Andy Holloway]

Look, Jay Gruden wants to give Josh Doxon an opportunity to earn a number one role in this offense. Jameson Crowder and Terrell Pryor seem to want to give Josh Dockson the opportunity to earn a role in this offense. And you know, if you look at the passer rating, they're good teammates. The passer rating of Kirk Cousins when targeting Josh Dockson has been very good.

[Mike Wright]

Especially in tight windows. Harmon, good friend of the show Matt Harmon, had tweeted out one of those NFL Next gen stat numbers, and it was Kirk Cousins in tight windows at Josh Dockson. It means almost a perfect pass rating.

[Andy Holloway]

So every opportunity for Josh Doxson will be there. This is a game that I have Washington actually winning, or I guess I have to say almost winning due to my prediction.

[Mike Wright]

Yes.

[Andy Holloway]

But I think Dachshund will get the opportunity. If I had to take a flyer, I'm certainly taking it on him this week.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, I would rather have Dachshund than Pryor. Dachshund's gotten more and more involved as every week has gone on and Prior's gotten less and less involved.

[Andy Holloway]

Dachshund.

[Jason Moore]

So if you were to take docs in here, if you were to take.

[Mike Wright]

Prior Senator Jurassic Park.

[Andy Holloway]

Dang it. Mike, how'd you know? Because I'm the reference machine trying to get one over on you that the listeners would hear.

[Mike Wright]

Oh, nope, nope.

[Jason Moore]

I got one over on you yesterday. Yeah, I think you're making a mistake. If, if you're still believing because of where Terrell Pryor was drafted in fantasy football, that we're past that. Yeah. You've got to be able to move on. And we say this all the time. You don't win a championship at the draft, we're going to get things wrong. You win championships through the year by making the right start sit decisions and the right. It's so important to just change your mind when things. You're going to be wrong. We're going to be wrong. And the worst thing you could do and the worst thing we could do is just say no. Just keep waiting. It's going to happen.

[Andy Holloway]

Do you think Terrell Pryor may have slipped like an ADP list into Jay Gruden's desk? Like left it on his desk?

[Jason Moore]

I haven't seen this, but people think I'm.

[Andy Holloway]

Look where I was. Look where I was drafted. Jay, give me some snaps. All right, The Steelers, that's good advice. By the way, the Steelers take on the Detroit Lions. In Detroit, the Lions are three point underdogs.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

And, yeah, it's about how I'd have it to 45 and a half point over under. You know, Big Ben is a fantasy quarterback. He's off the radar a little bit. Lev Bell's been absolutely incredible. We don't have to discuss starting him or Antonio Brown. Juju. Smith Schuster, we talked about it earlier. He's going to play in this game. Our Tavis Bryant's going to be inactive, and I think Smith Schuster, let's put it this way. Would you rather play Juju or Dachshund?

[Mike Wright]

Ooh, I'm gonna go with Dachshund.

[Jason Moore]

Man, that. That's really tough. It's very close. It's close. You're in very similar situations. I. I think Eileen Dachshund as well. We've seen him involved. Take the home player red zone.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah.

[Jason Moore]

The home player higher over under, according to Vegas. Yeah.

[Mike Wright]

If you're gonna fly, not high. Yeah. I mean, fly to the sun. Right. That worked for Icarus.

[Andy Holloway]

I was gonna say it did not work for Icarus.

[Mike Wright]

Why? What happened at the end of that story?

[Andy Holloway]

Is that the jai story? Hey, as soon as Icarus took off, I turned away. I didn't watch the rest of it.

[Mike Wright]

He got to the moon.

[Jason Moore]

Right.

[Andy Holloway]

He got there didn't he? He's still living on the sun.

[Jason Moore]

What happened?

[Andy Holloway]

Oh, my goodness.

[Mike Wright]

Living on the sun. Yeah.

[Jason Moore]

Yes.

[Mike Wright]

That's good advice.

[Andy Holloway]

That's how the myth goes.

[Mike Wright]

That's staying in the flames.

[Andy Holloway]

That is. But I look that. The advice, I think was good there. Just dachshund. Jesse James has not been targeted the last two weeks since Vance McDonald's been involved. You can kick him to the curb.

[Mike Wright]

Yep.

[Andy Holloway]

Matt Stafford, Amir Abdullah, Theo Riddick, Golden Tate coming off the bye week.

[Mike Wright]

It's going to be tough.

[Andy Holloway]

It's going to be real tough. The Steelers have just been smothering teams. That's the best way to put it. Because when you. That's the perfect descriptor for both being a good defense and not letting the opposing offense ever have the ball. They just been smothering offense.

[Jason Moore]

Le'Veon Bell has been killing clock.

[Andy Holloway]

He has. He's as much part of their defenses.

[Jason Moore]

Absolutely. Absolutely. So it's. It's going to be, you know, difficult. Thankfully, Matt Stafford at home, the comeback kid. You know, you could see some points happening at the end of this game. I do agree. Theo Riddick is a guy that's still on a lot of waivers right now.

[Andy Holloway]

You're going to be okay there.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, I'm going to make it. I'm going to.

[Andy Holloway]

I'm going to pull through dry cereal this morning.

[Jason Moore]

No. No way. I would never.

[Mike Wright]

Never.

[Andy Holloway]

I genuinely pause right here. I feel like I've reached a point as a father where I need a cereal. Secret fridge.

[Mike Wright]

I was gonna say that.

[Jason Moore]

You haven't got that yet.

[Andy Holloway]

Stash.

[Mike Wright]

Your first mistake was putting the Cocoa.

[Andy Holloway]

Pebbles in the Family Pantry youy're 100% right. It's on me.

[Jason Moore]

Don't look at the top of my closet, kids. It's just heroes and Ding Dongs. It's basically a little Debbie aisle.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah.

[Mike Wright]

And ants.

[Andy Holloway]

And a lot of ants.

[Jason Moore]

A lot of ants. For the record, I do not have any snacks in my closet, but I cannot promise that I won't going forward. After such great discussion.

[Andy Holloway]

I was going to say this is really opening your eyes.

[Mike Wright]

So Theo Riddick. Jason.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah. Theo Riddick has, you know, look, he has not been that involved over the last several weeks. I mean, since week two, he hasn't had more than four carries on the ground. But with the Golden Tate injury, with what we've seen from the offense and their struggles. Amir Abdullah, they gave him so much opportunity to get. He's still well done, and he'll get still the first opportunity, but I think they have to go back to Theo Riddick, which you kind of started to see right before the buy at New England. He had five receptions for 45 yards. Theo Riddick is a great pass catching back. If you're in any kind of PPR league, I believe this is a week where if Philly, I'm sorry, if Pittsburgh is winning the game and killing the clock, you're going to have those two minute type of drives where Theo Riddick thrives and you just get little dump off, little dump off, another 8 yards, another 9 yards and you know, it's hard to find running backs right now on the waivers and he's available in a, in a good chunk of leagues.

[Andy Holloway]

So. Not Little Debbie, Little Dumpy, Little Dumpy.

[Mike Wright]

And speaking of changing your mind, Jason.

[Jason Moore]

I think that would be Mike Tolbert though. Sorry. Go on.

[Mike Wright]

Speaking of changing your mind, Eric Ebron.

[Andy Holloway]

Oh, that's a little lumpy.

[Jason Moore]

Oh, Eric Ebron has not just changed my mind.

[Andy Holloway]

Please do not bring up his name.

[Jason Moore]

My heart, my soul, is it cold, dark? I would rather start Darren Fells than Eric Ebron. Eric Ebron has rightfully been given the bench.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah. Monday Night Football. The Broncos, the Chiefs chief seven point favorites at home and Arrowhead. I will take the Chiefs to cover in this game. Divisional matchup. I know that the, you know, the over unders 43 points. I just don't see a bounce back game from Denver coming against this Chiefs defense. I know they haven't been good, but you know, it's a chicken or egg thing here, right? How bad is the Denver offense been? They just got shut out by a team that, you know, the Chargers, they're.

[Mike Wright]

They'Re a solid defense.

[Andy Holloway]

We certainly believe that now they're going to play Tom Brady this week. We'll find out a little bit more about them. But I just do not have confidence. I've been saying it for a long time. I don't have confidence in C.J. anderson. I do not want to start him. I want to do anything in my power not to. Demarius Thomas is the only player in this group that I really like this this week because of the presumed deficit. Now this is the NFL. The Broncos might win by 60. I mean I. We don't know what's going to happen, but I really, I like demarius Thomas. Yeah, that's the only player I want to play on that entire offense.

[Mike Wright]

The Chiefs get beat by chunk plays. We saw Amari Cooper return Coop all over. He certainly did. They're allowing a 14 and a half. Thank you, the Chiefs are the defense. They are allowing 14 and a half yards per completion. Completion. I mean that's ridiculous. So I love Demarius Thomas this week. We can't expect Emmanuel Sanders to play Benny Fowler. Benny Fowler. Emergencies. Some, some teams are having that eye alert. Is Benny Fowler worth a play after.

[Andy Holloway]

What he did last week?

[Jason Moore]

Yes.

[Andy Holloway]

Yes, he's worth the emergency play. If you're in a bi week deep league. We have a 14 team listener league. You're in a pinch. I played Benny Fowler last week and he got me five for 45. Five for 45. I mean, yes, he's an emergency play. What you just said about their passing defense, what I think that they'll be able to do, the Chiefs will be able to do, you know, that's all it comes down to. Now. Maybe this is a hard fought game. Maybe the Broncos D is what keeps them in this game. But on the offensive side, are you still starting Alex Smith at home against Denver?

[Mike Wright]

That's a million dollar question.

[Andy Holloway]

And would you play Smith at home against Denver over Watson on the road against Seattle?

[Jason Moore]

Yes, yes, I would.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah. Just the home, the home factor changes that for me. Trevor Simeon, are you even. So you're not even considering it?

[Jason Moore]

Trevor Simeon, I'm not going to consider it. I'm just confirming Trevor Simeon on my rankings are. I mean he is the scariest rank I have because he is darn near dead last in my rankings. I've buried him. I think without Emmanuel Sanders in Kansas City and what we've seen over the last few weeks from him and his offensive line with the all of a sudden the collapse of the running game, I have major doubts. Like I would, I would not start Trevor Simeon at all. And he has had those games and Demarys Thomas and this Chiefs, you know, the Chiefs against wide receivers. There are reasons to believe DT can get it done and Trevor Simeon can be the benefit factor of that. I just don't see it happening. The trends of, you know, this is more film than analytics. The analytics kind of say Trevor Simeon should be okay because of what Kansas City's been given up to the wide receivers. But man, what I've seen from Trevor Simeon the last few games with my eyeballs is disgusting. Now going to Arrowhead. I can't trust it.

[Mike Wright]

DeMarcus Robinson for the Kansas City Chiefs. He's a wide receiver if you haven't heard of him. He's starting to get some play now that Chris Conley is out. He looked good 5 for 69 last week.

[Andy Holloway]

This isn't the matchup, though. That's.

[Mike Wright]

I was going to say we're talking the emergency wide receivers in the bye weeks. Benny Fowler or DeMarcus Robinson.

[Andy Holloway]

Fowler for sure.

[Jason Moore]

I would as well.

[Andy Holloway]

More established, better situation against the defense you're starting. Kelsey, if he's your tight end, cream hunt, you know the Broncos haven't allowed a rushing touchdown in six games. That's the best in the NFL right now. You might need to temporary or cream hunt expectations.

[Jason Moore]

He's.

[Mike Wright]

He'll still get you 100.

[Andy Holloway]

All right, guys, it is Friday, which means once again, we're going to face off.

[Jason Moore]

The daily dose brought to you by draft.

[Andy Holloway]

Now, last week, I'm happy to report that I wasn't last. Jason was last.

[Mike Wright]

If you didn't see the picture, it was no pizookie for Jason.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah. And if you don't know what pizookie is, first of all, shame on you. And second of all, it is a pizza cookie.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah. I've never had a better pizza cookie. Andy, have you ever had a better pizza?

[Andy Holloway]

I've certainly never had one.

[Jason Moore]

It looked really good, had gelato that.

[Andy Holloway]

I enjoyed so much. Yeah, Mike and I enjoyed it.

[Jason Moore]

And Jason this week I washed it down.

[Andy Holloway]

Jason had some basil.

[Jason Moore]

I did have some basil. It was very basil. So this week for our draft, we are doing the expert draft. Okay. We've made it super hard on ourselves because this is bipocalypse. Yeah. You already have so many teams out of the running. And now what the expert draft on draft does is it takes all the best players or at least the top drafted players and it removes them. So now we're going really deep on a bye week and it looks like yours truly is on the clock.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah. You got the number one pick, Jason.

[Jason Moore]

The number one pick.

[Andy Holloway]

Each pick five players, one quarterback, two running backs, and then two that can be a wide receiver or tight end from a pool that has been diminished.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

Who are you taking with number one.

[Jason Moore]

Mr. Look, I'm going to take a guy that is my start of the week. I'm surprised to see him here. It's Kelvin Benjamin at the wide receiver position. And Andy, while you're looking through, let me just talk about some of the players that are out there.

[Andy Holloway]

No, no, I took Demarius Thomas.

[Mike Wright]

Dang it.

[Andy Holloway]

With my first pick.

[Jason Moore]

Mike's start of the week.

[Andy Holloway]

So Mike, you got back to back.

[Mike Wright]

I was really hoping he would slip through. So I'm going to grab. I'm gonna grab now. I'm gonna grab Andy start of the week. Nelson Aguilar. And then I'm going to look at a running back over here, which there's a. There's a few guys. It's. It's pretty gross. It's not the, it's not ideal. I'm gonna go with. Even though the matchup is not the best against Cleveland's run defense, I'm gonna take Jerick McKinnon.

[Andy Holloway]

Oh, that's who I wanted to take right there. Mike, you stole him away from me. So now I have to make a tough decision at the running back position or to go with another wide receiver. One of the ways that you can strategize in draft is kind of look at what your opponents have taken, figuring.

[Jason Moore]

It'S like a real draft.

[Andy Holloway]

I already know you guys don't like to Sean Watson, so none of you are going to take him. So if I want to take him, I can. I'm taking desean Jackson.

[Jason Moore]

Oh.

[Andy Holloway]

So I'm going to go to Sean Jackson along with.

[Jason Moore]

All right, well, so I'm up on the clock with a back to back. I think Matt Forte, the leader.

[Mike Wright]

It was between Forte and McKinnon for me.

[Jason Moore]

The leader of the head to head match up there. And then, you know, I, I got a guy that I'm hoping gets back to me and I think he might. So instead gamble. I'm going to gamble. I'm going to go and I'm going to take the guy that I think it has a better game than Nelson Aguilar in Alshon Jeffrey.

[Andy Holloway]

All right, I'm back on the clock. I'm going to draft a player that I think gives me a nice baseline and protects me against that last place finish. I'm going to take James White over Deon Lewis and follow up my wide receivers with James White.

[Mike Wright]

Oh, man. All right, so I'm on the turn. So it does not matter what order I pick my players in your last two picks, correct? No, no, I'll have one more.

[Andy Holloway]

I got you.

[Mike Wright]

I'm going to take Devin Funches against Tampa Bay.

[Jason Moore]

I like it. He was almost my start of the week.

[Mike Wright]

I was trying to decide between him and Kelvin.

[Jason Moore]

Him and Kelvin. I think the wide receivers will get it done against Tampa.

[Mike Wright]

So that means I need to take a running back or a quarterback. I will not be. Well, let me, let me have a look at the quarterbacks just to make sure.

[Jason Moore]

Ooh.

[Mike Wright]

There appears to be one standout here.

[Andy Holloway]

This is. You're doing a bad job of narrating, Mike.

[Mike Wright]

I apologize because I'm trying to think at the Same time, I'm going to take quarterback Tyrod Taylor because he was my favorite quarterback of that list.

[Andy Holloway]

I'm going to go with Robert Kelly.

[Jason Moore]

Oh, that was the one I wanted.

[Andy Holloway]

My second running back, the guy I.

[Jason Moore]

Said I hoped would get back to me.

[Andy Holloway]

All right, Jason, two quick picks for you. And then I got my final pick. And Mike has his final pick.

[Jason Moore]

I need a quarterback and a running back. You are correct that you will get desean Watson. I'm going to take Philip Rivers. Yep. It was New England. Really like him. And then at the running back position. So I can go Deion Lewis or Latavius Murray. I could go a bunch of different ways. I am going to go surprising.

[Mike Wright]

Oh, very nice.

[Jason Moore]

And I'm gonna take Wendell Smallwood against San Francisco.

[Andy Holloway]

Time for me to draft my quarterback. I'm not taking desean Watson, not with Andy Dalton against Indianapolis on the board.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

So I took Andy Dalton. Wise move, finishing my team off. You guys pull your team up when you're done and we're going to read them.

[Mike Wright]

I'm going to take the starting running back for the Patriots, Dion Lewis.

[Andy Holloway]

Lewis, does that hurt you inside when you with the M.O. gillison?

[Mike Wright]

Well, I mean, it hurts a little bit, but like Jason said, got to change your mind. Change your mind.

[Andy Holloway]

All right, Jason, your team.

[Jason Moore]

My team. Philip Rivers against New England. I got Matt Forte and Wendell Smallwood at running back, Kelvin Benjamin and Alshon Jaffray at wide receiver.

[Andy Holloway]

I have. That's so I have Dalton with James White and Robert Kelly and Desean Jackson and Demarius Thomas.

[Mike Wright]

I have Tyrod Taylor, Jerick McKinnon, Dion Lewis, and I have the inverse of Jason.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah.

[Mike Wright]

Which I didn't even think of.

[Jason Moore]

I've got Kelvin and Alshon.

[Mike Wright]

I have Aguilar and functions.

[Andy Holloway]

That'll be fun.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, I like mine better.

[Andy Holloway]

All right, I got to lean on Andy Dalton, so pray for me. Wait, I just hit the waterbed button. That was supposed to be the outro button. It's Friday.

[Mike Wright]

It's Friday.

[Andy Holloway]

It's Friday.

[Mike Wright]

Who cares?

[Andy Holloway]

So what?

[Jason Moore]

So what? Who cares?

[Andy Holloway]

Thanks for tuning in draft.com ballers is how you can play along with us. A lot of fun every week. Jason, you're losing again. Goodbye.

[Mike Wright]

Goodbye.

[Jason Moore]

Thank you for listening to another episode of the fantasy footballers podcast. Join our fantasy football community on jointhefoot.com and follow us on Twitter at theffballers.