Fantasy Footballers Podcast Summary: "Fantasy Football 2018 - Early WR Rankings Part 1"

Release Date: April 10, 2018

Introduction

In the April 10, 2018 episode of Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast, hosts Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright dive into the intricacies of early wide receiver (WR) rankings for the 2018 fantasy football season. The episode is packed with expert analysis, lively discussions, and strategic insights tailored for fantasy enthusiasts aiming to dominate their leagues.

Trade Analysis: Brandon Cooks Acquired by the Los Angeles Rams

The episode kicks off with an in-depth analysis of a significant mid-season trade: the New England Patriots trading Brandon Cooks to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for two first-round picks and additional later-round selections.

Key Discussion Points:

• Patriots' Perspective:

  • Mike Wright (06:03): Emphasizes, "Stop helping the Patriots. The New England Patriots rented a seasoned veteran wide receiver who, in my opinion, Brandon Cooks isn't the best wide receiver." He criticizes the Patriots for trading away valuable draft picks despite acquiring Cooks for a relatively low cost.
  • Jason Moore (07:22): Raises strategic questions, "Do they believe that Edelman's return completely eliminates the need for Cooks?" He speculates on the Patriots' long-term plans, especially concerning elite tight end Rob Gronkowski's influence on WR usage.

• Rams' Perspective:

  • Jason Moore (09:10): Highlights the Rams' acquisition strategy, noting Cooks' partnership with Robert Woods and the offensive enhancements from players like Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr.
  • Mike Wright (10:02): Points out, "Brandon Cooks has played with two Hall of Fame quarterbacks," underscoring his potential value in a more dynamic offensive setup.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason Moore (02:19): "It's not Andy, Mike and Jason, just Andy and Mike." – A lighthearted moment addressing a technical hiccup in the podcast.
• Mike Wright (06:38): "Stop helping the Patriots."

Early Wide Receiver Rankings: Top 10 Breakdown

The core of the episode revolves around the hosts' consensus top ten wide receiver rankings, providing a comprehensive analysis of each player's fantasy value based on performance metrics, team dynamics, and projected outputs.

1. Antonio Brown

• Analysis:

  • Jason Moore (18:00): Regards Brown as the pinnacle of WR performance, stating, "Antonio Brown is to the wide receiver position what Le'Veon Bell is to the running back position."
  • Mike Wright (18:47): Cites Brown’s statistical dominance, "He has the most receptions in the league, the most touchdowns, and the most yards since 2013."

• Key Stats:

  • Most receptions (582), touchdowns (most among WRs), and yards (7,848) since 2013.

2. DeAndre Hopkins

• Analysis:
  • Jason Moore (20:11): Commends Hopkins for his reliability and target share, emphasizing his role as a top-tier fantasy asset.
  • Mike Wright (21:24): Highlights Hopkins’ high catch percentage, especially with DeSean Watson at QB, ensuring consistent production.

3. Odell Beckham Jr.

• Analysis:
  • Jason Moore (22:57): Despite injury concerns, Beckham Jr. remains a high-value WR due to his explosive playmaking ability.
  • Mike Wright (23:01): Reinforces Beckham Jr.'s potential as a dynasty pick, despite some underperformance in certain seasons.

4. Julio Jones

• Analysis:
  • Mike Wright (24:13): Discusses the enigma of Jones' high yardage but relatively low touchdown count, questioning his red zone efficiency.
  • Jason Moore (26:35): Observes that despite numerous red zone targets, Jones struggles to convert them into touchdowns.

5. AJ Green

• Analysis:
  • Jason Moore (27:30): Expresses disappointment in Green’s recent performance, yet acknowledges his historical value.
  • Mike Wright (27:46): Points out Green's impressive stats despite team struggles, maintaining his position in the rankings.

6. Michael Thomas

• Analysis:
  • Mike Wright (30:08): Critiques Thomas for a dip in touchdown production, yet recognizes his high target volume.
  • Jason Moore (32:03): Notes the importance of consistent target distribution, suggesting Thomas could rebound with a more robust offense.

7. Mike Evans

• Analysis:
  • Jason Moore (33:15): Labels Evans’ previous season a bust but remains optimistic about his underlying talent and future prospects.
  • Mike Wright (34:24): Highlights Evans' historical consistency in achieving over 1,000 receiving yards annually.

8. Keenan Allen

• Analysis:
  • Mike Wright (36:28): Advocates for Allen as an elite receiver, praising his chemistry with quarterback Philip Rivers.
  • Jason Moore (36:56): Appreciates Allen’s dual-threat capability as both a receiver and a playmaker.

9. Devontae Adams

• Analysis:
  • Jason Moore (38:29): Celebrates Adams’ evolution as a reliable target, especially with his nose for the end zone.
  • Mike Wright (39:10): Encourages fantasy owners not to overlook Adams despite previous underperformance.

10. Adam Thielen

• Analysis:
  • Jason Moore (42:03): Lauds Thielen’s stickiness and ability to find open spaces, expecting continued high performance.
  • Mike Wright (43:15): Discusses Thielen's consistency and potential for a high touchdown count with a better quarterback.

Notable Quotes:

• Mike Wright (18:58): "Could he get there? Yeah, he could get there. If he has some of those statistical accolades on the back end of his career, he could get there."
• Jason Moore (26:23): "So, how do you adjust him? Because Julian Edelman will more than likely be the receiver on the field when they go into one wide-out sets. But there is a gaping hole at wide receiver."

Mailbag and Listener Q&A

The latter part of the episode features a mailbag segment where listeners submit questions, allowing the hosts to provide personalized advice and delve deeper into specific fantasy football dilemmas.

Highlighted Questions:

1. Robert from Baltimore, Maryland (47:01):

   • Question: "Which first-round guy is gonna bust this year?"
   • Advice: Hosts discuss the risks associated with high-profile first-round picks like Todd Gurley, Cam Akers, and DeAndre Hopkins, emphasizing the unpredictability of player performance.

2. Cody from Illinois (49:03):

   • Question: "I have Brandon Cooks on my keeper team, and I would like to know what you think of him on the Rams compared to my other options."
   • Advice: Both Mike and Jason advocate prioritizing running backs over Cooks, suggesting that options like Melvin Gordon and Jordan Howard offer more consistent value.

3. Travis from Dighton, Massachusetts (50:38):

   • Question: "Who do you think will be next year's McKinnon?"
   • Advice: The hosts discuss potential breakout running backs, notably Tevin Coleman, weighing his opportunities against team contracts and offensive schemes.

4. Bennett from Milwaukee (51:12):

   • Question: "In a 16-team league, are there still enough options, and any other draft strategies?"
   • Advice: Emphasis on strategic quarterback and tight end drafting, along with the importance of depth and streaming options in larger leagues.

5. Francis from Fargo, North Dakota (52:56):

   • Question: "Would any tight end options be worth using early first-round picks?"
   • Advice: Hosts generally advise against using high first-round picks on tight ends, suggesting alternatives like Trey Burton instead.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason Moore (47:13): "Which first-round guy's gonna bust? What I was gonna recommend is you just concede the pick. Just skip it."
• Mike Wright (53:17): "I would take the running backs."

Conclusion and Next Steps

The episode wraps up with the hosts teasing future content, including deeper dives into wide receiver rankings (positions 11 through 20) in upcoming episodes. They encourage listeners to engage with their community via jointhefoot.com and participate in live events scheduled for the year.

Final Remarks:

• Jason Moore (46:36): "We have the wide receiver 11 through 20 rankings on our next episode of the podcast."
• Andy Holloway (54:26): "Join our fantasy football community on jointhefoot.com and follow us on twitterffballers."

Key Takeaways

• Antonio Brown leads the WR rankings with unparalleled statistics, setting a high bar for his peers.
• DeAndre Hopkins and Odell Beckham Jr. are solidified as top-tier fantasy assets, each bringing unique strengths to their respective teams.
• Julio Jones presents a dual-natured profile with high yardage but inconsistent touchdown production.
• AJ Green and Michael Thomas showcase the volatility and unpredictability inherent in fantasy rankings, influenced by team dynamics and offensive strategies.
• Mailbag Segment underscores the importance of strategic drafting, especially in larger leagues, and highlights common fantasy dilemmas faced by players.

This episode serves as an essential guide for fantasy football managers, offering strategic insights and nuanced evaluations of top wide receivers to inform draft decisions and roster management for the 2018 season.