Fantasy Football Podcast 2015 - Cuts, Trades, Week 1 Questions & Mailbag

Released on September 7, 2015, the Fantasy Footballers podcast episode dives deep into the tumultuous preseason period of the NFL, focusing on team cuts, recent trades, auction draft experiences, and answering listener questions to prepare for the upcoming fantasy football season.

1. Opening Banter and Auction Draft Reflections

The hosts, Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright, kick off the episode with light-hearted discussions about making the podcast roster amid numerous preseason cuts.

Jason Moore shares his challenging experience as the auctioneer in a 12-man auction draft:

"[02:01] Jason Moore: It was the worst experience. I tell you what, I have never in my life done an auction draft while being the auctioneer."

He humorously recounts how the role distracted him from managing his team effectively, even causing him to forget his own roster players.

Andy Holloway adds his frustration with the auction process:

"[03:08] Andy Holloway: I spent all of my money in a little 10 minute segment... and then I had almost nothing left and mostly walked around for the next two and a half hours while I was waiting for $1 bids to be available."

2. Analyzing Team Cuts and Their Fantasy Impact

The episode addresses significant team cuts, including high-profile names like Tim Tebow, Reggie Wayne, Hakeem Nix, Matt Castle, Duron Carter, and Jonas Gray.

Jason Moore highlights the benefits for certain players post-cuts:

"[04:22] Jason Moore: ...I think Same, same news, same... it's Crowell's team on first and second down at least. And right now Duke Johnson is still concussed... Crowell looks pretty good."

Mike Wright discusses the potential rise of Legarett Blunt and impact on the Browns' backfield:

"[04:23] Mike Wright: The guy who comes to the front of my head is Legarett Blunt... building on Jonas Gray..."

Meanwhile, Andy Holloway suggests Sam Bradford benefited from Tebow's cut, allowing more efficiency in goal-line situations:

"[05:37] Andy Holloway: ...they were testing him out as the kind of two point conversion quarterback. And I do think they're going to go for two and Tebow's not there anymore. So I think they kind of just saw what Tebow did and said wow, Bradford could probably just do that stuff or be more efficient if they need to go for two."

3. Evaluating Recent Trades

Two significant trades are discussed:

• Terence West to the Titans
• Christian Michael to the Cowboys

The hosts debate the fantasy value of Christian Michael, considering his role in Dallas's running back committee.

Jason Moore expresses skepticism:

"[12:11] Jason Moore: I think he's muddy water there in Dallas... It’s going to give it a little tiny minus symbol on whatever it was."

Conversely, Mike Wright advocates for holding onto Michael as a long-term asset:

"[12:50] Mike Wright: Yes. As long as... I will cut him, I will grab Michael and I will hold on to him. Now this is not a week one proposition. This is a long term hold."

4. Player Spotlight: Fred Jackson and Josh Robinson

The acquisition of Fred Jackson by the Seahawks is a hot topic. The hosts assess his value as a reliable handcuff for running backs like Frank Gore.

Jason Moore categorizes Jackson as a valuable yet not necessarily a must-pick-up player:

"[17:50] Jason Moore: I think he's worthy of being rostered... However, he's not a guy that you need to pick up."

Andy Holloway reinforces Jackson's reliability:

"[18:16] Andy Holloway: ...he has the best hands in football last year. On third down..."

Furthermore, the potential of Josh Robinson as Frank Gore's handcuff is affirmed:

"[38:18] Jason Moore: Yes." "[38:19] Mike Wright: Yeah."

5. Mailbag: Listener Questions and Expert Advice

The Mailbag segment provides tailored advice to listeners’ fantasy dilemmas:

• Starting Lineup Decisions:

  • For a listener struggling with flex options, Andy recommends Allen Robinson over other less appealing choices:

    "[23:30] Mike Wright: That's where I would go."

• Draft Strategy in High-Stakes Leagues:

  • When faced with drafting Antonio Brown versus a top-tier running back, Jason Moore and Andy Holloway advocate for securing Brown given his high-value potential:

    "[26:33] Andy Holloway: ... if I was in that boat... I am drafting Antonio Brown."

• Patriots Backfield Concerns:

  • With Todd Gurley out for week one, Mike Wright suggests starting Brandon Bolden, balancing risk and potential:

    "[28:45] Mike Wright: If I'm starting a Patriots back, it would have to be Bolden."

• Wide Receiver Face-Off:

  • Deciding between Jarvis Landry and Sammy Watkins, Jason Moore prefers Landry for his safer week one performance against a struggling Redskins defense:

    "[35:44] Mike Wright: Landry."

• Dynasty League Picks:

  • For dynasty leagues, Andy Holloway and Jason Moore recommend selecting Philip Dorsett over Cody Latimer due to long-term value:

    "[37:20] Jason Moore: Dynasty is clearly Philip Dorsett."

6. Emphasizing Speedy News with Sleeper Bot

Throughout the episode, the hosts underscore the importance of accessing fast-breaking news to gain a competitive edge in fantasy football. They introduce Sleeper Bot, a news app that provides timely updates and community discussions.

Andy Holloway emphasizes its utility:

"[20:05] Andy Holloway: ... Sleeper Bot... it's on iOS, it's on Android, it's free... you can actually get news about your players on your team, injury news, that type of stuff faster."

Jason Moore concurs, praising the app's effectiveness:

"[20:13] Jason Moore: I saw Jonas Gray on there first."

7. Closing Remarks and Community Engagement

In the concluding segments, the hosts encourage listeners to engage with the community via their website, jointhefoot.com, and to utilize resources like the Ultimate Draft Report. They tease upcoming interviews, including one with Nick Mangold of the Jets, further enriching the content available to their audience.

Mike Wright wraps up with humor:

"[42:06] Mike Wright: ...breaking news, I no longer have two quarterbacks."

This episode of The Fantasy Footballers podcast offers a comprehensive analysis of preseason developments, strategic insights for upcoming drafts, and personalized advice to navigate the complexities of fantasy football, ensuring listeners are well-prepared to dominate their leagues.