Fantasy Football Podcast 2015 - Final Thoughts on Preseason Week 3, News, Mailbag

Date Released: September 1, 2015
Hosts: Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright

1. Introduction and Waiver Wire Strategies

The episode kicks off with the hosts expressing excitement for the new football season and discussing the podcast's growing popularity.

• Mike Wright (00:16): “What is going on, everybody? It is Tuesday, September 1st. It's September and we are the fantasy Footballers.”

The conversation swiftly transitions to waiver wire strategies, emphasizing early-season activity.

• Andy Holloway (03:20): “No, not bad at all bad.”

• Andy Holloway (03:48): "I think you should be active because after the draft you see the mistakes that were made... if there's value to improve your team, go and make it."

Key Insights:

• Active Waiver Management: Early in the season, it's crucial to stay active on the waiver wire to rectify draft errors and capitalize on emerging talents.
• Free Agent Budget Consideration: Without a free agent budget, conservatively bid on waivers. With a budget, strategic bidding can bolster your roster effectively.

2. Fred Jackson Trade and Its Implications

A significant portion of the episode centers on the trade of Fred Jackson, exploring his potential move to Seattle and its fantasy ramifications.

• Andy Holloway (04:31): "I did the internal soul searching last night and thought... it's not worth it. And so I did. I did. I cut him."

• Mike Wright (05:25): “Then I would definitely go Starks without a doubt.”

Discussion Points:

• Trade Decision: Andy Holloway explains his decision to release Fred Jackson after evaluating his value over other potential players.
• Handcuffing Strategy: If Fred Jackson moves to Seattle, the hosts debate whether James Starks or another player would be a more valuable insurance policy for Marshawn Lynch.
• Carlos Williams as Handcuff: Jason Moore (05:52): "It's got to be Carlos," emphasizing Williams as a reliable backup.

Conclusions:

• James Starks vs. Fred Jackson: The consensus leans towards Starks being a more dependable handcuff in case of an injury to Lynch.
• Carlos Williams: Identified as a solid handcuff option, especially if managing a McCoy-centric team.

3. Preseason Player Injuries and Updates

The hosts delve into various player injuries that could impact fantasy decisions.

• Travis Kelsey’s Ankle Injury:

  • Mike Wright (08:35): "Travis Kelsey leg injury was walked off on her own power."
  • Andy Holloway (09:16): Advises fantasy managers to drop Julius Thomas due to his impending surgery.

• Julius Thomas Surgery:

  • Andy Holloway (09:49): “You do not [hold on to Julius].”
  • Jason Moore (10:19): "Here's what the Julius Thomas news does now... instead of the instant gratification of being disappointed, you can wait four weeks."

Key Insights:

• Immediate Roster Moves: Players with confirmed injuries, like Julius Thomas, should be dropped to free up roster spots.
• Trainer’s Advice: The group advises against holding injured players unless they hold a significant rank (e.g., top 10 tight ends).

4. Preseason Game Analyses

The hosts break down several preseason games, highlighting standout performances and potential fantasy impacts.

• Philadelphia Eagles vs. Green Bay Packers:

  • Jason Moore (15:48): “What were some impressions you got of that Philadelphia offense beyond that?”
  • Andy Holloway (16:29): “They spread it out so much... DeMarco Murray was used a lot in the beginning.”

• Indianapolis Colts vs. St. Louis Rams:

  • Race to Identify Star Performers: Discussion on Andrew Luck’s performance and Frank Gore’s limited involvement.
  • Mike Wright (18:33): “We didn’t see very much of Frank Gore.”

• Minnesota Vikings vs. Dallas Cowboys:

  • Teddy Bridgewater's Steady Performance:
    • Jason Moore (25:00): “I think he can get in the high 20s. And possibly low 30s.”
    • Andy Holloway (25:16): Emphasizes not overreacting to minor preseason performances.

Key Takeaways:

• Teddy Bridgewater is touted as a promising quarterback option, anticipating high touchdown numbers.
• Ty Montgomery vs. Jeff Janis: Preference leans towards Ty Montgomery for consistent, practical week-to-week performance over Jeff Janis' streaky potential.

5. Running Back Evaluations and Decisions

A critical discussion on choosing between running backs during the draft, particularly focusing on Doug Martin vs. Amir Abdullah.

• Mike Wright (30:06): “What did you sages manage here... emphasizing risk vs. upside.”

• Andy Holloway (32:50): “If you don’t have any running backs yet, you have to get a guy that you know is playing starting.”

• Jason Moore (33:06): Prefers Doug Martin over Amir Abdullah based on reliability and workload.

Conclusions:

• Doug Martin is favored for his consistent involvement and guaranteed carries, making him a safer pick in the absence of immediate RB options.
• Amir Abdullah is considered for his upside, but Doug Martin is preferred for his established role and reliability.

6. Mailbag Highlights

The hosts address listener questions, offering personalized advice on fantasy dilemmas.

• Question on Drafting Receivers Early:

  • Listener Inquiry: “When is it too early to draft a receiver and a three-row receiver in the flex league? Also PPR.”

  • Andy Holloway (37:12): Recommends leaning towards wide receivers early in PPR leagues.

  • Jason Moore (38:26): “I really need to go with your gut... I would lean Stevie [Johnson] because I think his career is still at the uptick of his career while Colston is going down.”

Advice Given:

• Early WR Selection: In PPR leagues with multiple WRs and flex spots, drafting receivers early can provide a strategic advantage due to the increased scoring potential.
• Gut Feeling in Player Decisions: Trusting instincts is crucial when choosing between closely ranked players, as demonstrated in the discussion about Stevie Johnson vs. Marcus Colston.

7. Promotions and Partnerships

Throughout the episode, the hosts promote partnerships with Stamps.com and SeatGeek, offering listeners exclusive deals.

• Stamps.com Promotion:

  • Jason Moore (12:55): “Use the promo code footballers... you get a special offer, four-week trial, and then you get a bonus $110.”

• SeatGeek Promotion:

  • Jason Moore (13:51): “Download the free SeatGeek app today, enter the promo code footballers in the app and SeatGeek will then send you $20 once you've made your first SeatGeek purchase.”

8. Conclusion and Teasers for Future Episodes

As the episode wraps up, the hosts provide a preview of upcoming content and encourage listener engagement.

• Mike Wright (40:06): “We just got a little dip. Just a little dip into the mailbag. ... We have a special guest on tomorrow's show, Christopher Harris from the Harris Football Podcast.”

• Final Remarks: Encouragement to visit their website, follow on Twitter, and participate in upcoming mailbag sessions with guest experts.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Andy Holloway (03:48): “I think you should be active because after the draft you see the mistakes that were made... if there's value to improve your team, go and make it.”

• Andy Holloway (04:31): "I did the internal soul searching last night and thought... it's not worth it. And so I did. I did. I cut him."

• Jason Moore (09:16): “You do not [hold on to Julius].”

• Jason Moore (25:00): “I think he can get in the high 20s. And possibly low 30s.”

• Andy Holloway (32:50): “If you don’t have any running backs yet, you have to get a guy that you know is playing starting.”

• Jason Moore (38:26): “I really need to go with your gut... I would lean Stevie [Johnson] because I think his career is still at the uptick of his career while Colston is going down.”

Key Takeaways

• Active Management: Stay vigilant on the waiver wire early in the season to optimize your roster.
• Injury Impacts: Monitor player injuries closely and make proactive roster moves to mitigate negative effects on your team.
• Preseason Performances: Use preseason games to gauge player readiness and potential fantasy value, but maintain caution as performances can be variable.
• Draft Strategy: In PPR leagues, prioritize wide receivers early due to higher scoring opportunities, and choose running backs based on reliability and workload potential.
• Trust Your Instincts: Leverage gut feelings when making tough player decisions, especially when faced with closely matched options.

For more insights and updates, visit The Fantasy Footballers' website and follow them on Twitter @theffballers. Don’t miss their next episode featuring Christopher Harris from the Harris Football Podcast, where they will delve deeper into player analyses and answer more listener questions.