Fantasy Footballers Podcast - Episode: "Sits of the Week, Stat Quiz, Week 13 Mailbag" (Released December 2, 2015)

In this engaging episode of The Fantasy Footballers, hosts Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright delve deep into the strategies and decisions crucial for Week 13 of the 2015 NFL season. The trio combines expert analysis with entertaining banter to provide listeners with invaluable insights aimed at optimizing their fantasy football lineups as they approach the playoffs.

Sits of the Week

One of the episode's primary focuses is identifying the "Sits of the Week," where the hosts advise listeners on which players to bench based on their upcoming matchups and recent performances.

• Quarterbacks to Sit:

  • Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks vs. Minnesota Vikings)

    Mike Wright emphasizes caution with Wilson facing a top-tier defense:

    “Russell Wilson’s matchup against Minnesota is perilous. They've only allowed two passing touchdowns this year.”
    (16:38)

  • Philip Rivers (San Diego Chargers vs. Denver Broncos)

    Jason Moore advises benching Rivers due to Denver's stout pass defense:

    “Philip Rivers... Denver's D against the passing game is shutting everybody down. Rivers has been underwhelming lately.”
    (17:32)

  • Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers)

    Andy Holloway recommends sitting Brees despite his home advantage:

    “Carolina has the best pass coverage defense in the NFL... I’d pass on Brees even though he’s at home.”
    (17:36)

• Running Backs to Sit:

  • Latavius Murray (Miami Dolphins vs. Kansas City Chiefs)

    Mike Wright points out Murray’s recent decline and tough matchup:

    “Kansas City has only given up one touchdown to running backs over the last seven weeks. Murray's performance has been lackluster.”
    (18:46)

  • Frank Gore (Indianapolis Colts vs. Detroit Lions)

    Jason Moore advises benching Gore due to limited production against a strong defense:

    “Frank Gore hasn’t been getting it done and is up against the number one fantasy rush defense in Pittsburgh.”
    (19:11)

• Wide Receivers to Sit:

  • Stevie Johnson (New York Giants vs. Denver Broncos)

    Mike Wright cautions against Johnson despite his recent performance:

    “Denver’s defense has only allowed one passing touchdown all season to wide receivers.”
    (20:38)

  • Desean Jackson (Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys)

    Jason Moore sits Jackson due to Dallas's robust secondary:

    “Carolina plays Dallas’s defense, which is the fifth best against wide receivers. Jackson is expected to have a down week.”
    (21:16)

  • Sammy Watkins (Cincinnati Bengals vs. Houston Texans)

    Andy Holloway points to Houston’s resurgence against elite receivers:

    “Houston’s defense has shut down top receivers like A.J. Green and Brandon Marshall in recent weeks.”
    (22:17)

• Tight Ends to Sit:

  • Jordan Reed (Dallas Cowboys vs. Cincinnati Bengals)

    Andy Holloway expresses uncertainty about Reed’s ceiling against a tough defense:

    “Dallas’s defense might limit Reed’s effectiveness, especially with potential quarterback changes.”
    (24:19)

  • Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboys)

    Mike Wright criticizes Witten’s lack of touchdowns and suggests opting for higher-upside tight ends:

    “Jason Witten has zero touchdowns since week one and limited catches. Opt for players like Vance McDonald or Zach Miller instead.”
    (24:19)

Stat Quiz

The hosts engage in a lively stat quiz segment, challenging each other to identify players based on specific performance criteria.

• First Question:
  Mike Wright presents a riddle about a player who has scored a touchdown in eight out of ten games without exceeding 100 yards in any game. Jason Moore correctly identifies the player as Eric Decker:

  “That is correct. I am Eric Decker.”
  (03:13)

• Second Question:
  A running back who leads his team in fantasy points at the position and consistently racks up receiving yards despite limited snap counts. The player revealed is Theo Riddick:

  “Theo Riddick is second in receiving yards behind Danny Woodhead.”
  (05:46)

The segment highlights the importance of understanding player roles and matchups to make informed fantasy decisions.

News and Notes

The hosts discuss various updates and news affecting player performances and team strategies:

• Theo Riddick’s Performance:
  Mike Wright commends Riddick’s consistent receiving yards despite offensive uncertainties:

  “Riddick is second in receiving yards behind Woodhead, indicating his value despite the offense’s dynamics.”
  (05:15)

• Melvin Gordon’s Consistency Issues:
  Concerns are raised about Gordon’s offensive line struggles affecting his productivity:

  “San Diego’s offensive line has been banged up, limiting Gordon’s effectiveness.”
  (06:00)

• Injuries and Player Status:
  Updates on players like Devonte Freeman, Carlos Williams, and Big Ben are provided, emphasizing their availability and impact:

  “Devonte Freeman is trending towards playing after a concussion. Carlos Williams is still recovering from a shoulder injury.”
  (09:18)

• Patriots Defense:
  Optimism is expressed about the Patriots’ defensive improvements with Jamie Collins returning:

  “I really like the Patriots defense with Jamie Collins back.”
  (10:52)

Mailbag

Listeners' questions span a range of fantasy football dilemmas, with the hosts providing strategic advice based on their expertise.

• Alexa from Tampa:
  Question: Should she start Randall Cobb (Detroit) or Buck Allen (Miami) in a standard scoring league?
  Advice: Both players are impacted by their matchups, but Mike Holloway and Jason Moore lean towards starting Buck Allen due to Miami’s running defense vulnerabilities:

  “Buck Allen's baseline is better in standard and PPR.”
  (27:51)

• Ryan from Indianapolis:
  Question: Which player to flex in playoff week—Chris Ivory or Martavis Bryant?
  Advice: Andy Holloway suggests Ivory for flooring, while Jason Moore prefers Bryant for ceiling potential:

  “Chris Ivory for floor, Martavis Bryant for ceiling.”
  (29:17)

• Zach from Toronto:
  Question: Choosing between Doug Martin, Chris Ivory, Jeremy Hill, and Spencer Ware for critical starts.
  Advice: Jason Moore recommends sitting Jeremy Hill based on matchup uncertainties:

  “I think it's going to be Jeremy Hill you sit.”
  (35:05)

• Tony from Houston:
  Question: Should he start Macklin or Hearns for the rest of the season?
  Advice: Mike Wright leans towards Macklin due to Hearns' injury concerns, while discussing the robust potential of Allen Robinson:

  “Allen Robinson is a great wide receiver with high upside.”
  (40:01)

• Others:
  Additional questions address league dynamics, such as commissioner's challenges with collusion, and strategic starter choices against tough defenses.

Additional Highlights

• Fantasy Playoff Preparation:
  As Week 13 approaches, the hosts emphasize gearing up for the fantasy playoffs, advising listeners to secure their playoff spots by strategically managing their lineups.

• Social Media and Community Engagement:
  The hosts encourage listeners to engage on platforms like Twitter and Facebook, and to submit questions via their website, fostering a strong community of fantasy football enthusiasts.

• Player Recommendations and Waiver Wire:
  Emphasis is placed on staying active on the waiver wire to capitalize on emerging talents and favorable matchups, with examples like Lamar Miller and Devonte Freeman discussed in depth.

Conclusion

This episode of The Fantasy Footballers serves as a comprehensive guide for fantasy football managers navigating Week 13. Through insightful discussions, strategic "sits," interactive quizzes, and responsive mailbag segments, Andy, Jason, and Mike equip their audience with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions as they edge closer to the fantasy playoffs. Their blend of expertise and relatability makes this episode a valuable resource for both seasoned players and newcomers alike.

Notable Quotes:

• Mike Wright on starting players over favorites due to matchups:

  “I would rather start someone else with higher upside than Russell Wilson against Minnesota.”
  (16:38)

• Jason Moore on strategic benching:

  “Philip Rivers is not going to go in there and tear them up as Rivers has been, you know, not that great lately.”
  (17:32)

• Andy Holloway on tight ends:

  “Jordan Reed could struggle... so I’m probably going to lean on that other option.”
  (24:19)

• Mike Wright on Jason Witten’s performance:

  “Jason Witten has zero touchdowns since week one and limited catches.”
  (24:19)

These distilled insights reflect the hosts’ expertise and their commitment to helping listeners dominate their fantasy leagues.