Fantasy Footballers Podcast 2015 - September 11, 2015 Episode: Starts of the Week, Daily Dose, Matchups, News

Hosts: Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright
Release Date: September 11, 2015

Introduction

In this episode of The Fantasy Footballers Podcast, hosts Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike Wright dive into the excitement of the NFL season kickoff. They cover a range of topics including game previews, fantasy forecasts, injury updates, and their favorite segment of the week, "Starts of the Week." The trio offers expert analysis, strong opinions, and actionable advice aimed at helping listeners dominate their fantasy leagues.

Opening Banter and Current Football Events

The podcast begins with light-hearted banter about arena football and recent games:

• Mike Wright [00:25]: "Oh, man. Did you watch that football last night?"
• Andy Holloway [00:55]: "And we are. It's Friday and we're talking weekend football, some Thursday night football review..."

The hosts discuss their favorite segment, "Starts of the Week," where they highlight under-the-radar players who could provide significant fantasy value.

Most Surprising Thursday Night Football Moments

The hosts reflect on surprising performances from Thursday Night Football:

• Mike Wright [01:34]: "The most surprising player for me was D'Angelo Williams. He looks sprightly for an old fella."
• Jason Moore [03:09]: "He got back in the game after fumbling. We thought his career ended on that fumble."

They highlight D'Angelo Williams' unexpected performance and Dion Lewis' resurgence after a fumble, emphasizing the unpredictability of player performances.

News and Updates

Player Movements and Injections into Fantasy

• Eli Manning's Contract Extension
  • Andy Holloway [06:35]: "Eli manning signs a four year, $84 million contract extension, which means he can continue to look perplexed throwing interceptions with the Giants for years to come."
  • Mike Wright [07:09]: "His face while signing the contract was still completely neutral."

This segment humorously criticizes Eli Manning's performance despite his lucrative contract.

Injury Updates (Marty McFly Segment)

The hosts introduce the "Marty McFly" segment to quickly address player injuries:

• Andy Holloway [07:21]: "Are you in or out?"

Injured Players:

• Trey Mason: Out
• Devonte Freeman: In
• Alshon Jeffrey: In
• Mike Evans: In
• LaShawn McCoy: In
• Duke Johnson: In
• Ty Hilton: In
• Roddy White: In
• Michael Floyd: Out
• Devontae Parker: In
• Victor Cruz: Out
• Zach Ertz: Out

Notable Discussion:

• Jason Moore [07:52]: "I'm gonna go in with Zach."
• Andy Holloway [07:56]: "I wouldn't start."

The segment provides a swift overview of player statuses, aiding listeners in making informed lineup decisions.

Fantasy Forecast and Game Previews

The hosts break down several matchups, providing insights into player performances and fantasy implications.

New Orleans Saints vs. Arizona Cardinals

• Andy Holloway [09:24]: "A lot of fantasy relevant players in this game for some reason."
• Jason Moore [09:43]: "I'm going to stick with my rankings and go Drew Brees."
• Mike Wright [11:15]: "How does he do? Starting. Getting his first starting shot of real live NFL."

Key Points:

• Drew Brees vs. Carson Palmer debate.
• Importance of Coleman and tight ends Josh Hill and Benjamin Watson.
• Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown's potential impact.

Notable Quote:

• Jason Moore [11:55]: "You cannot guard tight ends."

Baltimore Ravens vs. Denver Broncos

• Mike Wright [12:59]: "I Flacco is really hard to predict week to week."
• Jason Moore [13:17]: "C.J. Anderson is one of my top five guys this week for set."

Key Points:

• Flacco's inconsistent performance.
• The potential of C.J. Anderson and Kamar Aiken as sleeper starts.
• The emergence of Steve Smith with strong season opener stats.

Notable Quote:

• Mike Wright [16:00]: "I'm looking."

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Oakland Raiders

• Jason Moore [14:47]: "This might be their year, but I don't think this is going to be their week."
• Mike Wright [15:22]: "Drake Kirkpatrick... could destroy Patrick Peterson."

Key Points:

• Amari Cooper's high potential versus a strong Bengals defense.
• Tight ends Tyler Ifert and Owen Daniels debate.
• Expectations around AJ Green and overall game scoring.

Notable Quote:

• Mike Wright [15:22]: "Drake Kirkpatrick... could destroy Patrick Peterson."

Tennessee Titans vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Mike Wright [17:21]: "I’m rolling Vincent Jackson out."
• Jason Moore [17:56]: "Martellus Bennett is a good play."

Key Points:

• Mike Evans' potential limited playtime.
• Vincent Jackson and Louie Murphy as key targets.
• The strategy around tight end selections.

Notable Quote:

• Jason Moore [17:56]: "Martellus Bennett is a good play."

Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants

• Mike Wright [20:31]: "I would still start Joseph Randall."
• Jason Moore [21:36]: "He's come up a lot in questions for me."

Key Points:

• Running back picks: Joseph Randall vs. TJ Yeldon vs. Andre Williams.
• Wide receiver options: Roddy White, Brandon Cooks, John Brown.
• Tight end strategies amidst high-scoring expectations.

Notable Quote:

• Mike Wright [20:31]: "I would still start Joseph Randall, even though I think that he could be out-touched this weekend."

Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers

• Mike Wright [27:00]: "I would start Teddy Bridgewater."
• Andy Holloway [27:57]: "What is the projections here fantasy wise?"

Key Points:

• Teddy Bridgewater vs. Colin Kaepernick debate.
• Concerns over the offensive line's impact on Adrian Peterson.
• Charles Johnson vs. Mike Wallace performance predictions.

Notable Quote:

• Jason Moore [28:21]: "I think they're going to use it a lot... they're going to put up a lot of points."

Starts of the Week

In this segment, each host selects one player per position they believe will excel in the upcoming week, focusing on value picks rather than just top-tier players.

Quarterbacks

• Jason Moore [29:22]: Start Tony Romo.
  Rationale: High-scoring game expectation; number five QB of the week.

• Mike Wright [29:37]: Start Ryan Tannehill.
  Rationale: Favorable matchup against Washington, which struggles against QBs.

• Andy Holloway [29:52]: Start Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford.
  Rationale: Brady's consistent performance and Stafford's potential with key offensive weapons.

Notable Quote:

• Jason Moore [29:37]: "I am going with Ryan Tannehill, who is up against Washington."

Running Backs

• Andy Holloway [30:49]: Start Chris Ivory.
  Rationale: Strong preseason performance and favorable matchup against Cleveland.

• Mike Wright [30:55]: Start Doug Martin.
  Rationale: High-scoring game against Tennessee, which was top-ranked against the run last year.

• Jason Moore [31:24]: Start Andre Ellington.
  Rationale: Healthy and in a high-scoring game, providing significant fantasy upside.

Notable Quote:

• Mike Wright [30:55]: "Doug Martin... Devonally up here against Tennessee."

Wide Receivers

• Jason Moore [31:57]: Start Vincent Jackson.
  Rationale: High target potential against a struggling tight end defense.

• Mike Wright [32:50]: Start Roddy White.
  Rationale: High-scoring game against the Eagles, who give up many WR points.

• Andy Holloway [33:15]: Start Amari Cooper.
  Rationale: Strong debut expected with ample targets against the Bengals' defense.

Notable Quote:

• Jason Moore [31:57]: "Vincent Jackson is going to get a lot of targets."

Tight Ends

• Andy Holloway [34:32]: Start Jordan Reed.
  Rationale: High target volume expected, especially if the matchup remains high-scoring.

• Jason Moore [35:26]: Start Martellus Bennett.
  Rationale: Significant target opportunities against the Packers' defense.

• Mike Wright [35:34]: Start Larry Donnell.
  Rationale: Favorable matchup against defenses weak against tight ends.

Notable Quote:

• Jason Moore [35:26]: "Martellus Bennett is going to get a lot of targets."

Mailbag: Listener Questions

Listeners submit questions regarding their fantasy lineups, which the hosts address with tailored advice.

Sample Questions:

1. Kang Kwang:
   "In a standard 16-person league, Colin Kaepernick or Joe Flacco for week one?"

   • Hosts' Answer: Start Joe Flacco over Colin Kaepernick for QBs due to higher expected points.
     Mike Wright [38:06]: "I think I would go with Flacco."
     Jason Moore [38:07]: "Yeah, me too. I'm going Flacco."

2. John in Alabama:
   "Amari Cooper, Devonte Adams, or Charles D. Johnson?"

   • Hosts' Answer: Favor Devonte Adams for his matchup and quarterback support.
     Jason Moore [38:31]: "I'm going Devonte Adams for sure."

3. Mike in Illinois:
   "Julio Jones, Devonte Adams, or Brandon Cooks?"

   • Hosts' Answer: Choose Devonte Adams or Amari Cooper over Brandon Cooks due to defensive considerations.
     Mike Wright [39:27]: "I would go with Adams with the best quarterback in the league."

Notable Quote:

• Andy Holloway [38:15]: "I might make an adjustment. I've come up on Adams so I think I'd go Adams here probably a spot ahead of Amari Cooper and Charles Johnson a distant third for me in this decision."

Daily Dose: DFS Insights with Chris Meaney

The podcast features a guest, Chris Meaney from the Fantasy Sports Network, who discusses Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) strategies for Week One.

Key Topics:

• Tournament Formats: Explaining GPPs (Guaranteed Prize Pools), head-to-head leagues, and 50/50 contests.
• Contrarian Picks: Emphasizing the importance of unique lineups in large tournaments to differentiate from others.
• Value Picks: Identifying positions and players where budget-friendly options can maximize roster strength.

Notable Insights:

• Chris Meaney [40:31]: "For a brand new DFS player... start head to head against one person or go in a little 50/50."
• Andy Holloway [42:54]: "If you're playing in a contest like a GPP, you really want to have a differentiator."

Notable Quote:

• Mike Wright [46:30]: "I mean, at the end of the day you're not going to win your contest because of your kicker. So I like to save a little bit of money in those positions and kind of go from there."

Humorous Anecdote: Mike Wright's Pizza Mishap

To close the episode, Mike Wright shares a humorous story about a disappointing pizza order on game day.

Story Highlights:

• Mike Wright [48:42]: "I call up my local pizza store and I'm like, you know, I want the pizza in the wings special... Inside my wing box is three old slices of supreme pizza."
• Andy Holloway [50:34]: "Oh, come on. They gave you three old slices of."

This light-hearted segment adds a personal touch, showcasing the camaraderie and humor among the hosts.

Conclusion

The podcast wraps up with reminders for listeners to join their community and stay engaged through various platforms.

• Andy Holloway [51:26]: "If you want to join the foot clan. Get involved with the fantasy community."

The hosts encourage listeners to submit questions, follow them on social media, and participate in their community to enhance their fantasy football experience.

Final Remarks:

• Jason Moore [51:42]: "Thank you for listening to another edition of the Fantasy Footballers podcast."

Key Takeaways

• Player Selection: Focus on value picks and matchups rather than solely on top-tier talent.
• Injury Updates: Stay informed on player statuses to make informed lineup decisions.
• DFS Strategies: Utilize contrarian picks in tournaments and prioritize core positions in head-to-head contests.
• Community Engagement: Leverage available resources and community platforms for ongoing advice and support.

Notable Quotes:

• Mike Wright [15:22]: "Drake Kirkpatrick... could destroy Patrick Peterson."
• Jason Moore [29:22]: "Your start of the week is Tony Romo."
• Andy Holloway [42:54]: "If you're playing in a contest like a GPP, you really want to have a differentiator."

This comprehensive episode provides listeners with actionable insights, strategic advice, and engaging discussions to kickstart their fantasy football season effectively.