Fantasy Footballers Podcast - 2015 Season, Week 11: Comprehensive Summary

Release Date: November 19, 2015

1. Introduction

In the Week 11 episode of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast, hosts Andy Holloway and Jason Moore dive deep into the latest fantasy football news, player analyses, and matchup evaluations. Although Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright was absent due to vacation, Andy and Jason ensure a robust discussion, engaging listeners with their trademark humor and expert insights.

2. Host Banter and Community Updates

The episode opens with the hosts exchanging playful remarks about Mike's absence and discussing their latest merchandise:

• Andy Holloway (00:00): “I miss you, Mike.”

• Jason Moore (03:02): “We have our starts of the week on the show today. Mike did give us his...”

They also highlight their ongoing efforts to expand their merchandise line, teasing upcoming themed shirts like Star Wars and Ninja Turtles. Additionally, they encourage listeners to join their fantasy football community at join thefoot.com and follow them on Twitter for the latest updates.

3. Danny Amendola Debate

A significant portion of the episode centers around the debate on whether to start Danny Amendola for the rest of the season. Jason expresses skepticism:

• Jason Moore (04:22): “He's going to be 70% of the fantasy production of Julian Edelman, which is great.”

Andy counters by highlighting Amendola's potential and emphasizing that he shouldn’t be directly compared to Edelman:

• Andy Holloway (05:14): “He isn't Julian Edelman. He isn't as fast. He isn't as quick... So you can't be expecting him to be Edelman.”

Despite acknowledging the uncertainties surrounding Amendola’s consistency, both hosts agree that he possesses significant upside, especially given his role in the Patriots' offense post-Deion Branch.

4. NFL News Update

Andy and Jason provide a comprehensive update on the latest NFL news, focusing on injuries and player statuses that impact fantasy decisions:

• Quarterbacks:

  • Brock Osweiler, Mark Sanchez, T.J. Yates, Matt Hasselbeck, and Blaine Gabbert are starting this week.
  • Brian Hoyer (07:54): Suffers a concussion and will miss a week.
  • Ryan Fitzpatrick (08:02): Undergoes surgery but is expected to start in Week 11.
  • Mark Sanchez (09:56): Expected to play after being part of the concussion protocol.

• Wide Receivers:

  • Mike Evans (08:49): Received 53 targets over the last three weeks.
  • Dez Bryant (07:49): Added depth to the Cowboys' receiving corps with Romo's return.

• Running Backs:

  • James Starks and Michael Floyd are questionable.
  • Gerard Brown is poised to step up if both Starks and Floyd are sidelined.

Other notable mentions include Alshon Jeffery's (14:05) questionable status due to injuries and strategic advice to bench him in favor of healthier options like Randall Cobb and Mike Evans.

5. Fantasy Forecast and Matchup Analysis

The hosts delve into detailed analyses of the first seven games of the weekend, evaluating player performances against specific defenses and considering weather impacts:

a. Thursday Night Football: Titans vs. Jaguars

• Andy Holloway (22:30): Excited about the Jaguars' gold uniforms and their improved offense with rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota.

• Jason Moore (22:46): Highlights Mariota’s potential, noting that he's streamable in two-quarterback leagues. Both hosts rank Mariota highly, with Andy placing him at #6 and Jason also at #6, indicating strong potential despite the Jaguars' inconsistent offensive performance.

b. Rams vs. Ravens

• Andy Holloway (29:01): Discusses Case Keenum’s debut for the Rams and the Ravens' beatable secondary. Suggests that the Ravens' defense may not stifle the Rams' improved passing offense.

• Jason Moore (30:17): Expresses skepticism about Joe Flacco’s performance, citing the Rams' strong defense against quarterbacks and their historical performance against high-yardage passers.

c. Redskins vs. Panthers

• Andy Holloway (32:41): Comments on Cam Newton’s celebratory dances, emphasizing his impact on the game beyond just scoring touchdowns.

• Jason Moore (34:39): Praises Tony Romo’s return for the Cowboys, predicting positive outcomes for key players like Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams.

d. Broncos vs. Bears

• Andy Holloway (38:43): Predicts a low-scoring game influenced by cold weather (28 degrees), which will limit passing plays and increase reliance on the running game.

• Jason Moore (40:00): Agrees, emphasizing the impact of weather on offensive efficiency and highlighting running back Jonathan Stewart’s consistent usage.

6. Starts of the Week

The hosts present their recommendations for fantasy lineups, categorized by position. Each start is accompanied by strategic reasoning based on matchups, player performance, and potential upside.

a. Quarterbacks

• Andy Holloway (47:26): Russell Wilson vs. 49ers

  • Rationale: High baseline and upside, home advantage, and a favorable matchup against an average pass defense.

  • Notable Quote (48:15):

    "This is a matchup where, if you've got him, I would start him."

• Jason Moore (47:26): Matthew Stafford vs. Raiders

  • Rationale: Faces Oakland, ranked 26th against fantasy quarterbacks. Coming off a strong 242-yard game and a win against Green Bay.

  • Notable Quote (48:15):

    "Stafford was the one I wanted and I'm tired, so still Stafford."

b. Running Backs

• Andy Holloway (50:02): Jeremy Langford

  • Rationale: Exceptional performance, cold weather favoring the run, and Stafford’s offense ensuring ample touches.

• Jason Moore (50:02): Chuck Andrich West vs. Chargers

  • Rationale: Chargers are the worst team in fantasy points allowed to running backs. West is expected to receive a significant workload.

  • Notable Quote (50:56):

    "He's bona fide locked in as an RB1 this week."

c. Wide Receivers

• Andy Holloway (50:56): Amari Cooper vs. Lions

  • Rationale: Consistent reception numbers, favorable matchup against Detroit’s pass defense, and potential for explosive plays.

  • Notable Quote (51:45):

    "He has a decent baseline. He's not going to go out there and put up four fantasy points and burn you."

• Jason Moore (50:56): Stevie Johnson vs. Chiefs

  • Rationale: Primary target in Arizona, consistent volume, and limited competition due to defensive improvements.

  • Notable Quote (51:45):

    "Stevie Johnson... is going to get the targets."

d. Tight Ends

• Andy Holloway (53:48): Eric Ebron vs. Raiders

  • Rationale: Consistently high targets against Oakland, who have a history of struggling against tight ends.

• Jason Moore (53:48): Delaney Walker vs. Titans

  • Rationale: Limited pass-catching options for the Titans, potential for multiple receptions and yards.

  • Notable Quote (54:12):

    "I expect five to six catches, 70, 80 yards and a chance at a touchdown."

7. Strategic Insights

• Weather Impact: Cold weather (28 degrees) in the Broncos vs. Bears game is expected to suppress passing plays, favoring running backs and leading to low-scoring outcomes.

• Injury Management: Emphasis on monitoring player statuses, such as Alshon Jeffery's potential sit and Mark Hoyer's concussion, which could influence weekly starts and bench decisions.

• Streaming Strategy: Encouragement to stream quarterbacks and tight ends based on weekly matchups rather than sticking with consistent yet lower-performing players.

8. Final Thoughts and Upcoming Segments

As the episode wraps up, Andy mentions working out his knee to return next week, while Jason humorously apologizes for a botched pass in their flag football game. They tease the next episode’s content, including a fantasy forecast continuation, a Daily Dose segment with Chris Meaney, and other topics of interest.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Jason Moore (04:22):

  "He's going to be 70% of the fantasy production of Julian Edelman, which is great."

• Andy Holloway (05:14):

  "He isn't Julian Edelman. He isn't as fast. He isn't as quick... So you can't be expecting him to be Edelman."

• Andy Holloway (22:30):

  "Yeah. Is this one of those color rush games?"

• Jason Moore (50:56):

  "Chuck Andrich West. He's bona fide locked in as an RB1 this week."

• Jason Moore (54:12):

  "I expect five to six catches, 70, 80 yards and a chance at a touchdown."

Conclusion

This Week 11 episode of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast offers a wealth of information for fantasy managers, from player evaluations and matchup analyses to strategic advice tailored for the upcoming week. The hosts' dynamic discussion ensures listeners are well-equipped to make informed decisions, optimize their lineups, and navigate the complexities of the fantasy football landscape with confidence.

For more insights and updates, visit thefantasyfootballers.com and follow them on Twitter @theFFBallers.