Fantasy Footballers Podcast Summary: Week 14 Fantasy Forecast, Starts of the Week, News

Release Date: December 10, 2015

Hosted by Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright, the Fantasy Footballers delve deep into Week 14 of the 2015 fantasy football season, providing invaluable insights, player news, matchup analyses, and strategic advice to help listeners navigate the fantasy playoffs effectively.

1. Introduction

The hosts kick off the episode with a light-hearted discussion about the importance of starting the show rhythmically, setting an engaging and personable tone for the episode. Andy Holloway emphasizes, “This is my favorite show of the week,” highlighting the trio's enthusiasm for providing top-tier fantasy football analysis.

2. Player News and Updates

Mark Ingram’s Injury

• Jason Moore delivers disappointing news regarding his league-leading running back, Mark Ingram, who suffered a torn rotator cuff and is now on injured reserve, ending his season (09:11).
• Jason: “I went depth this year. Not by choice, but I went depth. So I can roll Frank Gore in there and hopefully I'll be okay.” (03:37)

Other Key Injuries

• Darrell Revis (Jets) is doubtful to play due to not practicing on Wednesday (11:20).
• Matt Schaub is expected to play despite injury concerns (11:39).
• Crockett Gilmore and Heath Miller are uncertain for the week, affecting Baltimore's lineup (12:29; 12:48).

Michael Crabtree’s Extension

• The Raiders have signed Michael Crabtree to a four-year extension, solidifying a promising trio with Derek Carr and Amari Cooper (11:39).
• Mike Wright humorously adds: “They got paid.”

3. Fantasy Strategy Discussion

The Kicker Conundrum

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the relevance and impact of kickers in fantasy football. The hosts debate the small point differential between top-tier and lower-tier kickers, questioning their strategic value.

• Jason Moore advocates for removing kickers, stating, “It hurts the strategy and the skill of fantasy football, in my opinion.” (05:24)
• Andy Holloway suggests hyper-nerfing kickers instead of eliminating them, highlighting the randomness they introduce: “If Mike ends up with five and I end up with 15 from a kicker, that's a big thing to overcome and it's completely unpredictable.” (05:59)

The trio considers alternatives, such as assigning kickers' points to defensive/special teams units to enhance strategic depth (06:40).

4. Game Previews and Matchups

Arizona Cardinals vs. Minnesota Vikings

• Andy Holloway predicts a dominant performance by the Cardinals, leveraging their high-scoring offense against the Vikings' weakened defense due to Ingram’s injury: “The Cardinals are going to destroy the Vikings tonight.” (16:28)
• Mike Wright underscores the Vikings' defensive struggles: “The Minnesota defense is not right now.” (16:49)
• Jason Moore highlights the potential decline of Stefan Diggs and the reliance on Adrian Peterson, suggesting potential volatility in Peterson’s performance (18:27).

Buffalo Bills vs. Philadelphia Eagles

• The episode discusses Lashawn McCoy’s revenge game against Chip Kelly, pondering whether the Eagles will intensify their efforts to curb McCoy’s performance: “Does that mean the Eagles really try to stop the Sean McCoy revenge game?” (23:45)
• Jason Moore dismisses the narrative as “silly,” focusing instead on McCoy’s opportunity to excel: “I expect the Bills to really give a concerted effort to get Lashawn McCoy in the end zone this week.” (24:03)

San Francisco 49ers vs. Cleveland Browns

• Andy praises the 49ers’ resilience and Blaine Gabbert’s performance but remains cautious about his starts: “Blaine Gabbert is not somebody I'm starting.” (34:44)
• Discussion on running backs like Sean Drona and Chris Thompson addresses the offensive dynamics and potential fantasy impacts: “Sean Drone is the man to do that for your fantasy football team.” (36:00)

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals

• Mike Wright forecasts a Steelers win despite the Bengals being favorites, due to the Bengals' depleted cornerback lineup: “I think this is a big help also for Dalton.” (46:51)
• Jason Moore supports the upset potential, emphasizing the Steelers' unstoppable offense: “There's nothing stopping the Steelers offense.” (47:27)

5. Starts of the Week

Quarterbacks

• Mike Wright: Brian Hoyer (Patriots)

  • Chosen for his consistent performance and favorable matchup against a team allowing five QBs to score touchdowns in two weeks.
  • Mike: “He has been great all year. He now he hasn't put up just monster game-winning weeks but he has also never crapped your team unless he gets knocked out of the game by an injury.” (49:01)

• Jason Moore: Tyrod Taylor (Eagles)

  • Selected for his efficiency and explosive potential against a vulnerable Philadelphia secondary.
  • Jason: “Tyrod Taylor can explode.” (51:24)

Running Backs

• Andy Holloway: Sean Drona (“The Lonely Bronco”) (Raiders)

  • Favored for his high volume and matchup against one of the league’s worst run defenses.
  • Andy: “He is on the field almost 100% of the time.” (52:35)

• Jason Moore: David Johnson (Vikings)

  • Recommended due to the Vikings' poor defense and Johnson’s heavy usage.
  • Jason: “Start him over anyone there is.” (53:03)

Wide Receivers

• Mike Wright: Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals)

  • Chosen for his high target volume and the Vikings' depleted defense.
  • Mike: “He is a wide receiver too.” (54:53)

• Jason Moore: Doug Baldwin (Ravens)

  • Selected as the top fantasy receiver, boasting impressive recent performances.
  • Jason: “The number one guy is Doug Baldwin.” (56:39)

Tight Ends

• Andy Holloway: Julius Thomas (Eagles)

  • Picked for his red zone involvement and favorable matchup against Indianapolis’ defense.
  • Andy: “He represents upside to me.” (60:50)

• Jason Moore: Austin Sferian Jenkins (Saints)

  • Favored due to the Saints’ vulnerability against tight ends.
  • Jason: “He could have a big game out.” (61:28)

6. Strategic Insights and Recommendations

• Streaming Players: The hosts emphasize the importance of streaming positions like quarterbacks and tight ends based on matchups.

• Handling Volatile Players: Adrian Peterson and DeMarco Murray present high-risk, high-reward scenarios. The hosts discuss opting for players with more stable roles over these veterans in certain matchups.

• Waiver Wire Gems: Names like Brett Favre and Devontae Parker are recommended as valuable additions due to their favorable matchups and increasing involvement.

7. Notable Quotes

• Jason Moore on kickers: “It hurts the strategy and the skill of fantasy football, in my opinion.” (05:24)

• Andy Holloway on Mark Ingram’s injury impact: “If Mike ends up with five and I end up with 15 from a kicker, that's a big thing to overcome and it's completely unpredictable.” (05:59)

• Jason Moore on Doug Baldwin: “The number one guy is Doug Baldwin.” (56:39)

• Mike Wright on Brian Hoyer: “He has been great all year.” (49:01)

8. Conclusion

The Fantasy Footballers wrap up the episode by reiterating their commitment to providing accurate and strategic advice for the fantasy playoffs. They tease the continuation of the Fantasy Forecast in the next episode and encourage listeners to stay tuned for more DFS insights.

Timestamp Guide:

• [03:37] - Jason Moore on Mark Ingram’s injury
• [05:24] - Jason Moore on kickers
• [05:59] - Andy Holloway on kicker unpredictability
• [09:11] - Jason Moore on Mark Ingram’s injury impact
• [11:20] - Darrell Revis injury update
• [11:39] - Michael Crabtree’s extension
• [16:28] - Andy on Cardinals vs. Vikings
• [16:49] - Mike on Vikings' defense
• [18:27] - Jason on Stefan Diggs and Adrian Peterson
• [23:45] - Lashawn McCoy vs. Eagles
• [24:03] - Jason on Bills' game strategy
• [34:44] - 49ers vs. Browns preview
• [36:00] - Sean Drona discussion
• [46:51] - Steelers vs. Bengals preview
• [47:27] - Jason on Steelers' offense
• [49:01] - Mike Wright on Brian Hoyer
• [51:24] - Jason Moore on Tyrod Taylor
• [52:35] - Andy Holloway on Sean Drona
• [53:03] - Jason Moore on David Johnson
• [54:53] - Mike Wright on Larry Fitzgerald
• [56:39] - Jason Moore on Doug Baldwin
• [60:50] - Andy Holloway on Julius Thomas
• [61:28] - Jason Moore on Austin Sferian Jenkins

Note: This summary captures the essence and critical points of the Fantasy Footballers' Week 14 episode, ensuring that listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of the discussions and recommendations without needing to listen to the full podcast.