
The Fantasy Footballers bring you a Megalodon Christmas episode, featuring Starts and Sits of the week, the Fantasy Forecast, Trivia, a Christmas surprise and the Mailbag! Don't miss this massive-sized episode, ending with Part 2! Learn everything you n
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Mike Wright
Patriots go to New York to take on the Jets. This game means everything to New York and they still might miss the playoffs in a. Really, they've had a great season. Fitzpatrick's best season as a pro, really. I think it's the first time he's got eight wins or something like that too. I mean they're playing very well. You've got the Ivory Powell situation now. We broke down the stats earlier in the week. Powell has been the fantasy producing running back on this team since he returned. I don't think that's going to change and I like him a lot in half point and full point PPR leagues. Ivory is still a baseline type of guy. He's a guy that if you've seen him play over the course of the season, sometimes, you know, he's a volume type guy. Once he gets the 8th or 9th carry, maybe he busts off a 25 yard run but. And he'll get the goal line. It's not going to be a Powell on the one yard line. It's going to be Ivory. So that's the game that you're playing.
Jason Moore
If they can get to the goal line.
Mike Wright
But Pat, what you're taking, you're taking a chance there. You need a little, A lot of things can happen. We saw that with David Johnson. You know, Michael Floyd goes down on the inch line and you get a free touchdown. That's the game you play. That being said, Powell this week a better play than Ivory.
Jason Moore
I completely agree. I just, you got to project game flow in these situations. You have to assume the Patriots will have a lead. Now it was a closer game last week, but the Patriots were in control of the game. So I, I like Powell more than Ivory this week.
Andy Holloway
Yeah, I agree. I'm not very high on Ivory. I would rather have a Frank Gore or a Tim Hightower over Ivory.
Mike Wright
You have the locked and loaded guys in this game. Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski. The ones that we need to discuss then are James White and Ryan Fitzpatrick. So Fitzpatrick at the quarterback position for the jets and then James White. What do you see from these guys? White has become more dependable. What I like to see is the way they're using him and, and the way the offense talks about him because he's. When he first came in for Deion Lewis, he didn't really look like he was comfortable and the performance wasn't there. Now he kind of looks like he's more of a cog in the offense.
Andy Holloway
If it wasn't for Shark, Hendrick west and what I see him being able to do against the Browns. James White was going to be my start of the week. I am very confident now. This is one of the reasons I didn't do that is because it's much more heavily in half point or full point PPR in standard. He doesn't really get carries. I think he gets like one or two carries a game and might be able to punch in a touchdown. But he, you know, he's had 10 catches, seven catches, and he's looking better and better. With Brady in that offense, you've got Amendola, who's going to be out. You've got Edelman, who's probably going to be out. They've been talking about bringing him back week 17, so huge bump. I mean, that to me says James White is going to be in that role. And you're playing the Jets, a team that has been a good run d And if you look at how New England played them early in the year, they didn't run the ball. They literally, it was crazy. They just said, I'm not running the ball. I'm passing every down and you're going to have to deal with it. And they didn't deal with it too well.
Jason Moore
They ran Jason.
Andy Holloway
That's right. They ran through the air.
Jason Moore
Thank you.
Mike Wright
And that's a good argument for White with James White.
Andy Holloway
So if you're in a half point or full point ppr, man, I don't want him on my bench because I feel like he has the potential to have one of those gigantic games.
Mike Wright
And you guys talked about it. Edelman and Almendola both likely to miss. If one was going to play in this game, it would be Edelman, which I doubt. So somebody on the outside, is it Brandon lefell? Keyshawn Martin will have targets in this game.
Andy Holloway
Gronk, I'm not confident about. About any of those guys. You're right. I mean, either one could have a big game, but there's so many options at wide receiver. I'm not going to be probably playing lefell.
Mike Wright
All right, that's fair enough. I mean, the Fell had an okay game last week, four or five for 88 yards. But yeah, it's. It's a risk.
Jason Moore
The problem with LA Fell is you. You keep waiting for it.
Mike Wright
I know he keeps you like, okay, Austin, Severin Jenkins.
Jason Moore
Finally, we finally got that okay game. Let's take the next step. And then he says, I'm gonna have a bad game. Then you go, okay, well.
Mike Wright
And then you go, oh, I didn't win my title because I played, you.
Jason Moore
Know, another okay game. So if you need an okay game and you want to be an okay team, you play Brandon Lefe.
Mike Wright
Brandon, the fell is made for the third place games. He's all about the third consolation bracket.
Jason Moore
Yeah, you put the fell in.
Mike Wright
That's nice. All right. The Cowboys and the Buffalo Bills. The Bills are big favorites at home somehow. So 42, it's hard to make anybody a favorite right now the way those two teams.
Jason Moore
I believe the answer is they're playing the Dallas Cowboys.
Mike Wright
There it is. Yeah. 42 and a half point over under though low scoring game. I would believe it. Mike pointed out earlier with Tyrod Taylor the odds of this game being low scoring are high because of the Kellen Moore, Tyra Taylor. The way the defense for, you know, the past defense for the Cowboys is six in the league. The Bills, their defense isn't great but they're at home and you've got a rookies and you've seen Dallas play football lately. So what do we really think about does Bryant? Because I'm more okay with him this week than I've been in the last few weeks.
Jason Moore
We saw Kellen Moore come out where to his credit of he makes the horrific rookie mistakes. You saw some just egregious interceptions. But he has come out and he has said he watched what Matt Castle has done and come out and basically try not to lose. I don't want to lose. I don't want to get embarrassed. Kelmore says screw that crap. I'm going to try and win this game and I'm going to sling the ball downfield and I'm going to throw it to DEZ Bryant because that's the smart thing to do.
Mike Wright
It's the right thing to do.
Jason Moore
On the touchdown. I mean he saw DEZ Bryant in a one on one situation on the outside who it was basically a sideways throw. But you've seen, we've seen Tony Romo do that and have great success because DEZ Bryant is, is a monster of a man. So I think DEZ Bryant, you can, you have to feel more comfortable with DEZ right now than you have felt in a very long time.
Mike Wright
I think that says it all. I agree completely. The ability to force feed him a little bit because you know the equation for, for scoring points is getting the ball into your best player. It's. It's so weird mathematics.
Jason Moore
I don't know why they haven't figured it out for weeks, but so do you.
Mike Wright
Are you fading Sammy Watkins? Mike, because of Tyrod Taylor or is he still a very startable guy? He's been on fire.
Jason Moore
He's still very startable for me. And the reason you get one touchdown bomb to Sammy Watkins makes your week. It makes the week for Tyler Taylor. He would need a couple of them to have a upper echelon quarterback performance. That's, that's the only reason I fade Taylor a bit in this game. But Watkins, there's no way you can sit him down right now. Yeah, he's.
Andy Holloway
He's too hot. Too hot right now. Let me ask you. Too hot and hot too. Let me ask you about a guy who was looking like he was fading and has come on strong the last two weeks.
Mike Wright
Very good week.
Andy Holloway
Last week in Darren McFadden. Darren McFadden has two weeks in a.
Jason Moore
Row, old man strength.
Andy Holloway
Old man strength. Two weeks in a row over 100 yards on the ground. And now he's facing the Buffalo bills that for four weeks in a row have given up more than 100 yards on the ground.
Mike Wright
I like Darren McFadden.
Andy Holloway
Yeah, I mean you've got to feel good with the baseline there of productivity. He's still got touchdown, you know, chances, but if he doesn't have a touchdown, he should be okay in that, in that running game.
Mike Wright
I think Darren McFadden, I figured it out. By the way, I know why he's playing so all at the end of the year. When you get season ending injuries early in your career, you can store up the back half of the season and use it later on. We have him as number eight in our rankings right now, as high as six on mics. Jason and I have him at 11. Look, you get what you need with him. You get a few passes, you get workload. You're going up against an okay matchup. You're going to want to mitigate the risk for Kellen Moore a little bit. I don't see a reason why Darren McFadden, I'd start him over the Denard Robinson Yelden Dance. I'd start him over Carlos Williams, start him over Todd Gurley in Seattle for sure.
Jason Moore
Darren McFadden, he found one of those Mega Man Energy tanks he replenished and he's now he's good to go. And we saw.
Mike Wright
That is not accurate. Nope, he didn't.
Jason Moore
What are you talking about? He did. He's running great.
Mike Wright
Yeah, I mostly just don't know what you're talking about.
Andy Holloway
So what?
Jason Moore
One of the guys play a Nintendo?
Andy Holloway
All right, all right. He didn't have a Nintendo. We've covered this. He wasn't.
Mike Wright
I had a Super Nintendo.
Andy Holloway
Okay.
Mike Wright
All right, so you're right. I didn't have. Did not have a friend that I could go to his house and play a Nintendo on.
Jason Moore
I have breaking news. There was Mega man games on Super Nintendo. You clearly did everything wrong in your childhood.
Andy Holloway
All right, let's get back to you.
Mike Wright
Forgotten most of my childhood.
Jason Moore
You.
Andy Holloway
You mentioned somebody that you would play Darren McFadden over, and it's in this game, which is Carlos Williams. Carlos Williams. Is he the guy to have here in this game at the running back position with Lashawn McCoy out?
Mike Wright
Yes.
Jason Moore
Yeah.
Mike Wright
I would start. I would start Carlos Williams. I'm okay starting him.
Andy Holloway
There's been a lot of questions as to who should be the number one waiver claim, and Carlos Williams has been in that mix.
Mike Wright
People are fearful about the comments that Rex Ryan made about him kind of being beat up and sore. They need him. They need him to be out there. He's been a guy that has gotten into the end zone. We all agree, because our rankings have him just outside the RB1 category. So, yes, he's the name that needs to get brought up because people need to be pushed towards starting him. I would start him over. The Artist Pains and the Christine Michaels. Yeah, I would.
Jason Moore
Yeah, I believe I would, too, because they're.
Mike Wright
They're an offense predicated on the run. And Carlos Williams has been a guy that's a big play type of guy. At least you have that opportunity there. I don't know what my big play opportunity is going to be with with Michael or with Artist Payne right now.
Andy Holloway
Yeah. I don't believe Carlos Williams has had a bad fantasy game ever as a starter. When he starts, he's had good games.
Mike Wright
Do you realize how many football games there are every week?
Andy Holloway
Well, we are one hour and 20 minutes in. I got the jacket off. We're rolling.
Mike Wright
You got any of those Mega man crap you mentioned?
Jason Moore
The Mega Man Energy tanks?
Mike Wright
You slide one over to me.
Jason Moore
No.
Mike Wright
All right.
Jason Moore
You get none.
Mike Wright
I know, I know. Panthers.
Jason Moore
We can do it. We can do it.
Mike Wright
I was just trying to start thinking about Super NES games that were my jam.
Jason Moore
Oh, be careful.
Mike Wright
I was jumping into, like, Donkey Kong country, so.
Andy Holloway
Wow. I just started scrolling. There are a lot of NFL games this week.
Mike Wright
Okay, Slide one over to Jason. All right. Panthers at the Falcons. Whoa. Is all Falcons?
Jason Moore
Yeah.
Mike Wright
I cannot tell you how frustrated I am as a Julio Jones owner. Yes, he was productive last week, but it's so annoying. He's productive in ways that his sheer talent allows him to be. But he scores on little screens in front of the line of scrimmage that he runs in. He doesn't get targeted on jump balls. Or how about wide receiver, One type of plays that you run for big time receivers. He doesn't get targeted on deep balls and deep shots, which by the way, despite that, they're statistically one of the most accurate teams going downfield. They won't do it. I just am so tired of it.
Jason Moore
I have this theory. I have this theory. You guys are familiar with the Parent Trap?
Mike Wright
Sure.
Jason Moore
With the, with the twins. And they switch places because they think it's so funny. Matt Ryan and Matt Stafford have switched.
Mike Wright
Places over the last few weeks. Yeah, all season.
Jason Moore
Especially over the last few weeks. They dabbled in it a little bit at the beginning, but Matt Stafford has. He's playing for Atlanta right now.
Andy Holloway
All right, so let's talk Julio then fantasy wise this week, owners have him in championship.
Mike Wright
Josh Norman.
Andy Holloway
Josh Norman. You, Andy, have him outside a wide receiver one. You've got him as you've got him at 13. So not. Not far behind.
Mike Wright
And that is calculated. That is not rage. That is. That is. Mike asked me the per. Here's the perfect summary. Mike asked me this question in the studio yesterday after we were done with the show. He said, will Atlanta be dumb again? He said, will they be dumb again and not put him in the slot? And I said, yes, they will. They will be dumb again. And they will play him like they did last week. And you will have your phone out wherever you are and you're following this game. And you will see Matt Ryan incomplete to Hardy, Matt Ryan incomplete to Tammy, Matt Ryan incomplete to Freeman. And you will never see Julio's name pop up until the game gets out of hand. And it doesn't mean I wouldn't start him. Like you said, he's just outside the wide receiver.
Andy Holloway
All right, it's championship. He's going in my lineup championship week. You've got two great wide receivers in there, and you need a third. And your options, if you have two.
Mike Wright
Great ones that are above Julio Jones at 12 in our rankings, then that's. That's amazing.
Andy Holloway
Yeah.
Mike Wright
Well done.
Andy Holloway
Well, let me. Let me give you who you've got, then I'll go by your rankings. Guys that you've got ahead of, ahead of Julio, you've got Jeremy Macklin and demarius Thomas in there. Okay, you're starting those guys over. Okay, let me give you a little better because I see Winston, like, no I'd start. I'd start Julio.
Mike Wright
I might move him up a couple spots.
Andy Holloway
Mike Evans and Sammy Watkins. Mike Evans and Sammy Watkins are in because I would play both of those guys over Julio. I think you would as well. And your third decision now is Julio or desean Jackson.
Mike Wright
Oh, Julio Jones represents what he's done all year. He's the top three receiver even in the game against Norman. 10 or 11 points. I guess I'd play Julio because I don't have. That's literally just shame mitigation.
Jason Moore
The name that jumps off the list from your rankings of confidence in how you feel about the wide receiver position this week. Julio Jones or Martavis Bryant, who gets a delicious matchup that we have.
Mike Wright
I'm playing Martavis Bryant.
Jason Moore
Okay. So we have found your threshold. You'll play Bryant over Julio. And it's very possible that people have both of those guys.
Mike Wright
Oh, my gosh.
Andy Holloway
Yeah.
Mike Wright
What am I going to do to people?
Andy Holloway
I would.
Mike Wright
Yes, yes. No.
Andy Holloway
I would as well.
Mike Wright
This is a team that cannot score points. They had 29 points over the last three weeks and they came out last week and it looked like they were getting it together like they do sometimes against bad matchups. Now they have a terrible matchup. I mean, in the sense that last week it was a good matchup is what I mean against Jacksonville. And Julio got it done on volume right now.
Andy Holloway
Let me tell you who I am confident in starting from Atlanta, which I think a lot of people are not confident. I'm the water boy starting devontae Freeman. I am personally now. But Jason, two weeks ago he played Carolina and he only got no touchdowns at 12 counties for 40 yards.
Jason Moore
He only got.
Andy Holloway
He only got no touchdowns.
Mike Wright
Voice of public opinion has no grammar skills.
Andy Holloway
No, none.
Jason Moore
That's weird that the voice of public opinion and Jason sacrifice the English language on a frequent basis.
Andy Holloway
Yeah. So I mean, two weeks ago against Carolina he had easily his worst game of the entire year and that's including when he wasn't starting in week one. So Devontae Freeman has to scare a lot of people, but scares Mike because.
Mike Wright
Mike will play Darren McFadden ahead of him.
Jason Moore
Woody in standard.
Mike Wright
In standard.
Jason Moore
In standard.
Andy Holloway
So, you know, I am confident starting Devontae Freeman. I've fielded a lot of questions and I think he's going to be okay. I don't, I don't necessarily. I definitely don't think he has one of his 30 point big blow up games. But this is one of the big differences that you have to realize is this is a Home game for Atlanta last time they were in Carolina. Those things make big differences for teams in the NFL. It's not the same as.
Mike Wright
It's also not every day that you're a seven point underdog at home.
Andy Holloway
Right.
Mike Wright
So I honestly think the Panthers fighting for perfection and if you want ability of the Falcons to do much on offense. I'm not. I don't disagree with you at all about Freeman but man, am I not excited about the Falcons.
Jason Moore
This is. Here's the. The only narrative that I will go with that maybe the Falcons maybe was if you. When you're thinking back now, now I'm remembering they lost the game. So. But when the Patriots were fighting for perfection last game of the. Of the season against the Giants who no one gave the Giants a chance. The Giants were not playing well at all. Yeah, they were in the playoffs but they just. They did not look like a very good team and they almost beat the Patriots as these. The teams can rally at home. These things happen.
Mike Wright
That was the year that the Giants won the Super Bowl.
Jason Moore
Correct. But I'm saying. But at to that point nobody was considering them a Super bowl contender. They were just in the playoffs.
Mike Wright
I agree with you 49ers take on the Detroit Lions. We talked about Matt Stafford. Golden Tate has been on a tear right now, which is not surprising because when Calvin Johnson is hurt or limited, it's the Golden Tate show. Absolutely extremely reliable right now. Love him in the playoffs. What is going on with the running game in Detroit?
Jason Moore
It's gotten better. It's gotten better. We saw Amir Abdullah, the man who can change direction moving 1,000 miles an hour, have a pretty good game. I mean he. It might have been his best game of the year. I'm not, I'm recalling that off of my memory but. And you also saw the ghost of.
Mike Wright
Joy Bell came out 71 yards in a touchdown on eight carries.
Andy Holloway
And well, he had that super weird play at the end of the game.
Jason Moore
Where he killed the game. Yeah, they. You. You knew they were going to run the ball and they, they had this situation two weeks ago the Lions did against Green Bay, Joy Bell lost yards. And in this game against the Saints, Joy Bell ripped off a huge run. So the running game.
Andy Holloway
I'm going to go ahead and blame that on the Saints. I will. Because he didn't, he didn't do anything special.
Jason Moore
Oh, is that Milli Vanilli?
Andy Holloway
He didn't do anything special in that play. I couldn't even understand what I was watching.
Mike Wright
You have to be extremely forward.
Andy Holloway
Yes. He did through a giant.
Jason Moore
I told you, he's a ghost. You can't tackle a ghost.
Mike Wright
And on that note.
Andy Holloway
So do you start Amir Abdullah? Do you chase what he did last week and start him this week?
Jason Moore
It. I don't think Abdullah is necessarily just chasing last week. Over the last month, he has been improving and getting more usage. So if you're. If you want to flex him, I'm okay with that.
Mike Wright
Is there any chance that you start Sean Drone? If he's healthy?
Andy Holloway
Yes.
Mike Wright
You would.
Andy Holloway
I would not. I would not. I think.
Mike Wright
I think start any of those other guys.
Andy Holloway
Yep. Me too.
Jason Moore
You would start Abdullah over. Over Drone?
Andy Holloway
That's a fair question.
Mike Wright
Yeah, I think I would.
Jason Moore
To me. To me.
Mike Wright
Because I'm worried about the injury situation.
Andy Holloway
I would as well. Because of the match.
Mike Wright
I guess full practice the rest of the week or something like that. But he's not going to.
Jason Moore
Even if he doesn't. They cut his backup. They brought in a guy off of the street.
Andy Holloway
Well, their rookie is back at practice now.
Jason Moore
That's very fair. Davis. Mike Davis.
Andy Holloway
Yes, Mike Davis is back at practice. So I think that that had something to do.
Jason Moore
Yeah, that could have to do with it.
Mike Wright
Mike Davis just don't feel great about it. That's all it is.
Jason Moore
That's very. That's very fair.
Mike Wright
Texans take on the Titans.
Andy Holloway
We have to talk Calvin Johnson. Oh, people need to know what to do. It's the scare. He was almost my set of the week. And the whole reason he wasn't my set of the week is because San Francisco, you know, going on the road is just one of those defenses that's.
Mike Wright
Like Calvin, they don't travel 26 against the pass.
Andy Holloway
Yeah.
Mike Wright
Not a good passing defense.
Andy Holloway
But. But Calvin, we saw this last year when he was hurt with his ankle. He was a decoy and he wasn't used. And that's what's going on right now. How do you. If you've got good options, it's such.
Mike Wright
A Tyler Lockett or Calvin Johnson this week.
Andy Holloway
I would go Calvin over Tyler Lockett. That one to me is a little bit easier. But, you know, if you've got Larry.
Mike Wright
Fitzgerald or Calvin Johnson this week.
Andy Holloway
Yeah, I mean, I would. I would go Larry.
Mike Wright
Any of the Arizona wide receivers over Calvin.
Andy Holloway
Yeah, I would go Floyd, probably Brown.
Mike Wright
Okay, that. I mean, that's interesting.
Andy Holloway
Yeah, I'm. I'm not loving the idea of Roland Calvin Johnson out there. And there's a lot of people.
Mike Wright
I mean, there are a lot of people. True. I mean, we're get we're getting through these, this forecast, and we're looking at the matchups and there are big names coming up. Julio, Calvin, A.J.
Andy Holloway
Green, might.
Mike Wright
Devontae Freeman, A.J. green. These are big time names. And if you cannot, which I don't even know, push comes to shove, depending on my matchup, which guy. In which situation, if they got you here and they're starting, you might not. You. You might not be able to sit them down. It's just literally. Can you live with yourself by. It's the whole Big Ben situation with Denver last week. If you started somebody that was a complete flyer versus Big Ben against Denver, could you have lived with yourself when Big Ben exploded like he did last week? It's hard to do that. I mean, it's. It's one of those things that if you're going out there and you're going to stream five or six positions because that's your choice. Megatron, yes. If you have Martavis Bryant, maybe it makes it easy, but Megatron, and you've got a middling guy and you've got.
Andy Holloway
Ted Ginn Jr. Yeah, Ted Ginn Jr. Who got four teams, is getting in the red zone.
Mike Wright
I think you have to start Ted Gin Jr.
Andy Holloway
I agree. I think I would start Ted Ginn Jr. Over Calvin Johnson, which means, oh.
Mike Wright
My goodness, crazy world.
Jason Moore
We got to stop the show that.
Andy Holloway
I mean, that's a hard thing to click save lineup on, you know. Yeah.
Jason Moore
You're like, oh, but so.
Mike Wright
So that shows our confidence in Megatron right now.
Andy Holloway
Yeah.
Mike Wright
We don't know what's going on. This was a. This was a shootout on Monday night. Essentially, it turned into that. It turned into the. The Saints. Yes, they came back on them, but Calvin wasn't getting targets.
Jason Moore
Yeah. What. But what we can say for sure is if the Lions go up a few scores, the 49ers do not have what it takes to come back on the road.
Mike Wright
That is true. All right. We have to move on. We still have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 games left. This is why I almost forgot Calvin Johnson. I want to sleep tonight. All right. The Texans take on the Titans without Marcus Mariota. The Texans should have. Could have Brian Hoyer back. I really think that this is a game that they're going to control from start to finish. The Titans have been bad. There's no other way to put it. Doesn't matter who they play. It doesn't matter what their situation is. They've just been bad. They're a bad team. I'm sorry, Titans fans, you have a Bright future with that quarterback and with Dorielle Green, Beckham growing up and, and hopefully that they can, hopefully this offseason they can draft a running back. That is the hope for me is that they can draft somebody that can come in and be a game changing running back.
Andy Holloway
We're both looking up the exact same thing.
Jason Moore
Yeah.
Andy Holloway
There's no way that's right. Is it right?
Jason Moore
It is.
Andy Holloway
Wow. We were both googling the spread that Tennessee at least when it's favored by 4 1/2 points. So I would say this would be Andy's almost upset of the Wake, maybe ludicrous line.
Jason Moore
Maybe that line has changed. And that opened because they thought that Brandon Wheaton was going to be the quarterback. And if, if it trends to. To Hoyer, that that has to flip.
Mike Wright
You're right. If Brandon Wheaton. Brandon Whedon's in there and they're at home, I could see a toss up.
Jason Moore
Four and a half.
Mike Wright
Yeah, that's all right.
Jason Moore
All right.
Mike Wright
Vegas doesn't run very often.
Jason Moore
Sure.
Mike Wright
Well, does that change your whole equation? Are the Titans going to the playoffs?
Andy Holloway
They're in.
Mike Wright
You both looked completely aghast across from me here while I was talking about the game. You're both thinking, okay, is that the other direction? But right now betting is off. Betting was off on that because they're waiting on the Hoyer and the Weedon situation. So talked about Alfred Blue Mike likes him compared to some other options because of the volume. DeAndre Hopkins, what's his story?
Jason Moore
Well, he, he grew up in a small town.
Mike Wright
Okay.
Jason Moore
Apparently he got a funny nickname that, that half of the world knows how to pronounce and half does not because it's either Nuk or Nuke. And that keeps going back and forth on Twitter. They keep saying, no, it's Nuk. No, it's Nuke. Can someone get DeAndre Hopkins on the phone and confirm what his nickname actually is?
Andy Holloway
It's nuke.
Jason Moore
You're 100% confident?
Andy Holloway
I am 100% confident.
Mike Wright
All right, so it's settled. Last game, 11 targets, which is good to see because he was in that he was basically 11 or more targets for the first one to basically 8, 9 weeks of the season. Kind of dipped back down. Now he was at 11 last week, 94 receiving yards. Still hasn't been getting into the end zone as consistently. You like him this week.
Jason Moore
He's still a must start guy. Yep.
Andy Holloway
Yep.
Jason Moore
You're going to. The way I see the game going, you're going to have to hope that he's the one who scores early though, because I really see the Texans taking control of this game.
Mike Wright
Unfortunately, Vegas is not the Titans. The Titans are going to dominate from start to finish. Possible Mettenberger, Sankey, they're going to get it done.
Jason Moore
We know that Mettenberger and J.J. watt have a history.
Mike Wright
Oh, yeah.
Jason Moore
They do not like each other.
Andy Holloway
Oh, that's great. Great news for what I think is a good play in the Texans defense.
Mike Wright
I think that might be one of the bigger starts of this game is the defense. So you're not playing Hoyer if he plays. You're just hoping he benefits Hopkins in a good way in that offense.
Jason Moore
Yeah. I mean, Hoyer wouldn't be a terrible streamer. He's been very productive in his starts. Very productive.
Mike Wright
He has, yes. So the Steelers take on the Ravens. Boy, this game doesn't mean quite what it used to. These games were always dog fights. It didn't matter who was where. And maybe it will be again by some miracle of Jimmy Claussen. But the Ravens at home, 10, 10 point underdogs, dealers, are the team that.
Jason Moore
I think that's no respect.
Mike Wright
If I had to pick a team to get to the super bowl right now it's the Pittsburgh Steelers. They got to make the playoffs first, but they, if they do the pedigree, the offense, I would be, I'd be frightened to face them in a divisional matchup.
Jason Moore
Yes, I completely agree.
Mike Wright
They're going to come on the road and they're going to land in your building and you're going to go, man, how did we draw this team?
Andy Holloway
So you're going to.
Jason Moore
Why aren't we playing Washington? I mean, it's a different division, but.
Andy Holloway
So again, why are we playing the Texans against all of these, you know, matchups? You're going to play every single Steeler on the offensive side of the ball. You're going to play Big Ben. I mean, you're probably not going to play Wheaton, but you're going, you know, Martavis Bryant, Antonio Brown, Big Ben and D'Angelo Williams. They're going to be starting on virtually every roster out there.
Mike Wright
Yes.
Andy Holloway
So what do you do with Buck Allen?
Mike Wright
Nothing.
Andy Holloway
You don't play Buck Allen.
Mike Wright
You don't touch him with a ten foot pole.
Andy Holloway
Really?
Mike Wright
No.
Andy Holloway
I have a little bit more confidence in Buck Allen than you do based on what Harbaugh said.
Mike Wright
You know, what about based on the stat line last week.
Andy Holloway
Well, he got pulled and the game before, the game before was a terrible matchup where we said Buck Allen, he.
Mike Wright
Still had some catches Is there a framework of bet that I can do with Buck Allen? Because I just don't like, first of all, who's going to be winning this game?
Jason Moore
I think it's. It's pretty clear. It's the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Mike Wright
Yeah. I mean, Buck Allen is going to have to make hay in the passing game. He doesn't have shop to do it anymore. It's going to be Clawson or Mallet. They're going to stuff the run and make those guys throw just like they've done against Buck Allen the last few weeks. I don't like him. You can't make me like him. Well, I don't like him on a plane. I don't like him in a train.
Andy Holloway
So here's my.
Mike Wright
I like him in a tunnel.
Andy Holloway
Here's my point of fun on that is that Buck Allen is going to. He is their main pass catching back and he's excellent at that. And they're going to be down. And the Pittsburgh Steelers are a good defense against the ground game, but I think they can be beat there. They're not one of those teams that terrify me for a player like Buck Allen. I think that what Harbaugh did last week and benching him because he fumbled and then saying, no, we're not going to keep benching Buck Allen, that was to send a message. I think he's going to put him back out there until he fumbles again. That's the only worry I have is that you've got a big risk in another fumble and a pole. However, I believe Buck Allen has a decent game. I mean, I would say Buck Allen's, you know, is in a PPR set.
Jason Moore
Or three or low two.
Andy Holloway
I would say he's a low two, but that's going to be starting on a lot of rosters and I'm not afraid of him the way that you are. I'm not a guaranteed. You got to sit Buck Allen. I think you can have a fine game.
Jason Moore
That's fair.
Mike Wright
All right. Now the only guy we'll start because the Steelers can be thrown on. They're the 31st ranked past defense.
Jason Moore
Oh, yeah.
Mike Wright
Is Kamar Akin. The surprisingly good kind of keeps doing it. And when the quarterback, whoever it shall be named, fades back in the pocket and he looks Kamar Akin's way and he throws the ball and hopes and Kamara Akin's been coming down with him.
Jason Moore
Kamara Akin gets open. Yeah, that's what he does.
Mike Wright
Yeah. I mean, he's been, he's been their guy. So I'm okay. Playing him. That's it. That's all. I'm okay.
Jason Moore
How do you feel about Heath Miller this week?
Mike Wright
I am. I thought about trying to stretch him into a start, and I just can't do it.
Andy Holloway
He was almost my set of the week. He would have been my set of the week. I would rather have Austin's Ferrian Jenkins than Heath Miller.
Mike Wright
The worry in this game is we saw an equation that amounted to a conservative offensive approach when they played Cincinnati and Andy Dalton went out, Big Ben had one touch or no touchdowns in that game, and they didn't need it. So the question is, is it. Does your guy. Whether it's Martavis Bryant, D Will Brown, does he get it early in this game and then do they kind of change the game plan a little bit? I don't know if they want to beat the Ravens by 74 points.
Jason Moore
I think they do.
Andy Holloway
The one thing that I don't know, the one thing that gives me more confidence in is D. Will, because if D Will ends up getting the early scores, then he's going to be used often. If he doesn't get the early scores, then he's going to be used often.
Mike Wright
So that's a good. I'll take often and often.
Jason Moore
Now, the Steelers defense, I like them very much. I know they're on the road, but I like the Steelers defense this week.
Mike Wright
All right. The Jacksonville Jaguars go on the road to New Orleans to take on the Saints. Saints are favored. Obviously, it depends upon the breeze situation. We're going to presume breeze right now. I think a play. I think that's a good presumption. Everybody wants to know, do I start Blake Bortles over blank. And that's almost everybody. I've heard Tom Brady. I've heard Cam Newton.
Andy Holloway
Nope.
Mike Wright
I've heard Carson Palmer, possibly. So you would do that?
Andy Holloway
It would be.
Jason Moore
Possibly.
Andy Holloway
It would be in the consideration of which guy would I start between Carson and Blake Bortles, but I would still probably start Carson.
Mike Wright
Okay, there's.
Andy Holloway
There's about five guys I would start over Blake Bortles. Here's a guy I would start Blake Bortles over this week in my fantasy championship.
Jason Moore
Oh, it's tough. Oh, I know what's coming.
Andy Holloway
It's Aaron Rodgers.
Mike Wright
Oh, yes.
Andy Holloway
I would start Blake Bortles in a great matchup. He's been a great fantasy option this year. You're not. You're not pulling from the, you know, from the waiver wire where. Where you're saying, hey, he's got a good matchup. And that's the only reason. You got to ride the waiver. You got to ride that. Ride that snake.
Mike Wright
It just felt like the right time.
Andy Holloway
And you've got Aaron Rodgers, you know, who hasn't been that great lately going to Arizona, playing the Cardinals defense. So I would. I would absolutely play Blake Bortles over him.
Jason Moore
I have that ranked accordingly. I would also play Bortles over Aaron Rodgers in a crazy world.
Mike Wright
So we've talked a lot about the offense for New Orleans with love of Brandon Cooks this week. Ben Watson has been very reliable. I don't have any reason to dislike him this week. It's kind of an even keel type of tight end that'll get you some catches. Got a touchdown last week. They lean on him. What do we think about Tim Hightower? I like him a lot.
Jason Moore
Yeah, I like him to the Spiller, I believe, had kind of his highest snap percentage of the year. But Hightower appears to be the guy who is going to get the.
Mike Wright
He looks fast. He looks pretty quick.
Jason Moore
Well, he hasn't had to play a game in four years.
Mike Wright
He's been storing it up just like me. Fadden. I like Hightower a lot. I think he. He gives you everything you need. He gives you upside. He scored and it got called back last game. He gives you volume. He gives you pass catching and half point. Full point ppr. I love Hightower, honestly. Give me Hightower over Gore. Give me Hightower over Lamar Miller.
Jason Moore
Assuming that Drew Brees plays. This is a situation of I'm starting essentially everybody from this game because I think it's.
Mike Wright
Oh, you're right.
Jason Moore
52 over. Under.
Mike Wright
Oh, my goodness.
Jason Moore
That's crazy.
Andy Holloway
The question is going to come in and I think we have to answer this because we don't have more shows this week. The. We have to. If Breeze is gone, where do we value Snead or Cooks or Hightower? Because you're still going to play on Robinson.
Jason Moore
Shoebox.
Mike Wright
Shoebox him.
Jason Moore
I would even Cook. I'd still be willing to shoebox Cooks. I would still play him. There's. I can't. There's not many options. Cooks has been great, and I know a lot of that is Drew Brees, but can you.
Andy Holloway
Okay, so Drew Brees is out. Would you play Cooks or desean Jackson?
Jason Moore
That one. I'd probably go D. Jacks.
Mike Wright
Yeah.
Andy Holloway
Cooks or Michael Floyd.
Jason Moore
Floyd Lloyd.
Mike Wright
Is this. If Breeze is out.
Andy Holloway
If Breeze.
Mike Wright
These are easy ones so far.
Andy Holloway
Okay. Cooks or Ty Hilton?
Jason Moore
Cooks.
Mike Wright
They're identical.
Andy Holloway
Okay.
Mike Wright
I try to start somebody else.
Jason Moore
That's not the name.
Mike Wright
I know, I know. Give me Cooks.
Andy Holloway
Last one. Last one.
Mike Wright
I'm the one who normally says that too.
Andy Holloway
Last one. You've got. You've got breeze out and you've got brewing. Brandon Cooks or Jordan Matthews.
Mike Wright
I play Jordan Matthews. He's playing. I mean, I'll take a chance on the upside of how he's been playing. He's been playing good. All right, we got to move on. We're getting closer to the two hour mark and we still got four matches. Well, we need to do our best to stay around that area just for the sake of getting the show up at any time today.
Andy Holloway
Yeah.
Mike Wright
So the Rams and Seahawks, divisional matchup in Seattle. Mike, what do we do with. What do we do with Ty Gurley?
Jason Moore
Oh, man, that is the. That's the big question from this game is. Oh, he. He's one of those guys. He's like Lamar Miller. If I have him, I'm probably Miller or Todd Gurley.
Andy Holloway
That's a great question.
Jason Moore
My eyes are.
Mike Wright
I'm gonna play Todd Gurley.
Jason Moore
My eyes are squinting.
Mike Wright
Yep.
Jason Moore
And I don't like it.
Mike Wright
That's not how the game's played, Mike.
Jason Moore
Well, I'm still thinking I would go Lamar Miller. Lamar Miller in a better matchup.
Mike Wright
Okay. All right. I would go Ty Gurley myself. He's been better with Keenum. That offense just came off a good game. Divisional game. Yes. The Seahawks are going to win the game.
Jason Moore
I have. I have a theory about Case Keenum. It is that he will, the true Case Keenan will show up in this game against the Seahawks. He will be exposed and it's going to be really, really bad for Case Keenum.
Andy Holloway
Yeah.
Mike Wright
You got to like the Seahawks defense. I like Tyler Lockett. I like Doug Baldwin. I like Curse. I like all three guys, man.
Andy Holloway
The Seahawks defense against the running backs, looking at what they've done total, and this isn't just to their starting running back, but to the whole team. 69 yards, 30 yards, 35 yards, 29 yards, 37 yards. They are the number one ranked rush defense. That's tough for me.
Mike Wright
And here's.
Jason Moore
Here's the thing with. These are new Seahawks. These aren't a grinded out. Maybe a running back can put up volume against us. This is a Seahawk team that is airing it out. They are blowing teams out. They are removing the running game from the equation. Not only are they a ridiculously good run defense, you don't have an opportunity to establish the run. When you have to throw, you go down by two Scores in five minutes. You have to throw the ball. So I just. It's tough.
Andy Holloway
Give me Lamar Miller.
Jason Moore
Yeah, there we go.
Mike Wright
I really like Tyler Lockett again as a flex guy. Baldwin is in your lineup?
Jason Moore
Yes.
Mike Wright
For goodness sakes, he's in your lineup. He might not be in the Pro bowl, but he's in your lineup. Yeah.
Andy Holloway
He's the number one wide receiver second half of the year. Yeah.
Mike Wright
And then what do you guys think of curse?
Jason Moore
I love to curse.
Andy Holloway
Dad jokes.
Jason Moore
No, I'm not going to do it. I mean, it's. Sure. If you want to stretch it out.
Mike Wright
He's been killing it the last two weeks. Killing it.
Jason Moore
What are his numbers?
Mike Wright
Last week, seven of eight targets, 110 yards against the Browns. The week before, I think his target numbers were at nine. And he had six or seven catches, seven for 74 against the Ravens. He has been involved. And I still think this is a bit of a coin flip on which guy catches the touchdowns.
Jason Moore
Yeah, that's very fair. Those are two really bad past defenses, but I guess the Rams aren't that much further.
Mike Wright
21St in the league right now.
Andy Holloway
I don't expect this. The one thing I will say is.
Mike Wright
I think Baldwin lock it. Curse.
Andy Holloway
Last week against the Browns, I expected there to be a ton of points that Seattle was putting up. I don't think that this is going to be as high scoring a game. Vegas has it at 40 as the total over under in the game and that's very low. So I don't see 31. Yeah, exactly. I don't see three wide receivers getting involved. Lockett I'm okay with, but I'm not going to go curse.
Jason Moore
40. It's a 40 point over under, but the Seahawks are favored by almost 14 points. So the implied team total for the Seahawks is still a lot of points.
Mike Wright
All right, we have to move on. The Green Bay packers take on the Arizona Cardinals. This is a game that matters for both teams. The Cardinals have a chance to clinch the bye week, which is crucial. They just lost Tyron Matthews, so there's a. There's a funk in Arizona right now.
Jason Moore
Yeah.
Mike Wright
And I know it doesn't have a lot of fantasy relevance, but it might for the sake of Rogers in the passing game a little bit. McCarthy back at the helm of the play calling. Talked about that at length with Richard Rogers, but what does that mean for a guy like James Jones who had a good week? Randall Cobb, even Devonte Adams was involved.
Jason Moore
Sorry.
Mike Wright
Well, you guys have so much to say. Thank you for this.
Andy Holloway
I thought Jason was jumping in. I thought you were. I just. This game is so important from a playoff standpoint. You have quite the swallow. Sorry. The only team that could take. The only team that could take over the Cardinals bye week is the Packers. And it only happens if the packers win this game. So it's very, very important from a Cardinal standpoint. I think you see you're dying. Yeah. You see David Johnson getting the ball and trying to control this with the, with the hurt defense.
Mike Wright
Who?
Andy Holloway
David Johnson. I apologize.
Mike Wright
It's been two hours. We need it.
Andy Holloway
As far as you know, the wide receivers that I would start from the packers, it's probably going to be nobody. James Jones would, would be the only guy I would consider starting, I think over Cobb.
Jason Moore
Well, is Cobb going to get Patrick Peterson?
Andy Holloway
That's the question. So Cobb is. I think Cobb gets Patrick Peterson. But what do you guys think?
Jason Moore
Probably I would tend to agree that Patrick Peterson will shadow Cobb.
Mike Wright
Yeah, I'd still play Cobb over James Jones.
Jason Moore
Yeah.
Mike Wright
If.
Jason Moore
For.
Mike Wright
In a standard league maybe Jones, but.
Jason Moore
In PPR leagues I would, I would play Cobb. He's the better probability play.
Andy Holloway
But that's what this says to me is I don't, I don't play. I'm not chasing anything for the packers passing game here. I'm not going to play Richard Rogers, I'm not going to play James Jones. I'm not going to play Randall Cobb. That's how I see it.
Mike Wright
See, see I would apply the Matthew situation a lot more to Cobb than I would Richard Rogers. Matthew has been. He's the slot corner. He's not just a free safety, he's the nickel corner. He's the guy who comes in and stops the third down play to Randall Cobb. So if they can adjust then that'll be true. But I like the volume numbers for Cobb. That's why I'm okay with him.
Jason Moore
Here's the hard part though. I mean this is a 50 point over under Vegas is saying there will be points scored in this game and they will just. You can't sit all your packers down. You have to play somebody because someone's gonna score and I don't think it's gonna be Eddie Lacy. So maybe it's James Starks and the receiving corps will get something done. So you gotta, you have to start packers in this game.
Mike Wright
And then Cardinals wide receivers, we have Larry Fitzgerald who's been kind of not performing for fantasy owners.
Andy Holloway
Yeah.
Jason Moore
The emergence of Michael Floyd has, has killed Larry's touchdowns.
Mike Wright
And then John Brown, three drops last week. But Still a productive week with the touchdowns. If I had to rank these guys, you see, if you agree with me, I'd go Floyd Brown. Fitz.
Andy Holloway
That is exactly how I would.
Jason Moore
I think that's how I have it.
Mike Wright
All right, two games left. The Giants and the Vikings. This is a primetime game. We're still waiting to hear about Odell Beckham Jr. Unfortunately, that appeal is set to go by or go through today. So we are checking during the course.
Jason Moore
I'm going to check right now.
Mike Wright
Yes.
Andy Holloway
So I can't imagine he wins the appeal. That's just prediction.
Mike Wright
I don't know, man. Those bats, they're scary. They could drive a man over the edge to take no responsibility for his own actions. All right, the Giants and Vikings. Bridgewater, listen. Near perfect passer rating last week, throwing four touchdowns, three incompletions, two straight games of great quarterbacking performance. And the Giants, well, we know what. The giants are the 32nd in the league against the pass and they don't know how to. They don't know how to stop the pass. That being said, I think they'll put up some points on the Vikings. So this is a game Vegas has that are 46 point or 45 and a half point over under. The Vikings are favored. We expect AP to play. He said he should be good to go. So AP owners, breathe with me.
Jason Moore
Breathe with me.
Andy Holloway
AP Is a fine.
Mike Wright
I wanted him to relax. I didn't want the prodigy. I wanted him to relax.
Jason Moore
Well, you can't say breathe with me then.
Mike Wright
Yeah, I know. I got to be careful. So I want to know, guys, Stefan Diggs, is he. Is he back in town? Are you starting him this week? Stephanie Diggs or. Or Tyler Lockett.
Jason Moore
I'll go lock it.
Mike Wright
Jermaine Curse.
Andy Holloway
I would go digs over Curse Diggs.
Mike Wright
I'll take curse.
Andy Holloway
Really?
Mike Wright
You guys are doubters. You guys are cursed Doubters.
Jason Moore
That's more of a. Diggs is. Diggs could do something this week.
Mike Wright
Okay.
Andy Holloway
Diggs is. Diggs is the number one for his team, whereas curse.
Mike Wright
No, you're right.
Andy Holloway
You want to water.
Mike Wright
No, I don't. I don't. Because this is a 200 giants. It's the Giants. So we like will tie the tie fighter at tight end. He's a really good. Wow, there's a lot of ties. Tie is a tight end. That's perfect. He is somebody who. Without Odell Beckham Jr. I love. I love him this week because he offers me the baseline and he offers me the upside. Then you're not going to have Odell Beckham Jr. Being targeted in the end zone if he's not playing, I think.
Jason Moore
And Reuben, the wide receivers, Ruben Randle and Harris, they, they do get a bump, but Ruben Randle has a very long career of letting you down.
Mike Wright
So. Okay, so that's a lot of people, Odell Beckham Jr. Owners, they have Randall or they want Randall. Are you fine just kind of rolling Randall out there?
Jason Moore
Yes, I am fine because I think that Randall will be involved and Randall has had good games. I just, I don't love it. Say you don't love what Randall? I don't love Randall. I, But I'm perfectly okay with it that you're, you're in a pinch, you got, you got Beckham, you don't think he's going to play. Then to go with Randall.
Mike Wright
All we got, we got another player who's enjoying the mega man benefits of the late season run and that's Rashad Jennings.
Andy Holloway
Yeah. Wow.
Jason Moore
We got really excited.
Mike Wright
Ready for some Rashad Jennings? Rashad, so what is the story here? How can we, can we start him this week? And who would you start him over? I can tell you where we have him in the rankings, but what are your thoughts on Rashad Jennings?
Andy Holloway
The problem that I have with Rashad Jennings is really the matchup. My, you know, Minnesota has a good run D, but Rashad Jennings has always been a very productive runner. The issue has just been he's been splitting in a three way timeshare. But when he came, I mean, look at last year when he was the guy, he was amazing.
Mike Wright
Well, yeah, well, that's not really true.
Andy Holloway
In the beginning of the year. Last year, for fantasy purposes. That's what I'm talking about.
Jason Moore
Yes.
Mike Wright
As a runner in the beginning of the year.
Jason Moore
No, his, his yards per carry were.
Andy Holloway
He was the guy. No, but when he's been the guy, he's been a productive fantasy player. The last two weeks he's been the guy. He's had 22 carries and 16 carries. And so the question now is, you know, are they going to be able to overcome the run D? You know, Chicago only put up actually, you know, Minnesota's run D. I don't think they're the same right now with their injuries.
Mike Wright
Well, because the backer was out again last week and you know, if he's back, look, who would you start him over? Alfred Blue.
Andy Holloway
Yes.
Mike Wright
Would you start him over Cameron Artist? Payne?
Andy Holloway
No.
Mike Wright
Would you start him over Gio Bernard in a standard?
Andy Holloway
In standard? Yes.
Mike Wright
Jeremy Langford in a standard?
Andy Holloway
No.
Mike Wright
Alfred Morris in A standard.
Andy Holloway
Yes.
Mike Wright
You start him over. Alfred Morris.
Andy Holloway
Yes.
Mike Wright
James Starks.
Andy Holloway
Yes.
Mike Wright
Okay. I just, I want some context for it that is very helpful for people who are thinking about Rashad Jenius going, boy, those numbers starting to look nice. What do I do here when I'm in a pinch? I don't have Rawls anymore. I don't have Jonathan Stewart.
Andy Holloway
You don't have Beckham. What do you need to do? You don't want to get into some kind of a shootout. You need to control the ball a little bit more and get a better running game. So.
Mike Wright
All right. We are going to hit the Monday night game. Is that all right?
Jason Moore
In the face.
Mike Wright
Right in the face. The Bengals and the Broncos. Monday night football. The McCarran Osweiler Battle of all battles.
Jason Moore
Oh, we've all been looking forward to this.
Mike Wright
Is there any, you know, give some context here. Kubiak has been talking about the. Kubbs has been talking about his quarterback situation and he says he's going to start from scratch. So what does that mean?
Jason Moore
It means that Osweiler is going to play this week. I think, I don't think Manning's coming in this week.
Mike Wright
Well, the focus for Manning is rehabbing right now and Osweiler can get him through this week. They need to. You know, they could still miss the playoffs, right?
Jason Moore
Denver.
Mike Wright
No, I think there's still a chance that they can. Really? Yes, they do.
Jason Moore
Who's in the wild? I know the Steelers.
Mike Wright
I'll have to let you talk about the game.
Andy Holloway
Okay. Statistically, I think you're right, but I don't think it's going to.
Jason Moore
Here's the deal with Osweiler.
Mike Wright
Here's how the 10 and 4 division leading Broncos.
Andy Holloway
Okay.
Mike Wright
Can miss the playoffs. Here's how in this scenario, the Broncos lose. The Chiefs lose to the Bengals and the Chargers and beat the Chargers and they finish 11 and 5. The jets went out 11 and 5. The Steelers win at Baltimore and at Cleveland, 11 and 5. Chiefs win their home games 11 and 5. The Broncos missed the playoffs in that situation. That's not an impossible situation.
Jason Moore
That's.
Mike Wright
That's actually a reasonable situation. You better win this game.
Andy Holloway
So the big issue there is that means the jets would have to beat New England this weekend at home.
Jason Moore
It could happen.
Andy Holloway
It could happen.
Mike Wright
With no Amendola and Edelman.
Andy Holloway
Sure, sure. But that's one of the difficulties.
Jason Moore
Yep.
Mike Wright
But I. This was an unforeseeable impossibility based on their start and how they'd been playing. And now the Broncos are in that situation. So I say all that to say this is a big game for Denver, this is a big game for that franchise right now to secure a playoff spot to likely secure the division. Win this game, you're probably going to win your next one. Emmanuel Sanders exploded last week. What do we do with the wide receivers? Because it feels like something where I can put them out there. They might have these big games, they might not. Because of the flow of the game and Osweiler's capability. The first and second half last week were insanely different.
Jason Moore
Yeah, it's. And it's ceiling. I, I know that the both Sanders and demarius Thomas have tremendous ceiling. So I'm okay playing them. I. The. The floor is clearly lower. Clearly lower with, with. With Osweiler with the way they've in it flowing the game. And Brock Osweiler, perfect example. Anything that happens can happen in reverse.
Mike Wright
There you go.
Jason Moore
Because the first half could he could not have looked a better quarterback and the second half was. Could not have looked a worse quarterback. He is very much a one read.
Mike Wright
Guy and with good physical skill to make the throw.
Jason Moore
If it's there and you cover that one, the first read, then there's gonna be problems for, for Osweiler. But I think because of how well he played in the first half that it's gonna be Osweiler. Now I'm with Jason though. I'm not. He's not a guy that I'm gonna chase those points. Especially against the Bengals.
Mike Wright
Yeah. Jason said of the week was Brock Osweiler. Jason, what are your thoughts on the Sanders Thomas confidence And then what else do you see from this game?
Andy Holloway
You know, either one of those guys, both those guys are startable, they're going to be fine. The problem that I have with them is actually their ceiling. I don't think they've got this game. I see as a lower scoring game. You have two great defenses, both who have lost their original starting quarterback. And I have quarterback questions right now. So I think both teams, if you're, if you're the Bengals right now, you're going up in a matchup against the absolute best pass defense imaginable. You've lost Tyler Eifert, you might not have AJ Green and they're a little bit more susceptible on the ground. I feel like you have to try to make this one of those defensive type of battles where you're going to use Geo and you're going to use Jeremy Hill. They gave him over 30 total carries last game. I expect something like that to happen again, which just brings the fantasy value down across the board. On both sides of the ball. So when it comes to Emmanuel Sanders and demarius Thomas, I think both are okay plays because either one Both could get seven catches for 90 yards and one of them get a touchdown. But I don't see any situation where they both explode and there's just this high scoring back and forth. You know, there's just two good. Two good defenses on the field, and it's fair.
Jason Moore
But in a situation where one of them can go off, I'm going to play them both, so to speak. I'm not sure people have both of them on their team. So if you have to pick one, I guess I'd go Thomas. If you. If you have to absolutely pick between them, that's. That's a tough choice, though.
Mike Wright
Well, and Jason, I think your take is spot on. I think this is going to be a game that disappoints fantasy owners who start players in this game. I think Hill and Bernard combined for 1.9 a carry last week. Now you go, you know, you have to take on the number one run defense, you said. I mean, the truth is the Broncos are the number one pass defense.
Andy Holloway
Right.
Mike Wright
And so the way you try to beat them is through the number one run defense, and that's just a tall task. I think that the Bengals are going to have a hard time scoring, especially without Green and Eifert. And even if you have Green, do you start Green? Let's say he's healthy.
Jason Moore
Yeah, I started.
Mike Wright
Okay. So we do with Green what we did with Antonio Brown last week.
Jason Moore
They're different players, but I would still start him. And I think Geo might be a sneaky play this week.
Mike Wright
Okay.
Andy Holloway
Which.
Jason Moore
That's one of those.
Mike Wright
Might need to use another pass catching guy. The forte situation with Jeffrey, it's just.
Jason Moore
That that kind of gut feeling of assimilating all the information and variables of the game could be sneaky.
Andy Holloway
Yeah. And I agree. Do you know how many carries Gio Bernard, Gio Bernari, Gio Bernard had on the ground, how many running back carries he got?
Mike Wright
I do not.
Jason Moore
Last week.
Andy Holloway
14. Yes, 14.
Jason Moore
Yeah. Hill was not in the game to start. There was something weird going on.
Andy Holloway
Do you know how many carries hill got? 19. I mean, and they weren't running well. But that's what you see.
Mike Wright
That's why I agree with you. I think they're going to do nothing. That's what I think is going to happen. I think they're not going to be able to do very much. And so I'm with you on that. All Right. We're going to go ahead and take some time, answer listener questions in the mailbag. We're going to keep this Megalodon Christmas special going.
Andy Holloway
Yeah, we're over two hours.
Mike Wright
You know, a lot of people, they sit by the fire, they, they nestle by the fire and they play this episode every year. I mean year after year. It sound really a family tradition like feet up, bear rug, hot cocoa in the mug. Yeah, we did the, we did the drive around last night with the kids where everybody takes their hot cocoa in the car in their pajamas and then we drive around.
Jason Moore
Wait, wait, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Mike Wright
We're not in pajamas.
Jason Moore
Pajamas.
Mike Wright
Right.
Jason Moore
Say it. Say that word.
Andy Holloway
Pajamas.
Jason Moore
Pajamas.
Mike Wright
It's pajamas.
Andy Holloway
I'm sorry guys. Go get your pajamas on. That's how I say it. Pajamas.
Jason Moore
Yeah, pajamas.
Mike Wright
Not jamas.
Jason Moore
Pajamas.
Mike Wright
What's wrong with that?
Andy Holloway
Just sounds like a idiot.
Mike Wright
You said it that way first.
Andy Holloway
No, he said to say that way.
Jason Moore
Okay, say there's a yellow fruit banana.
Andy Holloway
Okay, say it's not a banana.
Mike Wright
Not a connection between a banana and a pajama.
Jason Moore
Bananas in pajamas.
Mike Wright
Alright, I will give you that.
Jason Moore
They're coming down the stairs.
Mike Wright
That's a point in your favor, guys. Bananas in pajamas.
Andy Holloway
Get a banana before you put on your pajamas. The whole story, get in your Honda.
Mike Wright
The whole story's been destroyed.
Jason Moore
I apologize. You destroyed it when you said pajamas.
Mike Wright
I grew up saying pajamas and drinking and drinking Pop, it doesn't sound that.
Andy Holloway
Weird when he says pajamas. Unless you say bananas then it sounds weird.
Mike Wright
My kids had their pajama pajamas on and we took the car out and we look. Ah, screw you guys.
Andy Holloway
Let's just agree to call them. Pj.
Mike Wright
Let's forget it. Let's forget the story. We're moving on.
Andy Holloway
Mailbag pajamas.
Mike Wright
Oh man.
Andy Holloway
Coming off the tracks.
Jason Moore
Okay.
Mike Wright
I think you get a sneak peek if we get a three hour radio show on some network somewhere. We're gonna.
Jason Moore
Hey, you get breakdowns? No. You get commercials on on the radio.
Mike Wright
Oh man, a commercial would be so nice right now. Commercial for some silk pajamas. All right, here we go, some voicemail questions here. We're gonna answer these, try to get you your titles this week.
D
Hey, this is Brian in St. Paul, Minnesota. I was wondering what your guys opinions are on people who aren't in the playoffs making waiver moves. I'm in a league right now where when all these running backs came available in week 15, we had a lot of guys who weren't in the playoffs picking them up. You know, Denard Robinson, not Conis Rawls, but the other guys up in Seattle trying to take all of them, what's your guys opinion? Should they not be trying to take them? Should they just sit back and let the guys in the playoffs play or what's your guys opinion? Thanks Mike.
Mike Wright
It's a good question. It's one we've actually kind of semi debated in our own league with stuff going on in our keeper dynasty league which is a little different. But let's just speak to his question. What do you think should be taking place? And I have, I have some pretty strong thoughts about it. But Mike, why don't you take it?
Jason Moore
When I am in the playoffs I have this grand parade going down main street. Now if I lose or let's say I'm not, let's say I don't even have the parade going. I am pushing the rain from my parade. I'm putting it on everybody. I hate everybody in the league. When I have lost and you will lose and you lose a running back, that, that sucks for you because I'm gonna pick them up and screw your team over because I want everybody to lose.
Andy Holloway
Here's what I think. I am a proponent of playing through the playoffs. If your league allows you to make waiver claims, I think it is in your best interest when you miss the playoffs to continue to pick up those guys, to try to win, to do those things in those playoff weeks and not just abandon fantasy football. You're going to be better next year. So I would actually encourage people to make those waiver moves. Now here's the problem though. Collusion, the dangerous, dangerous, dangerous word. Because what happens, we get a lot of emails saying hey, you know, there's a lot of suspectness. You know, if you were to, if you were, there's a lot of suspicion. I did it. A lot of suspicion about whether or not somebody told somebody to pick this guy up to keep him away from so and so and so. I have no problem with a fantasy league that says hey and this is what I wish our league did. If you are out of the playoffs you can't make waiver moves.
Mike Wright
And I hate that.
Andy Holloway
Well, that's fine. So what's your opinion on the whole?
Mike Wright
Because it tells me then that like the normal kind of the story, the normal game flow for the entire season goes out the window. Because in the playoffs. That's my whole answer to this. No, no, no, I'm saying, I'm saying if you're not in them then just the whole waiver wire dynamic of a week to week season Goes out the window because only the playoff teams matter. It's a championship matchup, and only those two teams get to pick up everybody. To me, that just breaks the whole dynamic of the league because why shouldn't they have had to prepare for the playoffs because of their waiver position, because they're in the finals?
Andy Holloway
So essentially all three of us are in agreement that we would say, just don't collude. Yeah, don't. Well, obviously don't collude.
Mike Wright
Play like normal. Pick people up and pick people up.
Jason Moore
Yeah. Ruin everyone's day.
Mike Wright
Yeah. I mean, I don't even know if you have to have as vindictive and horrible a mindset as Mike has. You don't have to be about murdering other people's teams or picking a favorite. You can just play the game like Jason said, you know, you play it through the season. This is why I personally like keeper leagues and dynasty leagues. It just keeps it alive the whole time. Your team's never dead. Right. Redraft. Your team eventually is honestly dead and you might not care. And I don't blame you because you're not coming back. So make them a dynasty, make them a keeper league, or play with integrity. All those options are fine.
D
Hey, guys, thanks for getting me to the championship. I have a three way problem in my running backs. I need to know David Johnson, Todd Gurley or D'Angelo Williams. Pick two. Thanks.
Mike Wright
I think we all have an answer.
Andy Holloway
All right.
Jason Moore
You got to pick two out of David Johnson, Todd Gurley and D'Angelo Williams. Gurley's sitting down for me. Yep.
Mike Wright
Yep. I agree completely. Gene Ramos and Lawrence, Massachusetts. Who should I start? Bortles versus the Saints or Rogers versus the Cardinals?
Jason Moore
We actually kind of talked about this and I think we're all agreed you would play Blake Bortles.
Mike Wright
Yes, I agree. Tim and Green Bay. After losing Rawls, my Arby's are now Stuart Ivory, Morris, DeMarco, Murray and newly picked up Christine Michael. Which two would I start this week?
Andy Holloway
Oh, man.
Mike Wright
I would start Ivory and Michael.
Jason Moore
Yeah, Ivory.
Mike Wright
It's a standard league, too.
Jason Moore
Ivory is in for sure. And then between Morris and Michael, it's a little difficult simply based on this. I know, and I'm a big proponent of Michael. Over the course of the year they were playing the Browns. Everyone has success against the Browns. I know a couple teams here and there have not. But generally speaking, if you have a decent running attack, you kill the Browns on the ground, so.
Mike Wright
But you have no upside with Morris and you already have very limited with Ivory. Based on the PAL situation in New England. So for me, I. Well, I want one upside candidate. And for Jason, too, I guess.
Jason Moore
Yeah, I can see the.
Andy Holloway
And it's a 10 team. It's a 10 team league. That's. He said that in his notes. Which means you probably have really stud players you're going up against. You need that ceiling.
Jason Moore
That's fair.
Mike Wright
All right. JP and Denver need one of these in week 16. Lock it. Against the Rams, Snead against the Jaguars, Crabtree against the Chargers.
Jason Moore
Ooh.
Mike Wright
So Lockett, Snead or Crabtree. Those are very tough decisions for me.
Andy Holloway
If Breeze is playing, I'm gonna go Snead. I like the potential there a little bit more. If Breeze is out, I'm going. Lock it.
Jason Moore
I'm going. That's funny. I'm going Crabtree.
Mike Wright
I'm going Crabtree. I'm going Crabtree. Based on my rankings. But I don't dislike any of those guys. I think they're all very viable flex type candidates. He also wants to know, Big Ben against the Ravers against the Ravens or Carson Palmer against the Packers?
Andy Holloway
Big Ben, Big Ben against the Ravens. Over everyone.
Mike Wright
All right. Greg in Bel Air. I'm in my title game. Thanks to you, by the way. Hey, way to go.
Jason Moore
Since are you a prince?
Mike Wright
Hey, by the way, title games, I wanted to mention this. If you are. If you have won your title, I really, really want to hear about it. We all do. This is why we do the game. We had a few tweets yesterday at us. We're throwing the hashtag out there. Foot Clan title. But if you just tweet at us and tell us about winning your title.
Jason Moore
With a picture of you and your.
Mike Wright
Trophy, that would be even better.
Andy Holloway
If you don't have a trophy, just.
Mike Wright
A picture of whatever, you can be smiling with the glee of a champion. You can be holding up a sign that says Foot Clan title. You could be.
Andy Holloway
There you go.
Mike Wright
You could be.
Jason Moore
You could, like, hold up your credit card with numbers fully displayed.
Mike Wright
Yeah. Any of those options are viable. The last one's the best. And essentially, we want to hear about it. Go to our Twitterffballers. Tell us about winning your league. I love the stories. It's why we do it. Literally, it's the only reason we do it is so that you can win your championship and then obviously lord that over your friends and family for a calendar year.
Jason Moore
So back to the Fresh Prince.
Mike Wright
Yes. ODB lost his head. I'm stuck with trying to decide. Brandon lefell against the jets or Devonte Parker against the Colts. Hey, and I'm taking the better quarterback. I'm taking Brandon lefell.
Jason Moore
I am, too. Brain lefell. Prepare for okayness.
Mike Wright
When in doubt, take a better quarterback. That's what I say. So, Jake in Minnesota, are you still deciding on that? Jason?
Andy Holloway
Yeah, I mean, I'm sorry. I was happy. I was happy you were moving along, that I didn't have to voice an opinion on this one. You know, I guess Brandon lefell is the safer play if you're the underdog. Then I would probably go to Vonte Parker.
Mike Wright
All right. Dylan in Wisconsin. Hey, guys. Love the show. Couldn't have made it to the title game without you guys. I have A.J. green, Julian Edelman. I'm concerned about playing them given their matchups and injuries. As well you should. Should I start them because they're studs or look for other options? Well, we said this earlier, right? AJ Green, if he's active and healthy, you'd start him.
Andy Holloway
Yes.
Mike Wright
And if Edelman was somehow practicing and healthy and active, I would start him, too.
Jason Moore
Ppr this. This week. Now, last week, I would not have. If they were just throwing him in. But with Amendola out and if Edelman plays, I'll play him.
Mike Wright
We weren't. We're not expecting him to play.
Andy Holloway
Correct.
Mike Wright
I feel like he'd be healthy if he played.
Andy Holloway
I have a strong feeling that you should play neither of these guys because I don't think Edelman will be there. And A.J. green, if he's back, you got to worry about him. Re aggravating that and leaving again. And he's also going up against the Broncos in addition. So it's not just, you know, that. That's.
Mike Wright
Hopefully this show, the waiver wire shoot yesterday and the rankings on the website will give you an idea more so to whether Green is startable because we don't know the rest of the players on your roster. So we say, yeah, you would start him if you got somebody else. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Or even. I mean, some of the. Look at our rankings. You'll see Harry and Grand Prairie, Texas captain Kirk against the Eagles. Or do I send in the car against the Chargers? Ooh, I have to go with Kirk.
Jason Moore
Harry and Grand Prairie. I'm going with Captain Kirk and I'm.
Andy Holloway
Going with Derek Carr.
Jason Moore
Both are very strong options, though.
Mike Wright
Totally agree. Russell in New York City.
Jason Moore
New York City.
Mike Wright
Guessing. You talk about it on the show, but I've survived Calvin Johnson for two weeks in a row. Yeah, there's a good way to put it. I need a safe Play for the title game. I'm afraid of another two point outing. So is it Snead against the Jaguars or Lockett against the Rams? Snead is much safer.
Jason Moore
Yes, safer if Rub Breeze is playing.
Andy Holloway
If Breeze is out, then it's a.
Jason Moore
Lock it for me.
Mike Wright
Guys, we're done. We did it.
Jason Moore
We did it.
Mike Wright
We did the whole show. It's well over two hours. Take a breath. Take it to three. No, don't.
Andy Holloway
All right. So what's the hashtag?
Mike Wright
Oh, for the end of the shelf.
Andy Holloway
You made it with fantasy stuffing.
Mike Wright
But what is fantasy stockings?
Andy Holloway
Oh, I like it.
Mike Wright
Fantasy stockings.
Andy Holloway
Hashtag. Fantasy stockings.
Mike Wright
Stockings, plural.
Andy Holloway
No, one.
Mike Wright
Fantasy stocking. Yeah, we might need a new hashtag. All right, we'll do fantasy stocking. Thank you so much for an incredible year. Good luck this weekend in your title game. Have a very merry Christmas, a wonderful holiday season. Enjoy your family, enjoy your friends, destroy your opponents, and we will be. What do you got? Something?
Jason Moore
I got two things.
Mike Wright
That's fine.
Jason Moore
I got 30 minutes of something I got to go on.
Mike Wright
All right, I'm gonna go back here.
Jason Moore
So two things real quick. Just a shout out to the players, to the Foot Clan, and trust me, when someone says, you guys got me there. You did it. I love hearing that. But the truth is, we're giving you advice to make your own decisions. So please, please take some credit.
Andy Holloway
Yeah, you did it.
Mike Wright
Totally agree.
Jason Moore
I mean, I will. I will gladly accept all that credit.
Mike Wright
Every time you want to give say that I say the same thing, which is, I'm really glad we could be a part. Yeah, I'm glad we could be some part in this season being either more entertaining, more fun, more victories most often. And I love the stories. What was the one you told yesterday about the person that you just. The people around work, their work come up and they say, how do you know who's gonna play best every week?
Jason Moore
Yeah, that's for. Man.
Mike Wright
That was a great story.
Jason Moore
We are. We're all in this together. And the second thing is happy birthday to my wife.
Mike Wright
Yes. There you go. What a nice guy. And on that note, hashtag, fantasy stocking. Thank you. Have a wonderful holiday. We will see you on Monday.
Jason Moore
We have not. We will not forget you. Week 17, people.
Mike Wright
We're here all week.
Jason Moore
No, we will not.
Andy Holloway
We'll be.
Mike Wright
Goodbye.
Andy Holloway
Thank you for listening to another edition of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast. Don't forget to visit us on the web at www.thefantasyfootballers.com and follow us on Twitter @the ffballers.
Fantasy Footballers Podcast Summary
Episode: Fantasy Football Podcast 2015 - Week 16 Christmas Episode Part 2
Release Date: December 23, 2015
In this festive Week 16 episode, the Fantasy Footballers—Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright—delve deep into critical matchups, player evaluations, and playoff implications to equip fantasy managers with the insights needed to clinch victory in their leagues. The episode seamlessly navigates through various team analyses, player performances, and listener questions, all while maintaining an engaging and informative tone.
Running Backs: Evan Powell vs. Robert Ivory
The discussion kicks off with the Patriots' clash against the Jets, emphasizing the importance of this game for New York’s playoff hopes.
Mike Wright [00:00]:
"Powell has been the fantasy producing running back on this team since he returned... I like him a lot in half point and full point PPR leagues."
Wright highlights Evan Powell as a reliable RB1 option, contrasting him with Robert Ivory, who offers predictable but less explosive returns.
Jason Moore [01:07]:
"I like Powell more than Ivory this week."
Moore concurs with Wright, favoring Powell based on projected game flow and the Patriots' likely control of the game.
Andy Holloway [01:23]:
"I'm not very high on Ivory. I would rather have a Frank Gore or a Tim Hightower over Ivory."
Holloway voices skepticism about Ivory’s upside, preferring other running backs with higher potential for explosive plays.
Quarterback and Wide Receivers: Ryan Fitzpatrick and James White
The trio examines Ryan Fitzpatrick's performance and the evolving role of James White in the Jets’ offense.
Mike Wright [01:29]:
"James White has become more dependable... he's more of a cog in the offense."
Wright appreciates White’s increased integration into the offense, noting his improved reliability.
Andy Holloway [02:00]:
"James White has had 10 catches, seven catches, and he's looking better and better."
Holloway supports White’s fantasy value, especially in PPR formats, highlighting his receiving capabilities despite limited carries.
Strategy Insight:
The hosts agree that while Powell remains the safer choice, White offers significant upside for fantasy owners, especially in leagues that reward receptions.
Wide Receivers: DEZ Bryant and Sammy Watkins
The Cowboys-Bills matchup sparks a debate over the reliability of DEZ Bryant and the stellar performance of Sammy Watkins.
Jason Moore [05:12]:
"I'm gonna have to play in this week's Warner, and it's a good thing that SAM are you are you're got to have a touchdown bomb to make your week."
Moore underscores Bryant's potential as a high-ceiling option, especially when the Cowboys distribute the ball effectively to him.
Mike Wright [06:19]:
"Sammy Watkins is still very startable for me... he’s too hot right now."
Wright praises Watkins’ hot streak, making him a must-start player given his explosive performances.
Running Backs: Darren McFadden vs. Carlos Williams
The focus shifts to comparing McFadden and Williams, evaluating their matchups and current form.
Andy Holloway [07:17]:
"I like Darren McFadden... over Carlos Williams, start him over the DeAndre Robinson Yelden Dance."
Holloway favors McFadden for his consistent productivity and favorable matchup against Buffalo’s defense.
Jason Moore [08:10]:
"Darren McFadden, he found one of those Mega Man Energy tanks he replenished and he's now he's good to go."
Moore jokingly emphasizes McFadden’s revitalized performance, bolstering his fantasy rank.
Strategic Takeaway:
Both Bryant and Watkins emerge as top wide receiver choices, while McFadden stands out as a preferred running back due to his strong matchup and consistent output.
Wide Receivers: Calvin Johnson, Tyler Lockett, and Michael Floyd
The episode explores the Falcons-Panthers game, dissecting Calvin Johnson's role and the potentials of other wide receivers.
Andy Holloway [19:35]:
"I would go Calvin over Tyler Lockett."
Holloway expresses cautious optimism about Calvin Johnson, balancing it against Tyler Lockett’s performances.
Jason Moore [24:06]:
"DeAndre Hopkins is still a must-start guy."
Moore remains confident in Hopkins’ consistent involvement, advocating for his start despite concerns.
Running Backs: Devontae Freeman vs. Rashad Jennings
The hosts evaluate Freeman and Jennings, considering their usage and matchups against tough run defenses.
Conclusion on Falcons-Panthers:
While Calvin Johnson and Michael Floyd show promise, the aggressive run defenses posed by the Panthers may limit their upside, necessitating selective starts based on matchups.
Wide Receivers and Running Backs: DeAndre Hopkins, Rashad Jennings
The Texans-Titans game analysis centers on DeAndre Hopkins' reliability and Rashad Jennings' potential against formidable defenses.
Jason Moore [24:06]:
"DeAndre Hopkins is still a must-start guy."
Moore reiterates Hopkins' importance in fantasy lineups due to his high target volume and consistent production.
Andy Holloway [44:29]:
"Rashad Jennings has always been a very productive runner."
Holloway highlights Jennings' capability but remains cautious about his current sharing of carries and matchup against Minnesota’s robust run defense.
Strategic Insights:
Hopkins remains a top wide receiver option, whereas Jennings offers upside contingent on favorable matchups and increased usage.
Running Backs and Wide Receivers: Buck Allen and Others
The Steelers-Ravens duel prompts analysis of Buck Allen’s role and the implications for fantasy managers.
Andy Holloway [27:48]:
"Buck Allen is going to be their main pass catching back... I think that he's going to have a decent game."
Holloway provides a nuanced view of Allen’s role, acknowledging his pass-receiving potential while warning of possible fumbles.
Jason Moore [37:02]:
"I'm not going to chase those points, especially against the Bengals."
Moore emphasizes caution in high-variance matchups, advising managers to consider safer options.
Fantasy Strategy:
While Buck Allen presents a viable option in PPR formats, the hosts advise weighing his potential against the Steelers' tough run defense, recommending flexibility based on team composition and risk tolerance.
Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers: Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Carson Palmer
The Packers-Cardinals showdown is dissected with a focus on quarterback performances and receiver options.
Mike Wright [38:23]:
"DeMarious Thomas over Roth Smith."
Wright advises prioritizing high-target receivers like Thomas, especially when quarterbacks are involved in dynamic offenses.
Andy Holloway [40:15]:
"I'm not going to play Richard Rogers, I'm not going to play James Jones."
Holloway opts out of playing certain receivers due to anticipated tight coverage, advising managers to seek higher-upside options.
Key Takeaways:
Given the critical playoff implications, the Packers’ offensive players, particularly quarterbacks and wide receivers, are scrutinized for their potential impact on both teams’ standings, urging managers to prioritize high-impact players with favorable matchups.
Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers: Case Keenum vs. Aaron Rodgers
In the high-stakes Giants-Vikings game, the trio evaluates the quarterback choices and wide receiver options amidst uncertainty regarding player availability.
Mike Wright [41:34]:
"Case Keenum is going to play, and you have to decide based on his performance."
Wright discusses the quarterback decision, highlighting Keenum’s inconsistency and the potential return of Aaron Rodgers.
Jason Moore [42:20]:
"I started Deandre Hopkins because he's consistently targeted."
Moore emphasizes the importance of reliable wide receivers like Hopkins, even amidst quarterback uncertainties.
Fantasy Insight:
The Giants-Vikings matchup demands careful quarterback and receiver evaluations, with a preference for proven performers in volatile game scenarios.
Questions on Waiver Wire Moves and Player Starts
The hosts address listener queries, providing personalized advice on waiver wire strategies and optimal player starts for championship pursuits.
Brian from St. Paul, MN [54:32]:
"Should non-playoff teams make waiver moves aggressively?"
Response:
Jason Moore [55:19]:
"I hate everybody in the league when I have to make aggressive moves to win."
Andy Holloway [56:53]:
Advocates for continued waiver activity to improve team performance, cautioning against collusion.
D from [58:25]:
"Choose two running backs from David Johnson, Todd Gurley, or D'Angelo Williams."
Response:
Jason Moore [58:27]:
Chooses Johnson and Williams over Gurley based on matchup and consistency.
Mike from Bel Air [58:41]:
"How to start players like Tim, DeMarious Thomas, and others against tough opponents."
Response:
Jason Moore [59:06]:
Emphasizes starting high-volume players like Michael over limited upside candidates when facing strong defenses.
Key Advice:
The Fantasy Footballers encourage active participation in waiver moves to enhance team strength, especially for non-playoff teams aiming for a late-season surge, while warning against unfair collusion practices.
As the episode wraps up, the hosts share personal anecdotes and holiday greetings, fostering a community atmosphere.
Mike Wright [52:21]:
"A lot of people sit by the fire, play this episode every year... it sounds like a family tradition."
Wright shares heartwarming moments from his own holiday celebrations, including festive drives with family.
Jason Moore [64:36]:
"Happy birthday to my wife."
Moore extends personal well-wishes, adding a touch of warmth to the festive discussion.
Andy Holloway [54:35]:
"Fantasy stockings."
The trio coins a new hashtag #FantasyStocking, inviting listeners to share their championship stories and celebrate their victories.
Final Thoughts:
The Fantasy Footballers express gratitude to their listeners, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and encouraging them to enjoy the holiday season with family and friends. They emphasize the importance of enjoying the game and celebrating each other’s successes, reinforcing the communal spirit of fantasy football.
Mike Wright [00:00]:
"Ivory is still a baseline type of guy... It's not going to be a Powell on the one yard line."
Jason Moore [01:07]:
"I like Powell more than Ivory this week."
Andy Holloway [07:17]:
"If he doesn't have a touchdown, he should be okay in that running game."
Mike Wright [05:43]:
"The ability to force feed him a little bit because the equation for scoring points is getting the ball into your best player."
Jason Moore [06:08]:
"DEZ Bryant is a monster of a man."
Andy Holloway [44:20]:
"Rashad Jennings has always been a very productive runner."
Mike Wright [55:19]:
"I hate everybody in the league when I have to make aggressive moves to win."
Jason Moore [58:27]:
"You got to pick two out of David Johnson, Todd Gurley and D'Angelo Williams."
This Week 16 Christmas special of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast offers a comprehensive analysis of pivotal matchups and player performances, enriched with expert opinions and strategic advice. Whether you’re navigating the waiver wire, making crucial start/sit decisions, or strategizing for the playoffs, the Fantasy Footballers provide the guidance needed to elevate your fantasy game. Merry Christmas and best of luck in your championship endeavors!