Fantasy Footballers Podcast – Season 1, Episode: Week 4 Mailbag Questions, Trade Questions, Start/Sit

Release Date: September 30, 2015

The Fantasy Footballers trio—Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright—dive into an engaging and insightful episode filled with listener mailbag questions, strategic trade discussions, and critical start/sit decisions for Week 4 of the 2015 NFL season. Skipping over the initial advertisements and lighthearted banter, the hosts focus on delivering expert advice to help listeners navigate their fantasy football challenges.

1. Listener Mailbag Questions

a. Justin Forsett: Trade or Retain?

Zach from New York City seeks advice on whether to trade or drop Justin Forsett.

• Andy Holloway ([05:06]): "What kind of players should I be targeting to get rid of Justin?"

• Mike Wright ([05:32]): "Justin Forsett is still getting snaps and has a high catching rate with 64 catches so far. Dropping him for garbage players could harm your team more than help."

• Jason Moore ([06:10]): "I've benched him in all my leagues and found better options through waivers or trades. Waiting for Forsett to rebound might be more beneficial than trading him now."

Conclusion: Retain Justin Forsett for his consistent involvement in the game, especially his role in the passing game, and monitor his performance before making any trade or drop decisions.

b. Arian Foster vs. Drew Brees: To Trade or Not?

Keith from Compton, California wonders if trading Arian Foster and Calvin Johnson for Drew Brees is worthwhile.

• Jason Moore ([07:30]): "You're just buying into the name. Drew Brees is injured and unlikely to perform at his peak immediately. Keep your running backs and consider streaming quarterbacks instead."

• Mike Wright ([07:48]): "Focus on maintaining strong running backs rather than jeopardizing your team structure for an injured quarterback."

Conclusion: Avoid trading valuable running backs for an injured quarterback. Instead, retain your running backs and utilize the waiver wire to stream quarterbacks as needed.

c. Trade Evaluation: Brandon Marshall & Travis Kelce for Antonio Brown & Alfred Morris

Owen3 poses a trade offer involving multiple high-profile players.

• Jason Moore ([08:28]): "I’d prefer holding onto Brandon Marshall and Travis Kelce over Antonio Brown and Alfred Morris. The potential instability with Brown and Morris's future makes this a risky trade."

• Mike Wright ([08:51]): "Stick with Marshall and Kelce. Brown's performance is uncertain, and Morris might not provide consistent value moving forward."

Conclusion: It's safer to retain Brandon Marshall and Travis Kelce rather than risk the uncertainties associated with Antonio Brown and Alfred Morris.

d. Managing Arian Foster on the Waiver Wire

James R. from Spokane, Washington asks whether to trade away Arian Foster.

• Jason Moore ([09:38]): "Trade away Devonta Freeman if you need to make space, but keep your strong running backs like Foster and Peterson."

• Mike Wright ([10:00]): "Avoid trading Adrian Peterson unless you can get significant value in return. Foster still has potential upside."

Conclusion: Maintain Arian Foster and Adrian Peterson on your roster unless you can secure substantial value in trades, ensuring your team remains competitive.

e. Trading Le'Veon Bell for Multiple Players

Matt from Iowa considers trading Le'Veon Bell for Carlos Hyde, Danny Woodhead, and Brandon Cooks.

• Jason Moore ([32:26]): "I would make that offer. Trading multiple players for a single, high-impact player like Bell can strengthen your team, especially if you have solid waiver options to replace the traded players."

• Andy Holloway ([32:31]): "I’d agree, seeking to acquire a star like Bell to propel your team towards a championship."

Conclusion: Trading multiple players for a top-tier running back like Le'Veon Bell can be advantageous, provided you have the depth to replace the traded assets effectively.

2. Start/Sit Decisions and Flex Options

a. Start/Sit Pick: Lamar Miller vs. Matt Jones

Erick from San Jose, in a PPR league, needs to decide between Lamar Miller and Matt Jones for the flex position.

• Jason Moore ([24:47]): "In PPR formats, Lamar Miller has been fairly consistent, averaging around 10 points a game despite some struggles. He’s a safer bet over Matt Jones."

• Mike Wright ([24:35]): "Choose Miller for his reliability despite the offensive line issues."

Conclusion: Opt for Lamar Miller in PPR leagues due to his consistent point production and involvement in the passing game.

b. Flex Decision: Carlos Moncrief vs. Chris Ivory

Pedro the Great from Springfield, Illinois is torn between starting Carlos Moncrief or Chris Ivory.

• Jason Moore ([38:36]): "Absolutely go with Moncrief. He faces a weak Jacksonville secondary and is likely to have a productive week."

• Mike Wright ([38:28]): "Moncrief is the clearer start given his favorable matchup."

Conclusion: Start Carlos Moncrief over Chris Ivory, especially considering Moncrief's advantageous matchup against a vulnerable defense.

c. Quarterback Streaming: Philip Rivers vs. Carson Palmer

Alex from Portland needs to choose between starting Philip Rivers against the Browns or Carson Palmer against the Rams.

• Andy Holloway ([29:14]): "I like Rivers this week; he's comfortable at home against the Browns. However, Palmer has been having a great season and faces the Rams’ better defense."

• Jason Moore ([29:22]): "Rivers has been performing well at home and may rebound after a loss. Palmer’s performance depends on the Rams’ defense."

Conclusion: Both quarterbacks have potential, but Rivers might offer a safer floor based on his home performance, while Palmer could provide higher upside if the Rams' defense falters.

3. Strategic Insights and Advice

a. Waiver Wire Management

The hosts emphasize the importance of actively managing the waiver wire, especially when dealing with underperforming players. They encourage trading or dropping non-performing assets to acquire higher-potential players, highlighting the need to remain flexible and proactive.

b. Streaming Positions

Jason and Mike advocate for streaming quarterback and tight end positions rather than committing to injured or inconsistent starters. This strategy involves picking up advantage players based on weekly matchups, thus maximizing point potential without long-term commitments.

c. Evaluating Trades

When evaluating trades, the hosts suggest focusing on the immediate and potential future value of players rather than their past performance. They caution against trading valuable assets for uncertain or injury-prone players, advising listeners to assess the trade’s impact on their team’s overall strength.

4. Audience Engagement and Community Building

The Fantasy Footballers encourage listeners to engage with them through their website, fantasyfootballers.com, where fans can submit questions and participate in their fantasy football community, Join the Foot.com. They also promote their presence on social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube, fostering a vibrant and interactive community where listeners can discuss trades, waivers, and strategies.

5. Conclusion and Upcoming Content

Wrapping up the episode, the hosts tease future content, including a preview show for the upcoming week and exclusive mailbag shows available on Patreon. They remind listeners to stay connected through various online channels and express enthusiasm for the ongoing fantasy football season.

Notable Quotes:

• Andy Holloway ([05:06]): "What kind of players should I be targeting to get rid of Justin?"

• Jason Moore ([24:47]): "In PPR formats, Lamar Miller has been fairly consistent, averaging around 10 points a game despite some struggles."

• Jason Moore ([38:36]): "Absolutely go with Moncrief. He faces a weak Jacksonville secondary and is likely to have a productive week."

This episode of the Fantasy Footballers provides valuable insights into managing fantasy football teams, emphasizing strategic decisions on trades, waiver wire pickups, and weekly start/sit choices. The hosts’ expert advice, combined with their interactive engagement with listeners, makes this episode a must-listen for fantasy football enthusiasts looking to enhance their team’s performance.