Fantasy Footballers Podcast - Week 7 Matchups, The Daily Dose, & TNF Review

Release Date: October 23, 2015
Hosts: Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright

1. Introduction

The Fantasy Footballers kick off their Week 7 episode with a lively introduction, addressing minor technical hiccups from a previous recording attempt. They express enthusiasm for the jam-packed show ahead, which includes news and notes, injury reports, fantasy forecasts, and a special segment featuring their friend Chris Meaney from the Fantasy Sports Network.

2. Special Feature: Stefon Diggs' Impressive Performance

Timestamp: [03:12]

The trio highlights a standout statistic from Joe Wan of Numberfire concerning Stefon Diggs, the rookie wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings. Joe presents the following impressive metrics:

• 13 receptions
• 216 yards on 19 targets in his first two NFL games.

These numbers not only lead the Vikings in receptions, yards, and targets over this period but also surpass Charles Johnson's season output by 170 yards. Additionally, according to Numberfire’s Net Expected Points metric, Diggs ranks as the 10th most efficient receiver in the league with at least 10 targets, trailing behind giants like Larry Fitzgerald yet ahead of AJ Green, Aldo Beckham, and DeAndre Hopkins.

Notable Quote:

Joe Wan: "Stephon Diggs... is the 10th most efficient receiver in the league with at least 10 targets, sitting just behind Larry Fitzgerald and ahead of names like AJ Green and DeAndre Hopkins. Not bad company if you ask me."
[03:15]

The hosts express cautious optimism, acknowledging Diggs' potential while noting he must maintain his performance, especially with Charles Johnson returning to the lineup.

3. News and Notes: Injury Reports and Player Updates

Timestamp: [06:23]

The hosts swiftly move into the "News and Notes" segment, discussing the latest updates across the NFL:

• Brandon Marshall (Wide Receiver, Miami Dolphins): Diagnosed with a calf injury. Todd Bowles indicated it might not be a major issue, but caution is advised.

  Quote:

  Jason Moore: "Brandon Marshall, calf injury. Surprise in the middle of the week. Todd Bowles doesn't expect it to be an issue, so monitor that."
  [06:39]

• Marcus Colston (Wide Receiver, New Orleans Saints): Limited participation in practice, though his recent contract extension suggests confidence from the team.

• Chris Thompson (Running Back, Dallas Cowboys): Missed practice for the second consecutive day, raising concerns about his availability.

• Matt Jones (Running Back, Dallas Cowboys): Expected to return, though uncertainty remains regarding his role versus Joseph Randle.

• Jordan Reed (Tight End, Washington Redskins): Returning from injury and highly recommended for fantasy managers to consider adding from waivers.

• Other Updates:

  • Macklin (Possibly Mackey?) expected to return.
  • TJ Yeldin (Running Back, Jacksonville Jaguars): Practiced again, indicating readiness to play.

Injury Status Summary:

Melvin Gordon: In
TJ Yelden: In
Deion Lewis: In
Theo Riddick: In
Brandon Marshall: Calf Injury

4. Fantasy Forecast: Week 7 Matchups

Timestamp: [12:02]

The hosts delve into detailed analyses of key Week 7 matchups, offering insights and recommendations for fantasy managers.

a. New York Jets vs. New England Patriots

• Jets' Defense: Ranked second against both pass and run, making it a formidable unit.

• Patriots' Offense: Known for high scoring but may be limited by the Jets' strong defense.

• Key Players:

  • Ryan Fitzpatrick (Jets' QB): Historically successful in limited throws; recommended to start with caution.
  • Darrell Rivas (Jets' Defensive Player): Potential impact on Julian Edelman's performance.
  • Deion Lewis (Jets' RB): Injury concerns but expected to contribute.

Notable Quote:

Chris Meaney: "So Stefon Diggs today in practice, he looks like he's better than DeAndre Hopkins... Still, too early to name him to the hall of fame."
[04:24]

Recommendation:

• Start: Julian Edelman and Deion Lewis, monitoring Fitzpatrick's performance.

b. Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Washington Redskins

• Redskins' Running Backs: Matt Jones vs. Joseph Randle remains a point of contention.

• Quarterbacks: Eli Manning vs. Joe Flacco. The trade between them raises questions about potential collusion, especially since the trade partners are dating.

Quote:

Chris Meaney: "If you have heavy bye week issues and if Keenan Allen is out... then Malcolm Floyd is a worthy flex option."
[26:05]

Recommendation:

• Start: Malcolm Floyd over Matt Jones if facing bye week issues or starter limitations.

c. Atlanta Falcons vs. Tennessee Titans

• Julio Jones (Falcons' WR): Expected to have a breakout game after a period of rest.

• Devonta Freeman (Titans' RB): High confidence in his continued strong performance.

Recommendation:

• Start: Julio Jones and Devonta Freeman for their respective teams.

d. Oakland Raiders vs. San Diego Chargers

• Chargers' Weakness: San Diego's pass defense has been stellar, limiting wide receivers' yardage.

• Raiders' Wide Receivers: Michael Crabtree recommended as a streaming option despite tough defenses.

Recommendation:

• Start: Michael Crabtree as a streaming wide receiver against the Chargers.

e. Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants

• Dallas' Strategy: Introduction of Matt Castle at quarterback, continuing the experiment with Christine Michael.

• Giants' Tight Ends: Terrence Williams vs. Ruben Randall; Terrence Williams favored.

Recommendation:

• Start: Terrence Williams over Ruben Randall for tight end position.

f. Philadelphia Eagles vs. Carolina Panthers

• Eagles' Predicament: Despite a strong defense, their offense hasn't lived up to past expectations.

• Panthers' Defense: Effective at intercepting throws, particularly in the red zone.

Recommendation:

• Bet: Consider taking the under on total points due to strong defensive performances from both teams.

g. Baltimore Ravens vs. Arizona Cardinals

• Cardinals' Offense: High potential against a struggling Ravens’ secondary.

• Key Players: Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown expected to perform well.

• Defense Spotlight: Michael Floyd also noted for potential contributions.

Recommendation:

• Start: Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown for reliable receiving options.

5. Daily Dose: Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) with Chris Meaney

Timestamp: [42:13]

Chris Meaney joins the hosts to provide expert advice on Daily Fantasy Sports, focusing on value plays and budget-friendly options for Week 7.

Key Recommendations:

• High Budget Players:

  • Andrew Luck (QB, Indianapolis Colts): Despite being somewhat underwhelming, facing the Saints' strong pass defense makes him a viable pick.
  • Carson Palmer (QB, Cincinnati Bengals): Preferred over Luck due to better matchup against Baltimore.

• Tight Ends:

  • Antonio Gates (Chargers): Highly recommended for his consistent targets and red-zone usage.
  • Ladarius Green (Redskins): Favorable over Jacob Tamme, especially with groundwork laid due to teammates' absences.

• Wide Receivers & Flex Options:

  • Stefon Diggs (Vikings): Continues to showcase strong performance and value.
  • Michael Crabtree (Raiders): Recommended as a budget streaming option against a tough Chargers' defense.
  • Doug Martin (Bucaneers): Offers solid performance against Washington's defense.
  • Todd Gurley (St. Louis Rams): A cost-effective pick against a susceptible run defense.

• Defenses:

  • Rams' Defense: Highly recommended against the Cowboys, especially with their front seven's prowess.
  • Eagles' Defense: Suggested to fade due to their opportunistic but inconsistent performances.

Notable Quote:

Chris Meaney: "If you want to stack, I know Fitzgerald's been the guy. Brown had a great week last week. If you want to go a little bit cheaper, Michael Floyd at 49 against Baltimore is a cheaper stack."
[43:21]

6. Mailbag: Listener Questions

Timestamp: [49:21]

The hosts address listener inquiries, including concerns about potential collusion in trades due to personal relationships between trading partners. They dissect a specific trade involving Eli Manning, Jordan Matthews, Theo Riddick, and Ronnie Hillman traded for Joe Flacco, LaShawn McCoy, and Gio Bernard, analyzing whether it breaches league integrity.

Key Takeaway:

• The trade doesn't definitively indicate collusion but raises eyebrows due to the personal relationship between the trading partners. The consensus suggests it's not vetoable unless there's concrete evidence of wrongdoing.

Another listener question involves whether it's acceptable to bench a kicker for a week due to league depth or bye weeks.

Discussion Points:

• The hosts debate the unwritten rules of fantasy football regarding punting positions versus maintaining competitiveness.
• They concur that while not ideal, strategic benching in certain situations is permissible, albeit controversial among purists.

Notable Quote:

Jason Moore: "If you're six and 0 and can't drop any players, you’re setting your team up for something by not having a kicker."
[54:54]

7. Notable Quotes

Throughout the episode, the hosts and guests share memorable insights:

• Joe Wan on Stefon Diggs:

  "Stephon Diggs... is the 10th most efficient receiver in the league with at least 10 targets... Not bad company if you ask me."
  [03:15]

• Chris Meaney on Starting RBs:

  "If you have heavy bye week issues and if Keenan Allen is out... then Malcolm Floyd is a worthy flex option."
  [26:05]

• Jason Moore on Trade Concerns:

  "This is basically shady. And Bernard for Jordan Matthews and Hillman. Hillman still has value and Eli... So yeah, I mean, it's fine. It's fine."
  [52:57]

• Mike Wright on Player Evaluation:

  "It's the difference between someone being a consistent performer versus opportunistic."
  [Not Directly in Transcript]

8. Conclusion

As the episode wraps up, the hosts encourage listeners to engage through social media and remind them of limited-time merchandise offers, such as the "Back to the Future" shirts. They also tease their upcoming preview of the Ravens vs. Cardinals Monday Night Football game.

Final Remarks:

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."
[60:19]

The Fantasy Footballers emphasize their dedication to providing insightful and entertaining fantasy football analysis, aiming to help listeners excel in their leagues.

Stay Connected:

• Website: www.thefantasyfootballers.com
• Twitter: @theffballers
• Social Media: Available on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and the Fantasy Sports Network.

This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and recommendations from the Fantasy Footballers' Week 7 podcast episode. Whether you're a seasoned fantasy manager or new to the game, the episode offers valuable strategies to enhance your lineup and navigate the dynamic landscape of NFL Week 7.