Fantasy Footballers Podcast Summary

Episode: Fantasy Football Podcast 2016 - Fantasy Draft Questions, Fantasy News & Updates
Release Date: August 3, 2016
Hosts: Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright

1. Introduction

The episode kicks off with a brief mention of Football Hall's subscription box, offering football-themed gear to fans. Hosts Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike Wright warmly welcome both new and returning listeners, setting the stage for a mailbag-centric episode filled with draft questions, fantasy news, and updates.

2. Fantasy News & Updates

a. Le'Veon Bell’s Suspension and Recovery
Le'Veon Bell remains a focal point as his suspension continues to impact fantasy teams. Mike Wright highlights Bell's recovery progress:

"Suspended running back Le'Veon Bell has had, quote, no problem making open field cuts in his recovery from last year's MCL and PCL tears." [06:01]

Andy Holloway adds context about Bell's expected performance:

"We expected him to hit the ground running, which is why he was our number one running back before the suspension." [06:16]

b. James Jones Signs with the Chargers
The trio discusses the Chargers' acquisition of James Jones, labeling it a "mediocre signing of the week" due to Jones's age and performance concerns:

"James Jones, 36 years old and little too old for fantasy football." [07:25]

c. Andrew Luck’s Performance with the Colts
Reports indicate some underwhelming performances from quarterback Andrew Luck in the Indianapolis Colts' training camp. The hosts express mixed feelings, with Mike Wright acknowledging:

"These guys across from me thought that was relevant. I never thought it was, but he's a pretty talented guy." [09:06]

d. Giants’ Running Back Strategy
Giants' running back coach Craig Johnson reveals a shift from a four-back committee to Rashad Jennings as the lead back:

"Rashad Jennings is the number one running back." [09:29]

Andy Holloway praises this move, emphasizing Jennings's potential and consistency:

"Rashad Jennings reminds me a lot of a Justin Forsett type of guy... he can be a good contributor for the whole season." [10:00]

3. Mailbag Segment

The heart of the episode revolves around answering listener questions. Below are the key inquiries addressed:

a. Keeper Strategy: Balancing Stars vs. Value
Question from Mike in Buffalo:
"Where do you see better value and why? I can only keep two players at any position for two years at the round drafted initially. So I have Antonio Brown for my last year in round three and that's a gimme. But here's my problem. Do I keep Julio Jones in the second, Brandon Marshall in the seventh or Jordy Nelson in the 16th round?" [14:03]

Responses:

• Andy Holloway advocates for Brandon Marshall to mitigate risk:

  "If you want to keep your first six picks and go with a top five... you're going to be fine." [15:16]

• Jason Moore agrees, emphasizing the balance between high-value picks and risk management:

  "I would go Antonio Brown and I would go Brandon Marshall and that would be the easy call for me." [15:25]

• Mike Wright also supports Brandon Marshall, valuing stability:

  "Yeah, I'm going with Marshall." [15:40]

b. Quarterback Draft Strategy
Question from Jake and Austin:
"Do you recommend jumping on a top quarterback earlier this year, even if it meant not getting good value with that pick?" [16:45]

Responses:

• Andy Holloway advises against early QB picks, focusing on value over position:

  "No." [16:46]

• Mike Wright emphasizes the effectiveness of streaming QBs and prioritizing value:

  "Don't have to jump in early. I know it can be done, can be a little more difficult." [17:00-17:14]

• Jason Moore concurs, highlighting late-round QB options like Tyrod Taylor and Philip Rivers:

  "So I'm not going to jump in early." [17:43]

c. Pairing Quarterbacks with Wide Receivers
Question from Daniel in Texas:
"Do you think it is a good strategy to pair a quarterback and wide receiver together?" [19:02]

Responses:

• Andy Holloway explains the high-risk, high-reward nature of this strategy:

  "There's upside to the strategy and downside... personal preference." [20:06]

• Mike Wright and Jason Moore discuss the benefits and potential pitfalls, ultimately suggesting diversification over pairing:

  "Spread the wealth around and get fantasy points everywhere." [22:13]

d. Evaluating Dynasty Trade
Question from Eben in Connecticut:
"I just traded DeAndre Hopkins for Keenan Allen and Randall Cobb. Did I win this deal in a dynasty league?" [22:22]

Responses:

• Andy Holloway assesses the trade as fair, noting DeAndre Hopkins's value:

  "It's a fair trade for sure. The real question comes down to is Randall Cobb making or breaking that trade." [22:47]

• Mike Wright and Jason Moore agree, considering the depth and talent involved:

  "I think it is fair. That's the big point there." [23:54]

e. Managing Bye Week Overlaps
Question from Eben:
"I have David Johnson, AJ Green, and Alshon Jeffery all with the same bye week. Should I change my draft strategy because of this?" [24:17]

Responses:

• Andy Holloway emphasizes not letting bye weeks dictate player quality:

  "Don't let a bye week make you draft a lesser player." [24:26]

• Mike Wright and Jason Moore concur, advising to prioritize talent and value:

  "Never, never move down in talents or opportunity because of a bye week." [25:32]

f. Trade Evaluation Between League Brothers
Question from Zachary in Houston:
"Two brothers in my league made a trade: Julio Jones, Doug Martin, Richard Rodgers, Charles Sims for Mike Evans, Joe Bernard, Devonta Parker, and CJ Prosise. Is this fair?" [35:34]

Responses:

• Andy Holloway voices concern but ultimately finds the trade acceptable within a dynasty context:

  "I would never veto a trade like this because it's clear that neither one is trying to do something wrong." [36:14]

• Mike Wright and Jason Moore agree, noting the youth and potential in the acquired players:

  "That's completely fine." [37:30]

4. Trash Talking Memories

The hosts share their favorite trash-talking moments, injecting humor and camaraderie into the discussion:

• Jason Moore recalls a memorable trade that didn't pan out:

  "Jason had Joy Bell all year. Jason drops Joy Bell right before the playoffs." [39:40]

• Mike Wright describes his unique draft-time antics with theme songs and dancing:

  "I will play the music as I'm walking up my pick to be announced, and then I'll just stand there and dance." [41:17]

5. Recommendations and Tools

Ultimate Draft Kit Promotion:
The hosts promote their Ultimate Draft Kit, highlighting features like:

• Top 200 player rankings (standard and PPR)
• Advanced expert rankings
• Stat projections for 2016
• Over 100 player profile videos

Andy remarks on its value:

"We've had so many people tell us that it's an incredible value for them, better than anything that they've used to draft before." [43:53]

Casper Mattress Advertisement:
A brief segment endorses Casper mattresses, offering listeners a discount:

"Get $50 toward any mattress purchase by visiting Casper.com/FantasyFootballers." [12:26]

6. Conclusion

The episode wraps up with the hosts encouraging listeners to join their fantasy football community at jointhefoot.com, follow them on Twitter @TheFFBallers, and check out other resources like fantasyjocks.com for trophies, rings, and draft boards. They tease upcoming content, including a running back rankings show and new videos on their YouTube channel.

"Thank you for listening to another episode of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast. Join our fantasy football community on jointhefoot.com and follow us on Twitter @TheFFBallers." [45:12]

This episode offers a comprehensive blend of fantasy football strategy, player evaluations, and community engagement, making it a valuable resource for both seasoned and novice fantasy managers.