Fantasy Football Podcast Episode Summary: "Rising Stars, Preseason WK2, David Johnson Interview"

Release Date: August 22, 2016

Introduction

In this episode of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast, hosts Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright delve deep into the outcomes of Preseason Week 2, discuss rising stars, and feature an exclusive interview with Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson. The trio provides comprehensive analysis, highlights key player performances, and offers valuable insights to help fantasy football enthusiasts navigate their leagues with confidence.

Exclusive Interview: David Johnson

[12:33] The hosts welcome David Johnson, who shares his excitement and readiness for the upcoming regular season. When confronted about a playful jab from Todd Gurley, Johnson responds with confidence:

[13:17] David Johnson: "He better get ready to lose. To me, that's all I got to say is I'm definitely going to beat him. But, you know, it's all in good fun, but he's going down."

Johnson emphasizes his primary goal for the season:

[13:32] David Johnson: "Basically, just to help out the team. Mostly is to help us, you know, first off, get to the NFC Championship and then the Super Bowl. But my main goal is just to get better and continue to help out the team."

He also touches on his participation in the preseason games, hinting at strong performances ahead:

[13:54] David Johnson: "We're all playing in these preseasons. Me, Chris, and Andre are all getting reps with the ones, and, I mean, we all got a great chance of playing, and I think we'll all play the whole year."

The interview provides listeners with firsthand insights from Johnson about his outlook and the Cardinals' offensive strategies.

NFL News Highlights

Removal of the 'Probable' Designation

[06:36] A significant change in NFL injury reporting is discussed:

[07:46] Mike Wright: "That little P used to see next to your players is going to be gone."

The NFL has eliminated the "probable" tag from injury designations, which previously indicated a high likelihood of a player participating in the game. Moving forward, teams will primarily use "questionable" and "doubtful," increasing the uncertainty for fantasy owners regarding player availability.

Implications for Fantasy Football:

[09:55] Andy Holloway: "I cannot wait for the entire Patriots roster. Every single week, every player will be marked with a Q."

Jason Moore elaborates on the challenges this poses:

[09:46] Jason Moore: "How risky is it? Because you're going to have a lot more questionables... we're going to help a lot of people in just a simple, hey, you started the right guy or you picked up the right waiver because you know you had more information on that questionable tag."

Key Player Updates:

• Dion Lewis (Patriots): Requires another surgery and will likely start the season on the PUP list, sidelining him for the first 6-10 weeks.

  [10:42] Jason Moore: "What that means is he's going to start the season on the PUP, almost certainly."

• John Brown (Cardinals): Cleared for practice after dealing with concussion protocols.

  [14:43] Jason Moore: "He just had not been cleared. He hadn't passed the test."

• Josh Gordon (Cleveland): Practicing with the first team and showing promise.

• Thomas Rawls (Seahawks): On track to start the opener without limitations.

  [16:15] Mike Wright: "Jeremy Langford was in a walking boot after the preseason game. He has shed that for practice on Sunday."

• Andre Williams (Giants): Securing a backup position with improved speed and performance.

  [16:31] Andy Holloway: "Very interesting. And Duke Johnson come out of the backfield."

Rising Stars of the Week

[21:34] The podcast introduces their "Rising Stars" segment, highlighting players showing potential to be valuable fantasy assets.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars Wide Receiver:

   • Andy Holloway emphasizes the potential of Tajay Sharp:

     [22:01] Andy Holloway: "He looks fantastic in and you know when a wide receiver looks fantastic is when the ball is just going to him non stop."

   • Mike Wright discusses Alan Robinson’s ascent:

     [26:00] Mike Wright: "Alan Robinson is an elite wide receiver... he’s right there."

   • Jason Moore highlights Jeremy Langford’s breakout potential:

     [25:40] Jason Moore: "Jeremy Langford is a guy that if he ends up in that workhorse role, will be a value for where he's going."

2. Analysis of Potential Breakouts:

   • Jeremy Langford (Raiders): Exhibiting strong performance in preseason games, indicating a significant role in the upcoming season.

     [28:05] Jason Moore: "I saw the first preseason game from Jeremy Langford was he was the guy... he looked good, good running the ball."

   • Alan Robinson (Steelers): Demonstrates consistent playmaking abilities that could translate into high fantasy points.

Weekly Rewind: Preseason Week 2 Game Analyses

[28:46] The hosts break down key preseason games, extracting valuable fantasy insights.

1. Eagles vs. Steelers:

   • Cooper Kupp’s Performance:

     [29:26] Andy Holloway: "Personally responsible for an interception... made an incredible sideline catch."

   • Jason Moore’s Take: Expresses skepticism about Cooper Kupp’s immediate impact due to Landry Jones' performance.

     [30:33] Jason Moore: "He's yet to really be working much with Big Ben."

   • Takeaway: Monitoring Coats and Eli Rogers for potential fantasy targets.

2. Bengals vs. Lions:

   • Marvin Jones vs. Golden Tate:

     [32:24] Jason Moore: "Marvin Jones is on every one of my teams."

   • Offensive Strategy: Lions’ no-huddle offense under Stafford creating more passing opportunities.

     [33:18] Jason Moore: "Halliburton became more involved in the offense."

3. Packers vs. Raiders:

   • Eddie Lacy’s Role:

     [41:18] Andy Holloway: "As long as he is in good physical condition, Eddie Lacy is never going to be a svelte (jumble)..."

   • James Starks: Shown as a reliable backfield presence.

4. Falcons vs. Browns:

   • Robert Griffin III (RG3):

     [38:52] Andy Holloway: "He looked very good. I thought he looked accurate and decisive."

   • Terrell Pryor’s Versatility:

     [38:43] Mike Wright: "Rushing for a couple designed runs and making effective routes."

   • Takeaway: RG3 offers high upside, with Griffin possibly taking a more prominent role.

5. Chargers vs. Cardinals:

   • David Johnson’s Dominance:

     [50:25] Andy Holloway: "What David Johnson is doing is just another species compared to those guys."

   • Jaron Brown’s Progress:

     [51:03] Jason Moore: "He made a couple of catches that I thought were stuff I hadn't seen from him before."

   • Takeaway: Johnson remains a top fantasy asset, with Brown emerging as a potential flex player.

Key Player Insights and Rankings

• James White (Patriots): Debate on his draft value versus other running backs like Spencer Ware and Jamal Charles.

  [37:21] Jason Moore: "If you go into the ninth, Charles Sims... it's a little different."

• Arian Foster’s Impact: Highlighted for his explosive performances.

  [46:10] Andy Holloway: "He continues to look good. Hashtag the awakening continues."

• Eddie Lacy vs. James Starks:

  [41:18] Andy Holloway: "As long as he is in good physical condition, Eddie Lacy is never going to be a svelte (distinguished)."

Fantasy Draft Strategies and Tips

[48:43] The hosts discuss strategic decisions for drafting players based on preseason performances and potential roles:

• Jeremy Langford: Recommended as a fourth-round pickup due to his consistent role in the Raiders' offense.

  [48:35] Mike Wright: "Jeremy Langford and Matt Jones were in the same conversation..."

• Tyler Boyd vs. Brandon LaFell: Debate over their value and potential contributions.

  [35:22] Andy Holloway: "It's a good name."

• Thomas Rawls vs. Christian Michael: Discussing the risk of drafting Rawls over emerging backs.

  [47:11] Jason Moore: "If he was the number one right now, I would probably draft him fifth round."

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with a preview of upcoming content, including more player analyses, sleeper picks, and expert lists. The Fantasy Footballers emphasize their commitment to providing actionable insights to their listeners, ensuring they stay ahead in their fantasy leagues.

[53:15] Jason Moore: "Thank you for listening to another episode of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• David Johnson on Todd Gurley:
  [13:17] "He better get ready to lose. To me, that's all I got to say is I'm definitely going to beat him."

• Mike Wright on Injury Designation Change:
  [07:46] "That little P used to see next to your players is going to be gone."

• Andy Holloway on James White’s Draft Value:
  [37:05] "I'm thinking about maybe he's got a shot. Maybe if he..."

• Jason Moore on Jeremy Langford’s Potential:
  [25:45] "I wrote down two notes on Melvin Gordon and they were looks good and looks bad."

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the main discussions, player insights, and strategic advice offered in the episode, providing valuable information for both seasoned fantasy football players and newcomers alike.