Fantasy Footballers Podcast Summary
Episode: Starts of the Week, Week 6 Matchups, News
Release Date: October 13, 2016

Introduction

In this engaging episode of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast, hosts Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright dive deep into the intricacies of Week 6 in the NFL season. The trio provides listeners with valuable insights on player performances, matchup analyses, and strategic advice to optimize fantasy football lineups.

News and Notes

The episode kicks off with a discussion on the latest NFL injuries and updates that could impact fantasy lineups:

• Jordan Reed's Concussion Concerns:
  Andy Holloway raises alarms about tight end Jordan Reed, who is being evaluated for his fourth concussion in the NFL, following two in college. Jason Moore emphasizes the importance of monitoring Reed closely, stating, “If he misses this week, I start to get scared that this might be multiple weeks” (04:31).

• James Starks and Eddie Lacy Updates:
  Mike Wright shares that James Starks is doubtful for Sunday's game due to a knee injury and personal circumstances. In contrast, Eddie Lacy is expected to play, having recovered from an ankle injury. Jason Moore advises dropping Starks from fantasy rosters, noting, “the combination is almost certainly not going to happen” (09:37).

• Other Player News:
  The hosts briefly touch on the status of other players like Theo Riddick, Latavius Murray, Sammy Coates, and Eric Ebron, providing updates on their availability and potential impact on fantasy teams.

Starts of the Week

The hosts present their top player recommendations for Week 6, categorizing them by position:

• Quarterbacks:

  • Brian Hoyer (Jacksonville Jaguars): Andy highlights Brian Hoyer's impressive streak, stating, “Brian Hoyer taking on Jacksonville 300 plus yards for three straight games” (25:06).
  • Carson Palmer (Arizona Cardinals): Mike Wright favors Carson Palmer, citing Arizona’s defensive vulnerabilities: “The secondary of the Jets is horrifying. I expect Carson Palmer to be back and to be at full health” (46:20).
  • Tyrod Taylor (San Francisco 49ers): Jason Moore supports Taylor, predicting a strong performance against Buffalo: “Tyrod Taylor... has the legs and the touchdown opportunities on the ground” (47:05).

• Running Backs:

  • Jamal Charles (Oakland Raiders): Andy believes Charles is back in form and a must-start this week: “I think Jamal Charles is back... I'm going to give you Jamal Charles” (48:24).
  • Christian McCaffrey (Seattle Seahawks): Mike Wright praises McCaffrey’s consistency: “Christian McCaffrey is a legitimate running back” (50:16).
  • Ryan Matthews (Washington Redskins): Jason Moore advocates for Matthews, emphasizing Washington’s weak rush defense: “Ryan Matthews is a talented running back... start him” (51:09).

• Wide Receivers:

  • John Brown (Arizona Cardinals): Mike endorses Brown for his matchup against the Jets: “John Brown is back fully from that concussion problem... expect him around a hundred and a full touchdown” (52:16).
  • Cameron Meredith (Chicago Bears): Andy recommends Meredith as a flex play due to his improving performance: “Cameron Meredith... he can do something with” (53:09).
  • Jimmy Graham (New England Patriots): Jason supports Graham for his favorable matchup against Atlanta: “Jimmy Graham... has been able to do this before” (58:33).

• Tight Ends:

  • Delaney Walker (Cleveland Browns): Mike highlights Walker’s excellent matchup, noting Cleveland’s poor defense against tight ends: “They've given up over 500 yards to the position” (59:22).
  • Jimmy Graham (New England Patriots): Jason Moore praises Graham for his involvement and matchup: “Jimmy Graham is clearly involved... I think you can start him” (58:33).
  • Kobe Fleener (New Orleans Saints): Andy suggests Fleener might see more opportunities against Carolina’s weak defense: “Fleener is a great play... he can have them readjust this offense” (56:14).

• Fantasy Forecast:
  The hosts analyze key matchups, offering forecasts and betting insights:

  • 49ers vs. Bills:
    Jason predicts the Bills to cover their spread, emphasizing their strong defense: “I think they’re going to cover... take the over on their line” (19:16).
  • Jaguars vs. Bears:
    Andy and Jason discuss the potential low-scoring nature of this game but recommend strong starts like Brian Hoyer.
  • Rams vs. Lions:
    Mike supports Todd Gurley for his favorable matchup despite potential competition: “I think this is going to be his opportunity to keep the streak going” (31:10).
  • Steelers vs. Dolphins:
    The Steelers’ defense is lauded for their recent performance, with Jason recommending Drew Brees’s receivers against Miami’s weak pass defense: “I like Jimmy Graham” (36:11).
  • Bengals vs. Patriots:
    The Patriots’ strong pass defense makes this a challenging matchup, but AJ Green remains a solid start for Jason: “AJ Green is a very strong start” (38:58).
  • Panthers vs. Saints:
    High-scoring potential is noted with the Saints’ prolific passing offense, leading Jason to favor playing multiple Saints players: “I like Jimmy Graham... it’s a back and forth” (43:39).

Strategic Insights

• Player Confidence and Performance Trends:
  The hosts emphasize the importance of tracking player trends and matchup specifics. For instance, Jamal Charles's return is seen as pivotal for fantasy success, while Alex Reed’s concussion history raises concerns about his reliability.

• Flex Position Decisions:
  The debate around starting between high-name players and those with better recent performance is explored. Andy discusses balancing past reputation with current form, highlighting the challenge of choosing between players like Alshon Jeffrey and Cameron Meredith based on recent production (28:04).

• Quarterback Evaluations:
  The discussion includes evaluating quarterbacks not typically in the spotlight, like Brian Hoyer and Tyrod Taylor, who present high fantasy potential due to favorable matchups and recent performances.

Conclusion

Wrapping up the episode, the hosts encourage listeners to engage with their fantasy communities, utilize their rankings available on thefantasyfootballers.com, and participate in ongoing leagues. They also highlight upcoming segments like DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports) picks and tease future discussions on player performances and matchups.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason Moore on Jordan Reed:
  “We need to remind people the reason for Rule 86... He had two concussions in college. Could be serious concern.” (04:45)

• Andy Holloway on Cameron Meredith:
  “Cameron Meredith... he can do something with.” (53:09)

• Mike Wright on Carson Palmer:
  “I expect Carson Palmer to be back and to be at full health and get to right the ship.” (46:20)

• Jason Moore on Tyrod Taylor:
  “Tyrod Taylor runs for 50, I'm not surprised at all.” (47:05)

Timestamp Reference Legend:

• MM:SS

Note: For brevity, only key timestamps are included. The full podcast transcript provides a comprehensive view of the discussion.