Fantasy Footballers Podcast Summary Episode: Fantasy Football Podcast 2016 - Week 17 Waivers, Streams, #FootClanTitles!
Release Date: December 27, 2016

1. Celebration of Foot Clan Title Winners

Andy Holloway kicked off the episode by congratulating all Foot Clan title winners, emphasizing the community's role in their success:

"You did it. You made it through this season. You got that title." [00:00]

He highlighted that the Foot Clan thrives on a strong, year-round fantasy football community available at JoinTheFoot.com, fostering strategic decision-making and league management skills.

2. Week 16 Recap and Week 17 Outlook

The hosts delved into the outcomes of Week 16, setting the stage for Week 17's pivotal matchups and title implications. Jason Moore noted the scarcity of available quarterbacks in waivers, attributing it to high ownership rates:

"The quarterback streaming options are slim. They're all owned now." [02:46]

Andy Holloway added that this scarcity is partly due to owners securing quarterbacks as bench options for tiebreakers:

"You're buying quarterbacks, you got to fill those bench for the tiebreaker." [02:46]

3. Close Wins and Bad Beats from Week 16

The hosts shared stories of narrow victories and heartbreaking losses, illustrating the unpredictable nature of fantasy football:

• Ian Burgess lost twice to his wife in title games.
• Blas Mijos narrowly clinched a title by 0.3 points when the Ravens defense scored zero.
• John lost by 2.9 points needing just one more passing yard from Drew Brees.
• Rick Guttersong secured his title after a missed field goal extended his lead from 0.3 points.
• Ben Cappers won by 1.02 points on Ezekiel Elliott's final touchdown.

Jason Moore reflected on how championship games often hinge on minimal yardage:

"It's crazy how you can have these just infinite combination of players... So many of these championship games come down to one yard." [07:05]

4. Player Injuries and Status Updates for Week 17

A significant portion of the discussion focused on player injuries and their impact on Week 17 lineups:

• Doug Martin: Likely out for Week 17 with an MCL tear, raising concerns about his future with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

  "If Doug Martin had been healthy all year long, then it would be more of a story to me. But him being hurt first, you know, he missed a bunch of time with the hamstring injury." [09:46]

• Thomas Rawls: Uncertainty around his availability remains as he is undergoing an MRI for a shoulder injury.

  "Spencer Ware is undergoing an MRI. Did we get results back on that MRI? Everything that the doctors told directly to me was that he's just sore." [11:19]

• Robbie Anderson and Dante Moncrief: Both on injured reserve, complicating team strategies.

• Eli Manning: Potential rest for Week 17 if deemed necessary by the Giants, though unlikely.

• Alfred Blue: Identified as a high-impact player for Week 17 with potential for significant carries.

  "Alfred Blue could have 40 carries in week 17. That's not even a joke." [15:27]

5. Waiver Wire Recommendations

Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike Wright provided strategic waiver wire pickups for Week 17, focusing on running backs, quarterbacks, and tight ends.

Running Backs:

• Jacquist Rogers (vs. New Orleans)

  "Jacquist Rogers against New Orleans. He's the best play." [23:31]

• Alex Collins (vs. San Francisco)

  "Alex Collins should be starting against San Francisco for Seattle and getting the rock a ton." [23:31]

• Chris Ivory (vs. Indianapolis)

  Highlighted for his strong performance in Week 16 and favorable matchup.

• D'Angelo Williams & Sean Drone: Discussed as potential backups due to injuries.

Quarterbacks:

• Blake Bortles: Recommended for his strong performance in Week 16 and low ownership.

  "Blake Bortles is going to be one of your better options." [37:04]

• Tyrod Taylor: Highlighted for his breakout game and favorable matchup against the Jets.

  "Tyrod Taylor is a great option this week, especially for just grabbing him off the waivers." [38:02]

Tight Ends:

• Brandon Myers, Charles Clay, and Dennis Pitta: Suggested based on recent performance and favorable matchups.

6. Streaming Options for Week 17

The hosts discussed optimal streaming strategies for different positions to maximize Week 17 performance:

Quarterbacks:

• Blake Bortles vs. Colts: Low ownership and high upside make him a prime streaming candidate.
• Tyrod Taylor vs. Jets: Increased usage in recent weeks makes him a viable option.

Running Backs:

• Jacquist Rogers and Alex Collins: Both have favorable matchups and increased usage potential.
• Chris Ivory: With favorable opponents and previous strong performances.

Tight Ends:

• Brandon Myers: High target potential due to team injuries.
• Charles Clay: On fire recently with a 17% ownership rate.
• Dennis Pitta: Facing a struggling Cincinnati defense with potential red zone opportunities.

Defenses:

• Matt Castle's Texans vs. Titans: Identified as a top defensive stream, subject to player rest decisions.
• Bucks vs. Panthers: Discussed but deemed less favorable.

7. Defensive Streams

The discussion included key defensive matchups for Week 17:

• Texans vs. Titans: Matt Castle's Texans were highlighted as the number one defensive stream due to their strong performance.

  "Matt Castle. That might be my number one defense for week 17." [32:28]

• Steelers vs. Browns and Bucks vs. Panthers: Mentioned with varying degrees of enthusiasm, though not top recommendations.

• Patriots vs. Buccaneers: Lev Bell's defense was noted, with indications they might rest starters, complicating fantasy decisions.

8. Mailbag/Q&A Highlights

Travis from Ohio inquired about the best way to communicate with a diverse 14-team league spanning three states:

"What is the best way to communicate with the entire league at once?" [40:06]

Mike Wright recommended using a private Facebook group:

"To me it's still the Facebook group. And because you're talking a technology that even the older folks, they're on Facebook." [40:40]

Gabriel's Question: Asked about the optimal amount of bragging after achieving regular season success, scoring the most points, and winning the championship.

"What is the optimal amount of bragging, frequency and duration when you won the regular season? Have the most total points scored. Three, win the championship." [42:22]

Mike Wright humorously suggested:

"Two gifts a day, mandatory." [43:31]

The hosts discussed balancing celebration with league harmony, emphasizing periodic, light-hearted bragging to maintain a fun competitive environment.

9. Conclusion

The episode wrapped up with final thoughts on Week 17 strategies, encouraging listeners to utilize the waiver wire effectively and engage with the Foot Clan community for ongoing support and advice.

"Good luck on the waiver wire." [44:13]

The hosts reminded listeners to join their fantasy football community at JoinTheFoot.com and follow them on Twitter for updates and tips.

Notable Quotes:

• "Dia liked that he was talking about factoring a tiebreaker." – Andy Holloway [16:36]
• "He's taking on Cleveland is a great play." – Jason Moore [30:34]
• "Blake Bortles is going to be one of your better options." – Jason Moore [37:04]

This comprehensive summary captures the essence of the episode, providing valuable insights and actionable advice for fantasy football enthusiasts preparing for Week 17.