Podcast Summary: Fantasy Footballers - 2016 "Footies" Winners! + Pump the Brakes, Playoff Picks

Release Date: January 5, 2017

Introduction

In this engaging episode of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast, hosts Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright celebrate the culmination of the 2016 fantasy football season by unveiling the winners of the 2016 "Footies" Awards. The trio provides insightful analysis, shares personal experiences, and offers strategic advice for the upcoming fantasy football season. Additionally, they discuss their playoff bracket picks and introduce the "Pump the Brakes" segment, highlighting players to be cautious about in future drafts.

Listener Review

Jason Moore kicks off the episode by reading a heartfelt review from listener Rex:

"[00:32] Jason Moore: ...The Fantasy Footballers is far and away the most informative, intelligent and entertaining podcast of any category, let alone fantasy football. But that's not all. These are likable guys."

The hosts express their gratitude, with Andy Holloway responding humorously:

"[04:10] Andy Holloway: ...you can't start when preseason is already rolling through."

Playoff Challenge Update

The hosts discuss the ongoing NFL.com playoff challenge, encouraging listeners to join their group. Mike Wright elaborates on how the challenge works, explaining the multiplier system based on players' progression in the playoffs.

2016 Footy Awards

The main segment of the episode revolves around the 2016 Footy Awards, where various fantasy football categories are celebrated with nominee discussions and winner announcements. Each award category includes nominees, the declaration of the winner with vote percentages, and insightful commentary from the hosts.

1. Performance of the Year

• Nominees: Le'Veon Bell, Ezekiel Elliott, Aaron Rodgers, Julio Jones, Ty Montgomery, Marvin Jones, Jay Ajayi.

• Winner: Le'Veon Bell with 65% of the vote.

  Mike Wright highlights Bell's exceptional performance in Week 14 against Buffalo:

  "[21:04] Mike Wright: Le'Veon Bell's week 14 performance against Buffalo. 236 yards and three touchdowns on the ground."

2. Fantasy Reaper Man of the Year

• Nominees: Arian Foster, Doug Martin, Adrian Peterson, Rob Gronkowski, Jamal AJ Green, C.J. Anderson, Thomas Rawls, Sammy Watkins.

• Winner: Adrian Peterson with 22% of the vote.

  Jason Moore emphasizes the impact of Peterson's injury on fantasy teams:

  "[23:21] Jason Moore: ...Adrian Peterson was a first-round pick and he was seen as the safer first-round pick. I think that's where this really affected people."

3. Poopiest Pants Award

• Nominees: Todd Gurley, DeAndre Hopkins, Alan Robinson, Cam Newton, Kelvin Benjamin, Randall Cobb, Brandon Marshall.

• Winner: Todd Gurley with 38% of the vote.

  Mike Wright discusses the disappointment surrounding Gurley's performance relative to his draft position:

  "[27:46] Mike Wright: ...you took him as the number one overall running back... you're expecting big numbers."

4. Waiver Wire Wonder

• Nominees: Dak Prescott, Rob Kelly, Jay Ajayi, Terrell Pryor, Tyreek the Freak, Cameron Break, Jordan Howard, Keenan Allen, Kristen Michael, Tevin Coleman, Devonte Adams.

• Winner: Jordan Howard with 53% of the vote.

  Mike Wright praises Howard's elite performance despite playing for a less successful team:

  "[31:02] Jason Moore: ...Jordan Howard was elite. He was third in the league from running back yards."

5. Wide Receiver of the Year

• Nominees: Antonio Brown, Jordy Nelson, Mike Evans, Odell Beckham Jr., Ty Hilton, Michael Crabtree.

• Winner: Mike Evans with 35% of the vote.

  Jason Moore acknowledges Evans' consistency throughout the season:

  "[34:27] Mike Wright: Mike Evans made a huge difference. He was good in the playoffs and through the season."

6. Running Back of the Year

• Nominees: David Johnson, Le'Veon Bell, LaShawn McCoy, Ezekiel Elliott, DeMarco Murray.

• Winner: David Johnson with 61% of the vote.

  Andy Holloway underscores Johnson's all-around performance:

  "[35:54] Andy Holloway: ...16 touchdowns. These are incredible."

7. Tight End of the Year

• Nominees: Travis Kelsey, Greg Olson, Delaney Walker, Jimmy Graham, Cameron Brait, Kyle Rudolph.

• Winner: Travis Kelsey with 22% of the vote.

  Mike Wright commends Kelsey's consistent contributions:

  "[39:23] Mike Wright: ...He was the number one tight end because he had 1,125 yards on 85 catches the past three years."

8. Kicker of the Year

• Nominees: Disregarded in this summary as the category was humorously labeled a failure by the hosts.

  The hosts briefly acknowledge the absence of nominees but express disappointment in not having a standout kicker for the year.

9. Quarterback of the Year

• Nominees: Drew Brees, Andrew Luck, Kirk Cousins, Matt Ryan, Aaron Rodgers.

• Winner: Matt Ryan with 66% of the vote.

  Jason Moore shares a conflicting perspective, advocating for Aaron Rodgers:

  *"[43:49] Andy Holloway: Oh, no way.

  [43:50] Jason Moore: It is 100% Aaron Rodgers."*

  However, the official winner remains Matt Ryan, recognized for his outstanding season.

10. Breakout Player of the Year

• Nominees: Marcus Mariota, Derek Carr, Jay Ajayi, Tevin Coleman, Devonte Adams, Travis Kelsey, Melvin Gordon, Cameron Brait.

• Winner: Melvin Gordon with 35% of the vote.

  Mike Wright celebrates Gordon's versatility:

  "[45:40] Andy Holloway: Melvin Gordon did change my opinion of him throughout the season."

11. Rookie of the Year

• Nominees: Ezekiel Elliott, Jordan Howard, Michael Thomas, Tyreek the Freak, Dak Prescott.

• Winner: Ezekiel Elliott with 77% of the vote.

  Jason Moore commends Elliott's consistency:

  "[47:58] Jason Moore: ...Ezekiel Elliott was everything you hoped for when you drafted him and more."

12. Comeback Player of the Year

• Nominees: Jimmy Graham, DeMarco Murray, Melvin Gordon, Andrew Luck, Matt Ryan.

• Winner: DeMarco Murray with 43% of the vote.

  Jason Moore highlights Murray's resurgence:

  "[49:55] Jason Moore: ...DeMarco Murray came back with a vengeance for the Titans."

13. Steal of the Draft

• Nominees: Le'Garrett Blunt, Matt Ryan, LaShawn McCoy, Melvin Gordon, Ty Hilton, DeMarco Murray.

• Winner: Le'Garrett Blunt with 35% of the vote.

  Andy Holloway and Jason Moore discuss Blunt's value as a late-round pick:

  "[52:33] Mike Wright: Le'Garrett Blunt... wins this category with 35% of the vote."

14. Nickname of the Year

• Nominees: The Mad Hatter, C.J. Fedora Wits, Crazy Mad Hatter, The Rolls Royce, Tyreek the Freak, The Woke One (Kristen Michael), Slippery Fish, Shady Lashawn McCoy, Hooked, The Beezels (Cole Beasley).

• Winner: The Woke One (Kristen Michael) with 22% of the vote.

  Mike Wright humorously acknowledges the significance of the nickname:

  "[55:44] Mike Wright: ...The woke one, Kristen Michael takes the nickname of the year."

Pump the Brakes Segment

In this segment, Mike Wright, Andy Holloway, and Jason Moore caution listeners about certain players to approach carefully in upcoming drafts:

• Mike Wright advises against LeGarrett Blunt due to potential regression after an outstanding performance last season.

  "[10:05] Mike Wright: ...I'm pumping the brake on LeGarrett Blunt."

• Andy Holloway expresses concerns about Jay Ajayi's overall consistency:

  "[12:52] Andy Holloway: ...Jay Ajayi... on pace for a thousand 62 yards."

• Jason Moore recommends being cautious with Brandon Cooks due to his boom-bust nature.

  "[14:02] Jason Moore: ...Brandon Cooks is a boom bust guy."

Playoff Picks

The hosts share their personal playoff bracket predictions, discussing potential matchups and outcomes. They debate the merits of teams like Kansas City, New England, Seattle, Detroit, Green Bay, and New York, offering strategic insights into their choices.

Closing Remarks

Andy Holloway expresses heartfelt gratitude to the listeners for their support over the season:

"[56:16] Andy Holloway: ...thank you so much for another sensational year with the podcast."

Jason Moore and Mike Wright tease upcoming episodes focused on the offseason and free agency, encouraging listeners to stay engaged with the Fantasy Footballers community.

Notable Quotes

• Mike Wright on Le'Veon Bell's Performance:

  "[21:04] Mike Wright: ...236 yards and three touchdowns on the ground."

• Jason Moore on Adrian Peterson:

  "[23:21] Jason Moore: ...Adrian Peterson was a first-round pick and was seen as the safer first-round pick."

• Mike Wright on Brandon Marshall:

  "[28:50] Andy Holloway: ...Brandon Marshall will accept it."

• Jason Moore on Ezekiel Elliott:

  "[47:58] Jason Moore: Ezekiel Elliott was everything you hoped for when you drafted him and more."

• Mike Wright on Jordan Howard:

  "[31:02] Jason Moore: Jordan Howard was elite."

Conclusion

This episode of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast effectively wraps up the 2016 fantasy football season by celebrating standout performances, recognizing impactful players, and providing strategic advice for future drafts. The hosts' camaraderie and expertise offer valuable insights, making the podcast a must-listen for fantasy football enthusiasts aiming to enhance their gameplay for the upcoming season.