Podcast Summary: Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast (2017 Episode)

Title: Fantasy Football Podcast 2017 - The Footies: 2016 Awards Nominations, Studs & Duds, Rising Stars
Release Date: January 3, 2017
Hosts: Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright

1. Season Recap and Introduction

The episode kicks off with Andy Holloway welcoming listeners to the first show of 2017, reflecting on the previous NFL season and setting the stage for the upcoming fantasy football year. The hosts express optimism for listeners’ drafts and discuss the importance of evaluating past performances to inform future strategies.

Andy Holloway [00:55]: "It is the first show of 2017 for the Fantasy Footballers podcast. Welcome in champions. Welcome in near champions."

2. The Footy Awards Nominations

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to introducing and discussing the nominations for The Footy Awards 2016. These awards recognize standout performances, disappointments, and rising stars from the past season.

• Performance of the Year:

  • Nominees: Le'Veon Bell, Ezekiel Elliott, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Marvin Jones Jr., Jay Ajayi.
  • Discussion: The hosts debate notable single-game performances and their impact on fantasy lineups.

• Fantasy Reaper's Man of the Year:

  • Nominees: Arian Foster, Doug Martin, Adrian Peterson, Rob Gronkowski, Jamal Charles, Keenan Allen, C.J. Anderson, Thomas Rawls, Sammy Watkins, A.J. Green.
  • Discussion: This category highlights players whose injuries significantly disrupted fantasy teams.

Jason Moore [31:54]: "This is the guy that got raped by Andy. And the reaper strikes again."

3. Studs & Duds: Week 17 Analysis

The hosts delve into the top-performing (Studs) and underperforming (Duds) players of Week 17, analyzing how these performances influenced fantasy outcomes.

• Top Running Backs:
  • Studs: Rex Burkhead, Devonte Freeman, Char West, Jerick McKinnon, Vontae Booker.
  • Duds: Players like Randall Cobb and Brandon Marshall experienced disappointing seasons relative to expectations.

Andy Holloway [14:41]: "Rex Burkhead as well. All of these guys are like back."

4. NFL News Impacting Fantasy Football

The episode provides updates on significant NFL news that affects fantasy players, including injuries, coaching changes, and potential trades.

• Injuries:
  • David Johnson: Avoided a devastating knee injury, providing relief to fantasy owners.
  • DeMarco Murray: Survived a torn plantar plate without surgery, impacting his draft stock and availability.
  • Sammy Watkins: Underwent surgery on his left foot, potentially limiting his performance.

Mike Wright [07:15]: "He has to send half of his award to Danny Woodhead for going out."

• Coaching Changes:
  • Resignations and hirings involving Mike McCoy, Chip Kelly, Gary Kubiak, and rumors about Sean Payton possibly leaving New Orleans.

Jason Moore [09:08]: "I think Sean Payton is around for the Saints next year."

5. Raising Cane's Rising Stars

This segment spotlights emerging players poised to make significant impacts in the 2017 season.

• Zach Ertz (TE, Philadelphia Eagles): Highlighted for his consistency and potential to be a top-five tight end without a top-five draft price.

  Andy Holloway [24:45]: "Zach Ertz is my raising cane's rising star."

• Jordan Howard (RB, Chicago Bears): Praised as potentially a better running back than rookie Ezekiel Elliott, despite playing on a struggling team.

  Jason Moore [25:50]: "Jordan Howard is the truth. He is legit."

• Michael Thomas (WR, New Orleans Saints): Recognized for his record-breaking rookie season and consistent performance alongside Drew Brees.

  Mike Wright [28:20]: "Michael Thomas came in and said, hey, I'm Michael Thomas, throw me the ball."

6. Footy Award Categories and Discussions

The hosts elaborate on various award categories, nominating and debating players deserving of each accolade.

• Poopiest Pants Award:

  • Nominees: Alan Robinson, DeAndre Hopkins, Todd Gurley, Cameron Newton, Kelvin Benjamin, Randall Cobb, Brandon Marshall.
  • Discussion: Focused on players who significantly underperformed relative to their draft positions.

  Jason Moore [33:36]: "Randall Cobb, I mean, who was really trusting him?"

• Waiver Wire Wonder:

  • Nominees: Rob Kelly, Dak Prescott, Jay Ajayi, Tevin Coleman, Devonta Adams, Tyrell Williams, Tyreek Hill, Cameron Brate, Kristen Michael.
  • Discussion: Celebrates players who were key pickups from the waiver wire and provided substantial value.

  Jason Moore [34:37]: "Devonte Adams finished as a wide receiver 8. He was scooped up off of many waiver wires."

• Breakout Player of the Year:

  • Nominees: Melvin Gordon, Marcus Mariota, Derek Carr, Jai Robinson, Tevin Coleman, Devonta Adams, Travis Kelsey, Cameron Brate.
  • Discussion: Highlights players who exceeded expectations and became key contributors.

  Andy Holloway [43:00]: "Melvin Gordon was...top three for a while."

• Rookie of the Year:

  • Nominees: Ezekiel Elliott, Jordan Howard, Michael Thomas, Tyreek Hill, Dak Prescott.
  • Discussion: Ezekiel Elliott is favored to win due to his standout rookie season.

  Jason Moore [44:43]: "You got Jordan Howard, Michael Thomas, Tyreek the Freak and Dak Prescott as your runner ups to Ezekiel Elliott."

7. Engagement and Voting

The hosts encourage listeners to participate in voting for The Footy Awards, emphasizing community involvement and the significance of these recognitions in enhancing fantasy football strategies.

Andy Holloway [30:36]: "We will be announcing those on the show very soon. We'll talk through some studs and duds this week."

8. Conclusion and Upcoming Content

Wrapping up, the hosts preview upcoming segments and express excitement for future episodes, including deeper dives into player analyses and coaching impacts. They remind listeners to join their fantasy football community for more insights and updates.

Andy Holloway [50:46]: "Check out the website, the fantasy footballers.com and jointhefoot.com or fantasy football community."

Notable Quotes:

• Andy Holloway [16:14]: "Your 2017 draft preparation starts today."

• Jason Moore [25:55]: "Jordan Howard very well might be the better running back."

• Mike Wright [28:20]: "Michael Thomas came in and said, hey, I'm Michael Thomas, throw me the ball."

• Jason Moore [33:36]: "Randall Cobb, I mean, who was really trusting him?"

Conclusion

This episode of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast provides a comprehensive overview of the 2016 NFL season's impact on fantasy football, introduces The Footy Awards with detailed nominations, and highlights rising stars gearing up for the 2017 season. Listeners are encouraged to engage with the community through voting and participating in discussions to optimize their fantasy strategies for the upcoming year.