Fantasy Footballers Podcast Summary Episode: Fantasy Football Podcast 2017 - The Rookie Show, Fantasy Outlook, Draft Day Foods
Release Date: April 25, 2017
Hosts: Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright
Guest: Matt Harmon from NFL.com

1. Introduction and Draft Countdown

The Fantasy Footballers kick off the episode with their trademark enthusiasm as they emphasize the imminent arrival of the NFL Draft. With only "two sleeps away" from the draft day, the hosts express their excitement and readiness to delve into detailed draft preparations.

• Andy Holloway remarks at [00:37]:
  “Two days away from the NFL draft.”

• Jason Moore adds humorously at [00:44]:
  “Two days, my friends. You know what that is? Two days. That's Jason's 40 time. Two days.”

The hosts highlight the importance of the draft as the "final shoe to drop" of the offseason, signaling the transition from pre-draft analysis to actionable strategies for the upcoming fantasy season.

2. Draft Day Foods

A lighthearted yet essential segment discusses the quintessential foods every fantasy draft party should feature. The conversation centers around two main options: the legendary sausage dip and abundant pizza.

• Mike Wright passionately recommends at [04:07]:
  “It's a sausage dip. And for all the culinary impaired out there, let me help you out. This is all you need...”

He outlines a simple recipe involving Philly cream cheese, Ro Tel mild, and sweet Italian sausage, emphasizing its ease and deliciousness.

• Andy Holloway counters with his preference at [04:41]:
  “I'm going to go pizza... you gotta have the pizza because you need to be able to run, grab a slice, come back...”

• Jason Moore concurs humorously with at [05:15]:
  “One slice per pick.”

This segment underscores the blend of practicality and enjoyment that food brings to a draft day party, ensuring that participants remain energized and engaged throughout the event.

3. News and Notes

The hosts shift focus to recent NFL news, particularly the release of the NFL schedule and its implications for fantasy football.

• Jason Moore discusses Alex Smith's schedule at [07:11]:
  “Alex Smith has the most prime time games of anybody. And that is not a joke.”

• Andy Holloway elaborates on the fluctuating nature of team defenses:
  “Strength of schedule is based on last year... Once we've got enough data of 2017, those matchups really start to matter.” [08:24]

They caution against over-relying on last year's strength of schedule, citing examples like the New York Giants' fluctuating defensive prowess over consecutive seasons.

4. Rookie Running Back Preview

A substantial portion of the episode is dedicated to analyzing the 2017 rookie running back class. The discussion highlights key prospects such as Christian McCaffrey, Leonard Fournette, Dalvin Cook, and Joe Mixon, evaluating their potential impact on both NFL teams and fantasy leagues.

• Mike Wright praises Christian McCaffrey at [10:52]:
  “I really like Christian McCaffrey. I think that he is an all-around guy... he could be a top five type of player immediately.”

• Andy Holloway extols McCaffrey's versatility at [13:04]:
  “He's certainly the most well-rounded. Nobody can... catch the ball as well, he moves.”

• Jason Moore expresses admiration for Leonard Fournette at [15:00]:
  “Fournette's big guy, literally, figuratively, gigantic. I just love everything about him.”

The hosts debate the potential workload and offensive roles of these backs, considering factors like team fit, offensive line strength, and coaching philosophies. Concerns about Christian McCaffrey's usage and Leonard Fournette's ability to sustain a high volume are discussed in depth.

5. Wide Receiver Analysis with Guest Matt Harmon

Bringing in Matt Harmon from NFL.com, the hosts delve into the innovative "Reception Perception" metric—a tool designed to evaluate wide receivers by isolating their performance from external factors like quarterback play and defensive coverage.

• Matt Harmon explains Reception Perception at [31:19]:
  “Reception perception is essentially... chart how often they got open on each route...”

Key Wide Receiver Prospects Discussed:

• Corey Davis:

  • “He’s really solid at everything... liken him to a Sammy Watkins type player.” [34:06]
  • Despite concerns about his pre-draft activities and coming from a smaller conference, Harmon praises Davis’s route separation and contested catch success.

• John Ross:

  • “He broke the record and I think it's... special.” [36:29]
  • Harmon compares Ross to Ty Hilton, highlighting his exceptional speed and ability to create yardage through deep routes.

• Mike Williams:

  • “He's great on contested catches [81%].” [40:31]
  • Despite a strong contested catch rate, Harmon advises caution due to average success rates against man coverage and potential overvaluation based on visual catch metrics.

• Chris Godwin:

  • “His separation scores... above average on all routes except the straight go.” [43:00]
  • Godwin is lauded for his balanced performance across various routes and strong Reception Perception scores.

• Zay Jones, Cooper Kupp, Ishmael Zamora:

  • Harmon ranks Zamora highest among them due to his athleticism, while noting concerns about off-field behavior potentially affecting his draft stock. [50:51]

• Deontay Foreman and Samaj P. Ryan:

  • Harmon appreciates Foreman’s historical production and athleticism but notes his limited pass-catching abilities. Ryan is commended for his balance and pass-catching skills despite a slight drop in collegiate production. [27:16]

Notable Insights:

• Reception Perception allows for a nuanced analysis of receivers, emphasizing route efficiency and contested catch success over traditional metrics like total receptions or yards.

• Harmon encourages fantasy managers to consider these metrics when evaluating wide receivers to uncover undervalued players or identify potential busts.

6. Tight End Prospects

The discussion shifts to the tight end position, heralded as one of the best in recent memory with several promising prospects.

• Jason Moore lists top candidates at [55:46]:
  “David Njoku out of Miami, O.J. Howard, and Evan Ingram.”

• Mike Wright highlights O.J. Howard’s physical attributes at [56:57]:
  “He ran a 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds at 251 pounds... incredible size.”

• Andy Holloway contrasts Howard with David Njoku, emphasizing Njoku’s route-running ability and athleticism despite being an excellent blocker. [59:02]

• Matt Harmon evaluates prospects:

  • O.J. Howard:
    “Great hands and a high ceiling as a pass-catcher... but heavily involved in blocking.” [57:55]
  • David Njoku:
    “Exceptional route running and play-after-catch ability...” [59:02]
  • Evan Ingram and Bucky Hodges:
    “Ingram is highly athletic but lacks blocking skills; Hodges is preferred for his blocking and route-running.” [60:05]

• Andy Holloway humorously notes [62:10]:
  “Bucky Hodges. That's an NFL tight end name for a decade.”

This segment underscores the balance tight ends must strike between blocking and receiving, with each prospect offering different strengths that appeal to various NFL offensive schemes and, consequently, fantasy strategies.

7. Quarterback Evaluation

Though not the central focus, the hosts briefly touch upon quarterback prospects, debating their fantasy relevance due to the historical volatility of the position.

• Jason Moore expresses skepticism about quarterbacks' immediate fantasy impact [63:10]:
  “For one, is there a guy that can come out, establish themselves over the first couple of years and become a player?”

• Andy Holloway counters with historical context at [63:57]:
  “Since 2000, Carson Wentz had the seventh best rookie fantasy season. So, like, you can't ask for more than that.”

• Jason Moore discusses Mitchell Trubisky, Deshaun Watson, Patrick Mahomes, and DeSean Watson, emphasizing their varying potentials and concerns about interception rates and developmental readiness. [64:18]

• Mike Wright and Andy Holloway debate the physical attributes and readiness of these quarterbacks, highlighting the difficulty in predicting quarterback success based solely on metrics like throw velocity. [65:51]

8. Conclusion and Upcoming Shows

Wrapping up the episode, the hosts promote upcoming content, including draft recaps, team overviews, and a livestream event scheduled for Thursday.

• Jason Moore invites listeners to explore Matt Harmon’s detailed analyses on reception perception through their website and mentions the inclusion of these insights in the ultimate draft kit. [54:09]

• The hosts reiterate their excitement for the draft and encourage listeners to join their fantasy football community for ongoing support and expert advice. [72:50]

Notable Quotes

• Andy Holloway at [13:04]:
  “He's the most well-rounded. Nobody can... catch the ball as well, he moves.”

• Mike Wright at [57:17]:
  “He ran a 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds at 251 pounds.”

• Jason Moore at [34:06]:
  “He’s really solid at everything... liken him to a Sammy Watkins type player.”

• Matt Harmon at [40:31]:
  “He’s great on contested catches [81%].”

Key Takeaways

1. Draft Preparations: With the NFL Draft just two days away, the Fantasy Footballers emphasize the importance of being prepared with both strategy and essential draft day foods.

2. Rookie Running Backs: Christian McCaffrey and Leonard Fournette emerge as frontrunners, each offering distinct advantages in versatility and workload potential. Dalvin Cook and Joe Mixon are also key prospects, though concerns about workload distribution and off-field issues are noted.

3. Wide Receiver Insights: Reception Perception is introduced as a valuable metric for evaluating wide receivers, with Corey Davis and Chris Godwin highlighted as top prospects. John Ross’s exceptional speed and Mike Williams’s contested catch ability are also discussed, alongside cautionary notes on potential busts.

4. Tight End Talent: The tight end draft class boasts several high-potential players, each with unique strengths. O.J. Howard, David Njoku, Evan Ingram, and Bucky Hodges are analyzed for their suitability in both NFL systems and fantasy leagues.

5. Quarterback Considerations: Quarterback prospects are viewed with skepticism regarding their immediate fantasy impact, though athletes like Mitchell Trubisky and Patrick Mahomes are acknowledged for their potential long-term value.

6. Engaging Community: The episode underscores the value of engaging with the Fantasy Footballers' community and utilizing their resources, such as the Reception Perception tool and the ultimate draft kit, to gain a competitive edge.

This episode of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast serves as a comprehensive guide for fantasy managers gearing up for the 2017 NFL Draft, offering in-depth analyses of key rookie prospects, innovative evaluation metrics, and strategic insights to optimize draft success.