Fantasy Footballers Podcast Summary Episode Title: Footie Award Nominees + Week 18 Recap, Super Bowl Picks
Hosts: Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright
Release Date: January 7, 2025

1. Week 18 Recap

The episode kicks off with the hosts reflecting on the events of Week 18. Mike Wright shares his experience of watching Red Zone all day, enjoying the culmination of the season without the usual office distractions.

Jason Moore highlights the unpredictability of the week, noting the exciting finishes in games like the Falcons versus Buccaneers but expresses disappointment over the lackluster offensive performance in the highly anticipated Vikings vs. Lions matchup:

"[04:08] Jason Moore: The morning started really slow and wonky, but towards the end... the incredible game between the Vikings and Lions did not come to fruition offensively."

Mike Wright concurs, emphasizing the Vikings' struggles in the red zone and the impact of injuries like Justin Jefferson’s absence:

"[05:00] Mike Wright: Justin Jefferson was missing. Sam Darnold was not performing as expected, shifting opinions on Minnesota's playoff prospects."

2. Super Bowl Picks

The hosts delve into their Super Bowl predictions, each presenting their unique choices:

• Mike Wright backs Baltimore to win against Philadelphia:

  "[08:16] Mike Wright: I have Baltimore winning."

• Jason Moore favors Kansas City, confident in their ability to triumph:

  "[08:25] Jason Moore: I have Kansas City winning."

• Andy Holloway controversially picks the Detroit Lions, citing their potential upset over the Chargers:

  "[08:54] Andy Holloway: I have the Chargers in the Super Bowl via upsetting the Chiefs."

3. NFL News Highlights

Patriots Update: The Patriots have fired Head Coach Gerard Mayo due to inadequate performance, landing them with the fourth draft pick and no head coach. Jason Moore elaborates on Mayo's shortcomings:

"[10:27] Jason Moore: Gerard Mayo was not ready for this job..."

Giants and Colts: The Giants retain Brian Daboll as their head coach, while the Colts decide to keep Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard despite recent performance issues. Discussions include potential quarterback moves for the Colts and Dolphins retaining Mike McDaniel amidst quarterback instability.

Cincinnati Bengals: Despite Joe Burrow’s MVP-caliber performance, the Bengals' defense faltered, leading to head coach Zach Taylor facing criticism for frequent poor decisions.

Injuries: Injuries play a significant role, with key players like Zay Flowers and Blake Corum potentially missing crucial playoff games. The Packers are also struggling with injuries to Christian Watson and Jordan Love.

4. Studs of the Week

The hosts review standout players who have significantly impacted fantasy leagues:

• Quarterbacks:

  • Bryce Young shows a remarkable turnaround after being benched, transforming into a high-performing asset:

    "[24:17] Mike Wright: Bryce Young not only was good for fantasy, but he was awesome, including a full Steph Curry-like transformation."

  • Bo Nix rapidly increases his touchdown totals, positioning himself as a top fantasy quarterback:

    "[27:11] Jason Moore: Bo Nix went from one total passing TD to the second most for a rookie quarterback in eight games."

• Running Backs:

  • Bijan Robinson, Derek Henry, Miles Sanders, and Jonathan Taylor are highlighted as the top five RBs, with Jonathan Taylor finishing the season strongly, boosting his Average Draft Position (ADP).

• Wide Receivers:

  • Drake London, London, Quentin Johnston, and others are noted for their impressive performances, with Jamar Chase leading as the top fantasy WR.

• Tight Ends:

  • Trey McBride and Jordan Akins emerge as top choices, despite some inconsistencies.

Jason Moore emphasizes the importance of confident performances, particularly praising Bryce Young's mental transformation and Bo Nix's explosive improvement.

5. Footie Awards: Nominees and Categories

The segment introduces the Footie Awards, an annual fantasy football accolade system with 15 categories. Listeners are encouraged to vote for their favorites at FootieAwards.com.

Key Categories and Nominees:

• Performance of the Year:
  Nominees include Josh Allen (Week 14), Saquon Barkley (week with 44 points), Alvin Kamara, Jonathan Taylor, Jamar Chase, and rookie Brock Bowers.

• Fantasy Reapers (Most Impactful Injuries):
  Nominated players: Christian McCaffrey, Isaiah Pacheco, Jason Moore's pick, Chris Olave, and Chris Godwin.

• Poopiest Pants Award (Players Who Disappointed Fantasy Managers):
  Candidates include Travis Etienne, Marvin Harrison, Patrick Mahomes, and Jalen Waddle.

• Waiver Wire Wonder (Best Undrafted Waiver Pickup):
  Although deemed less strong this year, nominees are Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Juwan Jennings, Darnell Mooney, Johnny Smith, and Bucky Irving.

• Playoff King:
  Recognizing players who drove fantasy managers to championships during critical playoff weeks. Nominees include Jaden Daniels, Brian Thomas Jr., Malik Neighbors, Brock Bowers, and others.

• Steal of the Draft (Best Value Pick):
  Nominees: Jaden Daniels, Chase Brown, Chuba Hubbard, Brian Thomas Jr., George Kittle, and Brock Bowers.

• Nickname of the Year:
  Creatively named nicknames for players like Sam Darnold ("The Prodigal Son"), Zack Taylor ("The Dominator"), Jared Goff ("The Bidet"), and others. The category encourages fun and humorous entries.

• Show Moment of the Year:
  Highlights memorable moments from the podcast over the past year, including Mike’s induction into the ring of honor, the golden ticket surprise, and various playful antics among the hosts.

Andy Holloway underscores the interactive nature of the awards, encouraging active participation and community engagement:

"[40:54] Andy Holloway: The footie awards, most prestigious awards."

6. Notable Quotes

Throughout the episode, several memorable quotes capture the hosts' personalities and key insights:

• Andy Holloway on setting limits and managing budgets (Advert Segment):

  "[00:02] Andy Holloway: DraftKings has the tools to help you play within your limits..."

• Mike Wright on Bryce Young’s transformation:

  "[26:26] Jason Moore: I love that he got benched when he wasn't playing well enough and got brought back because it is really a confidence thing."

• Jason Moore on Jamar Chase’s impact:

  "[27:28] Jason Moore: How many passing touchdowns do you think that pace would be?"

• Andy Holloway on the unpredictability of draft picks:

  "[37:45] Andy Holloway: Whoever's drafted later."

7. Closing Remarks

The hosts wrap up the episode by reminding listeners to participate in the Footie Awards voting and tease upcoming content, including a Fantasy Footballers AMA (Ask Me Anything) show and upcoming content focused on rookies and the Baseball season.

Andy Holloway concludes with enthusiasm:

"[60:36] Mike Wright: Goodbye."

Note: For detailed statistics, additional player insights, and to participate in the Footie Awards, visit footieawards.com and join the Fantasy Footballers community at jointhefoot.com.