Fantasy Footballers Podcast - Episode: Good Vibes/Bad Vibes + Upside Names

Release Date: August 27, 2019
Hosts: Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright
Podcast Title: Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast
Episode Focus: Analyzing players with potential upside, team dynamics, and identifying teams and players with positive and negative outlooks for the upcoming fantasy football season.

1. Introduction and Recent Draft Highlights

Andy Holloway kicks off the episode by discussing the excitement surrounding the 2019 draft, particularly the "league of record draft" that took place in the studio on Sunday evening.

• [02:36] Mike Wright: Shares a humorous note about his food choices during the draft, mentioning how "Oregano's deep dish pizza is there. All bets are off."

• [03:07] Andy Holloway: Encourages listeners to follow them on social media and highlights their new "wheel of water payout set," a fun tradition where the last-place finisher faces a playful consequence.

Jason Moore adds to the camaraderie by mentioning their donation initiatives and reinforcing the engaging nature of their league traditions.

2. Player ADP Floors and Upside Picks

The hosts delve into identifying players who are being drafted at their average draft position (ADP) floor but possess significant upside, making them valuable late-round or sleeper picks.

• [05:00] Andy Holloway: Presents two players:

  • Adrian Peterson: Drafted around the 10th round, Peterson remains a viable late-round choice, especially if his teammate, Ezekiel Elliott ("Guy"), faces injuries.
  • Jared Cook: Being drafted in the 7th round, Cook is viewed as having minimal downside in his current position, similar to Vance McDonald.

• [06:32] Mike Wright: Agrees with Peterson's value but expresses mixed feelings about Cook, noting his potential to be a stabilizing tight end despite some inconsistency.

• [07:07] Jason Moore: Introduces additional upside picks:

  • Sammy Watkins ("The Lizard King"): Despite an injury, Watkins has shown high potential when healthy.
  • Miles Sanders: Highlighted as a promising rookie running back for the Eagles, with considerations about his workload and role in a timeshare situation.

• [09:17] Andy Holloway: Issues a PSA about Miles Sanders, emphasizing his talent and potential but cautioning fantasy managers about his early-season workload: "It's a long season and week one, I'm not positive that the workload is going to be there."

3. News and Notes

The hosts provide updates on various NFL teams and players, offering insights that can influence fantasy football decisions.

• Patriots:

  • Josh Gordon is activated from the NFI list and expected to return in Week 1.
  • Rob Gronkowski remains retired, though there's potential for a comeback: "If they needed him, absolutely." [16:35]

• Redskins:

  • Jordan Reed is expected to be ready for Week 1, prompting discussions on his fantasy value.
  • Dante Pettis faces minor injuries, raising concerns about his consistency.

• Texans:

  • Albert Wilson returns to full-speed running, though skepticism remains about his long-term performance post-injury.

• Others:

  • Alshon Jeffery is seen as undervalued, ranked around the 29th spot despite his potential.

4. Good Vibes - Teams and Players to Watch

The hosts highlight NFL teams and specific players generating positive sentiments for the upcoming season, indicating potential fantasy value.

• Kansas City Chiefs Offense:

  • Andy Holloway praises their potential resurgence: "Damian Williams looks great. Darwin Thompson looks like another weapon for the offense." [26:19]
  • Highlighted players: Tyreek Hill, McColl Hardman, and Sammy Watkins.

• New York Jets:

  • Jason Moore expresses optimism about the Jets' offensive improvements: "Sam Darnold has just looked great. His accuracy, his decision making, his mobility within the pocket..." [28:11]
  • Key players: Sam Darnold, Chris Herndon, and Robbie Anderson.

• Buffalo Bills:

  • Mike Wright supports the Bills' potential, citing their strong defense and offensive additions: "Josh Allen is making the decision that he doesn't have to chuck the ball deep every single play." [30:02]
  • Notable players: Josh Allen, Cole Beasley, John Brown, and Zay Jones.

• Individual Players with Good Vibes:

  • David Montgomery: Seen as a high-upside draft day value, poised to make an immediate impact.
  • Tyler Lockett: Recognized for his consistency and high target share in the Seahawks' offense.

5. Bad Vibes - Troubling Teams and Players

Contrasting the previous section, the hosts discuss teams and players raising concerns for fantasy managers due to potential underperformance or uncertainties.

• San Francisco 49ers:

  • Andy Holloway feels uneasy about the team's offensive dynamics: "If you have to say you feel confident about somebody, it's Coleman and Breida, but even then you don't have a backfield that's perfectly defined." [35:47]
  • Concerns about injuries and inconsistent player roles.

• Cincinnati Bengals:

  • Jason Moore highlights issues with the Bengals' offensive line and quarterback play: "They've lost two significant pieces of their offensive line. They've lost their best offensive player in A.J. Green." [38:32]
  • Mike Wright adds hesitation in drafting key players like Joe Mixon due to offensive instability.

• Miami Dolphins:

  • Mike Wright points out the Dolphins' quarterback uncertainty and offensive struggles: "Ryan Fitzpatrick has this. He seems to have the starting quarterback job locked up... There's so many areas where I thought there might be sneaky value for Miami and they have all imploded." [40:13]
  • Issues with player injuries and inconsistent performance.

• Additional Concerns:

  • Derek Henry: Andy Holloway expresses declining expectations, noting his dependency on team performance: "He does not score points in games they lose at all." [43:33]
  • Zeke Elliott: Ongoing contractual disputes raise doubts about his availability and performance: "It's getting shakier and shakier." [47:34]

6. Conclusion

The episode wraps up with the hosts reiterating their analysis and encouraging listeners to stay engaged with their platforms for the latest fantasy football insights.

• Andy Holloway emphasizes the importance of staying informed and adapting strategies based on player and team developments.

• Jason Moore and Mike Wright encourage listeners to leverage their knowledge and the Fantasy Footballers' resources to gain an edge in their leagues.

Notable Quotes:

• Andy Holloway: "Those are the two picks that I have. You know, do you agree with them? Do you disagree?" [05:00]

• Mike Wright: "I'm with you on Adrian Peterson. I think that's a great value pick." [06:32]

• Andy Holloway: "It's a long season and week one, I'm not positive that the workload is going to be there." [09:17]

• Jason Moore: "They have their best offensive player in A.J. green. Andy Dalton has looked as bad as ever this preseason." [38:32]

• Andy Holloway: "Derek Henry does not score points in games they lose at all." [43:33]

• Mike Wright: "It's getting shakier and shakier." [47:34]

Final Thoughts:

This episode of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast offers a comprehensive analysis of potential fantasy football players to target or avoid. By dissecting team performances, player conditions, and upcoming season forecasts, the hosts provide valuable insights to help listeners make informed decisions for their fantasy rosters.

For more detailed discussions and updates, listeners are encouraged to visit fantasyfootballers.com, follow them on Twitter @theffballers, and engage with the community for ongoing support and advice.