
Fantasy Football show for May 6, 2025. Who should be forgiven after a down year? Andy, Mike, and Jason pick players they are giving another chance in 2025 fantasy football drafts! Plus, keeper league talk, player outlooks, and more! Manage your redraft, keeper, and dynasty fantasy football teams with the #1 fantasy football podcast.
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Andy Holloway
To the fantasy Footballers podcast with your hosts, Andy Holloway, Jason Moore and Mike Wright.
Mike Wright
Welcome in Tuesday, May 6, the fantasy footballers, Mike Wright, Jason Moore, Andy Holloway, back with you. What a day, what a day to talk fantasy football. The front part of May.
Andy Holloway
Yeah, I mean this is, this is the, the grind season for us. I don't know how your guys's process is going, but been in them sheets. You have been in them sheets stating out, researching, reading and writing and typing and all sorts of.
Mike Wright
You are a freak in the sheets.
Andy Holloway
Yeah, that's what they say, the Google sheets. Yes.
Mike Wright
I hope we mean well at least. At least. No, no. Welcome to the show. We are, we are in the midst of it.
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Obviously. He's also good at Excel.
Mike Wright
Right?
Andy Holloway
Right.
Mike Wright
Yeah, yeah.
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And countless other spreadsheets. There's, there's got to be more, right?
Mike Wright
Probably numbers. He's good at numbers.
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Oh, num. No, no, no numbers. Has anyone ever fired up numbers?
Andy Holloway
I actually, I've had to open stuff.
Mike Wright
In numbers on accident.
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Yeah, you open it on accident so.
Andy Holloway
That you can copy and paste out into Google sheets.
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Has anyone ever opened up numbers like, oh, I'm about to just absolutely crush this data with numbers.
Mike Wright
Nah, nah. I think half of it is the name of the app. You know what I mean?
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Right?
Mike Wright
It's just numbers.
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Yeah. I also use letters but I feel like I can't.
Mike Wright
Not in that app.
Andy Holloway
Stupid.
Mike Wright
So, yeah, it's the beginning of May. We're in the process of projecting 500 plus offensive players for the UDK, each of us goes through and gets all of our player projections together for the launch of the UDK on June 1st. And so we're in the midst of that because we also need to record 100 plus player profile videos this month, which means we need to know exactly what we think about every single one of these players. And with the draft now over, we have a lay of the land. And most often, Mike and I complete this task and Jason is behind.
Andy Holloway
Oh, yeah. Weeks. Weeks behind.
Mike Wright
And not this year. This year, Jason is out ahead. He is. Which just. It just adds to the lore of Jason becoming a new human being after the age.
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It is true.
Andy Holloway
Yeah. I still am not confident I will finish first.
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Probably not.
Andy Holloway
I've got a lead, but I. My process is the tortoise hair thing. Yeah, it's a tortoise hair.
Mike Wright
So before. Before your 40s, you were a larger man who hated sweet potatoes and reading. Sitting in the morning.
Andy Holloway
Yeah.
Mike Wright
And also doing his work on time.
Andy Holloway
Now, that one. That one I take on.
Mike Wright
No, I'm just kidding. But you all, you were very thorough and therefore took longer due to your fastidiousness.
Andy Holloway
Yes, I go deep, but now you're.
Mike Wright
Out ahead of it.
Andy Holloway
So I took a cabin trip where all I did for 24 hours straight was bleed my eyes. That's a phrase on Google sheets.
Mike Wright
Okay. Okay. So we're. We're on our way. Ultimate DraftKit.com, if you want to check that out. It'll be here before you know it. Our quick question of the day before we jump into some of your questions on today's episode. If you're still listening to us, is this. Who is a player you are willing to forgive in 2025?
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Did you lose your spot?
Mike Wright
I. A little bit, yeah. And I just felt like I needed a filler word in between there. Who is a player you're willing to forgive as we head into the new season? So forgiveness, it doesn't come easy in fantasy football.
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No, we.
Mike Wright
We have the burns when a player has cost you, when you've invested your off season building your perfect roster and a player doesn't deliver on their promise, or maybe it's injuries that have happened more and more. Whatever the case may be, forgiveness can be hard.
Andy Holloway
Well, and oftentimes you shouldn't forgive because it's the second burn that you're like, you know, I should have known better.
Mike Wright
So yours is Breeze hall, then.
Andy Holloway
No. That is the clear layup answer. That is not true. I have not forgiven him. I would love to forgive Him. But that comes earned. That comes. He will earn my forgiveness. It will not be given.
Mike Wright
He has to ask with grace.
Andy Holloway
He has to perform.
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Yeah, I don't.
Andy Holloway
He has to go out there and dominate and I will lovingly forgive him. But until that happens, no.
Mike Wright
Things that make sense in fantasy football but if applied to other areas of life would be quite destructive.
Andy Holloway
Yes. Correct. The player who has proven nothing, in fact you could argue is, has proven that I shouldn't forgive him, to me is Christian McCaffrey. Christian McCaffrey was an injury. We've seen injured seasons from him in the past. He's 29 years old, which is older for a running back, but that is not an age cliff for the elites. The elites don't just stop performing at 29 years old. He is healthy right now. And so by all reports, by all reports, he's healthy right now, not dealing with any issues. He was pretty much healthy at the end of last season. And if he's on the field like, you know, he's going to dominate in fantasy. This is just a question of injury. So I have to ask myself, do I believe that he has either aged out or is guaranteed to be injured? And I don't, I don't think that's a guarantee at all. He takes incredible care of his body and he's going to be used in the Shanahan system the way he always is, which is as a complete bell cow. So I'm going to draft him unafraid and I'll take it on the chin if I'm wrong, but I forgive his injuries.
Mike Wright
Three of the last five years lost to injury for Christian McCaffrey. That's the.
Andy Holloway
How are the other two?
Mike Wright
Very good. Very good. It's also encouraging to hear you say such positive things about a 29 year old running back because that must mean that you love 28 year old running back Joe Mixon.
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Well, he did say the elites. He didn't just say olds.
Mike Wright
Look, it's, we all know what Christian McCaffrey can do on a in a healthy season. I think some things that are in question this year are, you know, will the team at 29 use them in the exact same fashion? Will they be that good of an offense? These are things that we don't know exactly. No debo, no iuk. For a while they just locked up Kittle who they apparently were rumored to have been offered a second round pick for.
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Yeah, heard that.
Mike Wright
So look, most of the time I think you can trust that San Francisco gets it figured out. They're you know, we joke about Tomlin always being above.500. The 49ers are always a good bet to, you know, perform, no matter what the odds are.
Andy Holloway
Yeah, they lost a lot of players in free agency and their win total is still 10 and a half, which is pretty important for running backs over the last four years. Top five fantasy running backs are on teams that average 10 wins.
Mike Wright
I don't think you have to forgive Christian McCaffrey, though. You can, but I'm saying I don't think every fantasy player needs to do that.
Andy Holloway
No, I don't either.
Mike Wright
Do you think they need to?
Andy Holloway
No. If you felt the burns and you think, look, this is an old running back who's been dealing with injuries. I'm not going to buy in again. You're going to feel so good if he gets injured. Not, you know, in a. In a happy for his injury way, but just like a who dodged the landmine sort of way. But, I mean, this isn't a player where people are going to be lukewarm on. We're going to know at the end of the season whether he was an awesome pick or a terrible pick. I don't see a world where he comes out and is just like, ah, we got it. You know, we drafted him as the running back 10, and he turns out he was the running back 10. Like that's not going to happen. Is that where he's going right now around there? Usually I can look that up, but.
Mike Wright
He'S got to be going above running back 10, maybe 8.
Andy Holloway
I'll check it out.
Mike Wright
Yeah, let me know. Because that's actually the point I was going to make about McCaffrey was can he meet expectations?
Andy Holloway
He's the running back eight right now according to sleeper.
Mike Wright
Yeah. And RB5 on underdog. Because you're seeing, you know, you're factoring in the upside of Christian McCaffrey.
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The last time we saw Christian McCaffrey was in that game against Buffalo where it finally looked like, oh, Christian McCaffrey is healthy. He. So his final stat line in that game was 25% of the snaps. He was 7 for 53. The injury happened. For those who didn't have Christian McCaffrey on the team, the injury happened while he got a, like a shoestring swipe of his foot as he was breaking free for a gigantic, gigantic touchdown run and just happened to come down on the knee.
Andy Holloway
So he.
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I'm with Jason that it is. It is going to feel like a really. It's going to feel like a big weight on you as you're looking at selecting him. But I think that you should.
Andy Holloway
Yeah. I mean, there's no doubt that his risk rating in the ultimate draft.
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Yeah, it's going to be very high.
Andy Holloway
Very high. It is a risky, risky pick, but no risk. It. No biscuit.
Mike Wright
I will Forgive Marvin Harrison Jr. For what was an underwhelming rookie season at wide receiver. Underwhelming compared to expectations being drafted in the NFL draft as high as he was. Being drafted in fantasy drafts as high as he was. Whether that was rational of fantasy players or not, it is what happened. And therefore he is in a position where a lot of people, I don't think want to mess with that. We also need to be honest. Like, I have Kyler Murray in a dynasty league. I'm happier to have Baker Mayfield in a dynasty league. There wasn't a world two years ago that I could have comprehended saying that sentence.
Andy Holloway
Right.
Mike Wright
But I feel more.
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You had been locked in a room.
Mike Wright
Yeah, I feel more confident and my expectations of my expectations being met in Baker Mayfield than Kyler because Laser Mayfield, it's a little late, but the.
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But, but Kyler, they said Baker somewhere in there. Just hit the button.
Mike Wright
You know, maybe, maybe I'm wrong in this, but it's just Kyler's, you know, the fact he can have a great game, he can disappear. It does reflect on our opinions of Marvin Harrison to put it all in perspective. And Jason, you've said this before, but I'm willing to forgive. It's a rookie season. He's one of only six rookie wideouts in the last decade to put up 880 and eight. So his company in that group, AJ Brown, Michael Thomas, Jamar Chase, Jordan Addison and Brian Thomas. So in the history of rookie wide receivers, he still put up good numbers. It wasn't Malik Neighbors and it wasn't what we expected for fantasy. This was a situation where we did too. The math was too simple and it betrayed fantasy players. And what I mean by that is we took away the weapons for Kyler in the off season. We added the first round draft pick and we just piled on all the expectations and targets and expected everything to go to Marvin Harrison with no problems. And instead he would. The truth is, in that offense, he was a decoy half the time. He really, truly took the top off the defense. They didn't throw him underneath stuff. It opened up the middle of the field for Trey McBride to have a breakout campaign, but it was very evident the whole season long. He was not fundamental for Marvin Harrison to have a good game for the Cardinals to succeed.
Andy Holloway
Yeah. And his, his target market share should go up. You know, he was only at 21% this rookie season. If you look at other rookies that are like that, A.J. brown was 19 and a half, CD Lamb was 19%. This, this is a normal rookie season that we're just disappointed based on expectations. He was not a bad wide receiver. He didn't come out and bust. He was disappointing. But sometimes the process of, I mean, I would say most oftentimes the process of wide receivers is to take a big leap forward in their second year. Now what's changed is in recent history we have a handful of rookies that come on and dominate in year one. And so we're like, ah, he sucks, he's a bum, but he should get better.
Mike Wright
It was a expectation issue for sure. I mean, if you, if you had been able to draft him last year and he had been a flex player that you can bounce in and out of your lineup, people drafted him to lock him in as maybe their wide receiver one.
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No, he was, he was drafted as wide receiver eight. So I mean he was being drafted as a one.
Mike Wright
He's going to be your one on your team and he was not that. So I mean, what did he finish at wide receiver?
Andy Holloway
28 and a half PPR, which is. That's not that bad.
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It's.
Mike Wright
It's not.
Andy Holloway
I mean, obviously crushing defeat for where you drafted.
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It was super inconsistent too.
Mike Wright
He was very, this was interesting. He was very, very similar to actually DK Metcalf's rookie season. Very similar production. Metcalf was 58 for 907 and Harrison was 62 for 885 and 8. Now the 8 was. The 8's a great number.
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It is.
Mike Wright
I mean Malik Neighbors couldn't hit that 8. If that's predictive of what his future is as being this double digit threat, a wide receiver, which I think it is, especially in this offense, then that's going to lead to very good things because the volume should become more consistent and the underneath routes and the more forced targets. We need to see more of that for Arizona.
Andy Holloway
The confidence that the team showed that they have in Marvin Harrison Jr. By literally not drafting offense, it was like they took a look at their defense, said, hey, our offense is young, we've got a good core, we're going to get better, we don't need to draft offense.
Mike Wright
It's funny because I feel like that was a mandate on Kyler.
Andy Holloway
You're saying, like I feel like that.
Mike Wright
Was a way of saying, like Kyler, here you go. You got another year with this group and we'll rebuild the offense if we have to after that. And that, that part scares me about Marvin. But I think, I think we all should forgive a rookie wide receiver that disappointed a little bit. He'll be drafted more appropriately this year with upside.
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Yeah, I think that's fine. I'm going to talk about George Pickens.
Mike Wright
This one's interesting.
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Pittsburgh Steeler. And this is because the like they.
Mike Wright
Say, forgive and forget. I was moving towards forget with George Baker.
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I forgot that's where he is. Like, okay, Christian McCaffrey, we said he's an underdog. Whatever, whatever. He's a top 10 running back. I don't remember where he was. Marv is going as a top.
Mike Wright
You're talking about draft pick.
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Yeah, yeah. ADP wise.
Mike Wright
Yeah, it's RB8.
Andy Holloway
Yeah.
Mike Wright
So 8.
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Marv right now on Sleepers. Wide receiver 19. George Pickens in best ball right now is going as the wide receiver 43. And so this me saying I'm going to forgive George Pickens is not. I'm looking at, you know, hey, the ceiling is still there. It feels like things are much different now. The scenario is not great with who is the quarterback, Is it Mason Rudolph? Is it Aaron Rodgers? We still don't know. And DK Metcalf is there with a brand new bag of money. But the point being, like we've seen stretches of George Pickens come out here, especially if you're talking about a best ball league, a guy who can, you know, on, on a given week just randomly explode and have a huge stout, a huge stat output. He's 24. He's in the final year of his, of his deal. Last year we had weeks four through 11 where he was almost 12 fantasy points a game. Wide receiver 15 in that span. So to see like I feel like this is a, is an overcorrection sending him down to wide receiver 43 is like you're, you're saying, you're saying it's close to impossible that he's going to do anything great for you. And there's, there are wide receivers being drafted right ahead of him where you are. I mean you're, you're hopeful and you're projecting an upward trajectory for some guys. But to leave Pickens there I think is a bit of a mistake.
Mike Wright
Have you started Pittsburgh out? Jason?
Andy Holloway
I have not yet.
Mike Wright
Have you started the.
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No. I got seven teams right now.
Andy Holloway
I do not expect my ranking to be much higher than 43 for George Pickens. Now, I don't mind taking a shot on a 24 year old talented wide receiver.
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I think that's the biggest and that's fine.
Mike Wright
But 59 for 903 last year pre DK.
Andy Holloway
He will definitely be the wide receiver 2 for this team. What they have done in trading for DK and giving him that monstrous contract, they view DK as the one they needed. Now George Pickens, you know, if he were replacing T. Higgins over in Cincinnati, you know he would dominate. He is. He could be a great wide receiver too for a team. The issue is the quarterback play.
Mike Wright
I feel like I would agree that this is too low if it's Rogers, but I think it will rise if it's Rogers.
Andy Holloway
Let me, let me ask you because I'm just looking at the adp.
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Are people operating under the assumption that it's not Rogers?
Andy Holloway
Well, only because he's not officially said it, but I think most people think it's going to be Rogers. Yeah, yeah.
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I mean that's how I'm not going to. I can't stat it to be Rogers right now. I think he's not there.
Mike Wright
But I mean he was rumored to be traded too.
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Well, there was an update on that if, if you missed that one, Andy. Just a little, you know, rumors from the Bushes and things of. There was.
Mike Wright
He said he's happy to be there.
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Yeah. Essentially like he's the one saying, no, I pulled back on any of those things. I want to be in Pittsburgh. So I mean he's at least publicly, it looks like he's. He wants to be there.
Andy Holloway
Let me ask you the wide receivers going right in front and behind.
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Okay.
Andy Holloway
And see who you would rather have. George Pickens or Jameson Williams. I go, Jameson Williams there George Pickens or Jordan Addison?
Mike Wright
Oh, that I'll probably take Addison.
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That's really close.
Andy Holloway
So those, I thought you were going.
Mike Wright
To say Darnell Mooney.
Andy Holloway
Those are the players that are right ahead of Pickens. Right behind Pickens. Jerry Judy. Would you rather have Jerry Judy or Pickens?
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I think Pickens.
Andy Holloway
So I feel like he's going to. When draft season comes around, I think he'll be right around here. And if Aaron Rodgers is there, it might be too low.
Mike Wright
Is he going into year four?
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Yeah, yeah, he's in contract year and a super small sample because we have four games of George Pickens with Mason Rudolph. And I mean like look at the Titans last year when Mason Rudolph came in. That's when you were pumped to play Calvin Ridley. Not that I don't think Mason Rudolph's a good quarterback for a real life NFL team, but he at least gives us some of that. I don't care. I'm going to just chuck the ball up. Stuff that we want from quarterbacks in those four games that Pickens has played with Rudolph. And this is, I'm not, I don't have the surrounding cast in those games, but in those four, Pickens was over 90 yards a game.
Andy Holloway
Oh, he was great in those games. So he didn't have DK Metcalf yet. And so that's, that's my issue is if it's Mason Rudolph and George Pickens isn't the one. It's like I don't want sloppy seconds from Mason Rudolph.
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Yeah. But you could have a really strong consolidation of targets. If we get targets.
Mike Wright
It seems like a good time to take a break. We'll come back with the news.
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Mike Wright
All right, let's get into the news.
Andy Holloway
News and notes from around the league.
Mike Wright
Well, Matthew Stafford finalized the new deal with the rams, will earn $44 million in 2025 and if he is on.
Andy Holloway
The roster at the start of free agency the following year, he locks up another 40 million. So they are clearly happy with stafford. You know, McVeigh came out and said that he thinks he can play forever, but he's hopeful he's got a couple more years.
Mike Wright
He's 37. He's the oldest starting quarterback in football. The Browns restructured Jerome Ford's contract. He will make less money. He will secure a roster spot and Nick Chubb's days as a Cleveland Brown are officially over. It seemed like this. The chance of Ford leaving was Chubb's chance to maybe be on the roster.
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Yeah, it definitely was. And the salary potential gets cut in half, but it did move to a fully guaranteed 1.75. I'm expecting it to be Judkins and.
Mike Wright
Ford as the runners and then this. The writing was on the wall in the draft for this news, but the Houston Chronicle reporting that Tank Dell will more than likely miss the entire 2025 season and be placed on the physically unable to perform list. They man grabbed Christian Kirk in the off season. They drafted a couple of rookie wide receivers and Tank Dell's. Tank Dell's future as a NFL player is really in question. It is, I think. And it's sad because he's very talented, close friends with CJ Stroud.
Andy Holloway
Did you see his leg tattoo? Tank Dell? Have either of you guys.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
No.
Andy Holloway
Oh, my goodness.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Like a new one or.
Andy Holloway
It's already his. His leg is a. Is a piece of art. It's kind of like Dak Prescott where you've just got this insane tattoo.
Mike Wright
Now what is it? What makes it.
Andy Holloway
You gotta. You gotta look at it.
Mike Wright
It's nothing to do with the injury.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
It's.
Andy Holloway
No.
Mike Wright
Oh, okay.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
It's a horror movie.
Andy Holloway
It's incredible.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Like this look. That's Michael Myers.
Andy Holloway
I just saw it yesterday and I don't know how many times we're going to be able to talk about Tank Dell.
Mike Wright
Well, how the surgically repaired knee look in the tattoo. That's the.
Andy Holloway
Yeah, they look okay. They worked the stitches into the tattoo.
Mike Wright
Zay Flowers did not have knee surgeries. Feeling great in his off season work. There was some concern that he may need to have surgery after missing two games last year.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Yeah, you missed the playoffs because he got hurt Right at the very end of the season.
Mike Wright
And the Chargers applied the unrestricted free agent tag to J.K. dobbins, which I believe was the same tag placed on Elijah Moore, which just guarantees them compensation if he signed someplace before training camp.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Yeah, I think that's all it is, is they're trying to build up their compensatory picks, but that's it.
Mike Wright
I think that's all we have by way of news. Unless you guys have anything else.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
That's all I got.
Mike Wright
Aaron Rodgers make a decision yet? No, no, no.
Andy Holloway
Not till minutes before camp. Maybe after.
Mike Wright
Here we go.
Andy Holloway
Mailbag. Yeah.
Mike Wright
If you have a question for the show, you can go to the website the fantasy footballers.com. click the submit a question button or you can dial our voicemail hotline. The number there 302464 TFFB. We're actually going to kick it off with a voicemail question. Hey ballers, this is Tom from New Jersey. How do you determine someone to be a keeper?
Terms and Conditions Announcer
In our league we keep two every.
Andy Holloway
Year but we lose the draft spot.
Mike Wright
One before where they were drafted. So if someone was drafted round six, we lose around five this year.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Thanks ballers. So it's more of a question about establishing the value that you're going to give up to keep that player on your team. Our league of record, our restrictions are more positionally based of we have a player that you get to keep no matter what and then you select three players to randomly get two of them on your team but they their positions cannot match the locked in keeper. I'm good with this. I like the rewarding people for drafting get one round discount of either where you or where you took them or you can go off of ADP and say, you know, I get if ADP is in the fifth round, this guy cost me a sixth round. The biggest thing when you this one.
Mike Wright
Is one round higher than where you drafted him.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Yeah.
Mike Wright
So yeah.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
So yeah, this one, this version is not a reward.
Mike Wright
I don't know.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Totally.
Mike Wright
But if you got Bucky Irving.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Yeah. Then you're still getting a heavy reward.
Mike Wright
12Th round you get to keep him for an 11.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Yeah.
Andy Holloway
So. And usually in leagues like this they will. That rule keeps you from having a player forever because then the next year it'll be worth more and then worth more.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
The biggest thing is if you're talking about players off of the waiver wire because I like these system because reward a draft, reward people for taking chances in the draft and calling your shot and getting it right. For guys off the waiver wire, I'm either on the team of you can't keep them or they cost their adp.
Andy Holloway
I completely agree.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
You don't get your last round. You're like, oh, I got him off the waiver in week one and it was like, like a lot of people with Bucky, I got him off the waiver wire. Now I get to keep him for a 14th round. Getting absolutely not.
Mike Wright
I mean those situations certainly stack if you're having multiple keepers too. Like if it's a league with one keeper or something like that, then the advantage is not as pronounced and it can be exciting and fun to have a situation like that. But if you're keeping multiple keepers and you get them at, you know, and they're multiple free agents that hit that, then you're you're really stacking the deck in your favor. Maybe you do around behind ADP as a reward for that. You know, Bucky is going to go, what, in the second or third round this year. So maybe you get it around behind that. Maybe you get them at ADP like you said, as an option.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Yes.
Andy Holloway
Slight discount from ADP I think is the right way. There's a lot of ways to do keepers that are fun, but I think, I think this is a good time because I. Keeper leagues in my opinion are the best. The best formats, better than redraft, it's better than dynasty. It takes what you love from both of them, the draft season and that's still exciting. Whereas in a keep in a dynasty league, it's not. It's a very small rookie draft window. Every year there you don't have that big draft ever again, which I mean.
Mike Wright
Our dynasty league just did it and it's over and we're done until the season starts.
Andy Holloway
But in the season, you know, the waiver wires the action that you don't have in dynasty. In the off season, you can still trade picks. So if, and this is the time of year right now, if you're listening and you don't play in a keeper league, maybe maybe talk to your league or find some guys and gals to start a new keeper league and try it out. If you haven't played it. It is so fun.
Mike Wright
I have never felt like our draft day experience wasn't as fun as a pure redraft.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Yeah, right.
Mike Wright
It's actually in a lot of ways it's strategically more engaging because you have some keepers. The league has keepers. When you think about how they're going to draft, it's even more strategic.
Andy Holloway
And there's so many trades that happen prior to the draft. Like when we come into the draft, the draft board is wild. Maybe someone has traded some of their keepers for, you know, the first round pick, a second round pick, something like that early on. And so that's something you can't do. I mean, sometimes in a regular redraft it's like, I'll trade you these two picks for that one.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
It doesn't make as much sense though.
Andy Holloway
Yeah, it doesn't. It doesn't fly. It's not as much action.
Mike Wright
All right, Instagram question from Betty Marshall. Does Jonathan Taylor still have potential for Bijan Gibbs and Saquon Value?
Andy Holloway
I think on a redraft level, yes, we. If you didn't experience Jonathan Taylor's end of the season, he looked just like the running back. That was the running back one to start. I mean those last five games he was, I mean it's a, it's a five game stretch. It's, you know, not what you would bank on. But that was a 2,500 rushing yard pace. 20 rushing touchdown pace. That was, he was just dominating.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
He, he played also though for some context. He played the team with the first pick. The. What is the Giants were third. Where the Patriots the fourth pick. Jacksonville was the fifth pick. Like they played basically the fifth. They were all the worst teams in.
Andy Holloway
The league and he was the one giving them those high picks in the draft.
Mike Wright
They were done as well.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Yeah.
Mike Wright
And so that was, you know, the quarterback situation last year went to crap for Indianapolis.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
I'm with you Jay. When you pull up those numbers, they're against Tennessee 29 for 218. Like he did do that. But you have to factor the context in at least a little bit. This is not him dominating, you know, top half defenses at the very beginning of the season.
Andy Holloway
Yeah, if you're talking about like you know the breakaway runs, that's not easy to project. But the opportunities at the end of the year, that's what I loved seeing. And I think whichever quarterback it is, they're still going to put Jonathan Taylor in there. You know, 25 carries, 22 carries, 29 carries, 32, 34. Like they.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
This team pace of 482 attempts, which that's outlandish.
Andy Holloway
Couldn't happen. But the point. What's the highest that he.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Kyle, what's the highest rushing attempts ever in a season?
Andy Holloway
Is it the team and the coaching staff? Like that hasn't changed. He will be like the guy in the backfield. Barring injury.
Mike Wright
They, they did lose, I believe two of their more experienced offensive line starters. Ryan Kelly I think will Freeze also left. But yeah, I mean what is the potential for those seasons? It was 20, 21 when he was the RB1. He showed you in that stretch what he can do with volume. I don't know, probably a 5% chance that he could beat those three guys for me, but the fact that. But his chance to be an RB one is probably 75%.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Yeah, I think it's still strong. But Bijan gives him level.
Mike Wright
I just don't like the team that much. I like Jonathan Taylor. Jonathan Taylor, I don't like Daniel Jones.
Andy Holloway
Jonathan Taylor is amazing. The issues, you know, I'm talking them up but the, you know the reality that you have to look at with Jonathan Taylor is you could see A Saquon Barkley like season last year where he didn't catch a lot of passes and he was the running back one. But the difference is he was on an offense that scored an obscene amount of touchdowns and you can't project that for the Colts and you can't project him to have a ton of receptions like Bijan and Gibbs. So really I think the most likely outcome is that he's going to be an awesome player getting a ton of opportunity and not scoring enough touchdowns or catching the ball enough to be top three style running back. But he, he has the talent to be in the tier with these other guys.
Mike Wright
That's the funny thing about Saquon, and maybe we've never said it like this, but is he. Was he a better player last year than he was the year before? Like was he more talented?
Andy Holloway
No, No.
Mike Wright
I think that's, that's the amazing thing about the Saquon Barkley season is that this is the. This is Saquon Barkley. It was a change of scenery.
Andy Holloway
Yeah.
Mike Wright
It was a change in situation.
Andy Holloway
Does that show you how bad DeAndre Swift is?
Mike Wright
Yes.
Andy Holloway
Yeah. Because he had this offense, he had this team, he had that offensive line.
Mike Wright
He looked. And he looked pretty good.
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He looked pretty good for a lot of those games, man.
Mike Wright
He made some money. Thanks. Thank you. He should write like an affiliate check to the entire offensive line of Philadelphia.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
The Larry Johnson. I remember it had the most.
Mike Wright
I remember grandmama. No, I'm just kidding.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Playing for the Charlotte Hornets so. Well, I guess we. We've only had five players over 400 attempts.
Mike Wright
Yeah. Oh yeah. I remember the Larry Johnson Season 2006.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Was that had to. That was that right before it just all fell apart.
Andy Holloway
Come on, Shane.
Mike Wright
I don't know.
Andy Holloway
Give him the ball.
Mike Wright
On the 416th on the 416, all his legs just fell off.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
It was after his legs.
Mike Wright
All of them.
Andy Holloway
All two of them.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
416. That was the last big year for Larry. Everything just broke down after that.
Andy Holloway
Come on, Steichen, don't be a coward.
Mike Wright
All right.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
It's so wild though back. You know what was 2021 for JT Jonathan Taylor at the top was so short lived.
Mike Wright
Well, I mean look, he was.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
He was definitely the dynasty. RB1 at that. At that moment.
Mike Wright
383 carries that year and he followed it up with two injury riddled seasons. That's what, that's what's going to happen. That's what happens when you give players that much work unless they're named Derek Henry Wild tape hubs on Instagram. Can the Chargers win the afc?
Andy Holloway
Absolutely not.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Absolutely not.
Andy Holloway
You think? Absolutely not. Correct.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
I believe the Chargers, the entire afc.
Andy Holloway
The entire AFC West. I mean, obviously right now you've got the Ravens, the Bills and the Chiefs clearly ahead of them. According to sportsbooks, you've got the Bengals a little bit ahead as well, and the Broncos. And they're right there with the Broncos. But to me, the Chargers, talent wise, roster wise, coaching wise, quarterback, I don't see any reason they cannot compete with every single one of those teams that.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
I'm going to write my odds down on the board.
Mike Wright
What does that mean?
Terms and Conditions Announcer
I'm just showing you. Their odds of. Their odds of winning the AFC are zero percent.
Andy Holloway
Wow. Okay, so tell me why.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
No, no, no.
Mike Wright
I don't agree with Mike.
Andy Holloway
Tell me, tell me why you think that they have a zero percent chance of winning the afc.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Well, number one, Patrick Mahomes is in there and so is Josh Allen.
Mike Wright
And it's just so is Lamar Jackson.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
And so is Lamar Jackson and so is Joe Burrow. And then, and then factoring in just how overall the unit of the Denver Broncos like as a team, because I'm not like, oh, Bo Nix is. I think Bo Nix is going to be a good quarterback and take another step. I just, I don't think that, I don't think the Chargers with, with the current team.
Andy Holloway
So is this more about the other teams? Yes, 100%.
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I'm not saying the Chargers are bad.
Mike Wright
I have tried. I'm on a 10 year run wanting to pick the Chargers to win the ding afc. The whole thing. I'm giving up.
Andy Holloway
Yeah, it's a weird time to give up.
Mike Wright
I don't know how he's going to.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Get through Charger fans. I'm not, I'm not disgracing your team.
Mike Wright
Let me put it.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
The other ones are a little bit better.
Mike Wright
The Chargers could win the most games in the AFC this year. That could happen. They can. I don't think they can win in the playoffs against those four quarterbacks.
Andy Holloway
That's not. Yeah, I mean, but the question is who wins the most games in regular season, right?
Terms and Conditions Announcer
No, is who wins the afc. That would mean they go to the Super Bowl.
Mike Wright
Yeah, that is what that means.
Andy Holloway
Oh, that's funny. I was, I was interpreting this completely backtrack as like they are the number one seed in the afc. That's what the AFC means. Regardless. I'm not backtracking because I definitely think they could come out of the AFC as well. I Think they could beat those teams with Harbaugh? They are a different team.
Mike Wright
They are the playoffs.
Andy Holloway
They're going to have a great running game with Amarian, Hampton and Najee.
Mike Wright
I still think they need a white out.
Andy Holloway
That's because you don't love.
Mike Wright
I do love Ladman.
Andy Holloway
No, I'm talking about Trey Harris.
Mike Wright
Trey Harris is not the key to them winning the afc.
Andy Holloway
Yeah. Famous last words.
Mike Wright
What's your percentage? Let's see how bold you are.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
I'll put my back down.
Mike Wright
Zero.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
I'll do it again.
Andy Holloway
I'm coming out of the.
Mike Wright
Of winning the afc. Do we have to say it like the number one going to the Super Bowl?
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Super Bowl, Yeah. Holy balls, dude. What?
Andy Holloway
18%.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Wow. You need to go back. The Chargers.
Andy Holloway
Yeah.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
That's a really high number.
Mike Wright
I had written 8% down.
Andy Holloway
We were very close. I just had a little line also.
Mike Wright
New expression. Mike, you unlocked a new expression. All right. G Marshall, 27 on Instagram. Have you ever made a trade with your biggest rivals?
Andy Holloway
Oh, yeah. I mean, that's. Andy is my biggest rival. Because we were in division.
Mike Wright
Yeah. How's it feel now? Totally different, right?
Andy Holloway
It feels totally different to not be in your division.
Mike Wright
We used to be for 10 years or more, probably. Probably what, like 13 years. Division rivals.
Andy Holloway
Yeah.
Mike Wright
And when we made trades, they always worked out perfectly for you.
Andy Holloway
Well. Oh, man. All I know is we get asked questions all the time, like, oh, what's the best trade you've ever made? Oh, what's the worst trade you've ever made? And it's hard to remember. And I will never be able to forget the trade I didn't take from Andy.
Mike Wright
Oh, I forgot.
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I thought you go back to, oh.
Andy Holloway
My goodness, it's the worst whiff of all time. I mean, right in the middle.
Mike Wright
Two years ago, Saquon Barkley for Eckler and a couple firsts.
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Yeah.
Andy Holloway
Yes. Basically the highest draft picks that we can trade in our keeper league. He had two of them. He offered two of them. Lost Saquon Barkley, who became the running back one for Austin Eckler, who at the time was on fire. He's doing great. His playoff schedule was great. I was trying to repeat as the champion of the league of record and I just decided, no, that's. That's a lot of values. Good. You talked about it. Me and my co manager, we went shut the door, we talked through it, we looked at the schedule, we dove deep and we made a mistake because, oh, my goodness, if last year I could have had instead of Eckler, Barkley, plus two of the best picks in the draft not have been better for you? Yeah, I think so.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Kyle does want you to know, Jason, the books, 18%. That's where the Chiefs are.
Andy Holloway
Okay. So I don't.
Mike Wright
I think it's okay to have a hot take. I like the Chargers.
Andy Holloway
I genuinely think it is a complete toss up for who wins that division. Like a coin flip. I see them in the Chargers and I'll put the Broncos in there, too. Those three teams, I mean, I think I legitimately might go Charger, Chiefs, Broncos. But I think they're in the same tier.
Mike Wright
It should be very interesting to see, like, last year was defined by these Chiefs games that they just had no business winning over and over.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
And oh my gosh, that was the worst.
Mike Wright
And we got another year older for Travis Kelsey. I think. I think it'll be very interesting in that division. I worry about the playoffs, but if they had home field, somehow maybe they get it done. So, yeah. In terms of trading with your biggest rival. Yeah. Jason and I, for many years, I would say that Mike and I have made very few trades historically, but we would.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
But I've, I've traded with everybody.
Mike Wright
Yeah. I don't think that any of us are like, is there anybody in any of our leagues? You're like, no way.
Andy Holloway
No, no, There are people there. There are people in the. Oh, don't do that to me on the air.
Mike Wright
All right. But no, I don't, I don't have anybody.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
It doesn't matter the team. If they have players that I want or I need and we're compatible for a trade, then it's fine. Make a trade.
Andy Holloway
Yeah.
Mike Wright
All right, we'll take a break. And we've got a blast from the past. Question coming up. Is anyone out there?
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Mike Wright
All right, back into the mailbag. And for those of you that have been listening to this podcast for quite some time, it's time to go back in history. I'm seeing a picture of the big salad shirt and the question is, the question is who are this year's fantasy vegetables? And I do have a very quick to mind answer.
Andy Holloway
I have two very quick to mine answers. One wide receiver, one running back.
Mike Wright
Yeah, I got a running back. Look, big salad. That was Sean Drones name. It was just, it was. We made the point that sometimes you just got to eat your greens. You need that tried and true nutritious player that just gets the job done. It's not flashy, doesn't taste great, but they do the work. And that is Brian Robinson.
Andy Holloway
Oh, that's a great.
Mike Wright
Brian Robinson is the big salad.
Andy Holloway
That is a great answer.
Mike Wright
Who do you got?
Andy Holloway
I have at running back Chuba Hubbard.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
That's very big.
Andy Holloway
I still don't really want to draft him. I'm not excited. But he's way better than he, than we think he is. Like he's very good. And then Darnell Mooney, he is.
Mike Wright
Oh yeah, that's.
Andy Holloway
You don't have great upside. And he's going to be drafted low because when you look at do I want Darnell Mooney who's a two or another player that, oh, this guy could be a boat. You know, you always try to take the boat but Darnell Mooney is just going to go out there and get it done on a week by week basis.
Mike Wright
Yeah. Yeah, that's a good one. You got anybody Mike that you want?
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Chuba was going to be my answer.
Mike Wright
Okay, here's a Broncos question from Anderson Love. Outlook on Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims after the draft. It looks on paper like Cortland Sutton is obviously there. And then there's Marvin Mims who got involved late in the season. You got Vale, you've got Troy Franklin still there. You drafted Pat Bryant. You've got Evan Ingram in the equation now. Let's not forget Evan Ingram. So Marvin Mims, are we the Marvin.
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Mims experience of just over and over verbally us hearing from Sean Payton that I got to figure out how to get Marvin Mims on the field? We've had two years of, of that Being said for him to average 27% of offensive snaps.
Andy Holloway
Yeah, he was healthy this year. He played all 17 games and he.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Is, he can hit a big play on any given game. But I feel like now we're being two years into it, the snaps actually went down from his rookie season to a sophomore season. And the fact that they added a third round wide receiver in Pat Bryant, I would say he is a, he can help the football team, but for fantasy football, he is, you're, you're putting him into your DFS lineup and hoping that's the, the week that he goes two catches for 100 yards.
Andy Holloway
It is absolutely foolish to believe after the amount of games we have seen him used and you know that he would take a massive step up to fantasy relevance. And again, I think Marvin Mims is a very good player and just like Mike said, will help the team. He plays on special teams, he's a good returner. He can come in on a package and just like, you know, fly down the field. But I don't see them changing what they've done for two years with him. All right, and you've got Troy Franklin there who's going to step up any minute.
Mike Wright
Instagram Question from Taylor Stewart. Which team had the most disappointing draft From a fantasy football perspective? That's a good question.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Cowboys probably.
Mike Wright
Dallas. No. Day two, you didn't get the wide.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Yeah, we didn't get the wide receiver we were hoping for. And you didn't get a running back with draft capital, not like Jaden Blue is. The Cowboys are going to be fascinating when you're trying to figure out who are you going to draft here because it's Javante and Miles Sanders. Like it is the just a conglomeration of underperforming guys on that team who are making very, very little money. And then you got Jaden Blue, who I think was a fifth round pick.
Andy Holloway
But he's a like smaller.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
He's a smaller guy. So it's. I have no, I have no idea who to draft from that team, but I know that someone on that squad will have like running back 2ish value.
Andy Holloway
Well, and the sad part is, you know, sometimes when a team does not draft the high draft capital running back that they were maybe projected to, it's really good. You're like, whoo, good. My veteran escaped. But like you're not even excited about Javante there, so Brian Robinson. You know, I like the fact that the commanders didn't take a running back when they were, you know, that could have been a big threat and it's like, oh, well, there's a winner. I don't view Javante as like. Like he won, but I don't view him as a winner at all.
Mike Wright
But we lost.
Andy Holloway
We lost.
Mike Wright
And it's like, so any conversations for Gervonta in fantasy lineups which will now be necessary.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
We lose and it's the. The check marks for Javante are he is the projected starter right now because he's making the most money, but it's not by a wide margin over Miles Sanders.
Andy Holloway
Pay him a lot.
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And it's. I watched Javante, I watched both of these guys play last year and they were both extremely disappointing. But I feel like Miles was not as disappointing as Javante.
Mike Wright
You know who I was disappointed in? It was Denver because it's not that I can't get excited for RJ Harvey to potentially be valuable, it's just that I don't. That is all coming from Sean Payton. That is not coming from, you know, our pre draft player evaluation excitement. The way we were for Hampton or for Henderson.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
It was a reach based off of mock.
Mike Wright
It was them falling in love with a guy and I just. It's just such a good opportunity.
Andy Holloway
They were sitting there with Henderson and Hampton available to be picked and that was. We, you know, that was the dream spot for everyone with their first round was go to Denver and they had the chance and they bypassed. So I completely agree. They were even more than the Cowboys. They disappointed me. You know, they came back and tried to make good by taking, you know, RJ Harvey with good draft capital. But it's weird because really wanted one of those guys.
Mike Wright
There was not a running back home run spot because the only one that you can point to and say I think that is. Is Hampton in with the Chargers.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
But even that, I think the Genti spots a home run.
Mike Wright
Oh, okay.
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You know what's funny based off of.
Andy Holloway
He'S not a rookie.
Mike Wright
Yeah, it's like. It's like he's been in the year.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
For the league for four years.
Mike Wright
Genti the lock. I'm sorry. Absolutely. Genti.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Okay.
Mike Wright
But of all the other destinations that we thought were home runs, Dallas, Denver, Chicago, even, even the Chargers, like the Charger, it will be a home run. But I don't know if it is in year one.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Like a. Yeah, that's fair though.
Mike Wright
It might be.
Andy Holloway
It is funny the fact that Genty will not come up in many conversations. Like when. When you're having conversations of who's the rookie running back that's going to do Great. This year. Like just avoid the name because he doesn't count.
Mike Wright
No, he does. I mean, where's his. Is ADP going to be 4 Genty? Yeah.
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Pretty close.
Mike Wright
And who doesn't want to take him?
Andy Holloway
I have gone through and I have statted out the Raiders and hoo ha. I want to take him.
Mike Wright
Let me guess your. Can I. Can I make a guess on total yardage?
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Oh my.
Andy Holloway
Total. Come on.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Total scrimmage yards?
Mike Wright
Yeah, scrimmage yards.
Andy Holloway
Sure.
Mike Wright
1550.
Andy Holloway
You would be short. I have him at 1653.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Oh, man.
Andy Holloway
1232 on the ground, 421 in the air.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
It's hard to. It's hard to not project that.
Andy Holloway
It is hard because of the. Because of the passing work. When you look at the, you know, the expected pace, the Chip Kelly offense, what we've seen Geno Smith throw total. And then you just say hold on, hold on.
Mike Wright
The Falcon inducers. Ellie, as a projection for his total yardage. What do you have him down for, Mr. Guy who drafted him in his rookie draft? Yeah. 2300. 2300. 2300 total yards.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
So at least 1000. Yeah, absolutely. Okay.
Mike Wright
20 touchdowns.
Andy Holloway
Wow, that's pretty good. On the Raiders, Ashton Jetty is going.
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To finish as the running back to. People are going to be furious, man.
Mike Wright
It's just. How does he feel?
Terms and Conditions Announcer
He's not in shape.
Andy Holloway
Oh, he's in shape. Oh, I know, I know. No, no, no, no, no. I'm just checking that one off. You can't fail that way anymore.
Mike Wright
Yeah, yeah.
Andy Holloway
If he stopped working out from now until kickoff, I think he. I don't think he could.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
He can't get out of shape that fast.
Mike Wright
You don't think he could dodge it?
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Oh.
Andy Holloway
Oh, yeah.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Oh, man. Sorry.
Andy Holloway
In football we call that an Eddie Lacy.
Mike Wright
Yes, yes, yes. Man, where are we? More. More questions. Here we go. YouTube. Eric, who finishes higher this year in fantasy, Mahomes or Lawrence? Lawrence will have Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas. Mahomes will get Rashi Rice back worthy. Hollywood. Kelsey, I think it's going to be close. I haven't done my projections yet, but I bet you these guys are like 11 and 12.
Andy Holloway
I've got. I've got a decent gap between Lawrence and Mahomes. Mahomes on top still.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
We got to just still believe.
Andy Holloway
I mean, he's not. He's not a top five quarterback to me. Mahomes, he's not. But maybe it's more an indictment against Lawrence than it is.
Mike Wright
Mahomes was the quarterback 11 last year.
Andy Holloway
I Think that's, that's about, I mean I haven't finished the whole league so I don't know where he will land, but I have, I have Mahomes behind a Bo Nix.
Mike Wright
Well, let's, let's wrap this up then with this Follow up from YouTube. Malachi writes in Are we scared to drown for Rushy Rice as wide receiver too? Because those things are connected and I am a little bit nervous about that.
Andy Holloway
So I am very much not at all nervous about Rush E. Rice when he's on the field. The only question of drafting him and where his risk will be is about whether a possible suspension comes this year. I think by the time draft season is upon us we'll have a little bit more clear expectation of the timeline because there's rumors that this suspension could be pushed another year. We still assume it is coming and so obviously this isn't an injury risk. This is just. He can't help you when he can't play football and there will be risk there.
Mike Wright
You have no like distribution of target like concerns because I, last year when he was, he was killing it. Worthy wasn't established in Hollywood, was hurt. So to me it's like this is an under 4000 yard team. I guess I'm just not quite, I.
Andy Holloway
Looked through the first three games and actually what, what, what was really telling. And granted obviously Worthy was a rookie and Hollywood was not there. Yes. However, it was really Travis Kelsey who took the hit. Travis Kelsey was down at like 14% target share during those first three weeks of the season when he should be, you know, at his best. Rush E. Rice dominated in the target market share and it was, it was, it was the same area of the field that Kelsey is usually working. So that's to me when I, when I started this out like Kelsey has a pretty big fall from fantasy, you know, superstar status in this year's rankings. I think this is the year where I've got him going to a very difficult to swallow 15% target share. Travis Kelsey is never been, I mean he was still 26% last year, but when you look at the games when Rushy Rice was healthy, he was not as involved. He's older. And then you bring in Worthy and Hollywood.
Mike Wright
Patrick Mahomes has never had multiple top 50 wide receivers.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Because of Travis Kelsey.
Mike Wright
Worthy and Rashi Rice will be drafted way higher than top 50. They'll both, oh yeah, right now they're in the wide receiver 20 range and I mean that's just going to be a push comes to shove situation for Them.
Andy Holloway
So essentially I think what what I what I think we're working through here is someone is going to take a tumble.
Mike Wright
Right. And it could be.
Andy Holloway
I have it being Kelsey, you have it being Rice as I just think.
Mike Wright
Rice is probably around a wide receiver 2025 guy.
Andy Holloway
Sure.
Mike Wright
But that is to be determined.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
I am moving rapidly towards just projecting Rice to it's a full dominant or no I'm just being games played like I think he. He's looking healthy.
Mike Wright
I'm not that worried about the suspension.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
That's saying like the I just want to know what I both health and suspension I think will be not concerns of this year.
Mike Wright
Sorry.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
It is just then it's what do you believe about the player. But to have all those things of like how many games is he going to miss up in the air that that changes everything. But if you're going to. If you're approaching the season like he's going to be there day one then now what do you think of the player?
Mike Wright
Do you think the team is lying when they say they want to throw the ball again down the field? Because to me obviously Hollywood and Worthy are very. They're made for that. Obviously you need the underneath stuff. You need everything else. But I guess I'm curious how you project Worthy relative to Rashi Rice.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
I would. I have a projected him out but the way that it's working in my head is the hit. A hit will go to Worthy like Rasheed Rice will get his place in the offense back where he operates because I think he's better at it doing that than what Worthy is doing and where he's got speed and can open things up and be a distraction. But I do believe them when they say that. I think they look at the last year's games where I think that they could be objectively honest and say guys, we won a lot of games that we should not have won. And going back to those games, we should not have been in a close game. We have to be able to put up 30 plus points on any given week if that's how we have to win. So I do believe it a little bit. Oh yeah. Breaking news.
Andy Holloway
Breaking news. Whoa.
Mike Wright
Justin Tucker has been released by the Ravens.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Yeah.
Andy Holloway
Yeah.
Mike Wright
Seems like the right move. You did draft a kicker.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Yeah.
Mike Wright
Peace. Goodbye. Goodbye. The show's over. That is it for today's episode. You got a month. Less than a month. The ultimate draft kit, June 1st available. Get it at a pre order price right now@ultimate draftkit.com Goodbye.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Goodbye.
Andy Holloway
Thank you for listening. To another episode of the Fantasy Football Footballers podcast. Join our fantasy football community on JoinTheFoot.com and follow us on Twitter the FFballers.
LinkedIn Sales Representative
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Andy Holloway
If this were a Reese's TV ad.
Mike Wright
You'D be staring at a Reese's peanut butter cup. And sure, my voice is peanut buttery.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Smooth, but still, you need to see the peanut butter cups, right? No, I can really just say Reese's and you'll go get some.
Andy Holloway
Okay.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
Reese's, Reese's, Reese's really working. Actually.
Andy Holloway
Reese's, Reese's this.
Terms and Conditions Announcer
I'm on to something. Reese's, Reese's, Reese's Reese's.
Release Date: May 6, 2025
Hosts: Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright
The episode kicks off with Andy Holloway welcoming listeners to the Fantasy Footballers podcast. He acknowledges the ongoing grind of the fantasy football season, highlighting the extensive research and preparation the hosts undertake to deliver accurate player projections and insights.
Andy Holloway [01:25]:
"What a day to talk fantasy football. The front part of May... the grind season for us."
The hosts discuss their dedication to compiling over 500 offensive player projections for the upcoming Ultimate Draft Kit (UDK), set to launch on June 1st, alongside the production of 100+ player profile videos.
The trio delves into the concept of "forgiveness" in fantasy football, exploring which underperforming players might redeem themselves in the upcoming season.
Mike Wright [10:45]:
"I will forgive Marvin Harrison Jr. for what was an underwhelming rookie season at wide receiver."
Christian McCaffrey:
Andy Holloway expresses his willingness to forgive Christian McCaffrey's injury history, citing his current health and pivotal role in the Shanahan system.
Andy Holloway [06:17]:
"Christian McCaffrey takes incredible care of his body and he's going to be used as a complete bell cow."
Mike Wright [07:26]:
"Three of the last five years lost to injury for Christian McCaffrey."
Marvin Harrison Jr.:
Mike Wright is ready to forgive Harrison Jr.'s rookie season shortcomings, acknowledging his solid performance compared to other rookie wide receivers.
Mike Wright [10:45]:
"Marvin Harrison Jr. is one of only six rookie wideouts in the last decade to put up 880 and eight."
George Pickens:
The discussion shifts to George Pickens, with Mike Wright advocating for forgiving his current low ADP (Average Draft Position) based on his potential and past performance bursts.
Mike Wright [16:06]:
"There are wide receivers being drafted right ahead of him where you are hopeful and you're projecting an upward trajectory for some guys."
Andy Holloway [17:51]:
"I do not expect my ranking to be much higher than 43 for George Pickens. Now, I don't mind taking a shot on a 24-year-old talented wide receiver."
The hosts introduce the concept of "fantasy veggies," referring to reliable, nutritious players who might not have flashy stats but consistently perform well.
Mike Wright [42:36]:
"Brian Robinson is the big salad."
Brian Robinson:
Highlighted as a dependable running back who consistently gets the job done without the high-risk associated with some other players.
Andy Holloway [43:09]:
"Darnell Mooney is just going to go out there and get it done on a week-by-week basis."
Chuba Hubbard:
Andy mentions Chuba Hubbard as a solid running back option, appreciating his reliability despite not being the most exciting pick.
Andy Holloway [43:02]:
"He's way better than he, than we think he is. Like he's very good."
Darnell Mooney:
Discussed as a low-risk wide receiver who consistently contributes, making him a valuable "veggie" in fantasy lineups.
Mike Wright [43:05]:
"Darnell Mooney is just going to go out there and get it done on a week-by-week basis."
The hosts provide updates on the latest NFL news affecting fantasy football players.
Matthew Stafford's Contract:
Announced that Stafford has finalized a new deal with the Rams, securing $44 million in 2025, indicating the team's confidence in his longevity.
Mike Wright [22:02]:
"Matthew Stafford finalized the new deal with the Rams, will earn $44 million in 2025."
Jerome Ford's Restructured Contract:
The Browns have restructured Jerome Ford's contract, potentially signaling the end of Nick Chubb's tenure with the team.
Mike Wright [22:27]:
"The Browns restructured Jerome Ford's contract. He will make less money."
Tank Dell's Injury:
Reporting that Tank Dell is likely to miss the entire 2025 season due to a surgically repaired knee, raising concerns about his future in the NFL.
Mike Wright [22:58]:
"Houston Chronicle reporting that Tank Dell will more than likely miss the entire 2025 season."
Zay Flowers and J.K. Dobbins:
Updates on Zay Flowers' health and the Chargers' use of the unrestricted free agent tag on J.K. Dobbins, indicating strategic moves for their roster.
Listeners' questions are addressed, covering topics like keeper leagues, draft disappointments, and player projections.
Determining Keepers:
The hosts discuss strategies for establishing the value of keepers in a league, emphasizing position-based restrictions and rewards based on draft performance.
Mike Wright [25:37]:
"The biggest thing is if you're talking about players off of the waiver wire because I like these system because reward a draft, reward people for taking chances in the draft."
Most Disappointing Drafts:
Various teams, particularly the Cowboys and Denver, are cited as having the most disappointing fantasy drafts due to underperforming picks and unmet expectations.
Mike Wright [45:49]:
"Dallas... the Cowboys are going to be fascinating when you're trying to figure out who are you going to draft here because it's Javante and Miles Sanders."
Projection Comparisons:
Discussion on whether Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson will perform better this season, contemplating their respective offensive squads and quarterback situations.
Andy Holloway [51:54]:
"I've got a decent gap between Lawrence and Mahomes. Mahomes on top still."
Rush E. Rice Concerns:
Addressing worries about Rashi Rice's potential suspension and its impact on his fantasy value, with the hosts weighing in on his performance and team dynamics.
Mike Wright [53:54]:
"Rice is probably around a wide receiver 20/25 in fantasy rankings for 2025."
In the closing segments, the hosts reflect on team performances, trading strategies, and provide final insights before signing off.
Chargers' AFC Prospects:
A spirited debate ensues over the Chargers' chances of winning the AFC, with Mike Wright expressing skepticism while Andy Holloway remains optimistic about their potential.
Mike Wright [35:28]:
"I'm just showing you. Their odds of winning the AFC are zero percent."
Andy Holloway [35:42]:
"I don't see any reason they cannot compete with every single one of those teams."
Trading with Rivals:
The hosts share personal anecdotes about trading with long-time rivals, emphasizing the importance of compatibility and mutual benefit in successful fantasy trades.
Andy Holloway [38:24]:
"It's hard to remember. And I will never be able to forget the trade I didn't take from Andy."
Fantasy Veggies Recap:
Reiterating the importance of reliable players in maintaining a balanced and effective fantasy roster.
Andy Holloway [43:03]:
"Darnell Mooney is just going to go out there and get it done on a week-by-week basis."
Final Mailbag Questions:
Addressing last-minute listener questions about player performances and projections, ensuring all relevant topics are thoroughly covered.
Malachi [52:36]:
"Are we scared to drown for Rashi Rice as wide receiver too? Because those things are connected and I am a little bit nervous about that."
Andy Holloway [06:05]:
"He will earn my forgiveness. It will not be given."
Mike Wright [15:20]:
"I am willing to forgive George Pickens because the ceiling is still there."
Andy Holloway [28:27]:
"Keeper leagues in my opinion are the best. The best formats, better than redraft, it's better than dynasty."
Mike Wright [32:19]:
"Jonathan Taylor is amazing... he has the talent to be in the tier with these other guys."
The Fantasy Footballers provide an insightful and comprehensive discussion on key fantasy football topics, from player forgiveness and reliable picks to the latest NFL news impacting fantasy rosters. Their expert analysis, coupled with engaging banter and notable quotes, offers listeners valuable strategies and perspectives to navigate the upcoming fantasy football season successfully.
Andy Holloway [57:31]:
"Thank you for listening to another episode of the Fantasy Footballers podcast. Join our fantasy football community on JoinTheFoot.com and follow us on Twitter the FFballers."
Prepared by the Fantasy Footballers Team