Fantasy Footballers Podcast — “Playoff Push! Week 14 Start/Sit + The Ballers Fix Football”

Date: December 3, 2025
Hosts: Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, Mike “The Fantasy Hitman” Wright

Episode Overview

In this episode, the Fantasy Footballers gear up for the playoff push with in-depth Week 14 start/sit advice and lively discussions on playoff league formats, backup options, key injuries, and pivotal Thursday Night Football matchups. The Ballers pepper their expert analysis with humor and anecdotes, guiding listeners as the fantasy postseason looms. From navigating backup pickups to wild playoff-seeding debates, and ending with the infamous Ballers "football fix" proposal (the snowball game for the #1 pick), this episode is equal parts strategy and entertainment.

Key Discussions & Insights

1. League Playoff Formats & Reseeding

• Early banter on personal leagues prompts a discussion about reseeding playoffs after round one—should the highest remaining seed always get the lowest remaining opponent?

• Quote:

  “If you’re the number one seed and someone pulls an upset, you should get to face them. That’s what sports do. That’s what proper tournaments do.” — Mike Wright [04:38]

• In their leagues, the “league of record” reseeds, while their Dynasty league does not, which could have major impact on matchups and is under debate for next season.

2. Backup & Waiver Wire Options for the Playoff Push

[07:29–11:33]

• Ollie Gordon (Miami Dolphins):
  High-value stash with the second-best playoff RB schedule (Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Tampa Bay). If HN goes down, Gordon could be huge.

  “If you’re smart, you’re the HN manager, you have Ollie Gordon on your team.” — Andy [07:57]

• Emmanuel Wilson (Las Vegas Raiders):
  Viewed as a must-add handcuff for Josh Jacobs managers:

  “Josh Jacobs scares me—could limp off at any moment...Don’t drop Emmanuel Wilson. If he is dropped, pick him up.” — Jason [09:56]

• WR Deep Cuts — Andre Yoshivas & Mitchell Tinsley (CIN & WAS): Yoshi is in play if Tee Higgins is out; Tinsley as a super deep flier.

  "He was on the field for 94% of snaps...While Tinsley was at 60% of the routes." — Mike [11:01]

3. Key NFL News & Injury Roundup

[11:40–16:28]

• Mike Evans & Jalen McMillan (TB):
  Both set to practice earlier than expected—good news for Baker Mayfield, but worries those invested in Abuka.

  “If they really have all the WR weapons for Baker...it could be wild.” — Mike [12:11]

• Amari and Hampton (DET) back vs Eagles, but starting him Monday night is risky.

• Kyron Williams (LAR): Team wants him “fresh for playoffs”; fear of reduced fantasy output.

• Adam Thielen signed by Steelers:
  Some humor about the “2018 Pro Bowler” references and Chris Long’s podcast.

  “They joked about it being Adam Thielen...and then they signed Adam Thielen.” — Andy [15:27]

4. Thursday Night Football Preview: Cowboys vs Lions

[18:39–27:20]

• Playoff Stakes:
  If Dallas wins, Lions’ playoff odds drop to 12%.
  Lions’ battered offensive line is a concern, with key starters limited or out.

• Game Outlook (O/U 54.5!): Both teams give up big points to QBs and WRs; high fantasy upside for all involved.

  “If you need to win this week, you want a player in this game.” — Andy [21:49]

• Start ‘Em Confidence:

  • Cowboys: Dak, Lamb, Ferguson ("Okay" TE start), Pollard, Cooks.
  • Lions: Goff (“my favorite start of the week”—Andy), Gibbs, Montgomery (cautious), Jameson Williams (must-start if Amon-Ra sits), and potentially Isaac Teslaw ("ceiling is 80+ yards, 2 TDs").
  • Bench: Amon-Ra’s status is truly “up in the air”; real game-time call.

• Notable Quotes:

  “If [Amon-Ra] can play, he’ll play” — Dan Campbell via Andy [22:49]

  “Jameson Williams...since week six, is the WR10 in total fantasy points. That includes two gooses.” — Jason [23:39]

• Deep Flier: Isaac Teslaw, in case Amon-Ra is out, discussed as a boom-or-bust WR with unclear target volume but a potentially massive ceiling.

• Montgomery Caution:

  • Dallas’s improved run defense noted; Monty is “RB3-type” for this matchup but riskier than usual.

• Tesla vs. Jefferson Debate (Memorable):

  • Mike: “I would probably play him over Jefferson, ya’ll.” [25:17]
  • Andy/Jason: “Stop it. The floor for Jefferson is...1.4, which he just did.” [25:32–25:36]

5. Start/Sit Mailbag & Player Debates

[30:51–41:26]

• Rome Odunze vs Brian Thomas Jr: Both are painful plays, but BTJ gets the nod as “the vibes for Thomas this week” are better (Indy matchup, weather consideration).

• Rome Odunze vs Kyle Monangai:

  • Decision hinges on lineup needs:
    • “If you’re a favorite, I’m playing Monangai. If an underdog, Odunze for upside.” — Andy [34:44]

• Lamar Jackson Trust Issues:

  • Mike: “Absolutely not.” [36:36]
  • Jason details Lamar’s physical limitations (“he just kind of cuts it up, grabs three yards, and falls over”).
  • Consensus: Play Baker/Brissett/Mahomes over Lamar; Lawrence/Daniel Jones/Sam Darnold are more borderline.

6. League Ethics & Mechanics

• Should you be allowed to tank a lineup for a better playoff matchup?

  • Overwhelming 'NO.' The Ballers agree a full, legal lineup must always be set for league integrity, even if it means dropping a good player to do so. [48:26–50:48]

• When’s the best trade deadline?

  • Consensus: Just pre-Thanksgiving or Week 13 is fair; keeper leagues can warrant an earlier date. [51:09–51:32]

7. Diagnosing the Broken Eagles Offense

[41:37–45:45]

• Multiple theories:

  • O-Line injuries
  • Jalen Hurts’ accuracy issues
  • Locker room drama (AJ Brown’s frustration)
  • Poor offensive scheme (“bottom five in pre-snap motion, bottom two in play action” — Jason [43:21])
  • Mike: “Even the top performing NFL offenses are top in pre-snap motion and play action...and it’s so insane a professional coach wouldn’t just steal what works.” [44:58]

• Saquon Barkley & Offensive Line Play:

  • Barkley’s efficiency tanked behind a bad line — running backs need blocking.

8. Ballers Football "Fix": The Snowball Game

[54:48–56:19]

• In a wild proposal, the guys suggest the NFL should have a "Snowball" game:
  • The two worst teams play, in the worst weather possible, for the #1 draft pick.

  • “Winner of the horrific snowball game, the Blizzard game of the year, gets the number one pick, man. Football fix. Smart. We are the smartest men alive.” — Andy [56:19]

Notable Quotes & Moments (w/ Timestamps)

• “If [reseding after round one] costs me this year, I will vote no. Which one is better for me? That’s how I’ll vote.” — Jason [04:52]
• “Jameson Williams...since Week 6, is the WR10, and that includes two gooses.” — Jason [23:39]
• “I would probably play [Isaac Teslaw] over Jefferson, y’all.” — Mike [25:17]
• “Can we trust Lamar? Absolutely not.” — Mike [36:35]
• “If you’re a favorite, I’m playing Monangai. If an underdog, Odunze for upside.” — Andy [34:44]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [07:29] — Backup Options: Deep waiver stashes
• [11:40] — News: Mike Evans/Jalen McMillan, Kyron Williams, Adam Thielen
• [18:39] — Thursday Night Football Preview: Cowboys vs Lions
• [27:20] — Deep Lion WR/TE talk (Jameson, Teslaw, etc.)
• [30:51] — Mailbag/Start & Sit Questions
• [41:26] — Playoff Bench Management, Dropping WRs for defenses
• [41:37] — Eagles’ Offensive Woes Diagnosed
• [48:26] — Should you tank for playoff matchup?
• [54:48] — Retractable domes & “The Snowball” for the #1 pick

Episode Tone

Lively, humorous, and practical; the Ballers mix sharp, evidence-backed strategy with a rapid pace and rapport. In-jokes and friendly ribbing keep the show accessible and entertaining, even as they dive into nuanced league management and advanced analytics.

Bottom Line

This episode is packed with essential playoff preparation, deep waiver wisdom, critical injury analysis, and bold Thursday Night Football predictions. Don't miss the classic Ballers banter—especially the Isaac Teslaw vs Jefferson debate—and their now-legendary “snowball game” idea for fixing NFL tanking.

Listen for:

• Smart backup stashes
• Playoff ethics & league setup insight
• Aggressive Week 14 starts/sits
• A must-hear breakdown of the Cowboys/Lions shootout
• Pure entertainment from the “Do No Wrong” Hitman and crew

For additional resources:

• Find all their rankings & tools: TheFantasyFootballers.com
• Join the Ballers' listener community: jointhefoot.com