
Starts of the Week + Week 16 Breakdown, Playoff Pressure - Fantasy Football Podcast for 12/19
Loading summary
Andy Holloway
This episode is brought to you by Instagram. Though we can't all agree on our picks, we can all agree that we want social media to be a safe place for teens. So it's good to hear about Instagram Teen Accounts which provide automatic safety settings for teens built with parents top concerns in mind. Things like making their teens profiles private by default, having automatic contact limits so they can only be messaged by people they are connected to and content restrictions that place them in the most restrictive setting, limiting sensitive content they see in places like Explore and Reels. And all of these settings are built in so no extra work for parents. Instagram is automatically placing teens into teen accounts and teens under 16 will need a parent's permission to change any of these settings to be less strict. Basically, Instagram Teen accounts will limit who can contact teens and the content they see and help ensure teens time on the app is well spent. And that's something everyone can agree on.
Jason Moore
This episode is brought to you by Athletic Brewing Company. Athletic Brewing is a game changer giving a whole new point of view on what a non alcoholic beer can be. Maybe you're on dad duty and you don't want to have the alcohol, but you got the wings there and you want some brews. Maybe you're at your draft and you're like I'm going to make these guys not know that I don't have the alcohol. Athletic is fantastic. It's delicious. They're available just about anywhere. You can find bestselling IPAs, goldens and light brews at bars and restaurants and grocery stores near you when you visit askforathletic.com it's athletic. Ask for it. Great flavor and award winning styles. Try these game changing non alcoholic brews for yourself. You can use the code ballers to get 15% off your first order at athleticbrewing.com that's code ballers B A L L E R S at checkout for 15% off your first order near beer. Exclusions and conditions apply. The Fantasy Footballer Studio is brought to you by Amazon Prime. Welcome to the Fantasy Footballers Podcast with your hosts, Andy Holloway, Jason and Mike Wright.
Andy Holloway
Welcome in.
Jason Moore
It's football time. We hit that pretty well. In honor of Mike H. Wright.
Andy Holloway
Where did the H come from?
Jason Moore
The Hitman.
Andy Holloway
Oh yeah.
Jason Moore
I mean I know that's not his actual middle initial. No.
Andy Holloway
Welcome into the show. Jason hall and Jason and Andy are here. I'm just giving you my last name. Jason Apollo, Jason or Andy Holloway. And a big bear extraordinaire in the building today. Semifinal Week. You can hit it. Hit the drop. Hit the drop. Jay Grizz, very proud to be in the building. We're very excited to be with you. We got news to talk about, starts of the week, the fantasy forecast, the parlay parte, the clown show, as I call it. And yeah, I, you know, I'm starting to feel it. I'm starting to feel the pressure of the weekend because I have. I have one big start sit decision of my own.
Jason Moore
Yeah. Which is tight end. That's not really a. You don't have a big start, sit decision. You got a small start sit decision.
Andy Holloway
You're saying because I don't have great options.
Jason Moore
I'm saying you're like, do I want. Am I going to get six points or am I going to get four points? That's kind of your. That's what you're toiling over right now.
Andy Holloway
I think there's a lot of other people with me because I got a lot of messages about the Britain Strange. Kate Otten. As soon as I added Britain Strange to the roster, we got news that he's. He's hurt.
Jason Moore
Yeah.
Andy Holloway
So he's got an AC joint sprain. So he is. He's probably not the best option.
Jason Moore
Now, you had made the decision after the show to go as Strange over Auden. Am I correct?
Andy Holloway
I had been getting closer to that. Yeah. He had been in the lineup. I got messages, though, this morning about Laporta or Strange. I got messages about Mark Andrews and Strange. Mark Andrews. Yeah. That's the answer. Like, this is not. This was a one week performance by Britain Strange. We've had one week performances by Parker.
Jason Moore
Schoonmaker, Parker Washington a couple weeks ago had like a billion targets and was the, you know, it was like, oh, that was the player that Mac Jones just targeted a lot in that game. And then poof.
Andy Holloway
I watched the whole game, all the Britain Strange targets. The jets just didn't cover the middle of the field near the line of scrimmage because they didn't care about that and it wasn't meaningful. It was 11 catches for 73 yards. So I am. I'm going to make a proclamation right now, Jason. I will tell the Foot Clan my official tight end start tomorrow morning. I'm not doing it today.
Jason Moore
Oh, really?
Andy Holloway
No, I've got, I've got. I've been researching.
Jason Moore
I've been thinking, is this because of the waiver wire? Like you want to. Oh, this is. This is. You want to pick someone up and you don't want to give them the advice what if the foot clad's out there and they need advice and that guy gets picked up?
Andy Holloway
No, I don't know what I'm doing yet. That's the truth. I don't know. I'll know tomorrow.
Jason Moore
Okay. All right. Hey, if the show runs long, you can tell us what happens with your waivers after it goes through, which I'm looking at the timeline, all the stuff we got to get to in the show. I think by the end of the show, waivers are going to run and we're going to know who you picked up. And then you could give the Foot clan advice. See, you are.
Andy Holloway
I have never. I mean, I just. I'm sitting here in the. In the same studio as one of my opponents. I just. And it's not a. It's not a game. We're breaking down, you know, today. So we'll see. We'll see.
Jason Moore
This is.
Andy Holloway
This is not a. This is not special. This should not have attention on the show today.
Jason Moore
Okay. Okay. Someone calling their shot on Cool Comet.
Andy Holloway
Well, here is. Here's the actual point that does make sense in the context of where we're headed is that these isolated one off games from tight ends are very rarely repeated.
Jason Moore
Yes.
Andy Holloway
And we've already got news like stone smart. We got news this morning that Hayden Hurst is returning for the Chargers. If you're chasing a stone smart performance, and we had a schoon maker performance and we've had a Britain Strange game and we had three weeks of otten.
Jason Moore
And like we've had a Calcatera game.
Andy Holloway
Yes, Calcuttut. Yeah, we had a grant Calcutta touchdown, like chasing that as opposed to looking for the next one, I think is the difference.
Jason Moore
So you have the next one, I.
Andy Holloway
Have the next one.
Jason Moore
That's great news.
Andy Holloway
And it will be revealed after our waivers run.
Jason Moore
All right.
Andy Holloway
JoinTheFoot.com is the community. We want to give a shout out to everybody over there supporting the show. You get access to all of our premium tools. You get access to an extra episode every week. And we move to a two shows a week schedule once the season's over, up through the NFL draft and into June. But if you want an extra episode every single week and you want to support this show, if we brought some value to, you can go to jointhefoot.com that's just one of the perks there. We just recently pulled all the advertising and banner ads and stuff off the site for all members so they can have a better browsing experience. And our team is working really hard to upgrade the app which is brand new this year, the in season app. There's a lot of tools and resources that we try to bring a lot of value there. We appreciate everybody that is on board for sure.
Jason Moore
And it's worth reminding people, like, we do go to two shows a week, but we don't go away. So stick with us through the off season. There are awesome shows. A lot of times we hear that people found us in the offseason with like the truth of series that we do the truth of wider series truth running back. So we get into that early after the season wraps up to make sure we're not a little bit too zoomed in on certain weeks and certain performances, but certain emotions. Yeah, yeah. Try to get it right.
Andy Holloway
So, yeah, so we'll break it down. We got a lot going on. Let's jump into that news.
Jason Moore
News and notes from around the league presented by USAA Insurance.
Andy Holloway
Well, I mentioned it. Hayden Hurst coming back tonight against the Broncos. So stone smart is not a smart play at this point with Hayden Hurst a higher depth chart. Tight end coming back.
Jason Moore
Yeah, stone dumb.
Andy Holloway
I did get word Mike might be back by the off season, too. Oh, that's because we're talking about the off season. We might get him back. No, he might be back tomorrow. We'll see.
Jason Moore
Hope he's back tomorrow. He's the shame now.
Andy Holloway
He might not be now that you reminded him of that Sincere McCormick was placed on IR. Goodbye, Sincere. We will miss you. Aiden O'Connell returned to a full practice on Wednesday. He had no practices last week. Seems like Aiden O'Connell should be back. That's good news for Jacoby Myers, Brock Bowers.
Jason Moore
Yeah, those two guys go from pretty much, well, Brock at tight end. You're going to play them no matter what. But Jacoby goes from not playable to probably should be played.
Andy Holloway
Isaac Grindo did not practice on Wednesday. This was news because that was not the injury he missed practice for the week before.
Jason Moore
Yeah. Right now he's listed with both foot and hamstring, so obviously a little bit banged up. The matchup against Miami, they're. They're kind of middle of the pack. Are you going, Taylor? If. Are you. Are you prepping if you have Garendo?
Andy Holloway
I'm prepping, yeah. But it's not a good feeling because, I mean, Taylor had zero opportunities last week when Guerindo finally played, so that would be the guy we would imagine. But it could be Keyshawn Vaughn, it.
Jason Moore
Could be Israel Banakanda, pivot. You know, he's injured in, you know, not A not a great matchup. Maybe he's inactive and we're saying, okay, is it Taylor? Is it. Is he. Do you just go with someone like a Jacoby Myers.
Andy Holloway
Yeah. Or Thielen.
Jason Moore
Yeah.
Andy Holloway
Or Jalen McMillan. Yeah, I would play all those. Jalen Waddle didn't practice with the knee. Probably not playing. Geno Smith did return to a full practice. That was big news.
Jason Moore
Great news.
Andy Holloway
We did get breaking news yesterday. Zach Charbonnet did not practice. He's dealing with an oblique injury. Kenneth Walker still not practicing with the calf.
Jason Moore
It's a Wednesday. It's a Wednesday. And Charbonnet's, you know, obviously been getting the work without Walker there. So I'm not. I'm not going to overreact to him not practicing on a Wednesday. If he doesn't practice on Thursday, I'll start saying, oh, yeah, yeah.
Andy Holloway
It just makes me a little nervous right now. Baker Mayfield with the. With a knee. He's been limited or not practicing on Wednesdays, but Kate Otten also has a knee injury. Because if you put a tight end on my team, he will get hurt. He will get hurt immediately.
Jason Moore
Thank you for getting rid of John. Who then you gave the people.
Andy Holloway
I did. I kept him some freedom. Britton Strange AC joint sprain. Supposed to be ready for the game on Sunday, so we'll see. We've heard that before with Evan Ingram and he got thrown on ir. So we'll monitor those two tight ends and Clyde Edwards Allaire. I guess we got this in here. He signed with the Saints practice.
Jason Moore
He's going to maybe play football. But I think the important news here is not Clyde Edwards Alaira related, it's Alvin Camara related. So if they're going out and they're signing someone, you know, signing Clyde Edwards a layer, it just gives me even more heebie jeebies on a Monday Night Football game for Camara. Actually starting a Camara is such an exceptionally important piece. If you have Camara, you made the playoffs.
Andy Holloway
That's.
Jason Moore
That's like he was such a good pick and then he helped in round one. Either you had the buy or he helped you get through it with that, you know, touchdown. So this is a really important piece of round two playoffs, and people have to figure out what they're going to pivot off of Camara. I would try to move him to your flex and get someone else in there in case he don't.
Andy Holloway
Yeah, don't ride dirty into Monday night. Just hoping he's going to be out there. You. You need to either play somebody Sunday or have news that he's going to play or have somebody that you can pivot in there for sure. So that was today's news and notes presented by USAA Insurance. Learn more@usaa.com insurance.
Jason Moore
Starts of the Week.
Andy Holloway
Well, Jason, it's starts of the week time and you know, you're probably playing the guys that brought you to where you're at. But there are also decisions to be made, people with committee quarterback situations where you've been bouncing players back and forth. So I wanted to throw my endorsement behind Jordan Love this week on Monday night in that exact Alvin Camara game. I think it's going to be a better than average week for Jordan Love at home against New Orleans where the Saints have struggled tremendously against quarterbacks in passing yards allowed. And you know, Jordan Love has not been a difference maker for you this year. We've had that segment every week. Jordan Love's not been a difference maker. I do think he is going to be better than expected this week.
Jason Moore
Yeah, you look at the last month, 15 fantasy points, 19 fantasy points, 15 fancy points, 17 fantasy points. He's not, he's not disappearing or playing poorly, but he's not having great fantasy points primarily because of touchdowns. The, you know, all those games they're scoring 30 points. And so Josh Jacobs is really the kryptonite here to Jordan Love's fantasy success. But you think the touchdowns come in this through the air?
Andy Holloway
Yeah, I mean, I think Jordan Love gets it done on Monday night. I think, you know, 202 with high upside and I think the potential is there. So I think it'll be a better than average game for Jordan Love. The matchup is really good.
Jason Moore
All righty. I am going with Jaden Daniels, probably one of the most asked and talked about quarterbacks this week. You know, Jaden Daniels has been awesome. He's gotten you to this point. And the scare is we saw Jaden Daniels play this Philadelphia Eagles defense a couple of weeks ago, about a month ago and he was really, really bad. You had 13 fantasy points and that was thanks to a late Ertz garbage time touchdown. So I get being scared. I really do. But since then he's been the quarterback one, the quarterback three, the quarterback seven. He also was not healthy in that game. This, you know, he was not fully what he is now with his scrambling. I don't know if you know this, Andy. He is on pace for the most scrambles of all time. So that was kind of absent in that Philly game. I believe that Jaden Daniels, if I have him on my roster, I'm going to start him, I'm going to put him out there, and I actually think he has a good game. This is a really unstoppable type of player. You can't always get him in the backfield and his weapons. With Terry McLaurin, you know, I'm not, I'm not scared off of the matchup. This is, you know, one of the top three quarterbacks in fantasy football. You're in the second round of the playoffs. If you got here with him, I'm playing him.
Andy Holloway
If you wonder for a moment and you're listening and saying, well, who wouldn't play Jaden Daniels? The answer is tons of you who are asking, like the sixth most popular start sick question. And we get thousands and thousands every week is Jaden Daniels or Kyler Murray is. It's Jaden Daniels. Bad matchup. Kyler Murray, good matchup.
Jason Moore
Yeah.
Andy Holloway
Projected points are similar, but Carolina gives up seven points more per week to the quarterback position than the Eagles do.
Jason Moore
It's enticing.
Andy Holloway
And so there is a fear there and for good reason. The Philadelphia defense, like if you had Brian Robinson. Let me put it this way, Jason does not have Brian Robinson as the start of the week.
Jason Moore
No.
Andy Holloway
Because that kind of a player is probably not overcoming that kind of a defense to the degree that you need in this semifinal matchup. But there are Jordan Love, Jaden Daniels decisions, Kyler Murray, Jaden Daniels decisions, for sure.
Jason Moore
Yeah. I mean, if Josh Allen was playing the Eagles, I don't think you'd have a question.
Andy Holloway
Kyle, your start sit decision this week is who. It's your two starts of the week.
Jason Moore
It's Jordan Love and Jaden Daniels.
Andy Holloway
Yesterday I said I think I would go Love over Daniels. But then, Jason, I think when we talked through it, it persuaded me to bump Daniels a little bit ahead. And there. There is an emotional piece like who do you want to have made the mistake with? You know, like if. If you put Jayden Daniels on your bench and he has a vintage game and you lose because you pivoted away out of kind of overanalyzing the situation, I think that's harder to live with. I think if you go down with your. Your superstar, it's easier.
Jason Moore
Yeah.
Andy Holloway
Jordan Love was my quarterback. Jerome Ford is my running back start of the week. He was the RB10 on nine opportunities last week, IR for Nick Chubb. He's had big plays. He had a 62 yard run. He's had some bigger ones. Last year he had three over 60 yards this year. He's had a number of over 30 yard runs. He's going to get 15 plus touches. Cincinnati is not intimidating. They just gave up three touchdowns to Pollard and Spears last week. I mean they are, if you zoom in even more on the strength of schedule, they're even worse against running backs. 31st in schedule, adjusted fantasy points given up to running backs. This is a tough one for players because Ford's probably been on your bench. You probably didn't play him last week and it's a decision making process now to flex him in versus somebody else. You know an Adam Thielen in the, you know, a Jerry Judy in the same game where Judy's been great. But now you have dtr. I'm going Ford.
Jason Moore
What if Garendo is active?
Andy Holloway
Ford.
Jason Moore
Okay, so that I think that's a perfect, you know, grab off the waivers, put it in your flex over a questionable other option. Ford should have enough volume to have a safe floor. The question is, will he have the chance at a touchdown with dtr? Hopefully. The Cincinnati Bengals, man, they love giving up touchdowns. My running back for start of the week, first of all, the start of the week is James Conner. James Conner was the running back one last week. Carolina is such a good matchup. You've got a banged up Trey Benson. James Conner should eat. Congratulations if you have him.
Andy Holloway
Oh, thanks.
Jason Moore
My. Yeah, my other start of the week is Breeze Hall. Breeze hall has been. I mean, there's no secret here. I am not the biggest fan of the Breeze hall experience. I do think this is a.
Andy Holloway
You paid a ticket for that ride and you didn't have a good time.
Jason Moore
Yeah, no, I threw up. I threw up.
Andy Holloway
Your seat restraint didn't even work.
Jason Moore
Yeah, the vomit just came right back in my face. We were right on the loop de loop part and I threw up. Put. But you know what? I got off, I took a shower and I'm willing to try it again.
Andy Holloway
I know you're not.
Jason Moore
I am. Well, I'm not because he has knocked me out of the playoffs wherever I have him. However, I do think Breeze hall is a good play this week. Not just because he can't hurt me and so he's going to go nuclear. We talked about the running back schedule for a long time for the jets, the playoff weeks and how good they should be for Breeze Hall. He got a touchdown last week. He is healthier this week than he was last week. Zach Rosenblatt was tweeting out that he's further along with his injury than Braylon Allen is so, you know, if you've actually got Braylon Allen a little bit banged up, you got the Rams allowing the fifth most rushing yards per game. The matchup is good. He should see 15 plus touches at home. Good chance to get in the end zone. There's a good over under. I think Breeze hall is a good start this week.
Andy Holloway
Real decisions for people with Breeze Hall. Breeze hall or Calvin Ridley. Against Indianapolis, I'll go Breece. Breeze hall or Khalil Shakir?
Jason Moore
Against New England, I would go Breeze.
Andy Holloway
Okay. That's what I'm doing currently, before you even said any of this. Those are the decisions I have in a semifinal matchup. It's a tough one. Breeze hall, the burns have been real.
Jason Moore
I mean, we shouldn't be talk. We. He shouldn't be allowed to be in starts of the week.
Andy Holloway
I don't think very many remember you've been saying, like people with Camara, people with Gibbs, they're in the playoffs.
Jason Moore
Yeah.
Andy Holloway
You might not be talking to many people with Breeze Hall.
Jason Moore
Well, that's why I've got James Conner out there.
Andy Holloway
Yeah. No, and he has. Connor has a chance at going well. He has a chance of doing a couple of things. He was the RB one last week. Could be again this week with Carolina dead last against everything. Against the run. You didn't even mention Trey Benson, Amari, D. Markato, both hurt for Arizona.
Jason Moore
I did.
Andy Holloway
You did mention that.
Jason Moore
Well, I mentioned Benson. I didn't go all the way down to D. Markato.
Andy Holloway
But you're saying, look, he could be the number one again and he will be after this week. Like he's playing in this game, right?
Jason Moore
Yeah. He's healthy. Yep. So he's just got to do two more weeks to finish this week and.
Andy Holloway
Next week or two. You're saying including week 18.
Jason Moore
Yeah, it's got to be.
Andy Holloway
Do we care about that part?
Jason Moore
Yes.
Andy Holloway
Just give me a fantasy season.
Jason Moore
Well, I mean, I don't care. But when we say he's never played a full season, if he misses week 18, he still has never played a full season.
Andy Holloway
Okay. Yeah, that's fair. Where are we at wide receiver? J S N vs M I N. Minnesota. JSN. This week is my start of the week. Regardless of whether Geno is back in 100% or it's Sam Howell flinging it around. He is leading the NFL in slot receptions by a lot. Like he is the premier slot receiver in the NFL. He has 70. The next closest 52 by Khalil Shakir. You know, last year CD Lam led the NFL with 69 receptions in the slot. This is where he belongs and he's been a difference maker for your fantasy team. He's on pace for just a record breaking season for JSN and he's made Metcalf look like a questionable dynasty situation right now. And you don't have a choice against Minnesota. You got to throw against them. He is both a big play potential type of guy, a yak guy, but also a really high volume, helpful volume play. So I'll go jsm.
Jason Moore
Yeah, I'm going to go with Malik Neighbors. Going to Atlanta I just talked about on the Dynasty podcast came out yesterday, which is easy to do, but Malik Neighbor's on pace for the most targets and receptions ever for a rookie.
Andy Holloway
That's good.
Jason Moore
He missed two games. Like that's, that's the. I mean he is the. So it doesn't matter who the quarterback is. You could put out Tommy Cutlets, you could put out Drew, anybody. I don't even care. Boyle, who cares? Just throw the ball to Malik Neighbors. Everyone's going to Atlanta's defense is straight diaper gravy. They are 30th in schedule. Adjusted fantasy points allowed to wide receivers. Dead last in receiving touchdowns allowed to wide receivers. Malik Neighbors absolutely needs to be in your lineup. If you, this the, if you're wavering.
Andy Holloway
If you, if you have confidence problems because of the quarterback, you're saying don't worry about it.
Jason Moore
Yeah, because Malik Neighbors has the ability to do what you need in playoffs, which is to go nuclear.
Andy Holloway
Sam Laporta is my tight end. Start of the week. Last week, eight targets for Sam Laporta. Let's not forget what he's capable of. 7 for 111 been a top 12 tight in three straight weeks. The usage has gone up. David Montgomery is gone and I think Sam Laporta's role in this offense is going to become more necessary. Has become more necessary facing a Bears defense that has struggled. Have confidence in Sam Laporta on a week where some of us are really scrambling for the tight end position.
Jason Moore
Yeah. And I'm going to give people confidence in a player that I've, I've seen the questions you've had them. Like when you're talking do I keep rolling Travis Kelsey or do I go to the waiver wire and I'm going to keep rolling Travis Kelsey. The last month has been a rough, rough stretch for Kelsey. Four straight games outside the top 12 but he hasn't goosed the way that a lot of these waiver wire tight ends can. And also during that stretch, he has a 23% target share and the third most targets among tight ends. He's getting. He's getting the passes thrown his way. The matchup here is pretty darn good. Over the last six weeks, you've got the Texans, who are 30th in schedule adjusted fantasy points allowed to tight ends, allowing 3.8 more per game than the player's average. The Chiefs are kind of in this weird must win mode to keep that bye week, to keep that number one seed. And I think that the quarterback, you know, oh, Mahomes is hurt. Maybe he won't be as mobile assuming he plays because he's practicing in full. Or maybe he doesn't play and it's Carson wins. Either way, I think Kelsey becomes even more important to this offense. He's that safety blanket where maybe Mahomes isn't as mobile and doesn't have time to extend the plays. He's going to be looking to Kelsey, I think early and often in this matchup.
Andy Holloway
We do. I have some starts of the week for Mike here. I don't know if you knew this. At quarterback he's going Trey Lance this week.
Jason Moore
Okay, that makes sense.
Andy Holloway
On brand, running back, he's actually, he's running a vintage player here, Jeremy Hill.
Jason Moore
Oh, the tattoo.
Andy Holloway
Jeremy Hill is his running back.
Jason Moore
That's a chest tattoo.
Andy Holloway
Yes.
Jason Moore
Yeah.
Andy Holloway
And then at wide receiver, he's actually rolling Antonio Brown out there.
Jason Moore
Always a good idea.
Andy Holloway
One of the ghost energy. And then at tight end, he's going Blake Jarwin. Blake Jarwin.
Jason Moore
I am shocked he didn't go Adam Troutman. I am really. I mean, I know he's a Blake Jarwin guy, but I mean, the Troutman.
Andy Holloway
He did catch a touchdown last week, right?
Jason Moore
I don't know.
Andy Holloway
Yeah, we don't know. We don't know. All right, let's move on. We'll jump into the forecast here after a break.
Jason Moore
This episode is brought to you by. The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Celebrate the unexpected at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, the most unique luxury resort and casino in the heart of the Strip. Discover a one of a kind restaurant collection, a vibrant mix of bars and lounges and three distinct pool experiences. From panoramic views on your private terrace to countless ways to be entertained. Find a scene that suits your every mood and experience elevated luxury. Nothing is off the table and temptations around every corner. Reserve your stay now atcosmopolitan las vegas.com. this episode is brought to you by. Indeed, every good athlete has something in common they're always constantly looking for ways to improve. But it's not just athletes that should be doing this. It's always a good idea to try and do better. Like, when it comes to hiring, I know how much of a struggle the hiring process can be for everyone. So make it better with Indeed. It's a hiring platform that receives millions of visitors a month, and its matching engine helps you find candidates fast. You can even use Indeed to schedule, screen message and connect with candidates you like. I think the best part of Indeed, though, is the quality candidates it finds for you. According to a recent Indeed survey, 93% of employers agree that Indeed delivers the highest quality matches compared to other job sites. So join the more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility@ Indeed.com footballers. Just go to Indeed.comfootballers right now to support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. That's indeed.com footballers terms and conditions apply. You need to hire. You need Indeed.
Andy Holloway
Jason, is there a. You know, you've got your league with Mike, the Dino Junior League. You've got your matchup this week against Schneider here in the office.
Jason Moore
Yeah.
Andy Holloway
Is there a player? Because I think everybody's got a name on their rosters. Is there a player on your roster that you're like, I. I'm not winning without this guy doing something this week.
Jason Moore
Is there a. I would say I'm not going to win. It's the combo. It's ironic. They just both went off, but my old men, Mike Evans and Devonte Adams, that combo, they're going to lead us to another championship.
Andy Holloway
Which means it's up to the old men.
Jason Moore
Yeah, it's up to the old men.
Andy Holloway
Yeah. Last week, if you could just repeat that, that'd be cool.
Jason Moore
Yeah. Just print it two more times. Print that script.
Andy Holloway
And if there's old. If there's anything old men are known for, it's being able to just keep.
Jason Moore
The same, keep it going later in life, down the stretch, late in the season. Yeah.
Andy Holloway
I just love the way we talk about fantasy players. They're so old.
Jason Moore
Super athletes.
Andy Holloway
So old. Have you anybody here watched the Aaron Rodgers Netflix special yet? Anybody? I doubt it, but I have. Not people shaking their heads.
Jason Moore
Yeah, no one's paid me a million dollars yet.
Andy Holloway
Okay. Okay. Interesting clips coming out of that thing. You should. I'm going to. I'm going to tune in. I've seen bits and pieces so far. But, you know, I think it's, it talks about like, you know, Favre and the transition, how horrible was for Aaron Rodgers. It shows a lot of this stuff with him and Jordan love and it has their head coach out there talking about that relationship. I thought, I thought maybe somebody had seen.
Jason Moore
I'll check it out.
Andy Holloway
Yeah, he gave you lots of good memories there in Green Bay. Mr.
Jason Moore
There was a window of good times with Aaron Rodgers.
Andy Holloway
Very, very good times. All right, let's jump in.
Jason Moore
Foreign it's time for fantasy Forecast presented by DraftKings Sportsbook.
Andy Holloway
All right, two Saturday games this week. Oh boy. Saturday games, Sunday games, Monday games. Here we go. Houston nine and five. The Chiefs are 13 and one. Kansas City at home still three and a half point favorites. Overrunners 42. I don't think they'd be three and a half point favorites if Vegas had any inkling that Patrick Mahomes would be missing this game. Kansas City with a two game lead in the AFC playoff picture for the buy, which is, you know, that's a, that's a prize. And Buffalo is going to win their next three games. That is going to happen. They're going to end 14 and 3. So Kansas City plays Houston. It's a big one. Houston could put themselves in position this week to move into the three seed or at least have that opportunity.
Jason Moore
Kansas City down the stretch plays Houston, then Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh and then Denver and Denver.
Andy Holloway
Yeah, those are all games they could lose.
Jason Moore
This is why this game feels, you know, pretty important. And the nice thing for the Houston Texans is that they might not have as much to play for depending on the outcome of the Steelers Ravens game. And they're both Saturday, but the Steelers Ravens game is after theirs. So this is full motivation for both teams in the Texans Chiefs matchup.
Andy Holloway
So we haven't really seen what I would call, I don't know, watchable, consistent, exciting offensive football from Houston. I, I just feel like there's or.
Jason Moore
The Chiefs, I thought you were going to say the Chiefs. I mean this, this looked like a game on paper when they were making the schedule. They put this Saturday, you know, Christmas week type of game and they were like the Texans versus the Chiefs, Stroud versus Mahomes. This is going to be a 53 point over under game. An un, you know, such an important matchup. And while it's important, neither team has played fun to watch football.
Andy Holloway
Yeah, the Texans have, you know, C.J. stroud has one game over 20 fantasy points. So this, there isn't the, you know, I Mean, Aaron Rodgers last week had a big fantasy week. Like CJ Stroud is not giving you those games here and there. Is this game super simple from the Houston side? Is it Joe Mixon and Nico Collins didn't log out?
Jason Moore
That is, I don't think Nico's line.
Andy Holloway
Is 80 and a half.
Jason Moore
Yeah, I mean Nico is as sure a thing as it gets. Joe Mixon is a tough matchup. Kansas City is really, really good against running backs and I think a lot.
Andy Holloway
Of people are going to be like your Jaden Daniels situation. Mixon will be that Jaden Daniels for them at running back where they're nervous about the injury and the start.
Jason Moore
Yeah, I mean I'm more nervous about Joe Mixon than Jaden Daniels because of the injury. It was like when Jaden Daniel was wearing the flak jacket last time around and he was injured. He didn't have a good game. So Joe Mixon is a little bit scary. Maybe you're on a stud loaded team where you can move away from him, but I see him as a high end RB2. Nico is in every lineup and then you're done. You're not playing with anything else. You said it. One game above 20 points for C.J. stroud. Now on the other side, Patrick Mahomes two games above 20 fantasy points on the season. This is what I'm talking about. Like there's not a lot of pieces here you really, really want. Also, I think there's some confusion like Isaiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt. It seemed like it was done two weeks ago where it was like, okay, all the work started going to Pacheco and it seemed like this past week would be when Pacheco is. You could confidently have him in there as the locked and loaded starter. And then Both players got 13 carries.
Andy Holloway
Last week and he didn't do much with the 1332 yards on the ground for Pacheco. His three games since returning. Running back 47, 31, 39. I would be trying really hard not to play him. I mean the Houston defensive line is a tough one. They're a top 10 over the last six weeks. They're top five on the season. You know, Jaylen McMillan in the flex or Pacheco, I'm probably going McMillan with more upside.
Jason Moore
Yeah, I think, I mean that's a tough one. It is a tough one. But I don't, I don't blame you for looking. That's the level of players you're talking about.
Andy Holloway
Ramondre, you'd play over Pacheco, right?
Jason Moore
I Would definitely play Ramondra Najee. Najee for sure. Ford for sure. Yeah. I mean, that's. That's the level that you're out right now. And really, what wide receivers are you confident in? Hollywood Brown is going to be making his debut. He should be active for this game, and I don't expect him to be someone you're starting, but he can siphon a few targets away from DeAndre Hopkins or JuJu Smith. Schuster, really, like, I think Kelsey's the only. Kelsey's, like, the only playable.
Andy Holloway
Worthy is the emergency flex. Xavier Worthy is the emergency flex just.
Jason Moore
For upside breakaway touchdowns. Yeah.
Andy Holloway
And I think his role is defined in the offense, whereas JuJu and Hopkins and Hollywood and Watson and those guys are going to rotate through. Worthy seems to have more consistent snaps. And, you know, you're talking about him not being able to move. Screen game with Worthy, 11 targets last week was a high for him. He's been playing, you know, over 80% of snaps, which is an uptick for him. So that'd be the dart throw to me. I'm not trying to play him.
Jason Moore
We saw it with Rushy Rice last year. The rookie was more involved down the stretch. They've hit a point when it was like, okay, now we've had good plays from him and we have had good plays from Xavier Worthy and we had that from Rushy Rice, but he wasn't on the field all the time. And then they made that transition. So hopefully it's just weird timing with Hollywood coming back to be like, maybe the transition will stick.
Andy Holloway
So for an exciting game, for the playoff picture and for the teams and the records, it's not necessarily standing out as a bunch of fantasy options beyond, you know, a lot of confidence in Nico, your confidence in Kelsey, and then Joe Mixon has to play for you because Joe Mixon's been that good.
Jason Moore
Yep.
Andy Holloway
The other Saturday game is Pittsburgh. Baltimore. That's fun, too. I mean, Pittsburgh's 10 and 4, Baltimore 9 and 5.
Jason Moore
It would be so much more fun with George Pickens. Like, George Pickens is everything to me in this game.
Andy Holloway
If you have a Baltimore Raven, you want Pickens.
Jason Moore
Yes, that's what I'm saying. The whole game, the over under, sitting there at a perfectly aligned 45 points where it's like teetering on. It could be good, it could be bad.
Andy Holloway
Baltimore six and a half point favorites on DraftKings. Pittsburgh won this game 18, 16, and we need more points than that in week 11. That was the matchup. We need more points.
Jason Moore
We do. And I don't know that you're going to get it if right now. I mean, it's early in the week, but George Pickens did not participate in practice Tuesday or Wednesday with the hamstring injury. You also have some weather concerns. Temperatures in the 30s, 15 mile an hour, sustained winds. So if this, you know, if the Steelers aren't able to put up points, which I, they have struggled to do so without George Pickens because they don't have another option. Calvin Austin, Mike Williams, they're not, they're not good enough.
Andy Holloway
You need to be able to hit a big player to, to flip the field.
Jason Moore
Yeah. So without George Pickens, I worry for just about everyone not named Derek Henry.
Andy Holloway
In this game, including Lamar Jackson.
Jason Moore
A little bit.
Andy Holloway
I'm a lot less worried about Lamar than I'd be worried about Henry.
Jason Moore
I'm not worried about Lamar. Like, I'm never going to bench him, but I think his upside becomes a little bit capped because if they're, if they're up, I mean, they're almost a touchdown favorite in this game.
Andy Holloway
The Derek Henry experience, he's only got one top 10 finish in the last five weeks and it was number nine overall. So for a player that had, you know, one, two, three, four, five straight weeks in the early part of the year, it has kind of shifted. And you know, you've seen Lamar, he came out last, the week before last, said I got to run more. He went out and he ran more last week.
Jason Moore
Made mama proud.
Andy Holloway
And T.J. watt not practicing.
Jason Moore
Yeah, I mean, I don't hear what I'm not saying. Lamar Jackson is locked in. He's been so good. I'm just saying the, the Zay Flowers, Rashad Bateman, Mark Andrews, like, I want the tide to raise all ships here and I just don't know if the Steelers will be able to keep up.
Andy Holloway
25 to 19 is the implied point totals for the matchup. Najee Harris's rushing line is 47. If you had Najee Harrison mixing, you're going mixing. Yeah, there's not. That's not close, right?
Jason Moore
No. I would go with the guy that got you here. Who's Madison? Unbelievable. Alexander Madison or Najee? I would go Najee.
Andy Holloway
Okay. Zay Flowers receiving line is 61 and a half. He is always pretty much their leader in total receptions, but if you look at the last five weeks, it's a little bit like he is due for a touchdown maybe. I mean, you could say that, but his line is.
Jason Moore
Bateman keeps hogging him.
Andy Holloway
Yeah, Bateman with the big place Mark Andrews catching a lot of touchdowns, seven top 10 finishes since Week 6. The Muth has been loose for three straight games. If there's no Pickens, I think Fry Muth is fine. I mean, he's been a top 10 tight end three straight weeks. Do you agree with that?
Jason Moore
Yeah, no, I think Friarmuth, I mean, is necessary without Pickens and you could do worse than that. Is that the guy on the waiver?
Andy Holloway
Nope.
Jason Moore
Okay.
Andy Holloway
I don't even know what you're talking about.
Jason Moore
Yeah. And so little update here. Looks like Rapaport was talking this morning that it seems like Pickens will miss this week. Still. Still early enough in the week. But keep in mind this is a Saturday game, so it's. I guess it's not as early. You know, missing the Wednesday practice, which you don't usually care about actually isn't quite, quite the same.
Andy Holloway
All right, ready to talk about some Sunday matchups, Mr. Moore?
Jason Moore
Yeah, let's talk about a super fun.
Andy Holloway
One like the Giants. Falcons.
Jason Moore
Yeah.
Andy Holloway
Giants are 2 and 12 battling for that number one spot. Atlanta 7 and 7. If there was ever a time you'd want to give your rookie quarterback an opportunity, this is a good matchup when you're eight and a half point favorites. Even with him, Michael Penix will get the start. The overrunners just 42 and the dawn of the Pinnicks era.
Jason Moore
Did you hear? What? Where Michael Pennix was. What was going on?
Andy Holloway
Was he at Costco?
Jason Moore
He was at Costco about to get a hot dog.
Andy Holloway
A hot dog.
Jason Moore
And he decided against it.
Andy Holloway
Why did he decide against it?
Jason Moore
He wasn't hungry anymore. Now I don't know if this is like, oh man, I shouldn't eat a hot ball.
Andy Holloway
And found out he's starting.
Jason Moore
Yeah. I don't know if he got nervous maybe. I don't know if it was nerves or just responsibility.
Andy Holloway
Remember when you used to eat a lot of food before you played in games?
Jason Moore
Oh, I would. I needed my Subway meatball sub foot long.
Andy Holloway
Yeah.
Jason Moore
And then that was my fuel for football.
Andy Holloway
I remember a double before a basketball game.
Jason Moore
That one was a bad idea.
Andy Holloway
You did vomit a lot.
Jason Moore
I did vomit. But I will say this. When you're playing an offensive lineman, big meals are much more okay than when you're playing basketball.
Andy Holloway
That's fair.
Jason Moore
Don't do the big meal before basketball.
Andy Holloway
He disappeared during warmups for a while. Over the last four games, Atlanta has been 31st in pass rate over expectation. They were trying to keep the ball out of Kirk Cousins hands. What does this really Mean for start sit decisions like it's Bijan you're playing is his DK rushing and receiving line is 114 and a half.
Jason Moore
Yeah, Bijon I think is pretty neutral. At first I thought well he takes a tick down. But I believe that they're going to ease Michael Penix in. This is his first game in his NFL career. He's also coming off of you know an injury. So this is a rookie making his debut. And I don't. You know, you saw that with Bo Nix. Bo Nix now is allowed to throw it more and look more but early in the season they ran the ball more. They protected him a little bit more. They eased them in. You saw that with Jaden Daniels as well. So this first game I don't expect high flying great passing from Michael Pinnicks which scares me with Mooney who Goose last week. London, he's someone that's out. London to me is still startable. London is going to be the number one target for the team or you know just is the primary pecking order and he's a star. He's an elite athlete that I think can do stuff on his own. So Drake London to me is he's a wide receiver to this week. Not you know, some teams might be able to move on without him but I would be starting.
Andy Holloway
Malik Neighbors was your start of the week. His reception line is five and a half.
Jason Moore
On the course of the season. The Falcons are 32nd against wide receivers. But if you look at the last six weeks they are 32nd against wide receivers. If you adjust for schedule, they are dead last against wide receivers. So yeah, go ahead and throw up Malik Neighbors. No problem. Jerome Tracy's a question.
Andy Holloway
Drew Locke is going to start in this one. Is that what we're hearing?
Jason Moore
That is what I have last heard.
Andy Holloway
Yeah. Drew Locke is going to start. Tyron Tracy is a nerve wracking start that I'm trying not to make. If I'm in a semifinal that's a wild card I'm very scared about. Yeah, I mean good rush defense locked it not. I mean the opportunities should be there. He should have more than 10.
Jason Moore
Yeah, I mean the, the opportunities will be there. That, that's one of the nice things about.
Andy Holloway
You could probably go back to him. Him or Najee.
Jason Moore
I'd go Najee.
Andy Holloway
42 point over under the giants only projected for 16 points. So you are. You're really hoping that Tracy is part of that system.
Jason Moore
He has the one touchdown.
Andy Holloway
Yeah.
Jason Moore
Let me see here. So in. Let's just look Drew Locke started two games, played the full games in weeks 13 and 14. In weeks 13 and 14, Tyrone Tracy and this is kind of exactly what I expect him to have, which is a fine start. Who's the running back? 17. And the running back? 13. 13 fantasy points. I mean, you could do worse than that in the flex. 16 fantasy points. One of those games was the 10 target game in the in the passing game. So it's not a great matchup. I don't think you I'm not bullish on him by any means, but I don't think you have to bench him from a volume standpoint.
Andy Holloway
We'll take a break. We'll jump into some more matchups.
Jason Moore
This episode is brought to you by Mattress Firm. We've all been there agonizing over lineup calls only to deal with that one person who changes the rules in mid season or the trash talker who somehow gloats even after a loss. Makes me wonder, how do they sleep at night? Probably on a mattress. For Mattress Firm, they will help you find the right bed for your needs because when matched with the right mattress, anyone can sleep at night. Even the league's biggest villains, Mattress Firm offers quality mattresses at every price for your best rest. And with free and fast delivery, you could be snoozing in no time. No more restless nights worrying about your team. Get matched at Mattress Firm's semiannual sale and clearance and finally, sleep at night. Text FOOTBALL to 766693 for $100 off your next Mattress Firm purchase. Restrictions apply. See mattressfirm.com or visit a store for details. This episode is brought to you by IMES Pet Food. Your pets are your star players, so you should be picky about their meals. And when you choose IAM's dry dog or cat food, you can see a difference in your pet with your own eyes. Healthy energy in five days, healthy digestion in 10 days and healthy skin and coat in just 25 days. Satisfaction for you and them guaranteed or your money back. Feed imes dry dog or cat food and see a visible difference. Visit imes.com difference to learn more.
Andy Holloway
All right, Jason Detroit is 12 and two. The Bears are 4:10. It's in Chicago. The Draft King sportsbook line Detroit minus six and a half the over unders 48. It was a 2320 Thanksgiving Day game last time these two played. Detroit ended up on top. That was the insanity at the end of the Eber Flu's timeout conundrum. Detroit has 10 significant defenders on IR.
Jason Moore
Unbelievable. Aiden Hutchinson, Aleem McNeil, Carlton Davis, Alex Anzalone, Derek Barnes, Broderick Martin, Khalil Dorsey, Melafonwu Emmanuel Mosley. Their defense is gone and now they lost David Montgomery. So some of their identity on the offensive side now they've still got the same offensive line and Gibbs can more than, you know, handle that load for a couple of games. But I do think that their identity might shift a little bit. This might be a team that has to throw the ball a little bit more as the defense gives up a little bit more.
Andy Holloway
Well, I talked about Laporta. I like laporta's opportunity in this game. You've seen Tim Patrick more involved. You've seen Jameson Williams be really hot and cold.
Jason Moore
Tim Patrick is actually kind of interesting. It's hard to recommend starting him in the second round of your playoffs but you know, you look the last two weeks, seven targets, eight targets, a touchdown in each game, two and one of them. This is a team that's going to score points and he has been on the field, you know, 66% of snaps. Last week up to 81% of snaps got caught the touchdown with eight targets. So he is mildly interesting in like a break glass emergency case. I mean I would, I guess, I guess that's not true because I would probably start Adam Thielen over him and if you're that low, you're just interested.
Andy Holloway
In seeing what happens.
Jason Moore
Yeah, maybe he's more of like a DFS dart throw.
Andy Holloway
Jameer Gibbs has a rushing and receiving yard line that is 127.5.
Jason Moore
Yes, I was looking at all of his lines this morning. We'll talk about that. But it's. His expectation is wonderful.
Andy Holloway
Well, Chicago is a terrible run d. The game script lends itself towards. I mean they're six and a half point road favorites despite the injuries because Chicago just can't get it done on offense in any sort of consistent way.
Jason Moore
Certainly not consistent. They get it done on offense from.
Andy Holloway
Time to time and often in the second half.
Jason Moore
I was going to say. And that's not like this game versus that game. That's this quarter versus the other three quarters of this game.
Andy Holloway
Honestly, if you are a. If you're playing players in this game, you're excited that Detroit's beat up on defense.
Jason Moore
Oh for sure.
Andy Holloway
You want more opportunities for golf to throw the football because he's had some big games.
Jason Moore
I actually think that the weapons on the Chicago side are not that bad like Caleb Williams in a.
Andy Holloway
To play.
Jason Moore
Yeah. To play like DJ Moore I think is a fine Play Caleb Williams is not someone I'm starting in single quarterback leagues but he's a guy that in your super flex leagues. I'd be throwing him in as that quarterback too over some other names that might feel better. I mean we saw this, this matchup in Detroit a couple weeks ago. Caleb Williams was the quarterback six through three touchdowns over 250 yards. The defense is even further banged up than it was then. So Keenan Allen I would play, you know in a flex way. DJ Moore, you probably should play his. His receiving yard line is 60 and a half yards.
Andy Holloway
I think those, I think they'll score three times. I think there'll be three touchdowns on the Chicago side. So wherever your conviction is on those players maybe it's a swift and then a couple wide out situations. Comet's not really involved. Yeah, I think this game could be pretty fun. Yeah, I think that one could be more fun. You don't you hope the weather's fine? You know Jared Goff doesn't like the weather.
Jason Moore
It's going to be very very chilly.
Andy Holloway
It'll be cold.
Jason Moore
It's going to be out. The winds look like, I mean it's early right now 1010 mile an hour winds which is not a big deal. You could throw through that. It's really 15 is that breaking point.
Andy Holloway
Tell that to Kirk Cousins.
Jason Moore
Yeah, well Caleb Williams arm is a little bit stronger than Kirk Cousins.
Andy Holloway
The Browns are 3 and 11. They take on the 6 and 8 fighting for the lives Cincinnati Bengals the DraftKings sportsbook line Cincinnati heavy favorites 7 1/2 points the over unders 47. The spread didn't change with the news that DTR was going to be the starter because James Winston had been playing so poorly that the Browns are putting in a player they know will play poorly. That's really where you're at. This is very similar to the Levis Mason Rudolph. The Titans know Mason Rudolph is not a good quarterback and yet. Well Levis has put them in a position where if you're getting poor quarterback play they just are tired of the turnovers which I don't know if that goes away with dtr.
Jason Moore
I don't think it goes away man. I think the turnovers go down with Rudolph. I don't know that they. I mean they probably go down with DTR because they won't have him throw the ball 45 times. But this feels like a team in the Browns that are ready for the draft.
Andy Holloway
Burrow Chase Brown Jamar, Chase T. Higgins. Are your locks on the Cincinnati side Not a Lot of question marks there. You know, Mike Gasicki is always tempting for tight end starts but he plays 30% of the snaps and it's terrifying.
Jason Moore
And you don't. I worry with this game when DTR wasn't made the starter, it really, you know, our champ, champ, champ league. And I almost. The name I almost brought up instead of my old man combo of Mike Evans and Devonte Adams is Joe Burrow. Joe Burrow is the guy I need and he's been so unbelievably great. But when Jamis was the quarterback on the other side of the ball, you were stoked. Holy Joe Burrow. I was ready for that 50 point burger in this game to just go insane and Jerry Judy to be, you know, the wide receiver. Three on the week with DTR there they might not need. I mean this is great maybe for Chase Brown with a huge lead. You know, his DK Russian receiving line is what, 108 and a half yards.
Andy Holloway
That's not that far behind Gibbs.
Jason Moore
But I worry that Joe Burrow won't have to do much.
Andy Holloway
They played last when it was Watson, not Winston and it was 2114 and Burrow was the quarterback 17. So that's the, that that'd be the fear. But they should be able to, you know, you just hope Burrow gets it done early in this game and that the defense, Cincinnati, which is a streaming play this week, they don't score two times for you and hurt your offense.
Jason Moore
Yeah. Jerry Judy, I think is one of the biggest question marks.
Andy Holloway
I think he's the biggest one, maybe the biggest one on the week. Is that what you're going to say?
Jason Moore
Just what I was going to say. He is because he's been unstoppable. He has gotten people to the playoffs and I know in the league that I have him in, I had the bye week. I've made the decision to start Jerry Judy this week. His receiving line is 60 and a half. He's clearly the one for this team. I don't think Cedric Tillman comes back from concussion protocol. I don't think David Najoku does either. This is a team that, like I said, I think this is a team getting ready for the draft. When they made the transition to dtr, I think they are saying we're done with this season. I really believe that was DTR to du n. Yes, exactly.
Andy Holloway
So Jerry Judy though, with the receiving line, with the fact he's the only show in town.
Jason Moore
Exactly. And the fact that you can take.
Andy Holloway
A little underneath and the Bengals are.
Jason Moore
Not a good defense.
Andy Holloway
Shakir or Judy?
Jason Moore
Judy.
Andy Holloway
Ridley or Judy?
Jason Moore
Judy.
Andy Holloway
Yeah. Okay.
Jason Moore
Ridley's closer.
Andy Holloway
The Rams are 8 and 6. Jets are 4 and 10. Difference makers. I talked about my belief that the jets with Aaron Rodgers. It just came out that he's getting healthier. I think you can see that on the field. He ran for 45 yards last week. The DK line here Los Angeles minus three. The over unders 46 and a half. That's not a big line considering the.
Jason Moore
Records of the teams and the recency of the teams. Like if you look at the Rams, you know they've won four of their last five games.
Andy Holloway
Seven and two since the buy.
Jason Moore
They beat Buffalo. You know, this is a team that has been playing good ball.
Andy Holloway
We have been debating the Rogers vs Stafford. If you needed second quarterback, super flex emergency start. Amazingly, their passing yards prop is the same.
Jason Moore
Oh my gosh. Are you kidding me?
Andy Holloway
244.5, which is high.
Jason Moore
Wow.
Andy Holloway
But I don't mind either one. And I told you, I think of them identically and then we get where the line is the same. So that's how I see it. I mean, either player look. What do you have two quarterbacks that can have a game but don't often with two elite wide receivers for both Adams and Wilson have been playing well. Two, two top 12.
Jason Moore
And they're both supposed to have a great running back.
Andy Holloway
Yeah. Are you forgiving?
Jason Moore
One of them does.
Andy Holloway
Yeah. Are you forgiving Cooper Cup?
Jason Moore
Oh, yes. Cooper Cup. It was almost my start of the week. This is a guy that needs to be. I mean, the reason I didn't make him my start of the week is because I think a lot of people who have him aren't in the playoffs anymore. It might be a little bit too irrelevant. But if you got through the Cooper cup, which you did, you had him in three different leagues in the playoff.
Andy Holloway
Two of them I got through and.
Jason Moore
You got through it in two. I am 100% forgiving Cooper Cup. That. I mean, the jets are a matchup. You want. This is. I mean, you just. You ignore it completely.
Andy Holloway
It kind of feels like this one's pretty easy then because both of the wide outs on both sides are playing.
Jason Moore
Yep.
Andy Holloway
Adams has been on fire. Garrett Wilson's receiving line is 73.
Jason Moore
Ooh, that's nice.
Andy Holloway
And then Kyron Williams getting it done. Breeze hall, you have. I mean, that's. To me, it's. I don't have start of the week conviction like you do because I didn't like how often I saw him on the field last week and the fact he's missing time due to injury, I am much more of a pump the brakes there. Still finished at running back 20 but it was 48% of the snaps and I think, I think it'll be similar this week and I think that's because of Isaiah Davis.
Jason Moore
Yeah, I mean Isaiah Davis will get a little bit more work but I love the fact that Braylon Allen is banged up right now. That Braylon Allen, wow.
Andy Holloway
What a mean guy. You love the fact he's hurt, huh?
Jason Moore
I that came out wrong. I for Breeze hall, one of the things that gives me confidence is that I am not confident that Braylon Allen is going to be able to be on the field.
Andy Holloway
No, that's a good point.
Jason Moore
Isaiah Davis has been, he's looked really good and he's been playing you know, 40, 50% of the snaps. But Breeze hall is further removed from his injury. I think that these last couple weeks against the Rams against Buffalo he's if you made it through, if you have Breeze, I think he's going to take you to a championship.
Andy Holloway
Philadelphia is 12 and two, the commanders nine and five. This is one of the big games of the week. DK sportsbook line Philly -3, and a half the over unders 45 and a half and you know the is this the get right game for sake one from what you've been dealing with. You know his line is 98 and a half rushing yards. The offensive line for Philly, unbelievable. The defensive line for Washington, awful. It feels like a Saquon game to me that that's the headline of this one to me is it feels like this is a game that Saquon should.
Jason Moore
Be able to set the I worry about the injury. He was clearly not the same after getting banged up last week and he's on pace to break the all time rushing record which is kind of a big one when you've got like decades long records that you can break. He's going to get the volume and the opportunity. I just hope he is healthy. If he's healthy you're 100% right. It should be a a massive Saquon Barkley game. That's where you can beat the Commanders defense a little bit better. They're they're top 10 against quarterbacks, against wide receivers but middle of the pack.
Andy Holloway
Against running backs and dead last against when it comes to adjusted yards before contact where Phillies offense gives Saquon the most yards before contact.
Jason Moore
It's a really nice O line D line matchup for the Eagles.
Andy Holloway
Jaden Daniels, you've talked about him in the start of the week. He is a player that there's a lot of fear in the fantasy world this week.
Jason Moore
I love watching Jaden Daniels play unless I'm playing against him, and I hate it so much when you watch him play. He gives you confidence and peace so often.
Andy Holloway
And so you did spend a lot of last week saying, he's so good, he's so good.
Jason Moore
And so it's one of those things where you know you're going to be watching these games, playoffs on the line, play the player that's like really good.
Andy Holloway
Are you going to extrapolate that then to confidence with Terry McLaurin?
Jason Moore
Yeah, I think you have to. I mean, Terry McLaurin, there's no way you can bench him when he has been as good as he's been. I'm going to be holding my breath. 63 and a half is the receiving line for him, which I was a little bit sad to see that low. You look back the last three games, 102 yards, 73 yards, 73 yards, and then you get a 62 and a half. The expectation is this is a really, really difficult defense.
Andy Holloway
Seven touchdowns in his last six games. He's 11 on the year, which beat his career high already. I mean, his career high was seven in his rookie season. He hadn't had more than five since then. And this year, and what's crazy special.
Jason Moore
Season is last week there were only three incompletions his way and all three would have been basically bomb touchdowns.
Andy Holloway
You're probably not going to have Zach Ertz. You don't have Noah Brown. You don't have a backup option. And the running game is a problem, too. Brian Robinson, he will get the work. Brian Robinson or Najee, that's interesting.
Jason Moore
That's. That's a fair comp. I think I'm going to move away on the. I'm going to let the matchup dictate that one and take Najee because Ravens Rush D vs. The Eagles Rush D. One thing I've.
Andy Holloway
Seen a lot from people in the semifinals is a strange desire to bench Devontae Smith this week. So how do you react to that? Because I've seen a lot of situations where they're trying to start someone other than Devonte Smith.
Jason Moore
Yeah, I mean, I mean, he had.
Andy Holloway
Season highs last week of 12 targets, 11 receptions. He didn't practice Wednesday. It's probably just, you know, maintenance.
Jason Moore
Devonte Smith is a really, really, really good football player. On the course of the season. He's missed a handful of games. He's wide receiver 34. I feel like he is a fine player, but not one with massive upside. I my expectation here in this game is like 6 for 70 and you hope you get a touchdown. So that's someone you're going to start.
Andy Holloway
Lad McConkie or Devonte Smith? Lad is tonight. That is one of the questions that is the most popular on our site.
Jason Moore
That one. I would go DevonTae Smith because Denver is really tough.
Andy Holloway
Darnell Mooney or Devonte Smith? You go DevonTae Smith. Joanne Jennings or Devonte Smith?
Jason Moore
Oh, that one's interesting.
Andy Holloway
Jennings let people down last week.
Jason Moore
Jennings did let people down. Miami has been good. I'm going to go DeVontae Smith there.
Andy Holloway
And then AJ Brown and Jalen Hertz are of course in your lineup. Jaden Daniels in your lineup. And it's time to parlay parte. Jason.
Jason Moore
Oh, yeah, let's party like clowns.
Andy Holloway
I had Chase Brown 25 plus receiving yards last week against Tennessee. He had a monster fantasy day, but 16 receiving yards, very disappointing. I am wearing the clown wig. And Jason, you had Jameson Williams over three and a half receptions. He had three. He had three. You were so close. You were so very close. Mike had Devonte Adams, 60 plus receiving yards, who nearly tripled it. Yeah, Jay Grizz in the house and.
Jason Moore
Looking good with that crown on.
Andy Holloway
Yeah, he's standing in for Mike.
Jason Moore
I'm on a cold streak. I'm gonna be honest with you. You know, the. Through the majority of the season, I was, I was beating you and Mike and then the last couple of weeks, you guys went hot, I went cold. But I am pretty bullish on my current pick this week. Sometimes I'm real confident. Sometimes, you know, it's, it's a little dicey. But Jameer Gibbs line for this week, 25 plus receiving yards. Even before the Monte injury, this was a fair line. Like he's averaged 28 receiving yards. But Monty comes in this year and has had drives in the receiving game.
Andy Holloway
And I mean his bad game last week, four yards rushing. He still had four catches.
Jason Moore
Yeah, exactly. And so this is going to be Jameer Gibbs game and I don't think the line has adjusted quick enough on him. So that, that's where in the game against Chicago where their defense, where Detroit's defense isn't going to be great. 25 should be an achievable number in the receiving game for Gibby. Gibby gum drops.
Andy Holloway
Okay, I'm going Zay flowers, 50 plus receiving yards. He's averaged 65 yards a game this year. He's been over that mark three straight games. He is the target leader for this team. He's going to accumulate enough of those plays and you know, fantasy wise, he has been doing enough in the target world, but not scoring and not having that one big play. I do think he gets above 50 receiving yards against Pittsburgh this week and Mike is going with or J. Grizz is going with Malik Neighbors over five and a half receptions and it's just been, you know, backing up what you said about neighbors in your start of the week.
Jason Moore
Yeah, I mean he's averaging seven and a half receptions. The matchup is perfect. Perfect for him. So I love over five and a half. Feeling pretty good about this one.
Andy Holloway
All right, that was Fantasy Forecast presented by DraftKings Pick 6 down with the new DraftKings Pick 6 app now and use the code ballers. That's the code ballers for new customers to play $5 and get $50 in pick six credits. That is going to do it.
Jason Moore
Oh, it can't do it yet. Have the waivers ran yet? We have to stretch this out until those waivers run.
Andy Holloway
It's really worth it. I mean.
Jason Moore
Well, you could say now. You can actually say.
Andy Holloway
I can say now. I will not put any claims.
Jason Moore
I do not have any claims in.
Andy Holloway
It's the most unexpected name. It was going to.
Jason Moore
I can't wait to hear it.
Andy Holloway
It's the first matchup tomorrow, so I was just going to save it till tomorrow because that's what we're talking about. But I'll tell you, I believe, and this is. I'm not proud to say this, and I'm going to tease it as long as I can, but I believe my tight end this week in the semifinals will not be Kate Otten. It will not be Britton Strange, but I believe it will be Chiga Conquo of the Tennessee Titans. I think it's going to be Chig a Conco. Now, Brooks, did you. Did you see waivers go through or did you guess that before I said it? Brooksy, are you on the line? It was once he said the first game tomorrow. Okay. You know it's Titans. Yeah, There it is. Oh, oh, look. Call it a hunch, call it an informed guess, call it a desperation play. Everyone stared at Britain Strange's targets last week and that was the kind of special breakout game. What you have this week is Chiga Conquo 10 targets last week. A target share over the last, I think three or four Weeks, that is equal to Calvin Ridley, Mason Rudolph taking over who his splits are better with, and the number one matchup in all of fantasy football for tight ends. Okay, so I believe that he will be. Yeah. He's been over the last month targeted on 23% of his routes, the same as Ridley. You did get him. I wasn't that worried. I could have said it at the beginning. I just wanted to have fun. It's. Look, this is. This is where I'm at. I lost Taysom Hill. Kate Otten doesn't look like he looks hurt. And I lost Johnny Smith and I don't have options. So for me, I think.
Jason Moore
Well, you got rid of Johnny Smith.
Andy Holloway
Yeah, when I thought I had two other guys. So I think that the move for me this week is going to be Chig over Britton Strange. Not chasing what happened last week, but looking to the future. And in a match, look, Bryn Strange is a catch the ball and fall over guy. Kate Otten is mostly a catch the ball and fall over guy. Chigaconkwo has David Najoku style after the catch skills.
Jason Moore
Yes.
Andy Holloway
And that's the play I'm going with now, Jason, you are looking for some sort of button over. Don't tell me he's hurt. He's not hurt, is he?
Jason Moore
Chiga Conquo on IR no, that is made up. It looks like the Isaac Garindo will not be playing this week, according to Adam Schefter.
Andy Holloway
That is big news.
Jason Moore
Yeah.
Andy Holloway
So that is big. So the hamstring injury is that bad?
Jason Moore
Yeah, we will. We will look into the backups for tomorrow's news segment. But good to know now.
Andy Holloway
Yeah, yeah, that is. That was one of the things hanging over the week. But it's. Do you have confidence in the right person?
Jason Moore
I will.
Andy Holloway
Okay. All right. That'll do it for today's show. Can we quit now? Can we quit, clown?
Jason Moore
Yeah, yeah. We can move on till tomorrow.
Andy Holloway
All right, we'll catch you all tomorrow. Thank you for joining us. Hopefully Mike will be back. We'll get into more matchups in the fantasy Face off. Goodbye.
Jason Moore
Gambling problem. Call 1-800- gambler must be 18 and over.
Andy Holloway
Age and eligibility restrictions vary by jurisdiction.
Jason Moore
Void.
Andy Holloway
We're prohibited one per new customer. Non withdrawable. Pick Six credits expire in six months. Limited time offer. See terms@pick6.draftkings.com promos.
Fantasy Footballers Podcast Summary: Episode "Starts of the Week + Week 16 Breakdown, Playoff Pressure" (Released December 19, 2024)
In this episode of the Fantasy Footballers podcast, hosts Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright delve deep into the strategies and decisions pivotal for navigating Week 16 of the NFL season. With playoff implications intensifying, the trio offers expert analysis, breaking down key player performances, matchup evaluations, and strategic start/sit decisions to help listeners optimize their fantasy football lineups.
As the season approaches its climax, playoff-seeded teams face heightened pressure to secure victories, making roster decisions critical. Andy Holloway opens the discussion at [03:45], sharing his personal start/sit challenge with tight ends:
“[03:45] Andy Holloway: ...I have one big start sit decision of my own.”
Jason Moore lightheartedly responds, downplaying the dilemma:
“[03:55] Jason Moore: ...that’s not really a big start, sit decision.”
The conversation quickly shifts to the unpredictable nature of tight end performances, highlighting the rarity of one-off standout games. Andy cites recent examples of tight ends delivering exceptional but unsustainable performances, emphasizing the importance of consistency over chasing past highs.
The tight end position emerges as a focal point, with multiple players grappling with injuries and fluctuating performances. Andy Holloway brings attention to Britton Strange's AC joint sprain at [04:15], questioning his reliability:
“[04:15] Andy Holloway: So he's got an AC joint sprain. So he is. He's probably not the best option.”
Jason Moore concurs, highlighting the unpredictability of players like Strange and others who have shown sporadic production:
“[04:48] Jason Moore: ...opposing teams have exploited defenses, making sustainable tight end choices crucial.”
As the discussion progresses, Andy reveals his plan to designate a different tight end pick post-waiver period, ultimately advocating for Chiga Conquo over Britton Strange, considering his consistent target share and matchup advantages:
“[66:25] Andy Holloway: ...I believe that the next week is Chiga Conquo’s time to shine.”
Jason supports this shift, emphasizing Conquo's ability to mimic top-tier tight end performances:
“[66:33] Jason Moore: ...Conquo has David Najee style after the catch skills.”
The hosts meticulously analyze various positions, providing their top recommendations for the week:
Andy Holloway endorses Jordan Love for his favorable matchup against the Saints:
“[13:35] Andy Holloway: ...I think it'll be a better than average game for Jordan Love.”
Conversely, Jason Moore champions Jaden Daniels, citing his dual-threat capability and advantageous matchup:
“[14:07] Jason Moore: ...Jaden Daniels... one of the top three quarterbacks in fantasy football.”
Andy advocates for Jerome Ford due to his high target volume and favorable matchup:
“[17:23] Andy Holloway: ...Jerome Ford is my running back start of the week.”
Jason counters with James Conner, emphasizing his role in the offense and matchup against Carolina’s weak run defense:
“[18:27] Jason Moore: ...Ford should have enough volume to have a safe floor.”
Andy highlights JSN (Jameer Gibbs) for his exceptional slot reception numbers and consistent target share:
“[21:07] Andy Holloway: ...JSN is the premier slot receiver in the NFL.”
Jason strongly recommends Malik Neighbors, citing his record-breaking target potential and the Falcons' struggling defense against wide receivers:
“[22:58] Jason Moore: ...Malik Neighbors absolutely needs to be in your lineup.”
The hosts dissect several key matchups that could significantly impact fantasy outcomes:
Facing off at [31:00], the Chiefs' dominance is challenged by the Texans' playoff aspirations. Andy notes:
“[31:00] Andy Holloway: Kansas City plays Houston. This is a big one.”
Jason underscores the importance of player performance consistency, particularly focusing on Joe Mixon and the Texans' questionable offensive options:
“[32:13] Jason Moore: ...Joe Mixon is a high-end RB2.”
At [36:16], the Steelers and Ravens engage in a crucial matchup. Andy expresses concerns over George Pickens' injury, affecting the Ravens' offensive potency:
“[36:43] Andy Holloway: ...you want Pickens.”
Jason advises caution, suggesting reliance on Najee Harris over uncertain options like Jerry Judy:
“[38:57] Jason Moore: ...I would go Najee.”
The [57:25] segment highlights the Eagles' superior running game against Washington's struggling defense. Both hosts agree on the importance of Saquon Barkley's performance:
“[58:53] Andy Holloway: ...Jaden Daniels, you're going for peace with Terry McLaurin.”
Jason emphasizes Barkley's ability to exploit Washington's defensive weaknesses:
“[58:39] Jason Moore: ...massive Saquon Barkley game.”
Andy Holloway promotes the JoinTheFoot.com community, offering premium tools and extra episodes for members:
“[07:17] Andy Holloway: ...give a shout out to everybody over there supporting the show.”
The hosts also engage with listener questions, addressing popular start/sit dilemmas and offering personalized advice based on current roster statuses and matchup analyses.
In the Fantasy Forecast segment starting at [29:57], Andy and Jason present their predictions for upcoming games, considering team motivations, injuries, and historical performances. Notable predictions include:
Kansas City vs. Houston: Andy projects a close game with Chiefs' favorite status still intact, while Jason views Joe Mixon as a critical asset against a tough Chiefs’ run defense.
Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore: Expecting a low-scoring matchup, Andy recommends caution due to George Pickens' absence, whereas Jason leans towards Najee Harris for reliability.
Philadelphia vs. Washington: Both hosts anticipate a strong performance from Saquon Barkley and suggest prioritizing him in favorable matchups against Washington’s deficient run defense.
The Parlay Parte section entertains listener interactions and highlights standout performances:
Andy celebrates Chase Brown’s robust performance despite mixed results elsewhere.
Jason reflects on Jameson Williams' near-miss with his fantasy points and shares anecdotes about personal experiences with player expectations.
Notably, Andy questions Jason's tight end choices, revealing plans to pivot strategy based on ongoing injury updates and waiver wire movements.
Toward the end of the episode, Andy reiterates the importance of informed decisions, especially in high-stakes playoff weeks. Jason emphasizes trust in key players like Joe Burrow and Devonte Smith, while cautioning against over-reliance on uncertain options.
“[67:33] Jason Moore: ...he is a fine player, but not one with massive upside.”
The hosts conclude by encouraging listeners to stay engaged, utilize community resources, and make strategic moves to secure their league championships.
Andy Holloway at [04:15]: “So he's got an AC joint sprain. So he is. He's probably not the best option.”
Jason Moore at [14:07]: “Jaden Daniels... one of the top three quarterbacks in fantasy football.”
Andy Holloway at [21:07]: “JSN is the premier slot receiver in the NFL.”
Jason Moore at [22:58]: “Malik Neighbors absolutely needs to be in your lineup.”
Andy Holloway at [36:16]: “This is a team getting ready for the draft.”
Jason Moore at [58:39]: “massive Saquon Barkley game.”
This Fantasy Footballers episode serves as a comprehensive guide for fantasy managers navigating the critical Week 16 playoff push. By dissecting key matchups, evaluating player performances, and offering strategic start/sit recommendations, Andy, Jason, and Mike provide listeners with the insights needed to make informed decisions and maximize their chances of winning their leagues. The interactive and engaging format, combined with expert analysis, underscores why this podcast remains a staple for fantasy football enthusiasts.