Fantasy Footballers Podcast: "Starts of the Week + Week 8 Breakdown, Big Bye Decisions"

Date: October 23, 2025
Hosts: Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright

Episode Overview

This episode of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast is all about helping listeners navigate the tough Week 8 fantasy football landscape, especially with six teams on bye. Andy, Jason, and Mike deliver their signature blend of sharp analysis and humor, focusing on must-start players, key injury updates, and tricky lineup decisions. They highlight their “Starts of the Week” for every position, discuss breakout candidates, and break down crucial matchups, while always emphasizing actionable advice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Big Week 8 Bye Week Decisions

• Six teams on bye: Jaguars, Lions, Raiders, Rams, Seahawks, Cardinals. This leads to challenging lineup holes for managers.
• Advice: "Most lineups, a flex spot is going to be a player you're not particularly comfortable with this week." (Andy, 12:56)

2. Injury Updates & News (04:41–12:33)

• Aaron Jones (hamstring) – “Trending towards playing,” but confidence is low for a full workload. Jordan Mason remains playable regardless.
• Lamar Jackson – Limited practice. “The more physical rest you can give him, the better.” (Mike, 09:06)
• Multiple WR DNPs: DJ Moore, DeAndre Swift, Cole Kmet, Calvin Ridley, Chris Olave all missed practice. Olave is expected to play but must be monitored.
• Brock Purdy – Limited with a toe.
• Christian Watson (Packers) – Expected back, plans to play.
• Kirk, Nico Collins – Questionable for Sunday; watch practice participation.
• Michael Penix Jr. – Limited with a knee, is a decent streamer.
• AJ Brown – DNP with hamstring, but Wednesday DNPs are often not concerning.

3. Starts of the Week (12:50–25:39)

Quarterback

• Justin Herbert: Confident Thursday start – "On pace for 4,632 passing touchdowns while doing something far more exciting that he doesn't usually do...career highs in rushing." (Jason, 13:24)
• Bo Nix: Despite slow starts, high over/under, good spot vs. Cowboys.
• Jordan Love: "Top four in pass success rate, this is not the Steelers defense we used to have. Wild, the quarterbacks are doing major work on Pittsburgh." (Andy, 16:02)

Running Back

• J.K. Dobbins: “Top 24 RB in six of seven weeks… clearly the leader of this offense.” (Mike, 16:50)
• Chase Brown: Bengals heavy favorite vs. Jets, receiving floor is “actually okay.” (Jason, 18:02)
• Jordan Mason: “Against the Chargers, a true run funnel... even if Aaron Jones is back, I like Jordan Mason to get into the end zone.” (Andy, 20:12)

Wide Receiver

• Rome Odunze: “Perfect matchup vs. Ravens; man coverage, high target share.” (Mike, 20:46)
• Courtland Sutton: “Not the safest floor, but strong ceiling in good matchups.” (Jason, 21:37)
• Chris Olave: “Only Chase has more targets... you have to throw on the Buccaneers.” (Andy, 22:10)

Tight End

• Harold Fannin: “If Njoku is out, Fannin has the fifth most targets and fourth most receptions among tight ends.” (Mike, 23:17)
• George Kittle: “If he’s active, he’s in your lineup.” (Mike, 24:14)
• Kate Otten, Tucker Kraft: Named as strong streamers given thin position and multiple injuries.

Notable quote:
"No quarterback in the history of the NFL has ever rushed for 450 yards while throwing for 4,632 touchdowns. So whether that happens or not, that's just what he's doing already." — Jason Moore on Justin Herbert (13:24)

4. Matchup & Fantasy Forecasts

Miami Dolphins vs. Atlanta Falcons (28:28–34:55)

• Falcons favored at home; defense very tough at home against all fantasy positions.
• Jalen Waddle: Questionable, monitoring injury after missing Wednesday session.
• Devon Achane: Elite play, “a machine” in both run and pass game.
• “Falcons D is #1 against tight ends, #2 against RBs, #3 vs QBs, #4 vs WRs. One of the most difficult matchups in fantasy.” (Mike, 34:33)

New York Jets vs. Cincinnati Bengals (34:55–39:01)

• Joe Flacco: Bengals now have two strong WRs for fantasy.
• “Jamar Chase and T. Higgins each have twice as many receptions and yards per game with Flacco as with Browning.” (Andy, 35:14)
• On Jets: “Travesty…Breece Hall is the only Jet you can play, and it’s not joyful.” (Andy, 38:14)
• Mason Taylor (Jets TE): Highlighted as a top streamer; Bengals are the worst defense vs TEs.

Cleveland Browns vs. New England Patriots (40:18–47:00)

• Rhamondre Stevenson: Still start, even in tough matchup. “If you get 75% of RB snaps for a 7pt home favorite, you play that.” (Andy, 43:30)
• Patriots WRs (Booty, Diggs) – Too risky, prefer other waiver options.
• Drake Maye: Plug and play QB, highly efficient and consistently strong.

New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles (48:09–55:54)

• Jackson Dart: Rushing upside is elite, but concerns about sustainability and inefficiency vs. good Ds.
• Cam “Scatter Boo” Scataboo: “No chance you have a roster you can bench Scataboo on.” (Mike, 51:30)
• Wandale Robinson, Darius Slayton: Potential flex fliers, but transaction-only unless desperate.
• Saquon Barkley: No big plays this year, questionable ceiling. “Would you trade Cam Scataboo for Saquon? No, I want Scataboo.” (Mike, 54:45)

Buffalo Bills vs. Carolina Panthers (56:03–62:44)

• Bills heavy road favorites, and expected to dominate after back-to-back losses.
• James Cook: Still in play, but matchup tougher than in years past.
• Dalton Kincaid: Start if he plays. “Panthers are the matchup for tight ends. If Kincaid is out, you can stream Dawson Knox.”
• Panthers RBs (Dowdle, Chuba Hubbard): Dowdle has the higher upside, but Chuba sees more volume; hosts split on preference.
• Ted McMillan: Mike’s surprise start of the week. "[McMillan's] going to eat this week. He's my start of the week." (Mike, 62:44)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Thursday QB Starts:
  “I'm going to do something I don't usually do. I don't love doing starts of the week on Thursday Night Football…But Justin Herbert, I think, is a great play this week.” — Jason, 13:24

• On Cam Scataboo:
  “There's no chance that you have a roster that you can bench Cam Scataboo on any week.” — Mike, 51:30

• On Barkley vs. Scataboo:
  “Scatter Boo has passed 16 fantasy points three times this season. Saquon's BEST game is 16.” — Andy, 55:54

• Fantasy despair with Jets:
  “On the Jet side, it's just a complete poof, man. Travesty.” — Andy, 36:50

• On National Tight End Week:
  “Did you know this coming week is National Tight End…like, oh, it's week. It's this week.” — Mike, 59:06

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 04:41 | News & Notes (injury updates, key practice reports) | | 12:50 | Starts of the Week by position | | 27:27 | Fantasy Forecast (beginning of weekly matchups) | | 28:28 | Miami vs. Atlanta breakdown | | 34:55 | Jets vs. Bengals breakdown | | 40:18 | Browns vs. Patriots breakdown | | 48:09 | Giants vs. Eagles breakdown | | 56:03 | Bills vs. Panthers breakdown | | 62:44 | Mike's surprise “start of the week”: Ted McMillan |

Fantasy Footballers' Signature Humor & Tone

• Playful British accent riffs on Vidal Sassoon and British cuisine (“beans on toast”).
• Ongoing banter and self-deprecation: “You miss one day and I feel like I have no idea what's going on.” (Jason, 02:31)
• Foot Clan inside jokes, including the proper use of the mailbag disclaimer and “hide your crayons” for Cam Scataboo.
• A running commentary on “start your tight ends on National Tight End Week”—with mock seriousness.

Quick-Reference Start/Sit Recommendations

• Top QB starts: Justin Herbert, Bo Nix, Jordan Love, Drake Maye
• Top RBs: J.K. Dobbins, Chase Brown, Jordan Mason, Cam Scataboo, Rhamondre Stevenson (volume play)
• WRs: Rome Odunze, Courtland Sutton, Chris Olave, Ted McMillan (sleeper)
• TEs: Harold Fannin (if Njoku out), George Kittle, Tucker Kraft, Cade Otton

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

If you're scrambling to fill holes due to six byes, these are the confidence plays and waiver options the Ballers recommend. Quarterback streamers are more vital than ever—don't be afraid to start Justin Herbert or Jordan Love in great matchups, even after duds. Running backs like Cam Scataboo and Jordan Mason are almost set-and-forget, while understudies like Chase Brown and Ted McMillan can be week-winners in deeper formats. Emphasis is on monitoring late-week injuries (Olave, Waddle, Christian Kirk) and streaming tight ends in juicy spots (National Tight End Week!).

Closing Thought

"The only thing worse than a bad start, is not starting at all. So set your lineups with confidence, and remember—traditions matter…but winning matters more."