Podcast Summary: Fantasy Footballers - "The Fantasy Court + Buy or Sell"

Release Date: August 28, 2019
Hosts: Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright
Episode Title: The Fantasy Court + Buy or Sell

1. Buy or Sell: Evaluating Player Projections

The episode kicks off with the Buy or Sell segment, where the hosts debate the projected performance of various NFL players for the upcoming fantasy football season.

Stefan Diggs: 1,000 Receiving Yards

• Brooks's Stance:
  • Timestamp [04:57]: "I am going to buy Stefan Diggs over 1,000 yards. Last year he was averaging 68 yards a game... Minnesota's passing offense is Stefan Diggs."
• Andy Holloway's Counter:
  • Timestamp [05:44]: "I'm going to sell. His average is just barely breaking the thousand on a 16-game pace, and he rarely plays all 16 games."
• Jason Moore's Take:
  • Timestamp [06:17]: "I will buy it. I think he'll average around 62 yards a game, possibly a bit more."

Conclusion: Brooks buys Diggs, while Andy opts to sell based on historical performance and injury concerns. Jason sides with Brooks, believing Diggs will surpass the 1,000-yard mark.

Philip Lindsay: Rushing Yards

• Brooks's Stance:
  • Timestamp [07:42]: "I'm going to sell two because of Royce Freeman."
• Andy Holloway's Counter:
  • Timestamp [06:23]: "I think Philip Lindsay is being undervalued and will crack the thousand-yard mark again."

Conclusion: Andy buys Lindsay, citing his potential rebound and undervaluation, whereas Brooks decides to sell due to uncertainties with handcuffs like Royce Freeman.

Tyler Lockett: Receiving Yards

• Andy Holloway's Stance:

  • Timestamp [08:44]: "Tyler Hot Lockett is going to dominate this year. He will definitely have more than a thousand."

• Jason Moore's Counter:

  • Timestamp [09:00]: "I'll sell it. I think it'll be just under a thousand."

• Brooks's Position:

  • Timestamp [09:33]: "Tyler Lockett was an enigma last season but has the potential to exceed expectations."

Conclusion: Andy is bullish on Lockett, predicting a strong performance, while Jason is skeptical, expecting him to fall just short of the 1,000-yard milestone. Brooks remains cautiously optimistic.

2. News and Notes: Player Updates and Injuries

In the News and Notes segment, the hosts discuss recent developments affecting fantasy football players.

Robbie Anderson (Jets): Calf Injury

• Jason Moore [14:04]: "Robbie Anderson missed practice with a calf injury. Adam Gase remains uncertain about its impact."
• Andy Holloway [14:28]: Highlights the risk of re-aggravation, raising Anderson’s risk rating for week one.

DeSean Jackson: Broken Finger

• Jason Moore [15:15]: "DeSean Jackson suffered a broken left ring finger but is optimistic for week one."
• Brooks [16:16]: Notes Jackson will likely play through the injury, albeit with reduced performance.

Kiki QT (Chiefs): Injury Concerns

• Jason Moore [16:19]: "Kiki QT isn't expected to be ready for week one, raising doubts about his early-season value."
• Andy Holloway [16:23]: Expresses frustration over QT’s recurring injuries and questions his draft value.

D’Andre Agunwale (Buccaneers): Third-Down Back

• Jason Moore [17:41]: "Agunwale is set to become the Buccaneers' third-down back, competing with Ronald Jones and Peyton Barber."
• Brooks [18:40]: Critiques Ronald Jones’ pass protection and receiving abilities, advocating for Agunwale's increased role.

Notable Insight:

• Andy Holloway [16:19]: "Kiki QT's soft tissue issues make him too risky to draft, regardless of his upside."

3. The Fantasy Court: Carson Wentz vs. Rankings

A heated debate unfolds in the Fantasy Court, where Andy and Jason challenge Mike's rankings of Carson Wentz, urging him to elevate Wentz’s value.

Case 1: Carson Wentz’s Fantasy Value

• Plaintiffs (Andy & Jason):

  • Andy Holloway [22:30]: Argues that Wentz’s past performance, superior weapons, and health improvements justify a top-five QB ranking.
  • Jason Moore [23:45]: Highlights Wentz’s increased completion percentage and improved passer rating, comparing him favorably to Drew Brees.

• Defendant (Mike Wright):

  • Brooks [25:28]: Defends Mike, asserting Wentz’s injury history and inconsistent touchdown rates warrant his current ranking at QB10.

• Judge's Ruling:

  • Jason Moore [28:21]: Rules in favor of Mike, critiquing the plaintiffs’ overestimation of Wentz’s consistency.

Case 2: Sammy Watkins’s Value

• Plaintiffs (Andy):

  • Andy Holloway [29:11]: Advocates for Sammy Watkins, emphasizing his speed, target share, and potential resurgence without injuries.

• Defendant (Jason):

  • Jason Moore [35:05]: Dismisses Watkins as too volatile and unreliable for his fantasy team.

• Judge's Ruling:

  • Jason Moore [41:53]: Rules against Andy, maintaining skepticism about Watkins’s consistency and health.

Key Takeaways:

• Andy Holloway: Believes Carson Wentz and Sammy Watkins are undervalued due to their high potential and past performances.
• Jason Moore & Brooks: Prioritize consistency and injury history, supporting more conservative rankings.

Notable Quotes:

• Andy Holloway [22:41]: "Carson Wentz is being ranked by Mike... as QB10 is outrageous."
• Brooks [25:28]: "16 game pace. Jason, I am so glad you brought that up."

4. Mailbag: Listener Questions and Advice

In the Mailbag segment, the hosts address listener-submitted questions, providing tailored fantasy football advice.

Question 1: Dropping Kalen Balaj for Darwin Thompson

• Listener Brent from North Bend, WA [43:00]: "Should I drop Kalen Balaj for Darwin Thompson after drafting Damian Williams as my flex?"

• Hosts’ Responses:

  • Jason Moore [44:03]: Advises against the switch, citing potential team dynamics and upcoming trades.
  • Brooks [44:26]: Recommends retaining Balaj for his higher floor compared to Thompson’s uncertain upside.
  • Andy Holloway [44:28]: Suggests focusing on ceiling now and considering handcuffs later in the season.

Conclusion: The consensus leans towards keeping Kalen Balaj, emphasizing immediate team stability over speculative gains.

Question 2: Importance of Draft Grades

• Listener Miguel from Dallas [47:19]: "How much importance do you guys give to draft grades? I received a D despite having strong picks like Christian McCaffrey and Lamar Jackson."

• Hosts’ Responses:

  • Jason Moore [48:27]: Dismisses draft grades as unreliable and misaligned with actual team performance.
  • Andy Holloway [48:28]: Criticizes draft grades for their inability to account for individual team strategies and player synergies.

Conclusion: The hosts advise ignoring draft grades, focusing instead on personal team strategy and player performance indicators.

5. Sponsor Messages and Promotions

Throughout the episode, the hosts briefly mention sponsors and promotional offers, seamlessly integrating them into the discussion.

• FanDuel Promotion:

  • Brooks [18:54]: "FanDuel is back with more ways to win cash prizes... Get a $5 bonus with your first deposit."

• White Castle Promotion:

  • Andy Holloway [20:07]: Encourages listeners to enjoy White Castle sliders, offering a discount code: "whitecastle.comfootballers for $1 off any four or six-pack sliders."

Notable Quote:

• Andy Holloway [20:07]: "Get craving conquering and go to whitecastle.comfootballers to get a dollar off the purchase of any four or six-pack White Castle Sliders."

6. Closing Remarks

The episode concludes with a blend of humor and camaraderie, reinforcing the hosts' friendly banter and dedication to their fantasy football community.

• Final Exchanges:
  • Andy Holloway [35:24]: Playfully insults Jason following the court rulings.
  • Jason Moore [36:03]: Shares a personal anecdote about disliking black olives, linking it humorously to the Sammy Watkins debate.

Final Quote:

• Jason Moore [36:03]: "I know the taste... It left a bad taste in my mouth. I'm never going to come around on Sammy the lizard king because my team don't need it."

Key Insights and Takeaways

• Player Evaluations: The Buy or Sell segment highlights differing perspectives on player potential, emphasizing the importance of balancing historical performance with injury risks.

• Fantasy Court Dynamics: The Fantasy Court segment underscores the subjective nature of player rankings and the passionate debates they can spark among fantasy football enthusiasts.

• Injury Impact: Recent injuries to key players like Robbie Anderson and DeSean Jackson are scrutinized for their potential impact on early-season fantasy outcomes.

• Listener Engagement: The Mailbag provides practical advice, reinforcing the hosts' commitment to addressing real-life fantasy football dilemmas faced by their audience.

• Promotions: Strategic sponsor integrations offer valuable deals to listeners, enhancing their fantasy football experience beyond the game itself.

This episode of The Fantasy Footballers delivers a comprehensive blend of player analysis, lively debates, listener engagement, and entertaining banter, ensuring a rich and informative experience for both regular listeners and newcomers alike.