Podcast Summary: "The TRUTH: Fantasy TEs in 2019 + Super Bowl Reactions"

Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast
Hosts: Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright
Episode Release Date: February 4, 2020

1. Super Bowl Reactions

The episode kicks off with the hosts sharing their immediate reactions to the Super Bowl, capturing the excitement and dramatic moments of the game.

• Jason Moore opens the discussion with enthusiasm:
  "Tuesday, February 4th. Wow. What a Super Bowl that was." [00:43]

• Mike Wright echoes the sentiment, highlighting the game's unpredictability:
  "It had really everything that you could possibly want from a Super Bowl. Some back and forth, back and forth." [00:53]

• The hosts delve into the MVP debate, with Mike Wright expressing a light-hearted disagreement:
  "Could have been a last second victory... if Damian Williams had been the MVP, it would have been even better." [01:20]

• Andy Holloway counters by affirming Patrick Mahomes as the rightful MVP:
  "No way. That was Pat Mahomes, Super Bowl MVP." [01:25]

• Jason Moore shares a personal anecdote reflecting the game's impact:
  "My 8-year-old who won his first fantasy league this year... just saw his favorite player win the Super Bowl. And I realized it only goes down from here, son." [02:17]

2. Transition to Fantasy TE Analysis

Post the Super Bowl chatter, the hosts smoothly transition into the core topic of the episode—an in-depth analysis of tight ends (TEs) in fantasy football for the 2019 season.

3. The Truth About Fantasy Tight Ends in 2019

Andy Holloway introduces the segment with a nod to their comprehensive draft kit, setting the stage for a detailed examination of TEs' performance and value in fantasy leagues.

a. Travis Kelce

• Jason Moore lauds Kelce's consistency:
  "Travis Kelce has been the number one tight end several years running... he's very consistent, he's very good." [25:58]

• Mike Wright discusses the slight dip in Kelce's touchdown numbers:
  "His red zone targets dropped dramatically from 16 two years ago to seven... which is why you only had five total touchdowns on the year." [26:23]

Conclusion: Despite a minor setback in touchdowns, Kelce remains a top-tier, reliable TE option.

b. George Kittle

• Jason Moore praises Kittle's athleticism and impact:
  "My favorite tight end to watch is George Kittle. He's absolutely a dominating force." [27:08]

• Andy Holloway emphasizes Kittle's integral role in his team's offense:
  "Mark Andrews ended up getting drafted ahead of Zach Ertz because more Mark Andrews owners ended up winning championships." [37:59]

Conclusion: Kittle's dynamic playmaking ability keeps him in the elite TE category.

c. Darren Waller

• Andy Holloway explains Waller's inconsistency and dependency on volume:
  "Darren Waller is a PPR volume-dependent guy who surprisingly didn't score a lot of touchdowns." [31:49]

• Jason Moore highlights the challenges in streaming TEs when Waller underperforms:
  "You essentially are stuck in that situation where what other tight end are you going to put in there?" [32:16]

Conclusion: Waller presents a high-upside but risky option, dependent on his team's offensive schemes and target consistency.

d. Mark Andrews

• Jason Moore commends Andrews' big-play potential:
  "He can do what Gronk used to be able to do, just take a ball in the middle of the field and turn up field and get loose." [27:53]

• Mike Wright expresses concerns over Andrews' injury history:
  "He was really banged up, missed practice, didn't play... that isn't the type of play that I'm going to bet on a big season coming through for a tight end." [35:47]

Conclusion: While Andrews offers significant upside, his injury history introduces uncertainty.

e. Austin Hooper

• Andy Holloway shares confidence in Hooper's continued performance:
  "If the situation is similar next year, that was very important to the offense... there's nothing not to love about Austin Hooper." [44:31]

• Jason Moore discusses Hooper's impact when healthy:
  "Do you think he'll be back in that role? It was very important to the offense... So there's nothing not to love about Austin Hooper." [44:31]

Conclusion: Hooper is viewed as a promising TE with high fantasy potential, contingent on his health and team role stability.

f. Tyler Higby

• Jason Moore analyzes Higby's late-season performance:
  "He just was a part of the offense... if Higby is going late, then I'll be all in on drafting him." [54:05]

• Andy Holloway notes the significant increase in Higby's snap percentages towards the end of the season:
  "They said he is now the starter, he is now a centerpiece of this offense." [54:51]

Conclusion: Higby's late-season surge suggests potential for increased fantasy value, though it remains a speculative pick.

g. Evan Ingram

• Jason Moore highlights Ingram's high-impact games despite limited playtime:
  "When Evan Ingram played, put up a 25% great game number." [55:48]

Conclusion: Ingram is considered a viable late-round TE option with upside, though his consistency and role clarity are factors to monitor.

h. Jared Cook

• Andy Holloway reflects on Cook's mid-season performance improvements:
  "Jared Cook was the most consistent tight end... he was unbelievable." [53:11]

• Jason Moore praises Cook's late-season consistency:
  "He was the most consistent tight end you could be... reality was he wasn't worth his draft capital at all until the decimation of the other receiving options." [54:05]

Conclusion: Cook's season exemplifies the volatility at the TE position, showing high potential when utilized effectively.

i. Will Disley

• Andy Holloway discusses Disley's limited contributions due to injuries:
  "He burned bright... it's going hard to gauge moving forward." [56:16]

Conclusion: Disley's future fantasy value is uncertain, primarily due to injury concerns and limited playtime.

4. Comparative Analysis and Draft Strategies

The hosts compare the performance and reliability of the top TEs, weighing factors such as consistency, injury history, and team offensive strategies.

• Jason Moore emphasizes the difficulty in identifying breakout TEs beyond the elite few:
  "The truth about the tight end position is that it's a difficult position to figure out beyond the top few guys." [58:42]

• Mike Wright underscores the scarcity of reliable TEs compared to quarterbacks:
  "You can't just always find one. If you want a really, you know, you want a Kittle, you want a Kelsey, that's the end of the tier." [59:40]

Conclusion: Drafting TEs requires balancing high-impact players with reliability, recognizing the limited depth beyond the top performers.

5. Final Thoughts and Recommendations

The hosts wrap up by summarizing their insights and offering guidance for fantasy managers:

• Prioritize elite TEs like Kelce and Kittle early in drafts due to their consistent high performance.
• Consider high-upside but riskier options like Waller and Hooper based on team dynamics and injury status.
• Late-round values such as Higby and Ingram can provide additional depth but come with increased uncertainty.
• Emphasize the importance of monitoring team offensive strategies and player health to make informed TE selections.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason Moore on Tight End Difficulty:
  "The truth about the tight end position is that it's a difficult position to figure out beyond the top few guys." [58:42]

• Mike Wright on TE Scarcity:
  "You can't just always find one. If you want a really, you know, you want a Kittle, you want a Kelsey, that's the end of the tier." [59:40]

Conclusion

This episode provides a comprehensive analysis of the tight end position in fantasy football, dissecting player performances, consistency, and strategic drafting considerations. The hosts offer valuable insights, backed by statistical analysis and personal anecdotes, making it a must-listen for fantasy managers aiming to optimize their TE selections for the upcoming season.