Fantasy Footballers Podcast - Week 11 Buy or Sell + Vetoes, Trade Phones, TNF Preview

Release Date: November 13, 2019
Hosts: Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright

1. Buy or Sell Segment

The Fantasy Footballers kicked off their Week 11 episode with the highly anticipated Buy or Sell segment, where the trio evaluated several players based on their upcoming matchups and recent performances.

• Keenan Allen vs. Kansas City

  • Andy Holloway initiated the discussion by advocating for buying Keenan Allen, citing his consistent target volume and the favorable matchup against Kansas City:
    "[04:07] Andy Holloway: ... Monday Night Football, Kansas City, they're going to need to keep up. And Keenan Allen's really good. He is excellent."
  • Mike Wright concurred, highlighting Allen's almost certain involvement in the passing game:
    "[04:37] Mike Wright: The volume has still been there. He was very close to this last week... I still believe in Keenan Allen."

• Damian Williams vs. Chargers

  • Jason Moore expressed his confidence in purchasing Damian Williams, emphasizing Williams' dual-threat capability despite minor injuries:
    "[05:27] Jason Moore: I am going to buy this one as well. I think that he has the role locked down this week."
  • Andy Holloway, however, opted to sell Williams, choosing a contrarian approach:
    "[06:16] Andy Holloway: ... I'm going to sell to be contrarian here and think he gets just under that."

• Derek Carr vs. Cincinnati

  • The discussion shifted to quarterback Derek Carr, with Mike Wright endorsing a buy based on Carr's recent performance improvements:
    "[07:04] Mike Wright: ... Derek Carr, I must give him his due. He has actually been excellent. Not just good, he's been pretty excellent quarterback."
  • Jason Moore remained cautiously optimistic but ultimately decided to sell Carr's top 10 status, deeming it a tough line to consistently meet:
    "[07:50] Jason Moore: ... I think he's probably a, you know, a top 12 guy. That top 10 is really tough."

• Darren Waller vs. Cincinnati

  • Andy Holloway raised concerns about Stallion's recent target decline, sparking a debate on whether to buy or sell:
    "[08:07] Andy Holloway: ... The last three weeks. Just seven total across those three weeks. 2, 2, 3."
  • Jason Moore sided with selling Waller due to his reduced involvement:
    "[09:27] Jason Moore: ... I will sell because ... I don't know that they're going to need him that much in this game."

• Philip Lindsay vs. Minnesota

  • Andy Holloway chose to sell Philip Lindsay based on Minnesota's strong defense and Lindsay's modest fantasy projections:
    "[09:12] Andy Holloway: ... limited passing work since Brandon Allen's been on board."
  • Jason Moore remained bullish on Lindsay, citing his potential for a rushing touchdown:
    "[10:09] Jason Moore: ... I think his talent is great. And Minnesota, while they're a good defense, they're not the defense of ..."

2. News and Notes

The hosts delved into the latest updates affecting several key players:

• James Conner's Injury Status

  • Mike Wright reported that James Conner is expected to return after a shoulder separation:
    "[11:30] Andy Holloway: ... James Conner expected back out on the field."
  • Andy Holloway expressed concerns about Conner's injury recurrence:
    "[12:57] Andy Holloway: ... He is just a good player and he plays hard and he fights for the last yard."

• Tyler Lockett's Availability

  • Pete Carroll confirmed that Tyler Lockett will not miss any games despite a recent severe contusion:
    "[14:07] Andy Holloway: ... Tyler Lockett's not gonna miss any games."

• Chris Herndon's Season Status

  • The trio lamented the season-ending injury of Chris Herndon, reflecting on his impact and future prospects:
    "[16:29] Mike Wright: Great, great season, Chris."

• George Kittle's Return

  • George Kittle is expected to return against the Cardinals, though uncertainty remains:
    "[16:40] Andy Holloway: ... hopeful that George Kittle returns against the Cardinals."

• Alshon Jeffrey's Condition

  • Alshon Jeffrey is day-to-day with his injury, with optimism about his return next week:
    "[17:03] Andy Holloway: ... Alshon Jeffrey is Day to day ... David and Joku is optimistic he'll be able to play."

3. Mailbag Q&A

Listeners posed a variety of questions, prompting in-depth analysis and strategic advice:

• David Johnson's Declining Performance

  • Jason Moore recommended benching David Johnson due to his underperformance and ongoing injuries:
    "[22:12] Jason Moore: ... You have to bench him. It's brutal, but it's easy."
  • Mike Wright supported the benching strategy, pointing out the feasibility of pivoting to other running backs:
    "[22:39] Mike Wright: Yeah."

• Mo Sanu's Weekly Start

  • Jason Moore and Mike Wright both advocated for starting Mo Sanu every week, noting his increasing involvement and favorable matchups:
    "[28:54] Jason Moore: ... Start him now. Mosa News should be a weekly start."
    "[29:12] Mike Wright: ... Mosenu is an every week start."

• Flex Position Decision: Brian Hill vs. Odell Beckham Jr.

  • Jason Moore confidently chose Brian Hill over Odell Beckham Jr., citing Hill's consistent targets and Beckham's fluctuating performance:
    "[29:18] Jason Moore: ... You have a very similar situation here. ... I am playing Brian Hill over Odell 100%."

• Terry McLaurin vs. Juju Smith Schuster

  • Opinions were split, with Jason Moore favoring Juju Smith Schuster for his experience and consistent performance, while Mike Wright opted for Terry McLaurin based on his team's upcoming schedule:
    "[31:31] Jason Moore: ... I am on the Juju Smith Schuster side."
    "[32:02] Mike Wright: I'm taking Terry."

• Trade Veto Etiquette

  • Big Dave's question on trade veto etiquette led the hosts to agree that vetoes should be reserved for extreme cases of collusion:
    "[25:18] Jason Moore: ... Trades are for collusion only."
    "[26:07] Jason Moore: ... The veto should not be used unless something nefarious is going on."

• Dealing with Non-Responsive League Members

  • Andy Holloway and Jason Moore discussed strategies for managing league members who neglect to set their lineups, emphasizing the importance of having proactive rules and maintaining a waiting list:
    "[37:33] Jason Moore: ... You should have a rule in your league that you must field an active roster."
    "[39:10] Mike Wright: ... Have your fantasy buddy call you on Saturday night."

4. Thursday Night Football (TNF) Preview: Steelers vs. Browns

The hosts provided a comprehensive analysis of the upcoming Steelers vs. Browns matchup, focusing on player performances, team strategies, and fantasy implications.

• Steelers' Resilience and Team Dynamics

  • Andy Holloway praised the Steelers' ability to stay competitive despite numerous injuries and roster changes:
    "[41:40] Andy Holloway: ... how they've been able to piece together this season with a backup quarterback."
  • Jason Moore highlighted the organizational strength, contrasting it with the Browns' struggles:
    "[42:03] Jason Moore: ... a good organization run well from the top down."

• Browns' Offensive Challenges

  • Andy Holloway critiqued the Browns' offensive line issues and quarterback play, questioning the fantasy viability of their players:
    "[43:08] Andy Holloway: ... it's a tough matchup for Juju even if he can have ... projected limited upside."
  • Jason Moore recommended focusing on Browns' quarterback Mason Rudolph for streaming options due to the favorable upcoming schedule:
    "[44:40] Jason Moore: ... Baker real quick ... for streaming quarterbacks."

• Key Player Evaluations

  • Nick Chubb remains a reliable fantasy asset against the Browns, while Kareem Hunt offers flexible options depending on game flow:
    "[43:51] Mike Wright: ... Actually, Kearney Mahunt ... Kareem Hunt is a Flex play."
  • Wide receivers Deontay Johnson and Jarvis Landry were discussed, with a consensus to favor Jarvis Landry due to his higher target volume:
    "[49:33] Jason Moore: ... Brian Hill is the answer."
    "[49:06] Andy Holloway: ... Odell rest of season."

• Steelers' Defensive Prowess

  • The Steelers' defense was lauded for its exceptional performance, ranking highly in fantasy points allowed and sacks:
    "[49:44] Andy Holloway: ... The Pittsburgh defense has been outstanding."

5. Conclusions and Final Thoughts

The episode concluded with the hosts reiterating the strength of the Steelers' defense and the importance of strategic player management heading into Week 11. They emphasized the necessity of adapting to player injuries and matchup-specific decisions to optimize fantasy performance.

Notable Quotes:

• "[22:12] Jason Moore: ... You have to bench him. It's brutal, but it's easy." – On benching David Johnson
• "[28:54] Jason Moore: ... Start him now. Mosa News should be a weekly start." – On starting Mo Sanu
• "[25:18] Jason Moore: ... Trades are for collusion only." – On trade veto etiquette

Final Note:
This episode provided valuable insights into critical fantasy decisions, player evaluations, and strategic approaches to managing your roster effectively in Week 11. By focusing on matchup details and recent performances, the Fantasy Footballers offer actionable advice to help listeners gain the edge in their leagues.