Fantasy Footballers Podcast: Week 7 Matchups, In-or-Out, Mark Waltenberger

Release Date: October 19, 2018
Hosts: Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright

1. Introduction and Week 7 Overview

The Fantasy Footballers kick off the episode by transitioning from initial banter into a comprehensive analysis of Week 7 NFL matchups. The hosts delve into player performances, injury updates, and strategic decisions to optimize fantasy football lineups.

2. Arizona Cardinals: David Johnson’s Value and Team Dynamics

A significant portion of the discussion centers around the Arizona Cardinals, particularly focusing on running back David Johnson and the team's recent changes.

• Addressing Offensive Coordinator Changes:

  • Andy Holloway mentions the firing of Mike McCoy and the promotion of Byron Leftwich to offensive coordinator. He poses a critical question to Jason Moore regarding the impact on David Johnson's fantasy value:

    [04:18] Andy Holloway: "... are you selling on the hype?"

• David Johnson’s Potential:

  • Jason Moore advises holding onto David Johnson rather than selling based on hope:

    [04:46] Jason Moore: "You hold him. It gives you hope... but I'm not going to go purchase because you're still dealing with an injured offensive line and a rookie quarterback."

  • Mike Wright counters with optimism about David Johnson’s potential under the new coordinator:

    [05:29] Mike Wright: "I'm very optimistic I would purchase David Johnson because the owners are frustrated... This was a handpicked Arians recruit that has been around when David had success."

• Trade Considerations:

  • Jason Moore expresses willingness to trade Carlos Hyde for David Johnson:

    [06:35] Jason Moore: "If I could trade Carlos Hyde for David Johnson, I would absolutely do that."

• Injury Updates:

  • Royce Freeman is reported to suffer a high ankle sprain:

    [08:04] Mike Wright: "Likely to miss time."

  • Emmanuel Sanders and Philip Lindsey also face injury concerns, affecting their usage and fantasy relevance.

3. Player Injuries and Their Fantasy Impacts

The hosts provide updates on various players’ injury statuses and project their availability for the upcoming week.

• Dalvin Cook (Minnesota Vikings):

  • Confusion over his practice status is clarified, with Mike Wright remaining cautious despite reassurances from Coach Mike Zimmer:

    [12:27] Mike Wright: "I'm waiting. Until he's fine on the field on Sunday from first quarter through fourth, I'm waiting."

• Theo Riddick (New Orleans Saints):

  • Sidelined with a knee injury, projected as out:

    [09:18] Andy Holloway: "Knee injuries was immediately ruled out."

• Ted Ginn (New Orleans Saints):

  • Placed on injured reserve, sparking discussions on waiver pickups between Cameron Meredith and Tra'quan Smith:

    [09:30] Mike Wright: "Do you want to target Tre'kwal Smith or Cameron Meredith on waivers?"

4. Wide Receivers Analysis: DeAndre Hopkins and Others

The episode examines the status and strategies surrounding key wide receivers, including DeAndre Hopkins.

• DeAndre Hopkins:

  • Confirmed in despite injury concerns:

    [14:47] Andy Holloway: "In."

• Ty Hilton and Ryan Grant:

  • Ty Hilton confirmed in, while Ryan Grant is projected out:

    [14:49] Andy Holloway: "In."

• Allen Robinson:

  • Injury status uncertain, leading to evaluations of potential replacements like Taylor Gabriel, Anthony Miller, and Mohammed Sanu:

    [15:04] Jason Moore: "Champaign implementation considering replacements if Allen Robinson misses."

5. In-or-Out Decisions: Critical Player Evaluations

The hosts engage in an In-or-Out segment, projecting player availabilities and advising on lineup decisions.

• Dalvin Cook:

  • Mike Wright remains cautious:

    [12:04] Mike Wright: "Until he's fine on the field... I'm waiting."

• DeAndre Hopkins:

  • Andy Holloway confirms Hopkins as in, emphasizing his importance:

    [14:47] Andy Holloway: "In."

• Mark Waltenberger:

  • A recurring humorous segment where Mark Waltenberger is mentioned as a dubious or non-existent player, leading to playful banter:

    [46:20] Jason Moore: "Hey, Wattenberger."

6. Key Matchup Analyses

Detailed breakdowns of specific NFL matchups provide listeners with insights to make informed fantasy decisions.

• Panthers vs. Eagles:

  • Andy Holloway predicts a narrow margin favoring the Eagles:

    [18:27] Andy Holloway: "I think it will be a very close game and I'm taking the Panthers to make it real tight."

  • Jason Moore adds concerns about weather impacting the game’s total points:

    [19:13] Jason Moore: "17 mile an hour winds projected... benefits the running game which lowers the total points."

• Saints vs. Ravens:

  • Mike Wright opts for the under, citing Ravens' strong defense:

    [34:34] Mike Wright: "I'm taking the under in this game. Baltimore's allowing the fewest yards per game..."

• Chiefs vs. Bengals:

  • The Chiefs’ explosive offense is highlighted, with discussions on key players like Jarvis Landry and Antonio Brown:

    [45:37] Mike Wright: "C.J. Uzama is a streamable."

• Giants vs. Falcons:

  • Concerns over Giants’ struggling offense against Falcons’ depleted defense:

    [48:47] Jason Moore: "The Giants offense has been putrid... The Falcons are at home against a bad defense."

7. Expert Draft and Daily Dose Insights

The hosts share strategies and recommendations for drafting players, emphasizing the importance of adapting to weekly dynamics.

• Expert Draft:

  • Andy Holloway prioritizes running backs and wide receivers, while considering quarterbacks like Andy Dalton for favorable matchups:

    [53:19] Andy Holloway: "One obvious quarterback that I want to actually have and that is Andy Dalton."

• Daily Dose:

  • Mike Wright promotes a signed Saquon Barkley jersey giveaway:

    [52:28] Mike Wright: "We have a Saquon Barkley signed jersey available right now."

8. Community Engagement and Closing Remarks

The episode concludes with acknowledgments to listeners, giveaways, and reminders about upcoming content.

• Mark Waltenberger’s Return:

  • Jason Moore humorously references Mark Waltenberger’s appearances:

    [46:31] Jason Moore: "Mark Waltenberger."

• Final Takeaways:

  • Hosts encourage listeners to engage with their content platforms and stay tuned for live streams and additional advice.

Notable Quotes:

• Andy Holloway on Eagles vs. Panthers Matchup:

  [18:27] "I think it will be a very close game and I'm taking the Panthers to make it real tight."

• Jason Moore on David Johnson:

  [04:55] "I'm not going to go purchase because you're still dealing with an injured offensive line and a rookie quarterback."

• Mike Wright on David Johnson’s Potential:

  [05:29] "I'm very optimistic I would purchase David Johnson because the owners are frustrated beyond belief."

Conclusion

This episode of the Fantasy Footballers podcast provides a thorough analysis of Week 7 NFL matchups, emphasizing player evaluations and strategic fantasy decisions. From discussing the Arizona Cardinals' dynamics to in-depth matchup breakdowns and player injury updates, the hosts equip listeners with the insights needed to excel in their fantasy leagues. Light-hearted segments and humorous interactions, such as the recurring mention of Mark Waltenberger, add an entertaining layer to the expert advice shared.

For more detailed insights and live advice, listeners are encouraged to join the Fantasy Footballers community at JoinTheFoot.com and follow them on Twitter @ffballers.