FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Fantasy Football Awards Show + Reacting to Our Preseason HOT TAKES!
Episode: 1930
Release Date: January 9, 2026
Hosts: Joey P. (Joe Pisapia), The Welsh (Chris Welsh), Andrew Erickson, Scott Bogman

Overview

This fun, banter-filled episode serves as both a Fantasy Football Awards Show (for the 2025 NFL season) and a tongue-in-cheek walk of shame (and pride) through the crew’s wildest preseason hot takes. The hosts debate standout players, break down memorable fantasy moments, poke fun at their right and wrong predictions (sometimes while enduring fiery hot sauces), and crown their personal favorite award winners. The tone is lively, self-deprecating, and competitive, making for an entertaining recap for fantasy footballers of all levels.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Participation Trophies, Fantasy Hardware, and Meaningful Awards

• [00:33–03:56]
  • Joey P, Welsh, Erickson, and Bogman joke about participation trophies in youth sports, setting the stage for their own awards and “hardware.”
  • Bogman quips, “I was the worst player on the best team... my trophy comes with the best line of every show that I do.” (03:43–03:56)

2. Fantasy MVP (Most Valuable Player)

• [03:56–08:25]
  • Nominees: Christian McCaffrey (CMC), Jackson Smith-Njigba (JSN), Puka Nacua
  • Debate:
    • Bogman and Erickson back CMC for massive, consistent point totals (“He scored 65 more points than JSN... so for me, it’s gotta go to CMC.” – Bogman, 04:57)
    • Welsh and Joey P. emphasize JSN’s league-winning run: “He came out of nowhere... 18.4 points per game weeks 1–15!” (Welsh, 06:01–07:17)
  • Result: 2 votes CMC, 2 votes JSN – “Let’s put it to the people!” (Joey P., 08:22)

3. Playoff MVP

• [08:28–10:18]
  • Nominees: Puka Nacua, Derrick Henry, Bijan Robinson
  • Unanimous Choice: Bijan Robinson
    • “Bijan owned the playoffs: 25, 26, 37 points per week... That’s the guy.” (Welsh, 09:02)
    • “He brought teams back from the dead... Bijan for me.” (Erickson, 09:52)
    • “Hook ‘em... got to be B-Jean!” (Bogman, 10:18)

4. Breakout Player of 2025

• [11:12–13:52]
  • Nominees: Tucker Kraft, Drake May, George Pickens
  • Unanimous Winner: Drake May
    • “No debate. ... He was the 3rd highest scoring player in fantasy, behind only Josh Allen and CMC.” (Erickson, 11:45)
    • “Drake of May. He’s the clear-cut.” (Welsh, 13:03)
    • Consensus: It’s so obvious they joke about naming the award after him.

5. Rookie of the Year

• [14:00–17:59]
  • Nominees: Tetaroa McMillan, Travion Henderson, RJ Harvey
  • Debate:
    • Welsh/Erickson favor McMillan (“He was the only rookie productive from week one... a thousand yards with Bryce Young at QB.” – Erickson, 16:07)
    • Bogman advocates for Henderson based on points-per-game and efficiency.
  • Result: Majority for Tetaroa McMillan

6. Waiver Wire Hero

• [18:21–22:37]
  • Nominees: Michael Wilson, Rico Dowdle, Matthew Stafford
  • Debate:
    • Bogman/Erickson favor Michael Wilson for mid-season surge and positional value at WR2 (“Over a thousand yards. To be one of the best targets... very impressive.” – Bogman, 18:43)
    • Welsh pushes for Stafford as a “true league-winning waiver pickup” (third-highest scoring QB), but leans Wilson due to the actual waiver dynamic.
  • Result: Michael Wilson wins. “When you needed a boost, it was Michael Wilson.” (Erickson, 22:23)

7. Sleeper of the Year

• [22:55–26:16]
  • Nominees: Wondale Robinson, Kyle Pitts, Kay’Ron Manna (added late)
  • Discussion:
    • Erickson: “Pitts is the quintessential post-post-post-hype sleeper... everyone will remember that 40-point game.” (23:20)
    • Bogman & Welsh: Wondale was “free in every league” and outperformed all expectations, especially in PPR. (“Everyone hated Wondale Robinson... huge value.” – Welsh, 25:48)
  • Result: Majority for Wondale Robinson

8. Bust of the Year

• [26:47–30:44]
  • Nominees: Justin Jefferson, Brian Thomas Jr, Ladd McConkey
  • Debate:
    • Welsh: Slam dunk for Brian Thomas Jr (“It’s the Brian Thomas Jr Award. Disappointment at every step – not close.” 27:15)
    • Erickson: Argues Jefferson underperformed at higher cost, but admits he kept disappointing in starting lineups.
    • Bogman: “No competition for targets and still tanked – it’s BTJ.” (29:29)
    • Shades thrown at Ladd McConkey, who had “no excuses but still flopped.”
  • Result: Brian Thomas Jr.

9. Hosts’ Custom Awards & Notable Quotes

• [32:22–41:53]

Joey P's "I Told You So" Award [Saquon Barkley]

• “Guys with 400 carries in a season never repeat RB1... Saquon Barkley finished RB14. The data was all there!” (Joey P., 34:11)

Welsh's "RBs Aren’t Dead" & "The H Award"

• “McCaffrey, Jonathan Taylor, Bijan, Gibbs... RBs came back strong. The ‘Dead RB’ crowd got burned.” (Welsh, 36:53)
• The “H Award” goes to CMC for “consistently being phenomenal.”

Erickson's "Roster Clogger Award"

• “Trey Benson, Jaden Daniels, Garrett Wilson... The classic, ‘Should I cut or keep him?’... all they did was waste roster spots all year.” (Erickson, 38:22)

Bogman's Hat Trick: "Juggernaut" (Cam Skattebo), "Should’ve Had More Touches" (Travion Henderson), "No One Believed in Me" (Javonte Williams)

• “Cam Skattebo, most likely to be the juggernaut... had injuries but was a force.” (Bogman, 40:40)
• “No one, including us, hyped up Javonte Williams. And yet, he was excellent.” (41:13)

10. Preseason Hot Take Reactions: The ‘Hot Sauce Gauntlet’ Segment

• [43:27–61:43]

Format:

• Each host eats wings with increasingly spicy sauces while revisiting their bold preseason "hot takes" and rating how hot (and correct) those takes truly were.

Highlights:

• Scott Bogman (Mild): Cam Skattebo leads the Giants in touches
  • “The process was good, but injury derailed it.” (44:31)
• Erickson (Mild): Drake London = overall WR1
  • “Even pre-injury, he wasn’t on JSN’s level. Process okay, result was off.” (46:32)
• Erickson (Medium): Tucker Kraft is top-4 fantasy TE
  • “Looked like a slam dunk until injury. Take the W!” (48:39)
• Bogman (Medium): Ricky Pearsall leads 49ers in receiving
  • “Totally tanked, but per-game numbers were promising for the future.” (52:15)
• Erickson (Nuclear): Elijah Moore (Buffalo) as WR1
  • “Hottest take of show – ended WR137.” (53:49)
  • “That take was hotter than the sauce.” (Bogman, 55:49)
• Bogman (Nuclear): Anthony Richardson as QB6 (Colts)
  • “He was set up for success; the offense made Jones QB12... process over result.” (59:36)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Bijan owned the playoffs... 15, 26, 37 [points].” — Welsh, [09:02]
• “My trophy comes with the best line of every show that I do. That’s my trophy.” — Bogman, [03:56]
• “I was so thrown off because Erickson came out the gates... ‘Drake London, overall WR1!’ That’s hot.” — Welsh, [47:06]
• “He brought teams back from the dead... Bijan for me.” — Erickson, [09:52]
• “No debate. ... Drake May is the clear breakout, and this is now his award.” — Erickson, [11:45–13:00]
• “You want to talk about return value? Every single one of these RBs delivered.” — Welsh, [36:53]
• “The classic, ‘Should I cut or keep him?’ ... all they did was waste roster spots all year.” — Erickson, [38:22]
• “We didn’t just give terrible takes, we also ate the awful hot sauce.” — Bogman, [60:42]
• “Elijah Moore had nine receptions and 17 targets... WR137.” — Joey P., [55:43]
• “No excuses, just be better, Ladd McConkey!” — Welsh, [32:18]
• “[Saquon] Barkley… not the year everyone expected. Historical data wins again!” — Joey P., [34:11]

Segment Timestamps

• [00:33] – Show Opens, Participation Trophy Banter
• [03:56] – Fantasy MVP Award
• [08:28] – Playoff MVP
• [11:12] – 2025 Breakout Player
• [14:00] – Rookie of the Year
• [18:21] – Waiver Wire Hero
• [22:55] – Sleeper of the Year
• [26:47] – Bust of the Year
• [32:22] – Hosts’ Custom Awards (“I Told You So,” “RBs Not Dead,” “Roster Clogger,” etc.)
• [43:27] – Hot Wing/Hot Take Segment (retrospective on preseason predictions)
• [61:43] – Episode Wrap-Up & Farewell

Closing

This episode is packed with genuine analysis, nostalgia, friendly jabs, and fantasy football camaraderie. The hosts’ candor about their hits and misses (“process over results” vs. “I told you so!”) makes it both informative and highly entertaining—even more so when they squirm through the heat of their spicy wing challenge. Whether you played all season or are just catching up, you’ll come away ready to debate award winners and set your sights on next fantasy season.

To get involved:
Comment your 2025 award winners on YouTube, catch Joey and Bogman’s playoff watch-along live, and revisit the spicy hot takes segment for some laughs (and maybe some lessons) as you prep to draft again.