FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast

Takeaways: Fact or Fiction + Week 4 Waiver Wire & Trade Advice | Out of Bounds (Ep. 1726)

Date: September 23, 2025
Hosts: Joe Pisapia ("Joey P."), Scott Bogman, and The Welsh

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the wild events of NFL Week 3, including notable special teams performances, key injuries shaking up running back situations (notably the Chargers and Browns), and provides robust waiver wire and trade advice for Week 4. The crew shares key takeaways, answers listener questions, and plays Fact or Fiction, separating truth from hype on trending fantasy topics.

Major Talking Points & Insights

1. Special Teams Chaos & Defensive Scoring Frenzy

• Wild Week: Unusually high number of blocked field goals (5), and scoop-and-score TDs put special teams and defenses in the fantasy spotlight.
• Notable Defensive Performances:
  • Jordan Davis’s Scoop and Score: Ran 18 mph on a touchdown return ([03:26]) – "He was running at 18 miles an hour. What the next gen stats. I know..." – Joe P.
  • Isaiah Rogers: Dominant all-around defensive stat line; dubbed "an absolute beast" for two touchdowns, a force fumble, and a 99.9 PFF grade ([21:14]) – Welsh.

2. Running Back Carnage & Opportunity: Key Injuries and Breakouts

• Chargers Backfield Overhaul: Najee Harris out for the season (Achilles). Rookie Omari Hampton is the next man up.

  • “Doesn't matter if he is or isn't, does it, Joe? He's going to get the touches. He's going to get about 25 a game.” ([06:58]) – Bogman.
  • “This is a huge win for a Marion Hampton. … Hampton is going to be full go.” ([08:35]) – Welsh.

• Cam Scadaboo’s Breakout: Scored a TD and executed a backflip celebration. Now the default workhorse for his team ([02:02]-[04:25]).

• Zero/Hero RB Drafters Winning: Early injuries have opened doors for rookie RBs like Hampton and Trey Benson.

• Quinshon Judkins Ascends:

  • Welsh's impassioned defense: “Judkins is an Easy top 20 back, maybe top 15. People are saying, hey, should I trade the Swift? Yeah, you should do all those things because he looks so good.” ([14:50]-[17:10])
  • “He beat down overtime, the best defense in the NFL. ... He is him. He is all of it.” – Welsh ([14:50])

• Chase Brown & Bengals Woes: Offense looked rough in Week 3, limiting Brown’s optimism ([26:23]-[28:30]).

3. Trading & Waiver Priorities (Listener Q&A Highlights)

RB Rankings & Value Questions

• Scoutaboo vs. Jaden ‘Bill’ Croskey Merritt:

  • “I would rank Scadaboo higher than JC. … This is pretty much Cam with Singletary as a sidecar at this point.” ([10:01]) – Bogman.

• Josh Jacobs:

  • “Josh Jacobs, is he a sell? Absolutely not.” ([11:22]) – Joe P.

• Judkins vs. Others Rest of Season:

  • “Judkins is a top 20 back moving forward. I do not think that is even in question anymore.” ([14:50]) – Welsh.

WRs and Depth Questions

• Waiver Fliers Fools Gold? Luther Burden, Trey Tucker, Tyquan Thornton: All were called “fool’s gold” for now due to role uncertainty. “I do think, like, if DJ Morgan's traded, Luther Burton looks fantastic. ... I don't buy the Trey Tucker stuff.” ([31:31]) – Welsh.

• Tory Horton Favorite Deeper Add: Joe P. prefers Horton over the trendy names ([32:05]).

• Chase Brown vs. Trey Benson: Crew generally prefers Chase Brown for now, but concern is rising ([28:33]).

Team Situation Questions

• Falcons QB Controversy: “You bench Michael Penix at the end ... but this isn’t going to be a permanent move at all.” ([12:04]) – Bogman.

• Vikings QB (Carson Wentz/JJ McCarthy): “No, we're going to go with a big fat no on those oldies taking over the newies.” ([13:25]) – Welsh.

Lightning Round: Fact or Fiction Highlights

• Texans Season Over at 0-3: Consensus: fact—they're done ([33:17]).
• Ricky Pearsall WR1 in 2025? Both Welsh and Bogman said likely top-15, but just outside the top-12 ([34:09]).
• Bucs Offense Without Evans: Optimism remains (Fact: “Egg Buka is awesome ... this offense can stay a well-oiled machine.” – Bogman/[35:31]).
• Russell Wilson Cooked? Not cooked yet—gets a couple more starts but benching looms ([36:31]).

4. Takeaways & Memorable Moments

Hosts’ Week 3 “Big Takeaways”

• Joe P.: Jordan Mason is "going to be a league winner" ([18:17]).

• Bogman: Publicly “breaking up” with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Isaiah Pacheco; the entire Chiefs offense is broken ([18:59]).

  “I want to break up with the entire Chiefs defense or offense right now. It is pathetic.” – Bogman ([19:22])

• Welsh: Quinshon Judkins is a top 20 (maybe top 15) RB; suspension talk is an opportunity to buy low, with some optimism he’ll serve zero or only two games ([21:08]).

• Bogman’s Moment of the Day: Steelers "punching the ball out 4 times" ([23:18]), and Scadaboo's backflip/Hawaiian celebration.

• Joe P.: "Big fella" Jordan Davis, the scoop and score, sprinted down at 18 MPH ([25:15]-[25:43]).

5. 3-1-1 Contest: Week 4 Picks

Each host selects:

• 300-yard passer
• 100-yard rusher
• 100-yard receiver

Some Picks:

• Joe P.: Jared Goff, J.K. Dobbins, Amon-Ra St. Brown ([39:17])
• Welsh: Jordan Love, Christian McCaffrey, JSN ([40:46])
• Bogman: Bo Nix, Omari Hampton, Rome Odunze ([40:52])

Notable Quotes

On Special Teams Mayhem:

“Do you ever remember that many field goals being blocked in that period of time? I think they said it was 1987 ... Five got blocked.” — Joe P. ([04:25])

On Rookie RBs Seizing the Moment:

“…If you were a zero or hero RB drafter this year, things are really going your way. Trey Benson now is going to have the lead. … Omari Hampton getting the lead…” — Joe P. ([07:42])

On Quinshon Judkins (epic soliloquy):

“He beat down overtime, the best defense in the NFL. He's stretching it. … Judkins is an Easy top 20 back, maybe top 15 … I think he might end up being the best rookie of all these guys.” — Welsh ([14:50])

On Chiefs Offense Struggles:

“It is pathetic. It is not good. … Let Brashard Smith have this backfield. Let him do it.” — Bogman ([19:24], criticizing Kansas City's offense)

On Waiver Fliers:

“Luther Burden, Trey Tucker, Tyquan Thornton off the waiver wire are fools gold … Tyquan Thornton is an absolute dude. I kind of think he's real. I don't buy the Trey Tucker stuff.” — Welsh ([31:31])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Special Teams/Tone-Setting Chat: [01:00]–[05:00]
• Cam Scadaboo Breakout / Week 3 RB injuries: [01:45]–[08:35]
• Omari Hampton Opportunity (Najee Harris Injury Discussion): [06:58]–[09:23]
• Judkins RB1-2 Case: [14:50]–[17:10]
• Key Takeaways & Memorable Moments: [18:59]–[25:15]
• Chase Brown Analysis: [26:12]–[28:51]
• Fact or Fiction Lightning Round: [31:17]–[36:31]
• 311 Contest / The Hosts' Picks: [39:17]–[42:15]

Tone & Style

As always, the show is high-energy, irreverent, and banter-heavy, but provides pointed fantasy analysis with actionable advice. The camaraderie between Joe, Bogman, and Welsh creates a conversational, fun, and occasionally competitive atmosphere, with deep dives and off-the-cuff rankings and takes.

Summary for Listeners

• Special teams utterly upended week 3 fantasy scoring, with defense and blocked FG TDs swinging matchups.
• Running back injuries are creating league-winner potential: Omari Hampton, Cam Scadaboo, Trey Benson, and especially Quinshon Judkins (the latter potentially a top-15-20 RB unless/until suspended).
• Look beyond trendy WR waiver adds; opportunity and depth matter more (Tory Horton over Burden/Tucker).
• The Bengals' offense is a concern without Burrow; Chase Brown's value is in flux.
• Buy low on Judkins if managers fear a looming suspension.
• Dolphins, Giants, Saints, Jets, Texans all winless; Texans already appear done for the year.
• Bucs can still function without Mike Evans if Godwin returns soon and Egubka steps up.
• 311 Contest: hosts' predictions for Week 4 feature a mix of bold calls and sticking with the stars.

If you want sharp, actionable advice mixed with humor and a dash of chaos, this episode is a must-catch for fantasy footballers facing critical early-season decisions.