FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast: Fact or Fiction, Week 7 Waiver Wire & Trade Advice (Ep. 1773)

Date: October 15, 2025
Hosts: Joe Pisapia (“Joey P.”), Scott Bogman (“Bogman”), and “The Welsh”
Podcast Theme: Out of Bounds – Audience-driven Fact or Fiction, week 7 waiver wire, trade analysis, and major storylines from around the NFL.
Tone: Lively, playful, opinionated, and expert-driven.

Episode Overview

The FantasyPros crew dove into the biggest storylines, trade/waiver advice, and fact-or-fiction debates for fantasy football heading into Week 7. Audience questions on Twitch drove much of the discussion, covering everything from Lad McConkey’s outlook, running back battles (Rico Dowdle, Kamani Vidal), and Justin Fields’ future, to hot debates about weekly "sell-high," redemption narratives, and who can win your league off the wire. The hosts delivered strong takes in their trademark irreverent, banter-heavy style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lad McConkey: Hold, Sell, or Buy?

• Debate: Is Lad McConkey “back” or a sell-high candidate?
• Joe (03:29): “If you bought low on Lad McConkey, you’re in good shape ... if you have him, I’m holding. I’m not selling.”
• Welsh (03:43): “I’m open to a sell. Quentin Johnston was out, and the way Lad popped was that huge play at the end ... If you can get the original cost for Lad, I’m moving out.”
• Bogman (05:22): “I’m at least floating him ... If I can get the value I paid for him in the draft, I’m doing that deal. But I don’t think there’s going to be many deals offering that.”

Key Takeaway:

The consensus is “float him” to see if you can get early-season value—especially while he’s featured—but don’t sell low.

2. Running Back Rooms: Rashad White, Bucky Irving, and Rico Dowdle

Rashad White vs. Bucky Irving (07:25)

• Bogman: “It’s going to be mainly Bucky ... You’ll get easing-in, maybe a 60/40 the first week, but then back to 70/30. These backups can’t take that guy off the field if he’s healthy.”

Rico Dowdle & Chuba Hubbard (08:21–11:20)

• Welsh: “He looks amazing, way more efficient than Chuba Hubbard ... 200-plus total yards in two straight games ... I think this is going to be a full-blown Ken Walker/Charbonnet situation.”
• Bogman: “Cowboys did not utilize him the last couple of years nearly as much as they should have ... Now, Carolina is using him the right way.”

League Winner?

• Bogman (11:09): “He could be.”
• Welsh: “Impossible if Chuba exists ... otherwise, maybe!”

Memorable Stat

Bogman (11:16): “First UDFA to have back-to-back 200 yard scrimmage games since 1970.”

3. Justin Fields: Buy or Jump Ship? (12:09–16:41)

• Joe: “He’s playing the Carolina Panthers this week. I would buy him everywhere in superflex.”
• Welsh: “No chance I’d go buy him for one week ... Fields is not startable, not a top-15 QB. I want consistency, not someone I only start in good matchups.”
• Bogman (15:03): “Bo Nix. I know Bo Nix is keeping his job. ... Justin Fields might be on the trade market in a week. Would not be shocked.”
• Classic analogy:
  • Bogman (16:46): “If a rollercoaster only killed one person this month, are you gonna get on that rollercoaster? That’s what Justin Fields is. He’s a suicide rollercoaster right now.”

Key Insight

Fields is high risk, high reward. If you can get him at low cost in superflex, consider it, but don’t overpay—his floor is “empty lineup spot” bad.

4. Joe Flacco’s Impact on Bengals Weapons (17:02–18:43)

• Joe: “He’s got five days to prepare, new offense, new personnel. ... This is an opportunity for folks to buy low on Higgins and Chase.”
• Bogman: “I’m holding them. Joe Flacco ... gets the ball out fast. 12 targets for Jamar Chase. Once Flacco settles in, I’m up for keeping your Bengals right now.”
• Welsh: “Flacco was looking to Chase on 44% of first reads. If Chase isn’t top 5–8 WR in value, buy hard.”

5. Chargers’ Backfield: Kamani Vidal or Hassan Haskins? (19:57–24:22)

• Welsh: “Vidal had a 63% snap share, 51% routes run, 18 of 24 RB carries, 72% red zone snaps ... For now, Vidal is flex-worthy, but Mike Evans’ injury dings that trade.”
• Bogman: “Vidal is a little pinball ... Haskins is a special teamer.”

6. Weekly Takeaways & Memorable Moments

• Bogman (24:41): “Joe Flacco breathed life back into the Bengals offense.”
• Victory Lap: “Cam Scattebo’s third touchdown was my moment of week six.”
• Joe: “My big takeaway: Baker Mayfield is going to be MVP ... you could feel the narrative growing.”
• Welsh: “Brian Branch just absolutely dropping JuJu ... to end our Sunday night, that one stood out.”

Fact or Fiction – Lightning Round [29:11–38:23]

Audience Fact or Fiction segment, with rapid-fire takes:

• Aaron Glenn makes it through the season?
  • Bogman: “Fiction—he ain’t making it. They’ll be 0–8 and he’s canned.” (30:16)
• Mahomes QB1 rest of season?
  • Welsh: “Fact: A QB1, but not the QB1. Rashee Rice is back; they should be slinging it.”
• Drop all KC RBs?
  • Bogman: “Until they trade for Breece Hall … drop them all.”
• Mac Jones a starter elsewhere next year?
  • Bogman: “Yeah, he could be Mason Rudolph somewhere.”
• Rico Dowdle a sell-high?
  • Bogman: “If you can get something, yes, but no one’s offering much. So, float him, but he’s better as a plug-and-play.”
• McBride better with Brissett or Kyler Murray?
  • Welsh: “Kyler is still the better option, but neither’s great.”
• Best duo: Dart & Scattebo?
  • Group: “Most fun, but not the ‘best’—just a good story after one week.”
• Rome Odunze vs. Rashee Rice ROS?
  • Split: Welsh for Rice, Bogman for Odunze, Joe breaks tie for Rice (“I like Rice with Mahomes rest of season”).
• Baker Mayfield a ‘redemption story’?
  • Group: “Fact—he was just stuck in Cleveland.”

Waiver Wire & Trade Advice Highlights

• Vidal vs. Haskins (21:05): Vidal is the answer for now, but has a ticking clock until the bye and until Hampton returns. Worth short-term flex play.
• Sell-high Candidates:
  • Lad McConkey if you can get pre-season draft price.
  • Rico Dowdle only if you get meaningful value—otherwise, a strong hold.
• Buy-low Candidates:
  • Joe Flacco brings life to Bengals’ pass-catchers (Chase/Higgins—buy if fantasy managers are panicky).
  • Justin Fields in superflex if cost is minimal; otherwise, avoid the risk.

311 Challenge Picks – Week 7 Predictions (40:31+)

Challenge:

• Pick a 300-yard passer, 100-yard rusher, 100-yard receiver for week 7:

Bogman:

• Passer: Patrick Mahomes vs. Raiders
• Rusher: Christian McCaffrey vs. Falcons
• Receiver: Courtland Sutton vs. Giants

Welsh:

• Passer: Justin Herbert vs. Colts
• Rusher: Quinshon Judkins vs. Miami
• Receiver: Rashee Rice vs. Raiders

Joe:

• Passer: Dak Prescott vs. Commanders
• Rusher: Jonathan Taylor vs. Chargers
• Receiver: George Pickens vs. Commanders

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Bogman (16:46): “If a rollercoaster only killed one person this month, are you gonna get on that rollercoaster? That’s what Justin Fields is. He’s a suicide rollercoaster right now.”
• Welsh (18:43): “Flacco was looking to Chase at every single moment. 44.4% of first reads!”
• Joe (26:04): “Baker Mayfield is going to be MVP ... we love a good redemption story, don’t we?”
• Welsh (27:23): “How about Brian Branch absolutely dropping JuJu ... to end our Sunday night. That one stood out.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Lad McConkey Debate: 03:29–06:34
• Rashad White/Bucky Irving RB Room: 06:34–07:57
• Rico Dowdle & League Winner Talk: 07:57–11:27
• Justin Fields Buy/Sell: 12:09–16:46
• Joe Flacco’s Impact: 17:02–18:43
• Vidal vs. Haskins: 19:57–24:22
• Fact or Fiction Segment: 29:11–38:23
• 311 Weekly Challenge: 40:31–44:16

Final Thoughts

• Float your emerging wr/rb assets (Lad, Rico), but don’t sell low—value is still in the upside weeks ahead.
• Watch the Bengals for renewed fantasy upside with Flacco, especially for pass-catchers.
• Chargers RB room: Vidal is the guy for now, but monitor for trade and injuries.
• For QB-needy teams in superflex, Fields is an ultra-cheap lottery ticket only.
• Monitor team injury situations and secondary roles before dropping or acquiring speculative backs and receivers.
• Enjoy the wild rides, redemption stories, and all the strange fantasy twists as we head deeper into the season!

To keep the banter and advice going, join the FantasyPros Discord at fantasypros.com/chat or catch their Twitch/YouTube for more live Q&A and giveaways.