FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast

Episode: The Extra Point: Rest-Of-Season Evaluations, Tough Weekend Decisions, and Chat Q&A (Ep. 1844)

Date: November 15, 2025
Hosts: Chris Welsh (“The Welsh”) & Andrew Erickson
Platform: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This live episode of "The Extra Point" puts Chris Welsh and Andrew Erickson in the hot seat, answering a rapid-fire assortment of fantasy football questions sourced directly from their Discord community. With trade deadlines underway and playoff implications heating up, the hosts focus on “rest-of-season” player values, tough lineup conundrums, and tricky trade decisions. Listeners get side-by-side rankings, risk-reward evaluations, midseason strategy advice, and plenty of actionable insights—all in the duo’s candid, energetic style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rest-of-Season Player Evaluations & Rankings

Topic: How to value key WRs like Diggs, Pearsall, and Pittman moving forward
Listener Q (03:37): "I just traded for Pearsall… I'm looking at Pearsall, Diggs, and Pittman for the rest of the season. How do you rank them?"

• Erickson:
  • Diggs at the top due to his "alpha" status, followed by Pearsall (if healthy), then Pittman.
  • "Part of me wants Pearsall at the top, but the injury questions are too great." (04:16)
• Welsh:
  • Also puts Diggs first, but flips Pittman and Pearsall, noting Pearsall's unknowns:
    • "Pearsall is just hard to age because he hasn't played since Week 4… the state of the 49ers receiver room is up in the air." (04:40)
  • Both agree: Pearsall is the ceiling play; Pittman is the stable floor option.

2. Tight End Carousel: Start/Sit and Trade Dilemmas

Listener Q (06:28): "Rolling out Ertz vs Miami but don't love him after. Should I drop for Fannin, Theo, or Strange? And would you trade Saquon+Ertz for McBride?"

• Welsh: "I'm not doing that trade. Can't look past Saquon's juicy schedule post-Detroit." (07:15)
• Erickson: Would consider the trade due to strength at RB; says McBride's heavy usage at TE is rare:
  • "McBride's going to have 35 targets this week" (07:53)
• Both agree Ertz should be cut ("no part of Ertz, don't care... he's a 36-year-old TE"), and Fannin is the preferred pickup.
• On Saquon-for-McBride: If you're deep at RB, moving Saquon for McBride solves the TE issue.

Memorable Quote:
“McBride’s gonna have 35 targets this week and that fixes your tight end problem.” — Andrew Erickson (07:56)

3. QB Streaming Headaches: Mariota, Darnold, and McCarthy

Deep Dive Discussion (09:36): The team debates the streaming viability of Marcus Mariota vs. Sam Darnold or JJ McCarthy.

• Welsh: Hates ranking Mariota higher, but says, "It’s so hard to bet against these rushing QBs. They can get it done in one play." (10:27)
• Erickson: “I can't come to terms with starting Mariota over Sam Darnold. …He just doesn’t have a track record." (09:36)
• Consensus: McCarthy over Mariota due to matchup. Darnold less attractive due to Rams’ pass rush.

4. RB & Flex Start/Sit Decisions: Marks, Harvey, ETN, Metcalf, Addison

Listener Q (12:27): Should I smash-start RJ Harvey with JK Dobbins out? Who fills flex spots: Harvey, ETN, Metcalf, Woody Marks, Addison, Brian Thomas Jr.?

• Welsh:
  • Prioritizes ETN.
  • Leans Marks and Metcalf over Harvey.
  • Marks gets the nod due to "snapshare work" and likely positive game script. (14:11)
• Erickson: Concurs; prefers Marks’s role and the matchup.

Notable Moment:
“If they just don’t give Nick Chubb 20 carries, we should be locking in top 24 production for Woody Marks.” — Chris Welsh (15:59)

5. Flex Fills with Injuries/Buys: Michael Wilson vs. Schultz vs. Lockett

Listener Q (19:14): With Pearson and Olave on bye, who to flex: Schultz, Lockett, or Michael Wilson?

• Erickson: “Michael Wilson is going to be the number one receiver for Brissette against the 49ers’ bad secondary... I like the risk of Michael Wilson.” (20:53)
• Welsh: Schultz is safer, but Wilson offers upside.

6. Tight Ends in the Flex: Ferguson, Bowers, Metcalf

Listener Q (21:06): Two flex spots—Ferguson, Bowers, Metcalf (with McBride at TE).

• Erickson: "Gotta trade Bowers—your team's gotta hate you! I'm going Metcalf over Ferguson, not by much." (22:17)
• Welsh: “It’s the Bengals. You gotta start everyone against the Bengals; someone’s gonna score 30 points.” (22:17)

7. Trade Values: Woody Marks for T. Higgins

Listener Q (22:53): Offered T. Higgins for Woody Marks. Should I do it?

• Consensus: Yes, especially if you need WR help and your trade partner still has decent RBs.

8. Rest-of-Season WR Values: Rice vs. London

Listener Q (24:38): Need RB, plan to trade Rice or London for Javonte. Which WR should I keep?

• Both Hosts: Prefer to trade London, keep Rice.
• Welsh: "I'd rather be attached to Mahomes—guys who can throw four TDs any week." (28:13)
• Erickson: Notes both are balling, but Rice’s offense gives him the edge.

9. The Bowers/Ferguson Dilemma

Listener Q (28:31): Hold both and flex or trade one? Which brings more value?

• Erickson: "You get far more for Bowers...but if you trade Bowers, you’re leaving the elite TE market." (28:59)
• Welsh: Trade Bowers to the manager with the weakest TE for best value.

10. Playoff Consolidation Trade Tactics & Depth-for-Star Swaps

Listener Q (38:17): Trying to trade for Chase. Is Jefferson + Dowdle for Chase too much?

• Erickson: “Jefferson and Dowdle is way too much. Gentian and Olave to start, see where it goes.” (38:48)
• Welsh: Agrees; only move Jefferson in a “lateral plus” deal.

11. Piercings on Pearsall’s Rest-of-Season Outlook

Listener Q (42:12): Would you trust Ricky Pearsall in his first week back?

• Erickson: Avoid unless desperate—49ers are conservative with returns. Prefers Parker Washington this week. (42:33)
• Welsh: “It’s probably more realistic he gets a ramp-up.” (43:20)

12. Final Trade and Strategy Rapid Fire

• Buy-low candidates: Justin Jefferson & DK Metcalf (47:32)
  • “People are losing it about Jefferson because of body language, but rookie WRs break out all the time in the second half.” — Welsh (47:32)
• Should you trade Tet McMillan for injured Garrett Wilson?
  • No. Don’t swap healthy floor plays for uncertain injuries. (52:46)
• Lamb vs. Igbuka: Take CD Lamb over Igbuka, no hesitation. (53:12)
• Chasing RB depth: Is trading Chase for HN fair?
  • Yes, that’s about the right ballpark, but check byes and roles. (54:27)
• Dynasty deals: If rebuilding, pursue Bucky or Hampton+Stroud and plan for next year. (55:38)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “Landmine season—I like that. Just completely dumping out on some of the players.” — Andrew Erickson on late-season waivers (02:21)
• “If you are going to take a stand, [Mariota] is probably a good player to take a stand against.” — Chris Welsh (11:41)
• “My beard’s getting very white. Gray beard here, but Red Beard’s in the house.” — Andrew Erickson (12:23)
• “Some people have no middle names. I don’t know anyone that doesn’t, except Nimnin.” — Andrew Erickson, joking about childhood mistakes (36:44)

Key Timestamps & Segments

• 03:37 – Ranking Diggs, Pearsall, Pittman rest-of-season
• 06:28 – TE dilemmas: Ertz, Loveland, Fannin, trade for McBride?
• 09:36 – QB streaming debate: Mariota vs. Darnold & McCarthy
• 12:27 – Start/sit: Harvey, Marks, ETN, Metcalf – RB/WR rankings
• 19:14 – Deep flex: Schultz vs. Lockett or Michael Wilson
• 21:06 – Flexing top TEs vs Metcalf
• 22:53 – Trade: Woody Marks for T. Higgins
• 24:38 – WR: Keep Rice or London ROS?
• 28:31 – Bowers vs. Ferguson: trade or hold?
• 38:17 – Playoff moves: Jefferson/Dowdle for Chase?
• 42:12 – Is it time to trust Ricky Pearsall?
• 47:32 – Buy-low WRs: Jefferson, Metcalf?
• 53:07 – Igbuka for Lamb: rest-of-season trade value

Takeaways & Strategic Notes

• Now is the time for calculated risk—chasing upside if you’re behind, seeking floor if in playoff position.
• Don’t overreact to injuries or single down weeks with healthy stars (Jefferson, Metcalf).
• Trade away steady “depth” players for elite positional upgrades only if your playoff ticket is punched.
• Tight end headaches can be solved via trade, streaming, or accepting a floor-game approach—with McBride the hottest name.
• Always tailor trades based on other teams’ needs and your own roster weaknesses (“Find the weakest TE manager…”).

For more on trades, custom advice, and Discord Q&A sessions, join the FantasyPros community at fantasypros.com/chat.

Tone:
Conversational, energetic, with a healthy dose of sarcasm—and a strong “for the people” vibe as the hosts weigh both upside and practicality in every answer.

For next time:
Tune in Thursdays at 2pm ET for more interactive sessions or explore the team’s live Twitch or premium Discord offerings.