FantasyPros – Fantasy Football Podcast

Episode 1883: The Extra Point: Tough Week 14 Decisions, Playoff Prep, and Chat Q&A
Date: December 6, 2025
Hosts: Chris Welsh & Andrew Erickson
Format: Live audience Q&A from FantasyPros Discord
Main Theme: Navigating tough Week 14 start/sit decisions, preparing for fantasy football playoffs, and live Q&A addressing a wide range of listener-submitted questions.

Episode Overview

This episode is a special live Q&A edition, with the hosts fielding real-time questions from their FantasyPros Discord audience. The show focuses primarily on crucial Week 14 lineup decisions, strategies for playoff roster optimization, dynasty league moves, and the ever-important subject of fantasy defenses for playoff weeks. Intertwined with the fantasy advice is some light-hearted banter—including a spirited debate about pickles—giving listeners the blend of sharp analysis and entertainment that FantasyPros is known for.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Week 14 Quarterback Dilemmas

Discussion:

• Josh Allen or Dak Prescott in Guillotine League?
  • Erickson firmly supports Allen:

    “As a Guillotine winner and FantasyPros’s biggest winner on the planet, I would go with Josh Allen.” [08:22]

  • Consensus: Despite Prescott's presence on waivers, Allen offers greater upside.

2. Dynasty Trades and Outlooks

Topic: Trading for Jacoby Brissette (Dynasty, Superflex)

• Listener traded for Brissette using a late 2023 3rd.
  • Erickson approves pushing chips in for the playoffs:

    “People hug those first round picks… I think that’s a great return for a guy that's got a decent shot at starting next year in your playoff run.” [04:23]

  • Welsh agrees, emphasizing the minimal value of late rookie picks and Brissette's short-term value for the Cardinals (and possibility of Kyler Murray being traded in the offseason).
  • On Brissette’s future:

    “He’s not a franchise quarterback… maybe you draft a QB early, bring Jacoby back, let him start for a year.” [06:09]

3. Running Back Quandaries & Injury Updates

Topic: Concerns about the Chargers’ RB Bucky Hampton’s Week 14 return

• Erickson expresses initial hesitation due to Herbert’s injury and offense uncertainty:

  “My confidence level is low, low… RB2 to a high-end RB3.” [09:57]

• Welsh agrees, sees a split workload with Kymani Vidal, especially in Hampton’s first week back.
• Pivot after Jalen Carter of the Eagles is announced as out for MNF:

  “That does change things pretty substantially… Now I’m actually kind of pivoting a little more towards Hampton as an upside play.” [13:20]

  • The Eagles defense is much weaker against the run without Carter.
• Rank Context:

  “I had him [Hampton] at 24, you at 26 before the Carter news.” [14:42]

  • Both agree: With Carter out, Hampton’s upside surpasses comparable options like Jalen Warren.

4. Wide Receiver Streamers and Drop Decisions

Topic: Is Brian Thomas Jr. droppable for AD Mitchell or Jaden Higgins?

• Erickson is in favor of moving on:

  “I have AD Mitchell above Brian Thomas, in a different tier for this week.” [21:52]

• Welsh on Brian Thomas Jr.:

  “Can he put together back-to-back good weeks? Right now, you don’t feel confident.” [22:12]

• Both recommend dropping Thomas for a more promising streamer if necessary, especially for the playoffs.

5. Playoff Defense Stashing Strategy

Listener Query: Picking up defenses for playoff weeks (16 & 17)

• Welsh highlights priority: target defenses facing weak offenses like the Titans/Raiders; Chiefs and Lions both hold value but prioritize soft matchups. [46:26]
• Erickson assures listeners they're "ahead of the game" for preparing multiple weeks out, especially with available bench spots.

6. Start/Sit Debates: Flex and Receiver Depth

Topic: Manangai vs. Deebo Samuel in Flex, 0.2 points per rush, PPR

• Welsh goes Manangai, citing matchup and injury news:

  “Bears running attack has run on everybody… Manangai would be the play for me.” [18:46]

• On defenses with similar choices (Bucs, Eagles):

  "You could start the worst defense in the NFL against the Raiders and you’ll get pressure.” [20:11]

7. Playoff Roster Optimization

• Dropping Joe Burrow?
  • Both hosts agree holding an elite QB is critical, don’t drop Burrow just for another WR. Prevents opponent upgrades and offers streamer flexibility. [24:25]
• Receiver Depth:
  • If Brian Thomas and AD Mitchell/Mechie have similar floor/ceilings, lean toward the upside (Mitchell).

8. Injury/Usage Impact

• QB Justin Herbert’s Impact on Chargers’ Offense and RB Value:

  “Are you gonna be looking to scramble and run around when your hand is exposed? … They’ll look to protect Herbert with more runs and quick passes, which boosts short passing to RBs like Hampton but limits Herbert’s own rushing.” [26:41]

• Hampton may benefit in the passing game; avoid trusting WR Quentin Johnston.

9. Tight End Streamer Choices

• Juwan Johnson vs. Ertz (No Daniels for Arizona):

  “Go with Juwan Johnson… If Daniels was active [for Arizona], that would change things, but Johnson is the play.” [29:55]

• Brenton Strange over Travis Kelce?

  “Not crazy. Colts are horrible against tight ends, and Strange’s usage is strong… the ranks support starting Strange as a legit top 5-6 play this week.” [42:03]

10. Miscellaneous Quick Hit Q&A/Lightning Round

• Kincaid vs. Ron’Gadsden: "Absolute Bengals stank against TEs. Kincaid easily." [53:46]
• Redraft & Dynasty Trade Queries:
  • Example: Amon-Ra St. Brown & Rice for Bucky Irvin & Malik Nabers—both agree it's close, but lean Nabers/Bucky side for a rebuild due to youth and upside. [54:37]
• Flex Start Conundrums: Guests ask about OL-injured players, third-string options, and upside flexes. Hampton consistently presented as a riskier but higher upside play if rostered depth is thin.

11. Recurring Themes/Banter

• Pickle Debate:
  • Multiple listeners and hosts bantered about opinions on pickles and sandwich toppings.

    “If anybody has followed my work… my heaviest stance of anything is anti-pickle.” – Chris Welsh [07:23]

• Community Engagement:
  • Hosts encourage listeners to join Discord, Twitch, YouTube, and participate in AMAs.
• Q&A Show Format:
  • Questions are led by the audience and answered on the fly, providing candid, up-to-date insight.

Notable Quotes

• "You could start the worst defense in the NFL against the Raiders… you’ll get pressure." – Chris Welsh [20:11]
• "My confidence [in Bucky Hampton] is low, low… RB2 to a high-end RB3." – Andrew Erickson [09:57]
• "Can he [Brian Thomas Jr.] put together back-to-back good weeks? … You don’t feel confident." – Chris Welsh [22:12]
• "If Joe Burrow scores the most points, then that's my best chance of winning." – Chris Welsh [52:53]
• "We are not asking our clients to be the first experiment on [AI]." – IBM CEO (ad read), [32:57]
• "If you want to go week by week, that’s an approach." – Chris Welsh, on roster churn [23:46]

Key Timestamps

| Time | Segment & Key Points | |----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:35 | Show intro, live Discord Q&A format explained | | 03:43 | Listener Q1: Jacoby Brissette dynasty trade & Cardinals QB future | | 07:08 | Pickles vs. olives banter, Guillotine league: Allen or Prescott? | | 09:57 | Bucky Hampton injury/game confidence, Herbert’s limited impact | | 13:20 | Eagles DT Jalen Carter injury impact — pivoting to Hampton as upside play | | 14:42 | Updated RB rankings post-injury news | | 21:52 | Drop decisions: Brian Thomas Jr. vs. AD Mitchell/Higgins | | 24:25 | Burrow vs. May (QB strategy for playoffs, holding elite QBs) | | 29:55 | TE streamer: Ertz or Juwan Johnson? (Go Juwan) | | 32:57 | Ad break with notable AI business quote | | 42:03 | Brenton Strange over Travis Kelce as tight end play—logic and matchup | | 46:02 | Playoff defense stashing—Chiefs, Lions, Titans-centric matchups | | 53:46 | Kincaid vs. Gadsden at TE, redraft/dynasty trade values | | 56:17 | Monday flex: McConkey or Hampton? (McConkey) / Jordan Love vs. Herbert? (Love) | | 59:17 | Superflex: Tyrod Taylor vs. Shuck (Tyrod), prop bets chat |

Tone & Style Recap

The episode is lively, interactive, and community-focused. Welsh and Erickson strike a conversational tone, balancing deep fantasy analysis with warmth and humor (“Pickles are the bomb, pickles are not the bomb, but that’s okay."). Their candid admissions of past hits and misses (“I talked a lot of smack about Joe Burrow and I was very wrong…") humanize their expert advice while ensuring even casual listeners feel welcome in the discussion.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

• This episode is essential listening for managers prepping for the fantasy playoffs—offering tailored advice on trades, waiver wire moves, sit/start debates, and defensive stashing.
• It provides nuanced takes that adjust in real time to breaking NFL news (notably with Jalen Carter’s injury).
• The recurring Q&A format ensures coverage of all common conundrums fantasy managers face during crunch time.
• Listeners will benefit from the broad spectrum of topics and levels tackled: Dynasty, redraft, streaming, and deep bench considerations are all covered.

Final Takeaways

• Trust elite QBs and don’t drop them, even if streaming is tempting.
• Be proactive with playoff D/ST stashes targeting the weakest opposing offenses.
• Adjust RB/WR ranks dynamically based on late-week injury news—especially at key positions.
• Don’t get sentimental about low-ceiling depth WRs—play for upside and clear roster space as the playoffs approach.
• Engage with the FantasyPros community for the most up-to-date info and comradery—sometimes, the best tip is in the chat.
• And when in doubt, just don't start Tyrod Taylor over Joe Burrow—no matter what!

For more, subscribe to FantasyPros everywhere podcasts are found, join their Discord at fantasypros.com/chat, and set your playoff lineups for victory!