Footballguys Fantasy Football Show (Dec 9, 2025)

Episode: "Players To Pick Up Before The Fantasy Playoffs || Fantasy Football 2025"

Hosts: Alfredo Brown & Dave Kluge

Episode Overview

This playoff-focused episode is all about waiver wire pickups and strategic roster moves for the fantasy football postseason. Hosts Alfredo Brown and Dave Kluge break down top adds and discuss how to maximize your roster entering the critical weeks. The conversation includes thoughtful debates on backup RB strategy, emerging WRs, defenses to stream (and stash), and the shocking (and comical) late-breaking news of Philip Rivers’ NFL return. As always, the show mixes deep analysis with playful banter, callbacks, and pop culture laughs.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. [03:37] Fantasy Playoffs: The Home Stretch

• The Playoffs Begin: The fantasy playoffs are here (Week 15). The hosts congratulate surviving managers and joke that surely all their listeners made the cut.
  • "I like to think that everybody watching this show has made it to the playoffs." – Dave [04:08]
• They encourage even non-playoff teams to keep listening—if only for entertainment or schadenfreude.

2. [04:44] "Too Heavily Rostered" RBs—Should You Check Your Wire?

• Some RBs are too widely rostered for standard waiver columns, but worth a quick check:
  • Blake Corum, Chris Rodriguez, Bam Knight, Devin Singletary
• Rankings (if available):
  1. Blake Corum
  2. Chris Rodriguez
  3. Bam Knight
  4. Devin Singletary

Notable Analysis:

• Corum: “If Kyron Williams has to miss a game for whatever reason, I think Blake Corum without Kyron Williams would be a better fantasy asset than Kyron Williams currently is with Blake Corum.” – Dave [06:07]

• Backup RB Philosophy: Dave emphasizes always stashing high-upside backups as injuries regularly shake up workloads.
  "I do like backup running backs because workloads change all the time. Injuries happen. And that's why, like, I preach this all the time. Just stash these guys." – Dave [06:52]

• Bam Knight: “If I need…someone to start and someone who still has some upside…I’m actually gonna go with Bam Knight here…top 18 RB in three of the last four weeks.” – Alfredo [07:24]

3. [09:03] News: Philip Rivers NFL Comeback?!

• The Colts are (actually) bringing in 44-year-old Philip Rivers for a workout—sparking incredulity and Marvel-movie jokes.
  • "Philip Rivers, who is older than Tom Brady… older than Joe Flacco…" – Alfredo [08:37]

Memorable Banter:

• “Can you guess how many Marvel movies have been released since Philip Rivers last played?” [09:26]
• They riff on failed Marvel trivia and Rivers’ status as a literal NFL grandfather.
• [44:43] Emergency update at episode’s end: “Philip Rivers officially signed with the Colts!”

4. [11:49] Main Event – Waiver Wire Targets for Week 15

Waiver prospects are grouped by tiers based on consensus rankings and roster percentage (available in at least 60%+ leagues).

Tier 1: Priority Pickups

• Jalen Wright (RB, Miami) – 96% available
  • Massive opportunity if Devon Achane misses time; explosive and fits the offense. But may split with Ollie Gordon if Achane plays.
    • "Jalen Wright...could be one of these guys that you're wishing you picked up. Even though Devon Achane said he was healthy and it's a Monday night game so you want to have the insurance." – Alfredo [12:53]
    • "This was the Jalen Wright show. He completely took off..." – Dave [13:26]
• Luther Burden (WR, Chicago) – 63% available
  • Saw a significant snap increase due to Roma Odunze injury; top-36 WR two of last three weeks. Bears offense still “not pretty.”
    • “I think Roma Odunze might miss another week, maybe even a couple more weeks...the only way for Luther Burden's foot to heal up is to take some time to rest it...” – Dave [16:36]
    • DJ Moore vs Luther Burden: “Looks like I have Luther Burden ahead of DJ Moore...Not a good season for DJ Moore drafters.” – Dave [18:05]

Tier 2: Viable Week Starters/Streamers

• Isaiah Likely (TE, Baltimore) – 87% available

  • Quality matchup against Cincinnati (most fantasy points allowed to TEs), multiple usable weeks; risky ROS.
    • “If he does well in this matchup, you could bench in the next week and then put him back...” – Dave [20:08]

• Jack Besh (WR, Raiders) – 95% available

  • Snap spike, target leader last week, but crowded/ineffective offense; more a desperation/deep-league play.

• Darius Slayton (WR, Giants)

  • Known commodity: boom/bust WR3/flex with decent schedule; possibly higher weekly ceiling than Besh but both are thin starts.

Tier 3: Deep Plays / Handcuff Bench Stashes

• Dylan Sampson (RB, Browns) – 88% available
  • Receiving upside in negative scripts; younger, big-play potential but only a deep league desperation start.
• Samaje Perine (RB, Bengals) – 88% available
  • Safe handcuff with “garage-door” (limited upside) running style but useful if injuries hit; likely the first-in if starter is out. Good goal-line/third down profile.

Tier 4: Extreme Depth

• Ryan Flournoy (WR, Cowboys), Jalen Coker (WR, Panthers)
  • Flournoy only relevant if CeeDee is out; Coker is a “seven WR lineup” desperation start in a brutal Carolina passing game.
  • “This is the Jeff Bell tier because I know he loves both of these guys…” – Alfredo [33:43]
  • If you’re adding from here: “...you might be trending towards a first-round exit.” – Dave [35:18]

5. [35:30+] Sneaky Strategies – Defense & ROS Play

Streaming and Stashing Defenses

• Approach: At this stage, benches should be mostly “injury-away RBs” plus defenses. Stash defenses NOW for future matchups to avoid waivers/week-of scrambles.

  • “If you have one of those plug-and-play defenses…try to find where that weak spot is and see if you can get a better streamer for each of these next three weeks.” – Dave [38:49]

• Streaming D Picks:

  • 49ers (Titans, then Colts in Week 16; preferred for two-week use)
  • Jaguars (Jets)
  • Bears (vs Browns; cautious optimism despite Browns’ recent big week)

• Stash for Week 16:

  • Saints (Jets in W16)
  • Cardinals (Falcons)
  • Giants (Vikings)
  • Cowboys (Chargers, then Commanders)

• Don’t be afraid to carry multiple DSTs & get ahead for playoff rounds.

6. [41:43] “Start Your Studs” vs. Hot Hands (Playoff Philosophy)

• Now is the time to play players with the best current form and matchups—not simply the most drafted/star names.
  • “Don’t be afraid to bench Justin Jefferson for a Michael Wilson or a Christian Watson...You’ve got to play who’s playing well and who has good matchups right now.” – Dave [41:14]

7. [43:00+] NFL Realities, Injuries & Tanking Talk

• Extended conversation about Jaden Daniels, Commanders, and the risk/reward of playing injured franchise QBs when the season is lost.
• “Just shut him down. This is your franchise quarterback. Turn your sights to 2026. It’s okay.”—Dave [43:31]
• Comic riff: “Meanwhile, Kyler Murray’s flopped down in a bean bag chair somewhere just playing Modern Warfare.” – Dave [44:08]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On backup RB strategy: “Find someone that loves you as much as Dave Kluge loves backup running backs…” – Alfredo [06:26]
• On playoff benches: “My entire bench is going to be injury-away running backs, defenses and special teams. That’s all I really care about at this point.” – Dave [35:51]
• On the late-stage waiver wire: “We know like the Slayton thing, it’s going to be three catches for 67 yards and a touchdown or three catches for 13 yards and nothing like. Right. We kind of get it.” – Alfredo [27:59]
• Philip Rivers Marvel joke: “Can you guess how many Marvel movies have been released since Philip Rivers last played?” – Alfredo [09:26]
• On playoff luck: “It takes a lot of skill to get into the fantasy playoffs. ...luck kind of takes over from here on out. So, you know, just hope for the best.” – Dave [39:08]
• On ‘start your studs’ mantra: “I don’t think that is true this time of year. ...You have to not be afraid of…making that bad call. That’s how you got here—was not doing the safe thing week in and week out.” – Alfredo [42:13]
• On oddly young grandparents: "My grandma was a grandma at like 33 years old. There's some families that start young." – Dave [45:54]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------|--------------| | Playoff Intro & Listener Banter | 03:37-04:44 | | Backup RBs to Check (Corum…Singletary) | 04:44-08:34 | | Philip Rivers “Comeback” Announcement | 08:34-11:21 | | Waiver Wire Tiers & Top Adds | 11:49-35:23 | | Deep League Desperation Tier | 33:39-35:23 | | Defense Streaming & Stashing | 35:30-40:45 | | Playoff Start/Sit Philosophy | 41:43-42:14 | | NFL Tanking/Injury Rant | 43:00-44:41 | | Breaking: Rivers Signs w/ Colts | 44:42-45:42 |

Flow & Tone

The episode is expert-level advice delivered with a strong mix of humor, pop culture, and self-deprecation. The show exemplifies Footballguys’ trademark banter—lively, relatable, and detailed—making it as fun as it is actionable for fantasy managers facing tough calls at the business end of the season.

Bottom Line for Listeners

All the key names for late-season waivers—broken down by likelihood of availability, role, and upside for your playoff push. Don't stick blindly to preseason stars. Secure insurance RBs, prioritize flexible streaming defenses, and play who is hot—luck and opportunism now outweigh season-long dogma. And if nothing else, remember to check your wire—maybe even for a 44-year-old grandpa QB or that sneaky fourth-string wideout.