Podcast Summary:

The Herd with Colin Cowherd | FantasyPros - Week 17 Lineup Advice: Starts, Sits, Player Debates, and TD Calls (Ep. 1919)
Date: December 28, 2025
Panel: Ryan Wormley (Host), Andrew Erickson, Pat Fitzmaurice

Episode Overview

This special championship edition of the FantasyPros Football Podcast focuses on providing crucial Week 17 advice—starts, sits, and tightly contested player debates—for fantasy football players competing for their league titles. The hosts dive deep into matchup nuances, injury impacts, contract incentives, and shifting playoff motivations, helping listeners make razor-edge lineup calls. The episode includes robust debates on running backs, wide receivers, QBs, and TEs, as well as insightful discussion on playoff mentality and end-of-season chaos.

Championship Week Context & Panelist Updates

• [01:28] The hosts reflect on their fantasy league performances: Fitz is in seven finals, Wormley in two, and Erickson has one but most valued team alive.

  • Erickson (02:27): "It's the one that I care about the most. It's the one that I won last year, the biggest money league that I'm in. So hoping to repeat..."
  • Discussion acknowledges the slow-burn schedule for Week 17, with key fantasy players not settling scores until the Monday night games.

• [03:15] The importance of Monday Night’s Rams-Falcons matchup is discussed. Many notable fantasy players (Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Rams skill positions) could decide championships this year.

Waiver and Lineup Strategy for the Championship

Michael Carter as a RB2/Flex Consideration

• [05:13] Erickson and Fitz debate the merits of Michael Carter (Cardinals RB) for fantasy starts:
  • Erickson (05:13): "[Carter] is a solid RB2 flex play" due to opportunity and the Bengals’ weakness vs. RBs.
  • Fitz (06:00): Ranks Carter higher than consensus due to his matchup and the likelihood for a 13–14 touch game.

Championship Confidence “Flag Planting”: Players the Analysts Are Most Convicted About

Tony Pollard (Cowboys RB)

• Erickson (07:14): Endorses Pollard as a top-20 RB this week, citing strong recent workload, contract incentives (chasing 1,000/1,100-yard marks and touchdown bonuses), and playing a depleted Saints defense. “They’ve been feeding him a ton.”

• Fitz (09:02): Agrees, ranking Pollard RB18 for his personal rankings, and highlights the $250,000 bonus awaiting Pollard at 1,100 rushing yards.

Stefon Diggs (Patriots WR)

• Fitz (09:57): Plants his flag on Diggs, who is “going to absolutely filet the Jets defense this week.” The Jets have checked out mentally, "on a beach in Aruba or Cancun."
• Erickson (11:19): Also bullish, ranking Diggs WR16, noting both the juicy matchup and Diggs’ quest for the 1,000-yard milestone.

Key Player Debates & Advice

Each segment presents position-group matchups with player detail, including injury, matchup, and motivational context. Quotes attributed directly.

RB: Kenneth Walker vs. Kenneth Gainwell

[16:29]

• Erickson: “In terms of who has a better role... it’s got to be Kenneth Gainwell.” Points to usage, especially in the red zone and passing game.
• Fitz (19:17): “Mike Tomlin’s an old-school coach. He’s not going to lay down two weeks in a row.” Endorses Gainwell for a safe start given matchup vs. Browns’ broken run defense.

ECR: Gainwell (RB18) > Walker (RB24) → Both hosts prefer Gainwell, citing Browns’ defensive struggles.

Flex RB: Gainwell vs. Jaylen Warren

• Fitz (22:22): Slight edge to Warren for rush volume against the Browns.
• Erickson (22:33): Leans Gainwell due to Warren’s injury risk and Gainwell’s passing game upside (“double-digit targets possible”).
• Both rank Gainwell and Warren back-to-back—close call.

RB2: Breece Hall (Jets) vs. Tyrone Tracy Jr. (Giants)

[23:39]

• Erickson: Slight preference for Breece Hall (“explosive pass catcher…good matchup at home”), but notes Tracy’s steadier yardage and Hall’s capped upside due to Jets offense.
• Fitz (26:40): “I just don’t want to play Breece Hall in a championship game” given the Jets’ quarterback woes.

ECR: Tracy RB22, Hall RB27; both are flex-range, but Tracy gets more consensus love.

WR: Zay Flowers (Ravens) vs. Jalen Waddle (Dolphins)

[31:07]

• Fitz: Leans Flowers (“sturdy floor...at least five catches in 14 of 15 games”); questions Miami situation with Tua out.
• Erickson (33:00): Waddle for higher ceiling, forecasting a potential “bonkers” game due to Bucs' pass funnel defense.

ECR: Flowers WR18, Waddle WR20

WR: DJ Moore (Bears) vs. Michael Wilson (Cardinals)

[36:38]

• Fitz: Prefers Michael Wilson—“optimistic that Burrow and the Bengals can push the Cardinals into a shootout.” Bears likely avoid pass-heavy contest.
• Erickson: Leans DJ Moore, referencing the positive game script for Bears' passing game against the Niners and nervousness over Wilson’s volume with Marvin Harrison Jr. healthy.

Notable moment: Wilson’s receptions prop line at five-and-a-half shocks the panel, given target trends with/without Marvin Harrison Jr.

• Erickson (42:02): “It’s five and a half... I almost fell out of my chair.”

Rapid-Fire “Start/Sit” Decisions

• RB: Manungai (Bears) vs. Blake Corum (Rams)
  Both prefer Corum for better offense/game flow, but say it’s close.
  [44:28]

• WR: Christian Watson (Packers) vs. Chris Godwin (Bucs)
  Both lean Watson if he and Love are healthy, referencing big-play upside and Ravens' secondary vulnerability.
  [45:17]

• Flex: Hampton (Chargers) vs. Juwan Jennings (49ers)
  Both take Hampton for game environment/run volume.
  [46:44]

• RB: Jalen Warren (Steelers) vs. Tez McMillan (Panthers)
  Panel consensus: Warren, presuming injury updates stay positive.
  [48:28]

• Flex: Michael Carter (Cardinals RB) vs. Jacoby Myers (Jaguars WR)
  Fitz: Carter for floor with RB volume; Erickson: Myers for high-powered Jags offense and more balanced volume.
  [49:22]

• WR: Adonai Mitchell vs. Zach Charbonnet
  Both: Charbonnet, for goal-line TD upside.
  [52:08]

• QB: Jacoby Brissette (Cardinals) vs. Trevor Lawrence (Jags)
  Fitz: Brissette (slight edge—Bengals secondary/Trey McBride angle); Erickson: Lawrence (hot streak, indoors, high implied points)
  [52:26]

• QB: Lawrence vs. Stafford
  Both hosts worry about possible Rams rest scenarios that could sideline Stafford (see [54:31] and [56:21])

• TE: Dallas Goedert (Eagles) vs. Tyler Warren (Steelers)
  Fitz: Goedert (red-zone role, TD history, even with poor matchup); Erickson: Warren for volume with Rivers at QB, but Goddard rises if A.J. Brown (wisdom teeth) sits.
  [57:19]

Touchdown Calls (All-Star “TD Lock” Selections)

[61:03]

• RB: Erickson — Ashton Gentry (“in pursuit of 1,000 rushing yards” vs. Giants)
• WR: Fitz — Drake London (vs. Rams MNF, “trying to speak this into existence because I’m starting him in two championships”)
• TE: Wormley — Trey McBride (“no-brainer of all no-brainers” vs. Bengals' notorious TE defense)

Championship Week Pep Talk & Mindset

• [62:56] Erickson: “Stress the process...16 weeks of tilting, hey, it all pays off if you come home with that championship. So yeah, let’s go, baby.”

• [63:16] Fitz: “Best teams are not always going to win this week... if you’re playing this week, you are on the doorstep. Just keep knocking...eventually that door is going to open.”

Notable Quotes

• Fitz (09:57): “This Jets defense is already checked out. They’re on the field playing, but really in their minds, they’re on a beach in Aruba or Cancun somewhere.”
• Erickson (11:19): “Let’s get Drake May another 1,000-yard receiver. I think Diggs is going to be super motivated.”
• Fitz (16:29): “Mike Tomlin’s an old-school coach. He’s not going to lay down two weeks in a row.”
• Erickson (62:56): “Trust the process. You got here grinding 16 weeks of the season, not letting your emotions get in the way.”
• Fitz (63:16): "...just maximize your probability and, you know, just keep getting to the doorstep. And if you’re playing this week, you are on the doorstep. Just keep knocking. Eventually that door is going to open.”
• Erickson (58:27): On A.J. Brown’s wisdom teeth: “Dude, getting your wisdom teeth out before you.... Like, what are we doing here, dude? Like, how do you schedule this in the season before you have to play this, like, huge game on the road against the Buffalo Bills?”

Most Memorable Moments

• The comedic incredulity at A.J. Brown’s wisdom teeth timing.
• The robust, respectful arguments about Michael Wilson’s usage with/without Marvin Harrison Jr.
• Strategic insight about championship-week rest scenarios (Rams/Steelers).
• Fitz’s “Jets defense is on the beach” analogy and Wormley’s callback to “Any Given Sunday... or Saturday... or Thursday.”
• The hosts’ genuine energy, banter, and slight self-deprecation after long fantasy seasons.

Episode Flow & Timing Highlights

• [01:28]–[03:30]: Hosts’ personal fantasy league statuses; Week 17 schedule rundown.
• [05:13]–[07:04]: Key RB waiver/lineup advice (Michael Carter discussion).
• [07:14]–[12:27]: "Flag plant" players for Championship Week (Pollard, Diggs).
• [16:29]–[26:40]: Core start/sit and player debate segments (notably RBs and WRs).
• [31:07]–[36:38]: High-value WR debates.
• [42:51]–[55:12]: Rapid fire start/sit decisions.
• [57:19]: TE debate: Goddard vs. Warren.
• [61:03]–[61:55]: Touchdown calls.
• [62:56]–[63:58]: Championship pep talks and parting wisdom.

In Summary:
This finale delivers championship-focused advice with sharp analysis, injury/impact news, contract/motivation insight, and spirited debate. The hosts strike a balance between actionable guidance and straight-up camaraderie, making the episode a gold mine for last-minute fantasy decisions.

For dedicated episode planning: Consult timestamps and boldface sections above for segment starts and best quotes.