The Ringer Fantasy Football Show — Week 15 Preview

Episode: Grandpa Rivers, Drake and Josh, Sad Burrow, Hobbled Herbert, and the Kenny Pickett Revenge Game
Date: December 12, 2025
Hosts: Danny Heifetz (A), Danny Kelly (B), Craig Horlbeck (C)

Episode Overview

This week’s episode is all about navigating Week 15—fantasy football’s first playoff week in most leagues. The trio dig into the most compelling games, fantasy-relevant news, and impossible lineup choices, all under the darkly comic mood of a season marred by injuries, washed legends, and quarterback desperation. Themes include: old quarterbacks making unlikely starts (hello, Philip Rivers), the realness of Drake May’s MVP candidacy, Josh Allen vs. the world, decimated offenses, and the emotional toll of surviving advanced rounds of fantasy under these wild circumstances.

Main Topics & Key Insights

1. Bills at Patriots: The AFC East, MVP Race, and the “Drake May Realness” Debate

• High-stakes matchup: Winner likely determines the AFC East. “This is probably going to be, narrative wise, a big game for the MVP race. Josh Allen versus Drake May, both of whom are playing incredibly right now.” (B, 03:33)
• Despite the Pats being 11–2, they’re still underdogs. All hosts, despite building up New England’s resume, ultimately pick Buffalo ("I just think Buffalo will win this game. But… Drake May for the MVP…” A, 04:31).
• Drake May for MVP?
  • May’s deep passing and insane completion % (71%) highlighted. “Drake May is going to have like the sixth best completion percentage ever… But he’s throwing passes further than every quarterback downfield… except Jalen Hurts...” (A, 05:24)
  • He leads the NFL in numerous efficiency stats, yet Danny Kelly still leans Allen: “Efficiency is cool, but Josh Allen has 34 touchdowns… Josh Allen leads all quarterbacks in rushing and rushing touchdowns. He's third in the NFL in rushing touchdowns.” (B, 09:20)
  • All three hosts admit unconscious bias—reluctance to crown new stars due to lack of NFL resume, with May’s "rookie-ness" held against him.
  • Quote: “There’s a boomerness to me that the MVP needs to be earned. Matt Stafford has been grinding for 17 years… Drake May has played 20 football [games].” (C, 07:41)
• Fantasy Angle: Stefan Diggs is a must-start in revenge games; both Patriots backs (Henderson & Ramondre) likely to split—start if desperate but ceiling is capped.
  • “I think you have to play Trayvon Henderson just because that’s the way the Patriots are going to try to win this game is the running game because that is the weakness of the Bill’s defense.” (A, 14:16)

2. Ravens at Bengals: Lamar's “Bounce Back” & “Sad Burrow” Press Conference

• Ravens desperate; Bengals adrift: “Bengals are cooked and dead and I don’t know if T. Higgins is going to play and the Ravens are desperate and Cincinnati has the worst defense…” (C, 15:57)
• Focus on Burrow’s dispirited mood and media speculation about his future:
  • “Obviously, the first thing you think of is the Andrew Luck situation, where he just stopped loving football and decided to retire and live his life.” (B, 17:22)
  • Heifetz points out the Bengals front office has actually modernized and paid their guys.
• Fantasy Play:
  • Obvious starts: Joe Burrow, Jamar Chase, Chase Brown, Lamar, Derrick Henry.
  • Zay Flowers is risky vs. Bengals' ascendant shadow coverage; Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews suggested as sneaky starts against a defense that “allows the most targets, catches, yards, touchdowns, and fantasy points to tight ends.” (A, 23:42)
  • “The Bengals this year have allowed 1,258 yards to tight ends. That is already the most in the NFL since 2015. There’s a month to go!” (C, 24:03)

3. Chiefs at Chargers: “Hobbled Herbert” and the Chiefs’ Playoff Hopes

• Massive injury attrition: Both teams down to backup linemen; Herbert and Mahomes are top 3 in QB rushing this year (“because they’re running for their goddamn lives.” C, 33:26).
• Despite dire straits, if Chiefs win, “they have a very viable path to make the playoffs. And frankly, I think all of us got out over our goddamn skis last week, including myself.” (A, 25:58)
• RB situation for Chargers is a true split. Jim Harbaugh on carries: “Because I’m not a prognosticator. I’m not a seer of the future.” (Harbaugh, quoted by A, 31:10)
• Fantasy:
  • Play K.C.'s Rashee Rice and Kelce and… that’s it. For Chargers, it's dicey with Lad McConkey due to injury; others are benchable unless desperate.
  • “Well, the running back… I think Kimani Vidal is more likely to get double digits without a touchdown… Amirian Hampton’s more likely to play inside the 10. So like, you’re fucked if you have them.” (A, 32:05)

4. Quarterbacks Causing Chaos: Grandpa Rivers, Kenny Pickett, and More

• PHILIP RIVERS' RETURN:
  • Rivers, age 44, possibly starting for the Colts in a playoff game against the Seahawks (“This is like my grandpa working Apple TV…” C, 67:19).
  • Split between comic horror and nostalgia: “It’s like, should Phil. Should we actually be allowed?” (A, 65:44)
  • Betting lines and confidence reflect skepticism; fantasy-wise, Colts pass-catchers are untouchable, even Michael Pittman: “How could you have less confidence playing somebody in fantasy…” (A, 73:28)
• KENNY PICKETT “Revenge Game”:
  • Raiders QB faces old team, the Eagles—raucous speculation about how few points the Raiders will score (“What is the highest number you’d feel comfortable saying the Raiders score? Three.” C, 42:35)

5. Late Window: Rams-Lions Shootout & High Drama

• Ringer hosts giddy about a potential Stafford vs Goff “revenge family dinner” shootout.
  • “Jared Goff… still seethes with anger at McVay. But they still go to dinner… one of the four is fucking pissed.” (A, 59:50)
  • Both teams' defensive backfields depleted; Amon-Ra, Jameson Williams, Puka, and Kupp are all major fantasy green lights. “I think this game is going to have like 70 points.” (A, 60:38)
  • Hot debate and “name game” on whether to start Montgomery or Blake Corum, among others (63:05).

6. QB Roller Coaster: Jets, Giants, Commanders, and Trevor Lawrence

• Trek into Jets QB hell: “35-year-old hobbled with a groin injury, a rushing quarterback who won’t be able to run or an undrafted free agent Brady Cook, who scares you the most…” (A, 48:56)
• Giants/Commanders battle invokes fantasy dread. Quote: “This game sucks. I’m sad about it.” (A, 54:06)
• Jags: The addition of Jacoby Myers has reinvigorated Lawrence as a reliable fantasy starter (“He is playing better. And I think that’s because Jacoby Myers is kind of laying this foundation and just kind of taking some of the heat off of Brian Thomas…” B, 47:53)

7. Fantasy Lineups: Trust, Betrayal, and Desperation

• Bear RBs preferred against Cleveland due to shifting defensive personnel.
• Eagles’ offense under a microscope: “If the Eagles don’t look good this week, I don’t know if the Eagles will look good the rest of the year.” (A, 45:19)
• Vikings-Cowboys: Only Jefferson and Aaron Jones suggested as safe plays, with strong caveats.
• Steelers-Dolphins: “Kenneth Gainwell's quietly been great. Like the last four weeks he's put up 13, 5, 15 and 26 [points].” (C, 86:35)
• “If you have to use [Giants/Commanders] for fantasy I feel bad for you.” (A, 54:06)

Notable & Memorable Quotes

• “There’s a boomerness to me that the MVP needs to be earned. Matt Stafford has been grinding for 17 years and he deserves it right now. I’m like, fucking Drake May has played 20 football [games].” (C, 07:41)
• “That’s what the money’s for, dude.” (B, 17:51) — On Joe Burrow’s moodiness despite being highly paid.
• “The Patriots are super underrated and disrespected and also we’re all picking the Bills to win.” (A, 13:01)
• “Herbert and Mahomes are having, like, 70 yards less rushing than Josh Allen this year. Pretty crazy… because they’re running for their goddamn lives.” (C, 33:26)
• “This is like my grandpa like working Apple TV 100%. You know what I mean?” (C, 67:19) — On Rivers starting
• “How could you have less confidence playing somebody in fantasy that might have to be in your lineup truly than like Michael Pittman or Alec Pierce this week?” (A, 73:28)
• “What is the highest number you would feel comfortable saying that the Raiders score? Three.” (C, 42:35)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Bills-Patriots & MVP Debate: 02:47 – 13:06
• Ravens-Bengals & Sad Burrow Segment: 15:09 – 25:31
• Chiefs-Chargers, O-line Injuries & RBs: 25:31 – 34:01
• Philip Rivers Speculation / Colts at Seahawks: 65:00 – 74:47
• Raiders at Eagles / Kenny Pickett Revenge: 41:01 – 45:53
• Rams-Lions Potential Shootout: 59:21 – 64:11
• Jets, Giants, Commanders, Jags: 46:07 – 54:43
• Packers-Broncos, Coaching Grudges: 55:14 – 59:04
• General Fantasy Lineup Struggles: Scattered throughout (see especially 73:15 – 74:47, 41:01 – 45:53)

Episode Tone & Takeaways

True to the Ringer’s signature style, the episode is irreverent, neurotic, and loaded with gallows humor. The hosts blend sharp football and fantasy analysis with meme-able banter and a fondness for unlikely comebacks and underdog stories—even the ones that seem primed to end in disaster (like Rivers’ comeback). If you’re setting your fantasy roster or chasing playoff glory, this episode is essential—especially to commiserate over how ridiculous and unpredictable this season and Week 15 have become.

• The mood: Frustrated, amused, resigned; knowledgeable yet self-mocking about the limits of fantasy advice in such a chaotic year.
• For fantasy managers: Expect the unexpected, don’t trust any backup QB, and if Philip Rivers wins in Seattle, it will be “one of the more improbable things in American sports.” (A, 68:14)

For More

• Rankings and start/sit advice: ringers fantasy football dot com.
• Participate in the Discord: Invite link in the episode description.
• Contact: ringerfantasyfootball@gmail.com