The Ringer Fantasy Football Show — Week 16 Preview

Episode: “Week 16 Preview: Tua Benched, Trevor’s Test, and the Parsons-less Packers, With Ben Solak (Plus the Tufted Titmouse)”
Date: December 19, 2025
Hosts: Danny Heifetz (A), Danny Kelly (C), Special Guest Ben Solak (B; sitting in for Craig Horlbeck)

Overview

This Week 16 episode features the Ringer crew’s deep dive into the state of the NFL and fantasy football heading into a critical playoff week. Major themes include Tua Tagovailoa’s benching and his future in Miami, an honest evaluation of Trevor Lawrence as he faces a big test, the state of the Packers minus Micah Parsons, and a colorful detour into birdwatching and funny fantasy punishments. Ben Solak returns as guest and brings sharp analysis (and Tufted Titmouse facts), while the regulars trade insights and jabs with their signature irreverence.

1. Tua Time Ended: Miami’s Dilemma at QB

Timestamps: [04:31] – [12:19]

Discussion Points:

• Tua Tagovailoa’s Benching: All agree it’s been a steady decline; the offense is no longer able to prop up his limitations.
  • “Tua is bad. ...He is worse than he was three years ago in terms of his play in a vacuum, but also a lot of it is like, in 2022 and 2023, nobody had answers to what Mike McDaniel was doing.” — Ben Solak [04:31]
• Offensive System Limits: Countermeasures against Miami’s scheme mean Tua needs to elevate team, but he can’t.
• Locker Room/Leadership Issues: Observations of Tua’s odd sideline demeanor; leadership just not “right.”
  • “Every time you see him during blowouts on the sideline, he’s like chuckling…demeanor’s all off.” — Danny Kelly [07:12]
• What Now for Miami? Three options: “Russell Wilson” him (cut, eat cap), “Kirk Cousins” him (keep expensive backup), or “Brock Osweiler” him (trade with a pick attached).
  • “I don’t see the benefit of cutting him. You might as well keep him.” — Heifetz [10:04]
  • “We’ll know what they're going to do once we actually know what's going to happen to McDaniel…” — Solak [11:14]
• Most Likely Solution: Retain as high-priced backup; NFL world now more accepting of expensive backup QBs post-Cousins.

Memorable Moment:

• Speculation on “taking a hundred million dollars of dead cap and splitting it” or even a Brock Osweiler-style pick-swap deal.

2. Trevor’s Big Test: Lawrence vs. Broncos

Timestamps: [14:32] – [22:19]

Discussion Points:

• Trevor Lawrence’s Recent Success: A string of strong games, but mostly vs. weak teams.
• Does It Mean He’s Elite? This Denver matchup is the real test: Is he ascending, or feasting on bad defenses?
• Lawrence’s Volatility: Style produces wild swings—“He vacillates,” says Solak, comparing him to Baker Mayfield’s ‘just rips it’ balls.
  • “He’s 100% capable… but the way Lawrence succeeds is inherently a volatile way of doing it.” — Solak [15:33]
• Jacoby Myers’ Impact: Both Solak and DK highlight how much Myer’s arrival stabilized Lawrence and the offense.
  • “Having a receiver that's where he's supposed to be when he's supposed to be there…pulls the room together.” — Kelly [18:43]
  • “Trevor Lawrence's EPA per dropback with Jacoby Myers on the field would lead the entire league…” — Heifetz citing Steven Ruiz [21:01]
• Big Picture: Myers as unsung hero; Lawrence is still erratic, but more functional with “missionary” reliability in receiver room.

Notable Quote:

• “Jacoby Myers is both proof that on/off splits don’t matter, and also that he’s the greatest player in the world.” — Solak [21:22]

3. Packers–Bears: Parsons-less Defense and the Playoff Picture

Timestamps: [22:36] – [29:38]

Discussion Points:

• Packers Injuries: Losing Micah Parsons to a random tornado event (!), key safety Evan Williams, and others.
• Who’s Actually Better Now? Debating whether the hobbled Pack can stay ahead of the plucky Bears.
  • “I think the Bears might throw the ball 13 times and run it 45…”—Solak [24:28]
• Packers Offense, Defensive Identity: Repeated frustration that LaFleur never lets the offense be aggressive for more than one game.
  • “Every time I find myself saying that, I find myself believing it less and less.” — Solak [25:55]

Notable Banter:

• “Do you believe in love?” [music] — Recurring in-joke riffed by all [26:03-26:24]
• Minor “hipster take” about Evan Williams’ absence mattering as much as Parsons’—Heifetz

Fantasy Impact:

• Olamide Zaccheaus as “the most disgusting but playable plug-in” at WR this week [28:27]

4. Eagles Check-In: OC Woes, Hurts’ Limits, and Philly’s Path

Timestamps: [39:38] – [36:41]

Discussion Points:

• Eagles Rout the Raiders, But… Heifetz declares it means little; the core issues remain with Nick Sirianni’s staff choices.
  • “Every time Nick Sirianni gets to hire the offensive coordinator, it’s a mess.” — Heifetz [30:35]
• Jalen Hurts: System QB? DK vents about no longer needing to ‘defend’ Hurts. Solak: nearly all QBs are “slaves to their environment.”
  • “Jalen looked better than he actually is last year because context was good.” — Solak [34:07]
• Will the Tush Push Be Banned? Lively (and mocking) discussion of the Eagles’ signature sneak and its outsized impact on NFL offseason chatter.
  • “It always becomes an item of discussion…like in the second week of May.” — Solak [31:24]

Memorable Moment:

• Solak’s prediction: Kevin Stefanski (current Browns coach, Philly native) will be next Eagles OC.

5. Broncos Check-In: Can Bo Nix Actually Ball?

Timestamps: [35:07] – [37:30]

Discussion Points:

• Bo Nix’s Rookie Report: Solak acknowledges steady, starter-level play, with big arm, but deep-ball inaccuracy remains.
  • “Bonix is like a fine rookie starting quarterback…You can get starting caliber play out of the guy.” — Solak [35:19]
• Game Logics: Accuracy issues can swing games; current structure is fine as long as he’s cheap.

6. 49ers at Colts: The Philip Rivers Dad-Curse Detour

Timestamps: [38:11] – [41:08]

Discussion Points:

• Philip Rivers Cameo: Amused at his return; much laughter about his clean-mouthed trash talk.
  • “It aggravates the stew out of me.” — Solak, quoting Rivers [39:54]
• Generational QB Shifts: Jay Cutler, Jake Plummer, and QBs who ‘never really had the bug.’

7. Fantasy Football League Punishments: Innovation & Jokes

Timestamps: [42:12] – [46:47]

Discussion Points:

• Customized Punishment Draft: Each league member drafts their own punishment to ensure “doable” challenges.
• Classic Reward/Punishment Humor: Headband-on-air for Sean Fennessey, matcha ban for Craig.
• Tweaks for Craig: Collective wisdom—his punishment needs to be funnier and possibly more about drinking gross black coffee instead of skipping matcha.
  • “We should do something to his tummy that’s integral. The large black coffee is good.” — Solak [45:09]
• Delegation to Significant Others: Solak suggests, “consult Liz, she’ll know where it hurts.” [46:31]

8. Bird Talk: The Tufted Titmouse

Timestamps: [47:18] – [49:01]

Heartwarming Detour:

• DK reveals his son has memorized ~200 bird cards. Solak and DK bond over birds and feeders.
  • “If you hear the call, Peter, Peter, Peter, Peter, Peter. That’s the tufted titmouse call.” — Solak [48:51]

9. Quick Hit Game Previews & Fantasy Calls

Timestamps: [51:53] – [79:51]

Brief Notes:

• Bucs at Panthers: Bucs getting healthy, have dominated series; likely to clinch ugly NFC South. [53:08]
• Steelers at Lions: Contrast of styles; Lions sexier, Steelers more rugged but go “three and out” 41% of drives. T.J. Watt’s weird injury discussed. [54:22]
• Patriots at Ravens: Ongoing skepticism with Baltimore’s health/identity; Heifetz argues their guards are experiments gone wrong. Pats might just “out-winner” the “loser-leaning” Ravens. [56:15–61:49]
• Fantasy Sit/Start Nuggets:
  • Ashton Jeanty possibly benchable; Raiders offense comically bad. [63:42]
  • Texans D highly recommended.
  • Vikings (J.J. McCarthy) to steamroll the Giants’ rotten D; Jefferson a must-start. [71:40]
  • Chiefs (with Minshew) offense is a full fade, outside of Kelce, if Rashee Rice is out. [69:18]
  • Elaborate breakdown of low-end options (Zaccheaus, Michael Carter, etc.) as desperation Week 16 plug-ins.
  • Classic moment: “This week, you’ll know you’re a fantasy manager if you start Olamide Zaccheaus and he gets you 14 points.” — Kelly [29:07]

10. Ringer 107 Picks: The Contest

Timestamps: [79:51] – [83:43]

Consensus Picks:

• Patriots +3 vs. Ravens
• Niners –7 vs. Colts (“Brock Purdy over 44-year-old Rivers”)
• Bengals –4.5 vs. Dolphins (“Joe Burrow vs. Quinn Ewers”)
• Bills –10.5 vs. Browns
• Bucs –3 vs. Panthers
• Vikings –2.5 vs. Giants

11. Miscellany: Outro Banter

Timestamps: [83:44] – end

• Listeners are reminded to email ringerfantasyfootball@gmail.com with Craig punishment ideas, lines, and feedback.
• Invitation to join the Discord community.
• Free-ranging conversation about band loyalty vs. casual music fandom, and punk rock’s eternal angst (“When was the last time the world wasn’t falling apart?” — referencing Blood Diamond).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Tua is bad…in a vacuum, but also a lot of it is like, in 2022 and 2023, nobody had answers to what Mike McDaniel was doing.” — Ben Solak [04:31]
• “You believe in love? I believe in love…” [singing, recurring joke] [26:03–26:24]
• “Jacoby Myers is both simultaneously proof that like on off splits are terrible in the NFL…and also proof that he’s the greatest player in the world.” — Solak [21:22]
• “It aggravates the stew out of me.” — Philip Rivers (via Solak) [39:54]
• “We should do something to his tummy that’s integral. The large black coffee is good.” — Solak (on Craig’s punishment) [45:09]
• “If you hear the call—Peter, Peter, Peter, Peter, Peter—that’s the tufted titmouse.” — Solak [48:51]
• “You know you’re a real fantasy manager if you start Olamide Zaccheaus and he gets you 14 points…” — Kelly [29:07]
• “When’s the last time the world wasn’t falling apart?” — Blood Diamond reference [86:59]

Episode Structure Recap

1. Opening Banter & Setup: [00:19–04:31]
2. Tua & Dolphins Future: [04:31–12:19]
3. Lawrence, Jaguars, and Jacoby Myers: [14:32–22:19]
4. Packers–Bears & Defensive Injuries: [22:36–29:38]
5. Fantasy Low-End Plug-Ins: [28:27–29:38]
6. Eagles Watch: [39:38–36:41]
7. Broncos/Bo Nix: [35:07–37:30]
8. 49ers & Philip Rivers: [38:11–41:08]
9. Fantasy Punishment Draft: [42:12–46:47]
10. Birdwatching & Parental Life: [47:18–49:01]
11. Game Previews & Fantasy Advice: [51:53–79:51]
12. Ringer 107 Picks: [79:51–83:43]
13. Outro Banter: [83:44–end]

If you missed the episode, this summary provides you with all the sharpest takes, funniest moments, and actionable advice for the make-or-break Week 16 of your fantasy league—and maybe a new appreciation for the tufted titmouse.