The Ringer Fantasy Football Show

Episode: Week 3 Recap – Philly’s Block, Cleveland Shock, Caleb Crushes Cowboys, Undefeated Colts, and Sit Down Jason Garrett
Hosts: Danny Heifetz, Danny Kelly, Craig Horlbeck
Date: September 22, 2025

Overview

This Week 3 Recap episode dives into the NFL’s chaos-filled Sunday, focusing on wild finishes, fantasy fallout, and hard truths for teams and managers. Heifetz, Kelly, and Horlbeck break down the Giants-Chiefs prime time slog, historic special teams performances, shaky quarterback play from former darlings, the Colts’ transformation under Daniel Jones, Caleb Williams’ emergence, and more. The show’s tone is irreverent, passionate, and biting as they oscillate between fandom agony and sharp football insight.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sunday Night Football – Giants vs. Chiefs: Russ’s Rock Bottom

Timestamps: 01:13–11:56

• Russell Wilson’s meltdown:

  • The Giants’ game was described as "an abomination" and possibly Wilson’s last competent NFL outing.
  • Four-play goal-line sequence: Wilson throws three out-of-bounds passes with no real attempt to make a play.
    • Quote: "That was the worst I’ve ever seen... What is the point of having a veteran quarterback?" — Heifetz (04:08)
  • Greg jokes: "He was just doing crossbar drills, man." (04:04)
  • The only joy for Giants fans this year is rookie RB Cam Scadaboo:
    • "Scadaboo had more yards than the rest of the Giants with 10 minutes left in the game." — Heifetz (05:02)
  • Blake Neighbors lost in the shuffle; team building and Dable’s situational decisions are under fire.

• Mahomes’ heroics and fumbles:

  • Mahomes pulled off a fumble recovery on a broken play, reminiscent of Andrew Luck.
    • Quote: "Mahomes screamed out of nowhere, just took the ball away from the Giants. It was like something you imagine doing as a kid..." — Heifetz (09:05)
  • Chiefs offense looked rough overall, but avoided an 0-3 start.

2. Special Teams – A Wrecking Ball Sunday

Timestamps: 12:15–15:12

• A historic day for blocks and returns:
  • Multiple games ended or swung on blocked field goals or punts (Browns, Eagles, Jets, Seahawks).
  • Quote: "This was an all-time special teams day. Never seen anything like it." — Kelly (12:25)
  • Eagles’ DT Jordan Davis blocks and returns a Rams kick for a game-winning TD.
  • Jets and Seahawks also return blocked kicks for TDs within minutes of one another.
  • Theories abound for why this is happening more frequently (rules, athlete specialization, formations, etc.).

3. Philly’s Comeback & The Rams Collapse

Timestamps: 15:13–24:54

• Eagles’ second-half surge:
  • Overcome a 19-point second-half deficit (first since DeSean Jackson’s Miracle at the Meadowlands).
  • A.J. Brown dominates after halftime; Hurts erupts for 200+ passing yards, 3 TDs in second half.
  • "Eagles should start every game down 20." — Horlbeck (17:24)
  • Lane Johnson's absence derailed the Eagles' offense for six drives, then Fred Johnson’s insertion flipped the switch.
  • Eagles’ defense blocks both Rams’ late drives to seal the win.
• Personality watch:
  • Jalen Hurts is psycho-stoic on the sideline during the winning kick, prompting lighthearted debate:
    • "He needs to enjoy life a little more." — Kelly (24:37)
    • "He's him, though, he’s sold his soul for whatever." — Heifetz (24:41)
• Eagles fans should be encouraged by the offensive explosion after a tepid September.

4. Caleb Williams & Bears Offense – Highs and Shrugs

Timestamps: 25:30–31:13

• Caleb Williams dominates a crumbling Cowboys defense:
  • Resounding stat line: 300 yards, 4 TDs, no sacks — but Cowboys D is “the worst in the NFL.”
  • Craig’s “Is the stripper into me, or is this just her job?” analogy questions the quality of Caleb's opposition and how much we should buy the hype.
    • "She just happens to be great at her job...but she likes you." — Heifetz (27:13)
  • Ben Johnson’s scheming is lauded for getting weapons open.
  • Williams’ tangible growth as a rookie, but bigger judgment reserved until he faces better opposition.

5. The Colts Go Nuclear

Timestamps: 42:29–50:03

• Daniel Jones, Jonathan Taylor, and the Shane Steichen Offense:
  • Colts and Jones compared to 2007 Patriots for offensive efficiency ("punted less than five times in three games; only the 2007 Pats did that").
  • Quote: "It’s the 2007 Patriots and the 2025 Colts. That's the level of offensive destruction." — Heifetz (43:14)
  • Jonathan Taylor is (back to) elite — first in rushing, after-contact yards, scrimmage, and TDs, per Kelly.
  • Daniel Jones lauded for quick-release, low-sack rate, but injury risks from his running style linger.
  • Titans called out for atrocious vibes: "They didn't want to play today." — Michael Pittman Jr. (51:08)
  • Brian Callahan lambasted for clock mismanagement before halftime (52:17): "One of the worst coaching things I’ve seen all year." — Heifetz

6. Losers: The Texans & Trevor Lawrence Era of Excuses

Timestamps: 33:00–42:24

• Texans & Jags offenses – Beyond concerning:
  • Stroud and Trevor Lawrence compared unfavorably to backup QBs; neither team can string together offense.
  • "The Texans are the only team the last 20 seasons to start 0-3 despite giving up fewer than 55 points." — Kelly citing Dante Koplowitz-Fleming (34:57)
  • Both QBs are among bottom 3 in EPA/play since 2024 (along with Joe Flacco).
• Lawrence’s flaws:
  • Accuracy, hospital balls, and endless drops plague the Jags. Five more drops in this game.
  • Quote: "He’s big, athletic, but not accurate. That’s why everyone makes the hospital ball jokes." — Horlbeck (39:31)
• Travis Hunter fantasy update:
  • Disappointment on both sides of the ball — limited targets, invisible usage.

7. Cleveland Browns – Defensive Wagon Returns

Timestamps: 55:38–60:06

• Browns snatch a win from the Packers (13–10) with a blocked FG and a redemption arc for embattled kicker Andre Szmyt.
  • Quote: "For him to do that after losing his mother and all the jokes about his name? That's awesome." — Heifetz (59:06)
• Defense first in sack rate, first downs allowed, and more. Mason Graham (rookie DT) highlighted for major impact.
  • "Cleveland is allowing 19 yards per drive, best in the league." — Austin via DK (59:53)

8. Raiders, Falcons, and Other Miscellany

Timestamps: 60:12–79:43

• Raiders offense a mess; Genti and Bowers can’t overcome OL woes.
• Falcons and Michael Penix Jr. reach ‘Do Not Start’ status: "Goose egg against Carolina – that's a shart." — Kelly (77:55)
• "Michael Penix is 0-4 when the other team scores 7 points." (79:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• "What is the point of having a veteran quarterback if he has no situational awareness?" — Heifetz (04:08)
• "This was an all-time special teams day. Never seen anything like it." — Kelly (12:25)
• "Mahomes just took the ball away from the Giants. It was like what you imagine as a kid." — Heifetz (09:05)
• "Eagles need to start every game like they're down 20." — Horlbeck (17:24)
• "She just happens to be great at her job...but she likes you." [On doubts about Caleb Williams’ breakout] — Heifetz (27:13)
• "Colts and Daniel Jones – that’s the 2007 Patriots level of destruction." — Heifetz (43:14)
• "It’s the only thing we have to do — build Stonehenge. I feel like we could figure that out." — Heifetz, tangent (113:12)
• "Cleveland is allowing 19 yards per drive, best in the league." — Kelly relaying Austin's stat (59:53)
• "Andre Szmyt missed after his mom died, everyone called him 'Andre shit', and now he hits the game-winner." — Heifetz (59:06)

Fantasy Awards, Debates & Segments

Fart or Shart – Panic Button Edition

Timestamps: 71:49–79:52

• Marvin Harrison Jr. drops: Is it a blip (fart) or fundamental issue (shart)?
  Kelly: Fart. "He’s still gonna be fine." Heifetz/Horlbeck: For his draft capital, it’s a shart.
• Michael Penix Jr.: Reinforced shart — last in EPA from a clean pocket.

Burn Book

Timestamps: 106:02–109:16

• Mark Andrews, Jalen Waddle, and now—Isaiah Pacheco:
  • "If you're 1–2 or 1–3, we can't recommend playing him. He's burn book’d." — Heifetz (109:11)

Quick-Hit Timestamps for Major Segments

• 01:13 — Giants/Chiefs and Russ’s disaster
• 12:15 — Special teams chaos
• 15:13 — Eagles/Rams comeback
• 25:30 — Caleb Williams v. Cowboys
• 33:00 — Texans/Jags misery
• 42:29 — Colts offensive rampage
• 55:38 — Browns defensive dominance
• 71:49 — Fart or Shart: Marvin Harrison Jr.
• 77:00 — Fart or Shart: Michael Penix Jr.
• 106:02 — Burn Book: Isaiah Pacheco
• 114:00–120:35 — Off-rails tangents (Stonehenge, LeBron-as-javelin thrower, human evolution)

Tone & Language

• Candid, sarcastic, and often exasperated—especially in the face of coaching incompetence and fantasy chicanery.
• The show is equal parts smart analysis, comedic despair, and wildly off-track late-night energy.

Other Memorable Tangents

• Long riffs on evolution, toilets, and standing up ("I think we haven't been bipedal long enough to not feel weird about it." — Heifetz, 98:03)
• Deep-dive into the trivia of Jerry Rice longevity and dominance (89:12–91:26)
• Jason Garrett’s halftime show presence vigorously mocked.
• "Sit down, Jason Garrett!" – recurring, encapsulating how fans should treat stale TV coverage.

Summary Takeaway

This podcast was a brisk, funny, and bracing look at how quickly fortunes can turn—for NFL teams and fantasy rosters alike. Through a haze of block kicks, QB implosions, rookie letdowns, and offensive geniuses, the hosts tell you who to trust, who to bench, and who to laugh at—providing the perfect weekly therapy and insight for obsessive fantasy football players.

Want to suggest a burn book entry, weigh in on Fart or Shart, or explain the origins of toilet paper? Email ringerfantasyfootball@gmail.com.