Fantasy Football Today - FFT Express - EARLY Week 18 Waiver Wire TARGETS! (12/29 Fantasy Football Podcast)

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Starting point is 00:00:30 You know, some trips are just better when you can really unplug. Spend time with family, see friends, or hit the course with the guys on our yearly golf trip. This year, me and the boys stayed in a home on Airbnb, which happened to be a guest favorite, and it was right on the course. We could walk straight to tee off every morning, and it was just a short stroll to the local shops, bars, and restaurants. Staying in a place on Airbnb gives you plenty of room to spread out, cozy living areas to hang out in, and all the privacy you need. somewhere like that makes everything feel more like a home that a hotel and you get a real feel for the neighborhood. I'm already planning on how to go bigger and better next year. Luckily, there's so many options to choose from on Airbnb. So whether it's family, friends, or golf getaway, my

Starting point is 00:01:16 biggest tip is to check out Airbnb, check out their guest favorites, which are the most loved homes on Airbnb, and you'll be amazed at what you find. If you're playing into week 18, good for you. You're a Brave soul. We've got your waiver wire advice right now. This is Fantasy Football Today Express, Adam Azer and Jamie Eisenberg. Before we get into the waiver wire, what a game last night. Woo! That was fun, huh? It was fun. It was great to see Brock Purdy have another solid, amazing game. For anybody that listened to us on Sunday, you know, I was very high on Jake Tongis,

Starting point is 00:01:56 and he came through with a great game. Amazing to see Caleb Williams have another great game. Amazing to see Luther Burden look like the potential star that he could be, and the same with Colston Loveland. So Bears had themselves a very nice offense, not just for this season, but also for the years to come. Juan Jennings scores another touchdown. Christian McCaffrey was another good game.

Starting point is 00:02:14 DeAndre Swift, Monster game. So it was great to see a lot of the guys that either we've been talking about for the entirety of the season or recommending for the championship week come through. So that was fun. And Luther Burden could be someone you're picking up. Now we hope he plays. is he's 34% rostered. He faces Detroit who gives up the second most fantasy points to wide receivers.

Starting point is 00:02:34 So we'll talk about wide receivers to pick up. I'm sure Burden will be a name to know. Just he did hurt his quad and apparently minor injury, but hopefully he's back for week 18. So which teams are you most concerned about resting players in week 18? So really, I think at this point, you can only focus on the playoff teams because we don't know what the non-playoff teams are going to do. We'll hopefully get some updates throughout the week.

Starting point is 00:02:55 But I think anybody that has lingering injuries, For example, I'd be surprised if Javante Williams plays dealing with the shoulder injury. I'd be surprised if Harold Fannin plays dealing with the groin injury, you know, things of that nature. So expect those guys to probably sit. I think the two that you have to be the most concerned about right now would be the Packers in the NFC and the Bills in the AFC. And so for the Packers, they're locked into the seven seed. Obviously dealing with a lot of injuries right now. So my guess is Josh Jacobs probably will not play.

Starting point is 00:03:24 Jordan Love, if he clears the concussion protocol, if he plays, he probably won't play much. If you're counting on Malik Willis for another week, who knows if they run him out there because of the shoulder injury, you know, just wanting to make sure he's okay. So a lot of moving parts with the Packers for the Bills with Josh Allen dealing with the foot injury. Will he play? Buffalo can still conceivably get to the five seed, which is important in the AFC because then you're playing the winner of the AFC North, which I think is the easiest opponent, at least of the remaining playoff teams. I don't know about that. You want to go face Lamar Jackson, if we do? Well, I mean, if your choices are to go play Lamar Jackson and what that team has looked like for the majority of the second half or the Steelers right now, would you rather do that or would you rather go play New England or Denver or Jacksonville or one of those teams, depending on who gets to.

Starting point is 00:04:14 I think I'd rather play Jacksonville, but it's really worth debating, but I'd much rather play the Steelers than the Ravens. So if I'm a Buffalo or any, if I'm a wildcard team has a chance at the five seed, I'm definitely rooting for the Steelers personally. think that's the smart play but you know prior to uh week 17 when they didn't have their best receiver they did look like a very strong team recently because of how they've been performing i mean beating baltimore the way they did they beat miami you know they just looked like a much better team one in detroit it won in detroit was very impressive winning in detroit yeah all right yeah okay so we'll keep an eye on it throughout the week it's going to be the major storyline for week 18 and let's talk about waiver wire quarterback should be like so i i kind of wrote the column the same way we always do i don't

Starting point is 00:04:58 a shortchange anybody playing in week 18. I did a poll on Twitter, by the way, or X of who still plays in week 18. I think of like 2,000 votes. We had like 7 or 8 percent of people still say they play in week 18. I got some comments say that they have two week championships that go into week 18. So there are some people clearly that are still paying attention for what that's worth. Tyler Suck has got to be number one. Just the way that he's performed. It's funny because six of his last seven games, he's been 19 fantasy points or more. The one game where he was under that total was against Atlanta. I don't think anybody fears the Falcons right now, or at least they shouldn't. Again, we'll see what happens Monday night.

Starting point is 00:05:29 But Shuck, to me, as a top 12 quarterback, you know I liked him as a top 12 quarterback going into the matchup against the Titans. I think he finishes the year strong. By the way, he's now the betting favorite to be rookie of the year. So a strong finish for him, offensive rookie the year, at least. Next would be Bryce Young, who was absolutely miserable against Seattle, understandably so, but only 54 passing yards did have a rushing touchdown. He gets a rematch against Tampa Bay.

Starting point is 00:05:50 Last time we saw him against Tampa Bay, week 16, 21 fantasy points. So we know what Tampa Bay's past defense has been like. It's now six games in a row. I'm sorry, eight quarterbacks in a row, excuse me, eight in a row. 19.8 fantasy points or more that they've allowed. So it could be another good game for Bryce Young if you're stuck. And then I don't like the matchup, but I like the way that he's playing. Cam Ward, 19% rostered since facing Jacksonville in week 13, where he only scored 6.3 fantasy points.

Starting point is 00:06:17 Four straight games with two touchdowns, three in a row of 19 fantasy points or more. My guess would be if Jacksonville is locked into a wildcard spot and they're winning the game. game. They probably start to pull some guys, especially after losing a couple of defenders recently. So maybe Cam Ward in the fourth quarter can compile some stats. But just the way these play lately, I think you've got to give him some credit. He's really finished this season much stronger than he started. And I think the Titans have a pretty solid quarterback going into 26. All right. We're going to take a break. Talk running backs, receivers, tight ends, DSTs for week 18 after this. Ready to level up, Chumba Casino is your playbook to fun. It's free to play with no

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Starting point is 00:07:29 He's had a really strong game against the commanders. And, again, I do not expect Javanto Wilms to play. That could change. But I don't know why they would risk him, why he would want to play. I believe he was going into free agency. So, you know, not wanting to risk, you know, getting hurt. And he's been banged up the last, you know, three weeks with shoulder neck, you know, just different ailments. After him, it's a little bit of a guessing game, for me, at least right now.

Starting point is 00:07:52 So I have Dylan Sampson second, just with the way that he was the lead. back for the Browns. A little bit of an easier matchup, if you can believe that, going from the Steelers to the Jaguars, even though Jacksonville's defense played great. But I think his role in the passing game will become a little bit more prominent. Huh? Dylan Samson?

Starting point is 00:08:10 Yeah. Going to the Bengals facing the Bengals. I'm sorry. Excuse me. That's what it was. Going to the Bengals, excuse me. So Dylan Samson, we saw what he did in week one against them. We know their fantasy production.

Starting point is 00:08:20 We had this conversation yesterday. I don't think the Bengals are as bad as they've been for the season as bad lately. but Samson's opportunity there. The third guy would be Emmanuel Wilson. Again, I think that the Packers will be smart and rest. Josh Jacobs is probably going to rest some offensive linemen, but still Wilson getting an opportunity to be the starter. Tough matchup against Minnesota,

Starting point is 00:08:40 but I still think he's worth a look just given his expected role. I have Isaiah Pacheco, Audragesstimate, Devin Singletarian, Ray Davis next. Pacheco taking on the Raiders, that run defense looked bad against the Giants, and I think Pacheco will get an opportunity to be the lead running back against the Chiefs. estimate coming off a very strong game.

Starting point is 00:08:57 I know it was basically the strength. The majority of that was one big run, but still not a bad matchup against Atlanta. And then Singletary getting the touchdown in the game for the Giants, maybe he gets a little bit more work as well in tandem with Tyrone Tracy. And then Ray Davis, just again with the thought of maybe the bill's resting guys, I think Davis would get the lead running back role ahead of Ty Johnson.

Starting point is 00:09:18 Okay. How about wide receivers? Who are your favorites on the Waver Wire? Luther Bird, like you said, coming off the game that he had. I think by all reports, both Schaefter and Rappaport seem to indicate that he's fine. We'll keep it on the practice reports there. But, I mean, how can you not look at this guy,

Starting point is 00:09:34 especially if Romo Dunezay's out, giving the match up against Detroit? And they may start to rest some guys just knowing that they're out of the playoffs. Parker Washington, you know, we had this conversation. Who's going to be the best Jaguars wide receiver in week 17? Well, after what he did in week 16 against Denver, he follows up with a strong game in week 17 against the Colts. And I think it's all systems go for how Trevor Lawrence is leaning on Parker

Starting point is 00:09:53 Washington right now. Jalen Coker would be next for me. You know, good game against Tampa Bay first time around. We'll see how he does in the rematch here. I'm sorry, did not have a good game against Tampa Bay the first time, but a good match up here. So I think Jalen Coker is worth a look. Chimericay, D.K., it says every other week. So he didn't score touchdown last week last week.

Starting point is 00:10:09 So he's due three touchdowns in his last six games prior to week 17. But he had a good role. And again, the way Cam Ward is playing right now, I think he's worth a look in deeper formats. Trey Tucker, I don't know who's going to be the quarterback for the Raiders. I'd be surprised with Gino Smith, but another decent game for him against the Giants. I think he's worth a look again, deeper leagues. We're talking deep league options at this point. And then Jaylon McMillian and Kyle Williams would be the next two guys. McMillan coming off an amazing game for Tampa Bay, but who knows how that will carry over from week 17 to

Starting point is 00:10:36 week 18, given Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and all those guys still active. But McMillan definitely played well with his performance against Miami. And then Kyle Williams, I know he didn't have a touchdown, despite the fact that Drake May threw a billion of them. But did have five targets. We'll see if Kashan Bouti's able to play. We know that Matt Collins is out so Williams did get five targets maybe if May throws the ball a little bit more against Miami or gets a deep shot how Williams could come through in this performance.

Starting point is 00:11:02 Okay. By the way, it seems like it's going to be Kenny Pickett for the Raiders. Pete Carroll said it's going to be tough for Gino Smith with a high angel spring to come back this week. All right, tight ends. So again, this is another position. Look at the shallowly guys. Joanne Johnson, Colston, Loveland, Dalton Schultz, Brent Strange,

Starting point is 00:11:18 all rostered between 76% and 69%. But once You get past those guys, it's really a tough call right now because I think if you were to say that there is no George Kittle, Tonjus should be number one. But Kittle was reportedly close to playing. Huge game, obviously, against Seattle. You would expect them to be out there.

Starting point is 00:11:38 Just keep an eye on the practice reports again. You don't know who might want to pick up both these guys. But Michael Mayer coming off the game that he just had, you know, Brock Bowers, we know is shut down. So Meyer with the nine catches, he would be the preferred choice for me to go get first. After Tongis, it's A.J. Barner, Rashid Shaheed's in the concussion protocol. San Francisco last night got beat up by San Francisco's,

Starting point is 00:11:59 excuse me, San Francisco last night got beat up by Chicago's tight ends. I think Barner has proven at times when he gets targets. He's a decent fantasy option. So deep league guy there you can look at. Colby Parkinson will see what the Rams decide to do, but this will be a much easier matchup depending on what he does Monday night against the Falcons. But the Cardinals, we know have been bad against tight ends the majority of the season.

Starting point is 00:12:18 And then it's kind of just, I really haven't settled on who I like next. but Arronday Gadsden, we'll see what the Broncos decided to do, but Gadsdenham, coming off a strong game this past week. We know that there's no D.K. Metcalfe and now no, Darnow, Washington. Both tight ends where the Steelers will be in play. Fryermuth had the better yardage game. John News Smith had five catches for 18 yards. So I don't know how much you want to buy into that, but the catches were there.

Starting point is 00:12:41 And then Chigoconko is coming off two straight, strong games, and we don't know if Dalton Kincaid will play for the bills, but Dawson Knox, I'm sure, will be in play, depending on what Buffalo decides to do against the Jets. All right, Jamie. Oh, DSTs, sorry. Right, DSDs and kickers. Vikings would be number one, taking on the Packers. I mean, it's hard to overlook the way that their defense is played,

Starting point is 00:12:57 now playing backups. The Ravens taking on the Steelers, their offense just looked bad, obviously, against the Browns. So hopefully Baltimore's defense comes to play if you need them. And then the Chargers against the Broncos, I know the Chargers gave up two long touchdowns to C.J. Stroud, but their defense really buckled down after that. And I think in a game, if they decide to play, which my guess is they will, taking on Bowenicks, who's been a little turnover prone recently as well. Kickers, it's almost the same list.

Starting point is 00:13:21 from a week ago, Eddie Pinero, still in a percentage range that you want to buy into him against Seattle. Will Lutz taking on the Chargers and Andres Boregalis taking on the Dolphins at home. Yeah, I, you know, I get this, well, I wouldn't say. I just think there's a chance the Chargers are resting guys. They've been eliminated from the division. They've clinched a playoff spot.

Starting point is 00:13:42 So they're just playing for seating. And I, why would Justin Herbert play? I mean, I feel like Justin Herbert, who re-agravated the hand injury early in that game against Houston, that is one. that scares me a little bit. So just something to keep an eye on. I don't think that's a bad thought.

Starting point is 00:13:56 You know, again, there's Buffalo. We don't know what they'll do. Chargers, we don't know what they'll do. How much does the five seed matter? Because if the Texans lose and the Texans have the tiebreaker against the bills, if the Texans lose, then you have a shot at the five seat. Texans win, even the Jaguars, when the Texans are locked into the five. Yeah, so in the NFC, the five seed is pretty valuable. You know, Carolina's immensely valuable.

Starting point is 00:14:29 Or Tampa Bay. To me, is a much more appealing matchup than, I would say the Ravens. I think the Ravens are better than the Steelers, you know. But I wouldn't want to face a healthy Lamar Jackson and that team, you know, the way Derek Henry is running. But, yeah, I don't know. I'd be more likely, if I were coaching, it would be more likely to be playing for the five seed in the NFC

Starting point is 00:14:50 than I would in the AFC. I feel like the AFC, just kind of be careful what you wish for. Well, there's also, it's not clear in the AFC who's going to get the five seed because you need, not only do the Texans have to lose, but even if the, if the Texans win, then the Jaguars lose, then they're locked into the five, no matter what. If the Jaguars lose, they're the five seed? Well, yeah, they're 12 and 3 right, right? Or no, they're 12 and 4. They're 12 and 4 right now. So they have a better record than both Buffalo and the Chargers, right?

Starting point is 00:15:26 Well, the Bills are 11 and 5. So if the Jaguars lose and the bills win, they'll have the same record. And the Chargers also. Chargers are 11 and 5. The Jaguars beat the Chargers. Okay, but if there's a three-way tie, I don't know how that factors in. Yeah, so there's a lot of moving parts for the five. Conference record and stuff like that.

Starting point is 00:15:44 The Rams control their own fate to face the NFC South winner. Yeah, if the Jaguars lose, and the Chargers and Bills win, all three teams are going to be 12 and 5 with the conference What the Texas? Oh, I forgot about the Texas, right? They're facing the Colts. All three teams would be 12 and 5

Starting point is 00:16:03 with a conference record of 9 and 3. The Texans would be 12 and 5. The Texans would win the division if they finish tied with the Jaguars, right? Yes. Must be the case. So, yeah, I don't know what would have with the seating there.

Starting point is 00:16:13 I'm sure that's published. We'll figure it out by Tuesday's show for sure. Thanks, everybody, for watching and listening. For Jamie, I'm Adam. Talk to you tomorrow on. fantasy for podcast.

Fantasy Football Today - FFT Express - EARLY Week 18 Waiver Wire TARGETS! (12/29 Fantasy Football Podcast)

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