Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast - Fantasy Flops + Playoff Scenarios, Week 18 Motivation - Fantasy Football Podcast for 1/3

Episode Date: January 3, 2024

Will Stefon Diggs and Austin Ekeler bounce back next year? On today’s fantasy football podcast, future outlooks for players who disappointed in the fantasy playoffs! How much does Derrick Henry have left? Plus, an NFL Playoffs scenario overview to see which teams are motivated to win in Week 18!  Manage your redraft, keeper, and dynasty fantasy football teams with the #1 fantasy football podcast. -- Fantasy Football Podcast for January 3rd, 2024. Connect with the show: Subscribe on YouTube Visit us on the Web Support the Show Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram Join our Discord Check out today's sponsors: News & Notes presented by USAA. Visit https://USAA.com/Insurance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode is brought to you by McDonald's. Monopoly is back at McDonald's, everybody. This is an alert. It's time to get back to Mickey D's. Monopoly Double Play is back at McDonald's, and it's easy to get into the win. First, you peel on pack, and then again in the app. There are millions of prizes to be won,

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Welcome in. Wednesday, January 3rd, the Fantasy Footballers back with you. Mike Wright, Jason Moore, Andy Holloway. We have Al Borland, Judge Giamatti, and the Rapscallion in Ducer's Alley this morning. We welcome you all in. Kind of an exhale for most of you as the season concludes as the stat corrections finalize this morning.

Hope you didn't lose your championship. But I hope you accidentally won one. Yeah, it you know, it settled at least one of our leagues. It was very close, a.3, I think, victory. Yep. And congrats to all the winners out there.

Saw many of you picking up Foot Clan title t-shirts at shotballers.com. Let them know. And currently the retro t-shirt is winning the day. So we have our traditional and then we get we released a retro and there are more people you like better I mean I got one of each and we welcome you and we've got you

know yesterday we covered a lot of the studs. We celebrated with you, talked about some of the big performances over the final three weeks, went through kind of the league winners. And today we're going to jump into a quick question here regarding the duds. The players let you down. Which week 17 duds are you most concerned about going into the future? Because there are some names that have been synonymous with fantasy football victories and domination for a very long time.

I would say some of these guys, the majority of the time we've done this podcast, which we're wrapping up season nine. But these guys have led the way, and now you are left wondering. So, Jason, who's at the top of that list for you? Yeah, for me, this guy hasn't necessarily led the way. He doesn't qualify as what you just described, but he was a young, exciting prospect that I think everyone was expecting a massive fantasy career, got injured, came back this year.

And I'm talking about Javante Williams, who's still only 23.7 years old. He is young enough to be successful in the future. And the injury he had was basically like a two-year timeline. If you remember this last offseason, we didn't want to draft him anywhere. We were kind of universally out on Javante. I'm happy because that worked out this season, but that was the expectation was like, he won't get back to full strength until the following season. We didn't even think he would start the year. We thought he'd be on the pop and then he's in preseason game one. The problem. And the reason

that I'm really fearful about Javante is because this offense gave him all the opportunity this year. They gave him so much work. So far, he's already got over 200 carries, 40 receptions. 257 total opportunities. Yeah, I mean, he's up there, and he has wholly disappointed not just fantasy managers, but probably the Denver Broncos. And I don't think that they can go, well, next year he'll be healthier. They've got to, they've got to address their running back room. They don't have what they want. Sean Payton has always had a successful running back room that sets up his pass. I mean, the entire season, 3.6 a carry, and almost every single game just ineffective.

Two rushing touchdowns on the season with the amount of opportunities he has. Five top 24 performances in 17 weeks. He's just been straight up bad. And I don't blame him coming off of that injury. In fact, it's impressive he got back and he played all but one games this year. All but one game? Would that be... Yeah, it would be. Don't worry about it.

We just tilted our heads and moved on. So, I guess I just worry he's going to be replaced this year. They're going to bring someone in, either a big name or a high draft capital running back, and we won't have the opportunity to see year two still young Javante recovered from that injury.

So if I have him, I don't know that you can get much for him right now. I don't know that people are buying Javante's outlook. He's a worthy, I mean, a big discussion in general, in one part because there was a time in the dynasty landscape where Javante Williams was nearly untouchable. We knew that the future for Javante Williams was all but guaranteed as bright. But one catastrophic injury and some changes in the offense, it just changes the outlook.

Like adjusted expectations has to be the beginning of the Javante story. Jillian McLaughlin, if you watch this team during the year, a lot more juice than Javante. Javante was a kind of plodding, adequate running back. And there will be those that I think want to take a chance on him next year. But, look, Jarrett Stidham could be the starting quarterback of this team is not going to be Russell Wilson and they can't afford to go out and get a Kirk Cousins or something because of Russell Wilson's contract they're going to be

taking a ton of dead cap on so this is a an offense that's going to have to kind of scrape together pieces next year so maybe what that says maybe that's positive for Javante. Maybe it's like, well, we don't have the money and the draft capital to put more into the running back room and we'll have to rely on Javante again. If he comes back as the clear cut starter next year, I think I'll probably be in because of that two-year timeline and his youth. It would be hard for me to imagine. I mean, this team went out and signed Samajai Pirine right off the bat. They care about the running back core for this scheme. And if I'm the general manager, I don't know that I could rely on and say, we're good here with what you saw out of Javante this season.

Pirine is under contract next year. He's at a 4.5 mil cap number. Dead cap, should they choose to move on, would be one and a half. So, I mean, it seems like he should be there. But I'm with you, Jason, of the concern of, like, you know, long-term dynasty. I got Javante chilling there. That free agency period and the draft are both going to be, you're going to hold your breath of just waiting

for the Javante replacement to come in. There's no way that Sean Payton's looking at that going, yeah, next year, this is what we need to turn this into a winning football team. And historically, Sean Payton utilizes multiple backs. Yeah. So you're going to have the like, the opportunity for Javante to deliver on his original promise, which would be workhorse back, four and a half a carry, explosive plays.

I think that is – I think we can put it to bed. Yeah, because even if he is the primary guy next year, I think they'll bring someone in for a timeshare. Well, the two names I'll throw out there, running back, I mean, it's not a surprise but austin eckler derrick henry aging declining powerhouse names so eckler 26 point or sorry 28.6 years old free agent derrick henry about to turn 30 a free agent uh derrick henry still the rb8 this year i looked at it because I expected to see a worse number. No, it's insane.

And he benefits from being – like if you put him on a winner next year, I think there will be draft hype around Derrick Henry, Baltimore, right, if he goes to Baltimore or something. But both of these guys are potentially in the Dalvin cook trajectory, right? You, you shift teams and you're not necessarily handed the keys to a backfield and you're,

you're older, less efficient, less effective. And, um, you know, I don't know if you can overcome those narratives in a dynasty league either where,

where you're trying to, you know, how do you move on from these guys without saying i'm desperate to move on from these guys right and i if it were me like if i'm in that boat and i'm saying hey i need to move on from henry henry or eckler mike you've got henry and dynasty i do that has to be part of a bigger trade to me because if the trade is just i'm trying to get rid of Derek Henry it's it's like holding up a big sign yeah and if you work him into a bigger deal then maybe that name starts to pay dividends for you that's how I would approach it but you know there's a really really slim list of age 30-plus running backs

that have been relevant for fantasy. And, you know, Mark Ingram was one of them at age 30 AP this past year, Raheem Mostert. But, yeah, I am more concerned with Eckler than I am with Henry for next season, though. I am as well. I think Henry will get a job he he still looked good this year it was tough sledding behind a bad offensive line on a bad team where you're losing a lot

that's just not you you saw the games where they were winning and they were ahead like they they could do great things with Derek Henry and he and he was very effective. Eckler, over the last seven weeks, he's on pace for 262 opportunities during that time, and he would have a total of 690 rushing yards on a 17-game pace. My concern with him is just the viewpoint of all teams looking for a free agent. Where it's just, you know, I was trying to see how old Stephen Jackson was when he had his kind of final decent years. The Falcons years.

Yeah, I guess I was just curious how old he was during those. Maybe, Kyle, you can figure that out. But, you know, that's how I look at Derrick Henry. Like, Derrick Henry can come into a place, maybe get 200 carries, first and second down, not a third down back, manage his workload, go to Baltimore, go to a down back. Manage his workload. Go to Baltimore. Go to a team that's winning ballgames. Because when Tennessee had any chance of winning a ballgame this year,

he was great. When they had any opportunity to be within a touchdown, he was great. Steven Jackson went to Atlanta at age 30. And it wasn't good. Very special there, right? No right no yeah so those two players are obviously on the radar they both dudded out in the final week of the year and um mike you've got it you've got the name maybe i want to talk about stefan diggs and the the insanity that was the year of Stephon Diggs because essentially – It's like he powered down.

Like through week nine, I don't have what he was in wide receiver terms, but just the consensus thought of Stephon Diggs is – no, he is wide receiver three. Okay, wide receiver three averaging almost 18 points a game, 93 yards, almost a full touchdown per game. Stephon Diggs was a locked-in top five wide receiver. And then a blip happened in week 10, and you went, oh, that's weird. The Denver Broncos, okay, maybe, you know, Sertan.

I don't know. Then he gets the Jets. Well, that's a tough secondary. Maybe he'll bounce back. No, Sertan. I don't know. Then he gets the Jets. Well, that's a tough secondary. Maybe he'll bounce back. No, he did not. Mike. He did not. What?

Mike, since week 10? Yeah. Do you know what wide receiver number he is? The number I – oh, no. 55. He's the wide receiver of 55. From weeks 10 through 17, he had one double digit game and the rest of them are under seven points yeah his average is 6.8 i barf there there was a very noticeable

change i mean they they brought they fired their offensive coordinator. They switched play callers, all that stuff. But how does the star of your team, the not Josh Allen star of your team, vanish into absolute thin air? And if you've been with football for any amount of time, you'll know that Stephon Diggs is a very passionate man when it comes to all things. I'm honestly shocked I haven't heard more from him in the recent weeks. Shocked.

I think that you... It's tough because they've been winning. Yeah. We will hear from Stefan Diggs. Here's something fun. I won't click the play a game button, but more productive fantasy receiver since week 10. Ready?

This is Quentin Johnston or Stephon Diggs. Oh, you got cued? He got cued. Oh, that's gross. Barf. Quentin Johnston was wide receiver 50 in that span. Stephon Diggs, 55. Wow.

He got dorched. He got cued. And here's the thing. Tank Dell was better in that span, and he missed all that time. It was seven games. Seven games. Like, that's in a football season. That's not just like, oh, you know, he's, he's had a

rough patch. That's almost half of his fantasy game. And they went five and two during those games. Like this is, this is the script that is winning for them when they were on the outside of the playoffs and had to fire their offensive coordinator. They're like, this isn't working. And yeah, Diggs was great. So he's 30 30 he still has a bunch more years and a bunch more guaranteed money but what is going to happen because this will be if if buffalo wins the super bowl i imagine we won't hear anything it'll be stefan digs talking to the team of like if i'm gonna be here you're gonna give me the ball like That'll be the behind-the-scenes conversation. If they win the Super Bowl,

he will have done something over the playoffs as well. You would think, but to be fair, he hasn't done something over this four-game winning streak. They beat Dallas, and his production was 4-for-48. They beat Kansas City with 4-for-24. Last year, Hollywood Brown, before he got injured, was a top 10 wide receiver in fantasy in Arizona. They close the year out, no Kyler.

They come in with a new offensive coordinator, and Hollywood Brown's irrelevant all year. It feels a little bit like you just turned off the Diggs dependency software. And that's really what's happened. Dalton Kincaid, he had a pretty big game last week. His presence, the return of Dawson Knox, Gabe Davis, the dependency on the run, like they did make a decision that we're not just going to chuck the ball downfield to Diggs

over and over and over again. So thinking long-term, because the outcomes are so large to me. Stephon Diggs, they could patch things up, and then things are perfectly fine with the Buffalo Bills. They owe him a bunch of money. He still remains their number one wide receiver. Or you play the game of careful what you wish for stefan diggs fine we're going to trade you i don't kyle he doesn't i can't imagine he has a no trade clause or anything like

that i think his contract makes it almost impossible for them to trade him from what i had seen but you what do they do here here's a here's a glass half full approach and by the way i think everybody that was let down by digs over the last handful of weeks was thrilled to hear that entire diatribe because you know we understand and you got how do you stop playing Stephon Diggs

it's the him and Kelsey the wide receiver three over the first half of the season those are the worst type of situations to find yourself in because you're never going to I mean we were here on the show. I will openly admit it. We did not say bench Stefan Diggs. It was like it's pretty much that it's the tattoo that fantasy players have.

Like you got to start Stefan Diggs. Like you just have to do that. But he let you down as Kelsey did. Kelsey was stuck in your lineup. Yeah. Kelsey Eckler and Diggs. Those are the three vets that started strong and that means you couldn't

move on. At 30 years old, I don't think Stephon Diggs settles for an outcome where he's not getting the ball. So whether he fixes that outcome in Buffalo or he chooses that volume on another roster by some means

of renegotiation of contract and cut. That's what I mean. Careful what you wish for. I just think he gets targets someplace. Sure, but they could be Bryce Young targets. Yes. They could banish him to the Carolina Panthers or something. The first nine weeks, he was just over 30% target share for this team.

Since week 10, that awful stretch where he's wide receiver 55, just under 30% target share for this team. Since week 10, that awful stretch where he's wider 55, just under 30% target share. It's not a huge difference. It's a shift in what this team does. So I don't see it changing. Then Stephon Diggs has to become a different person

that would accept that. And I'm with Mike. We'll hear from Stephon Diggs. He's just waiting for a loss. He's waiting for a failure. He is. Come on. Come on.

Let's lose. I got some stuff to talk about. Can you put prop bets on tweets from Diggs when they're eliminated from the playoffs? We will see it for sure. Or they don't make the playoffs. This week? Yeah, I think they're making the playoffs. Yeah, they should. But I'm saying that collapse. Oh, goodness. Oh, if they don't make the playoffs. This week? Yeah, I think they're making the playoffs.

Yeah, they should, but I'm saying that collapse, oh, goodness gracious. Oh, if they don't. Get the popcorn. He will unleash the fury. I will predict no signs of Buffalo Bills on his social profiles within 24 hours of their elimination this year if it's not a Super Bowl title, if we know Stefan Diggs at all. Alright, let's talk a little bit of news.

News and notes from around the league. Presented by USAA Insurance. Well, the Jets have accepted reality in the terms given by Dalvin Cook, who asked to be released.

He was released. He wants the opportunity to go sign someplace. I think he gave up money to be released. Because he was on a guaranteed money per game scenario. So he's hoping that a team that's going to be in the playoffs will hope that won his services. It is worth saying. I mean, it was a complete crash and burn for Dalvin Cook.

I mean, from the jump, right? We had optimism. Rodgers wanted him there. Rodgers is gone. But I do want to remind people, Brees Hall could not run in this offense. So Dalvin Cook certainly was not going to be able to. So I don't know if that means Dalvin Cook has anything left.

I'm sure he's got four net level stuff left. So maybe a roster adds him. I think he's got a little bit left, and the rumor is that the Dolphins have made a contract offer. They obviously did prior. They did before he signed with the Jets, but that's the team that he's most linked to going forward. Trevor Lawrence day-to-day expects to practice feeling better. We'll see. Also, Jacksonville opened up-to-day expects to practice feeling better. We'll see.

Also, Jacksonville opened up the 21-day window for Christian Kirk to return. The team is much better with Christian Kirk. Yeah. Noah Brown didn't practice on Tuesday. A bunch of guys didn't practice for the Texans. If you saw that practice report, it was like, oh, they're starters.

And this is a super important game. We're going to get into all the playoff implications but that basically the texans did make the playoffs because it starts this week and then sure what i think is is very valuable information when you look at the long term decisions you have to make in keeper leagues and potential outcomes for trey mcbride all of those things jonathan gannon was on local radio here in Arizona yesterday. He was kind of asked, you know, who's the quarterback for the future? And he was over the top in his assurance that there is no doubt that, number one, Kyler Murray is their franchise quarterback.

They asked, is there any doubt in your mind who will be your quarterback for next season? He said, no, there is no doubt. Number one is our franchise quarterback? They asked, is there any doubt in your mind who will be your quarterback for next season? He said, no, there is no doubt. Number one is our franchise quarterback. That backs up everything Arizona has done despite speculation around Kyler. They also have the fourth pick now. Yeah, and the quotes, even though they're as clear as it gets,

that there's no doubt that Kyler's our guy. Number one is our quarterback. He's our franchise quarterback. If you listen to it, it's even more affirming. The laughter that he gives when asked the question is like genuine, like, what are you talking about? We already have our quarterback. So it was surprising to me that there was no question.

Now, granted, this is the head coach. That's not Monty Austin for the GM. Maybe they do some scouting in the offseason based on where their pick is and something changes but right now it you have to put it at 90 percent that Kyler's the quarterback and if Arizona loses this week and New England beats the Jets which I believe that game line is very very close and I think I took New England in that game, Arizona would be in a position to draft Marvin Harrison Jr. You look at potential dynasty quarterback buys, Kyler might join that list. They have two first-round picks.

One of those is going to be an offensive player to help your team. And they're also linked to some significant free agent defensive players in Arizona, like Chris Jones. So there is an opportunity for this team to improve. You saw them against Philly. They look good. They have played hard this year.

They just don't have personnel. So Kyler Murray, a down year, coming back from injury. We have to remember there's going to be – I don't think we let him off the hook at all this year. I'll put it that way. I agree. I don't think – you know, no Hollywood Brown, basically. No receiving options.

Terrible personnel all around him. Coming back from an ACL tear, and I don't think we let him off the hook very much. Next year could be a much better year for Kyler, especially if you add someone like Marvin Harrison or Malik Neighbors. So, just throwing that out there for thoughts. We have an offseason to debate it. I think it's a good point of you, to get maximum return,

you have to take on risk. And I think that the Kyler Murray perceived risk is like the perception of it, I think, is larger than it actually is. And Kyler Murray, when things are rolling, has been a good fantasy quarterback, a great fantasy quarterback. So if you are in a single QB and you've been struggling in Dynasty or something, you could probably get him for far cheaper than like the day the draft is over that or even around the day that that pick five is done Kyler Murray's value will either skyrocket or plummet and I think that it will go up I would do it right now if you're in a dynasty right that's

what I'm saying this is this is the moment the's over. Kyler had a disappointing season. We're not sure he's got a job. You go trade for him now. And single quarterbacks and super flex. He's even more valuable there. Also, we mentioned it yesterday, Sean McVay will continue coaching in 2024. This is very important for your Puka centerpiece type of discussions. Yeah, Kyron, for sure.

Yeah, that's the tough one. Kyron's the big one. Different head coach views a fifth-round pick differently. Both those guys are fifth-round picks, and you want the same system. It's crazy how high those two players are going to be drafted next year for waiver wire fodder, last-round type of picks next year. They're going to be in the first and second round. Yeah, seems right.

All right, that was today's News & Notes presented by USAA Insurance. Learn more at usa.com slash insurance. We're going to take a quick break and come back with our Week 18 Playoff Primer. All right, we are jumping in. We wanted to break down the playoff motivation levels, go through all the teams this week. I mean, from an NFL fan perspective, there's a lot at stake this weekend, and if you're in a Week 18 league, we are going to help you there too.

Playoff Primer. help you there too playoff primer gentlemen let's talk about some teams that have clinched and have little or nothing to gain so that's the afc teams the ravens are the number one seed the chiefs are locked at three and the browns are locked at five how much do you expect to see how much do you expect to see these guys um i expect to see very little of the ravens um they are locked up i mean honestly i don't expect to see a full game from any of these teams right i mean why would you put your players out there for 60 minutes of injury potential when it will not have an effect give them health give them rest it's kind of what you see every year now so yeah i mean i think last we had heard harbaugh had not decided about lamar but if he does decide i will guess it'll be a half a half or so half i think it'll be like just a couple drives yeah you could

be right and then we'll be Tyler Huntley. The 49ers are locked as well on the NFC side, and that's at the number one seed. Debo was on Kay Adams' show talking about, do you expect to play, do you want to play? And he said, yeah, but it was also clear that it won't be the entire game. Food for thought. Would it be realistic that Harbaugh Harbaugh is a great coach and um you know these these really good coaches they're in tune with

the players they want to set them up for success Lamar is really close to getting an MVP right so could Harbaugh you know play can anyone actually take it from him I'm just saying if if if he sits Lamar does that hurt his ability to win the MVP I don't think so I think it's done let's see Kyle saying he's minus 20,000 okay well then sit Lamar Jackson it It is worth bringing up. Is that real? He's minus 20? Nothing can happen this week for any team that will change

the scenario because all of the good players that would be in the running have already they might be sitting as well like Brock Purdy was in the early contention. He's not going to be playing. Unless you think Dak's going to throw over about 13 touchdowns this week well that's winning the division that's what i thought is like what if dac balls out but he can't take the number one seed and i think that that matters i think it's the fact the ravens have it locked crazy minus

20 000 says so that means just so if people aren't familiar and correct me if i'm wrong that means if i were to bet twenty thousand dollars and win i would get a hundred dollars i believe that is correct you're gonna do it i'm thinking about it that's the risk reward that i like i mean goodness gracious nothing to gain everything to lose yeah yeah that that would be the worst feeling ever. Yeah, just take a flat gimme and whoop whoop. I am seeing there's – I think there's places you can get him for like minus 6,000, Jay, if you want in on that. I'm going to still avoid that. I would look more at whatever that means for Dak's upside.

Yeah, what do we have on the DraftKings Sportsbook? 20,000 for Lamar, the next highest Dak, the next highest Purdy, the next highest Josh Allen. It is done. And the Rams can move between the number 6 and 7 seat. I don't know how much that's going to change the way that they utilize their players. It is interesting. The 49ers are favored

by 3.5 still against the Rams. 49ers have nothing to play for. I think that that's because they're anticipating that Sean McVay will also... He'll also sit people? Be willing to sit people. Yeah, I guess six and seven. Kyle, do you know what would define the six and seven movement?

Because perhaps that is unlikely for them to move to seven based on the game lines that would make that happen. And McVay's sat people in the past. He's played them in the past. You know, I don't know how much Cooper Cup you see this week with how he's been banged up. So that's kind of the, those are the clinched or little or nothing to gain scenarios. So to me, that Vegas line says that they believe both teams aren't really going to be doing a lot. And then they give Arizona or San Francisco the nod. me that Vegas line says that they believe both teams aren't really going to be doing a lot and

then they give Arizona or San Francisco the nod so for fantasy purposes here we talked about the Ravens Chiefs Browns 49ers and Rams are you confidently able to start any of the like Kyron Williams Elijah Mitchell yes for sure Elijah Mitchell. When a backup gets to be thrust into a great position, he's wonderful. But from those teams, is there – like Kyron and Puka, how do you not play them? Yeah, I mean, I'd be trying to move away from them and to a new league that doesn't play this week. So I'm looking at it.

It seems like if the Rams lose and Green Bay wins, am I right on that, Kyle? They slip to the seven. Yeah, they'll go seven. Which, yeah, I mean, that's not a guarantee for sure. I mean, the Bears have been playing great. Teams fighting for playoff seeding, division titles in the AFC, Jacksonville. This is what we want. Jacksonville plays Tennessee.

So, is this correct? They become AFC South champs and the four seed with a win over Tennessee. So they are highly motivated. Yeah, get that home game in a winnable matchup or leave the playoffs. They are eliminated with a loss. Yeah, that's what you want. Same with the Bills. The Bills are battling for the AFC East title.

They can fall from the two to a six seed. The Dolphins can, and the Bills can be eliminated with a loss, depending on other outcomes. So the Bills are playing for their lives. Two to six, that's big for the Dolphins. Yeah, you play your starters. You play to win. Yeah, these play your starters. You play to win. Yeah, these are two playoff-type matchups.

It's in Miami as well. More so the Bills-Dolphins game is more playoff-like because Tennessee is not really playing for much other than to play spoiler. But, yeah, you want players in these games. The Cowboys on the NFC side can secure the NFC East title with a win. So the Cardinals doing the Cowboys' favors last week. After the Cardinals did the Cowboys no favors and beat them. I guess having a coach that was in that division makes a difference.

It does, except for when you play the manders yeah the uh the eagles can get the number two seat if they win and the cowboys lose if they play new york yeah and both dallas and philly games are in the later window so they won't necessarily know at least until the towards the end of a game, whether they need a win or not. The Lions, currently the number three seed, can move to the number two with a win and losses by the Eagles and Cowboys, which that's long. So he will be playing a starter.

Dan Campbell came out and said that. Did you guys see the rest of the memo? Did you see the memo that the league put out regarding eligible i did receivers i didn't see that it actually um i mean it kind of it kind of persuaded me that the that the referees were in the right in that game really what what what did it say it said well i mean because the guy shouted he's eligible from super far away? No, I mean, if you go and you watch what transpired, number 70 ran in on the field, and the referee actually announced number 70 at the game

over the loudspeaker. You can hear it. And then number 70 was covered up, which when you cover up the eligible receiver on the end of the line, that makes it an illegal formation, which is the penalty, which was one of the penalties called on that, along with illegal touching on 68. And the league sent out this memo, and it spells it all out.

It shows every angle of it. I don't know. I mean, you could argue that. It was pretty obvious to me. You could argue that if the team, if the Lions were paying attention listened to the incorrect eligibility call that they should have which is the rule the rule is if if the what the league what the players call out you have to go with that what you know what the referees call out you have to go with that right but that's the mistake right is that he called out the wrong

number uh debatable yeah allegedly debatable I mean it's hard because 70 was running in on the is that he called out the wrong number. Debatable, yeah. Debatable. I mean, it's hard because 70 was running in on the field and yelling at the referee at the same time that 16 was walking over. They were intentionally – it was smart of trying to confuse the other team of having multiple people over by the ref. It's not just the one player walking over saying, I'm eligible, okay, we'll key in on him

but then you end up confusing the refs with your confusion tactics uh but i mean look the if you listen to dan campbell he's moved on he said you know like we don't sit and we don't wallow in that nobody else is going to do it we're going to go play hard we're going to win so he says he's's gonna play his players that's great and then uh you have teams fighting for playoff spots that we're gonna lay out for you as well uh texans versus the colts the winner of the game is in the playoffs the loser is eliminated this is a playoff game that's what i was saying earlier like there's no game i want players in more than the texans colts this is legit saturday eveningical to a playoff game. Yeah, and it's even close to a toss-up

from a game line perspective. Steelers, they have to win and have either the Jacksonville Jaguars or the Bills lose. That's not likely, but Tomlin is magical. I don't think it can happen.

I just don't think Jacksonville is going to lose to Tennessee. That's the one I think. And I don't think Buffalo is going to lose to Miami either. I don't think so. They're not going to have Waddle and that offense. We'll see. You're right. It could happen.

Either way, he's got a winning record. They're going to win because they're playing Baltimore. Yeah, Pittsburgh's favorite. So if there's any question of like, oh, Harbaugh hasn't decided what he's going to do, yes, he has. Pittsburgh's favorite. And then the Buccaneers on the NFC side, if they win at Carolina, they're the number four seed in the NFC South champions.

They are eliminated if they lose that ballgame. Oh, my gosh. Now, I did have a dream last night that Bryce Young was eviscerating some sort of defense. Wow. He was just dot after dot after dot. People might have to play Bryce Young this week against that matchup considering all the quarterbacks that will be benched.

It will be the first time this year, probably. The Falcon Saints game, if the if the bucks happen to lose the winner of the falcon saints ends up nfc south champions are those games at the same time is the atlanta yeah they are they are at the same time the league's pretty good about so they will be playing that game with all their heart and all their soul and probably for nothing well yeah three three teams are really truly playing for the division title in their minds. We need the Bucks or the Saints to do this. We cannot let

Arthur into the playoffs at 8-9. That's a travesty. I saw a tweet this morning from Chris Harris that mentioned the Falcons, or the top 10 pick, are going to have an opportunity to do something very funny, which is to draft Brock

Bowers. Because Brock Bowers, tight end from Georgia, probably going to be one of the higher drafted tight ends in history. And I was like, that's a funny idea. Four straight offensive players. He could be the tight end three on the Falcons behind Pitts and Johnny. I hear he's a good blocker. Oh, gosh. Oh, gosh. And then the Packers, if they win, they're in. They play Chicago, though.

They are favored, but Chicago's been on fire, and Chicago would love nothing more. Oh, yeah. That's the rivalry. I have learned this from Owl, Mr. Packerman, that the rivalry within that division is purely the bears packers that's the hatred um you know between them so the bears are definitely going to come to play didn't the field is playing for get eliminated last year by the detroit lions in the final game of the year i believe that is what happened i'm looking over at al al can you confirm that for me friend i i cannot i don't know for sure.

That sounds right to me. So they have a chance to get bounced in the last game of the year twice. I hope that the Packers make the playoffs, just because Aaron Rodgers couldn't do it in the full season last year. And if Jordan Love does it in his first full season, I like that chaos. Seattle, very motivated. They have to beat Arizona, but then the Packers, if they lose to the Bears, Seattle's in.

And then the Vikings need to win and have lots of other help. And they play Detroit, and Detroit's playing their starter. It's not. It's for Minnesota. Minnesota, see you later. Minnesota is my number two team. I love the Vikings. You need to lose this game.

You need to not make the playoffs. They are not going to get through, and you are just sacrificing a large draft pick swap. Detroit knocked out the Packers in the final game last year. Another divisional chance for Justin Fields and company, and I think Chicago wins the game. I think Seattle makes the playoffs. Well, this is super important.

If you're playing this week, if your championship is in week 18, everything we just said is super important because there's going to be – motivation means everything in week 18. Obviously, we went through that pretty quick. There's a great article we have on the website, fantasyfootballers.com, just written up by Matthew Betts. Just goes team by team. So you can reference it as you're making your start-sit decisions,

as you're looking at waiver pickups. It's exceptionally important in Week 18. All right. We got some mailbag to jump into brooksie let's do it mailbag yeah jimmy chip oh yeah i have i forgot to tell you you're looking great champ yeah you're looking nice champ thank you yeah you. Yeah. Thank you. Jason, lower your chair even more. I don't want to see you.

I don't want to see you at all. This is a champ's only table. Oh, man. You guys are the worst. You got a long time to deal with this. Yeah, I know. I know. Just 364 more, Jay.

Oh, man. All right. The first question from Holden on the website. Now that the offseason for you guys is starting up? What is something you look forward to? Is it family time, vacation, hobbies? I've always wondered. Sure.

It's a good question. The offseason, there are definitely fewer episodes of the Fantasy Footballers podcast, but there are still plenty of recordings and things and working on uh the dynasty pass i'm super excited to jump into that as we're in prospect season that's kind of like the big work project but then you know for the udk starts pre-selling in on super bowl sunday and the dynasty pass is available instantly so we jump in there for sure we're two shows a week on the main pod hobbies is i always pretend i'm going to do something real big. Yeah.

Like, oh, the off season's here. What's my project this off season? Yeah. And then I'll take some naps. Naps. Yeah, very nice. I'll play some pickleball, and then the season will start, and I'll go, dang it.

I did it again. I didn't build that. Yeah, I didn't build a treehouse. Yeah. I'm looking again. I didn't build that. Yeah, I didn't build a treehouse. Yeah. I'm looking forward to cruises. That's what I like to do. So you're looking for vacations. Yeah, I want vacations.

But, yeah, I mean, seriously, I am really excited to start prospect scouting here soon. Felicia Johnson on IG says, What did you all think of the college football playoff games? Who's going to win the championship? Both games were incredible. There was a lot of big Phoenix energy. Yeah, that's right. You just hear that first.

No, I did. No, I saw it. I saw it. That was incredible. But, you know, the Michigan game is the one I watch more of. It's going to be nonstop in the NFL. Oh, no. Oh, no.

We're going to have to say Phoenix all the time? Yeah. I've put a – Phoenix mightier? I've got, like, the chart, you know, of who screws it up first. Oh, for – yeah, yeah, yeah. On the air. Yeah. So we'll put a pool together.

Because it's going to happen. Oh, for sure. But it's probably. Or you just say it normal, and then we think you didn't. Yeah. That's the. I won't ever say it. Yeah, you'd be like, Michael.

Yeah. So that quarterback, Michael. Yeah, Mike P. But the games are great. I mean, I don't know how you don't pick Michigan. The Michigan game was the one I watched more of, and I couldn't help, even when things were going their way at the end, I was like, Alabama's going to find a way to win it.

They always do. It's always exciting. Did you see John Harbaugh's parents, the interview? I did not. Oh, my gosh. You have to go look that up. It's so funny. I mean, they are old.

They're very old. They've got to be in their late 80s, 90s. First of all, their father, the Harbaugh's dad, looks just exactly like them. I mean, it is just a spitting image. Is he wearing some khakis? I mean, their level of excitement for their son winning that game in Michigan,

obviously, the interview is just wonderful. Yeah, Jack Harbaugh and his wife. You got to go watch it because it's just what sports is all about. It's spectacular. All right. But, yeah, I like Michigan in that game. But both games were amazing. They were.

And thank goodness Florida State wasn't in them. Oh, my gosh. I pulled up this. Yes. No joke. I just pulled it up, and I cannot believe how much this looks like Harbaugh. If you just put an age filter on either of the Suns, it would instantly become Jack Harbaugh.

100%. Incredible work with your genes, Jack. So, are you guys all on the Michigan side? I want to see Michigan win it. I do. Yeah, me too. I'm surprised that you don't have some Pac-12 going out loyalty. Pac-12 is going out. That's why I don't care.

I'm actually on the opposite side of that. I don't want to see the Pac-12 win when it's not ASU, who will never win. There's no divisions anymore, man. There's no nothing but money, just money. Yep. Was it Arch Manning's making $2.8 million in NIL money and Brock Purdy's making $800K?

Yeah, life's not fair. Are we going to start to see NFL players going back to college? Can we go backwards? Oh, man. If you have eligibility, you can, right? No. Once you declare pro, you're done? Once you're in the draft, you're done.

Oh, darn. That would be awesome. Just Michigan being like. What if an NIL deal comes to a guy that's about to walk on stage at the NFL? Can you turn around and run out the building? I don't know. He has left. He is not accepting a third round draft pick.

All right. Here's a draft pick. All right. Here's a good question. IG question. How would you handle payment if your co-manager didn't contribute all year and you ended up winning? Well, you want to know if you can have all the winnings, huh? Oh, that's funny. Oh, my gosh. I would hope that you had some kind of understanding going into the season.

Like, oh, we're splitting. You had a chance to boot this co-manager when you weren't the winner. I would give, you know, here's what I'd do. Let's say you won $1,000. Okay. You give them $100. Yeah. Okay.

So 10%. You go, here you go. Thank you for following my coattails. Enjoy. Hey. Be generous. following my coattails. Enjoy. Hey. Be generous. Yeah, 10%. Yeah.

Now, Jason, I did catch you on Twitter this morning. Somebody was asking what the etiquette is for kind of league dues and things of that nature because a lot of people get stuck winning leagues, not collecting. Yeah. If you're in a paid league, you really you really really really want to make sure you're set up through there's there's tons of places you could do it but you set up and you collect dues at the beginning of the season you put it in an escrow um was it league safe is that yeah

i believe that's uh charging yeah so league safe is one of i'm sure several options but it just makes it to where there's no questions there's no oh life changed for this guy through the course of the season he can't pay his dues it's like when you start the league you buy in yeah and then it's in an escrow and then it and then there's no guilt there's no awkward conversations at the end of the year it just pays out and I think that's the fundamental thing you just have to collect dues from everybody at the beginning no matter what and if you don't pay you don't play yeah it's not complicated yeah i mean it it can because it's like when you're playing with your buddies and they're like wow i can't do it right now it's sorry man yeah well it's also

complicated if the commish is the one just collecting the dues at the beginning and then pocketing it and then being like well at the end the end of the year, I'll pay it out. I'll hold on to this. I won't spend this. I'll keep it real safe. I want you to try this whole not paying up front thing when you go to the NFL game and you're at the front ticket. I'll pay you later.

No, you don't get to watch. I won. Where's the dues? Well, it was collected by Red in Las Vegas. By Red. All right. We got one more. Is there one that you really want answered here, Brooks?

You have a favorite? This question from IG. We'll go here. Dynasty won on CMC since we talked about long-term value. Do I finally sell CMC this offseason or do I ride it until the wheels fall off? Look, I almost made a brutal mistake this last offseason in Dynasty. I tried to sell CMC. I was rejected mercifully by an idiot. And had I done it, I would have regretted it immensely. CMC is not, I don't even want to talk about it. I don't want to talk about it. Yeah, I remember it. I done it, I would have regretted it immensely. What was the trade? I don't even want to talk about it.

You remember it? Yeah, I remember it, but it's so embarrassing at this point. It was Damian Pierce. It was like a first-round pick and Damian Pierce, or first and a second and Damian Pierce, something like that. An instant loss for Andy had he made the trade. I mean, it would have been devastating, and at that time it was like, oh, who do I believe in right now?

And I need to get some draft capital. Maybe I rebuild my team. And it would have been a mistake. And look, CMC has missed zero games since being a member of the 49ers. He's on the best offense with the best coach in the best situation with no perceivable age-related decline of any kind with tons of money invested into him. There's no way CMC's not great next year.

He's got a great contract situation where you're going to rely on him. Anyone can get injured. CMC has been injured in the past. But if you want to rely on someone, he is a freakazoid when it comes to physical fitness. There's a reason he's able to do what he's able to do. I mean, everyone obviously in the NFL is working out and straight training, but he takes it to a different level that is why he's able to continue going. So I'm going to hold on to him.

I'm going to ride him. We had a new Dynasty episode drop today, and we do talk a little bit about running backs. And very frequently the advice is be willing to trade running backs a year early and just watch them be great on someone else's team. Christian McCaffrey is an outlier. I will just let the fire burn down to just the embers and then the ashes and nothing left of McCaffrey.

Then you'll have a ceremony celebrating the championships. Right, because there could be multiple. If Christian McCaffrey is anything close to this for two years, what was the stat? It was over 50% of people in their league championship had Christian McCaffrey. Let the record show that the consensus, like all of the industry, had Damian Pierce at 13 in Dynasty rankings at running back. It is not what we think of it now.

Okay. The community was very excited for Damian Pierce. Was the Singletary a one-year deal? That I don't remember, but what I remember is the offseason, the hoodwinking that we all got from the Houston Texans where they led us all to believe that not only is Damian Pierce their guy, he is a three-down running back. Like, this is the Texans.

This is on them. Yeah, Singletary is a one-year deal. All right. Well, that'll do it for today's show. We got tomorrow. Start to the week. Matchup previews for week 18. We'll do our best.

Yeah. Yeah. You guys will. I won't be here tomorrow. I'll be here on Friday, though. I'll be here on Friday to take a record setting fourth wheel of shame. Oh, the record tying. Oh, the Quattro. A record-tying.

Oh, really? For myself? Yeah. Remember we had the scepter with the four? We found it. So we'll do something special, especially since you guys are champs and I am a loser. But I won this one, so we'll see.

Great. Looking forward to it so much. Last chance to head to footclangiveaway.com. We're giving away a signed Travis ETN jersey and a bunch of swag. And again, shopballers.com for your title gear. That'll do it for today's show. Thank you for joining us.

Back tomorrow with another one. Goodbye. Have a good day everybody. Goodbye. Thank you for listening to another episode of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast. Join our fantasy football community on jointhefoot.com and follow us on Twitter

at the FFBallers.