Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast - Merry Megaladon! Starts of the Week + Matchup Mayhem! - Fantasy Football Podcast for 12/24

Episode Date: December 24, 2025

Fantasy Football show for Dec 24, 2025. Championship week is here! Get ready for Week 17 with a jam-packed Christmas Eve episode! Starts of the Week, injury updates, and a fantasy football breakdown for Christmas Day matchups. Get advice for tough playoff start/sit decisions! Manage your redraft, keeper, and dynasty fantasy football teams with the #1 fantasy football podcast.(00:00) Intro(06:30) Backup Options(11:20) NFL News(22:20) Starts of the Week(22:50) QB Starts of the Week(26:05) RB Starts of the Week(30:10) WR Starts of the Week(32:35) TE Starts of the Week(34:45) Fantasy Forecast(35:30) Cowboys at Commanders(39:00) Lions at Vikings(47:05) Broncos at Chiefs(51:10) Texans at Chargers(56:15) Ravens at Packers(01:07:35) Mailbag(01:07:45) Lamar Jackson or Trever Lawrence(01:08:50) Rhamondre Stevenson or Jonathan Taylor(01:09:35) Harold Fannin or George Kittle?(01:10:25) Rhamondre Stevenson or Treveyon Henderson?Connect with the show:Subscribe on YouTubeVisit us on the WebSupport the ShowFollow on XFollow on InstagramJoin our Discord Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas! Welcome to the Fantasy Footballers podcast with your host, Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike Wright. Welcome in His Christmas and title time for me Not you I'm pointing at handy So

Wow So much is going on Inside of Mike's brain right now Way to launch the show Well I couldn't point at Jason Because he's I am still in a championship He's technically in one

It's just not the league of record Oh you are? Yes Oh you're in the I take it The expert league I'm facing Mike Clay. It was a funny bit. Yeah, no, I mean, I don't feel like it.

Wait, wait. Who could you put it? Is there anyone in this room you could point at? Because I'm in a title game. Oh, wait a minute. Oh, yeah, Papa Josh. No, you're... Poop a Josh.

I'm in too good of a mood. It doesn't matter. Is this a Christmas mood? Yeah, I'm better. I had a lot of people reach out. You slept it off? Yeah, I'm way better now. Nice.

Nice. Had a lot of alcohol. it all I it all went away uh no we we've got championship week and that's why we're here it's christmas eve merry christmas everybody we uh we got uh merry meg is what i'm calling it today oh i like it it's not just a mini meg it's kind of merry cheery we've got wednesday and thursday's uh segments today and then we'll be back on friday the day after christmas getting you primed for championship weekend because uh well that's That's kind of important.

Yeah, and we'll have, at that point in time, we will actually have several games to go over. We'll find out. Amazing, amazing football on Christmas. I mean, I just can't wait for these great matchups on Christmas. It didn't work out very well for Netflix. No, no. Remember last year, last year was a bad Christmas for me because I was looking forward to the Houston, Texas, Baltimore game. I had four players in my.

title game against Al Borland and all four stunk and it was over on Christmas day. It is a, it is a very strong spin of the roulette wheel giving us championship Christmas or championship games on Christmas. Yeah, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday this week got a Monday night game so your championships spread out across four different evenings of tilt. Yeah. I just like very particularly. Like, we will wake up on the West Coast and football will not be far away. That's true. That's true. And I'm curious, I don't know what the holiday schedule is for the Pants Store, Mike. Will you be visiting? What's the Pants?

You either win a couple of titles or you are buying some pants. You are projected for both of our main leagues to win heavily. You're, you are. One. of them it's a heavy projection but I don't think it's correct. The other one is I am projected to beat Owl-Borland but not do you believe crushing defeat right now? Do you believe

that you are going to win both types? I do believe that yes. Okay. You're a strong man. And will you be coming to work on Tuesday next week if you lose both titles? If I lose both? Yeah. See that little laugh he had there? He just had a moment. That

revealed how confident he is. Yeah. He said, well, I hadn't even considered that. You know, you know what I'm saying. He's not considered losing both. He's like, that's impossible. I'm saying I'm not, I'm not trying to do the, I think I'm going to win. Yeah, you are. No, that's fine. That doesn't mean I will, but I do think I will.

I think you'll win one. What's wild is he has, he has, he's got so many combined players across both of his teams, like the borough chase stack both of those leagues Christian McCaffrey both of those leagues my king so one more week Christian three players in particular do well it seems like those leagues will be linked

I mean this is not rocket science but um it's not like the Bengals have a tough matchup this weekend right Arizona Cardinals have one more gift to give you Mike under the under the Christmas tree

it's a gay that if if the bengals do well that's a gift for the three of us we need arizona to lose you know it you know it maybe michael do the show by himself on Tuesday like i got a gift for all three of my kids under the christmas tree except one of them gets like you know the front row tickets and then the other two i've done i did that one year uh i had a package that i hid for or not here but i mean it was covered in the garage for weeks my wife knew nothing about it it was for her it was for the family okay and so i wrapped it up and snuck it in you know in the morning and it played the whole oh what is this thing and then

so the kids go and they unwrap it and it's the uh the teenage mutant ninja turtles arcade game oh for yourself yeah yeah oh what a great gift for all of us Santa was so kind to me us us well here we go we've got a big show for you today matchups to get into we got backup options momentarily you can follow us on Instagram

Instagram.com slash fantasy footballers on X at the FF Ballers you can hang out on the Discord Ballers Discord.com I'll say it again we're a year round podcast we're not going anywhere the show schedule will change after week 18 but we'll be

here twice a week a bonus episode every week all year long at join the foot.com our community of supporters, the Foot Clan, and we give you an extra episode every week over there at jointhefoot.com. Without further ado, waivers have gone through. It's time for backup options. Backup options, presented by progressive insurance.

All right, most dropped players over the last 20, hours, a bunch of them, not a surprise, the newly suspended D.K. Metcalfe, who will play no part in fantasy championships. Quinshawn Judkins now injured. The Estimate Evan Hole disaster, have, they've been released and should be. Kamani Vidal with the injury and the reduced workload as well. And then Colby Parkinson, after the letdown, Darren Waller, also one of the most released players. If you're desperate, we have backup options for you. I will go with Trey Tucker, wide receiver of the Las Vegas Raiders, I had kind of toyed with the idea of putting Gino Smith as a streaming quarterback option yesterday, which is a wild thing to say out loud.

But they're at home against the Giants. The Giants are, I think, losers of seven or eight consecutive games. It is the battle for the number one pick. Gino Smith could have some success in that game. And Trey Tucker is definitely 100% the number one target there in Las Vegas. Both teams have lost nine in a row. Yeah, Tren Tucker is playing basically every single snap in the game. He was 4 for 43 last week, played 100% of snaps.

There will be some points scored in this game. It will be to the detriment of those fan bases for those points to be scored. But you saw Max Crosby. I mean, they've interviewed a bunch of players from this game. They're like, I can't say what Max Crosby said because it includes expletives. But the TLDR is, I don't care about the pick. the best. I'm paid to be the best defensive in in football. That's what I'm going to go do. I get it that the players, they want to go win. They want to go play football and win a game.

They're competitive. Like, of course. But the home fans is the thing that's so confusing to me. I was talking to Mike about this. Like, if you aren't there as a Raiders fan, you're in Las Vegas, you got season tickets, you're showing up. You want your team to lose. There's no doubt. They're like, none of the fans in that entire arena want their team to win that game. I would be fine competitively losing. That's your hope, right? Yeah. But then when it comes to like, but you can accidentally competitively wins.

Right. When it comes to like cheering in the home environment, I don't know. But I'll go with Trey Tucker. The matchups too good. The Giants giving up a ton of points to wide receivers. That's where I'll go. I'm going to go with Jaword, Jordan, the running back from the Houston Texans, who has had a lot of opportunities.

two weeks. Two weeks ago, obviously there was no Nick Chubb. Woody Marks went down and he was great. He had like 15 carries for 100 yards. You were right on Jordan. And so I wonder, you know, this last week, we weren't sure whether Woody Marks would be back or not. He wasn't. But Chubb was back and it was like, okay. So is Chubb the starter or is it Jordan? I think they want to see what they have in Jawar Jordan. They don't have necessarily their future in this backfield locked up. It's obviously not going to be Nick Chub. And if Woody Marks is absent a Again, you're talking about 17 and 20 opportunities the last two weeks. He's just one of those, he's one of the very few.

Like, there's not a lot of point of picking up someone for the future at this point. This is your last week. This is it. And so I do think that you need to, you know, I'll throw Tongis-McBaskball out there as well as someone that, if you're rostering what he marks. Jake Tongis-McBaskill. I refuse. You know, if you're rostering what he marks, you should be rostering Jordan because that could happened this week if Marks doesn't play. If Kittle doesn't play this week,

Tonjus McBaskill should be on your roster. Yeah. I do remember watching the game and Nick Chubb was on there. He was in there on the goal line play action that he had had a couple of runs and then we're like, okay, he's going to get into the end zone here and they play action to him and threw it to Dalton Schultz, which turned out to not matter to Mike's teams, but it was disappointing in the moment. Yeah, it was a bummer for the Nick Chub recommendation. This week, I'm going with Devon Singletary. uh he's in that crap bowl of a game of the giants versus the raiders the dung bull he devon singletary is on the most dropped list of this week from sleeper he saw 12 opportunities last week against

minnesota and the matchup is good that not this is not singletary over tracy by any means this is a backup option that should waivers have not gone the way you wanted to your league is a little of it deeper. Singletary is playable to me and should see another 10 or more opportunities this week. That was backup option sponsored by Progressive Insurance. Quote today at progressive.com. Let's talk news.

News and notes from around the league. Presented by Progressive Insurance. Well, we got news on J.J. McCarthy pretty quickly yesterday. Hairline fracture on his finger. He is out for the Thursday Christmas

Day game. Max Brasmer will start. Someone from Minnesota tweeted at me and said it's Brosmer. Okay. Is that official? I'm going with it. Someone tweeted at me. Okay. All right. I mean, that's, that can't be wrong. I can't be held. Brosmer. Max on Christmas. They said like Super Mario Bros. I was looking at the Christmas. I don't care. I was looking at the Christmas slate. Right. This is Netflix that bought it. I mean, that's. Well, they have two of the games and then there's a prime day. Okay, so a lot of money going into these Christmas games. Christmas football.com. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Christmas football. Uh, yeah, yeah. Available Netflix. Yeah, pay up. Christmas football.com. You need it. But I was looking at these, I was looking at the slate, the schedule makers. They genuinely were like, we are giving them the best games of the week. We are we're making Christmas. We're taking over Christmas in 2025. Cowboys commanders. That could be, that's Jay, Daniels deck. That could be a divisional like victory. Lions, Vikings.

Oh my gosh. Just two of the best teams last year. Who's, I mean, you would expect everyone came into this year being like, okay, who's going to win the division? Those two are right up there. Raise your hand if you're in the playoffs. Broncos chiefs. That's the division. That's for the division.

That's for the number one. See, that's and none of these games matter for anything. We'll all watch them anyways. Oh, I mean. Well, they matter. Begrudgingly. This is where they really need to embrace fantasy football. Because every game. Because no one gives crap about these games, except for us playing fantasy.

Max Brosmer will get to start for the Vikings. Ben Johnson said Roma Dunezay's been rehabbing the foot injury. He's on the right track. He's in a good spot. He's going to be able to help us this year. I don't think he's going to help your fantasy teams, but they're playoff bound. So that's where he might be able to help. Like this calendar year?

I doubt it, but I think this season is what he means. I think in the NFL playoffs he'll come back and he'll make an impact. Josh Johnson, the 39-year-old, trending towards making his first start of the year for the commanders, which means Marcus Marieto with the hand and the quadriceps will not get the start potentially, although he has not been ruled out. He has not been ruled out, but this is a Thursday game. He did not practice Monday, did not practice Tuesday. I can't fathom that Marioita is going to play.

Let me ask you, because I was looking at Josh Johnson. His last start was great. It was like 30 fantasy points, but that was like three years ago. he's almost 40 years old so I don't think you could trust him. The little stint we saw in replacement of Marioo was bad.

One of the worst slowest throne picks. Yeah, sorry, Jay, we were trying to do. I promise it's worth interrupting you. We had to confirm it. There's tweets going out Tom Pelliserro, great friend of the show. What? The Raiders are

placing Brock Bowers on IR day. Step one of number one pick overall in place. Hey, Raiders. This is what you can control. I respect it. All players have been placed on injured reserve. Oh, man.

Oh, no, you were going to play. I know. Okay, so Andy, back to the question of hand. This is legit. I'm sure there's dozens of us out there that need this advice. We're at a 14 team. Our listener league, I'm in the championship. No, I wouldn't.

you need to hear the other options now you haven't you haven't heard all the options i lost jane daniels then i lost margis mariotta in the championship i could pick up 39 year old josh johnson against the cowboys terrible terrible terrible terrible currently as of this moment before that news my number one waiver pickup was gino smith now i mean i just said i thought about streaming him ask me now okay would you stream no without brock powers no i wouldn't okay so now the the other options. Kirk cousins. Rams. Against the Rams. They're at home. Aaron Rogers against the Browns without D.K. Metcalfe. He didn't like D.K. anyways. Yeah, I mean, Ewers. He wasn't throwing the ball. Shedor Sanders. I mean, I could go with like the Brosmers.

And you're the dude that's never lost the title game. Yeah. I'm putting that to the test this year. Without Brock Bowers, that is, I mean, Trey Tucker, hey, Trey Tucker looks even better right now. He does. And, yeah, 14, too, I would genuinely, for the first time ever, I think I'd put all those names in a hat and pull one out. You've got a Santa hat on right now. I'm not sure that there's a good, I mean. Do you understand how many, how many years of experience Josh Johnson has? 39.

He's been in the league since 2009. I'd play cousins with the way Pitts has been playing. and Drake London probably. Yeah. That's probably what I would do based on those answers. It's that or you just Oh my gosh.

You Hercules Mulligan and you play Josh Johnson and you say, I'll take the matchup. I would love it if we got breaking news of the Giants in a counter move, put one of their players on the IR right now. Jackson Dart, he's on the IR. So by the way, you may have wanted to know

because we just said he went on injured reserve. It's just the knee injury that he's been dealing with. dealing with and playing through. And you could definitely play this week. Oh, man. But the decision was made strategically to be smart to get him ready for next year. I will say that has a huge impact on championships. There are going to be a lot of teams that have Brock Bowers. Yeah, that sucks. In there, and it's not like, you know, I don't think you can just pivot to Michael Mayor as a replacement. No. And I think you're going to have to start looking at Darren

Waller, who has recently dropped. Colby Parkinson recently dropped Jake Tanger Smith Basketball who may get a start as an emergency play. But that was big news. George Kittle, dealing with a mid to low ankle sprain.

I doubt he plays this week. That's how I feel too. I doubt it. I don't understand why he would. Because they got to win out. They do have to win out, but they also are in the playoffs. And George Kittle has a long term issue with staying healthy. I agree. I don't think Kittle plays either. If he does play

it creates, it's almost a could possibly worse situation if he plays of you just, you have no idea. How it responds. Yeah, how is it going to respond? Is he going to go out, do two snaps to go, okay guys, I can't actually do it. It's going to be used just as a blocker, not running routes, running. But the reason he plays is true. If you win the next, if San Francisco wins the next two games, they get a week off. They get the buy? Yes. They get the one? Yes. Yeah. There has to be Seattle. If they win their next two games, no matter what. They are the number one seat. The Rams could shut Devante Adams down for the last

two games to keep them ready for the playoffs. That seems smart as well. Yeah, I mean, why you don't need them to beat the Falcons this week. And then you don't need them to beat the Cardinals. So yeah, shut them down and have them for the playoffs. Wait, Kyle, this is this, this is a a tweet from Doug Claw. Doug Claw saying it'll get you. 49ers hypothetical schedule.

If they win out, the game site will be week 17, Levi Stadium, week 18, Levi Stadium. Well, those would be the final two of the year already. And then every game. Super Bowl is at Levi Stadium. They will be a home game for the next

five weeks. Yeah, they could be They could be, if they win the next two, wow. They would be the number one seed, which means they'd be the home team for the divisional and NFC title game. That's why George Kittal would be at home. But it's also why they- We'll see if he can.

Yeah, that's tough. D.K. McCab, his two-game suspension was upheld. His 45 million guaranteed was voided. That is, that's going to be fascinating to watch. They need him. I don't. Yeah, they need him. But they also have to realize. we have overpaid for this man that's what i mean if the production has not met the contract by

any stretch of the imagination so is is there a chance that pittsburgh just is like ah it doesn't mean it doesn't mean they're not paying him it means that if they want to get out of the contract they can do it for free which could happen more maybe more likely after next year or something yeah if it doesn't work out instead of having two years guaranteed philip rivers will start again against the jaguars makes sense to me. Looked pretty good. The Colts. Did you watch all the miced up stuff with Philip Rivers? I did not. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. Not just because of all the calls at the line of scrimmage. Not just because of the celebrations, uh, which are outrageous, but also because of this man's

incredible usage of substitute words for curse words. It is amazing. Gosh darn it. I mean, it's so, I mean, he is, it's like he's dropping all the expletives, but he's not. It's so funny to because he talks the harshest trash. Stinking, yeah! I mean, he talks trash like a mania. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Like he just finished pounding a six-pack and he's letting loose,

but he can't, he's not going to let that tongue fly. No, he's incredibly disciplined, hilarious 44-year-old. He's a poop talker. And we've got, can we, he's a poop talker. Talk of that poop. Can we submit a petition to allow? He's a poop talk. That's so good.

Can we get two-color jerseys for this guy? Can we not do the full, one-color pair-shaped situation? Oh, you're saying we need to get him. He was all white, then he's all blue. Can we do it half and half? No, no, he needs vertical stripes. Oh, thank you. That is what I meant.

He needs vertical stripes. Horizontal stripes. I mean, in the full blue, it's just. Don't let him play in the bumblebee. It's just fully, he's just a shape. He looks like a tight. top you'd spin on the top of a table. Incredible job.

The foghorn, leghorn, body type. Yes. Yes. All right. That was news and notes. Sponsored by Progressive Insurance. Quote today at progressive.com, progressive casualty insurance company affiliates and third party insurers. Not available in all states or situations. Covered subject to policy terms, limits, and conditions.

It's time for starts. Starts of the week. all right big week yeah big names start of the week time we're we're trying to find those guys you aren't automatically starting sounds like jason could use some help oh man i would love any of these guys yeah they're not i'm i'm hope i am now hoping for kirk cousins to bring me that title uh i'll i'll kick it off here with uh who the guy who was kirk cousin was kirk cousin let me tell you why he's a great start this week. Don't do that again. At home against the rims. Trevor Lawrence, it was my stream of the week because amazingly it was 50% available in

leagues, not in 14 team leagues. And he's going to be on the road against the poop talker himself in Indy playing against Philip Rivers. He's the quarterback four on the season, quarterback two since the bye week. He's coming off of a good game. He was the quarterback five in Denver, in mile high, on the road against a great defense. We have been waiting for that game to be like, is this incredible, you know, outpouring of points from the Jaguars? Is this just because of their schedule? Are they figuring stuff out? T-Law has looked great, and he continued to do so. I feel like his floor is very high. There's a 47.5 point over or under. The Jaguars have an impressive 27-point implied team total,

and they've been letting Trevor Lawrence actually lead the team. This is not, you know, in the past, earlier in the year, there was a time where it was like Travis E.TN, you know, the run game was really leading this team. But over the last month, Jacksonville is third in pass rate over expectation and the indie defense. I mean, we just saw it Brock Bowers. They're not stopping the passing game right now. 31st in passing yards per game allowed. I think I would start him in my championship. Yep. I'm going with Drake May. He's playing the New York Jets. And Drake May, over the last, you know, six weeks, it's been good. It hasn't been great, but I think we have an opportunity for it to be a great week. Patriots are still trying to get that number one seed, so we don't

need to worry about motivation. He's the best deep passer in the league, which that's what I want against the New York Jets, because over the last five weeks, the Jets are 31st and schedule adjusted points to the quarterback position. I'm not trying to, like, I'm not moving away from May because it's just been okay. I think we were... You just may? Today. Yes.

Caleb Williams at San Francisco. I'm going back to the Caleb Williams well. Better hope you get five quarters. Pea River, the poop talker himself, went 27 and two against San Francisco on Monday night. The pass rush doesn't exist right now for San Francisco. They're 25th in schedule adjusted fantasy points allowed to the quarterback position. I think it's going to be very good for Caleb Williams again this week.

And I think that game overall is going to be really good. So before we jump into our running backs, which, Jason. I'm really considering Josh Johnson here. Oh, brother. You shouldn't. But you live. You live your life. You do you.

We'll take a break. We'll be right back. All right. We're back from the break. Is Jason still considering Josh Johnson? I am. Just because. I know that in my previous underdog championship matchups that I have won,

they have come with the most insane crazy names for fun, and it worked out. But at running back, less insane crazy name, I think it was a good start this week. Ramandre Stevenson. We don't have any update yet on Trayvion Henderson, but obviously... He's going to be fine, guys. He's currently in Concussion Protocol. He's not going to be fine. And the Jets, like, why rush Henderson back when you're playing the Jets?

The Patriots should be able to easily handle the Jets without Henderson, give him a week off. Ramandre Stevenson was great last week. I mean, 8 for 51 and 1 on the ground, 2 for 20, 70 played 84% of the snaps. You know he's going to basically be a bell cow running back against basically the worst defense for running backs in the league. The last six weeks, they're dead last and schedule adjusted fantasy points allowed. Who was their matchup last week, the Jets? Who did they get destroyed by? It was like 28th Saints.

The Saints. Okay. Taysam Hill. Yeah, I was just trying to think of the running back situation last week. It just ended up being Taysom. So, yeah, I think, sorry, Mike. I know you're playing against Romandre this week, but the rest of your roster will easily overcome it.

Looking at Ramondri on their side is disgusting and terrifying. I'm going with Tyrone Tracy against Vegas the last two weeks, 18 opportunities in each. You know, Devin Singletary is a backup option. Tracy is the main course. A starting option. He is the me. Yes.

And look over the last five weeks, Raiders 29th that scheduled adjusted points to the running back position, 28th and yards after contact allowed in that span. And Tracy has been gouging, gouging with chunk runs. I like him in this matchup. Well, I'm going to go with last week's running back 20, who was 15 for 63 and a touchdown. Who has scored.

Crowd. One, two, three, four, five of his last. last seven games and really was just hurt. Oh, hell, Crodd. It's Crodd. It's Chris Rodriguez against Dallas. C-Rod. Dallas's rush defense has not been good. I think Quentin Williams is still going to miss this game. I don't know that for certainty. Wow. But C-Rod himself, this game is a 50.5 over under. That's why Jason's thinking about Josh Johnson. For real, it's still Oh, my gosh.

Crod has a 63% of the team's rushing attempts over the last. Is that like a ribbet? I don't know. But his carries are going to come inside the tin as well. He's been running well all year. The lack of commitment to Chris Rodriguez from the beginning hurt this team. I'm going to go Chris Rodriguez started the week for the championship week. Yeah, the team had Bill fever.

and they should have just kept playing Chris Rodriguez. Krod, Krod, Krod, Krod, Krod. Now, Jason, I will just remind you. Cowboys Commanders is the first game. I know. You will probably be opening presents while that is going on. But what if that is my best present? I know, but that's the gamble.

I mean, he's 39 years old and sucks. That's the issue. He doesn't suck. He's been in the league for 20 years. If Philip Rivers can do it. he's five years younger than Philip Rivers. That's true. That's insane. That is insane. He's five years

younger than another player playing. I'm trying to see if he's ever had a top 24 finish. He has. You just got to go back like his last start. He hasn't in the last three seasons. He hasn't started in the last three seasons. Yeah, what are it? His last start was great. But he was a, he was a 35 year old. That was with,

uh, against Cincinnati in 2021. And what, how'd he do? 302 302 he's hey he had two starts that year if you play him I will be entertained I know that's it's almost worth it

my team can't win you have survived on jaden then mariotta it would make sense to go to the third stream two stars that year Jay QB4 QB7 look I did just completely replace the Gino pickup with Josh Johnson so I'll have Josh

and Kirk on my roster we'll see what I do we all envy you at well yeah at wide receiver I'm going with Jennings Joanne Jennings

I don't know if you guys know this he's a wide receiver one on the season he is currently wide receiver 12 since week nine he's been also somebody

against Mike machine he is also going against Mike last year he body slammed Papa Josh on Monday night football kicked him out of the playoffs you said last week yeah oh I thought you said last year

I was like, what else happened? So, I mean, there's a great game, you know, Sunday night football against the Bears. The Bears 29th that scheduled Justin Fantasy Points allowed to wide receivers. Everything we hoped that Ricky Pearsall was going to be and even more pump faked into believing, which is basically just the wide receiver won for a good San Francisco 49ers team. And Ricky tricked me so good. Now you have a team that probably doesn't have George Kittle. If they do have George Kittle, they don't have 100% version of George Kittle.

I think Juan Jennings is like I can't imagine he's not the biggest name but I can't fathom sitting him down. I agree. That will be a bit of a in Mike's matchup. He has kiddle. He is facing Jennings. A lack of kiddle does mean more Jennings. Yeah. Yeah. It should. I'm going to Drake London against the Rams because I think people might need a little bit of encouragement after last week's disaster. But he did have eight targets. Who's his quarterback? It's Kirk Cousins We We need targets

We need targets here And Drake London still had that In that first game back Monday night football Maybe you get that Monday night magic 49 and a half point over under It's in a dome We love those things

And over the last five weeks This is this might surprise you too When you're saying hey the Rams The number What a top three pick to win the Super Bowl right now Over the last five weeks The Rams are 30th in schedule adjusted points to the wide receiver position. They don't give it up on the ground. Correct. And

they can be beat in the air. And I think that Drake London should still be in your starting lineup and don't waver. I'm going to go to Jacoby Myers. Last week was the Parker Washington show with Jacobi Myers over the last six weeks, 25% target share. He is their main guy. Five reception 60 receiving yards per game is his average. And the Colts past defense doesn't exist. Brock Purdy just went for five touchdowns and 300 yards. Crazy. The Colts just can't stop anybody through the air. Jacoby is going to cook. At tight end, I'm going Joanne Johnson.

I recommended him as a spot start last week with Devon Valet out. He is the clear number two target in this offense. On the road against Tennessee last week, nine targets went eight for 89. And over the last five weeks, the Titans are 25th that scheduled adjusted fantasy points allowed to tighten.

The matchup is good. The need for him is good. Tyler Shuck has been shucking it very well. And he's still available in about 30% of leagues. So if you've got Brock Bauer, or George Kittle, you've got to be looking at Juan Johnson. He's my number one, like, could be on the waivers, pick up and play.

Right. I think Juan's going to have, he won't let you down. I don't know if you'll hit the ceiling with John Johnson, but I can't imagine he's under 50 yards. No. No, he's going to be, you know, seven plus targets, at least 45 yards. They're Tyler Shuck targets, man. Those are good targets. I'm going with Harrow Fanon Jr. against Pittsburgh. Let's finish strong.

here, my man. A 31% targets here over the last five weeks. Shadour Sanders just throws the ball to Harold Fannin and the matchup is good. Over the last five weeks, Steelers 26th and schedule just a point to the tight end position.

And, you know, just a shout out here. Rookie tight ends with 705 over the last 35 years. Sam Leporta, Brock Bowers, and Harold Fannin Jr. It looks great. This is a good sign for the future. If you got him for free in your dynasty leagues

Tyler Warren will be my start of the week at tight end. I know the people are scared, but the numbers last week, the most targets he's had since week 10, he had nine targets last week. It didn't turn into a lot because they didn't connect on a lot of those passes. But Tyler Warren is going to get

the target share. Jacksonville's a bottom third team against tight ends. It is a home must-win game for the Colts. I told you I might take this one as my almost upset. We'll see what happens when we cover it today. I think Tyler Warren is good for eight, nine targets, and that's good enough for me at tight-in. So those are your starts of the week. Let's jump right into the forecast.

Fantasy Forecast, presented by prize picks. All right, it's time for Christmas football.com. Three Christmas Day games. Set your lineups appropriately, people. Honestly, if you want the best tools, resources, rankings, right up until kickoff, Christmas Football.com is where you can go. But to Mike's reminder, set your lineups, avoid putting players in the flex spot.

The week is broken up into four different days in which games are being played. So you want to make sure that the earliest games are in your positional spot so you have flexibility. There are a lot of players that are on the cusp of playing. You just want to be careful about that. Dallas, 6-8-1 against Josh Johnson and the commanders 4-and-11.

Dallas minus seven. The overrunner is 50 and a half, but that line means that Washington is just an implied point total of 21.8. It's not bad. It's not too bad. Dallas was five and a half point favorites. They've moved to seven point favorites with the Josh Johnson News. They are two of the worst defenses in football.

Certainly the worst past defenses for sure. It's tough. The rematch from week seven where Dallas won 44 to 22. Dallas is completely out. So of the playoffs it is, you got the worst week of the year for Javante Williams and he's dealing with a neck injury limited on Tuesday. That's a little bit disappointing.

The matchup is great. I imagine you're playing him. But we're just kind of running through the end of the year for the sub-500 Dallas Cowboys. Yeah, and it's just something to pay attention to. I'm playing Javante, but the Cowboys, one of their rookies, Phil Maffa, who had his 21-day practice window open last week, has been getting limited practices in.

I wonder if we'll see him get a couple snaps. The interesting, one of the interesting things on Dallas right now, Jake Ferguson has not hit 10 fantasy points since week seven of the season. There was a point in which he looked like the one of the top tight ends in the game. It's been, okay. for some of those weeks. He can be. But really slow.

Not when C.D. and George are both on the field. Yeah, under 20 yards receiving the last two weeks. And unlike the beginning of the year where he had, what, 7-8 touchdowns? Seven touchdowns? Yeah, he hasn't scored in five weeks. When C.D. Lamb was out, he was a top five option. Ferguson or Parkinson? I would play Parkinson.

C.D. Lamb and George Pickens are in. Javante just monitor the practice status, but he should be in your lineup with the matchup. Chris Rodriguez is the start of the week on the other side. Terran, I feel fine with in this game, no matter who the quarterback is. I agree. It seems like Josh Johnson's going to be the guy. Has he been on the roster the whole year? Who knows?

I would think that you would want to know that. I would love to know, but I don't know who does have that information. Seems impossible to get. Oh, he did play last week. Yeah. No, I know he wasn't. I don't know if he was a mid-season signing when Jaden Daniels got hurt or something. probably he keeps his uh all of his clothing in a suitcase debo samuel i wouldn't play

it's not been worth playing so i mean the game's pretty simple obviously if mariotta's starting that's who you're going to start then yes for sure he did sign a one-year contract in april he's starting josh johnson jonson any other questions on this game do you feel like dach's going to get it done in this one yes he worries me a little bit just in the sense that no way I thought about making him start of the week. I pulled off of that. Yeah, I mean, he's been playing great. I'm not afraid of starting him,

but there's that lingering like, oh, man, if this game, you know, if the commanders with Josh Johnson can't do much, and it's a boring, lower scoring game. But we haven't seen that much from the Cowboys defense. If I'm on the Cowboys, I want to beat the crap out of the commanders. Yeah, that's true.

It's divisional. Like, I don't, send a message. We're playing for nothing. I'm playing for pride of my division. The Detroit Lions, who have a small chance at making the playoffs, they need to win their final two games. Green Bay needs to lose their final two. But that could happen.

I mean, Jordan, Jordan, Levin, maybe even Malik Willis could be out this week. Detroit, eight and seven, they take on the seven and eight Minnesota Vikings. The Vegas line, Detroit minus seven and a half. The overrunners 44 and a half. It's pretty low. Vikings with just 18 implied points. I know Mike is very confident and excited to be playing the Lions defense against Max

Brosemar on Christmas Day. I'm pretty happy about it. Yeah, I did see you have to bench the Saints defense to do that. Yeah. But Brozmer. This was the plan. Brosmer's averaging 4.7 yards per attempt.

Jefferson had his best game in weeks last week, 6 for 85, but I imagine your guys' confidence in Jefferson this week is minimal. Yeah, it's very low. This is a situation where you need to look at benching him, or or what your options are.

Brozmer is not good. The Lions need this now. The matchup is pretty decent. The Lions past defense hasn't been good most of this year. But if you're in the championship and you're looking at, you know, Justin Jefferson or Zay Flowers or Sutton or, depending on the injury situation to booty, like even as Stefan Diggs, it's hard to be like, I would rather play Max Brosmer's great wide receiver one than Drake May's wide receiver one.

I was completely amazed at how bad the Lions defense was last week. I felt like that was the difference in their season. Like two 45-yard touchdowns given up to, like when you need a stop, you gave up two long touchdowns to Jalen Warren in this game where, you know, the seasons in the balance. I thought that was embarrassing. Right now they're 31st in the last six. weeks against opposing wide receivers. If you want a reason to believe something good can happen

for Justin Jefferson, that's your reason. I remember years ago, people didn't want to play Kenny Goladay on a Thanksgiving Day game because he was, oh man, it was, uh, that was, uh, it was, uh, David, oh, it was David Blow and nobody wanted to play him. And the first play of the game was a bomb touchdown to Kenny Goladay and everybody was, it was all fixed. So if you want to hold on to something. Can't hold David Blow's jockstrap. All I know is that if you throw the ball to Justin Jefferson, that is your best play in that offense every single time.

That's all I'm saying. I think it could work because that's the game playing. You're not going to have Jordan Mason again. You have a banged up Aaron Jones. You do get to possess the football and you're playing a defense that has struggled. And you're at home. And so those would be those would be the pieces of confidence. I think it would be hard to sit him down.

It would obviously depend on the options. If you're talking Juan Jennings, yeah, I'm going to play Joanne Jennings. But if you start to get down into a lower category like, are you playing Harrison or are you playing Jefferson? Mike? Marve? Yeah, Marvin, who did Jack and squat last one.

Oh, my gosh. That's where I'm more curious. Oh. Or Wondale. If I had them both, I think I would, I think I'd play Marve. What about Jalen Waddle or Stefan Diggs? I'd play them both. Waddle with Ewers?

No, no, I wouldn't play Waddle. I'd play Jefferson. Okay, Diggs. Diggs will have an opportunity against the Jets. Addison, you're not playing him as a secondary wide receiver with Brosmer. It's not that complicated on the Minnesota side. The other side, do you see the ambiguous little posts by David Montgomery? No.

You guys not see this? Oh, no. Wasn't good. Oh, no. David, you're a team player. What's going on? You're kind of not a player anymore. He had the, I believe the 18% snaps last week was the lowest he's ever had with Detroit as a starter, barely touching the football, barely out there at all.

Four carries. Yeah, he was, I think it was pretty clear that he was frustrated. The problem for Dave of Montgomery, who is a good player, is if he is touching the ball, that means that Jemir Gibbs can't. and David Montgomery, good player. Jemir Gibbs, elite player. It's, that's unfortunate, man. Yeah, it's really wild the difference a year has made because they're probably not making the playoffs.

Right. And then Brian Robinson's a good player. Brian Robinson is a good player. But if you look at the team that could be the number one seed right now, who just gives the ball every play to Christopher, because it's their best option and sometimes they break the man but if he stays healthy they're like on pace for the number one seat it's i get it it's it's hard david montgomery is a good player but he's not jimir gibbs right yeah he did not practice on tuesday either

am on mar amon ra is supposed to try to go yeah with an illness he was sick from his playtime sick and tired yeah yeah play if you don't want me i'm not going to be there play gibbs they didn't even notice he wasn't there until after. David, be careful, man. Be careful with an all show you. There's a good, I mean, there's a chance he's not with this team next year.

It's kind of crazy. The lions, like, I love Dan Campbell. I love what they did last year. It is very fair to say some things have fallen apart this year. When you have to take over play calling as the head coach, that wreaks of desperation, which, whether it works or not, you lost Ben Johnson, then you say, I have confidence in

these next guys. They don't do it, so you take over. You might not make the playoffs and you were heavy favorites to win the division and now you've got some tumult in the locker room. They've definitely dealt with a ton of injuries. They're top three in the league and injuries. You know who number one is? The Cardinals. The Cardinals. Yep. Yep. Fire them all.

Fire the training staff. Fire the head coaches. Fire the owner. Fire the owner. Can you do that? Can we do that? Can we pay for the stadium? Did we at least have them evicted from the stadium we pay for. Is it possible if we own the stadium to have him not allowed on the premises? I'm for it. Because he might sell the team if you can't watch the games. That'd be great. That's all

I'm saying. I'm for it. It's too bad we didn't pay for his house. Well, we kind of did. Put him out on the street. I guess we kind of did. Jameson Williams, keep playing him. Yeah. But it is a tough matchup on the road. Alman Ra is supposed to go? Yeah, that was the news. There was the

kind of the freak out on Monday. You're like, oh, Oman Ra, still dealing with that knee injury, but he's going to suit up. It didn't work out last week. Goff has been a top 10 quarterback in four or five games. Would you play him or Herbert against Houston? I think I'd play golf. I would play golf. Jacobi against Cincinnati or golf?

I think I might go Jacoby there. Yeah, I'd go Jacobi. I go Trevor Lawrence. The Vikings are number one against quarterbacks on the year and over the last six weeks. yeah it is um it's another it's kind of like the previous game jason talked about it like the divisional match it yeah like there's pride on the line like if the lions lose this game they have the same record as the vikings yeah if they lose this game guys they will have lost to max brosmer that will be one of the true insults i mean i'm not that one might receive we're not playing

week 18 if i'm on the lines we lose to max brosmer everyone suspended yeah to shut it down whoever we're supposed to play next week. Guess what? You won. Because we're not coming. Because we just brosmer. All right. Let's take a break and we'll talk the rest of the Christmas Day games and the Saturday games. All right, the Denver

Broncos, 12 and 3 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Slightly favored. The Denver Broncos. Yeah, they're just 13 and a half point road favorites. of a projected 36 and a half points. They are favored by two touchdowns in a game that they think there's going to be about 36 points. Which gives the Chiefs an implied team total of 11.5, which is now tied for the lowest of the year.

That is the Andy Reed, still Andy Reid led. Oh, man. Kansas City Chiefs at home, and they're current and soon to be former home in Arrowhead, with 11 and a half point implied total because Chris Oladookin we'll be starting to hear what you do. There's always

things that happen during the year where I wish we just had this sentence to say at the beginning like hey by the way, like here's some things that are going to happen this year. In week 17 the chiefs will be 13 and a half point home underdogs to Denver just so you know. Like that that's just wild. The overrunners 36 and a half, Broncos 25, Chiefs 11 and a half.

If Denver wins out, they get the number one seed, they get the buy. So it's a big deal. It's a big game, and they should cruise, cruise to victory. No almost upset here with Oladokin. Olo Dukin! Maybe now there is. Bo Nix, just so you know, Denver right now, over the last six weeks, number one in pass rate over expectation.

don't think it's a coincidence that that is coming alongside the loss of J.K. Dobbins. Sure. It's not that R.J. Harvey is a good player. It's that R.J. Harvey's a different player. J.K. Dobbins is a between the tackles, tough running type of guy. I haven't really seen that from Harvey in any way that I've

been impressed. I feel like I've seen good plays from Harvey's. The explosive speedster type of guy. Get him into space. Give him opportunities to get going. But he has been a top 12 running back three of the last four weeks since the by week. This matchup when you're favored by that much he's pretty much a must start yeah yep i agree you don't start any any chiefs right no so one catch last week for kelsey the only

Travis kelsey is the only one that like i can i would try really hard to switch i'm saying he's the only one on the team where you're i can try to tell myself the story of this team if Travis Kelsey's going off, or going out to retire, we got to get in the ball. But I can't. How can they get in the ball? I can't convince myself of that story. So it's, no, I'm playing no one on the Chiefs, if possible. Yeah.

And then on the other side, Corlin Sutton's been cooking. Yeah, this, just to speak real quick to what Mike just said, I didn't realize. We just saw this with Taysam Hill. What could be his last game, you know, at the Super Dome this is probably the last game at Arrowhead Stadium for Kelsey

this is his sending off party and I do think they'll try to get him a touchdown I don't know if that's possible with Brosmer like everybody's not gross the fifth It's impossible with Rosemur but oh do you're talking yeah sorry he might be able to do it

Carlin Sutton is quietly the wide receiver 11 the last three weeks have been good on the season yeah wow that he's who's the guy you just say it was 12? Jennings. So Jennings and Sutton with the quietest, most

not hurt, got them to 11 and 12. The market share has gone up for Sutton. Pat Bryan is going to miss this game. I'll say he's not playing this week. Pat Bryant. Freaking idiots. Yeah. Yeah. Troy Franklin,

if you want to give it a shot, Cortland Sutton's a much better play. And that's that game. Saturday, Houston, 10 and 5, Chargers, 11 and 4. This is a big one. Vegas line, Chargers minus 1 and a half. The overrunners 39 and a half. If the Chargers win out, they're the AFC West champs

because they play Denver in Week 18. And they're, you know, they've got the shot to do it. The Chargers, it reminds, it's like the San Francisco 49ers. Yes, 100%. Like, wait, what? They're that good? The Chargers can win their division? yep and because they've just been quietly getting it done they've won seven of their last eight games

the way doesn't feel that way the way that it's happened it was like three wins then a loss then a buy week so it kind of disappeared and then they've kind of got banged up yeah they weren't demolishing people and they won some games that were lower scoring so it just it hasn't been super impressive but i mean seven of eight games is crazy impressive in the NFL Both of these defenses are great. They're very good defenses. The over and under here is just 39 and a half, and I could see it being very, very difficult.

Like, I don't know how the Chargers withstand the pass rush from Houston. That's my biggest concern. They're going to try to use Hampton, right? Get the running game going. Hampton has forced a mistackle on 33% of his carries. That is the number one. That's a great number.

Least meow stat in the NFL, also the highest rate in the NFL. So Hampton is somebody that you, play and you just... Wait, is... Is Meowface still at zero force-miss tackles, guys? Mioson Taylor? I have no doubt. Kyle, please, I need an update. I mean, he hasn't played in a couple weeks, right?

I thought he played last week. He did. Yeah, he just played. I saw him catch a pass and fall over. I need him to finish the season. He's checking on it. With no force miss tackles. Do you feel like Hampton is a medium play or an actually bad play this week against Houston? No, I think he's okay. He's at least a medium play. I know the matchup is terrified. I get that, but when you're a workhorse running back who is talented and you're not just chasing volume, I'm playing him. Are we going to just, is the Orande Gadsden era over with?

No, not. He put me out last week and embarrassed me, and so he will go off. Let me be clear. If he had scored 75 points, you would have lost. That's true. You would have lost my 75. Matt of Gadsden. He didn't really put you out. Mike put you out of my misery. A pillow on the face.

That was not a pillow on the face. He buried you 18 feet deep. That was, I wasn't even looking. You just came up behind me in one swipe of the blade. Yeah. Mercifully kill. Yeah. Yeah, Gadsden, I wouldn't count on him this week at all.

No, it's hard to really imagine Herbert and the passing game having success. Their biggest struggle this year has been their past. rush, their past protection, their offensive line just decimated this year. It's really sad. Seeing how good they are, the fact that they could actually, you know, win out and be the AFC West champs is crazy when you consider how destroyed their offensive line has been and what could have been for a magical season for Herbert should that offensive line have been there. But the combination of a lack of past protection mixed with Houston's pass rush, that scares me. But if this wasn't, in Houston, I would easily pick the Texans.

This was one of the hardest games for me to see who's going to win. Yeah, it gives me pessimism around the Quentin Johnston, like having a follow-up performance as well. I don't think the downfield opportunities are going to be there. I don't think that's the game plan against Houston's pass rush. I think that will make it difficult. He's always good for an opportunity there, but I do feel a little bit worried that you're going to get a letdown from Johnston. Yeah, Derek Stingley. Oh, yes, yes.

and I have a championship matchup where I'm very much struggling with Alec Pierce versus Quentin Johnston Alec Pierce gets the Jags Quentin gets Houston and as of right now Pierce is in my lineup Now we do have word of Woody Marks Full practice on Tuesday

Okay so Woody marks Unfortunately the matchup stinks now Woody you took your time You had good ones I think he was hurt Well I don't get in there. Mike's an old school guy. That's what he's run some dirt on it. But yeah, I think if Woody Mark starts,

you start him. Yeah, I think you do. But this is a low scoring game. Dalton Schultz got back into the end zone again last week. Five for 35, you could do worse than Schultz. I like him more than Gadsden. And Nico Collins. Niko's really, to me, the only lock must play. Hampton is a probable play. This, this game, I mean, could it, I don't, I don't see how this game, you know, hits 50 points. Yeah, it's going to be a lower scoring affair. Baltimore is 7 and 8.

They take on the 9-5 and 1 Green Bay Packers. The Vegas line is Green Bay minus 2 and a half. The overrunners 40 and a half. I think Al is very happy this game is early on a Saturday to try to wipe the taste of the last week's disaster out of his mouth. It's also shorter for Mr. Jordan Love to get back from his. concussion. This is true. And the Green Bay, you know, you would expect them to be favored by more than two and a half at home if they knew that the quarterback was going to be back out there. The floor says today that Jordan Love remains in concussion protocol, but will practice

today after going through a walkthrough yesterday. So progressing through it. I mean, we were talking about it anecdotally of Love's concussion was the helmet, was the impact, was the helmet with the helmet. It wasn't the whiplash into the ground. Which yeah. Which I've, it's anecdotally I just feel like when I'm watching guys hit their head on the ground, those are the guys who miss the next week.

Well, they need to win. They need a win or a Detroit loss to get into the playoffs. I mean, they're not a lock. And we might not have a producer if they don't get a win in the next two weeks. Baltimore would be eliminated if Pittsburgh wins. They only have 9% playoff

chance, but you know, they're hoping to get Lamar Jackson back. You have starting quarterbacks that are banged up right now for both of these teams. The overrunners just 40. It's not a lot. Do they call each other and be like, I'll sit in my guy if you sit here. Give us each a week to rest? It's wild because, like, Malik Willis is also banged up.

They think he'll start or is capable of starting. They think he'd be ready if he has to start. Both him and Huntley are pretty similar in, like, they can be productive backups. they can get the offense moving enough. I've been impressed with Willis every start he's had. Yes, but he will, I mean, it came out, I guess, 9 for 11. He threw the big touchdown, right? To Dobbs?

Yeah, just in the, when they had him, you know, for that stretch run a year ago, whatever it was. And they were winning games. It was, they were very run heavy where. Josh Jacobs limited on Tuesday with the mean. If you're counting on receiving options. I prefer the Snoop side. So it's like Zay Flowers with Snoop Huntley or the other guys with Malik Willis.

I'm on the flower side. So who would you rather start Snoop Huntley, Malik Willis, or Josh Johnson? Okay. All right. Guys? This is a championship team? Yeah.

Most points scored in the league by week. I mean, you scored 89 last week. This should have been me and Mike. Malik Willis. I think I lost it like 137. He played 64% of the snake. and he was 10 for 44 on the ground. We know that is part of what the game plan would be.

Remember the hat? My hat situation? That's what I would do. I think you need to get to the hat. All right. Pull the name. Write a letter to Santa. See what he would do.

Josh Jacobs, obviously, he's not going to practice much if at all this week. Is that still good for him? No, no. Wait, hold on. Hold on. Was it actually good for him the other week? No, I was lying. me. I was lying. It would be better if he was healthy.

Thing is, I mean, you just mentioned it at the top of this matchup. You had me convinced that not practicing was good. If he's active, you're playing him, right? At home. If he's active on playing him, they need him. And I think that they hopefully learned a lesson last week where he wasn't injured to the point where he couldn't go back in. They took him off the field. They lost the game. Losing love, losing Jacobs, losing Micah. It's been a bad couple weeks for Packers fans. Very unfortunate. Did you see that little giff of the guy that's like pretending to wake up from the coma?

And he's like, oh, how are my seven and one Colts doing? They still leading the way in the AFC? You might want to go back to sleep. Green Bay two weeks ago is my Super Bowl pick from the NFC. I would. I agreed. I don't feel that way right now. No. I like Sam Fran more.

I like Seattle more. I like the Rams more. You like the teams that are in the playoffs more. better odds of winning the Super Bowl. Green Bay is going to make the playoffs. It's very likely. It's not locked, though. No.

And it would be exciting to go to the final week with the lines having a shot. Yeah. For excitement. If you don't have a horse in the race. It does make me kind of want the Ravens. I do want the Ravens to win this game, only from a standpoint of that might make the Ravens games matter. That might make the Packers games

matter more. That might make the Lions games matter more. It's just more exciting football next week. Played Derek Henry. I was just going to ask. But John Harbaugh said that it was a planned rotation. That's why he wasn't in there. He's going to say how many touches for the superstar crew of Keaton

Mitchell and Rashine Ali? I'm going to say too many. That's my number. He said John Harbaugh in retrospect would rather have had Henry and they're starting the final drive. I get it. I understand where he was coming from. I do understand what he was saying. I don't. It's dumb. I agree with you that it was dumb at a certain point in the game when you're up and you need to ice it and you have to win this game. You can't take Henry off the field. When he's crushing every play.

I think, I mean, I've complained about this, not just a fantasy complaint, but just for Baltimore. Like, Derek Henry could be on the field for third downs. It's okay. I would like. I hate that. I would like the defense to think, well, they might run it. I know it's third and five. They might run. But he's not our third down packages, Mike. It's so ridiculous. But a something to monitor, just pay attention to it. If Baltimore loses, then that affects Pittsburgh.

And Mike Tomlin did say this week, if Baltimore loses, they might. This is Saturday. Yeah, on Saturday. They might consider doing some things with personnel in their game. because they will have been, everything will be locked. Man. Which is basically just Jalen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. It's probably, it creates a...

I mean, there's nobody else in Pittsburgh your start. It's... Right. But it's, like, it's scarier. I've got Warren in two title games, and I really hope Baltimore win, so I don't even have to consider it. They could sit Rogers.

Oh, yeah. Because Rogers has been really hurt. They should sit Rogers if they don't need... Or play them a half. You know, like, that's something to consider and pay attention to and we'll Kenny Gainwell was almost my start of the week. He's been so good without D.K. McCaff. He's currently the team's leading

player in reception. So he'll be more involved if they are playing that game. So hopefully it's nothing and we don't even have to think about it, but you need to be aware. We'll be here Sunday live right? Yes. Also, if Jacobs misses, please don't forget about Emmanuel Wilson. Yes. He was very good on the ground last week. He could be a league winning type of player. Absolutely. If Jacobs misses this game, Emmanuel Wilson is a must

star. 100%. And he is I mean, like Devin Singletary, I think he will still get touches even if Josh Jacobs plays. You see the over under in the Pittsburgh Cleveland game? Oh. No, I haven't. Oh. 33. 33?

33 and a half. Mike's face says, that's a lump of coal in that stocking. Yeah, don't love that. Which game is that? Pittsburgh, Cleveland. Speaking of Cleveland. Which will go down if Baltimore loses, which they should.

Baltimore should lose this game. Dylan Samson returning to practice today. So for the team that lost quench on Judkins, Samson. And just in time for my last place, dynasty team. And Pittsburgh, Cleveland is one of the games to watch for weather.

Watson, Dobbs, Jaden Reed. Are you playing any of them without Jordan Love? without Jordan Love probably not I think that you'll have better options out there if I had to start one of them

probably Christian Watson despite the injury he was still involved still gets the target share he's the most explosive athlete that's the way I'd lean okay this game's this game's a little bit wild there's some unpredictability there with the starting

quarterbacks and everything's going to play out the defense has been better for Baltimore or Packers have a good defense. Do you guys remember, gosh, it was a while ago. Mike, you probably remember. You're the one with the memory. Matthew Golden. He was a first round pick.

He was. Yeah. You remember him? Way back in this past year. Yeah, I was the last draft. That was this year. Yeah. Most recent.

I remember that. Well, he did play 31% of snaps and have one target for no catches last week. That's cool. man. A swing and a miss. Sure looking like it. This is why they never drafted any quarterbacks for for Rogers. They knew that they can't. Wide receivers. They knew that they couldn't draft wide receivers. Why do it?

When you are this bad with this much opportunity for an entire season that isn't really marred by injury, your outlook in future success is like you are going, not that it hasn't ever happened, but you're in like the 10% odds betting market. I think Mike is preoccupied by the waivers that just went through in our league of record

where he went after someone in our league fully tried to sabotage me oh my gosh because you signed Brenton Strange as your insurance for Kittal Mm-hmm

Brenton Strange and Taysam Hill were my the top two options I got strange because I still had two fab but someone in the league put claims in on both of them Wow

taking some shots Wow so Mike you've been Jason and I were on the other side of this Mike, you've been on the side of do what you want to do. Yeah. You still feel that way?

Yeah. Even if both had been taken? I would have gone got conscious big basketball, but it's the game. It's the game. Okay. Well, I... Looks like your opponent signed the Buccaneers to play against Quinn Ewers. No, I knew I couldn't do anything to stop that.

In the listener league, I did get Kirk Cousins and Josh Johnson. What? How did you snuck go through? No competition there? Well, no competition on those guys, but I did also block Jake Tongis and AJ Barner. So he's, he was stuck with Gunner Helm. Do you know how much you're going to get beat by in that league?

Yeah. I'm going to say 18. That was fantasy forecast presented, as always, by prize picks. Seven days of Pick Smith is back. Unwrapped, the great max discounts on the app. through December 26. Then use the code footballers and get $50 in the lineups

when you play $5. Let's do a little Christmas mailbag before we head out for the holiday. Mailbag. We do want to hear about your titles. Hashtag footclan title over on X. Send it through.

Let us now the week's going. If you have a question for the show, you can go to the website, the fantasy footballers.com, or dial our voicemail our voicemail hotline, 302464 TFFB First question comes in from Diego and Puerto Rico Oh, bonjour!

Hey, big fan from Puerto Rico for my fantasy championship Do I bench Lamar with the back injury for Trevor Lawrence? Yes. Yeah, I would play. Mike, were you entertained? Yeah. Yeah, I think Trevor Lawrence, the matchup, the health, the heater he's been on, much better than Lamar.

And you were asking this question. in the office, do we have a t-shirt ready for championships? We do. Oh, fantastic. We have a couple of them that are getting finalized. But every year we release a footland title t-shirt at shopballers.com. Reserve me a couple. Okay.

Clip it. Clip it. Yeah. Stephen in Georgia. If I lose and you play that back, I'm going to feel worse. Yeah. Yeah. No. Yeah. We'll feel better. You won't feel better. I'll feel better. I'll feel great. Stephen in Georgia.

I clip it, because then when I win, I will play it over and over. Can I start Stevenson over Taylor? So Jonathan Taylor. Wow. Poof. Ramandre over Taylor full PPR. No. I agree.

That's a bridge too far. Jonathan Taylor has not done hardly anything compared to what he was doing for the majority of the year. And he's still been decent every week. He's so involved. You know, he's got a baseline of points that, is still very high. And then he hasn't, you know, he can always score a touchdown. He's not been a top 12 running back since week 10.

No, I, I, I, I, I, I agree with you. I like, I like to say. His floor is high, his ceiling is low. But I would start Jonathan Taylor. Joseph in California, would you rather start Harold Fanon on Sunday or wait for the decision on Kitt on Monday night? That's an easy fanon. It is very easy fanning.

I mean, Fanon is, has been so good where it's like, you, you could make the argument that if you know Kittles playing, but he's got the ankle injury, you should still play Fanon over Kittle this week. So the fact that you don't know. Yeah, and Jake Tongis is a, he's a decent player, but there's no guarantee his role in the offense as any significance. There was a note earlier. At least I saw it on Rodo World saying, like Shanahan saying that Tongis will be the one who would replace him.

Oh, I have no doubt he would replace him, but he won't replace him. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. He's not George Kittles. He's not. Otherwise, he would be playing. Yeah, you could win games without him, is what I'm saying. And Kittle feels like not that.

So Kevin and Phoenix with Henderson still, TBD, do I go with Aaron Jones on Thursday night football or Stevenson against the Jets? Oh, Ramandre. Yeah, Stevenson is the better play anyways. And then he is also the, like with Henderson, with Henderson being TBD, that's your backup option for him. But he might just need to be your starter option. Like if Henderson is healthy, I still would consider playing Stevenson. Would you? I would.

If Kittle doesn't play, would you play? Wait, no, no, answer this one. Answer this question. Henderson's still TBD. Like if he was active in this game, Ramandre Stevenson. I would play Stevenson. It's just a concussion. And Henderson's been the one getting more opportunities.

Just the matchup, I mean, you're saying so. Henderson, we know he's active. Would you play Aaron Jones over? No, Henderson over or Ramandre. He's got some other question. Yeah, what are you doing over here? I was looking at other stuff. I thought you guys answered the question.

You handled it. We were mid-answered. Are you putting this on us? Yes, I put this on you. For the mail bag that you're supposed to be a part of? No, but you had answered the question. No, we were asking you a question about it. We didn't answer it.

Well, I wasn't listening to you. I know. That's the point. So you're telling me. It's our fault that you're not listening? You're telling me that the question was, would you play Henderson or Remandre if Henderson is active? Yes.

Why is that a question? That's so stupid. What's the answer? It's obviously Henderson. You said Stevenson, but I didn't know what to go. I didn't know what the question was because I wasn't listening. I wasn't listening. I didn't know the question.

Not my fault. Oh my gosh. Can't hold me accountable. You can't hold me accountable. You parent children, right? I had children parents. Okay. What's your dumb question about your dumb team?

Go. Thank you. If George Kittle is inactive, would you play Jake Tongus having fun having fun or would you play Colson Loveland Do you want to win the title?

I do want to win the title? You play Loveland. Really? Yes. Lovelin hasn't been that good. Oh, then answer your own question. I'm feeling out all the options here. We're here answering a Footclan question.

Right in the middle. He's got a Tongis question. This guy. Tonjus in some of those kiddle absences earlier. I would consider Tangis over Loveland. Not me. But you have to get to Sunday night. Not me.

Sometimes the backup tight-ins come in and they have a roll in the score of touch center or whatever's going on. Sometimes they're invisible. Well, and I say it's the exact same game. Oh, yeah, yeah. Okay. I hope you lose by a thousand. That is it for today's. Sweet.

Merry Christmas. That is it for today's show. Merry Christmas, everybody. we'll be back on Friday with a mega matchup show all the Sunday games and the Monday night preview and the shame goodbye thank you for listening to another episode

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