Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast - Playoff Time! Week 15 Start/Sit + Jason's Rivers Dreams - Fantasy Football Podcast for 12/10

Episode Date: December 10, 2025

Fantasy Football show for Dec 10, 2025. The playoffs are here with tough start/sit decisions to be made! Should Tyler Warren be in lineups with Rivers returning? Start or Sit Michael Wilson vs the Texans? Plus, backup waiver wire options, injury updates, and a Thursday Night Preview. Get prepped for Week 15 fantasy football! Manage your redraft, keeper, and dynasty fantasy football teams with the #1 fantasy football podcast.(00:00) Intro(05:29) Backup Options(13:56) NFL News(20:07) Thursday Night Breakdown: Falcons at Buccaneers(28:40) Playoff Mailbag(29:39) 49ers DST or Seahawks DST(32:10) Husband vs Wife(36:20) Start or Sit: Tyler Warren(40:57) Brian Thomas Jr. or Jordan Addison?(42:24) Staying Active(45:16) Drop Alvin Kamara for Chris Rodriguez?(46:37) Start Michael Wilson or Justin Jefferson?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.

Welcome to the fantasy footballers podcast with your host, Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike Wright. The fantasy footballers podcast, Jason Moore, Mike, the fantasy hitman. I'm Andy Holloway. It's Wednesday, December 10th. Welcome into the podcast. Once again, we have a great show for you. We have news to talk about. We've got a Thursday night game to preview.

Your fantasy playoffs are here. Unless you're on by. I don't know. I mean, they're still here. I noticed appropriately in the comments that the buy, the first round buy folks were, they were a proud bunch. They're a proud, but where my buy people at? As they should.

The biweek bros, the biweek boys and girls, all who have biweeks, we shall celebrate. I did respond to someone. I did respond to someone on the Twitter sphere because they're like, man, what do I do? you know, doing a humble brag of, I got the bye week. Hey, Jason and Mike, I'm like, no. Yes, yes, you're right. You don't just sit back and do nothing. You are 100% right. You have an opportunity right now to be fully prepared. Everyone else is like this week, this week. You get to look at next week. Last week when I had clinched the playoffs, I did feel like it was the most real buy week I'd ever had because we were still a week away from the playoffs even starting.

if you are on by you pay attention do not take this week off be active make waivers look at the future weeks look at your opponents figure out who you would be worried if they win and what their weakness is

and snipe them be proactive Mike is so infuriating with this I hate that you don't rest on your laurels I really wish you rested on your laurels when you're up high they're not that soft when you're up high laurels are very rigid

I feel like you work harder than broken glass. Yeah, if you're just like, you know, treading water, if you're skimming, the season's going average, whatever. But if you're, if you're coasting, if you're up at 30,000 feet with no turbulence, you're like, right, I'm looking for a new route. How can I shave time off this flight? One of the reasons Mike has had some time to plan ahead is he's been locked in for like six, eight weeks in the playoffs. That does help.

But as Brooks is calling it the block, block, block, stash, dash, dash. Yeah. No, I mean, it's the right thing to do. But also, stash, stas, stas, do do do. Do you don't. You still need to react to what happens this weekend. Because if you make all your plans and then something changes, defensive injuries for the defense that you fell in love with that you stashed, opportunities that are brought forth by injuries, just make sure you're also reacting. And that's why we're still here.

I mean, if you're new to us this season. Welcome. Yeah, hopefully you've enjoyed the ride. We are five days a week all the way through the end of, yes, week 18. Sorry. But then we are still a year-round show. We're still with you twice a week all the way through the off-season. And the footie awards are on the way when we get to celebrate slash dunk on our favorite

and least favorite players of the season. And then we launched right into a. series we call it the the truth series where we really look back because it's never it's honest it's never too early to get ready for the 2026 fantasy football season and don't you don't want to leave the season with a distorted view of who was actually good because sometimes guys show up they're in the top 15 and so you're like well next year I'm I'm going to be in on that player did that player actually help you or did that player just Like, how did they get there?

We call that the DJ Moore. Yeah, did they spike, did they have three spike weeks, and then just a whole bunch of other crap that devastated you, and you kind of forget about it. So we want to, we start preparing, we lock in, we remember the truth, we examine what happened. Yeah, and then we'll be into, I mean, draft season is not far behind it with, you know, free agency, the draft season, player prospects, all the stuff that we, we get primed up. And you get into the dynasty pass in February. So we're not talking about a huge break. we're here year round make sure you click that subscribe button on youtube youtube dot com slash the fantasy footballers subscribe click the bell and uh follow the show on spotify apple podcast wherever you're listening

and stay with us all off season as well so the website the fantasy footballers dot com all of our weekly rankings for the upcoming playoff week start sit tool ultimate dashboard streamfinder all of the resources that have gotten better and better over the years shout out to the dev team tirelessly working to make them better and to put them onto the mobile app, Fantasy Footballer's mobile app as well. All right, we're going to jump right in. Backup options, presented by progressive insurance.

So apparently we really needed a backup option at the lighting. I'm just going to come out and say it because I don't want the comments to be just littered. Yeah. Mike noticed right before we were starting the show that I look a little red. And then I was like, oh, am I like getting sick or something? What's going on? Hit the tanning booth?

No. You're getting that red light therapy while we record. And so then I was like, okay, we dealt with it. We realized one of the lights is broken. And then, of course, first thing like Brooks says is, and he's not in here. You know, he's just like, is there a red light on Andy? So I know what's coming in the comments. Yeah.

And the answer is technically yes. How does a light break and not stop working? Just say, I'm red now. Like, I have changed my colors. Like, you're light to know when they break. They just, they just turn off. Do we know it's broken or should I point out that Al Borland isn't here for one day in Dueser's alley? No coincidence.

I think not. I tried to fix it. It's broken. That's our point. That's our point. That's the point. I tried to fix it after I broke it. I said it to red and it hasn't been able to.

No, so I am apparently redder today. I tried to fix it, but I don't know how. Yes. All right, backup options. We like to look at players that are the most dropped list on Sleeper over the last 24 hours. We always talk about, I mean, we had bi-weeks last week, players that have hit the waiver wire, desperation pickups. The one that I was the most shocked at from a roster percentage standpoint. I love this one.

It's kind of the forgetfulness of Kishon Booty in New England. Can't forget that booty. that's my point the guy's coming through that's right so kishan booty had the by week was coming off of an injury

the snap counts are back where they used to be he has scored so many touchdowns this year this is like a situation where I saw 45% roster for kashan booty that's kind of crazy to me I mean you had a wide receiver

4, 20, 11 then he got hurt came back played 80% of snaps didn't do much and then scored again last week against the Giants. You have Buffalo, Baltimore, New York. You have some big games. He's a big time player.

I, you know, I look at what Drake May has been great at. Number one in deep passing in the NFL, where is the Bill's defense this week? 23rd. So I think Kashan Bouti is one of the best bets on a touchdown this week. Do you worry? I don't know if you've seen this, but Stefan Diggs, his contract was very incentive-laden, and he has all, he's like, He can make, like, more than $2 million from here on out.

He's about to squeak. I couldn't care less about that. Yeah, I do agree. Diggs doesn't have the notoriety to the name, and the team has some very serious things to play for. We will have some information on incentives as we get close to the end of the season. Those things really do matter. We've heard from coaches, like, I tried to get this guy, the ball. I mean, it doesn't always happen.

It's no guarantee. Yeah, the gravity of the game matters. matters whether they make it a priority. If the game doesn't matter that much, they might do it. The Mike Evans thousand from last year. It's so gross. Wasn't they, wasn't they supposed to be kneeing the ball out? Yes, I think there was a play. They basically went and got like, they needed like five more yards. And he got like eight more yards. And it was like you would usually need this out. But it's like, uh, 14 targets. But they took the risk. Yes. Week 18. They said, we're going to get

you there. Yeah. And that's going to be harder this year. These are human. Yeah. These are human beings. friends and they care about their contract. So it's legit. Yeah, I don't disagree that Kashon Booty is a good pickup. I just basically wanted to bring up the digs reality that he's going to be a squeaky wheel, want that ball, wanting him yards. I'll go with mine because it should be pretty quick, pretty quick and easy. It's Darren Waller. We talked about him a lot yesterday on the Waiver Wire show, and you might be going, well, he wasn't on my waivers. That's my point. That's why I'm bringing him up today. Check today, because he's on the most dropped list. So when your waivers run through, he might

have been dropped. And this is not necessarily a pickup place. He's very high up on that list. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, he's, he had a very down game. They ran... Check on Britain Strange, too. I bet you both those guys are together on their list. They are. They're right back to bad. Oh, is he on that list as well? Yeah, exactly. And so,

yeah, Darren Waller, this is a beautiful matchup. Not this week, but he's got the Bengals next week. And if you've got enough roster spots, you can do double duty here. Mike, I want to about years after you. Okay. Just to be clear, Waller has the easiest schedule of all tight ends the rest of the way.

Number one. He's targeted on 57% of his routes inside the 10 this year. That is number one in the NFL. So he's a great pickup. This week for Waller is still a plus matchup. It's not as great as next week. But it's good. 26.

The matchup that Waller has next week, Isaiah likely has this week. Now, I haven't been in the starts of the week dock lately because I put my guy in. I imagine that Mark Andrews is probably listed. by one of the two of you, because he should be. But Isaiah likely... Oh my gosh, this dude could have been the talk of fantasy football right now. Multiple weeks in a row he could have been... Yes, this is what I mean.

He had two touchdowns taken away. One by him, one by the reps. It's been a very disappointing season overall. I think for Mr. Likeley, should you have made your wager that he was going to take over the job from Mark Andrews, that did not happen. That did not happen long term either, as Mark. Mark Andrews got the bag of money to be a Baltimore Raven for a few years. But Isaiah likely plays the Cincinnati Bengals. There's more than enough tight-in production to go around.

Mark Andrews can still have his game. Should you not have a great option at the tight-end position this week? Just look at the bills of last week. Dalton Gincade. Awesome game. Dawson Knox. Who does not, he's not used as a pass catch. So my start of the week is Charlie Kohler.

So here's a cool stat from Ryan Heath of fantasy points. He was pointing out that the tight end two against the Bengals is scoring on average eight fantasy points per game, which isn't like, oh my gosh, that's amazing. But we're talking about the backup tight end for their routes run. The list is like Isaiah likely. Remember when Austin Hooper had a good game against Cincinnati or Jono Smith or Dawson Knox? You want to know why? It's because the first guy's so tired.

So exhausted. I can't catch any more pastes So here's Help Here's This is always tough When we want to say things

But we don't want to say them On the show We're coming to Oh no This is from my life My heart Oh no Tell me if I am crazy or not

I want I have Mark Andrews Yeah I want to drop Mark Andrews And pick up Isaiah likely I want to play likely Over Andrews I think that he is a better

matchup Has a high floor of yards he had 90 plus yards against Cincinnati a couple weeks ago. He's had 10 fantasy points two weeks in a row. And he is so much more. He is the perfect play against the Bengals. I want to pick him up and play him. I'm worried that my opponent is going to pick Isaiah likely up. He's

got Don't Cicade, so he probably probably won't. But like that scares me and I'm, is that insane for me to want I went to do it this morning? As a defensive move or to play no, to play him instead of Mark Andrews. Okay. Yeah, I mean I don't I don't think that's crazy at all. I went to do it this morning, unfortunately. coin flip, but

I feel like the bigger game potential is definitely with likely. Right. Yeah, if you want to say one of these guys ends up with like 18 fantasy points, probably likely because the yards will be there. Mark Andrews because he could easily have two touchdowns and end up with a great game, but he's probably not going north of 60 yards. Whereas

if you want a hundred yard game, that's Isaiah likely. I do think if you're struggling, great pickup to play this week. And it turns out I can't, because I had two guys in the IR who are now ineligible. Oh, no. roll with Andrews but okay the newly financially minted

extended Mark Andrews yeah that was backup option sponsored by progressive insurance quotes today at progressive.com news and notes from around the league presented by progressive insurance yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes does all I want to talk about the whole show

yes big Phil Philip Rivers has a very real chance to start week 15 against the Seahawks he was signed to the cult yesterday. This is incredible. This is incredible. It doesn't even matter how it goes. It doesn't matter if he goes out there.

Well, this is real gladiator thrown to the lions thing. Yes. You either see somebody conquer a lion or you see them eating by one. And either way, you buy a ticket. Yeah, you buy a ticket because it's like I've never seen someone eaten by a lion. Right. But also, what about the power of man if he overcomes? That is a great analogy.

I mean, this is a 44-year-old who hasn't taken a hit. in the NFL in half a decade, this could go real bad. I mean, if you, there's this AI or this bit parody thing going around about Philip Rivers, this quote, don't believe that on this fake radio show.

But he did go on Dan Patrick earlier this year and talked about the reason he had delayed signing a one-day contract with the Chargers to retire a Charger. And it was because in 2021 and 2022,

he was working out, he was in playing shape, he was ready to go. There were teams that almost signed him at the end of the year. Basically this kind of perfect storm. Yeah. Team, you know. Except still three years ago. I know. Team you know, coach you know, offense you know.

And, I mean, to be very clear, this reeks of unconscionable desperation. This is Jeff Saturday all over again. I mean, it's awesome. I mean, maybe Saturday would play center for him. I mean, maybe that's. No, no, we did get. get a report from Saturday that he will not come out of retired. Oh, wow. But I mean, because I think

the quote was because he knows, I know my place. My guy. My guy. You jumped into a head coaching position for. Oh, you would do the same. I'm, yeah, but then I'm not like, oh, I know my place. I don't know. Right. You don't know your place. You can't have it both ways. Yes. That's all I mean. But listen, Philip Rivers is apparently the, the player they want to send to Seattle to die. Um, it's going to be amazing TV. I am, this is as bad of a matchup you could ask for to go into Seattle

off of five years of not playing football. Two touchdown dogs. Monday night football the following week is the Colts. And now we don't know if Philip Rivers. Wait, is the Colts? That means are the 49ers. No, I'm saying they're on Monday night football the following week. So this is prime time great television. We don't know if Phil Rivers is going to start this week. He might not be alive by then. might not um you know it's it's crazy because i see it as like a what rag now i six yeah i see it as a 60 40 where it's like i do think there is a chance you have 40 percent that it goes well i do what is it's it's the hopeium it's the hopeium it's the hope you're having jonathan taylor and michael pittman i need it to go well so i want stop it i want it to go well i want

Philip Rivers to go out there and sling the ball and throw for 270 plus yards and two touchdowns and be fine. I mean, that's the dream, and I'm giving it 40%. But the dream for Indianapolis is he is still good at handing the ball off and throwing four-yard four-yard outs. If you think he's threatening down the field, the first downfield throw from Phil of Rivers with his little shot-put throwing motion. This is why it's great for Michael Pittman.

No out-rout. Oh, Michael Pittman. I think it's the best. for nobody and i think 15 targets for 80 yards that's downs 10 i don't know down that's that's warren it might be it might be worn and and hopefully jonathan taylor gets five checkdowns oh man it's amazing alec pierce is going to be so pissed oh my god oh yeah sorry alec you're you're back to run and win sprints he's going to be so tired and have zero targets it's so it's so wild what is the weather like in this game likely rain it's so entertaining anyways that's that's that's that's

is the most must-watch thing in maybe years. Because it's a science experiment. Like, we have these kind of thoughts where it's like, what if, you know, what if the science on aging is already in, Jason. But not aging then coming back to the NFL

after five years. This is a fascinating. It was, I mean, this is, you are 100% right, Mike. This is exactly like when the Colts hired Jeff Saturday, where you go, could you just hire someone who's a great leader and have him come in a head coach who's never had coaching experience.

Maybe, maybe, and it turned out. Rivers is four years older than his coach, I think? He is older than, I think, 12 head coaches in the NFL right now. It's amazing. It's amazing. Because it's a little bit, all right, Brady, like, literally it's way less weird if Brady at 46 came back to do this. Yes.

Because Brady is TB12, my body is my temple, you know. Like, Philip Rivers. He said he was a little too heavy. Yeah, he was like, Dan asked him, could you come back and play? He's like, absolutely, which was nice to hear him say, like, I could go play a game. He's like, I'm a little heavier. Okay, strike one. But then he followed it up and said, you know, I could sling it.

I might be in a wheelchair on Monday. Yeah. I know the difference of getting hit at, you know, 43 or getting hit at 38. It's bigger than you think. Yeah. Mike Tomlin said DK Metcalf should be able to play in week 15 against the Dolph I think it might be a good week for him again. Drumford on Inter Reserve for the Browns, and that was news and note, 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, coverage subject to policy terms, limits, and conditions. We'll take a break. We'll ask the producers to put like a green light on Mike and a blue light on Jason, and we'll be back in a minute. Yeah. what was the what was the drop that was too red for you that you couldn't handle oh the panic alarm is that what that was maybe that's what caused the problem yeah ironically the one light that doesn't turn red when you do that not joke I wish that people could see yeah

every light in here turns red except the one that is red when you're not doing the panic alarm you can't turn red if you read fair you can turn white but apparently the light can still go white because it turned back to white. I don't know what's happening around these parts. It's breaking down. The season's almost over. Let's talk Thursday. Thursday night breakdown.

All right, breakdown. Perfect segue into this team. Atlanta, four and nine. Tampa Bay, seven and six, and just very thankful. They're thankful for the division that they play in. Tampa is. Oh, yeah. Because they've been on a you know, a rough

stretch. Yeah, I mean, Baker is clearly, hopefully, dealing with some kind of injury because he's not been playing very well. His catchable rate on his passes is not good. They're not throwing the ball that much either. Both of these teams right now rank bottom five and pass rate over expectation for the last month. I don't

know if that's because of the play. Maybe getting Bucky back has helped as well that you can run the ball more, but this division will be either the Bucks or the Panthers in the playoffs. And fascinatingly, two of the next three weeks, they play each other twice. So that's fun.

Well, we do have news this morning. Mike Evans could play this week on Thursday. We might see him back out on the field. It is a very positive matchup, arguably the most positive matchup possible for wide receivers. Am I asking you to forgive and forget with the Mecca Abuka? Yes, I am. That is what I'm asking you to do.

The targets are something we are paying attention to. We talked about the lack of connection, right? Baker, not playing the MVP-level football he was at the beginning of the year. For whatever reason, injury, out of sync, lack of Mike Evans, lack of whatever. It hasn't worked. I personally have no problem with Abuka this week. I'm not playing Evans on the way back, but I'm watching closely.

Are you guys risking it in a great matchup? Mike Evans is someone that I am willing. to play over, you know, like if I'm toying with like Devon Veilet or someone that we talk about Osweger himself. Oh yeah, we've got a match up where we are starting Mike Evans. We currently are

strongly considering. I would say it's the most likely thing we're going to do should Mike Evans be active. Over? Over DJ Moore. With no, O'Donzie. Well, just because more is just over DJ more No, no, no. I just. Yeah, I get it.

I'm just saying you're not buying into any hope that that gets better from more. He should have scored in the last game. I mean, wide open on that target to Loveland in the back of the inside. There was no O'Donzee, no, Dunezay, the last two weeks, right? And he's had two catches and one catch, DJ more. I think of Dunezay's missed one so far. But, yeah, no, I'm not saying you wrong.

I'm just curious about the perspective. That's currently how we're playing it. The matchup is last six weeks, Atlanta 32nd against wide receivers. So that's the, but you'd play a Bucca over Evans. Yeah. Oh, yes. So, and Godwin, the target share, it's been there. I'll still play Abuka over Godwin, too.

Yeah, I think my order in that game is Abuka, Godwin Evans. Yep, yeah, I can agree with that. We don't have KDOT in practicing right now, so you may need the wide receivers a little bit more. Kyle Pitts has been good on the other side. He has. 34% target share last week. I don't know if we see Drake London again the rest of the year, unfortunately. Yeah, it feels that way.

I don't know that you would want to rush him back, and, you know, it's a knee injury, so you don't want to make it worse. This is a situation where you've got, he's played four games with Kirk Cousins. He was a tight-in-nine, the tight-in-six, and the tight-in seven, and three of those four. Would you rather go Kyle Pitts,

or would you pick up Isaiah likely? I would rather go likely. Okay. I have the Kyle Pitts-Dolton-Kade decision this week in listener league. And I am, you know, with the little bit of news that Kyle Pitts was being limited, but then you got the Thursday game. That's probably why. I'm probably going to go pits. Really? I think so. I think so. I would lean Concade. Just telling you what I would do.

Yeah. Look out, look how angry Andy got there. It's so red. Red Hulk. Here we go. Didn't we have this happen one time on one of our cameras? I think it's happened. Around the NFL tweeted this out. I think it's interesting for just for watching. purposes. The Buccaneers playoff chances rise to 80% with a win on Thursday and they drop to 54% if they lose. So this is, you're, you're in must win territory now. And it's a divisional game. So this, you know, Atlanta, a lot of times you're like, well, teams that don't have much to play for, they want a better pick or whatever. When they're playing these divisional matchups, they're trying to play spoiler. Just like the Cardinals tried to spoil the Rams last week. And if you're

curious about the 54% it's because of the Carolina Panthers. Guys, the Panthers might get into the playoffs. Yeah. A scenario I think I have not allowed myself to even think about

until this moment in time right now. I mean, they're about 500. Yeah, it's very possible. They play Tampa two more times. It's perfect for this, for this division. I mean, it's, you get head-to-head control of your destiny. Yeah. Both of them, basically, if they win both of those games, James, whoever, if Carolina does, they're in, if Tampa does, they're in. Yeah, and I don't know that I really put their odds that low.

Carolina is up and down this year, Tampa Bay up and down. Tampa Bay defense is not, you know, there was a time we were looking at them as the defense to grab for the playoff defense. They're not good enough. New report, Bulls said Mike Evans has shown everything he needed to show in practice to get activated and make his return Thursday. So it looks like he's in. Okay, there you go. Bucky Irving, two games since his return, RB14 and RB12. Plenty of touches.

Looks great. Bucky is in. Thank you, Bucky. I needed you really badly for my playoff. He's not finished lower than running back 19 on a week while he's been active. And Bijon, of course, you play him. I don't think a lot of people are feeling up to playing Baker-Mayfield, but this would be a matchup that on paper looks like, you know,

getting Evans back, having the three-weigh. wide outs. I think it might work out. He's, he's my quarterback 14. So certainly if you're in a two quarterback, you know, Super Flex League, he is in play as, you know, a decent flyer. Um, but it's been a, it's been, it's been 12 for me. Yeah. Baker, that's about Baker against Atlanta or C.J. Stroud against the Arizona Cardinals. I would play Baker. I play Baker. I don't, I don't think the Cardinals. Yeah, we just disagreed. Okay. Uh, then how about Trevor Lawrence, who's been on, uh, he's heating up Lawrence I've got him two spots higher I have Baker two spots higher okay so we'll just disagree for you hey what the show's not about just agreeing with each other that's

true it's about one of us being right and one of us being wrong yeah um all right anything else from this game you want to talk about no I mean let's get back to congrats to Tess Johnson for his little run of relevance yeah I mean if Baker gets if Baker gets back to what he was last year, what he was to start this year. And that might not be until next year. But I do think he could support a whole gaggle of wide receivers when he's in his prime. You know, if he's, if he's healthy and playing well. Yeah, but one of those is not going to be Tess. Mick Millen's on the way back. Yeah. Um, I, is this your drink over here? Yeah. Oh, okay. I just put one of my fingers into it. Um, all right. That was my

drink. All right. It was your drink. Uh, that was just a coincidence. Okay. Thanks for Don't make me angry. One on a million. One and a million. That's exactly what it felt like. I just was like, why is my finger in this drink? All right. Awesome.

I'm going to hit this button. Mailbag. Mail bag. From the jump on this show. You got a sticky finger now. I mean, from the red light, no Al Borland. some of the things I said into the mailbag

we go the fantasy footballers.com click the submit a question button dial the voicemail hotline [phone] TFFP if you're not following us on social media shame

you're missing out Instagram.com slash fantasy footballers there's a great cut from yesterday's show that oh yes you could just watch good work by Matt the Falcon I mean you can watch it on repeat

constantly I watched it a lot it was so funny Hope Jason's learned his lesson. Nah. He gave us gold. He's a cool kid. All right.

Voice mail question. Let's start it off. Hey, ballers. Love the show. Quick question. Picked up the Niners defense for the first week of the playoffs. I have been rolling with Seattle. Do I play the Camphorn matchup or ride the hot hand?

Thanks. So I think this has happened to a lot of people where the Seattle, you assumed you were doing a Seattle pivot this week. It's Niners versus Tennessee and it's Seattle. versus P. River. I don't think either one's going to disappoint you personally. I think Seattle, they're such heavy favorites. I just don't see a scenario where anybody for the Colts

at the quarterback position does enough to make you upset you played Seattle. I don't mind you staying in the hot hand there. Yeah, it's like they're the better defense than the 49ers actually is. But I also feel like the 49ers is going to be pretty safe with Cam Ward. If Philip Rivers doesn't go for the Colts, then, oh, no, it might be Riley Leonard. And if it's not Riley, oh no, it might be

Brett Rippin. Oh, man, if Brett Rippin farts is out there and the Seahawks, and then if he doesn't, if he's not able to go, Tyler Warren is the backup quarterback. Yeah, and that would be a pure let's run the football pretty much. I'm looking at our League of Record

scoring, and on the course of this season, all defensive units, the number one scoring defense, for our scoring is the Seattle Seahawks with 156 points scored on the season. The second place Houston Texans is down at 124. They have been, they do what scores in fantasy. So I would roll with the Seahawks.

I think also in the back of your mind is the fact that Cleveland seemed like an amazing matchup against Tennessee last week and gave up a billion points. Tell that to Tony Pollard, superstar. The only thing in the back of my mind is I remember being so excited to throw against the, to throw my defense in against old man Joe Flacko with no offensive line for the Bengals and then he got the ball out so quick he couldn't give up a sack the entire game.

It was like, oh, it's so frustrating. And you're alluding to Rivers being able to do that? Just snap the ball, check it down. If you don't have a Philip Rivers jersey by the end of this week, I'm going to be really disappointed. He's got some redemption to do for me, P. Rivers does. There's got to be some clearance, Rivers, Colts jerseys out there right now.

No, wait a minute, you've got to get the new one. He's not wearing the same number, is he? Yeah, I'm sure. I'm sure it's the same thing, man. I would guess. I'm sure he's wearing the same one. He took off him for the last game. Unless you want to customize it with P. River on the back.

All right. Into the next voicemail. Hey, ballers. Eric and Kansas is here. So matched up against the whites in playoffs round one. I've given her random lineup recommendations throughout the year whenever she asked. My obligated to help her this week.

appreciate you guys as always peace out. This is the spouse versus spouse in the fantasy football players. My obligated to help her. No. No. There's only, did he specify if this was the first year of her playing? I don't care. See, that's the only

way you could possibly justify giving her a little help. You've given her 15 weeks of help. But yeah, if it's not her first year, then there's no a house divided against itself cannot stand. The house is your team. Yeah. I'm stealing

the lifeboat. Get out of here. Room for one. Oh. Breaking news. Oh, I don't even know what it is. Cardinals are not activating Traybentz and his season is over. Oh, today's the day. Yeah. And a little bonus, breaking news, Kate Otten officially doubtful, so he's not going to play. Oh, man, Big Culp's?

Took me a second. You talk about the backup tight end? Devin Culp? Big colps, huh? Big Culp's. Well, see you later. Nice. Also, I blame Gannon for Benson getting hurt. Really?

Yeah. Anything I can throw at the feet in terms of blame for Jonathan Gannon, I'm going to do it. I thought about this on the way home yesterday. I was driving home. I was thinking about it. The best way to fire him? No, the best thing we can do is a show. It's been years since we've had this.

We need this graphic rebuild. number two yes we do yes we do there is a new number two there's a new number two dude uh sucks there's only one way to get this guy out of town and it is this drop number two we've done it twice before we will do it a third time yeah they're fired you'll get fired i don't know by tomorrow that graphic is updated yeah we need to make sure i deusers i like to think in my egotistical world that we do have number two some pull or some sway with our silly, silly, silly, stupid fantasy football show.

Those coaches, they deserve a lot of credit for have gotten fired back then. Oh, right. It wasn't all arguing. Adam Gaze, Arthur Smith. They did a lot. They did a lot on their own. They did some heavy lifting. They did the majority of the work. Gannon has put in the work. Yeah, he really has. He gets, now it's the reward time. Go on vacation forever. That's the worst part. I know. It really is. Because his reward, should he be fired, is to collect massive, massive paychecks. I feel like when you deserve it that bad, you should have to pay it back.

You know, we're firing you and also the money we gave you for the last year. You owe us that. Where's the NFLPA at? How did the coaches get guaranteed contracts? And the players who are out there who could suffer. You ever met any of these owners, Mike? I'm just saying. They like to do wild stuff.

You need that guarantee. as a football player on any given play you can suffer a permanent physical disability to your life you're saying and then the team is just like sorry about that hope you made enough money along the way and the coaches are like i'm just gonna coaches should not have guaranteed it's ridiculous it should be like we pay you while you work for us and it i mean it should be just like the just like the players players incentive based yeah but the minimum i can tell you exactly why that happens okay and that's the same thing that happens at the quarterback position with guaranteed contracts. It's the scarcity of the position and you you started to build demand or you started to build the guarantees in because it was a way to attract the best coaches to play for you, which is what you do with the players now. It's just that it doesn't go through a 50. We need a revolution. A 55 man roster. I'm done with this. I'm done with fully guaranteed contracts for these coaches. I don't think you are. I am. The league may not be, but it's nonsense. The number one most asked about player this week and for good

reason it's Tyler Warren and whether people stick with him, play him. Sheesh. The number one starts a question on our website is Tyler Warren or Harold Fanon. I saw the weather for the Bears Browns game. Negative 20 is what I saw.

Is that like a feels like? Yeah, feels like windchill, negative 20. I think that's a really tough decision. I don't like Tyler Warren against Seattle. Seattle. If you told me that new quarterback plus great tight-in matchup, I would be like, okay, I don't think you pivot from Tyler Warren to anybody. But I think that fan and decision is tough. And I think the next one from Joe writing in on Instagram, Isaiah likely or Tyler Warren,

I think that is really tough. Now, what would you do? Yeah, these are very difficult questions. And I'll say that with all of them, whether it's Isaiah likely or. or Fannin or whoever, just deciding whether you can start Tyler Warren is the first hurdle. If Philip Rivers is active, I will be starting Tyler Warren. I do think Philip Rivers is not going to go out there and throw for 88 yards. And even if he goes and throws a couple interceptions, he's going to throw for 200 yards. If he does, Tyler Warren will be involved. And while the matchup against Seattle on a team level is a difficult matchup against tight ends,

They're 27th, and fantasy points given up to tight ends. It's not the scariest matchup. I think Philip Rivers can get the ball to him. So I will... I told you, if he doesn't have a jersey by the end of the week. I'm sitting here trying to bet on, like, how do I bet you on the 200-yard thing you just said? That's what I've been thinking about. Let's go.

200? Oh, that's a handshake. Yeah. Yeah, 200 yards, $100. Sure. All right. You didn't have to do that. I didn't?

Yeah. I believe. No, you don't. I do. No, you don't believe. You have, you hope. You need to believe. Yes.

Your team is so... I believe in my hope. I believe in my hope. My hope is enough. You have Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman. There is a reason your psychology is what it is. Dude, if, if Phil, Phil, if you do this to me again for a second time, years after you retire. I mean, you're asking a lot from this dude.

I am asking a lot from you, Philip. And I expect it. I hope for it. Would you like to know after we shook hands what his line is, yardage-wise? Oh, no. I had no idea it was up. He has a line? He's got a line, brother.

Yeah, he does. Yeah, guess the line. You're so good at guessing. I'm going to go. How high in the 200s is his line, Jason? No, it's going to be like 189. Uh-uh. It's lower?

Yeah, because it's 44-year-old Philip Rivers, Jason. Come on, man. 165? Uh-uh. No! What? 150? Um, 152.5.

Holy-oh. moly well i know what i need to go do since i know he's going to be over 200 and you know what i'm going to do i'm going to send you the 100 right now so you have to send me 200 and i'm going to pull the same move on you that you pull on me oh my gosh 152 yeah what am i doing you're really you've got a lot of opium i am i am literally fueled by hopium right now in philip rivers that's right i'm sending i'm not seeing clearly guys hundred dollars right now all right we'll Take a break. We'll be right back. It did just get worse for you, Jason.

The line moved down. No, no, the line is there. But for a quarterback to throw a touchdown, he is in plus odds. Oh, my gosh. What? Yeah. But, wow. As in, they think that he is more likely to not throw a touchdown.

A singular pass. Can you figure out why? Oh. Because they're dumb, that's why. It's Philip Rivers, 44 going to Seattle. 12th man. I felt like I was just going to watch a man. This game just got twice as entertaining.

Oh, Jason has brought me in. Yes. I am so ready for this. I will let you get out of the bet if you send me back right now. You can give me like an extra 25 on my 100. No, no, I'm taking your 100. I'm investing it right now. I may not have it

Come Sunday All right We got another voicemail Ballers Stop This is Han Chulo From New York Flex question

Would you start Brian Thomas Jr Or Jordan Addison And every time on the odds Just tell me who to start Okay I thought Did that man say his name was Hon Cholo?

What? I didn't Play it again Play it again You want the whole thing Yeah yeah yeah Yeah, play it again. Ballers.

Stop, this is Hancholo from New York. Hunchulow. Next question, would you start Brian Thomas Jr. or Jordan Addison? Brian Thomas Jr. against the Jets. Just tell me who to start. Jordan Edison versus Dallas. Jordan Addison before I landed on

Isaiah likely is my backup option. Jordan Addison was going to be my backup option versus Dallas. Addison is interesting because of the matchup. He's a backup option. Yeah, I mean, it's Brian Thomas. Brian Thomas is a regular option. Yeah.

Yeah, and it would be, you know, the most fantasy football thing for us to circle back to Brian Thomas Jr. having a hand in fantasy championships after having a hand in nobody making the playoffs that drafted him. Brian Thomas, you should, y'all should check out the, this week's dynasty podcast. I was on with Betts and Borg. We did some dynasty differences. And Brian Thomas Jr. was talked about a good amount. And I have some... I think both these guys are definitely, they could both have a great week. Yeah. Yeah. I, I, agree with that, but I'm, I would play Brian Thomas. Yeah, we all would. Yep. All right, classic yearly debate question, Rob Henry, if you are eliminated from the playoffs,

is it bad for them to prioritize waiver pickups? I am on the side of no, because what number one, your league should have, it should have some incentive to not finish last. And if you have that, It's hard if it's a non-keeper non-dynasty league and it's pure redrafts and you're out of the playoffs and you're in the playoff weeks. I do understand not having people participate because it feels like it's an act of collusion because it will be intentional towards one person. I understand the arguments for not letting it happen, but also I understand the arguments for, screw you, I'm not letting you get players. So you're saying, let's say Tank Bigsby's on the waiver wire and we go into the playoffs. Saquan Barclay is going to miss time. So now the competition for Saquan

Barclay should only be six people? Maybe. But I think you need to have this as a league rule. And if it's not a league rule, then you need to let people... Then live your life. Go ruin everyone else's. Do what they want to do, for sure. The only reason I say it the way that I did is like if you're the one with Saquan

and then a non-playoff team goes after your backup, it feels like an attack on you. Oh, yeah. And by extension, benefiting the, other opponent in the matchup, which doesn't feel like it's, because it's not me, it feels collusion, because it's not me versus you at that point. I would normally pick up Tank Biggs me to keep them away from you because I want to beat you in the game or in the season. Right. But because I can't participate in that active part of beating you, me, my team, I feel like

I probably, if it were my league and there were no incentives. There's no punishment for last place. Not a keeper league. I would probably prohibit post-playoff signing from non-playoff. to be adamantly on your side, Mike. And over time, I have, I think I've gone, like, I'm not super against it, but I think my, my toes are in the water of the against it side. And it doesn't feel too chilly. Which you can fix that with just, just make it competitive for the non-playout teams to do something. A punishment for last place justifies the signing of anybody.

Just make sure that there's a reason. But if it is like pure lame duck six teams, I probably don't let them do it. But again, it has to be a league rule. It can't be somebody just going, like when it happens. Can't just be in the playoffs. You're just like, what are you doing? You set a rule up before the year. Otherwise live with it, sucker.

And I don't want to be in last place. I don't remember which NFL player was just interviewed like a week ago talking about, hey, your team's out of the playoffs. You know, what, what are you guys playing for? And he came out and said, we're just, I'm playing to ruin other people's, like, championships, their playoff hopes. And so it's like, yeah, you can, you could just play. play to ruin it for other people.

Matt says, burn it down. Is it worth keeping Alvin Camara on my roster or should I drop him and stash Chris Rodriguez for a championship week against Dallas? Oh, interesting. I don't know that I've heard anything about Camer.

I would 100% sign Chris Rodriguez. I think Camara, you have two things that have to happen with Camara. Because this team's not going to be relevant down the stretch for a playoff run. You have to have him get healthy and you have to have him get enough work in this offense to be viable. Why wouldn't

the team want to see more Devin Neal. We have no clue that Alvin Cameras, I mean, why even play him if he's partially hurt? And then when he was healthy, he wasn't that good anyways. I would pick up Rodriguez. Yeah, I don't blame me there. It was also, 22 was the last time Alvin Camara has finished a season. He is good at, he's good at, he's good at, just kind of getting hurt at the end of the season, and then they don't have anything to play for. You don't rush them back. He's got a big contract. I don't know. I'm not saying that he absolutely doesn't come back this year, but I think the most solid argument, Andy, is that you could argue if Alvin Camaro was back

in the matchup, who would you rather play Chris Rodriguez or Alvin Camara straight up? And I think Rodriguez is probably the answer. However you say his name. Dev and Neil having success makes it even harder for...

It makes it even harder for them to just go back to them. See what you got in the kid? I think this is a good question to finish on. It's not good for us because we have to answer it. It's tough. Jason's got it. I'm out. It's from Ari Coddle. It's from Ari Coddle. her. She says, here she says,

should I start Michael Wilson against Houston? Just that question. Not a not another player. Just should I play Michael Wilson, who has been unbelievable. He's had his pace in the four games, or actually

I guess it's five games since. I'll give him the full five. Five games since, Jacoby Reset was named the starter, on pace for 214 targets, 146 reception, 17151 yards, and seven touchdowns. And his pace in the games without Marv is over 200 receptions, over 2,500 yards. The Cardinals are in a position where they will lose miserably.

Houston is an incredible defense. And so the question you ask yourself with Michael Wilson is, will there be a part of this game where the Houston Texan defense schematically sits back and lets the Cardinals waste a clock completing receipts, for a quarter and a half to two quarters. Yeah, that is 100% accurate. And because that is the genuine question, I lean that I don't want to play Michael Wilson this week. I made it my start of the week last week. This week, like Brissette, we have been saying every single week, you start Berset, every single week. He has not finished outside the top 12 on a single week. We have

said he's not a streaming option anymore. He's a must start guy. This week I'm not starting Jacoby Verset. The only opportunity, I believe, for success is what you just described, the Texans are up so much that for a quarter, they drop back and allow them to just have easy garbage time yards. And if that happens, that's still not a guarantee of a good fantasy output. No, and their pass rush, even in that situation, with four men rushing the quarterback, the Cardinals just lost Paris Johnson for the year, Jacobi Brissette could be sacked into oblivion. Yeah. And by the way, Martin Harrison could play. if marv if marv is out i will play michael wilson i i over justin jefferson because i will play

oh man probably not probably not jefferson yeah i think i'm going to play that's probably the oh my gosh you know put on the on put on the underpants mike if you just give me some regulars just you just let me bust open a regular a new threat pair of steel underpants to go put Jefferson in over Michael Wilson after what's happened in the last four weeks, but I will do it. I feel like you're ruining my tomorrow. I am? Well, I will see.

I didn't know. I don't know what your tomorrow is. There you go. It's Thursday. Very nice. Goodbye. I mean, goodbye. Crazy pants over here. Philip Rivers, 152.5, Jason. Oh, man.

Free money. I don't see the lights where I'm looking. Goodbye. Goodbye. Thank you for listening to another episode of the Fantasy Footballers podcast. Join our fantasy football community on join thefoot.com. And follow us on Twitter at theFF ballers.