Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast - Start Your Studs? Playoff Mailbag, TNF Preview - Fantasy Football Podcast for 12/11

Episode Date: December 11, 2024

Week 15 playoff advice on today’s fantasy football podcast! Plus, Hungry For More players, injury updates, and a preview of Rams vs 49ers! Lots of tough Week 15 start/sit decisions. Is it OK to bench your studs?! Manage your redraft, keeper, and dynasty fantasy football teams with the #1 fantasy football podcast. -- Fantasy Football Podcast for December 11th, 2024. (00:00) - Intro (01:00) - Playoff Advice (09:33) - Hungry For More (10:32) - San Francisco 49ers (12:27) - Jaylen Waddle (14:12) - Brian Thomas Jr. (16:49) - NFL News (21:53) - Thursday Night Breakdown: Rams vs 49ers (32:21) - Mailbag (32:40) - Jayden Daniels or Bo Nix (35:15) - Sam LaPorta or Tucker Kraft (36:55) - Tua Tagovailoa or Jalen Hurts (40:23) - DK Metcalf (41:46) - James Cook (44:10) - Fantasy Points Above Expectation (45:44) - League Voting Connect with the show: Subscribe on YouTube Visit us on the Web Support the Show Follow on X Follow on Instagram Join our Discord Check out today's sponsors: Studio is brought to you by Amazon Prime Hungry For More presented by Uber Eats News & Notes presented by USAA. Visit https://USAA.com/Insurance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Welcome to the Fantasy Footballer's Podcast with your hosts, Andy Holloway, Jason Moore and Mike Wright. Ah, welcome in. Welcome in! They call it Wednesday. December 11th, the Fantasy Footballers Podcast. Some call it hump day Jason Moore is here mostly camels what are you doing over there you like right got some hot news Jay you're leaving the show there look at your watch I left nowhere I just got a text message is it from shifty no no as a reminder it said reminder you

have to start someone off waivers this week in your playoffs And you don't know who it is. I will say this for my playoffs. I am Super excited for waivers to run and not because of who I'm picking up I'm praying someone's dropped me and I'm like come on people drop someone that started You know the dragon meme have With the really scary looking dragon? The Hydra, the three headed one? The three headed Hydra. And there's the Hydra, the Hydra,

and then there's Jason in the playoffs. Jason's the third Hydra. For sure. You should find that, Al. You should find that meme here for the YouTube audience. Oh, they know it. If you're on YouTube, you know exactly what we're talking about.

I guess they were down with the Forrest Gump reference. So we're good. These are internet people. These are internet people. There it is. Yeah, that's the one. Hungry for more today? The NFL news.

We've got some for you. We've got Thursday night preview. We've got some mailbag. And we'll be talking everything playoffs everything fantasy playoffs and how you know the mindset we'll have waivers go through at some point and yeah yeah Jason's doing good Jason's doing real real good got news this morning I mean a little preview of the news but Breeze Hall oh yeah uncertain for week 15 fantastic who needs them there there I am. There he is. There's everyone else in the league in the playoffs.

Zoinks. There's the sixth seed. Yeah. Right over there on the right. There's the sixth seed. Yeah. Trying to find someone better than Kendre Miller or Kareem Hahn or MVS or Calvin Austin. I mean, if you want to go into where's Waldo, Jason, there are multiple guys on the waiver

wire in my opinion right now that I would be playing over them. Oh, I'm over them, yes. For sure. A Where's Waldo is the... Yeah. Well, I don't want to give them the names, but there are some neon signs in our waiver wire right now that are like, for your team. Everyone else is a...

Right, right. No one's claiming these players. I get whoever I want because... This is a zero dollar fab bet. Right. Well, I have zero dollars, so that's great news I'll in you So you are so like how are you in the playoffs? I shouldn't have been and that's how I want to win

I'm telling you I want three wins in a row, and I don't want to score more than 80 Yeah I want oh I want to back my way into that ring. You need to play Kendrick Miller, because do you really want a title where you haven't played Kendrick Miller as your flag? I mean, that is perfect for you. So I'll be honest, I'll just reveal, I know my opponent is in the room on waivers,

but when I'm looking to make a start, the way that my team is, I want glory. I'm going Troy Franklin or something like that over Hunter Henry who, okay, maybe he's got a higher baseline. Like I don't care, because I want my glory. I want my name on it. Let's talk about this for a second. This can be in lieu of our quick question for today,

because I think it's an interesting discussion to have. We often give the advice if you're a major underdog, which a lot of people, you're going into your playhouse this week, you're like Jason, you're the kind of weird looking Hydra. Right? You don't belong. He's really, he even means a cuddly Hydra.

And we say, well you need to take your shots, right? You want upside. But, we know this from the world of the great parlay out there, you can't hit six, you can't hit a six leg. You're not hitting a plus 50,000 on your playoff week. And so like if you have two, what I'm saying is if you have too many pieces of your lineup that are all dart throws,

you're not hitting that plus 115,000 parlay with your lineup. Troy Franklin plus Kendra Miller plus, you know, MBS plus Dante Vianwix. Like they're not all hitting together. So what would the advice be? Well, to me it's like- Fewer injuries. Well, sure, that would have come weeks ago,

or you know, having your backups or whatever. But I would say that you gotta pick a couple. I think it's just gotta be one or two. It's gotta be the baseline plus a couple of lottery tickets. That's all I'm saying. What you're trying to say, not for me, but for the Brooklyn, if you've got a couple of holes to fill,

instead of just going for the touchdown variance upside, the Rashad Bateman times two, you're saying get one guy. Maybe it's Ray Ray McCloud. Exactly, a McCloud, a Hunter Henry, someone that has the targets, has a baseline, and then throw in another shot for a touchdown upside. Then it's Xavier Worthy, then it's Bateman, then it's an upside guy.

I don't know if you have a different thought, Mike. It's just. No, I'm in complete agreement. Hitting on all of them is just so improbable that you'd hate to hit on two and lose because the other two did nothing, is my point. And factoring in, looking at your matchup, I will. He's looking at your matchup, Jay.

No, legitimately. It's trying to identify on the other team's side, like who has an actual chance of not coming through. Do you think it's Kiron Williams? Or Justin Jefferson? Or Josh Jacobs? Josh Jacobs. Josh Jacobs is the player I would identify this week.

That sounds like a really good team. It is a very good team, Owl. But obviously, Josh Jacobs could be- A little too good. Jacobs will be a very good team, Owl. But obviously, Josh Jacobs is going to be a little too good. Jacobs will be ranked very high, because the guy's having a fantastic season. But he is getting super lucky when it comes to touchdowns. Last week, what it was like 60-something rushing yards for Josh Jacobs.

I know, he scored three times. Awesome for fantasy football. But he's against Seattle on the road. And the Seattle defense of late has been much, much better. Held Conrad a nine yards rushing two weeks ago? There is a chance that players on the other side have subpar weeks. You're like factoring all of those things

into your whatever your witches brew dirty mojo that you're cultivating over there. I'm looking at this thing, man, and you. Have no shot. You got a real uphill battle, man. I'm gonna need about four or five injuries on Jer-Bear's team. No, what you need, what you need is a Jameis Winston. Oh, you're trying to get me to put Jameis back in there?

He's in there right now. So, look, I just think pick your dart, throw it wisely out there, those of you that are underdogs, do what Mike said. Last week, for example, I went into a matchup, I was a 30 point underdog. Things happen quickly.

We don't know if Kenneth Walker's back. We don't know if Breece Hall is back. We don't know if George Pickens is back. We have, well they said, you know, there's a slim chance, but injuries can happen. Underdogs win all of the time. By the way, shout out to all of the people sharing their 0 and 6 stories.

Yeah, I love those stories. Getting into the playoffs, it's awesome. So what do you do if you're in a different situation than Jason, Mike? So you're on the bye week? Let's say you're on the bye week. Sure. Hypothetically speaking, you're on the bye. I mean, bye week is if you want to sit and do nothing, okay. I wouldn't recommend that. I would be looking around of like there are, like our league of record, there are still a couple backups.

Maybe these are not backups to starting running backs for the playoff teams, but those are the guys that, if something goes wrong, the value absolutely skyrockets. Find your future Garando. And yeah, yeah, exactly. Find the future Garando. And then I had someone ask me like, hey, I'm on the bye week. Is it fair game?

Because they have kickers. Could I drop my kicker and pick up whatever, a backup running back? I'm like, absolutely. You're not fielding a roster. You're not tampering with your matchup. You're trying to make your team better. So it's things like that.

Maybe you're- That's a good one. Or you're like, my defense is, I wasn't able to load up and prepare for that. You got crap defense. I would rather have some insurance running backs on the bench while I'm not playing, just in case. So there are tiny little strategic moves

that you can do to try and shift the balance of power into your favor. All right, let's move forward. Welcome to Hungry for More, presented by Uber Eats. By the way, I don't know if you guys knew this, but I have given up the habit. Like I'm no longer, no more chewing tobacco on the show. Oh, that's good. Did you switch to the pouches? Yeah, yeah.

I know that. Is that what? The Falcon, what are those things called? The Zins? Zins. Zins, okay. I thought I would ask the young buck, but. I just wanted you guys to know I gave up the habit. Oh, all right, good for you.

Ever since my days as a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. Probably, but is that why the tooth fell out in the first place? That's right, yeah, it was deterioration. All right, Hungry for More. I'm taking an angle here with Hungry for More of, it's not always the diamond and the rough

that you need in the playoffs. Sometimes you just need a little bit of consistency. And so my Hungry for More is actually Brock Purdy. Not for Brock Purdy's sake. For Jawan Jenang's and George Kittle, I need, what about me, Deebo? It's me, guys. Deebo is the dart throw, but... Deebo when I was good.

I feel like Deebo is that meme right now. It's like Kittle and Jennings. And then there's Deebo. And there's Deebo. I need the ball more, guys. If only I had the ball. No, I want to be able to count on George Kittle for the remainder of the year, and I want to be able to count on George Kittle for the remainder of the year, and I want

to be able to count on Joann Jennings for the remainder of the year. Those are the two players that have been so good when Brock Purdy is good. He has been a top 10 quarterback himself in five of seven starts, and the division's close enough where the 49ers are still alive. So I am hungry for more consistent offensive performances from the 49ers that guarantee me that George Kittle and Jawan Jennings are key parts of a fantasy championship run. I'm just, this is you know just it's an aside, but I'm having the realization here of like Jawan Jennings is like this is more San

Francisco magic of like he's Brock Purdy like they they drafted Trey Lance at the they traded everything to get Trey Lance moved up to the three and then they got Brooke Purdy with their last pick of the draft they gave Brandon Iuke all that cash and they gave Joanne Jennings just a little bit of an extension this offseason well I thought Joanne is everything that they wanted Debo and Iuke to be yeah I thought you were gonna bring up you know it was Pierce all that was supposed to have the role and it's to be. Yeah, I thought you were gonna bring up, you know, it was Pierce Hall that was supposed to have the role.

Yeah, that too. And it's Joanne Jennings. No, I mean, by the way, Debo, Samuel, fewer receiving yards this year than Hunter Henry, Alec Pierce, Chris Godwin who hasn't played since week seven. It's because I don't get the ball. Kate Auden, Ray Ray McLeod, Christian Watson.

I need the ball. What is that voice? I don't know. Oh man, Debo has fallen. It's Debo. So Jason, who's your Hungry for More candidate? My Hungry for More candidate was Mike's last week. Yeah baby.

It was great, and so I'm going back for second helpings or dessert. I'm Hungry for More Jalen Waddle. And really what we saw last week was awesome. The way that the Dolphins offense worked was better. Why is that Jason? Well, it might just be because they started targeting Tyree Kill and Jaylen Waddle instead of John who Smith and Devon Anchan and lo and behold, more explosive, bigger plays, higher scores. They had to go to overtime. Yeah. And then they had to lean on Johnny. They had to lean to overtime. Yeah, as you say. And then they had to lean on Johnny.

They barely won. They had to lean on Johnny to win the game. First read targets, this was pointed out by Jared Smola. Tyreek killed 34%, Jalen Waddle 34%. Johnny was down at 9%. They still won the game, but Tyreek and Jalen Waddle had good games. Yeah, they did.

And honestly, Waddle, the last few weeks, you've got an uptick in target share. He was 15% the first 11 weeks. He's been 19% the last three weeks. Finally getting it done. You feel like you can start him. And I think you can start Jaylen Waddell. The matchup this week, it's a good team, but this is, I think, the actual specifics of how he's matching up against that defense works for him. They're getting

him yak opportunities the way that, I mean, that's really his superpower. And he even had three red zone targets last week, which he had three in the previous eight weeks combined. So let's stay in the flames with Jalen Waddle. I love it. He's a good player. He needs the ball. I want to bring up Brian Thomas Jr. Who I feel like is a little bit of a blind spot right now

because the season started so well for him. I know a later round rookie pick. He was a first round guy by the selection by the Jags. He was coming out of the gates, super hot. Then you had the, just a weird lull in the middle of the season. Not weird, we knew what happened, but it just, it was frustrating of this player was,

he's the chosen one. He's supposed to be a superstar here, he had fallen apart. Trevor Lawrence is out, Mack Jones is in. And yet, over the last three weeks, Brian Thompson, 82 yards, 76 yards, 86 yards, or 76 yards, then 86. He's putting up strong yardage totals and it, he's kind of felt like, oh well I can't possibly play him with Mac Jones. I just, it's not something I can do. And yet he's been producing.

So I thought he was an interesting player of having the conversation of, I think we gotta move away from, well, Brian Thomas can't possibly be a starter for you. He's back. Oh, he could definitely be a starter for me. For you, yeah. Mike, I need Brian Thomas to be started for me.

I'm seeing there's a lot of teams in the playoffs. Brian Thomas Sr. could start for Jason. Yeah, yeah, probably do, not too bad for me. In his first two double digit target games of his entire career came the last two starts with Mac Jones. So there is a bit of a Mac Jones is out there just throwing it around, right?

Like Parker Washington had a big game with him, and Brian Thomas Jr. will get the opportunities. He might be missed on them, but he'll have the opportunities. So I think it's fair to look at him and say, hey, maybe we need to renew our confidence. Like the last three weeks, you know, with Mac, Evan Ingram is, it's nothing. You know, like Mac Jones, different play style here.

We got to start to pay attention to the trends here and not just, oh, it's a backup quarterback. Brian Thomas is a great player, and it seems like Mac Jones has enough to get him to be a fantasy starter, at least a flex player. Well, he's always a threat for a big, long touchdown, and he's still been double digits the last three weeks in fantasy, so the floor is probably much higher

than we thought it might be with Mac Jones, which is I think your point. So Hungry for More opportunity for Brian Thomas because those are explosive plays. That was Hungry for More presented by Uber Eats where you can get the best deals on game day food all season long. Uber Eats, the official on-demand delivery partner of the NFL, you can get the best deals on game day food all season long. Uber Eats, the official on demand delivery partner

of the NFL you can order now. All right, let's jump into the news. News and notes from around the league. Presented by USAA Insurance. He was and never was. Zameer White on injury reserve for the Raiders. Yeah. He has a sweet 2.8 yards to carry this off-season and is a perfect example of why moving forward and away from your franchise running back doesn't always go the way you

hope. It carries tremendous risk. I don't remember the stat because I don't have it right in front of me but he was him and Zach Moss were the two players you know before the season of like guys the the percentage the the actual amount of people who break out in year four or year two wherever we are drafted where he is it's like two people and the odds were so against him so hopefully you avoided him. Which is wild considering he was supposed to be the starter. Pierce kept saying over and over he's going to be the guy. And Madison,

the backfield had value. Alexander Madison was very startable for a stretch there and Tinsirum McCormick looks like he's a very startable runner too. Only the backup can be good. Zemir was the starter and so that just can't... Right, he was good when he was the backup. Exactly. And it was a mirage to end the year. It was a lot of opportunities that didn't translate into him being proficient in this season. So, Brice Hall, uncertain for week 15, their head coach said he is quote struggling a bit with his knee injury. Yeah, I mean that's how injuries work. Not improving as much as he'd like. Yeah, that means he's not gonna play this week. If his, if right now in the middle of the week you're saying

it's not improving, I'm struggling with it, I didn't play last week, that's not like, yeah I'm gonna suit up. Or if you do suit up, I'm gonna with it, I didn't play last week. That's not like, yeah, I'm gonna suit up. Or if you do suit up, I'm gonna be a big part of the offense when you know you can get something from Allen and Davis on top. I mean, it's almost worse for fantasy players to like tease this out too long. Yeah. And not make a different plan.

Well, you... If you had a plan. Yeah, you have to have a briceless plan because you're going to have a briceless team this week. I bet you wish some of your teams were briceless. I certainly do. Well, they are. Yes, they are. Yeah, hitching my wagon to Breece Hall is hurt.

George Pickens has a, quote, outside chance of playing in week 15. Yeah, I don't think he's going to play. I did this week's episode of the Dynasty podcast, and we were talking, you know, George Pickens long-term outlook, so if you want to check out that conversation, it's on the Fantasy Footballers Dynasty pod, but we're talking with Matthew Betts, certified PT, and his opinion was more of, he's putting Pickens at very questionable for next week, where I was on the opinion of I think there's a chance

he suits up next week, but Betz is more concerned than I am. Well, it's just gonna be what's on the line for the Steelers in the final couple weeks. Is it playoff positioning, divisional championship? What is gonna be on the line, and how long can you wait on George Pickens? Schedule-wise, it's wild. It's Baltimore, right? Next week? championship, you know, what is going to be on the line and how long can you wait on George Pickens? Schedule-wise, it's wild.

It's Baltimore, right? Next week? Next week. This week is Philadelphia, who they are, I mean, that's a really- They're heavy underdogs. Yeah, that's a tough matchup. I'm sure. Then the divisional on the road with Baltimore, and then they get the Chiefs, which if they

keep winning, like that game against the Chiefs, there is a that that the Steelers are trying to steal away a bye week like that's not I know It's why Buffalo is there and everything, but they had nine and three I think they're ten and three let me let me double check that but it was Yeah, Pittsburgh is a five-point road dog. They are Current they're ten and three so they're ten and three the bills two games behind the Chiefs and the Chiefs are 12 and one But they play the Chiefs and the Chiefs are 12 and 1 but they play the Chiefs it just seems hard to believe that they're gonna win against Philly and Baltimore the next couple of weeks but we'll see Sean Payton talked about Marvin Mims and his expanded roles of

running back because I don't know why it's in there because it's funny every time Sean Payton talks about Marvin Mims, yeah right. Isaac Garando did not practice in or did not participate in the walkthrough. Most people's opinion that I've read is that he's not gonna play on Thursday. Now we don't. All he had to do was walk. But it's a foot. It's a foot injury Mike. I mean that's literally the hardest thing. I would expect him to be able to be at the walkthrough if you're gonna play in the game. I would agree with heart would expect him to be able to be at the walkthrough If you're gonna play in the game, I would agree with that if he's not participating in the walkthrough Seeming less likely that he will play but we kind of talked about this yesterday

We know he's not going to practice if he plays Thursday. They basically said he's not practicing until then now It's today's news and notesds presented by USAA Insurance. Learn more at usaa.com slash insurance. We'll take a break. We'll hit the preview. ["The Daily Show Theme"] ["Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring ring Ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring made with two 100% Canadian beef patties, a new delicious sauce, and all the McDonald's flavors you love, and... Wait, you want me to help you get it? Rubble! Come on. Compared to beef burgers on McDonald's current menu at participating restaurants in Canada.

Alright, it's time to jump into our TNF preview. Thursday Night Breakdown Well we just talked about Isaac Gurindo, so that will bring us into this discussion. The Rams at seven and six taking on the six and seven 49ers the 49ers are two and a half point home favorites the over-unders 49 and a half and you know I think this is a pretty fun matchup yeah for Thursday night this is a game where in the division right now the Seahawks are eight and five Rams are seven and six Cardinals are six and seven 49ers are six and seven so youers are six and seven.

So you're here where Arizona plays New England at home, they're gonna be favored there, they could go to seven and seven. And if the 49ers fulfill the line here, there could be three seven and seven teams with the Seahawks maybe a game ahead, because they play the Packers so it's a competitive division where literally all four teams are still in the mix the Rams

coming off their biggest win of the year 44 42 over the Bills it was an outrageous game to watch it was outrageous for fantasy Kyron and Puka and Cup all getting it done. Even Matthew Stafford, fantasy wise, was very good. Obviously they played each other earlier in the year. The Rams won the game 27-24. The running back is the question mark for San Francisco in this game because it's a very, very vulnerable Rams defense. The 49ers are at home. the Rams are 23rd against the run. Tell the world what to do guys and totally don't include asking me.

If Garendo is out I would have confidence. I would play Patrick Taylor as like a top 24 option. Jason you seem to have more hesitancy than I do, but I would, it's tough. It's a really tough decision here, but I think the Thursday night, with the early game plan and these guys, I'm not worried about Keishon Vaughn coming in. Abanekanda is, he's the more interesting player but he was just

added to the team. He was inactive on Sunday because of course he just got there and then with the short week I think they would really lean on Patrick Taylor. Now can he get it done? I think I would have faith in the system and faith in the matchup so all those things put together Taylor is is a startable guy. Yeah I mean it is most likely going to be Patrick Taylor. My worries with being confident in him as the starter is that I can see a world where Israel Banaconda comes in and basically becomes this starter. And if he is, you know, he was inactive last week.

He was new to the team. He is the best athlete of that running back room that is left alive, and that is usually who they put in. So it's tough, I mean, to call your shot on a start for Izro, Izzy would be very, very difficult to plug. You can't start him. You can't, Mike. You cannot advise starting him.

I mean, he may not even be active. Yeah. Well, right, right, right. I mean, obviously, I do not recommend starting a guy who's not active. Never tell me the odds. I'm still putting him in. You can't stop me. I think Patrick Taylor has one game where he was the guy in Green Bay a couple years

ago. He had 11 carries, 53 yards, 4.8 a carry, scored a touchdown. Otherwise we don't have a huge sample size of what he'd be able to do. I mostly agree with Mike's take on this. If you were going to ride one, that would be the one I'd give it a go. We got seven carries last week after the injuries. And then really, the advice on a Wednesday is not very good advice here. That's kind of part of... I mean, we need a little bit more on Garindo's availability

and who's going to be active on this game If you did get word that there's three backs active lower your expectations for Taylor It would just concern me a little bit What I think they'll have they might have three active. I mean like grandos it did How have they been doing it? I mean like when McCaffrey it did How have they been doing it? I mean like when McCaffrey McCaffrey Mason and Garendo were all active in that Buffalo game I think they'll have three no matter what

Yeah, I don't know if that's signal for Patrick Taylor or not. Are you at the point here? Let's say it is Garendo is just an active and they have Taylor Vaughn at a band of Candid active Would you just punt and play sincecero McCormick against Atlanta or the Gus bus or DeAndre Swift? Are you going to take your shot at getting what people got from Gerindo last week, which is the production from Patrick Taylor? There's such a long history of backup running backs coming into great success with Shanahan's time at the end of the year. I mean, this is not a new situation where I want a piece of that. I want to take a shot at the big play.

So I would probably still put in Patrick Taylor. It's like the Browns running backs, I would go with Patrick Taylor. The I'd play him over Jalen Warren I think I put McCormick ahead of Patrick Taylor against Atlanta the like Deandre Deandre Swift against Minnesota or take the shot on Patrick no Patrick Taylor I would go Taylor yeah

the last time these teams played Juan Jennings Jennings 11 for 175 and three with Debo out of the game. Debo's in more of the kind of like active, inactive state right now. He's hanging out. But Jennings is in. Yeah. Kittle, of course.

For sure. Cup and Pucca. Are you benching Debo? I think I'm trying my darndest. There's a squeaky wheel narrative for the week. The matchup is good. The last time we saw him fantasy relevant, it's been one time in the last seven weeks,

and it was the wide receiver 24, five for 62. He's had- I mean, that was 10 points on the dot. Barely got there. Yeah he actually did that back to back weeks. Debo or Deandre Hopkins against Cleveland? Debo. Can we shut the podcast off?

Oh wow. No I'm gonna go Hopkins. If I didn't know it was starting to suck. I'm gonna go Hopkins. Yeah I'll go Hopkins. I'd go Hopkins. Debo or Amari Cooper against Detroit. Cooper.

Cooper. Cooper. Yeah, I think Debo is probably someone that you're looking to bench. He's a wide receiver for. I mean, if I had Adam Thielen off of waiver, that's an easy Thielen. But otherwise, Kyron, of course, get him in there. He's been scoring.

And if you need to take a shot at quarterback, for whatever reason, Brock Purdy, I think, is very, I think 300 yards is in the cards in this game. And it's possible. The running back room. You like it more than Stafford? Yeah. And the running back room being kind of depleted lends to,

maybe, Purdy having to do more with his legs. And throw touchdowns. When they get around the goal line, I'm not sure. Usually they're just a run the ball in type of team, and that can hurt your fantasy value, but when you're on to your 17th running back on the depth chart, it might be a little bit more difficult to find rushing touchdown success. When you look at the two quarterbacks, I'm like, I kind of like Stafford and his weapons better. But when they get to the goal line, Kyron is far more likely to score the touchdowns and take them away from Stafford

than Patrick Taylor is for Brock Purdy. Yeah, Stafford's high on the year in a four-point is 27 points against New England. Even in that Buffalo game, if you started Stafford's high on the year in a four point is 27 points against New England. Even in that Buffalo game where if you started Stafford, you're thrilled with the outcome. But a team that scored 44 points, Matthew Stafford was the QB seven. He just passed 20 points.

That's wild. And Purdy's been very good, they're favored, they're at home. The defense for the Rams is not very good. I'd be playing him over a lot of options this week. The case for Purdy is also, we're having this huge discussion, well who's the running back?

It's Purdy. It's Brock Purdy. Yeah, to some degree it really is. He's running the ball a lot more. He was the quarterback five last week. He's got a few games this year where he's rushing touchdowns in two of his last five games. It's an okay play.

I think it's a stable play. Is Juan Jennings a must start in your mind? Like are you? Yes, about as close as you can get. Yeah, he is a must start to me. What if you've been, this is gonna hurt to ask the question. Yeah.

But you talk about somebody who's been struggling with a bad matchup. AJ Brown. I knew that was the name you were gonna bring up. I knew that was the name. Let's put you to the test, AJ Brown or Joanne Jennings? If I had those two players, I'd put Joanne Jennings in. And I know that that's, it feels insane.

The over-under is almost 10 points higher. Joanne Jennings. But how do you bench AJ Brown? How can you live with yourself? Yeah, I mean, the names make it very, very, very difficult. Jawan Jennings versus AJ Brown. I'm trying to tell people, let's plug it in. It's Jawan Justin Jefferson Jennings.

There you go. Just do that and you'll feel a lot better about it. You would feel a lot better. But I mean, three of the last four weeks, AJ Brown has not gotten to 10 fantasy points in half PPR scoring the matchup against Pittsburgh. I mean I'm not saying by any means Ben JJ Brown. This is more of a pro-Jewon Jennings take than it is an AJ Brown take. All right we'll turn the page we'll jump into the mailbag. You ready Mike yeah mailbag all right if you have a question for the

show go to the website the fantasy footballers calm visit this site click that submit a question button or you can dial our voicemail hotline 302 464 tf 2464 TFFB. All right, we'll go here. We'll start with the mailbag. Hey ballers, this is Craig from California. QB Start sick question. Do I go Jayden Daniels on the road against New Orleans or Bo Nicks at home against Indy? I got Corbin Sutton on the roster, so I like that stack option. And just for reference, I'm the projected underdog facing the burrow chase stack yeah that hurts that last one facing the the burrow chase stack is not where you want to be this is really interesting Bo Nix has been on fire has the much better matchup personally I cannot

imagine benching Jaden Daniels for bonus. Me neither. No, no. I would not do that. Yeah. Any other thoughts on that? Just definitively don't mess around. I would not. I'm going to be honest guys. I'm scouring Twitter for news. I'm a little distracted. This is not fantasy related. Wait. This football what is it it's football related a bill has been introduced in Ohio that would make it a felony to plant a flag in the center of Ohio Stadium remember how Michigan put a flag down the middle of the field we're getting the government involved Ohio what are you doing oh my You should be ashamed of yourself. Make it a felony? To, oh they put their flag down. Win the game. Alright, now teach me

some politics. Can anyone write a bill or do you have to be an elect, like can I write a bill? You would have to get a bunch of signatures. But if you were in the government you could- I'm just hoping that someone in the government wasn't the one that wrote this bill. It's the Ohio Sportsmanship Act. It was drafted by State Representative Josh Williams. Who's wasting taxpayer dollars. And now you're wasting our podcast time, because I can't not talk about this. They put the flag down in the middle of our stadium.

Is that Deebo? No, that's Josh Williams, representative of Ohio. They put the flag down in the middle of our stadium! Is that Deebo? No, that's Josh Williams. Representative of Ohio. They put the flag down. That's a felony! A felony! You're going to prison! Execute him! Death penalty!

Right to jail! Right to jail? I mean, doesn't a judge see that and go, what the? Or do they have to, I mean the judge has to follow the law, right? Execute him. I really hope, like I want to look this bill up I hope it's like three three sentences it's just like if you play a flag right right to jail oh sorry guys it was it was too much for me to not bring it up okay Jim Bocco says Tucker cra Crafter, Sam Laporta,

I feel obligated to start Laporta. Talk about obligation in the fantasy playoffs. Do you owe Sam? No, I understand because the names, when you get in the playoffs, it's hard to bench those big names. Sam Laporta, you know, he was the first, you know, tight end or the second tight end drafted

buffalo is top five against tight ends, it's not a good matchup um... Kraft has a decent matchup this week against Seattle you know, they're... Laporta has two top twelve finishes in a row, he's piecing it together a little bit but not I mean you would've... you know, six targets or more four straight games five or six Yeah, but but 19 yards your six yards gonna score a touch and 54 years more likely to score touch

I that's the honest question in this one. I believe matchup wise I think I lean craft I think I lean craft I Think I'd play I'd rather play Tucker craft, but it's a back-to-back my rank. Yeah, that's how it happens. I'd rather play Tucker craft, but at the same time Like Which one is more likely to shoot out?

Yeah, they buffalo in Detroit. Yeah, I'm gonna play the poor day. I'm gonna play the poor day Yeah, the the matchup the fact that over-under is 54 points Yeah, that's gonna be my answer let's hit another voiceman Which button did I push last time? Can you push the button of the one that I didn't push I actually don't have them loaded in mine they're only on yours Oh, you gotta take a shot! Let's go! Is it 50-50? Oh boy I don't remember what I put in my push. Here we go. Gentlemen question for you I'm an 11-point underdog and I have Jalen

Hurts and Tua. I also have Tyreke and HN on my team. Do I start Tua over Jalen? Thanks and love the show. Oh my goodness. I've actually seen, I've seen Tua Jaden Daniels question thrown out there this week too on Twitter where you know obviously we're in the overthinking part of the year. You know a bet on Tua when you have Tyreke and HN is a full. All the chips are in on, on Miami 11 points to me is not, yeah, it's not an overwhelming underdog and you can't really, like if you have Tyreke and HN and they do well and two of his scores, 30 points and

Jalen hurts scores 35. He's still the better starter, right? Like you just want more points at the quarterback position and I don't think I need the correlation to, Jalen Hurts is probably who I'd go with. A lot of people wanna start two this week, though, the way he's been playing.

Okay, but let me give you the last month of both player scores, okay? One of these players last month has scored 18, 15, 17, and 24 fantasy points. Okay. The other player in the last month has scored 23, 28, 25, and 23 fantasy points. Just based on that alone... Is that Tuah? Which player would you choose?

No, I think he's setting me up and I think he heard I said I got the better numbers. Tuah has the better numbers. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH baby! So what are you doing, Jay? I think because of the correlation, that does push me over the top. I would put Tua in. The Houston Texans, I worry about Tua in tough matchups, and that's where it's like, is this a tough matchup? Statistically speaking, they're middle of the pack. They're 17th against fantasy quarterbacks. Houston, Texans are.

You could see this game maybe getting into a shootout a little bit. It's a harder matchup for- If it goes south for Tyreke and HN, they're underwhelming. Your game's over. You'll salvage some points. It's over if you start to.

Yeah. It's just a matter of how, do you really feel like you're a heavy underdog or not? Didn't they say- You have to bank on, it was 11-11. They say you really feel like you're a heavy underdog or not. I didn't think you have to bank on it was 11.11. That's nothing in projection. I just I would have a hard time and I think squeaky wheel, AJ Brown is gonna get the ball in the air this week. So that's that's the way I'm gonna go. Can I remind you that right now Pittsburgh is ranked number one against fantasy quarterbacks?

No, you may not remind me. I retracted. I don't feel like we answered the question, so Mike, just give them an answer. I... Because me and you split, Jay. So just say the name that's definitely going to score the most points. Mike? I think I would go to a... Dear goodness.

I would go to a... Here we are. All right, let's take a break we'll answer some more questions. Was there was there ever a point where you thought you'd be recommending to a Tonga Vailoa over Jalen Hurts in the fantasy playoffs about... No. Six weeks ago? No if you were like week three yeah I can see that but what it's cold outside? I don't think so. It's it's um there you are. Um we've got lots of DK Metcalf questions coming in because the

question of start your stud or not Metcalf has been struggling to produce for fantasy. Um he's been very banged up playing through injury not practicing. They play Green Bay, Metcalf or Jameson Williams or Adam Thielen. I'm going Metcalf there with all of them. Remind me of the Panthers matchup. Yeah I mean Metcalf's last four weeks, you don't want to look at them. They've been underwhelming, but the targets have still been there, right?

He's had, I believe he's had nine targets in a handful of games. The Panthers? Two of four, yeah, two of four. So the Panthers played Dallas. Averaging 7.3 a game in that stretch. But we also saw a lot of targets for Jameis and Williams last week. That game's that stretch. But we also saw a lot of targets for Jameson Williams last week.

That game's that 54 point over under. Eight targets, seven targets, seven targets for Jameson Williams. If I need a good old fashioned 10 to 12 points, I would play Adam Thielen. And if I need, like, Thielen's not giving you the 20, the point outing. That would be Jameson Williams.

But if I need... So is there no Metcalf answer? I don't think I'm playing Metcalf, man. James Cook question is in a similar start your stud vein, comes in from Baker Drew. What do we do with James Cook? I've heard rumors that he's having his workload reduced for the Bills playoff run.

Oh, okay. I mean, that would make sense. He's explosive, but he's not involved when they're in a negative game script. What are we hearing these rumors? We just hear someone saying they're hearing rumors, and we're taking that. Anything on Twitter is a rumor.

I think what Mike is alluding to is the fact that we were sitting there dumbfounded on Sunday when he had six carries and was not on the field for quite a stretch. Now, they probably wanted to win that game. You know what I mean? That's the opposition of the rumor is that you're right there with a chance at the buy.

You're telling me they don't want that buy from Kansas City and they didn't have James Cook out there. So to me, it's not so much workload reduction. And by the way, they achieved a workload reduction last game, it's more game script. So how do you think that the week is going to go for reduction last game. It's more game script. So how do you think that the week is going to go for them? That's more what I'm thinking.

And I have James Cook in a couple of places for fantasy playoffs this week, and he's right back in my lineup. Yeah, he's right back in my lineup as well. Obviously last week was just an awful outing for him. Six total carries. But you go back the last handful of weeks. He's usually double digits. This game against Detroit, we talked about the over-under.

It's the highest of the year. Yeah, so I want James Cook in my lineup. What about him or Raimondre? It's James Cook. That one's easy. What about Dowdle against Carolina, who's coming off a couple big performances, or James Cook? That one's easy for me still, James Cook.

I think that the touchdown opportunities, that's the issue with Dowdell. Dowdell's been running really well. He's clearly going to get the workload and the opportunity. If you say who's going to get more carries, it's Dowdell. But if you say who's gonna score more fantasy points, touchdowns are so valuable in fantasy, I think I've gotta be on the James Cook side.

He has six touchdowns. James Cook did in his previous six games and in four finishes in the top ten we probably need to just trust that they're gonna get him involved again but it's it's scary doubt it is Donald should be okay this week doubt Lord Pacheco I take doubt on that one that question comes in from Big Dom. Big Dom? Big Dom, Dom, D-O-M. Sounded like you said Big Dom. It's Big Dom de Furt.

De Furt, okay. All right, Colton wants to know if you can explain fantasy points above expectation and how to use it in start sit decisions. Sure, so above expectation, you know, like the... This is our schedule adjusted. Right, yeah, if you're looking at our strength of schedule and you click the schedule adjusted button,

basically it's saying, it's looking at what is that player score on average before going into that matchup. Technically the team, what is that? The team, the team position. Yes, correct. The team position at quarterback, or the team position What is that? The team position. Yes, correct. The team position at quarterback or the team position at running back and then in that matchup looking at their average, are they against

that defense, is that defense allowing more points above average or are they holding running backs, team running backs under their average because it it really, it's very, very helpful and a better way to look at schedule. The easiest way to point it out is like tight ends, right? You can look at just raw points that a team has given up to the tight end position and you look at their schedule like, oh, they played Trey McBride, Travis Kelsey,

Mark Andrews, three games in a row where this other team played Carolina. The Titans are just not involved so that's why we average it out or adjust for schedule based off of that positional average. So hopefully that made sense. Yeah, yeah so you know it's just giving you a different baseline than just looking at the raw numbers and giving more context, which is hopefully going to benefit you long-term in making those decisions. All right, LadyNaphy on Instagram says, "'My league is voting on whether to add

a wild card playoff for week 14.'" Huh? Is that? So like a wild card playoff round, 14. Huh? Is that? That's like a wild card playoff round. Someone gets in, no. There are bye weeks in week 14 in the NFL now. That's gonna make it a disaster. But so as in, like most of the league does not play?

It's just the two wild card teams? Is that how it would function? I would assume that the playoffs would all start that week. Matt, do you feel like you understand this question? Yeah, I think playoffs should start early. Yeah, playoffs start in week 14. And more people have a buy? More people have a buy and more people get in. You can argue on one hand that that's

cool that just more people get a chance at the playoffs and it's not really affecting others. I mean, I got a big reason why not to. But the week 14 buys, that's going to ruin all the teams that are playing. It won't feel good. You'll have a lot of upset, unhappy players who ever happened to have the week 14 buy weeks

in the playoffs. I would vote against it for sure. Yeah, yeah, I mean the bye weeks are really disruptive. We just went through six teams with tons of fantasy players that are relevant that made an impact all year and then you don't get them. That's tough, that's tough. That would be hard to swallow a loss. Tomorrow we have starts of the week

and the matchup breakdowns for week 15. No bye weeks to worry about starting tomorrow. We've got more matchups in the Wheel of Shame on Friday. Mike will be with you Sunday live. Make sure you tune in, watch the show on YouTube. If you're listening, you can check it out. YouTube.com slash The Fantasy Footballers. Hey, Keon Coleman, Foley practice. Is that what we got?

He's coming back. It sounds like it. That's great news for for Josh Allen He doesn't need any more good news. He's breaking records without still take it the bad news for for Amari Cooper There's maybe I thought maybe he started get going But now we got you here and Coleman and Cooper. I bet you Kincaid will be back soon. How is Keon Coleman rostered in our league? I'm like, oh yeah, baby. Let me go run to the waivers. They haven't ran in five more minutes.

You're in dire straits. Everyone's rostered. Yeah. Good luck. Goodbye. Thank you for listening to another episode of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast. Join our fantasy football community on jointhefoot.com and follow us on Twitter at the FF Ballers.