Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast - Starts of the Week + Week 16 Breakdown, FULL TILT! - Fantasy Football Podcast for 12/21

Episode Date: December 21, 2023

Week 16 is here! On today’s fantasy football podcast, a preview of Week 16 matchups with tricky start sit decisions! Big injury updates, Starts of the Week, and the TILT fest continues as the weekend approaches! Manage your redraft, keeper, and dynasty fantasy football teams with the #1 fantasy football podcast. -- Fantasy Football Podcast for December 21st, 2023. Connect with the show: Subscribe on YouTube Visit us on the Web Support the Show Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram Join our Discord Check out today's sponsors: News & Notes presented by USAA. Visit https://USAA.com/Insurance Starts of the Week presented by Purina Pro Plan. Visit https://www.purina.com/pro-plan/dogs/sport-dog-food?utm_campaign=prp-sport2023&utm_medium=display&utm_source=youtube_spotify_callout&utm_content=cr-fantasy_football_podcast_sponsorship_pt-na&utm_term= Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

including a new chance to win cash every minute in the app. Get into the game with Monopoly Double Play at McDonald's. While supplies last, one in five chances to win game piece prizes at outset, chances to win Double Play prizes based on time of code entry, and draw prizes based on number of entries in each draw. See rules in the app. Get a credit card annual fee waiver and earn C-plus points faster with the Scotiabank Ultimate Package and bank more entertainment. Learn more at scotiabank.com slash banking packages. Conditions apply. Scotiabank. You're richer than you think. Welcome to the Fantasy Footballers Podcast with your hosts Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike Wright.

Welcome in. It's football time. Alvin Camaro! Wait! I'm sorry! I don't remember those lyrics! I'm sorry, I uh It's not officially approved

Might have something at stake tonight, Mike But it feels good, doesn't it? Yeah, it was alright! Felt pretty good Um, welcome in one and Yeah, it was all right. Felt pretty good. Welcome in one and all, the Fantasy Footballers Podcast. Oh, boy. Here we go.

Semi-final week. We're going to get you prepared, ready to rumble. And we, well, I can say I am in the thick of it. Yeah, you are full backyardigans. I am. I've got some starts at decisions for this big matchup with Papa Josh, who, look, Papa Josh is going hard in the paint when it comes to the Troll Fest. Let me tell you a story about what I discovered last night. We had a late night.

Mike, you said you had a late night. I did. At our age, this is really not something you should be doing, but we were watching a show, a finale. It went late into the night. My wife, she went to bed. Was this Survivor? It was Survivor, yeah.

It was the finale. It was. It was the finale last night. We were watching that, and it's long. It's like three hours. Man, no spoilers. I won't. I won't.

I won't. I would never do that. You will upset dozens of people. Dozens of people would be upset. Dozens of old people. You know, this is not the point. It was not the point of the story. My wife went to bed, and so the room was dark.

And I had cleaned up out front, and she was already asleep, and so I just sneak into bed. And I lay my head up on the pillow and upon the pillow i noticed the the rustling of paper right and i pull the paper off and what do i see i see dj moore's freaking a picture of dj moore on my pillow when did that get placed which means that papa Papa Josh is now using my wife against me. Okay, that was the question. And then I try to roll over, and there's Justin Fields. Justin Fields. And I have to turn on my flashlight on my phone.

Then I get in today, and I've got a little present. You know, everyone likes presents around Christmas time. Hold on. Yeah, go ahead. I mean, the bubble presents around Christmas time. Hold on. I feel like... Yeah, go ahead. I mean, this is... The bubble has been broken here. You're putting stuff into a man's bed?

Yeah. Yeah, there's like a horse head situation. This is... I mean, that's inappropriate. This is awesome. Guys, I have to beat him. I have to win. And then I get in this morning, I got a package from Santa. A nice wrapped gift.

A wrapped gift. And I open it up, and those on YouTube can see it. It's a nice little book by Martha Hickman. Oh, yeah, Martha. It's called Healing After Loss, Daily Meditations for Working Through Grief. Now, you also came in. I got a whole year of readings in case. Goodness gracious.

You also came. First of all, his team name is Grumpy Old Trolls. I mean, he is a troll of trolls, but you tried. He even looks like one. He does look like a grumpy old troll. Under the bridge. You came in with your own gift for him right well he like he likes games yeah he likes puzzles so i made him a little crossword puzzle let me just say this and i want to make i want

to make this very very clear i know papa josh is listening as well and this is to you two fellas with the amount of hoopla and trolling and effort and energy one of you two better win the championship next week if both of you lose if the winner of this match just goes on to lose next week you're out the league yeah you're out you're out we've got a full crew in ducer's alley and uh judge giamatti himself brooksie you were saying that uh josh's really, he's taken a turn, right? From that evil trade? Oh, yeah. He was trying to be innocent after that trade went down and be like, I'm evil, but I'm still innocent in this.

And now he's just full villain. And you know why? Why's that? He wants Twitter followers. Yeah. Oh, yeah. He's learned that leaning in to like, you know, Darth Maul, big social media following. Well, before he like, you know, Darth Maul, big social media following.

Well, before he got, you know, halved. Yeah. What do you call that? I know what a decapitation is. Delegation. I mean, if that's the outcome for Josh, I'll be satisfied with this entire week. I'm saving everything.

I hope to be able to deliver it back. Jeremy, I'm sorry for spoiling the Phantom Menace for you. I guess I'm not watching that one now. He just said spoilers. The Phantom Menace. It's happening. All right. We have so many matchups. We've got the starts of the week. We've got the boom boom kicker we got started to sit decisions and i'm telling you like you would think it would be easy for us but when it's you boy that world of tilt that spin around that you do yeah because when it when it's your team it's not a logical rational decision anymore no it you're right it's not objective and rational and i was remembering like uh i'm making this decision this week in the Foot Clan.

You can go to every website, see our matchups and everything, and I'm not trying to dominate the show with this. But Jason has his thoughts on who I should flex. I have to decide between DeAndre Hopkins against Seattle, Devin Singletary against Cleveland, James Conner against Chicago. Chicago, great run defense. Cleveland, a good defense. So Jason has his opinion, right?

And he's like, I would play Con Connor, I think is what you said. No, Singletary. Oh, okay. But I had this thought. I was like, oh, man, like that first instinct you have at the beginning of the week. Obviously, you want to transform with new information. But sometimes you've got that conviction. Like this past week, I wanted to stay with the Cleveland defense.

I believed in them over Atlanta. Everyone I talked to kind of wanted me to go to Atlanta. I didn't. It worked out with Cleveland. It wasn't a big difference, but it worked out. Then I remembered my championship game a few years ago where I stuck with Cordero Patterson instead of Boston Scott and Jarrett Patterson

and it cost me an entire title and I remembered that and I'm like, wait, pivoting is better. You are on full tilt. You can feel it, right? I mean, I've never seen you. It's pulsing out of my body. I've never seen you.

This is how I am. I can't lose to Josh. I'm like this all the time, but I don't think I've ever seen Andy so up in arms right now over all these decisions. I mean, part of it, guys, is the fact both of you are out. Yeah. So I'm not surrounded by – there's not a tilt balance in the force. That's true.

I'm pretty calm. You gave me all your tilt. I got all of Mike's tilt. I did. We all know Al doesn't have any tilt. I did remember that I am in the playoffs in a league I co-manage with the biggest loser. So, hey, most important league.

I did stumble upon something this morning, Andy. Oh, boy. I asked Jason, I was like, do you have any action going tonight? So, do you and Josh have any players tonight? Alvin Kamara. Okay. So, you get to start. Yes.

I looked at my semifinal matchup. Christmas Day, I get to sit and watch Patrick Mahomes and A.J. Brown to finish the weekend. I will be done. Yeah. And then Merry Christmas to me. Sorry, family. Yeah.

Dad's busy. I got two Christmas Day games, too. Christmas weekend. NFL. Is dominated with football. NFL. I thought I liked this idea of the games on Christmas. I'm not so sure I like it anymore.

My first Christmas matchup is 11 a.m. I'm thinking, like, I mean, that's a problem, right? That's gift time. No, no, no. You're getting the kids up early. We're the ones waking. I'm the one waking the kids up at 3 a.m. so I can make football? We've got to get this over with.

Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry. It's on it faster here let me open that for you 1202 kids did you hear that oh my gosh he just dropped off the gifts let's go Santa's early this year all right into the news we go news and notes from around the league. Presented by USAA Insurance. I can't even escape Josh for a moment because the Colts running back situation includes Josh's guy. Jonathan Taylor was listed as a practice in full.

Listed as. Because it was a walkthrough. And then Zach Moss was listed as a DNP with the arm injury. Uh-oh. And so Papa Josh getting Jonathan Taylor back probably with everybody else out there that is rejoicing. He's going to be good too.

I can't even find a pathway for him to be bad. Go Atlanta. Keenan Allen. Just one strike to that thumb, man. Yeah. You hear that? Falcon.

I'm not saying do that. Arthur Smith would do it. Yeah. I'm, I think any NFL defender is going to know. Keenan Allen did not practice, has not practiced, will not practice probably, and will probably not play. That's the truth. He hasn't practiced.

There's just no reason for him to play. It would be foolish, unnecessary. I need another meditation from this book for my Keenan Allen shares. Tyreek Hill did not practice on Wednesday. That is, you know, not too abnormal for the dolphins. They're actually,

whatever they're doing and famous last words, right? Whatever they have done to preserve Raheem Mostert, who's played every single game this year as 18 rushing touchdowns. Part of that has been skipping practice on Wednesday and he's not practicing. HN is not practicing with the toe. They did that last week, and HN played. Hill's the one that you're really watching closely because he did miss last week's

game. Mike McDaniel said this is a part of making sure he's all cylinders go for the Cowboys game. I would put a lot of money on him playing. Seems like it. Alright, Josh Jacobs on track to play Monday night. That would be Christmas against the Chiefs.

So Jacobs could be back. Okay. They were a lot better without him. They put up like 63 points with him on the bench. He was the problem. Yep. Trevor Lawrence, DMP, concussion, still optimistic, moving through protocol. Should be back out there.

Pretty big implications for your Ridley-Ingram stacks. Hunter Henry did not practice on Wednesday. Hunter did not practice. Yeah, this is listed as a knee issue. Would just have to keep following up because he's a great start this week, should he be healthy. But I believe it is just a contusion, not an actual. This should be pain management, and I believe he will play this week,

but we'll see how the rest of the week goes. And then the Saints will have Chris Olave back tonight against the Rams, and Olave is very, very close to being start of the week for me. If I have him, I'm playing him. Yeah, the matchup is delicious. The Rams have struggled tremendously against the pass. And so, I mean, I have looked at this matchup like a lot with the Camara. Yeah.

Because the Rams are listed as like one of the best defenses against the run. In fact, over the last five weeks, they are number one in terms of fantasy points given up to the running back position. Do you have the teams? Yes, I do. Okay. And that is what is giving me a little bit of optimism here. Because you have the teams? Yes, I do. Okay. And that is what is giving me a little bit of optimism here because they were not – I mean, they were pretty good all year.

Seattle without Kenneth Walker. Okay. Cardinals without James Conner. Cleveland. Yeah. Baltimore. Okay. Washington without Brian Robinson.

Yeah. I mean – So, I mean, it's a good run. You need some context for that for sure. But they should throw the ball to Kamara. He doesn't have to run Yeah. I mean, so I mean, it's a good run. You need some context for that for sure, but they should throw the ball to come here. He doesn't have to run it. I agree. Uh,

that was today's news and notes presented by USAA insurance. Learn more at USA.com slash insurance. Fantasy forecast. Look, I know it would be like kind of unethical to fire my brother-in-law over a fantasy football match. Saying it out loud just doesn't seem reasonable. Not when you take into account what our business is. But couldn't I at least make him do some crappy work?

Oh, for sure. You're his boss. Right? Yeah, clean the toilets. We don't need boxes for things very often but i could have him build boxes for a day and then tear them down yeah we need more room after he makes them yeah yeah we if you guys could actually think this is a brilliant idea yeah couldn't you you will you brainstorm with me i will absolutely i know you you're not above

wanting josh to suffer for any reason. For no reason. Yeah. For fun. I mean, that's for my own personal enjoyment. Or just make him work at all. Yeah. Right. Like, just do your job.

Do something. Man, he's loving this. He's soaking it up. All right. We have two Saturday games. We're going to kick it off with the Bengals. Eight and six taking on the 7-7 Pittsburgh Steelers. These are two AFC North teams going in the opposite direction. Browning, three straight wins.

Pittsburgh, three straight losses. And Browning has been great. Let's just call it what it is. Yeah, that's fair. Last three games, quarterback 4-4-8. So, you know, I think he's still in consideration. Pittsburgh here, two-point home underdogs. Their offense becomes their defense's problem

because they can't move the football very well. Did you guys watch the play where George Pickens didn't block? Yes. You see his excuse? Yes, his excuse was that he didn't want to get injured like what happened to Tank Bell. And then I believe he even said like you don't want to hold on to a block too long or something like that how about you start one he didn't remotely start one i believe his right arm moved outward a little bit did you hear jaylen warren's comments because he was he was the

one that was running in for the touchdown and would have easily scored had he blocked the guy what do you say i didn't see that he said i would have blocked for him oh yeah get bodied that's the best possible response oh man it actually made me mad because he said that and he's like but you know we we play differently and everything and he was like trying to be the good teammate while still saying it i I mean, that play, if you haven't seen the play, it's unbelievable. He just, he might as well have been on the sideline. Like, they played 10 on 11 football that play, and it cost them.

Well, Jake Brannan gets to take on Mason Rudolph or Kenny Pickett. Rudolph is expected to start this game. Jalen Warren, Najee Harris, it's been bad the last couple of weeks, especially for, like, Najee Harris, 2.4, 2.8 yards per carry. I would really not want to play him in a semifinal matchup. I'd be trying to find a diamond in the rough.

Somebody, anybody. So put that to the test if you want. I mean, I just. McKinnon? Sure. Sure? Sure. Sure. Sure. Yeah, I mean, I think it gets harder when you start talking like Justice Hill,

you start talking Charbonnet, anybody in that category. But the last two weeks, I mean, guys, he's been a single-digit fantasy scorer in four or five weeks. It was Cincinnati that he scored against. If he scores a touchdown, that's where Najee is now. Najee's in the if he scores, which is the story for everybody. If anybody scores, you're okay for the week. Right.

And then you have to ask, okay, what teams are going to score enough points to be likely good odds on favorites for those rushing touchdowns? And that's where you look at the current state of the Steelers and you say, I just don't believe there's going to be enough points scored to make this a good bet. This is a team that is projected for 17.5 NFL points. That's their line. So it's a really nervous start.

Jaylen Warren, he has only averaged 6.8 fantasy points per game over the last month. And then you have Pickens who I, you know, I don't look, what are you doing with the Steelers? Are you playing these guys? I mean, Deontay Johnson has scored three straight times. I'm fine with Deontay. Okay. The target share will be there in the matchup is there. So I'm okay with that. But other than that's if I get I think you're right I got one

real nasty running back question for you because the matchup is uh as they say in the biz juicy Deonta Foreman against the Arizona Cardinals I looked or Najee I looked this up like crazy because the price of Foreman in DraftKings to make a lineup is phenomenal. I want to say he's like in the fourth. Let me look at my lineup. Okay, so you've got it. But I was looking at this, and last week, obviously he had a very bad week. I think he was six for negative six yards. Now, some of that came on goal line where you're not expecting a lot of yardage and if you know the defense sells out stop you whatever but they

did make a successful transition during that game to Roshan Roshan was in my DFS lineup because I think he's the better player I I'm starting to lean that way as well um Roshan they were winning that game I mean with Roshon successfully running ahead of Foreman. So there will be fantasy success for the Chicago Bears backfield. It's very difficult to know who I currently go Rochon, Foreman, Herbert. Nausea. Yeah, it was a nausea question. On the other side of the ball, Jake Browning's been getting it done.

He's not going to have Jamar Chase. Now, are you still as confident to stream Jake Browning without Jamar? I hate to say this, but I can't escape it. I wanted to just muzzle it. I think Pittsburgh wins the ballgame. So does that count as my almost upset? Yeah. Andy's almost upset of the week.

You heard it here. Start Najee Harris. No, no. What? I don't think so. You just said they're going to score more points than the Bengals. Yeah, but not a lot. It could be point.

I think 17, 17, 14 final maybe. You know, this offense changes without Jamar Chase. It really does. He draws so much attention. T. Higgins has been inconsistent, but he's going to get all of the work, so I think he's in play for fantasy. And then Joe Mixon. Joe Mixon's in play as well.

Tyler Boyd, I know some people are picking him up. There's a chance that Tyler Boyd's a decent start this week. The Steelers are a slot-wide receiver matchup to target. Yeah, Tyler Boyd is just – That's a nervous start's a nervous start yeah that's a risky one Jason do you feel any confidence there I do not feel a ton of confidence there I I know that they're you know usually beating the slot but they haven't given up a ton of fantasy points in general to the wide receiver position the the way that the Pittsburgh Steelers play is boring, slow football where you don't have a lot of upside, I don't think, in this game.

I'm not playing Browning. Yeah, I don't think I would play Browning either. I'd play Higgins. I'd play Mixon, and that's it. The Buffalo Bills at 8-6, resurgent, dare I call them, resurgent, Taking on the, whoa, give me a word for the Los Angeles Chargers. Descending? Blarf? Blarf.

That's a better one. DraftKings Sportsbook line Buffalo. On the road, 11 and a half point favorites. The over-under is 44 points. Buffalo, it seemed like they were all but down and out, and then they came back and beat Kansas City and Dallas. And they beat Dallas. I mean, they ruined

the fantasy output of Dak Prescott and everybody not named CeeDee Lamb who got a late touchdown. They were great. You've got a DNP due to illness for James Cook, who had an absolutely monster game last week. And is about to have another one.

You think so? Oh, for sure. I mean, the Chargers are not good at stopping quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, or tight ends. Those are most of the positions. Yeah, those are most of the positions for fantasy. They allow everyone to score a lot. And specifically what they do is in the beginning of the positions yeah those are most of the positions for fantasy they just they allow everyone to score a lot and specifically what they do is in the beginning of the game in the beginning of the game you're able to throw all over them and then you're like oh I'm up a lot let me run all

over them so uh yes I mean I I think you Josh Allen's the quarterback one on the year obviously he's in James Cook has been as good as any running back over the last month in the NFL. He's locked. Diggs has been poor, disappointing. There's no way you go away from him. I think he's a great start this week. Now, Gabe Davis should not be on a roster. No, he has four geese. Four gooses.

Four geese. What do you say there with a fantasy? Four goose a laying. No, it's six. He needs to get to six before the end of the, you know. Well, there's enough weeks. He will get to six. So in the 10 days of Christmas, six geese a laying.

And he been laying some geese. Goose a laid. What, he has three weeks to get two more? Yeah. Yeah, he can do it. He could get three more. And then you get a gaggle of geese and that's really what you want um just don't play gabe davis yeah don't do that uh real quick on james cook it was an illness that he mispracticed with uh on wednesday so he theoretically should be good to go but if you are dumpster diving for this team i would go

ty johnson over latavius murray dalton kincaid just had his own goose i am trying to avoid the kincaid situation they're not throwing the football a ton they might not need to in this game there's two tight ends in the set now so yeah isaiah likely yes hunter henry if he's active yes i'd play both those guys over kinkade do you disagree and no i do not disagree don kinkade uh don kinkade limited practice on tuesday and wednesday with a shoulder meanwhile dawson knox was full practice easton stick gets to start austin e Eckler was not good last week. This team, you know, it's hard to really start anybody. And maybe that's the answer for the Chargers this week.

I mean, if they can shut down Dallas, they can certainly shut down this offense. Yeah, I mean, if you started one wide receiver, I think it's Palmer. I don't really want to start Joshua Palmer for Easton Stick. When it comes to Eckler, Eckler is a player that obviously you could still start him. You just need to take a look at him. Ty Chandler. Oh, man, that's tough. That's not tough at all.

It's tough because of the Detroit matchup. Detroit's the number one defense against the one. I don't care about the matchup. I'll take the volume. And that's, like, we got even more, like, it wasn't a huge news blurb, but it was more of Kevin O'Connell saying, like, Ty Chandler's going to be our lead guy. And when they were asking about getting Madison back to practice,

which Madison still hasn't practiced yet, it was, yeah, it'll be great to get Alex back for some depth. And it was, oh, okie dokie, this is Ty Chandler. So, yes, the matchup is not what you want to see going into the semis of your playoffs, but it's volume, pass catching, and juice is my algebraic equation, which that's a player that the process is I'm playing that guy, and Eckler has none of those things right now. I do think he's got volume.

He's been getting the ball a ton. Now, last week, they were blown out you know in extraordinary fashion now the bills are better than the Raiders but yeah but 63 points ain't happening 63 points ain't happening the way it happened 30s good yeah absolutely but my point is they're not going to have basically three quarters where they don't need to use awesome would you go Chandler or Eckler Jason Jason, just to put it to the test? Because I see Chandler being a potential trap this week. I do too.

I'm excited about it, the potential. I really, really like him. I like what we've seen. I like the juice. I hate the matchup. I think those are extraordinarily close. I've got them literally back-to-back in my rankings. I have Ty Chandler once about ahead. That's head. I have no confidence to play Eckler. Well, I mean, right now they're 24 and 25.

So those are my running backs. Ty Chandler's 24, Austin Eckler's 25. So it's not like I'm smashing either guy into my lineup and you can play either. I do think Austin Eckler has an okay game, gets near double digit fantasy points, gets enough targets. And, and the, you know, I'm not like completely terrified of Austin Eckler where you have to bench him. Joshua Palmer. We're not messing around with, uh, chasing last week. I don't think you will enjoy it, but he would be the one to play from this game. Yeah.

Quick break. Back to some Sunday matchups. The Indianapolis Colts, currently in possession of the seventh seed in the AFC, take on the 6-8 Atlanta Falcons. Colts are 8-6. DraftKings Sportsbook line, Atlanta minus one at home. The over-under is 44-1.

A half. Little dome matchup. We know the Colts play fast. And we know the Falcons play much, much better at home. Oh, I thought you were going to say poorly. They can play poorly anywhere, but much better at home. Oh, I thought you were going to say poorly. They can play poorly anywhere, but much better at home. Their home road splits are very crazy. Taylor Heineke taking over again for the Atlanta Falcons.

Snip, snap. Bijan Robinson with negative fantasy points last week. Indianapolis very vulnerable on the ground. The problem is that Bijan John has been thus far this year unable to score fantasy points when not handed the football or thrown the football. He's averaging 0.0 fantasy points on plays he was not included on. It is true.

Last week was obviously a disaster. He was fumbled, and he didn't get the ball very much. He only had seven carries, 10 total opportunities. That's not enough. But also keep in mind, this was, that was the weather game of the week. That was a torrential downpour, like insane rain. And I think for whatever stupid reason, they thought in this well ironically Algiers their weather guy ironically I was going to say maybe they thought you know ball protection and just the grinding back it would be better to use Algier because of the weather you know Bison did fumble style Algiers not fumbled one time on 184 opportunities. Right. So I think some of the reason that the opportunities went away,

because keep in mind, prior to last week's crazy rain game, this is 22 opportunities, 23 opportunities, 17 opportunities, 24. Bijan's getting work. And during that stretch, he was the running back 10, 3, 20, and 11. Bijan's more of an indoor back. Give me your confidence level 0 to 100 in Bijan, both of you guys, this week. 92, 88. Okay, so both of you very confident to just go back to that.

Yes. Drake London, confidence level on Drake London to bounce back because he had a breakout performance, and then, of course, last week happened to for 24 yeah i mean it my confidence trick london's 50 uh you know i could see this game has it been there every every week 50 no there's been weeks where i've been very confident like when we put him in uh yeah the tampa matchup the tampa matchup it's more of an indoor wide receiver he's more of an at home indoor good matchup type of wide receiver.

This is some of those, but it's not a great matchup. I do think this game hits the over. I think there will be enough points scored where I'm not moving away from Drake London. I think he is a fine enough start. He's just not a perfect stars aligning type of matchup. Kyle Piss, Johnny Smith, not messing around, I assume. No.

So London and Robinson you guys have confidence in. On the other side of the ball, Jonathan Taylor, we expect him to be back out on the field. We don't know if Moss will be back with him. The early report, Moss was going to try to play through the injury. Jonathan Taylor playing through injury. John, the Taylor playing through injury, Trey sermon,

Tyler Goodson are on the roster as well. Yeah. As of now, it seems like Jonathan Taylor is going to be the entire backfield. Like he'll go back to being the dude. It's practicing in full Zach Moss isn't practicing. So let me, let me put something to the test for you then with the running back position.

If you have Jonathan Taylor. Jonathan Taylor, Mike, or Ty Chandler? I want to mention it. That's Taylor for me. Taylor's matchup is against the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta is fifth against the running back position this year, but you will go right back to Taylor? Yeah.

That sucks. That sucks for me. It's having more confidence in the guy with the contract, with the backup out. I mean, the situations have some parallels, but I'm more secure in Taylor. All right. Michael Pittman, we're still monitoring whether he'll make it back

due to the vicious concussion. But being limited on Wednesday, that's at least the pathway. I would be very comfortable with Josh Downs in the absence of Michael Pittman. Because you should be. I'm in agreement that you should be, but he has vanished. Three targets, three targets, five. Just the pace of play. Yeah.

I mean, if Michael Pittman's out, who are you going to throw to? Probably Jonathan Taylor, man. Yeah, it probably is. With that stupid thumb. Please don't be able to catch, too. I think if Michael Pittman sits, there's going to be a real temptation to play Josh Downs or Alec Pierce. You go, well, they've got to throw the ball.

I really personally do not want to play that game um you you say he's vanished but he hasn't really been there for a long time not since I'm saying that the targets have vanished well yeah I mean so in week 12 you had this weird 13 target game um still wasn't a good game ended up with 43 yards but if you look at his targets three three five three one I mean he's not he's not someone that I'm starting even just because But if you look at his targets, 3-3-5-3-1, I mean, he's not someone that I'm starting even just because Pittman's gone. I'm not going to go, well, I need to put him in then. That's my stance. The Colts' defense, I think, is in play this week.

They're fourth in fantasy points per game. Atlanta, Taylor Heineke, no, he's a chucker. They will intercept the ball in this game. I think that's the end of the discussion in this one, other than just whether Gardner fits the streaming quarterback category for you. I actually think Taylor Heineke fits the streaming category for me. Nick Mullins or these two guys? These two guys. I's Nick Mullins or these two guys. These two guys.

I would go Mullins. I would go Gardner over both of them. Mullins is Detroit. That's nice. With Jefferson and Addison. Yeah, I would lean Mullins. The Seattle Seahawks at 7-7 take on the 5-9 Tennessee Titans. The DraftKings Sportsbook line

Seattle on the road minus 2.5. The over-under is 41.5. Seahawks, they're sitting at 8th in the NFC, still fighting for a playoff spot. We've seen the Tennessee stout, perfect run defense be a lot weaker over the last month, five games. And they lost an all-pro defensive lineman, which is impacting that. They've allowed 95 rushing yards per game in three of four.

So, you know, we saw Singletary dominate them last week. Kenneth Walker? Full confidence. He just was dominant against the Eagles. Kenneth Walker's a great play. And you may have got the little alert of Kenneth Walker moves from healthy to questionable because he didn't practice on Wednesday. It was listed as a shoulder. But you have beat reporters saying, I'm not reading into it.

It's going to be a Wednesday day of rest for a running back who just carried the ball a ton a couple days ago. This is a Tennessee defense that is also very weak in the passing game. You have Metcalf, Lockett, and Jackson, Smith, and Jigba who are all going to play with Geno Smith this week. Smith coming back from the injury. Are you playing all three guys? I think you can.

I think you can play all three. I would order them dk jackson lockett oh really i'd i'd still i'd stay in the normal order i'd go dk lockett jason okay uh nine targets last week for lockett that turned into just three catches with drew law they were not on the same page yeah they were bad targets and and there was there was some shenanigans that the defense was getting away with against Lockett. On the other side, Derek Henry with the disaster last week. Tajay Spears

has been involved, but it's not meant great things. And then Taelan Burks came back last week. I mean, he's been back for two weeks, but he came back last week to some opportunities. DeAndre Hopkins, you know, he had a kind of terrible game, but it was like he was a good throw from an 82-yard touchdown in that game

where Will Levis underthrew him when he was wide open on the backside of the defense. He had nine targets, just caught three of them, had another drop. It was kind of an off game for him. Seattle's been exceptionally vulnerable in the passing game i mean you have is there any of a backup quarterback probably there is a pretty good you either have a hobbled quarterback right or you've got a backup quarterback you're talking which one is which which one is which you either have a hurt high ankle sp sprained one week Will Levis, or you have a benched close to retirement Ryan Tannehill?

Yeah, look, I still have some optimism around Hopkins this week. He gets to double-digit targets. Even with Tannehill? Yeah, even with Tannehill, because of the way this game flow is going to likely be, I would be looking at it with the opportunity that this team's going to be down. They're going to have to throw the football. Seattle is not a – they give up 31 points a game to opposing wide receivers. It's like break up that 31 across the receiver core.

I think Hopkins is a fairly safe floor. I just don't know if the ceiling's there this week. What if I remind you that through the first six games, right, Tannehill was averaging 188 yards and two total passing touchdowns. It was a long time ago. Yeah. In a galaxy far, far away. To start the season.

He lost his job because of it. Basically, he played through the bye week, and Hopkins through that stretch was the wide receiver 30, 61, 59, 48, and 82. So he did not you know, he pretty much crushed you almost all those weeks with Tannehill. So I don't have the same optimism, but I have not

looked into matchups with DeAndre Hopkins nearly as much as Andy who was making a close decision on Hopkins. He's diving so deep. It would be great if I could bury Hopkins as an option. I just don't believe it. I don't believe that as a reality. I'm there with you. I think that Hopkins is in play. He is a decision of your options. Your other options could be better.

Okay. So who would you start, Mike, between, like, in the flex, Hopkins or James Conner? I had already told him I would go Conner. And Conner or Singletary? I'd go Conner. Okay. I hope he goes Hopkins now that I'm Singletary and you're Conner. There's just no way to get it right, guys. Oh, that is.

You got a 33% chance of getting it right. Just make the right decision, man. To be honest with you, I've gone through all three and really felt like I've had moments where I'll put one in and I'm like, he's definitely the guy. And then later in the day, it's. Devin Singletary. Jason, there was a strong announcement walking to the lunch table. Singletary's in.

He's locked. He's locked in. I did miss that. And then Mike goes, Mike, all he had to do was go, okay. And that was enough to put the, well, maybe he's not super locked. He's locked. Maybe the lock is in the, it's in the hinge, but it's not locked down. You sure about that?

You sure about that? You sure about that? That's why? I think it'll be Singletary. All right. But yes, Hopkins should be in play. It's not close to a guarantee, though. Here's what I'll say, too. We give this advice.

I'm going to follow it myself. You've got two Saturday games, right? You've got a Thursday game. So you're going to get more information yeah in terms of the way your matchup is proceeding like if alvin camara comes out and and has a 25 point performance tonight you know the singletary and connor become much safer options like deandre hopkins could go out and do what he did five of the first six weeks of tannahill and be a two-point guy whereas it's very unlikely that Conor and Singletary end up in that zone. So I'm hoping for a good game so it makes that decision easier.

All of you should be doing that with your matchups. If you have Cup and Puka and Kamara and those players that are going into tonight's matchup, let that be a somewhat, maybe a filter for the way you play your players on Sunday and if you have Saturday matchups. Yeah yeah it's good advice also it's also a way to kick the decision down the road also really really important um with all the games on separate days very important to set your lineup in locking your positional players in huge the earlier they play make sure they are in the running back or the wide receiver spot. Don't let someone start in your flex on a Thursday or a Saturday.

It takes your opportunity and your ability to make new, better-informed decisions away come Sunday and Monday. Yeah, it's not just flex. It's not like moving them out of the flex just due to injury. It's moving them out of the flex just due to opportunity. So that's a good reminder. Derek derrick henry confidence this week one to 100 69 nice uh he he has been it's it's been fantastic or it's been a fantastic disaster like that's that's it for derrick Henry. The matchup is fine. You have Seattle the last six weeks, 30th against running backs

when adjusting for schedule. So, he's in. If you happen to make it through, like I made it through with Derrick Henry, it felt really, really bad. And seeing that feels really bad to move forward in the semis. But just look at three weeks before that. Don't go further back or you're going to freak yourself out. Just look at those three.

Well, Papa Josh has Henry if anyone wants to know, so he'll probably be fine. He probably will be. He's the running back eight on the course of the season. The recency bias of this last really bad game is not the right approach. I mean, you should be starting, Derek. What was he in week 13 and 14 in terms of fantasy finish? The running back three and the running back 10.

Okay. And those were weeks that Tajay Spears was also in the top 20 on those weeks. So when they were running the football well, it benefited both backs. It's basically does the team score? Are they in the game? Are they up? That's not going to be the case. They're going to be getting whooped.

You think so? It's only a two-and-a-half-point line. Yeah, but they're the home team. I think it'll be an utter beatdown, and Tannehill at quarterback, I don't know. I think that's worse than Levis. It's do they get inside the five. Yeah, fair enough. They will.

Last week, Will Levis stole a touchdown from us. So, us on Derek Henry's team. So, it could have been salvaged. All right. But it just didn't go that way. Sorry, Andy. Yeah. Detroit 10-4, Minnesota 7-7.

DraftKings Sportsbook line, Detroit minus three. Over and under is 47. Huge game. Playoff implications. If the Lions win the ballgame, they clinch the NFC North. That would be their first division title since what year? I know the answer. Oh, man.

Mike, do you know the answer? I mean, it's got to be like give me a guess can i it's 2023 right now i'm gonna say the i'm gonna say the george bush administration the original oh wait the uh w no not w is 1993 so i believe that was am i close i don't know is that bush i think that might be. That was Clinton. Was that Clinton? Yeah. All right.

Can we get anybody in the building that knows? Kyle jumped in and said Clinton. Oh, it is Clinton. All right. I go to him. I mean, that was really close. It was 1993. That's really close. These teams play again in a couple of weeks.

You've got a dome game. You've got the playoffs on the line. You've got Nick Mullins, who was not afraid to throw the ball down the field with an 8.4 yards per attempt last week. You've got elite weapons in Addison and Jefferson. I know he got lucky. Oh, he got it. But you know what?

I'd rather a backup quarterback be willing to take those chances for the sake of my offensive weapons. Like if you bring in a guy and they're just dinking and dunking it and playing it in the screen game, takes justin jefferson's opportunities away you know and and the nice thing is you want your backup quarterback coming in to be aggressive when you have great weapons bush's term ended in 93 i'm taking i'm taking a dub you gotta take a dub that is sorry sorry go on um the the well i guess it's not really a dub. Oh, that's a dub.

We've got to look at the date that they clinched. I think they probably clinched post-election. Yeah. Wait, election's not in 93, though, right? No, that would... Oh, it would have been in 92. The election would have been 92. Yeah, so I think Bush was probably in January making that transition in 93.

Yeah. So you do not. So Clinton was totally at the White House. Yeah. That's an L. I'm sorry. That's an L. Sorry, buddy.

I already took the W, guys. We're going to take that W back. But the point is, these are really good weapons. Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and TJ Hawkinson. Throw the ball and give them the chance to make plays. That's what happened last week, and obviously Addison was a monster if you had to get backed into

starting him. Congratulations. Are you starting him again this week in a matchup that looks perfect? Mullen seems like a really good streamer when you've got these weapons. I'd play him over Brownie. Me too. All of the streaming guys, like I pivoted earlier when I said I think Heineke is a good start or Minshew.

All those guys, I would play Mullens over them. I'm still nervous about Addison because I'm nervous about second options with a backup quarterback. Hawkinson and Jefferson I have more confidence in than Addison. Ty Chandler, I do think that the range of outcomes is more severe than you would think. No, I'm in agreement. Okay, because the Lions defense, man, they shut the run down

and they could be well ahead in this game. They are favored on the road. They play well in domes. Yes. I'm not – like the floor for Ty Chandler, it's very low. I would not argue with that. But it's – I see the range of outcomes that I'm seeing for Ty Chandler is more of a he's a good running back to start who has ceiling. So I'm just – I'm playing him.

I'm getting him in. All right. On the other side, Goff. We okay here? Oh, my gosh. Mike, getting him in. All right. On the other side, Goff. We okay here? Oh, my gosh. Mike, are we okay here? No. I mean, Mike was sitting there.

What was the decision you were trying to make on Goff this week? It's the same as last week. Flacco? Jared Goff, Joe Flacco, or Jake Browning. I just can't imagine not taking Goff in a game they're favored in a dome. And that's kind of where we are right now. The Vikings on the course of where we are right now. The Vikings on the course of the season are averaging 12.8 fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks.

Oh, my gosh. Goff has. And they're at home. Has plenty of games recently where he just sucks. Yeah. Wow. Man, you can never put too much confidence in Jared Goff. It's like he'll pick your kids up from school on time one time.

But if you ask him to do it the whole week, you're playing with fire. I'm pivoting. I told you earlier I think I would go Goff. I think I would go Flacco. You're just spinning, Mike. No, no, no. I think it's the right call. It's hard after what Goff just did.

Five passing touchdowns against Denver, the number one quarterback on the week. Jake Browning just had a big game against Minnesota. If you look at the course of the season, Goff has been really bad the vast majority of times. His ceiling is good, but his consistency is a C right now. It's worth noting that Jared Goff against the Blitz and against cover two, which is what Minnesota is the highest in the NFL in both,

his splits are really bad. When you put the pressure on him, you can see some of those golfful throws. And so it is a debate. It's a debate because it's made harder by the fact Goff had such a big game last week. He threw five touchdowns. Like, if Goff had a bad game. In a difficult matchup.

If Goff had a bad game last week, I think every single person would be benching him right now because he was on a streak of nonstop bad games. It's true, but the hard part is, is it's like, who's more likely to throw three touchdown passes, Joe Flacco or Jared Goff? Probably Flacco. Oh, really? Yeah. Okay. Well, then that's a – I mean, to me, I Jared Goff? Probably Flacco. Oh, really?

Yeah. Okay. Well, then that's a – I mean, to me, I was Goff, so I thought that that would – Goff has thrown three touchdowns three times. Yeah, and Flacco's what? He's played three – One out of three games.

He had three? All right. I thought so. It's a very difficult decision. Let me confirm that. Let's see. Joe Flacco last – or two weeks ago was three touchdowns against the Jags. All right.

Jameer Gibbs, David Montgomery, play them with fear and trembling, but they should both be okay. Almon Ross ain't brown. You play him as well. You play him for sure. I did find it interesting. I saw some statistics from a good friend of the show, Scott Barrett, that he was – I don't remember the exact, you know, what he found,

but he was saying it projects to be potentially a really bad game for Amon Raw. Okay. So maybe that – you're going to start him no matter what. It was more for DFS when he was bringing it up, but it's worth highlighting when it comes to the conversation of Jared Goff. If this is a very tough, difficult situation and scheme for his number

one target, that obviously affects the quarterback. Alright, Sam Laporta. I would probably play that guy. Yeah, you're going to play him. The matchup stinks. That's good. Is there any chance he could just suck? There is, yeah. Oh, sweet. Sorry, sweet. Absolutely. Sorry, everybody.

I wonder, guess who has Sam Laporta? Evil incarnate. All right. Anything else from this game you want to discuss? Kyle was following up on what you were talking about, Jay, is in cover two, Amin Ra averaging a meager.74 yards per route run on a 20% target share of 54 routes against the truth is, is like your perception of the Minnesota defense from years gone by.

It should be gone. Yes. They're a completely different defense. And they were like, they're a shocking team. They seemed like they were just selling like over, over the off season. They felt like this is a team that's going to trust the process. And it was no. And Brian Flores was like, no, let's make the playoffs. Yeah, and then they have turned out a fantastic defense.

Do you have a name at the top of your head for most surprising team in the NFL this year? Most impressively surprising? I mean, besides Houston? To me, the Colts are at the top of my list. I think culture yeah they should be very high uh but i would yeah i'd stick with houston yeah i mean those are the two that okay that i thought of not minnesota no i don't think so minnesota's um coming into the year i thought they were going to be good they're surprising when they started losing games to start the season, lost their quarterback, and then turned the ship around.

That's surprising. Yeah, Cousins, Hall, Dobbs, Mullins, four quarterbacks. After Cousins, they've just had garbage quarterback plays. The Washington Commanders are 4-10. They take on the 5-9 New York Jets. A couple teams commiserating on disgusting seasons draft king sportsbook line jets minus three the over-unders 37 uh kyle described this matchup as two dumpster fires fulfilling their duties of playing 17 football games so we didn't mention it because it's really it's just buzz worthy and I don't know how news worthy but Aaron Rodgers was elevated

to the team and said he's not going to play which he will not be playing he's taking up a roster spot like what well he'll go away again right won't if he doesn't play

in that 21 day window if he's not active no they they activated him i thought am i misremembering that i don't think so but maybe i missed that piece of news kyle double check on that yeah then the headline there is that he's not going to come back there was a good article by the in the ringer about the fact that like him stringing them along with the possibility of coming back might have been what prohibited the Jets from ever making a commitment to

another quarterback, which makes a lot of logical sense to me where you don't want to disrupt this guy who wants, you know, you don't want to make Aaron Rodgers mad. We all know that. And the fact of the matter is, if they had just declared him out for the season, maybe they make a move to sign a Carson Wentz

or trade for a Jameis Winston and just commit to somebody. He was activated from IR so he could practice. Yeah, okay. So perhaps if they don't activate him, then he can't even keep practicing with the team. Maybe that's what it is. I believe he'll basically go back for him. That makes more sense.

And then, you know, so because you're going to have – you've got Zach Wilson in this matchup that is not practicing due to concussion. If he doesn't play, it'll be Trevor Simeon. My confidence level on Garrett Wilson goes down tremendously. We discussed it yesterday. Me personally, Garrett Wilson is a play with Zach Wilson. He is not a play with Trevor Simeon. That's my opinion.

You guys were softer on that you're more comfortable with Wilson just the matchup ends I it's it's hard not to see your side of the argument with how bad Trevor Simeon has been it's been you know incredibly limited and not a full week of practice like preparing that Trevor Simeon's going to be the starter. That's the glimmer of hope. Where are you at to your Hopkins confidence versus your Garrett Wilson confidence? Should you be making the decision on those two? I see the Titans being able to have some success in the passing game when they have a deficit. I don't know if I see that

with Simeon. I see short drives, and Brees Hall is in play because he's everything they have. But I don't know. It's nerve-wracking to start any jet. Yeah, I agree with that. I mean, this is a game that has a 37-point over-under. So, yes, the Jets are at home, and yes, they're favored, but it's a really, really low over-under,

and I don't think either of us or any of us expect the Jets to come out here and score a bunch of points. No, I mean, their line is 20 right now, so that's not terrible. I mean, obviously, we'd love it to be 30, but the expectation is that they win this game, they score enough points. So briefs to me is, is in despite last week being bad. And again, I'm, I'm not completely off Garrett Wilson. I do think with, you know, a full week of practice, not coming in as the backup. Also the dolphins last week, just

completely their pass rush, just torched this team. I mean, they couldn't, the defenders got to the quarterback at the same time the ball did. There was nothing they could do. And this matchup, the commanders got rid of their pass rush. And since then, they've just been the worst defense in the league, the best one to target. If you look on the course of the season when you adjust for schedule, 32nd against quarterbacks, 31st against running backs, 31st against wide receivers, 30th against tight end.

So if Trevor Simeon can get it done against anyone, it's here. So I don't see Garrett Wilson as someone I have to bench. On the commander side, the Jets are vulnerable to fantasy running backs. Brian Robinson, DNP again on Wednesday. That's not a good sign. For Brian Robinson? No. Yeah, I'm in agreement.

He's been out so long that you would expect if he's going to be back that he'd be out on the practice field. We'll obviously monitor that. Yeah, but moving the conversation to Antonio Gibson had five targets last week nope okay no I'm not disagreeing with the stats sorry I'm making a comment on the fact that you saw a ton of work from uh from Roderick Chris Rodriguez Rodriguez had 10 carries last week who else was in the backfield where somebody else was back there constantly Chris Rodriguez. Chris Rodriguez had 10 carries last week. Who else was in the backfield too? Because somebody else was back there constantly.

Chris Rodriguez had 10 carries. Antonio Gibson had four carries this last week. Now Gibson played more snaps and is more involved in the passing game. Chris Rodriguez isn't. Was it Derek Gore? No, you had Jonathan Williams. Oh, is that who was back there? Jonathan Williams took 22% of the snaps.

Yeah, that was the shocker to me. It's like you you spent a part of the game wondering if antonio gibson was injured so i know that the jets can be beaten on the ground are you okay with gibson as a flex yeah i mean i i think as a flex it's okay but it's scary and i'd be benching every wide receiver i'm not i'm not coming terry mclaurin had his first good game of the season i'm not going back to that well against the jets there's no way I'm playing a wide receiver. Over the course of the season and good matchups, you have a hard time deciding who it's going to be. This

could be no one against the Jets, and if it's someone, you still have no idea who it's going to be. Yeah, I agree, but Curtis seems to be the preferred for Howell. Sure, if Howell finishes the game. Hopkins or Curtis Samuel?

Hopkins. Okay. Green Bay is 6-8. The Panthers are 2-12. The DraftKings Sportsbook line, Green Bay on the road, five-point favorites. Over-under is 37.5, another low one. Green Bay, you know, they lost last week to Tampa.

It cost them a lot in the playoff race. Carolina, seven of their last eight games have hit the under because it's hard. It's just hard to watch, and it's hard for the Panthers to move the football. I am being backed into an Adam. Day one. They're winners now. They're winners. I am being backed into an Adam Thielen start.

What? In a Dynasty League. So that feels good. It shouldn't. You know, Chuba Hubbard, 96 plus yards for scrimmage and three straight. Honestly, I'd love to say play Chuba and no one else. That would kind of be like I'm okay flexing Chuba and playing no one else. I can agree with that.

Yeah, sure. I think you could not play Chuba, too, if you really want. Ah, Chuba's been good. That's fine. Four straight good weeks for Chuba. They are running the ball like crazy because they know they can't pass the ball. Wow, the opportunities. The opportunities are outrageous.

So, yes, I'm not saying don't play him. He's on pace for 400 opportunities. So, Chuba or Ty Chandler? Ty Chandler. Chuba. Ooh. Okay. Yeah, I mean, it's close.

I could see it either way. It's just one of those things where you look at how many points the Carolina Panthers score. You know, they scored nine this last week. They scored six the week before. 18, 10, 10, 13, 13, 15. They haven't scored 20 points. It's what makes Chuba's fantasy output so impressive.

Yeah, I mean, they just... You're not hoping for touchdowns. I mean, for him to finish it running back 11 on a week, they scored 10 points. Running back 6 on a week, they scored 10 points. Running back six on a week, they scored 18 points. Nice effort. Yeah. Nice effort, Chuba.

You're really giving your all. On the other side of the ball, teams don't put up a lot of fancy points against Carolina. They haven't all year. They're second against the quarterback. They're second against wideouts. They're first against tight ends. They're terrible against running backs because the other team can't score Aaron Jones in this game. Love him. Absolutely. Uh, Aaron Jones is, is pretty much getting to a point of must start. Um, this week, I think he'll be the majority of the offense. You've got a very

banged up wide receiving core. Christian Watson not practicing Wednesday. Jaden Reed not practicing Wednesday. And it's just not a great matchup for the passing game. You just want to run on them. So I don't mind if in this game you literally say, let's start the main running back on each side and not worry about anyone else i i would be fine just because there's injuries to those wide receivers doesn't mean that like romeo dobbs to me becomes like a great play dude dobbs has been bad relative to the opportunity he's been given i mean the last four games i think all four weeks you were like dobbs should have a nice game wide Wide receiver is 62, 33, 50, 62. It's like Ben Wicks, or it's been Heath, or it's been somebody.

Obviously, Jayden Reed's been heavily involved. He didn't practice. I think he didn't practice last week. He did not. He has played through a lot of injuries this year. He has not practiced. I'd play him if he's active. He would be the one that I would throw in the lineup.

But I'm benching Tucker Kraft after last week. I don't i don't like the matchup yeah no are you okay with him craft is uh craft is the level of tight end where you're playing a matchup and this is literally the number one least points given up to tight end so no you're not playing craft i was gonna say the if you are if you're in the thick and both Watson and Reed are out, I think it's not a great matchup. But Dontavian Wicks is someone that you could just pick up off the waivers the morning of if you really need a wide receiver. You know that gif of the person whose face melts off that people send around?

What, Indiana Jones? No, not that one. There's like more of a digital-looking face, and his skin falls off. I just really relate to that gif. I see where he's coming from. Listen, the reason you saw a brief reaction there is because I see an injury update, and the injury update says the Colts running back Jonathan Taylor will practice on Thursday to determine if he can play in Week 16.

Oh, a determine. So there's a chance he gets out there and he's like, ah, my thumb is just so painful right now. I can't really hold the football. I'm going to take another week and, you know, be ready for. Wow. The plot thickens. And just as a friendly reminder, if Zach Moss is out and Jonathan Taylor is out, it's probably Trey Sermon.

I don't know that it is Trey Sermon. I think it is. Before that game got away, what's the other? I'm forgetting the name of the other running back there. He was getting work ahead of Sermon. But, yeah, I mean. Let's see. So we got, what was his name?

Tyler Goodson. Thank you. Yeah, so Tyler Goodson. Tyler Goodson finished with 28% of the snaps. Trey Sermon was at 43%. I'll say this. Took half of the running back. I'm not even touching those guys in the matchup against the fourth-best run

defense in football if those guys are if Moss and Taylor are out I I'm not willing to mess around with however that would go I think it would be a lot of Gardner Minshew and just Gamble Town on the ground yeah that's fair I got oh yeah a tweet from John Daigle pointing out Goodson out touched sermon eight to two until the Colts were up 14 or 24 13 so yeah maybe, I agree with Andy. The right answer is neither. Tanya Harding did the wrong thing, right? Tanya Harding?

I don't think that's going to help you win your matchup if you take out Josh's knees. I mean, she got a movie made. I wouldn't be targeting Josh. Oh, you're going to NFL players? I'm asking you if she did the wrong thing. We're taking this to the next level. I'm asking you if she did the wrong thing. Yes, she did the wrong thing.

Okay. That's all I'm asking. No, I'm happy you asked. Welcome to Starts of the Week, presented by Purina ProPlan. I think Papa Josh is going to be in studio tomorrow, ahead of the matchup. Nice. So, I don't know if there's, can we put like one of those big water balloons above his head that I could shoot in tomorrow ahead of the matchup. Nice. So I don't know if there's, can we put like one of those, uh, big water balloons above his head that I could shoot

in the middle of the show? We can do whatever we want. You can make him hang it. I guess that would damage a lot of our equipment. Worth it. All right. Start to the week this week. I am going with Joe Flacco. I'm taking Joe Flacco in the Houston matchup. So your star of the week is not Jared Goff. No, Mike. Who would you start between Joe Flacco

and Jared Goff? Andy. Previously this week, I said Jared Goff. After today's show, it's Joe Flacco. All right. Lay it out.

It's the pass attempts. I mean, they've been through the roof no matter the situation. You have Jerome Ford who's coming back from he's been banged up every week you have a just the shell of Kareem Hunt I mean he is not a functional running back anymore you can't move the ball consistently on the ground so they're they're using their passing game they're using their tight ends they're using Najoku and Cooper and Joe Flacco is not afraid to stand in the pocket

and chuck it downfield and he's done it consistently and done it well. Houston 27th against quarterbacks and schedule adjusted. You did have Case Keenum with some competent play last week for Houston where they won the football game. So I don't think that it's a guarantee that this game is a low-scoring affair. I think it could surprise a little bit in Houston. So it matters for both teams. Joe Flacco has a start of the week.

Look, I'm trying to pick somebody that's not at the tippy top of this list. I'm trying to give you somebody that you are actually making a decision like Mike is. So the case for Joe Flacco is I would be happy with 202 from Joe Flacco this week if I'm trying to find somebody to step in there.

You guys missed Trubisky 202 a couple weeks ago. Flacco this week. If I'm trying to find somebody to step in there, you guys missed Trubisky 202 a couple weeks ago. Flacco's above that category in a plus matchup. Pumped the brakes, man. Trubisky was a hero for our team. That's right. Look. There you go. All right. Earmuffs, Andy. My quarterback started

the week. I'm taking my ears out and I'm leaving. Justin Fields, your opponent's quarterback against Arizona. Since returning from the injury, the Bears He's a. Justin Fields, your opponent's quarterback against Arizona. Since returning from the injury, the Bears... He's a good play. Yeah, he's a great play. The Bears are playing at a blistering pace. Chicago is running 68.8 plays per game.

That's the third most in the NFL over the last five games, and Fields has taken over on the ground. He is averaging 12.3 rushing attempts per game. And Arizona ranks 31st in points allowed, 26th in points allowed to quarterbacks. 40% of opponents' passing attempts result in a first down or a touchdown. That is by far the highest in the NFL. So the matchup at home in a favored game against Arizona. I gave him Justin Fields.

Yeah, yeah. You are the reason for your death. Just go to Andy's cam real quick. Did you know that Justin Fields has been watching you this whole show? Oh, my goodness gracious. Oh, my goodness gracious. Justin Fields was behind Andy the whole time. Like the boogeyman.

I knew I felt something evil. Josh did that, right? He sets this up. I don't know. They say it's a coincidence, but there are no coincidences. Oh, man. All right. My start of the week, I'm going Baker Mayfield against Jacksonville.

Wow. He was the QB because I'm like you, Andy. I'm trying to find if you don't have a locked-in starter and you're scrambling. I think that Baker is a really good stream this week. I brought him up earlier. But more top 12 finishes than Dak, 7-6. And Jacksonville, a pass funnel defense, 29th, schedule adjusted to quarterbacks, allowing over 270 passing yards per game. That's 28.

The Baker to Mike Evans connection should be strong this week. Yeah. All right. I'm taking the combo package of Raheem Mostert and Devon Achan against Dallas. Okay. The Dallas defense was torn to shreds last week. This is more an endorsement

of Achan. Nobody's sitting down. Raheem Mostert. But I think Achan is going to make his mark this week. More opportunities. He's being targeted a ton. Tyreek Hill, we think he'll be back. If he's not, it's even more of an endorsement of HN. So I'm going to go with the

tandem there against Dallas at home. Well, I'm going with a tandem as well. Two running backs that combined last week to score 2.2 half ppr fantasy points they are my running backs that put me out of the playoffs bijan robinson and breeze hall they're my guys nice these dudes crushed me this last week and because i am out they are going to be put both in yes oh yeah baby they're they're going to be great i know they're going to be. Wait, you put both in? Yes. Oh, yeah, baby. They're going to be great.

I know they're going to be great because that will hurt me a lot. But the truth is, they have really, really good matchups. Bijon faces the Colts defense. I can't believe you're doing this. That ranks 26th in rushing yards allowed, 28th in expected points per rush. And Atlanta plays way better at home. Brees faces the Commanders. We talked about both of these on today's episode, 31st and schedule-adjusted fantasy points to Week 8. Listen

to the last six running backs to face the Commanders. Kyron was the running back 5. Achan was the running back 4. Pollard, who had been not doing so great, running back nine. Saquon, the running back one. Kenneth Walker, the running back five. Ramondre, the running back three. So they're not stopping nobody. I mean, those are good running backs, but Brees is a good running back too. So Bijon and Brees will do for you what they could not do for me. Mike? I'm going with Zeke against the Denver Broncos. I want to give people the confidence after the real stinker last week is just reminding you this is the type of running back that you go after,

the volume. The three weeks with Ramondre out, 22, 30, and 17 opportunities, 16 receptions in those three games. The Denver defense, while they have improved since the debacle against the Miami Dolphins, running backs are still doing just fine. You had Jameer Gibbs and David Montgomery with 185 rushing yards this past week. I mean, it's just play him. The opportunities are there, and it could be a snow game, which a snow game could favor Zeke as you've heard offensive players talk

about, you know, the defense because they have to react. So if they're in the snow, it's a little harder to get your footing. I'm playing Zeke. All right. I think the theme of today's start of the week, it has been like a little pat on the butt for some guys that have let you down based on the Bijan some guys that have let you down based on the Bijon-Breece Hall situation, Zeke, last week.

I'm going to go with Stephon Diggs against the Chargers. They just gave up kind of like incredible days to three Raiders wide receivers, Trey Tucker, Jacoby Myers, and Devontae Adams. They're allowing the most passing yards in the league, and Stephon Diggs has the opportunity in this one to really take advantage of the first half of this game, go out there, reestablish it, move down the field. And I think Stephon Diggs is a must-start this week

for those of you living on the edge of benching him. And I'm going to go with the stack with your quarterback, Amari Cooper. Why are you doing this to me? At Houston. The last two games with Joe Flacco, 22 targets and 186 receiving yards. We mentioned the increased passing volume that's going on with the Cleveland Browns right now. Cooper leads the team in targets, 25% target share versus zone coverage. Since week six, Houston ranks 27th and scheduled adjusted fantasy points allowed to wide receivers they're allowing the third highest completion percentage I don't

see a world where you could bench Mari Cooper with Joe Flacco with the passing volume that's there right now and I'm going with T Higgins he is the last man standing here for the Cincinnati Bengals with uh with I'm sorry with Jamar Chase expected to miss we had the eruption last week the two touchdowns including one of I mean just an absolute one of the best plays of the year with the stretch for the touchdown Drake Jake Browning is playing well and in the four games that we've seen T Higgins without Jamar Chase. The numbers are better from seven targets to nine. 62 receiving yards up to 93. 11 fantasy points up to 15.5.

T. Higgins, I'm not scared of Pittsburgh. I'm playing him. All right, David Njoku is my start of the week. You know, with Joe Flacco, Mike. David Njoku at Houston. He has been on fire, tied in two for back-to-back weeks. Nine plus targets per game. You watch these games.

He is their offense, along with Amari Cooper. Houston 27th against tight ends. So three. Give me David Njoku. Cleveland Browns starts of the week. That is correct. We like them this week. Okay.

Thanks. At tight end, I am going with Evan Ingram. He's quietly having a historic season. I don't know if you guys realize this. He's on pace for 107 receptions right now. That would be tied for the fourth most all-time for the tight end position. He's on pace for 587 routes run. That would be top 10 all-time.

Shmevin has all of a sudden morphed into like a steady Eddie. He's the only tight end with four plus receptions every single game. I personally think Trevor Lawrence will be back and clear protocol, but either way, I think that the tight end is going to be really valuable because the matchup is perfect. Tampa Bay, they're allowing the third highest yards per attempt. They are dead last against tight ends since week eight. They are a matchup I've been targeting. When you've got someone this involved in the offense, in a matchup that that is where they are beat, you can't go away from Schmevin this week. And I'm going with the confidence play of Isaiah Likely and you're like of course I'm playing Isaiah Likely but then you look at the matchup and go

oh crap it's the San Francisco 49ers well fear not because surprisingly over the last five weeks the team that has given up the most points over expected to the tight end position is in fact the San Francisco 49ers Trey McBride just went 10 for 102 against them. He likely seems like he is the primary read for the Baltimore Ravens right now. And look, it's a Christmas miracle. You get the Monday night game. You get some Isaiah Likely action. Would you play Likely or Zay Flowers in the flex?

I would play Likely. Based on that. I would play Isaiah Likely. Okay. Flowers in the Flex? I would play Likely. Based on that. I would play Isaiah Likely. Okay. That is it for Starts of the Week. We want to thank our sponsor, Purina ProPlan Sport. ProPlan Sport provides fine-tuned nutrition for strength and stamina that enables dogs and owners to take on life's adventures together.

ProPlan Sport, high-performance fuel for active dogs. It all starts here. We go. for active dogs it all starts here we go jason moore's ironclad locked and loaded 100 guaranteed boom boom kicker of the week last week on the boom boom kicker i opened up a can of whoop on Tyler Bass. With Christmas soon on its way, I took a list and jumped on my sleigh, crossing out naughties like old Saint Nick. Cole will not do, for kickers deserve a lump of poo. Merry Christmas, you filthy animal to the Rams.

Lucas Haversick. It's been, it's been, it's been good for a couple of weeks. Oh, it's good. I, I really enjoyed the,

the lack of confidence on saying the kid, the kicker's name. Thank you. Yeah, no, that's good. Haversick. We've got, got uh i believe we've got two more boom booms all right i hope of all time maybe i mean i think i think maybe i think maybe we might have something special kyle did say that that's his favorite

the only segment on the show is kids listen to which which makes sense. Oh, yeah. Because it's a big deal. There's a big poo-related kind of. Yeah, I do question the parenting. You know, his children are very young. And sometimes this boom-boom story. Too young for a poop joke. Oh, no. But, I mean, I'm straight murdering fools.

That part is true. At this point. All right. Well, continue your tilting. Hopefully we helped you out with the matchup breakdowns. We've got the rest of them tomorrow. We've got an opportunity for me to be shamed on the show tomorrow. Papa Josh in studio

as we face off for the weekend and you want to follow along with that. I just remembered what it was. The shame. Oh no. Did you pick it? I did because I won. Cool. And you're laughing and that's bad it's it's very funny that's bad for me um well i mean it's christmas maybe i'll get something good under the tree for the shame no doesn't seem like it all right we'll catch you tomorrow goodbye

thank you for listening to another episode of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast. Join our fantasy football community on jointhefoot.com and follow us on Twitter at the FFBallers.