Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast - Starts of the Week + Week 18 Breakdown, Nasty Boys - Fantasy Football Podcast for 1/2

Episode Date: January 2, 2025

Week 18 matchup previews with NFL Playoff implications! On today’s fantasy football podcast, a breakdown of which teams and players are actually motivated in Week 18. Plus, upside starts, injury updates, and more! Manage your redraft, keeper, and dynasty fantasy football teams with the #1 fantasy football podcast. -- Fantasy Football Podcast for January 2nd, 2025. 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: News & Notes presented by USAA. Visit https://www.USAA.com/Insurance  Fantasy Forecast presented by DraftKings Sportsbook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hi, this is Eric Dickinson, NFL Hall of Famer, and you're listening to the Fantasy Footballers Podcast. Welcome to the Fantasy Footballers Podcast with your hosts, Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike Wright. Oh Welcome in it's week 18 It is not and we're still here we are but it's not football time no No, oh, yeah, it's Thursday. I'm not even sure much of, I mean, only some of the games will be football this week. But we're here.

You put a poll up, Andy, on your Twitter, on your ex, asking how many people are in a Week 18 championship game. And about 10% of people said, we're still playing. Yep, 10%. 10% of people said, we're still playing. Yep, 10%, 10% of people. Grody. Have. They have commissioners that are.

That are. Winners. Stuck in the mud, you know. That's all right, fix it next year, we got you this year. Yep, we're here, we're here. We've got our best effort at matchup breakdowns. Some games are easy. Some games are easy. Some games are very, very meaningful. It will not be hard to break down your start set

for Minnesota-Detroit this week. Nope. That won't be difficult. It won't be hard to figure out your Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Falcons and some of those, but we'll do our best to walk through the matchups. We have news to talk about. We do have starts of the week.

And we have a reminder for the champs out there. By the way, I am looking for a new family. Oh yeah. Oh yeah, figured. You got rid of that one, huh? You know, as great as Al apparently texted my father as well, and I saw him. And he said, yeah, I got that text, but I didn't know what was going on. He totally didn't understand what was happening.

I like that I basically called that beforehand. I said, oh, you did? I was like, your parents are probably too old to be able to figure this out. Thanks for putting a classic episode together at my expense, Al. Thanks for being such a good sport. I want to tell you, when the show was going on, and I knew that, I mean, spontaneous congratulations, a classic episode together at my expense, Al. Thanks for being such a good sport. I wanna tell you, when the show was going on, and I knew that, I mean, spontaneous congratulations,

I know there were more coming after you had my wife on the first one, and you don't know how much I was hoping that the next one was going, I was gonna hear the voice of one of your two wives. That I wasn't just my family, I thought maybe you got Tiffany to say something, but no it was a full Pylon and I did make my son Nathan believe he was not my co-manager nice

Yeah, well, and I made him believe it for a good few hours to be quite honest. He should not be your co-manager anymore I mean that is that's crossing a line. It was yeah, it was real It's real problematic for that relationship, but we'll recover I think A reminder for the champs out there the t-shirts the foot clan title t-shirt shop ballers calm Your trophies you can go to fantasy champs calm for trophies championship rings belts And if you buy a trophy over there or a belt and put the code free ring into the checkout Department into the checkout coupon area you get a free ring. Well, you also have to have the ring in your car Yeah, I would do that if you type in free ring, but you don't have a ring in your cart

You're not getting no ring will not show up. They don't put it. It would have been free. It would have been. So you can check that out. We're on X at the FF Ballers. We're a year round show. We'll be here next week. Schedule shifts to Tuesday, Thursday episodes in the playoffs and off season.

And we will also have a bonus weekly episode at jointhefoot.com as we do each and every week and have for the last what ten years For the foot clan answering your questions having a lot of fun over the offseason. I Think that takes care of everything here at the top Glad you're feeling better today out appreciate it News and notes from around the league presented by USAA Insurance. Kings are still there apparently.

I guess it's a, that was not intentional. Is that the new graphic moving forward? No, I'll get it switched back. He was on it again? Yeah. We might've forgotten to switch that back. I was going to say breaking news, the Falcon back in the office after what, six months? Yeah, he took a year off.

This was a sabbatical, is that what we're calling this? Yeah, that's what it is. Well, welcome back, man. Yeah, you gotta be very refreshed. Very. Yeah, yeah. Now, who has the, yeah, he's got the toilet trophy back. Congratulations.

Hey, I got a trophy over here too. I'm glad I changed the camera. All right, the Eagles announced they're gonna arrest key milk key starters Kenny pickets a DMP. So what is it Tanner McKee? something like that and Barkley very likely to sit in this one, although he did come out and say After he slept on he kind of wanted he wants the. He wants a chance to be part of history. But Sirianni has said, essentially,

that it's a special record, but you got to do what's best for the team. So we expect him to sit. I don't like that. It's a little bit funky. If I were Sirianni, I mean, I'd just be like, dude, Dickerson did it in 16, brother. Like, you want it in 17 games,

you want to take the record that way? Like, eh. No one will ever give two farts about the number of games, ever. 20 years from now, if Saquon has his record, people are not gonna talk about it. The olds will care. And I'm counting us as the olds. Yeah, but they die off it. The olds will care and I'm counting

on the olds. Yeah, but they die off. Yeah, eventually. Oh, I, no way. Eventually. I mean, you have the record or you don't, period. But here's the thing, is yes, eventually people of our age will be gone and won't care about it. But honestly, how much, like Eric Dickerson, I've watched footage of him play, look like an, he looked absolutely incredible. You know how much I care about Eric Dickerson as the player though? of him play. Looked like he looked absolutely incredible. You know how much I care about Eric Dickerson as the player though? He wasn't in my era, I don't care. Right.

So his record's like. But you know who has the record. I hear his name brought up all the time, every year. Yeah, for one reason. And it will be the Saquon record for the next 50 years worth of talking about. Well, one second maybe. Until Kansas Gat a boo breaks it

yeah until until a player comes in and they're at 18 games and then that will be like next and then their record is gone that's a rapid that's the best point I think to me is it actually would be it would be gone pretty quick doing do it in 16 next I Barkley all right he could still play this is not a guarantee he's being benched yet. Mitch Trubisky will get the majority of the work for the Bills, Carson wins for the Chiefs, Jimmy G for the Rams, Josh Dobbs for the 49ers

with the purty injury. You also have George Kittle, very unlikely to play in that game. He's banged up. Tyler Huntley will start for the Dolphins, most likely. And then Anthony Richardson said he couldn't even get out of bed last week with back spasms. Same, brother.

Just so tired. Same, brother. The Cardinals ruled it. You have no back spasms, but very similar. Yeah, no, I was only agreeing with the couldn't get out of bed part. Yeah, James Connor will not play. He will not finish with a complete season.

Oh, man. Austin Eckler designated. We've got to get those out of the did it. With a complete season. Oh man. Austin Eckler designated. We gotta get those out of the way at the beginning of the year. I know, just start with like two missed games. Yeah. And then play the rest of the season. Like we.

That way he doesn't feel the pressure to like disappoint us. Like week three? Yeah. Just week three, just take it off. Eckler, designated to return, full practice, will play. Nice. He's a dart throw this week Amir Abdullah

Didn't practice after the big week last week. I Can't believe that's in the storyline. It's a win today So I mean if he's back in practice tomorrow, then he looked so good this last week I mentioned kiddles Deebo didn't practice Pierce all limited and Lad McConkey Josh Josh Palmer, Gus Edwards, DMPs, Jalen Waddle, limited, Kate Otten, didn't practice for, this will be a third straight miss for him, and Aaron Jones, limited,

should be back for the big game on Sunday night. That was today's News and Notes, presented by USAA Insurance. Learn more at usaa.com slash insurance. Starts of the week. Well, week 18, it's a fun one. I will go with Jared Goff. We have the Goff.

What are you looking for? I'm looking for the Who's the best? King Goffery in week 18 the largest over under in any game since 2020. Projected team total of nearly 30 points really and they're averaging 33 points per game at home or 36 at home. So yeah I'm gonna I'm gonna go with Jared Goff against Minnesota the dominator at home that game is going to be so fun.

56 and a half? The Dominator and the Dominator. I think it opened at 52 or 52 and a half and it's just skyrocketed. My start of the week is Laser Mayfield, baby. Yeah, Laser. He got you here. He got you to the championship. He is in a win-and-get-in situation

They're 13 and a half point favorites at home versus a rat tail. You can take this one to the bank. He currently has 4,279 yards and 39 passing touchdowns with a 72% completion percentage Only other player in NFL history to have those three numbers is Drew Brees. He has been awesome He also is he's on the precipice of I think like three Escalators. Yeah, where I mean he's gonna get some money. He can earn himself a lot more money Look those guys would love to have a playoff berth. Yes Would love to have those guys, but in case I don't Bryce you the rat tail. Dang. No. in case I don't. Bryce Young. Just say the rat tail, dang it.

No, no, I can't go down that far. That's a danger. Week 18. That is not a path I'm willing to walk, but Bryce Young against Atlanta. Bryce Young has actually been consistent lately, and since the bye, he's the QB9 in fantasy, averaging about 18 points a game.

He's running a bit more. Like in that six game span, he's averaging 5.6 rushing points per game. He's running a bit more like in that six game span he's averaging five point six rushing points per game. It's the six most for quarterbacks among that time so he's he's getting it done. The Atlanta defense is P.U. stinky stinky and I think that Bryce Young is he's in play here. All right at running back I'm gonna go combo platter rookie backups Blake Corum, Isaac Garindo. A lot of talk about the workload Corum's gonna get this week in a game that doesn't matter for the playoffs situation at home against Seattle. Excited to see him get a big workload, McVeigh said.

And Gurindo, I think this is an opportunity for Gurindo to end the season, to put himself in a position to compete for that backup role next year. He's averaging 5.1 yards per carry on the season. He was the top 12 running back last week against Detroit, so give me the rookie backups. The Garendo thing is so interesting for next year. Kyle, correct me if I'm wrong. I think Jordan Mason's a free agent, and it's like, what does that whole scenario look like? Because they were, to start the year, they were so publicly enamored

and vocal of their support of Jordan Mason. Elijah Mitchell, actually, is how they started the off season. Well, yes. With their public support of him over. Sure, but then the support for Jordan Mason, but with them both possibly gone, and then Garendo taking the job,

and it's like, has Jordan Mason played himself into a different opportunity? It's gonna be very fun to watch. It would just be a matter of like, I don't think he's gonna get a bunch of money. No, no, I'm not missing opportunity. He'll go be a backup committee, but he'll get more money than San Francisco

will offer them if they like Garando. Yeah. Yeah, I agree. It'll be really interesting to see where he lands. And I could see him really just not getting, because he got injured, like just not getting a relevant role and then he'll be a name that we have to remember someday.

My running back start of the week, J.K. Dobbins. Going to Vegas, he's gonna play some slot machines. He came back last week, ran the ball 19 times, 76 yards on the ground and a touchdown. Right now the Chargers, their five point road favorites. In a game that really matters to them, they can improve to the number five seed with a win and a stealer's loss.

That would be playing the Texans instead of the sixth seed, which seems likely to play the Ravens. So I think I would much rather play the Texans if I was them. In week one, we saw this matchup He was the running back Four on the week 10 for 135 in a touchdown, so it's a good matchup They need the win Dobbins is also in play for

Comeback player of the year, so I'm sure he wants to put an exclamation point on that is is he actually yes He's a favorite. I think hit not burrow burr. I I don't know if burrows gonna be Like that's a very subjective Situation with what a comeback represents him coming from an injury like that What Dobbins suffered and returning to form is rare sure so I'm not sure that you know burrows situation is gonna fit All right, I'm going out- Burrow is still the favorite? Is Burrow still the favorite on Combat Player of the Year?

I haven't looked at those odds a single time this year. I guess Dobbins is sitting at third most likely. So he could, like Jason said, he could secure it with a big, his injury during the year might hurt him. I'm going with Jalen Warren against the Cincinnati Bengals. He has been above the Warren line each of the last two weeks. Which is 10 points. 10 fancy points.

Which is 10 points a game. 17 opportunities in both games. That's actually the most he's ever seen in back to back games in his career. And over the last six weeks, since he has dead last against running backs, we want to target that matchup. Yes, he was a limited participant yesterday

in practice talking about Jalen Warren. So I'm expecting him to play. And the way that, I mean, just interesting things to track, like Warren versus Naji. Essentially they were both playing to try and get the Pittsburgh Steelers role for next year, cuz they're both free agents. And it was like, this is so easy, Naji. This might be shifting here at the end of the year. Do you remember when Jason made a very famous dynasty trade?

He's made a few of them, but which one? It involved the wide receiver. Was his name C.D. Lamb? No, I'm not looking at that one. It was Jordan Addison. Oh, the most recent one, yes. OK. Who was the wide receiver five since week nine

on a roster that may roll back Sam Darnold, who by the way, pro bowler Sam Darnold, pro bowler, Jaden Daniels this year. Yep, I got in. But Addison, must watch game, the other side of the golf experience here, I'm going Addison, Detroit, they're gonna give up points, I mean, they just do right now.

And since week nine, averaging eight targets, 72 yards a game and one touchdown, while Chris Olave's just waiting to get back on the field. How's, what was that trade, Jay? It was, I traded away Jordan Addison. Yeah, this was before the season. This was before the season. And two firsts for Chris Olave.

It doesn't feel good. You know, there were, it was a very, You win some, you lose some. It was a very polarizing trade, by the way, in the community at the time. I remember seeing strong opinions, the pro-Adison movement, the losing the picks. You were trying to go for a-

I love Jordan Edison. He was my guy last year. He was a good player, but yeah, it has not worked out. Granted, I did think Chris Olave would be playing football. Sure. Which is like a helpful part of that trade. Another player who I traded for is my start of the week, Drake London this week against Carolina.

They're in a must-win game for Atlanta. And in the two Michael Pinnock starts so far, London has been targeted 38% of his routes, which is outstanding, 38% of the team's first read targets. He's the wide receiver, 10 on the season. He's averaging nine targets and 68 receiving yards a game. And the matchup against Carolina is great. They're 31st in EPA per pass attempt on the season. Drake London, I think, is a very, very good start.

You always want these players in week 18 that have something to play for. So hopefully you've got them on your roster. Speaking of they have something to play for I'm going with JMo Williams against the Minnesota Vikings. We want pieces of that. Saw the two touchdowns on a Monday night. Minnesota they're a pass funnel right now teams are throwing the ball 64% of the time. That's number one in the NFL and they are dead last and schedule adjusted points to the wide receivers because of that.

Like they're a great rush defense and great Minnesota I'm speaking of. And then they're a great offense. So teams have to throw. All right, my tight end, I'm gonna go with Noah Gray, Travis Kelsey very likely to get the day off for the Chiefs. Noah Gray against Denver with Carson Wentz who is playing for money money.

He's playing for an opportunity to be a backup. Once again, he did this last year for, what was it, the Rams? I don't remember, yeah, I think it was on the Rams. It was the Rams against San Francisco in week seven. I might be wrong about that. I'm pretty sure he played for this opportunity last year and performed pretty well.

I would not be surprised if there was a closer game than that 10 point line with Kansas City and Denver. And Noah Gray, who's a top 10 tight end somehow since week 11, playing full time snaps with Mr. Kelsey out. Wince was the quarterback too last year in week 18. I knew I remembered something. Against the Niners for the Rams. So yeah, there you go.

He threw for 163 yards. And he was the quarterback because he had two passing touchdowns and he ran for 56 in the score. Wow, he's gonna do what it takes. All right, my tight end start of the week is getting loose It's the muth Pat Friar muth versus Cincinnati. That's one of those matchups. We've really been targeting all year He was the tight end five against Cincinnati earlier this year where he had six for 68 and a touchdown

An important game for the Steelers. I think the muth will get loose. I'm going big, Montana It is really just this is the matchup play. And we get to play the music everybody. The Raiders are 31st. Gotta find a reason to believe in week 18 boys. 31st in scheduled adjusted points to the tied in position. Gonna play big Montana. Oh, yeah you are. And we'll just fade that all the way out of the show we shouldn't have other starts of the week

It should just be big Montana. Someone has to play. Yeah, someone has to play big Montana just for the drop He's like the every week started. Yeah until he's Out of a little Montana until he's gone Okay, there's your starts the week. We'll take a break, we'll hit the forecast. It's time for Fantasy Forecast presented by Draft King Sportsbook. It is an ultimate nasty boys weekend, Mike. Oh yeah it is. Nasty nasty. Yeah the Cleveland Browns are they are knee deep. Yeah you. Whoa. I had not seen. I just saw that. This is the line is lower than it was. This is DraftKings having the line between the Browns at three and 13, with an implied point total of 12,

against the Ravens trying to secure the division with an implied point total of 29 and a half. They're 17 and a half point favorites, the over-under's just 41, but that don't matter when you're projected for 30 points on the Baltimore side. Yeah, the Baltimore's gonna be fine. It's wild, because when we were looking at our Par-tay Par-lay, which by the way, Mike, seven straight weeks with a hit.

He didn't even take Lad McConkey last week. You have 17 and 1.5 points. They're favored. I wanted to take the Zay Flowers over, and I'm not sure they'll need to use him. Pro bowler Zay Flowers. Yeah. Over Brian Thomas.

That don't make no sense. Here's the, the, so much. Is it making the playoffs? So much of the Pro Bowl is, is, I mean, you have the whole public vote. And it like, it takes some time. Like, when you're, when you're Jane Daniels, and you're like the face of, of a team,

then it's easier to do it. Yeah, Baker Mayfield didn't make the Pro Bowl. It's like, you gotta set the foundation of people getting excited about you and then you perform the next year. Look, yes, I saw the videos, A. Flowers making the Pro Bowl. Thrilled for him, it was awesome.

Also funny when their general manager's like, yeah, I hope you don't get to go. Because it's like, it's Orlando and if you're in the Super Bowl, you don't go. But Lamar, Henry, Flowers, Andrews, play them all? I would. Yeah, I think you're in the Super Bowl you don't go but Lamar Henry flowers Andrews play them all I think you're going to play them they got you here they're great the matchup is good the implied point total is good the the worry is that because it's such a lopsided I mean the Browns are projected for 12

points like they won't need much and so I don't know how how large of a game you're gonna get out of these guys you know if if they're up a bunch are they gonna be playing Derek Henry in the fourth quarter they shouldn't. Do you know how many targets Jerry Judy had last week guys? Are you aware of the number? No I'm not. What if I told you it was 18? How many catches did he get? 12. Wow. So 94 yards.

Oh, all right. Yeah, it was actually an okay game for Jerry Judy. He is a pro bowler as well, by the way. And that's, I mean, him and Deontah Foreman are the only two that you can think about. Deontah Foreman should get the start and be the full-time running back on a team that will be down by a million. Gets a good rush defense. Yeah. And and Jerry Judy I think you can play him. 18 targets last week with DTR you can give it a go. Yeah I think they shouldn't be coming

back all game long you're gonna dink and dunk your way to something. Yeah with Najoku probably not playing you saw that last week it was seemingly very helpful for Judy I think Judy is a fine play.les at eight Nate taking on the 10 and 6 Pittsburgh Steelers a You know must win game for Cincinnati even more than Pittsburgh Because Pittsburgh's odds of winning the division are basically nothing You know technically they can win this game and have Baltimore lose to DTR That's not gonna happen in Baltimore, it's just not. You can clip that if it does.

It's not gonna happen. It's not gonna happen, yeah. But Cincinnati-Pittsburgh, look, Cincinnati is, they're playing for everything. They need some things to go their way this weekend. But it starts with a win. And they need Carson Wentz to be awesome, by the way. They're the biggest Carson Wentz fans on the planet

because they need Denver to lose. It's not a good place to be but burrow Jamar chase T Higgins yes please Mike Gassicki had ten receptions last week spot start candidate and then chase Brown still not practicing working out with the trainers I'm sure they'll try to get him out there, but Cluel Herbert would fill in and be a decent spot start if he was alone. I'd have no problem playing Herbert. Certainly over Foreman. You've got a good offense here.

You expect a lot of points scored, so if Chase Brown can't go, or if you have Chase Brown, make sure you've got Herbert on your roster. Mike already mentioned the Jaylen Warren start of the week. You do have a Cincinnati defense that has stepped it up as they've made their playoff run. Pickens is a 64 and a half yard DK receiving line. You can play him and the Muth getting loose. Both Mike and Jason with starts of the week on these Steelers this week. That's right. Sunday games the 4 and 12 Panthers taking on the 8 and 8 Falcons. The Drafking Sportsbook line Atlanta minus 8 the over unders 48

And is almost upset of the week I'm here for that. It's to Atlanta of Atlanta. Mm-hmm to blow this thing at home. I Think Kyle who's listening, an Atlanta Falcons fan, knows this is true. Kyle, any thoughts on this game? Are you about to blow out the Panthers? Yeah just kill us right now. You know an eight-point line is wild and maybe it happens and it definitely could. Eight? Yeah, that seems wonky. But everything's inter-divisional this week and the Panthers are trying to build momentum

with Bryce Young and they would love nothing more than to punish the Falcons and send them out of any playoff hopes. Obviously you can play Bijon, Jason started the week, Drake London. Darnell Mooney is scary to me because we haven't seen a lot with Michael Pinnix. He did have an okay game I think two weeks ago. Yeah, he did. The matchup was there. I think Mooney is a fine play. Yeah you're probably

right about that. Thielen has been awesome since his return from injury. Nine targets for the get last week. I'm fresh. That was stealing that legette, right? No, the get doesn't talk like this. No, no. Bryce Youngs, your start of the week mic in a desperate situation. And Raheem Blackshear.

Arr! Will get the start, but had two fantasy points on 77% of snaps, so probably not a good off situation it was a the matchup was way worse for Blackshear last week I mean yeah he had no wool yes that's yeah last year zero bags full we're trying to get three yeah when Chuba was ruled out you were playing against Chuba Mike and you were disappointed because you thought it was kind of a trap Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so it should be better for Blackshear, but there are there's no options like Blake Corum

You're start of the week Andy. He's out there. He's available on on almost all waivers. You would start him over Blackshear I'd start yeah Corum Michael Carter Carter if If Herbert is there with a little which with chase Brown out easily over Blackshear the commanders are 11 and 5 taking on the seven or nine Dallas Cowboys Washington five-point favorites the commanders are currently the sixth seed if they they win the tiebreaker over Green Bay so what is that situation then so if Green Bay loses and they win the tiebreaker over Green Bay, so what is that situation then?

So if Green Bay loses and they win, they move up, right? So, or because they'd be moving to a tie and then that would move them up. So they're motivated to change their seating in this situation. They're gonna play their starters, as Dan Quinn has said. Dallas beat them in week 12? Yeah, it's one of their losses, a Dan Quinn has said. Dallas beat them in week 12. That's one of their losses a divisional matchup I mean I think I think the the

team certainly is gonna come to play. So Jaden Daniels, Brian Robinson jr. who's been a little bit tough to start the last couple of weeks. Yeah they're I mean they are really rotating running backs there. And if you listen to, was it Michael Parsons? Other than seven or eight, other than seven or eight plays last week, they were right there with Philly. Yeah, if you just take away all the terrible plays that they gave up on defense, like the big touchdowns.

Otherwise they made them earn it. Yeah, they didn't even let them score one point outside of the touchdowns and the field goals. No, zero. He was the most fantasy football sounding answer I've ever heard where it's like, sometimes we get on here and it's like, man if he took away his 56 yard run,

he would have had a bad game. Well, yeah. That's exactly right. So play your, play your commanders and forgive Mr. McLaurin. He was a DMP with an ankle injury. Yeah, I mean you can't hold a bad game against a wide receiver who's been playing

as good as Terry McLaurin. Zach Ertz, two touchdowns last week, has a special, special spot with Mr. Jaden Daniels. Yeah, I mean he is, he's playable. It took overtime to get that second touchdown. I think he, if memory serves, I think he has another incentive, a couple more incentives.

If he gets like 90 yards on a touchdown, I think he hits two more, something like, he had like, it was like 606 or 707, 808 with yardage and touchdowns, so it might not be a bad start to chase, chase after incentives. Do you believe that, would you believe this, Jake Ferguson zero touchdowns on the season? Yeah, I mean he is more of a product of DAC.

To start the year, the first week of the season. Ferguson got hurt. It was a down game. Misses the next week. But then he's a top 10 guy, three straight weeks in a row. And then eventually they lose Dac, and the season is just gone. Chicago? Oh, Kyle found it, Jason.

Ertz needs 90 yards to hit 700, and then it's a 250K paycheck. There you go. 90 yards is definitely. Not going to happen. That's a lot for those legs. Okay, just to clarify what I said earlier, Commander's impactors have the same record. They just need to win to keep pace.

They have the tiebreaker already. Is that accurate, Kyle? Yes, that's correct. Help me out here. Yeah, because I was like, it says they're currently the sixth seed in the NFC, So they have to hold. Yeah, they have to hold Chicago's four and 12 Green Bay is 11. Oh, you're going to talk about my man Rico Dowdle. Yeah, I mean, Rico last week seemed unplayable. I forgot about an entire team. Yeah, you did. Well, we talked to Jake

Ferguson. Rico Dowdle has a thousand yards rushing rushing. Let that wash over you, people. Rico Dowdle is over 1,000. The truth is, and I'm not taking anything away from Rico, but that is a bad football team. And Dak's injury, I don't think this happens without what took place with Dak going out for the season. He is like the man making the most of a really bad offensive situation and he's ran well,

performed well, the team has given him tons and tons of opportunities to do that now. Yes, that's true. Which had gone way, way down. I mean, his attempts on the ground, three times in the last six, well five weeks, he's gone over 20 rushing attempts, so. Yeah, the foundation of, well five weeks, he's gone over 20 rushing attempts. So.

Yeah, the foundation of the offense had changed, but he's on a bad team and he's running 4.7 yards per carry. Like he is, he is getting it done. And last week, like I lost. That's what I just realized. I lost in the dynasty championship because it was, we were coming. He would have won. He would have won if he played his dude. Yeah. His guy Dowdell. Yeah. But it was such a bad matchup against Philly. It was, it was, we were coming. He would have won. He would have won if he played his dude.

Yeah. His guy Dowdle. Yeah. But it was such a bad matchup against Philly. It was. He was coming off the Tampa Bay game, which is. Oh no. Which, like, it was really bad against Tampa Bay.

Then he was playing against Philly, who was just an absolute shut down. And Ford had just had a big game. Yep. I see. And you lost C.D. Lamb, so you don't expect the offense to be good. Yeah. But if you play Rico, you're Rico. Yep. And you lost C.D. Lamb, so you don't expect the offense to be good. Yeah.

But if you play Rico, you're Rico. Yep. Oh boy. You're the champ. Oh, I am aware. So this is a deserved loss then. Yeah, you like doubtled him. I did.

I doubted Doudle. But the point being, it's more of, this one against Philly, they gave him the ball 23 times. And he- Cause he was having success. Yeah, so he is he is in play here and his off season will be very interesting to watch too They did they did let go of superstar Ezekiel Elliott if you didn't see give him another chance to go be a body on the bench for somebody in the playoffs

Yeah, what he thinks? Yes, I'm signing Whoever signs, I mean, probably the Chiefs. Melvin Gordon got a ring. Give Zeke a ring. Shady, right? Didn't they? Did Shady get a ring with him? I think Shady ended up leaving the team by then. I'm not positive.

Everyone gets a ring with the Chiefs. But Rico with Zeke. Robert O'Hare is actually a member of the Chiefs. Does Zeke pay? Do these players go and pay the Chiefs? Do you pay to get on the team? Yeah. I would.

I would totally. You've got the money for it. Yeah, be like, here's a couple hundred grand. Let's go. It's like buying a ticket to the Super Bowl. Right? It's really good seats. Yeah, you get great seats for the Super Bowl.

People would give a quarter of a million dollars to be on the sideline at a Super Bowl. That's all he's gotta do. Yeah, if you're, yeah, with this wealth. He had to get a ring with the Chiefs. Shady did too. All right. Shady and Melvin Gordon should go out and celebrate, man.

Chiefs, world champs. The larger point was, now that Zeke has gone, because Rico was running very well against a very tough opponent with no CD Lamb on that team. And then when they got close to the goal line, they're like, put Zeke in. They've done it all year. So now he's gone, so someone else will probably show down his touchdowns.

Shady was a member of the Buccaneers too, and got a ring. Super bowl. Oh man, Shady. Super star. You sneaky boy. Chicago, four and 12. Green Bay, 11 and five.

Draft King, sportsbook line, Green Bay minus 10. They need to win. The overrunners 41 in this game. Chicago has lost 10 straight games and cannot move ahead of the nine spot because they play in a division with such great teams that their strength of schedule situation is, that's what kills them. I mean there's a four. Jacksonville's four and 12 and they're the fifth pick. Chicago's four and 12, they're the ninth pick. And it's kind of wild. But yeah, Green Bay's gotta win, they will.

Chicago, okay. Here we are again, 10 straight losses. Depression sets in. They've never recovered from the Hail Mary that Hail Mary was the end of their days they were foreign to at that point yeah or three and two I think they were four and two I mean that would have that Hail Mary they would have gone to five and two if not for a Hail Mary and they haven't won since they've they just ended their season they lost the coach offensive

coordinator did you guys put your put your ears to the bushes for the rumors that are going on with the Bears and Ben Johnson? No. And because, look, Chicago should be a very attractive job. Absolutely. With everything that they're building over there.

And you have rumors, of course, that Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, like that. The belle of the ball. Yes. He should be able to get basically any job that he wants over this off season. Maybe even a job of like, no, you should fire that coach, and I'm going to come in here.

That's how well it's gone for Ben up in Detroit. But you have more whispers that general manager Ryan Poles is like, ah, I'm not gonna do it, because if Ben Johnson comes in, then the leverage, Ryan Poles is afraid of losing his own job, rumor-ville-wise, which is like, oh man, that's so. Why would he lose his own job? Because bringing Ben Johnson will have so much power

when he comes in, and he's he's like no we're gonna revamp I think that's how you keep your job is hiring a good coach. Yeah and winning games Yeah, but there there is a choice There is a power balance that when you get a a star a rising star like Ben Johnson You have to offer them a lot of things besides cash. Yeah, I mean it wouldn't be immediate Yeah, I would know don't be a big word like It would be if they still struggled the blame would now be on the general manager I guess a couple of years because Ben Johnson was so sought after

Play your Josh Jacobs rushing line of 63 and a half What dart throw do you take it wide receiver anymore? I mean we've been living in the same Green Bay Packer mess every week where look I don't think there were a lot of Green Bay Packer wide receivers on championship teams. No. No. I, my, my Packer wide receiver of choice is definitely Josh Jacobs.

It's Dobbs. It's Dobbs. It's Romeo Dobbs. It's stupid Romeo Dobbs. At this point, because he just, he's the one who was out there the most. DJ Moore's line's 56 and a half. Okay. Keenan Allen on his way out, last game as a bear, undoubtedly.

And Tucker Kraft? You could do it. Worst against tight end, the Bears the last six weeks. Do you feel like Keenan Allen's gonna get a real opportunity? No. I'm very, very curious what happens with him next year, because he's played good ball. He's put up stats. He won't he won't get a good

He'll get a Hopkins II. He's in the Hopkins II phase now. I Mean I look so you're saying he's going to the Chiefs. I'm not necessarily. Yeah, I'm not saying money but like will Will it a good team be like Oh Keenan could be our wide receiver too I mean if he went to the Chiefs with the Homes, that would work pretty well. The Chiefs are just collecting the what was. Yeah, the old bodies. I mean, Hopkins and Brown and Juju, and it's just wild.

Keep going. I don't think that that'll be the fit, but I mean, you know who could use them a lot? The Chargers! Yeah, for sure. That'd be a fun reunion. I mean, you know who could use him a lot? The Chargers! Yeah, for sure. That'd be a fun reunion. They really could have used him. They could make a playoff run with him.

Well, they're going to make one without him. Well, I mean, a playoff run. Yeah, you had to win. Not get in. But Houston, 9 and 7, Tennessee, 3 and 13, DK Sportsbook Line, Houston Houston minus one over under 38. Texans locked at the four seed, starters will be out there. We'll see how the game goes is what he said in terms of how long they'll be there.

Tennessee actually beat them in week 12. Tennessee set up to take a quarterback. They have the number two pick right now. They're going to play some combination of Mason, Rudolph, and Will Leves in this game, which makes everybody terrifying I do think chicken concord fine. Yeah Texans struggle against tight ends to begin with they're probably gonna sick guys in the second half Joe mixin needs a hundred and seven rushing yards to earn 250 K. He won't get it I don't think you won't get it in this game and he's got aspiration. He just got 250 for making the Pro Bowl.

So higher aspirations for this team and he's an older running back. They need to keep him fresh. I would be scared honestly playing any Texan. Yeah. You just, you have no idea how long they're gonna play. I don't think it'll be that long. I still think I would, I think I would play Joe Mixon.

And I wouldn't be surprised if he hits his rushing yardage Bonus, I mean he's been good and the Titans. I mean in the course of the season. They're literally last in you know I'm not sure how much you see him. I mean that's obviously the fear maybe a quarter I I will certainly say from years past whenever there is these situations, it is very frequent that you really want to not start players that might be pulled because they are. Honestly, I'm happy that he has that 107 rushing yard line to a bonus because maybe that would help a team keep them out there.

However, a lot of these teams, if they don't get it and they get close, they still pay them. So they might just go like, yeah, we'll give you the bonus, you didn't get there. Honestly, if it was like 30 or 40 yards, I'd be feeling better about Mixon's opportunity to play than 107, because I don't. It's a lot.

This team's toast. They're toast if they lose Joe Mixon. And he's an old running back. And the line, the game line says they're sitting, guys. I mean, Houston would be much, much bigger favorites over a hodgepodge quarterback in Tennessee if they were gonna play him. We'll take a break.

Got a couple matchups in our parlay-partay remaining. ["The Rock and Roll Band"] Jacksonville, four and 12, Indianapolis, seven and nine. This is the worst game you can play. When you get eliminated the week before in embarrassing fashion, this is the worst game. I mean, it doesn't matter for either of them. Indy's four and a half point favorites, the over-under is 45 on the DraftKings sportsbook Richardson will see if he can play doubt it Probably not got to be able to get out of bed in order to play football. That's that is really step one

So what are your starts the decisions in a game that doesn't matter? I mean in that respect you should see people playing the full game. Yeah I think you're going to have Joe Flacco out there and if he is you've got guys like Alec Pierce, Michael Pittman that are fine starts. Jacksonville's defense is bad. Obviously obviously the Colts defense is so bad. I mean do they just- Embarrassed. Do they fold?

Or do they come back to prove a point here? I mean, last week was- There's nothing to prove. Was just the most embarrassing thing I've seen. A team that needs to win, you're still playoff bound, or you win and you've got the potential of making the playoffs, and to give up 40 plus points to drew locks Giants, so I mean that just says on the other side. Can you start travis etn? You know can I like brian thomas I like alec pierce

With Joe flacco starting I like Jonathan Taylor pro bowler Jonathan Taylor I like the fact that Mac Jones chucks it. I expect the Jacksonville Jaguars to win this ball game. Oh yeah? I do. Okay. I do, I think the- I can see it. The Colts are so dysfunctional and the air is completely

out of that building. There's problems. You've had this quarterback situation this year. You've had motivation problems with the locker room. You've had somebody like Pat Mack of you coming out and undressing your entire organization and saying he's, you know. Have you not seen this?

I did not. Yeah, yeah, you might wanna look it up. I mean, it's like he posted a tweet last week that was, it was as intense as you can get and everything after what ownership because I mean it's got it's all different people now just the dysfunction in the organization to all the way down to him not renewing his season tickets like it's it's something he's been saying for a while but you know Joe Flacco is good for Alec Pierce that's generally been the case I mean

he's good for the the the upshot for all three of them. Yes, Downs, Pittman, Pearce. Yeah, Pearce is the big play guy. Pittman is, like, he'll have a floor. The fact that Josh Downs didn't do anything was very strange. I think it's surprising. And I don't view that as meaning you can't start Josh Downs this week.

I agree. Yeah But how would you put them in order? I would probably put I Think I would put downs first does that seem crazy. I mean, I like the 95% of snaps for it's not for Alec It's you know, yeah, what was the snap count for downs downs was at 61 that's That's a player that's not maybe as healthy as we thought. Well, though he doesn't normally play more than that. That's about where he normally is. Pitman was on the field a ton. Yeah, I think. 94%. I don't know. I honestly don't know. I could see this game being one to hit the over and have a bunch of, you know, two bad defenses, allowing two mediocre offenses to have success. Yeah, he, the downs is play, it's like Jayden Reed,

where he's just, you gotta have the right formation to get him out there. The Buffalo Bills backups at 13 and three, taking on the New England Patriots starters, nope, they're backups, at three and 13. They just said they're gonna play May. Okay, it doesn't matter. The Drafking Sports with Glenn Buffalo minus three,

the overrunners 38. They're really, they're hurt in a couple ways. New England's gonna try to win the game is what they said. We're playing to win the game. We're gonna play Drake May. He's been banged up, he's had to come out of the game multiple times and let Brissette in there. He's been banged up. He's had to come out of the game multiple times and let Brissette in there.

Buffalo's gonna be playing backups. New England's at home. Buffalo's three point favorites. Over under 38 on the DK Sportsbook. It's gonna be cold. It's so bad for New England to win this game. So bad. They can lock the number one pickup.

Kyle, is there any situation with Strength of Schedule since they're playing Buffalo that they lose that number one pick? I don't think it'll overtake. Because they're Strength of Schedule. Yeah, I don't think they can overtake. I mean, yeah, I mean Mitchell Trubisky and a bunch of backups. Can you... Who are you starting? I mean Ray Davis? Yeah that was the name I wanted to bring up. Probably Ray Davis, Ty Johnson?

Ray Davis seems like he'll have a good game. I think he should. He's going to be needed. The matchup is nice. You're still favored in this game. So I think Ray Davis is an okay start. This is one of the games that's the more difficult ones because Buffalo's all locked in.

Josh Allen will come out there for a split second. But on the other side, I mean, Ramandre had two touches. How do you start that? No, you absolutely can't. I don't know who you could, I don't think you can confidently start a single player on either side.

Like Ray Davis, okay, maybe, but it might be Ty Johnson. They might, sure, rest Ray Davis. So you can't confidently start a single player in either. I'm willing to add Ray Davis to the- To the Coram. To the Coram-Guerrindo combo. I'll just put another rookie in there. I think that makes sense.

Makes sense. Into the combo platter. Our parlay-partay last week, I took the bet on T. Higgins under 71 and 1 half receiving yards. He had a number one overall finish. Doubted the start of the week. So just. Wait, give me my crown.

Dude, I will always doubt T. Higgins, brother. Really? I'll always doubt it, because it works out to doubt it more often than not. Well, that's only when he's hurt. If he's on the field, he's great. Well then I'll start because my line this week, I'm taking T. Higgins over. Yeah baby, let's go.

Lessons learned, over 60 receiving yards, he's averaging 78 receiving yards and they need the win. Just to finish the recap I was getting into there, Lad McConkey, 50 plus receiving yards, Jason hit that one and Mike had 60 plus for Trey McBride last week. Jason's going T Higgins 60 plus receiving yards on his pick this week. I'll take Judy 40 plus because it's inevitable

losing the entire game. You got a second half to catch a couple passes and get over that line. It might feel ugly for a bit there, but I agree. I think Judy should hit it. And I'm taking Malik, neighbors, over 66 and 1 1 half receiving errors. He's averaging 81.

He's hit this line in five straight games. And I mean, they aren't playing for anything but pride. And neighbors is going to be like, no, I want to be the best. I mean, you can't overtake Beckham, but he wants to be one of the greats, for the great rookies of all time for the Giants. I like Neighbors this week a lot. That was Fantasy Forecast, presented by DraftKings Pick 6.

Download the new DraftKings Pick 6 app now and use the code BALLERS. That's the code BALLERS for new customers to play $5 and get $50 in Pick 6 credits. That'll do it for today, but we're back tomorrow. We've got more matchups. We've got the Wheel of Shame on tomorrow's episode. Huzzah.

And our fantasy face off once again. And we'll be back into it. Week 18, boys. Almost done. I'm going to push this button so I can take the clown wig off. That's good. Not that I don't look great.

No, you do look really good. My crown almost needs a wash. I'm wearing it so much. It's getting stinky. Yeah. You got your tennis shot? No. Goodbye. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Must be 18 and over. Age and eligibility restrictions vary by jurisdiction. Voidware prohibited. One per new customer. Non-withdrawable PIC6 credits expire in six months. Limited time offer. See terms at pic6.draftkings.com slash promos.