Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast - Start/Sit Courage + Hungry For More, Andy vs Josh! - Fantasy Football Podcast for 12/20

Episode Date: December 20, 2023

Week 16 start/sit decisions on today’s fantasy football podcast! Find out how Andy and Josh have been trolling each other ahead of their Week 16 matchup! Plus, Hungry For More players, NFL News, and... a preview of Thursday Night Football! Manage your redraft, keeper, and dynasty fantasy football teams with the #1 fantasy football podcast. -- Fantasy Football Podcast for December 20th, 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 Hungry for More presented by Uber Eats. Visit https://www.ubereats.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:00:00 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,
Starting point is 00:00:19 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.
Starting point is 00:01:17 Welcome in. The Fantasy Footballers Podcast. Wow, I just had a bomb dropped right before the show. But why not? I mean, this is just... Andyvsjosh.com. That is now a website that I just learned exists. Did you doosers know anything about this? Well, I was here with Josh a little earlier today,
Starting point is 00:02:00 and he couldn't help himself. He definitely had to tell me about it. So apparently, good versus evil, he has set up a website you can go vote on who you think will win oh man between me and josh it's it's really well done it is well done um oh sweet mercy yeah you just found it i just you can't click okay you can't you're supposed to vote and you can't click andy wins all right well that's and then if you click josh wins it says excellent choice you beautiful genius a hundred percent of people agree josh is okay this is pretty good yeah yeah it's well done oh man. I've been clicking Andy wins so many times that I can't do it. It won't let me, um, you almost got it. All right. Well done, Josh. I, I, um,
Starting point is 00:02:53 your rosters are up there. Yeah. Although mine is, mine's going to be a little different than that. Okay. I'm saving some surprises, but, uh, we've got, we've got a good show for you today. We've got Hungry for More, NFL News, the Thursday Night Preview. Josh has been working hard to turn the tide in our matchup via printouts. Considering he's never worked hard
Starting point is 00:03:17 a day in his life, I don't know what's going on. It's a really weird feeling to see him putting effort into things. So how many people in this company did I pay to make this website to troll me? At least two. Because I know Josh can't build this. No, Josh did not build this.
Starting point is 00:03:35 There's no way he can build this. This is a well-done site. Well, I know the tilt is beginning. The decision – I mean, we have our manager who famously lost four title games that he was in. Famously? Famously. To us. Famously.
Starting point is 00:03:52 No, no, no. I'm talking about he had four leagues. He was in the title game in all four leagues. And he lost all four a few years ago. And he's in the playoffs with four teams. And it's like he doesn't want to be there. Yeah. Because he knows the torture.
Starting point is 00:04:06 He's tilting off the face of this earth. Jason, imagine how free you are today. Oh, man. Oh, I want to tilt. But I can't. Now, listen, Jason's all business up top, but I want the people on YouTube to understand what's down below, the party down below.
Starting point is 00:04:21 You've got some really colorful shorts on today. Are those pickleball shorts? Yeah, I'm ready to go do some exercise. Straight into pickleball. Sorry, everybody. It's rainy outside, so I've got to be in shorts and a t-shirt. That's what I was going to mention. It's been pouring rain. It's raining, and Jason's in
Starting point is 00:04:39 shorts and a t-shirt. In rain weather, my man. You can follow the show at the ff ballers uh we've got a hungry for more segment momentarily a couple of things at the top new dynasty podcast released today a prospect preview for 2024 and some dynasty christmas wishes and i have not heard this episode just released i can almost bet that one of the Dynasty Christmas wishes is the removal of Arthur Smith from the earth, or maybe just from the team.
Starting point is 00:05:11 I will not confirm nor deny. Yeah. Yeah, so... But yeah. But yeah. Yeah. And one other reminder, footclangiveaway.com, we're giving away a signed Travis ETN jersey,
Starting point is 00:05:25 and that is free to enter over there, so you can check that out. Shout-out to the Foot Clan, by the way. Everybody supporting the show at JoinTheFoot.com, we appreciate you. You get that bonus episode every week. When we go down from five episodes a week to two a week after the NFL season or after the fantasy season, you can catch an extra episode over there at JoinTheFoot.com. Let's jump in.
Starting point is 00:05:49 Welcome to Hungry for More, presented by Uber Eats. All right, we've had them flashes. We've had them nibbles. We've had those teasing performances. Who is your hungry for more candidate for this week? What are you rooting for, Mike? I'm going to jump in here because I was so happy to see it. I'm sure many others, if you were able to get through,
Starting point is 00:06:18 with Ken Bone Walker III. Don't shake your head. That's good stuff. Ken Bone Walker III. Don't shake your head. That's good stuff. Ken Bone Walker III. This was great. He looked amazing. Yeah, we had 22 opportunities, over 100 total yards, a touchdown, the running back eight, and he's – It was his show.
Starting point is 00:06:40 It's been a very strange season for Walker. The drafting of Charbonnet definitely brought his draft stock down of what's the true ceiling for Ken Walker. And then all of that looked like that was just absolute hogwash, and it was a huge miss if you had faded had faded ken walker because charbonnet was there walker was incredible to start then as he does he kind of gets banged up charbonnet is starting to be like a 50 snap guy looks like the timeshare is actually happening walker looks atrocious just two weeks ago and then this was, we are back. This is a guy who is very healthy.
Starting point is 00:07:26 He's ready to go for the stretch run. He gets to play against Tennessee, which Tennessee's run defense has really fallen apart, 95-plus rushing yards in three of four games, given up top 12 performances to Singletary, Mostert, Chuba Hubbard. And, I mean, the forced missed tackles are elite at this point for Ken Walker, what he's putting out there on the field. So I am very hungry for a playoff run here with KBW. Yeah, he looked outstanding.
Starting point is 00:07:57 I mean, we were all worried. Like, is he healthy enough? I was super worried. And he just played great. And I assume everybody here got to see Peach Cobbler. Oh, yeah. Pete Carroll's hyped up speech. That man was getting after it.
Starting point is 00:08:15 I mean, for a 72-year-old, he was. It was awesome. If I was that youthful at 72, I'd be a lucky man. If I was that youthful at 41, I would be a lucky man. If I was that youthful at 41, I would be a lucky man. Yeah, it's crazy. Mike, I feel like for your dynasty team with Ken Walker, it's like you found potentially a playoff star at the bottom of your bench. I mean, this was not a player you were really excited about for the playoffs.
Starting point is 00:08:38 You made it through, and now you can have a little confidence that this team is willing to ride that out. I mean, we should get Geno Smith back. So, you know, the offense should have both facets, at least more consistently. But, yeah, I like that. Hungry for more Kenneth Walker. And the time is right. He is the potentially inverse Eckler of the season.
Starting point is 00:09:01 Sure. I'm going to go with Ty Chandler. This was almost mine. Yeah, I mean, this was the first 100-yard rushing game by a Viking in more than a year, and it's the first one Ty Chandler got to start. So he had a huge week, 23 for 132 and a touchdown, four targets, 81% of snaps. Kevin O'Connell came out and said the role he is ascending to is something
Starting point is 00:09:24 we had in our minds when we brought him here. We'll continue to do everything to get him valuable touches, make him a big part of the offense. They're fighting for the playoffs. And, you know, zero touchdowns in 11 goal-to-go carries for Alexander Madison over the course of the entire year. Ty Chandler got two goal-to-go carries, two touchdowns. And Detroit, Green Bay, both at home, coming up.
Starting point is 00:09:47 I think Ty Chandler, we don't know the status of Madison for this week. Correct. But I do trust Ty Chandler again this week. Yeah. You say either way. I think that if Madison does actually play, that dynasty team that I have, I have Madison and Chandler. If they both play, I'm going to play
Starting point is 00:10:08 at this point, I will play Ty Chandler over Alexander Madison. It's not just the snaps. The 81% of snaps, that's glorious. Listen to this. 96% of the running back attempts, 100% of the running back targets.
Starting point is 00:10:23 That is a workload that the running back attempts 100 of the running back targets that is a a a work load that very very few running backs ever see and the guy has juice yes he has home run ability he's getting all that work i mean i i don't care who he's going to play against if you're giving me those opportunities with the athletic upside is he looks like a great play that's the the key to me Andy you constantly said during the draft season what did you always say about Alexander Madison I mean I there's lots of different words I used to describe his plotting kind of unexciting barely yard gaining style yeah I mean it was just like your thing was he's got opportunity.
Starting point is 00:11:07 It looks like he could be a good draft pick because he's the guy in the absence of Dalvin Cook. Your problem with him was always he's just not that good. And Ty Chandler looks like he's got juice behind him. You watch both those guys get a handoff. You go, oh, I know who's got the chance to make something special happen here easier. That would be Ty Chandler. So I like that one.
Starting point is 00:11:30 My hungry for more player this week is a guy who's been eaten the last two weeks, Hunter Henry. All right. Now, we had a Hunter Henry in the Scotty Fish playoffs. And in that league, you get rewarded. It's a tight end premium and you get rewarded for first downs. And Hunter Henry is who Bailey Zappi is looking for when they need to move the sticks because he was a first down machine. In week 15, he had nine targets against Kansas City with seven for 66 with a touchdown. Now, he left that fourth quarter with a knee injury at the end,
Starting point is 00:12:09 or that was what it was feared to be. It appears that it is just a left thigh contusion. He says he's okay, but he's been hot, and he's been hot with Bailey Zappi. Just zap, zap, zap. He's throwing the ball to Hunter Hunter Henry he's looking for me had obviously two touchdowns two weeks ago a touchdown this last week and now you've got the literal best matchup in schedule adjusted fantasy points allowed to the tight end position against Denver you watched uh Sam Laporta throw a hat trick on him last week with the three tutties.
Starting point is 00:12:50 Hunter Henry looks with Bailey Zappi to be set up for success. You don't know if Juju Smith-Schuster is going to be out there. I don't think he's back this week. So I'm hungry for more. This is, I think, a good playoff player to plug into your lineup. And he's really had kind of an ugly sandwich because he started the season with two top three performances and then he's kind of lulled and now he's back with the last two weeks
Starting point is 00:13:12 two top three performances. Delicious bread though. Yes, the bread is full of sugar. Oh, he's your favorite part of the sandwich. Bread is my favorite part of the sandwich. I don my favorite part of the sandwich. I don't know that that's true.
Starting point is 00:13:26 I love meat. Favorite part of a Danish is what you used to say. You ever made a Danish sandwich? Some cheese Danishes with some meat between it? Hey. Danish? Can't stop me from a good time. Filet Danish.
Starting point is 00:13:41 Would you go chicken? Would you go roast beef? Pastrami? If you were really trying to pull it off? Yeah. I do this on honey baked ham. Yeah. Ham?
Starting point is 00:13:49 Okay. You got to have some sweetness in the middle. Yeah. Tasting knows that I'm- You both were immediately ham, so. Yeah. Well, because it's the right answer. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:13:57 What are you going to put turkey? What an idiot. No. What's that, a turkey Danish sandwich? Do you even know what you're doing? I'll take that. Yeah, I'm going to eat that. Save you from it.
Starting point is 00:14:08 That was Hungry for More, presented by Uber Eats. Get almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. A cornerback. Nope. Baby back ribs. Yeah. Order now on the app. Product availability may vary by region.
Starting point is 00:14:20 See the app for details. You probably won't find a Danish sandwich on there. News and notes from around the league. Presented by USAA Insurance. Can I just share a really brief secret with just the two of you guys, no one else? All right. Yeah, if you whisper. I can't lose to Josh.
Starting point is 00:14:41 I agree. I really need to beat him. Yeah. I don't want to have to fire somebody for cause. I just can't lose to my brother-in-law. Yeah, and man. You think he's going to beat me? I think he's got you on the matchups this week.
Starting point is 00:15:01 I know. That stack you built for him against Arizona. But that's the way it's supposed to work. on the matchups this week. I know. That stack you built for him against Arizona, the field floor. That's the way it's supposed to work. He's set up for the stack that I built for him, and then he should. And he's set up for success. It should collapse. Go Cardinals. He's supposed to beat you in this matchup,
Starting point is 00:15:16 and that's where the story of his evil comes back, and the comeuppance is paid, and the good guy wins. And for the first time. Because the good guy always wins, right? Yeah. I mean, the first time in my fantasy football life, which is, you know, whatever, 20 years. You're the good guy, Andy. You're the good guy.
Starting point is 00:15:41 You're the one I'm rooting for. How's that feel? Feels good. Yeah. Feels different. Feels real strange. i'm like all on team andy all right texans quarterback cj stroud likely to miss week 16 against the browns that's a bummer that uh that certainly affects a lot of players you know i did leave a note for josh because of news. You know the Captain America before and after? Yes. That was Nico Collins with and without C.J. Stroud,
Starting point is 00:16:09 and I did leave that on his desk. It's a huge, huge impact on, I think, obviously the confidence you'd have in a Noah Brown start or a Nico start, also the Browns defense. You and I have different opinions on whether Flacco is still viable though. Well, I don't think he's not viable. I believe what you were saying where they're struggling to run the ball. I think Flacco throws the ball 40 times.
Starting point is 00:16:34 You know, that's fine. But I think the upside of a shootout is taken away. And that was the hope when you look at the Houston matchup is that all of a sudden CJ Stroud's going to go out there and put up 35 points and he's going to score quickly and then Cleveland's going to have the ball you know that kind of game that you want to get into but that won't happen so maybe the shootouts off the table but talk to me about like a player that's coming off a huge opportunity week in Devon Singletary with Case Keenum obviously the game plan was you're not going to put as much on Case Keenum. Obviously, the game plan was you're not
Starting point is 00:17:05 going to put as much on Case Keenum's plate as you would CJ Stroud's. The weapons in the passing game weren't necessarily available. Devin Singletary is going to be going up against the defensive front in Cleveland. That's a problem. So we've seen Singletary, when he's had huge snap opportunities against like Tampa, for example, struggled immensely. I'm pretty fearful about just chasing the 21 from last week and expecting it to replicate here against the Cleveland defense. I'm curious what you two think. Yeah, well, I don't think he's going to have as much success as last week, but Tennessee has a pretty solid run defense,
Starting point is 00:17:41 and that's who he faced last week. I think they're getting it together, and if you just look at his efficiency um sweet mercy he's he's been really really good 4.7 to carry five to carry 4.5 to carry 5.15 like he's been very very efficient um i will say that it's been a while since they've faced a front as good as cleveland Say that stretch run. Cincinnati, Arizona, Jacksonville, Denver, the Jets. Jacksonville's got a good run defense, and Tennessee's got a good run defense. The others are the exact opposite. Tennessee had a good run defense. Yeah, they've been giving it up a little bit more on the ground.
Starting point is 00:18:15 So it'll be a test. But I think you can be confident in the volume. What about Henry? Derrick Henry versus Devin Singletary. Oh, gosh. Henry off of a bad week. Yeah, I mean, I would definitely versus Devin Singletary Henry off of a bad week yeah I mean I would definitely play Henry over Singletary okay Henry's week was their underdogs absolutely horrific and terrible but I mean if you've watched Derek Henry for a long enough time
Starting point is 00:18:41 it works out yeah it just it works out, and he plays like that. He gets tackled behind the line of scrimmage so much, and he always does. He just never had the good runs last week. He's had a few of those this year. Also don't know that quarterback situation. Right. What about Bijon?
Starting point is 00:19:02 Bijon or Singletary? Bijon is a phenomenal start I would play Bijon phenomenal huh he is absolutely a phenomenal start this week Bijon is I know that he's coming off of his worst game negative.1
Starting point is 00:19:16 his worst game of his short career but if you got through it and you got Bijon in the playoffs I have extreme confidence Mike do you and you've got Bijon in the playoffs, I have extreme confidence. Mike, do you have extreme confidence in Bijon? No. I can never have extreme confidence in Arthur, but I would play Bijon over Singletary.
Starting point is 00:19:35 The other part of the equation is he did only gain 11 yards on seven opportunities, and he fumbled. Yeah. So there is some accountability for Bijon himself. Keenan Allen did not practice on Tuesday. He was working on the side with trainers. Today's a big day for any possible hope of him starting on Saturday. Jamar Chase can miss the next two weeks.
Starting point is 00:19:55 Cool. Also known as the rest of your fantasy season. Yeah. Geno Smith will practice and play this week against the Titans. Geno Smith returning, and that's from Pete Carroll. Doug Peterson said Trevor Lawrence remains in the concussion protocol. Zay Jones, week to week. I think they're still optimistic about Trevor Lawrence playing.
Starting point is 00:20:15 Yeah, it seems like he's progressing through it, which is what you want to see. If he's progressing through it, you've got a shot to play that week. Zach Wilson seems unlikely to play in week 16 against the commanders due to the concussion so you'll probably see uh some sad performance from trevor simeon forever in there the colts officially signed tyler goods into the active roster that really he stepped in at running back last week along with trey sermon zach moss with the shoulder i, you have two
Starting point is 00:20:45 banged up guys at the top of the depth chart is what the situation is. Zach Moss' shoulder, Jonathan Taylor's thumb. I mean, here's your possibilities for the week. You could have Jonathan Taylor back with no Zach Moss. You could have Zach Moss back with no Jonathan Taylor.
Starting point is 00:21:02 And you could have both of them playing with injuries. You could have both of them playing with injuries. You could have neither of them playing and have Trey Sermon. Or you could have neither of them playing, and it turns out it's Tyler Goodson that you want. Like, this is a wild week for that running back room. Yeah, that's crazy. So we'll monitor that.
Starting point is 00:21:22 I know a lot of people want Jonathan Taylor back as fast as possible. And then Falcons owner Arthur Blank said the team is going to let the season play out and go from there on whether Arthur Smith returns. Just lose, baby. Just lose those games, Arthur. Could you imagine? Let's just throw this out. Arthur Smith is let go at the end of this year.
Starting point is 00:21:47 And they hire an offensive guy who's, you know, they go in whoever. Whoever's the new hotness. They, you know, they get, what is it, Ben Johnson? From Detroit. Yeah, from Detroit. And bring him in. How excited would you be about the prospects of the weapons they have? Not excited until they have a quarterback.
Starting point is 00:22:10 That's fair. Not excited until they have somebody that you're not pivoting between Taylor Hine and Keefer. I mean, how excited were you for the options in Washington when they brought in Eric Biennemi this offseason? I think the excitement was through the roof. Yeah. I mean, Jahan Dotson and Terry McLaurin. That's fair. And they did not produce.
Starting point is 00:22:29 So if it's Justin Fields. Yeah, you'd be excited. Okay. Kyler Murray. I mean, I think the offense that I'm most excited about this offseason, getting a quarterback is Minnesota.
Starting point is 00:22:39 Without question. I think Minnesota would, you know, the implications for Jefferson, Addison, Hawkinson, all the sons, and the potential for that defense on that team, that's the one where it's like if Kyler lands there. It could still be Kirk.
Starting point is 00:22:56 I don't think so. No? Really? I don't think so. I mean, yes, it could still be. I'm not denying the possibilities, but I'm just, I think that they're going to try to find a future there. With two young wide receivers like that, Kirk Cousins, a one-year deal, I mean, maybe.
Starting point is 00:23:13 But I think that's the home for someone like Kyler, and you would be so excited about that. That was today's News & Notes presented by USAA Insurance. Learn more at usa.com slash insurance. Quick break. Back with the TNF preview. All right. Somehow, someway, semifinal week is getting ready to go,
Starting point is 00:23:42 getting ready to start. So let's talk about thursday thursday night breakdown the norland saints at seven and seven take on these seven and seven los angeles rams so many sevens draft king sportsbook line r Rams minus four at home. The over-under is 45.5. It's been bet up. You like to see it. It's now the fourth highest over-under of the week.
Starting point is 00:24:12 I like that. Derek Carr. Matthew Stafford. I thought you were going to go Derek Carr. Don't like that. Well, he should have Chris Olave back. Expected to play. We didn't mention that in the news, but we should have.
Starting point is 00:24:26 Chris Olave, expected to return. That's good for the offense, Rashid Shahid. When you look at the weapons being healthy, I don't think we've seen this in a long time. Olave and Shahid and Kamara and Taysom Hill healthy, Jawan Johnson back. I think it's going to be a pretty good game. I really do.
Starting point is 00:24:45 Derek Carr had a three-touchdown performance last week. It was his best fantasy game of the season. Alvin Kamara has not had a fantasy week under nine fantasy points. He's been a double-digit machine. And the thing is, is the Rams' defense, when you look at, like we have a stream finder tool that's part of the Foot Clan premium tools. It's my favorite tool to use in terms of finding matchups because you can limit it to the last three weeks, looking at the defensive performances, last five, last eight.
Starting point is 00:25:16 The Rams have been absolutely dominant against the running game. So it's good that Alvin Kamara is a receiver. That's part of the equation there. So, you know, from a start-sit decision, both teams fighting for the playoffs, both teams at.500. You know, Taysom Hill last week, very disappointing. That would be a hesitation for me, but the main core offensive pieces for the Saints in Kamara and Olave,
Starting point is 00:25:44 I think you're putting right back out there. Yeah, I think you're going to play most of the big names here, and you're just excited and hopeful that it can become a shootout. With the way that Derek Carr and Stafford are playing, I think these are two good defenses, right? And you could see a hard-fought, difficult, sadly lower-scoring game because of the defenses that are stepping up. But I think on prime time, these two quarterbacks,
Starting point is 00:26:09 they're playing well enough. Stafford's been playing very, very good. I think the Rams are looking like a playoff-bound team to me. And so if these two quarterbacks get going, you could have this hit the over and have a really good game. But you're going to start Cooper Cup. You're going to start Puka cup you're gonna start puka you're gonna start my surprise bust of the week who i'm worried about puka because i the saints on the year number one against white outs number four uh in schedule adjusted and because you've had two of four performances
Starting point is 00:26:40 from puka that were underwhelming i guess i'm a little worried that there becomes a cooper cup like dependency going on. He was banged up. I'm not saying you don't start Puka, but that is my one. If someone busted in this game, that is my worry. Yeah, certainly with how the Saints' defense has not been giving up fantasy points to the wide receiver, it scares you to say, well, both Puka and Cooper Cup are going to have great games.
Starting point is 00:27:07 It might not be enough to go around. That being said, I just can't imagine being able to bench either guy. Last week, Puka was a little bit disappointing, but he still had eight targets, 50 yards, was targeted in the red zone. The nice thing is that they do look his direction. They look for both these guys in the red zone. Whoever doesn't get a touchdown, I think maybe you'll be a little bit disappointed with. I mean, Cooper Cup last week was 8 for 111 and a touchdown.
Starting point is 00:27:34 That's fantastic. But it was a 62-yard touchdown. So, I mean, like, overall, it was just the one big play happened to go to Cooper Cup. If the one big play goes to Puka, which is possible. Two-two out will be back as well. And the matchup for Higby is great. You saw him get utilized with five targets again last week. That's the area the Saints give up a lot of fantasy points.
Starting point is 00:28:00 You'd start Higby over Taysom Hill? Oh, man. I would. Yeah, I would. The Taysom Hill, I don't know if last week, you know, you're coming back from injury, he was banged up. It's his lowest snap since week one. Yeah, I mean, after missing, he had 13 rushing attempts in week 13.
Starting point is 00:28:19 Right. Then he got hurt, and then he had one last week. So things are kind of just up in the air i don't know i think i i think that one's tough i think i if i had a surprise good performance it would be higby for the week so i think i would go higby um and what about you guys have lots of thoughts I'm trying to process you actually supporting Tyler Higby it's very strange it's off brand for you Andy
Starting point is 00:28:51 I mean I don't have to do it no you already did I'm just taking it back obviously Demarcus Robinson is deleted with Tutu Atwell being you know full participant in practice I think the real the only major question is just like with Tutu Atwell being full participant in practice.
Starting point is 00:29:09 I think the only major question is just like, would you want to throw a dart at Rashid Shahid or not even look that way? Because Chris Olave you're playing, Cooper Cup you're playing, Puka you're playing, Camara you're playing, Kyron you're playing. No one's going to mention any of those guys. I just don't know if there's anyone else that matters. I guess guess the real question here is just the quarterbacks yeah start Stafford yeah the matchup doesn't look great for Stafford Saints defense eighth on the year or in the last six weeks against quarterbacks we know that they can win with a recipe of Kyron Williams and you know moving the ball between the 20s and running
Starting point is 00:29:41 the football like they have these drives Sean McVay does it from time to time where it's eight runs in a row, 10 runs in a row. Last week, Stafford was good, not great. Did you go Stafford or Flacco? I'd go Stafford. I would too. Geno or Stafford? I would go Stafford.
Starting point is 00:29:58 Stafford's kind of been on a heater. He's not out there scoring 35 fantasy points, but the last month, now that he's got his weapons back now, when you've got Puka and Cooper cup and Kyron all together, Stafford's been really, really good. The last, uh, four weeks, 18 and a half points, 23.7, 23, 23.4, all four weeks, a top 12 quarterback on the week. So I'm okay playing Stafford. I'm not trying to smash him in as the best play of the week, but if you've got those kind of streaming candidates, I would lean towards Stafford.
Starting point is 00:30:35 Any other players you want to discuss from this game, Mike? This will kick off our semifinal week. No, I don't think so. I mean, did we talk about Kyron? I mean, you just play him. He's really good. Yeah. 34 opportunities.
Starting point is 00:30:48 It's all the opportunities mixed with the fact that he actually has juice. Like, he's just a great player. He's just on the field constantly. 22, 26, 29, 34. So, his opportunities have gone up every single week since returning from injury. Up. 82% of the running back rush attempts, 90% of the running back rushing yards, 100% of the running back targets.
Starting point is 00:31:12 He is everything in the running game. All the third percentile speed score, Kyron Williams. See, that's – I mean, it's just different. Remember the Kareem Hunt criticism coming into the league? Remember the Dalvin Cook criticism coming into the league remember the kareem hunt criticism coming into the league remember the dalvin cook criticism coming into the league remember the arian foster criticism coming into the league remember the peyton hillis criticism coming into the league there's there's like game speed hello if you watch four years of a player dominate in college maybe they're all right maybe especially if they play for a major conference i'm not saying you don't want to see speed but remember cj spiller's speed remember ronald jones's speed yeah very fast real
Starting point is 00:31:51 fast guys need there's something else you need it's just it's wild of where the remember naji harris's vision from last week maybe vision matters too oh the too. I don't know. That's like the 20th video I've seen of Najee Harris literally cutting away from an open part of the field as though it is a defender. He's on a bad eyedrop medication. I don't know what's going on with Najee Harris.
Starting point is 00:32:19 Does he play with a real dark visor? Like all the way dark? I think he's going for broken tackles. Oh, he wants to break that record? If you go up where there's no defenders, there's no chance to break a tackle. It's like when you go for the big man, misses the layup, just gets the O board real quick, add those boards. He's missing a lot of layups.
Starting point is 00:32:40 He really is. You saw that video though, right? Yeah. Yeah. Which one? It's sad. He's, uh, which one? It's sad. It's embarrassing. It's sad.
Starting point is 00:32:50 It really is. All right. Into the mailbag. We go. Mailbag. Yeah. I mean, you're right, Kyle. He's turning into a full butt.
Starting point is 00:33:02 A butt runner. He is. He runs into the butts. He's following his offensive line too closely. Don't mistake movement and activity for progress down the field. He's not afraid to move. He'll juke right into that butt. All right.
Starting point is 00:33:31 That's it. Visit the site and click on submit a question if you want to submit your own mailbag question or dial the voicemail hotline 302464 tffb i blame you kyle for that line of thinking right into it um here we. Here's a voicemail. Hey, Ballers. Love the show. I'm just wondering if I should be concerned about playing Brees Hall or Garrett Wilson now that the Jets are out of playoff contention, full PPR early. Thanks.
Starting point is 00:33:57 Bye. You should be worried about them with no regard to their playoff positioning because the offense is going to have a backup quarterback. Brees Hall has had disappearing acts. He can't produce on the ground. The offensive line is terrible. None of that is playoff contention related. I may pivot it like my initial start of the week was Garrett Wilson this week,
Starting point is 00:34:26 but I was hoping Zach Wilson would play because I did that a couple weeks ago and it worked out. And the matchup is great this week. Yeah, the Manders. Like those two players should be played based on the matchup. I am a little nervous with Mannion behind center. Yeah, it's not what you want, and I don't think it's a guarantee that Zach Wilson won't play this week.
Starting point is 00:34:49 Simeon. Did you say Mannion? He did say Sean Mannion. What's the difference? You got that Mannion PTSD. What's the difference? Yeah, I think that you should start those plays. The Washington Commanders have just been giving up fantasy points to all who play
Starting point is 00:35:07 against them right now. So it would be really difficult to bench those two players based on this week's matchup. I would bench Garrett Wilson if it's Simeon. Simeon's... I'm going to need some names. Well, listen. Let me give you this stat because i had seen it simeon's off target throw percentage is the worst of 56 eligible quarterbacks this year like 28 of his throws are off target just to start and um like garrett wilson i know mike you're you saying you need names says you have a garrett wilson decision to make uh yeah
Starting point is 00:35:44 so that's just my opinion on on what I think the potential for this week is with Trevor Simeon. It's just if it's three and out every possession, you just lose opportunities, and it drives you crazy when you watch this team. So maybe Brees Hall gets it done on the ground and they have more sustained drives. But if you don't, I just feel like your outcomes are so wide. You can't have a great game for Garrett Wilson, I don't think.
Starting point is 00:36:13 I don't think you can score more than about 15 points. You can have a goosey game with Garrett Wilson. Yeah. So give me the names you want me to comment on. All right, let's go someone who can have a great game or a goose game. Drake London against the Colts. Yeah, I'm going to take Drake London with Taylor Heineke. I would as well.
Starting point is 00:36:32 What about DeAndre Hopkins against the Seahawks? I'll take Hopkins all day long. Okay. Off of a huge game, Chris Godwin. What's that matchup? Let me look it up. Jacksonville. Jacksonville. Thank you. I'll
Starting point is 00:36:51 play Godwin. Also off of a huge game with a backup quarterback, Jordan Addison against Detroit. No, I'm not going to chase the double touchdowns there, I don't think. Do you guys disagree? To is that to me simeon is a tremendous downgrade from zach
Starting point is 00:37:12 wilson there's a downgrade from all other quarterbacks but it's still better for wilson yeah to me he is some of those names i would i would start garrett wilson over and and um you know i i would take others like i would start gar Wilson over and, you know, I would take others. Like, I would start Garrett Wilson over Chris Godwin. Chris Godwin I feel like we're chasing. We've had an entire season of him stinking. He's, you know, he had a great game last week. Garrett Wilson is so talented that one play could make it fantasy relevant. You could also have the situation where he just has 15 targets.
Starting point is 00:37:48 So I don't see Garrett Wilson against the Manners as a must bench with Trevor Simeon, but he's certainly someone that you maybe don't just lock into your lineup. You look at what your options are. If you've got Rushie Rice, who's been really, really, really good for a month. That's an easy one. Yeah, you can bench him. The Dolphins, they knew they had the Jets number last week. Trevor Simeon was awful, but Zach Wilson was equally awful
Starting point is 00:38:24 in his short amount of time. And Trevor Simeon's a 49% passer in his two opportunities this year. So it's like... Yeah. I mean, he's off the bench for both of them. Yeah. A week of preparation to get it done. No, I'm not trying to say I have full confidence in Trevor Simeon,
Starting point is 00:38:46 just that Zach Wilson finished with negative fantasy points, as did Trevor Simeon. Garrett Wilson's peak fantasy performance of the entire year was two weeks ago against Houston. Yeah. And it was 15.6 points. So that goes to my point of like that's not – like that's your ceiling for Garrett Wilson.
Starting point is 00:39:08 I would be very happy with 15 points. And that was the only game Simeon didn't play in the last three. So it's tough. I mean, Garrett Wilson's on pace for 167 targets in this lost terrible year in 1,000 yards. It's just your ceiling is challenged. And so I think we laid it out there pretty good on your decision making. Terrible year and 1,000 yards. It's just your ceiling is challenged. And so, you know, I think we laid it out there pretty good on your decision making.
Starting point is 00:39:32 I think Brees Hall is the one that has the softer, better opportunity. He had a good game. What was it, two weeks ago? Mm-hmm. That was Wilson, too. That was Zach Wilson, as well. Well, it was – I don't know how you go from playing against Houston in the rain and put up 30 points and your offense looks fantastic and your defense completely shuts down C.J. Stroud
Starting point is 00:39:49 and then you lose 30-0 against the Dolphins. It was a really bizarre twist. Pass rush. Yeah. Brees Hall or David Montgomery has a follow-up question from Jason Yada. That is a very very interesting question because I think Brees Hall's great play this week the matchup is great and David Montgomery has a difficult matchup and has been less good Minnesota is seeding so much work to Gibbs yeah
Starting point is 00:40:17 Minnesota is um a really really tough defense so if you're looking at just the matchups you go okay it's Brees Hall now on my league of record team I've got these two guys. And this would be, for me, this would be an easy David Montgomery. I'm with you on that. David Montgomery is a really, really solid player. His floor is so much higher. That's it. His ceiling is still hot. You know, who has a higher chance of scoring two touchdowns well it's David Montgomery because they will score the Lions Jameer Gibbs sorry well sure yeah no I mean yeah but I'm just saying as an offense the ceiling doesn't really feel there with Brees Hall his ceiling is yeah he's got an 80 yard touchdown reception that's great his entire fantasy game good, but only one of these guys can go out there and have,
Starting point is 00:41:05 you know, a large volume surprise of great ground utilization and multi-touchdowns. But then the floor, if you compare these two players, the floor of Brees Hall is, you know, the Jets lose 30 to nothing again and collapse and the offense doesn't work and Brees Hall is benched for health just like he was last week, the floor is scary with Brees Hall. And I'm all about playing Brees Hall this week. Yeah, I'd go Hall over Montgomery. You would go Hall over Montgomery. Okay.
Starting point is 00:41:39 The worst Montgomery's finish on the year was 25th on any week he's started and didn't get hurt. Which was double-digit fantasy points that week as well. I mean, his floor is so high. Yeah, that's the challenge. So I get it. Those are both – I think both are just players you start this week and we just leave it at that.
Starting point is 00:41:57 What's up, Ballers? Thanks to you guys, I'm in the semifinals in all four of my leagues. But I need some help. Am I crazy for wanting to start Joe Flacco this week over Patrick Mahomes? Thanks a lot. I'll take it easy, guys. Crazy? Joe Flacco over Patrick Mahomes. He couldn't even get out Mahomes.
Starting point is 00:42:14 He was just like, I don't know why I'm asking this question. It's tough, because normally, we've got a five-year, six-year run of when you see Mahomes against the Raiders, you are salivating. I mean, you're getting the steak knife out. You're ready to cut off a slab of fantasy points.
Starting point is 00:42:32 When you see Mahomes at all, it doesn't matter the opponent. You've got five years running of you see Mahomes, you go, I'm salivating. This is a filet mignon. So you've got salivating. You've got a matchup where the Chiefs are 10-point favorites. I like it. You also have Las Vegas, who played them tough last time, and Las Vegas is 11th against quarterbacks,
Starting point is 00:42:53 and they do have a much better secondary than we've seen, and you don't have people that can beat it on Kansas City right now. Their offensive engine is back, too. Isaiah Pacheco. Yeah. And the over-under is 41 points. When they played in Week 12, Mahomes was the quarterback eight.
Starting point is 00:43:15 It was 20 fantasy points. Do you want to know the last time Patrick Mahomes... Man, he has one 30-point game on the year. Since Week 8, Patrick Mahomes, man, he has one 30-point game on the year. Since week eight, Patrick Mahomes is averaging 14.5 fantasy points per game. Yeah, it's been really bad. And he played 100% of snaps.
Starting point is 00:43:35 It's not like he's missing time. I don't know how I could possibly play Flacco over Mahomes. No, I couldn't either. That was the long, long story of why Patrick Mahomes, you still have to take the chance on him against Las Vegas and a get right game, but it hasn't happened. No, since the bye week, you look back and I mean, one single game where he's hit 20 fantasy points. It's been really, really bad, but hasn't had a three touchdown game since week seven. Yeah, but he is Patrick Mahomes. You've got a storied, long career of scoring a bunch of touchdowns. If I have to bet, like the last three weeks,
Starting point is 00:44:14 are they going to keep going how the previous four or five weeks have, or will he get it back together and the offense will start to look good heading into the playoffs, I'm always going to bet on Patrick Mahomes. Yeah, it's a weird math equation to me with Kansas City. And they don't have – I don't know how you make the case that they have players to do that with. That's my challenge. They need to just take –
Starting point is 00:44:39 I mean, think about it. – Kadarius Tony off the field. You can't. Sky Moore just went to IR. You already lost. If you played with 10, it would be better for your offense than playing with 11 if one of your 11 is Kadarius Tony who's going to bobble the ball up and give it to the other team. So this is my point, though.
Starting point is 00:44:58 I don't see how you can produce enough fantasy points in that offense with Travis Kelsey struggling through the air. I like Rashi Rice. He cannot carry an entire offense. He really can't. So who is it? Justin Watson? MVS?
Starting point is 00:45:16 We've seen what the answer is. They don't have a player that when – I mean, you talked about it. Your target carrier is Tony. The ball's going to get dropped. You hope dropped to the ground is the best case scenario. Because if he catches it, he'll fumble it.
Starting point is 00:45:31 If he bobbles it up, it'll be intercepted. Pour one out for all the people that traded for Tony going to Kansas City. Oh, man. Kedarious Tony's fantasy peak on the year was 7.9 fantasy points in week 6. Kedarious Tony's fantasy peak on the year with 7.9 fantasy points in week six. Kedarious Tony is on pace to have 35 receptions and 221 receiving yards. And cause about five turnovers.
Starting point is 00:45:55 I mean, that's got to be like a Kyle Juszczyk kind of receiving line. Jarek McKinnon is who they need. They really need to utilize him more in the passing game. He's such a valuable, capable pass-catching option for McKinnon is who they need. They really need to utilize him more in the pass game. He's such a valuable, capable pass-catching option for McKinnon. Is there anybody in the studio that would play Flacco? No. Not in that case. Nope.
Starting point is 00:46:15 Kyle, do you have the courage? Never. Never, he says. I'm a coward. I'm higher on Flacco than you guys are this week. Joe Flacco has the pass attempts. And Joe Flacco has had multi-touchdowns in every single game. Let's hope it continues.
Starting point is 00:46:35 David Njoku and Amari Cooper. Saying that, I would still play Mahomes, but I understand the question. Kyle, an interesting... It's the turnovers from Flacco that erases his fantasy numbers. An interesting research thing for us to look up, because we probably don't know this, but has there ever been someone drafted in the first, traded in year two,
Starting point is 00:46:55 and then the career actually works out? I mean, I'm only thinking of... Who are you thinking of? Well, Tony and then Trent Richardson was the two that came to mind. Drafted in the first, but then traded the next year? Yeah. That's a bad sign.
Starting point is 00:47:09 Because the team's like, we drafted you in the first. No, we're willing to trade you away. Yeah, I was trying to think of it. I mean, obviously, Claypool got dealt. That was a little bit later, and he's a second rounder. Boy, first rounders? Is that what you said? Yeah.
Starting point is 00:47:25 Tony was a first? Oh, yeah. And when he got drafted in the first, everyone went, what? What are you doing? And then everybody saw him on the field, and they were like, whoa. Yeah, and then it was, oh, the Giants were really smart on this one. That was Tony? And then he got traded.
Starting point is 00:47:37 That's not Wandale? Tony Wandale back-to-back? Yeah, Wandale was a second. 20th pick in the draft. Boy, you know what it is is when you see him, it just feels like a seventh-round pick. That's what it is. I think that Tyreek Hill created a career for Kadarius Toney.
Starting point is 00:47:56 People have just tried to find that, short area, explosive athlete. And you saw some of that from Kadarius Tone. You see it. And so... Yeah, Jalen Waddle does it. I mean, it works for him. Yeah, but... Jamison Williams will probably keep doing it.
Starting point is 00:48:15 I want to go back to the Flacco-Mahomes thing. I just want to point out... Oh, boy. We've got three weeks of Flacco as the starter. Yeah. The first week, he scored 17 points. That week, Patrick Mahomes scored 14 points. Oh, no.
Starting point is 00:48:29 The second week, Flacco scored 21 points. That week, Mahomes scored 14 fantasy points. Last week, Flacco scored 20 fantasy points. Mahomes scored 17 fantasy points. So he's averaging more. He's beat him every single week. Hit the Adamantium button. Oh, no!
Starting point is 00:48:48 All right, this is what we got. Unobtainium underpants. My Smith can't handle working with Adamantium. I'm sorry, Unobtainium. But it's the highest level that we have. We just put it on you, Jay. I'm just saying, yeah, those were on you. The camera was on you when the drop happened. You've got them on right now.
Starting point is 00:49:07 You can see them, actually. They're bright. Yeah. It would take so... It's an insane amount of courage. It's an... Anybody out there, anybody that's doing Flacko over Mahomes this week, I want to hear from you on Twitter.
Starting point is 00:49:22 I have to know. But only if it works. No, I want to hear from you on twitter i have to know but only if it works no i want to know no i want to know if you do have the courage to do it and because this is not like i know people they would just do it for fun but not in the playoffs in the playoffs you don't get to just do it for fun you have to you have to believe it you have to put on the unobtainium underpants guard thy loins from the damage of joe like joe flacco has five five picks he can get you right in the nards he's got five picks and two fumbles seven turnovers in three games so those numbers would be much higher if he if he
Starting point is 00:49:55 didn't just turn into a pumpkin every uh few plays but are you saying with the when you laid that out jason i know you don't want me to come back to you here. Are you saying you would do it? No. No, but I'm saying it does make sense. It's not as crazy or ludicrous as it sounds when you go, will you start old man off the street over Patrick Mahomes? It would have been the right decision every single opportunity that Flacco's played this year.
Starting point is 00:50:27 I still won't do it. All right. Rosie wants to know, do I start Gus Edwards or Najee Harris this week? The Gus bus against San Francisco is a five-point road underdog. Oh, man. Najee Harris against Cincinnati, two-point home underdog. The Najee matchup is so much better, but. I have a strict policy with Najee. So you're going the Gus bus?
Starting point is 00:50:48 I have a strict policy with the Gus bus. No, which is the player more likely to actually score a touchdown? To me, it's Gus Edwards. You have the injury to Keaton Mitchell that gives me more confidence in Gus. I'm going Gus. Yes. We need a less enthusiastic
Starting point is 00:51:03 horn on that Gus bus. That's not that enthusiastic. That's super exciting. Hit it again. That's happy. It just sounds kind of like a clown horn, though. Yeah, or a party bus. That's in a kid's cartoon.
Starting point is 00:51:18 That's a bus coming down the street in a kid's cartoon. We need something more somber, like a bus that survived an apocalypse that's coming down the street. Beep. It has very little gasoline left in the tank. Are you guys both nausea? No, I think with the Mitchell injury, I'm going to go with Gus.
Starting point is 00:51:37 Now, if I threw in one more player, Justice Hill, does that change anything? I would go Gus over Justice Hill. What about Gustus Hill? If I could get both combined, I would play that player. Hold on. Augustus Hill.
Starting point is 00:51:49 Ooh. I'm in. I don't get it. Saquon Barkley or Brandon Ayuk this week. Rahul wants to know. Both risky. Both have upside. Saquon takes on Philly.
Starting point is 00:52:03 Saquon's an 11.5 point underdog. Saquon has, he finally had an efficiency struggle despite the matchups. He's had tough matchups on the ground in the past, but delivered with efficiency. This past week
Starting point is 00:52:19 against New Orleans, it was terrible. 9 for 14. This week, they're in Philly. Philly's defensive front very good, but just gave up 80-something yards to Kenneth Walker. Yeah, try and take the Walker performance as the confidence. I would go Barkley, I think. Someone else answer. I would go Barkley.
Starting point is 00:52:40 The known volume is where I lean. I know Brandon Ayuk has been great this whole year, and I'm not sitting there saying you should bench Brandon Ayuk, but the matchup against Baltimore, you know, they're number six on the season against wide receivers. They don't usually give up a lot of points. You're coming off of a game where Ayuk had three receptions, and he can get it done with three receptions you know on a on a great ball you know a bomb play but he should have got it done last week if brock purdy threw him better passes yeah so i i mean i i just want to lean on the known volume of saquon over ayuk personally
Starting point is 00:53:18 all right well that is going to do it for today's episode we have starts of the week tomorrow uh i do like the fact that andy versus j.com, you put my name first because that makes more sense from who will finish first this week. And it's V-S for verse. Andy V-S Josh.com. Because I spelled it out. Would you have put versus V-E-R-S-U-S? You would have thought that.
Starting point is 00:53:39 That's what I typed when you said it was Andy versus Josh.com. Well, I just typed the words you said. No, when someone says versus, it's V-S. Period. But you can't was Andy versus Josh.com. Well, I just typed the words you said. No, when someone says versus, it's VS. Period. But you can't put a period there. So, therefore, I spelled it out. I think you probably are in the minority of people that would have spelled the whole word out.
Starting point is 00:53:56 That's all. Maybe. But if you want to register that domain, you can. The other one. Yeah, Josh should have forwarded it. Oh, we do have... Is this updated news, Kyle? Do we have updated Jonathan Taylor
Starting point is 00:54:08 news? Kind of. Okay. Go ahead, Mike. I don't have the courage. This is from Shane Steichen. Taylor is progressing well. He will participate in the walkthrough today. Remains optimism that he can play.
Starting point is 00:54:24 But he'll be evaluated on a daily basis. That's a lot of I'm on this side of the river. I'm on that side of the river. Not exactly the Mississippi. I'm afraid of him. You're afraid of Jonathan Taylor? Yeah, you should be.
Starting point is 00:54:43 Alright, we'll be. All right. We'll continue stressing out tomorrow. Thank you for joining us. We appreciate you. Footclangiveaway.com for a signed Travis ETN jersey. We'll catch you tomorrow with our starts of the week. Goodbye. Thank you for listening to another episode of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast. Join our fantasy football community on jointhefoot.com
Starting point is 00:55:11 and follow us on Twitter at the FFBallers.

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