The Ringer NFL Show - League Winners and Losers | The Dantasy Football Podcast (Ep. 367)

Episode Date: December 18, 2018

Robert Foster and Jamaal Williams lead this weeks Initial Advice (00:45), and Robby Anderson and Kalen Ballage are among the top players to add off waivers this week (10:00). Plus, a recap of the players who lost you your week and the guys who will win you a championship (24:15).   Hosts: Danny Heifetz and Danny Kelly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the Ringer Podcast Network. I'm Liz Kelly. We wanted to remind you to check out the ringer's YouTube page. We're publishing new original videos all the time, including a new This Is Us parody called This Is Bus, featuring some of your favorite ringer employees like Bill Simmons, Jason Concepcion and Chris Ryan. And on Friday, we published a video breaking down the staff's favorite moments of 2018 in sports and pop culture, ranging from a star is born to the Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty. These videos and more can be found at YouTube.com slash the ringer. Welcome, welcome, welcome to the fantasy football podcast brought to you by the Ringer Podcast Network. I'm joined by my co-host and co-danny, Danny Kelly. What is up, D.K. What's up, D.H. How are you doing, man? I am wonderful. Here with full-time Craig and Jim. It's a wonderful time, D.K., except for fantasy football, which has returned to the cold and relentless, meaninglessness, and darkness of the space void that we occupy.

Wow. Rough week. Rough week for fantasy football. It's tough, man. It's tough out here. I love it because everyone else is also unhappy and I feel better about my own life The more I hear about other people's lives

Being destroyed on fantasy football this week The better I feel about myself Right Craig Right I'm in two championships I'm feeling really good I hate Craig Side note For those who actually still matter

Are still playing the championships Godspeed And more importantly if you're trying to avoid Like a last place punishment Which I feel for you way worse Yeah doesn't the consolation the consolation bracket matter? I hope so. I mean, I feel like

what's standard? Like, first place gets a prize if, you know, hypothetically gambling were legal. Like, first place gets a prize, second, third gets their money back? Yeah, and then we do like highest point score of regular season also gets a prize. That would be nice. It would be nice if the ring or league gave points out to, I don't know, the regular season champion, that would be great, but, you know, that's not what

happened. And then we lost, and okay, moving on. Shall we get into initial advice? Shall we? Wait, before that, can we get the Batman music? One last time. All right, my first dark night this week, Dante Pettis of the 49ers, going up against the Bears this week. Petis has gone off the last four weeks, 17 catches, 338 yards,

four touchdowns. As full-time Craig says, he's actually the overall number six receiver in the last four weeks, which is pretty surprising. Still available, pretty widely. 26 targets over the last four weeks, second only to Kittle on the team. Nick Mullins is kind of bawling out of late.

and the Bears while being a very good defense actually do give up quite a bit of points to opposing receivers they give up the eighth most fantasy points to receivers this year last week they held Rogers to zero touchdowns but did give up eight catches 119 yards to Devante Adams so the matchup isn't actually as bad as it might look on paper so I like Pettus a lot he's kind of come into his own turned into the top receiver on that team

I mean obviously with Kittle you know Kittles probably the top pass catcher but Pettus has really emerged late in the season. He's gotten healthy and he looks really good out there. I'd probably still be a little bit afraid because Mullins isn't exactly Aaron Rogers, but I wouldn't be afraid of playing Kittles still, but I might be a little hesitant about Pettus. But they did just lose Eddie Jackson,

and I think that is actually huge for their defense. And they also clinched the division, and they don't have a ton of daylight with making up a first round by, so I wouldn't be shocked if they were able to get some serious garbage time stuff at the very least. Absolutely. So love Pettus. Who's your first guy? I like love Damien Williams on the Chiefs

You know obviously so Spencer Ware is a hamstring injury It's uncertain if he plays this week But they're going against the Seahawks And if Spencer Ware isn't playing I mean Damien Williams has looked fantastic Even if Spencer Ware is healthy Like Damien Williams should have the job For now in the playoffs

I mean I think Dorelle Williams got the Daryl Williams He got the first score But Damian Williams just looked better throughout He's they can do everything with him He's great out of the backfield He can run routes you know Sposive yeah Yeah he can run things downfield

And also just he really really can make guys miss and break long plays. There's nothing not to like. So last week, you know, obviously it's probably a ceiling, but I would, you know, that's a guy I think could get two or three touchdowns on any given week, I think. So love that. Well, not any given week. I guess there's one week that really matters.

So this week, how about that? But monitor Spencer Ware, right? I mean, are you playing him if Ware plays? No, so, well, I mean, yes. But where, I want to hear what they have to say. So I think that even if Ware is healthy enough to play or he's a game time decision, I imagine they would still monitor. If Williams is getting even like half a stamps,

I still think he's probably worth a flex option. If Ware is out altogether, I think he's clearly like a second tier running back, like an RB2. Talent-wise, I think he should play. It is better than Ware. If Where's out, he's 100% should be in your roster. If Ware is in, I'd probably still monitor

because the way the Chief Seasons is going, I imagine that they still want to prioritize keeping everyone healthy. I don't think Ware is going to get the full workload this week no matter what. Yeah, so you're sitting where, have where? I mean, it would be tough

for me to play him because it's not, it's a lesser version of the James Connor thing for me last week where like even if he's going to play, like how much is he going to play? Hamstrings are like not good injuries either. Well, yeah, and it's like, I mean, they can put him on a pitch count. He can, you know, tug it, you know, he comes out or maybe they're just going with the hot hands. It would be tough for me to really, if you were playing Spencer, where would you

feel good about it? So, I'm torn. But at the same, I wouldn't be surprised, but it's, certainly something to monitor. You know, you got to check the injury report on Friday and things. Yeah, definitely. My next guy, Robert Foster, the Bills, going up against the Patriots this week. This is a former Alabama undrafted free agent for the Bills.

He originally was a big recruit for Alabama, but didn't really pan out, had injuries and kind of got stuck behind some guys, really didn't do much. He's actually got more receiving yards this season in Buffalo than he did his entire career at Alabama. Over the last four weeks, he's a wide receiver 13. On Sunday, he had four catches 108 yards a touchdown the week before, seven catches 104 yards, back to week 12, two catches 94 yards of a touchdown. He's a deep threat guy. He's a big play guy. He's actually 10th in the NFL in air yards over the last four weeks, so they go deep to him. Obviously, with Josh Allen at quarterback, it's a bit of a crap shoot if the ball is going to end up in his vicinity,

but he's really proven to be like a big play guy for them and the production is there for over the last four or five weeks. So I kind of like him going forward. Patriots, they give up big plays. They're 15th most fantasy points to receivers this year. So, you know, being in New England, they're probably going to be behind. I guess they're going to have to pass a lot. They don't have any running backs left.

Everyone's hurt. So I like this matchup for Foster. It's easy to forget when they played on Monday Night Football that the bills almost won that game. I mean, Derek Anderson was the quarterback. He'd been on the team for like less than two weeks. And they had a shot to win. They didn't. But Josh Allen, like, this is not a gimmie for New England.

I don't think they've had a three-game losing streak since like 2002. But it's not a gimmie, and their defense has been fantastic. So I would not at all be shocked if Foster kept this going because he's been fantastic. Den's fine for them because they have no offensive weapons. I mean, they even cut Kelvin Benjamin. I personally, I was thinking if it might be a fluke. And then he's just kept it going. He's looked really good, and he's really getting separation, so it's impressive.

The next one I really like this week. I mean, this is, again, contingent on injury and stuff, but Jamal Williams for the Packers, they're going against the Jets this week. They're in the Meadowlands. Aaron Jones obviously left with a knee injury in the first quarter this week. They think it's a sprained MCL, which is like a two-to-four-week injury. I can't imagine why he would play this week. I mean, they're in short.

No. It's the end of the season. You know, there's seasons over. They've been eliminated. I don't know. It seems like Jamal Williams was going to get all the touches for them this week and he's not as good as Aaron Jones but in the

games last year when he played and he had a full workload he was pretty good as a fantasy option and he's not the same kind of runner as Aaron Jones at all. He's not going to be able to break the same kind of big plays. He doesn't quite have the burst but I mean he could be a great option and if you do have whether it's Aaron Jones or another person that

is hurt for you. Maybe you have James Connor he might be a better option than some of the people out there and he got cut in a lot of leaks in the middle of the season. He had 12 carries 65 yards, a touchdown last week for an added four catches for 42 yards. So he can kind of do both things. I mean, this is like,

Williams was a solid, I mean, he was like a flex, like RB2 slash flex guy early in the season. And last year he was amazing. He had like a five-week stretcher. He was putting up big numbers. Yeah, when Williams or Jones gets the full workload, they're both great. The issue has been when they split it.

Now, Jones wasn't splitting it before. Now Williams isn't going to split it, so. I mean, I'd rather have Jamal Williams getting all the Packers carries in a meaningless game than either James Connor or Gillian Samuels if they're like splitting next week, maybe. Right. Yeah. All right, D.K. That's all we got for the initial advice.

Is that the last DKs of the year? Yeah. Yeah, it is. Wow. What a year. Can we get like some memorial music or something, like a commemorative? No. Commemorative Batman? No. Okay, we'll move on.

All right. Before we move on, let's take a quick break. What do you wish for most this holiday? If you're like us, you want all wins for your favorite NFL team. I don't. I want all losses because I want a quarterback to the Giants. Unfortunately, even Santa cannot make our dreams come true, but the Yahoo Sports Mobile app can make it so we can watch those games and more right on your phone. In fact, with the Yahoo Sports Mobile app, you can watch live, local, and primetime NFL games during the holidays and all season long. Never miss big matchups or your favorite team in action.

What are you waiting for? Download the Yahoo Sports mobile app. And may all your football wishes come true. All right. Waiver-Wire Lightning Round, D-K, again, one last waiver-wire lightning round. Yeah. All right. We don't know your league's quite like you guys.

We certainly don't know your championships, but we do have thoughts. So whether you guys are, well, there's not much monitoring on the waiver wires left. But if you're going to plug these guys in, some guys we really like this week that could be surprises. So, D-K. Yeah. One last waiver of lightning round. Should we do it? All right.

First guy on my list, Robbie Anderson of the Jets. going up against the Packers. Definition of late, by the way. Robbie Anderson. What? I'm very mad at Robbie Anderson. Because he was like really good last year. People drafted him in like the fifth round this year.

Yeah, I liked Robbie Edison. In fact, he has fifth in the league in air yards over the last four weeks. He's a bit of a boom bus guy. Obviously, he's a deep threat. Last week he had 11 targets, seven catches, 96 yards, and a touchdown. And that was a team high of 11 targets. 29% target shares since Donald has returned from injury. So obviously those two kind of have gotten onto the same page.

And the Packers give up quite a few points to fantasy receivers, fourth most points per game to receivers this year. And so it's a risky move, obviously. You know, he's kind of got that low floor. But, you know, if you're looking for like a contrarian player or whatever, he's got that upside as like a deep threat. You could have a touch an end or two kind of out of blue. And the Packers are not playing for anything at this point.

So I like that match up. Donald has looked a little bit better of late, and so they're kind of moving in the right direction. Robbie Anderson's going to win somebody third. Like, that's what he's in it. You're going to be battling for third place. You're going to have Keenan Allen. You're like, ah, he's not going to play it.

Okay, fine, I'll start Robbie Anderson. He'll put up 27 and you'll get third. You heard it from Craig. It's Robert Foster last week. Yep. Too little too late for me, Robbie. Speaking, all right, this is actually one of my, Kalin Belage and the Dolphins.

Where did this come from? Yeah. Well, I mean, I liked him early the season. I remember Matthew Barry was like all over Caleb. He's like Uber athletes. The wild thing, I mean, logic has not governed the Miami Dolphins this year.

No idea what Kenyon Drake has done. I still think he's good. Deeply upset somebody, or not somebody. Adam Gase, they clearly hate each other. No idea what's going on. Not really. I just made that up. I feel like that could come off as if they actually.

Yeah, this is not a report. That's not a report. But I just have shouts to Frank Gore for a second. He was carded off. but this blew my mind, I saw this. He started 122 consecutive games for running back. The next running back's behind him in second for Christian McCaffrey and Peyton Barber with 17.

That is wild. That is crazy. So shouts to Frank. Shouts to Frank. But if he misses this week, suddenly Kalin Belage might be a better fancy play than Kenyon Drake himself. Which is just absolutely nuts, but true. And I actually, I mean, this is what, again,

talk about too little too late. This is what people in August were saying. Belage is the best person in the backfield. And that's coming true. Just, you know, in week 16, when it's way too late to affect anything you're doing. But I actually really do like him this week. They're going against the Jaguars. But the Jaguars, good defense in name only have and have always been bad against the run

in this new iteration of the team. Even last year, when they were crushing it and they were the number one defense, they were like 31st and run defense last year. What Derek Henry did to him? Look what Derek Henry did. Even when we're bad. Jags are mailing it in at this point. Yes, but when the Jags are good,

When the Jaggs are bad, like defensively, good or bad, they've always been bad against the run. Yeah. So not concerned about them matchup-wise as much as you would think. Also, didn't Jalen Ramsey set up for myself this week? So how are you going to feel if you've got Kenyon Drake going on? I don't. I wouldn't feel anything.

I don't know. I feel like I say that too much. Maybe I should get some things off my chest. I don't know. Honestly, you kind of have... So this is, I guess, a good note for Week 16 in general, because this is where real life kind of gets in the way of fantasy. And like these teams just want to see younger guys on the show of Giants,

in which case, you know, you just keep playing Elon Manning. It reminds me of, oh, it was Leonard Fournettes because the Jaguars just got benched in the second half. Oh, yeah. Doug Maroon is like, yeah, you know, we just, and they had him returning kicks. And like, you know, we wanted to see other guys. So, like, there are certain teams where it kind of all goes out the window. And the Jaguars are one where I would not play any Jacksonville Jaguars, because they're reliable to bench anyone.

I think Kenyon Drake's on that. It all seriousness like, Kenyon Drake clearly does not have the trust of the coaching staff, and that's something I'd be very wary of for the final two weeks. Because, I mean, if Leonard Forenack can get benched, obviously every coaching is that's different, but it's a good indicator of like, all you do is pitch your coach off.

They don't give a shit. They're out of the house. So there you go. Yeah. No, I'm with you on that one. I mean, that's basically what's been like all year. Like, as soon as you bench Drake, then he just goes off and vice versa.

So, I don't know. I mean, if you actually do have a matchup worth playing, I, Balaj looked good, he looked better. I would not be playing Kenya Drake this week. Speaking of young, inexperienced players getting onto the field late in the season, Broncos receiver core.

So there's Cortland Sutton, obviously I think he's kind of the main, mostly owned guy. And then Tim Patrick and Deshaun Hamilton have both been pretty good over the last two weeks. Tim Patrick last week had five catches, 65 yards, on eight targets. The week before that, 10 targets,

seven catches 85 yards, and then Hamilton. This week, 12 targets, seven catches 46 yards, the week before that, 9, 7, and 47 with the touchdown. So, I mean, both of these guys are getting tons of targets.

They're a big part of the passing game. Going up against the Raiders this week, I actually think I would, I would be, I'd feel pretty comfortable starting either Patrick or Hamilton. I actually like them a little bit more than Sutton this week because Sutton just kind of, has been so inconsistent.

Both of these guys are just getting more targets. So especially against bad defense like the Raiders, I actually feel pretty comfortable starting either of these guys. You have a third percent chance that the Raiders just quit on John Gruden each of the next two weeks. So that's a nice add-in. I saw somewhere that the Raiders are secretly the best team defending a team's number one wide receiver. Well, that's why you Galaxy Brain and you don't have a number one wide receiver,

which is why the Broncos got rid of Demarius and then Sanders has hurt. So there you go. That's called smart football. So Craig, do you think Sutton would still count as the number one guy then? Yeah. Yes. So that actually, yeah, that's... So there you go.

That helps. All right. Another one, I wrote not sexy, but that doesn't really do this justice. Dare I say that in the year of our lawyer in 2018, Alfred Blue of the Houston, Texans, is the least sexy of all the backup running backs in football. He is the Andy Dalton of backup running back. running backs. He's fine.

He's perfectly fine. So Lamar Miller hurt his ankle this week. He may or may not play this week, so obviously that's another guy, like, just monitor. But the Texans are in it. I mean, they're still chasing his second wild card, so they certainly still have stuff to play for. And they're at the Eagles this week, so they really kind of need him. But I'm not convinced Miller's going to play, and if he doesn't, Alfred Blue is both

a good option and also fine. I think he's going to get the whole workload, because Deonté Foreman, who's the other guy in that backfield is talented, but he's still recovering from Achilles injury last year. He hasn't been practicing too long. They brought him... I don't know why they would rush him back now. That's the thing. It's like you're not going to rush him back after all this time. And we probably wouldn't rush Lamar Miller back.

That's the thing. It doesn't really make sense to push either of these guys. So if Blue's going, he's getting all the carries. But the Texans offensive line sucks. The running game sucks. They don't really produce much outside of that 97-year-a-touchdown run. They don't really produce much. The Eagles defensive front, like, really play. well right now. Fletcher Cox is playing fantastic.

Really kind of manhandled the Rams offensive line, which they're having issues, but still. So on one hand, it's a bad matchup, and on the other, he's going to get... Volume. Alfred Blue could get... He could have one of the five most touches of, like, or carries of any running

back this week. So if you are in desperate straits, he's a great ad. He's also, like, profoundly unexciting. So... That's... I feel like that's like the theme, though, for this week is I mean, you're making do it.

That is week 16 in the NFL from most people. Isn't it weird that it's just so like paradoxical that like you could spend so much time like studying and drafting all these guys and at the very end you're in the championship. You're the best team and like somebody hurts their knee and now you're starting Alfred Brew and that's why you win. This is depth.

This is actually why I love fantasy football. It's because like decisions are made by those who show up and like fantasy championships are determined by like third string running backs. And Super Bowls are won. by fifth string cornerbacks. That's how life works.

We're all just Nick Fulzing. Like, we're all just doing what the ankles did. We're all Nick Follsling. Actually, though, it's so true. David Tyree defeated the Patriots. Sorry, I'm just going to wrap. I feel like this time of year sucks if you came in as like a one or two seed,

and it's awesome if you're a six seed. It really does, no, but it really does mirror real football. I mean, at the end of the day, like, you look at these contenders and how many are defined by like whether your third string right tackle can, like, not fall in his ass every play. I'm like, that's fantasy too, man.

That's deep, baby. Let's go to the next guy White receiver Mike Williams or the Chargers Probably won a lot of people There What is that? I guess the semi-final round

A lot How many people played Mike Williams last week Well that's a good point That's a good point Maybe he's on the Maybe Keynes Maybe Keenan Allen played him

Keenan Allen played him Very few Maybe no one He had nine Or nine targets Seven catches Sexts and two touchdowns Plus a two point conversion

was like a superstar of the game. Great game, by the way. Really fun. And it's looking like, so Alan hurt his hip. It doesn't look like it's anything super serious, but I think there's always kind of the thought that he could, you know, it's always a fear like he comes in for one series and then decides it's like hurting him or whatever and then goes out for the rest of the game.

So on one hand, it's really nerve-wracking to start Alan this week. And on the other hand, Mike Williams is not. no sure thing either. But if, so basically what you have to do is monitor. If Alan even is limited or whatever later in the game,

I would actually almost prefer to start Williams just based on the fact that he's healthy. It's a really tough matchup too going up against the Ravens. So I think there's always volume to be had in the Chargers passing offense

and Williams always has that touchdown upside. But both of these guys are pretty risky at this point. I don't know if you feel really that comfortable going with either of them. Williams is super tough for me Because, I mean, on one hand, his whole thing, I mean, I hate PPR because I think it's participation trophy. All of his balls are really earned.

Like, he does not have, with the exception to touchdown, where he was like, uncovered. The two-point conversion. Like, super contested, and I don't want to overreact because on one hand, like, that is a chief secondary who is bad. I know Eric Barry's back. Orlando Scandrick was being targeted by teams because he was really bad, like five years ago when he was on the Cowboys. so I'm really torn that like that secondary was unable to cover him and then you're going to send him to Baltimore which is a much more talented group I don't want to overreact and it's also because that kind of game

that kind of game plan and style like we're just going to toss them up to Mike Williams like that's not necessarily what they're going to come in and try to do against the Ravens also Melvin Gordon might be back I he certainly could be have the same role but I'm also like it's one of those things that if Williams goes to you this week you'll be like oh yeah that makes sense yeah if he has like three catches for 20 yards It's not one of those things where, oh, Alan's hurt, Williams is fulfilling that role in the offense. Very different players.

So that's my hesitancy there. Yeah, I think I'm pretty hesitant on him, too. If you're desperate, but yeah, I don't know. But then again, I had that feeling about Henry and he just went off again. Granted, I'd rather have him then. Well, would you rather have Mike Williams or Robbie Anderson? Mike Williams. Yeah.

I'm betting on Philip Rivers and the charges offense over. Donald. I, yeah. But at the same time, it could also go Robert Foster, Robbie Anderson, Mike Williams. Who knows? Life's a mystery.

Craig, you got one final one for us. Yeah, this is like a deeper cut. This is like if you're in like a 16-team league or like you're in a dynasty league or something like that. James Washington, I feel like is finally kind of coming into his own. The Steelers like, like shit good wide receivers.

So, you know, he's finally like showing... Noted a Steelers fan. I mean, they're like, literally. Literally. They draft, I mean, every receiver's like in the fifth round. They're always great. but he showed really strong playmaking skills this week. He had a couple, like, just jump balls that he brought down with them.

And if you're desperate, maybe you lost Keenan Allen. He's not going to play this week, and you're in a deep league. I think he could be worth it. The Saints have the worst passing, the worst defense to wide receivers in the league. They give up the number one most points. So it's probably going to be a shootout. The game matters for the Steelers. And I don't know.

With Marshawn Lattimore's all over Antonio Brown, James Washington could get nice little garbage TD for you. he's looked really good I mean we were talking the other week and I was floored that Ryan Switzer had less snaps than James Washington because I feel like when I watch Steelers games

Ryan Switzer's not all over the field but like kind of compared to and then James Washington I never hear his name watching the Steelers and I blew my mind and then the last two weeks

he's really actually started getting in the offense so I'll buy in there you go not so secret Steelers fan Craig so in the Steelers hierarchy Antonio Brown so this is last week

Antonio Brown played 61 snaps which is 95% Juju played 60 and then coming in third James Washington with 44 snaps he out snapped Ryan Switzer by more than double Switzerland had 21 snaps

so RIPP Swiss That's interesting although also Eli Rogers had 28 snaps out of nowhere I don't care I don't care about

Eli Rogers I forgot that Eli Rogers was on the team DK tried to warn us All right segment three we were going to do some super in-depth illuminating research on

how you could dominate your fantasy championship this week and instead we chose to just complain and we're going to run through all the guys who screwed everyone because that really did seem to be the theme. Really rough week's team was like shocking amount of like after a relatively for my fantasy purposes calm season. Knock on wood a thousand times. Then the semifinal round comes and just oh my god. So Keenan Allen

left with no targets catchers or yards after no no was it no targets was it no targets didn't he have a catch well he almost caught that

touchdown right wasn't that oh yeah he had like an incredible grab and was like an inch away from a touchdown hurt his hip and never came back

yep it's just the worst so that sucked so thanks Keenan and then David Williams went off and many people had a minute bench

and then Hyphitz got his just desserts because of Mark Cooper oh yeah yeah let's talk about what did I tell you whatever

what did I tell you he still he had you know, the cults played great. He had seven targets. What did I tell you? Oh, you're not going to start him next week if you had him? No! You're such a liar. I said he would ghost you when it mattered most. Well, I won despite him and I'm playing again. They'll ghost you again. Fantasy Friends Zone, Amory Cooper. Save yourselves, everybody. I still love you, Amari.

Yeah, he always will. Yep, I will. Look, you need to look yourself in the mirror, bud. Sequin had basically his first bad game of the whole year? Yeah, Danny, how surprising was this? He has, I think you would... Nothing surprises me anymore. Did he have like 100 yards overall in like, I don't know, a record number of games or something?

I was so happy the Cowboys got shut out, which we'll get to. Oh, well, we just got it because Cooper sucks. But I was so happy the Cowboys got shut out because the Giants also just got goose out. It was super freaking embarrassing. Yeah, Sequin's averaging 21 points a game for the season. He put up seven. Yeah, that's super tough.

Oh, God. And then Zach Ertz? Killed me. I thought Foles and Ertz had like a huge connection. He had a massive game in the Super Bowl. They didn't go to him. They went to Alshan Jeffrey just out of fucking nowhere. Yeah, he did not.

I mean, he got a couple targets, but it wasn't even close. Three catchers, 22 yards, three fantasy points. Real tough. Real tough for my guy. Thielen, this is, I this. Maybe the toughest here, Thielen. Maybe the toughest. And then we mentioned Aaron Jones, which is also tough, because he had less than a point, I think, and he left with an injury.

But Thielen was healthy, and then everyone in the Vikings' offense is eating. So they fired John DeFilippo, and they're like, We want to run more, promptly run more. They do one play action at Stefan Diggs for a touchdown. And then Dalvin Cook has, that was the best, I mean, fantasy-wise, the best game of his career. Lutavius Murray gets a touchdown. Everyone. Everyone had fun.

Except that I'm feeling. 2.9 points. Wild stuff. We got to, okay, I'm not letting us get through this segment without bringing up Eric Ebron. Eat your justice. In week 13, Ebron had. In week 13, Ebron had 16 targets.

10 catches, 81 yards. Last week he had four catches for 65 yards and a touchdown. Against Cowboys on Sunday.

One catch for eight yards. Fantasy is cruel. I'm glad you can take solison. One bad week from Ebron. Although I had to shout this out. There's one thing I had, this was the most amazing thing I've seen.

Will Brinson from CBS was in a league of CBS experts. I guess. And his team went 13-0 in the season. He had Mahomes, Sequin, Todd Gurley, Adam Thielen, Brandon Cook, Zach Ertz, Nick Chub, Justin Tucker, and the Vikings defense. When 13-0, got 90 points this weekend lost, its first playoff round. How many people are in that league?

12-te-team league. It was an auction. 12-team league. Mahomes, Barclay, Gurley, Thieland-Cooks, Ertz, Chubb, Tucker, Vikings. Couldn't crack 100. What a great sport. All right. Life is random and ultimately, you know, it's a whole exercise in it trying to apply meaning to something that is ultimately random and entropy.

Shall we get into guys who win your fantasy championship for you? He's just, I could just see this thousand yards stare on Danny's face right now. Just, you know, waxing poetic about fantasy football. Look, man. That's what it says about the human condition. Yeah, but we're just going to end this little segment with guys who are going to win your league for you Guys who we think are going to win your league for you No, guys we know

Oh yeah, okay I have an inkling about Doug Baldwin this week Going up against the Chiefs He's basically been hurt Baldwin's been hurt all year He started out of the season with a knee injury He hurt his other knee, I think he had an MCL injury Early on in the season he was battling a groin injury

I mean, he's just been messed up all season. Came back into the Seahawks lineup last week. Had six targets, four catches, 77 yards, and two touchdowns. Just kind of went off. Going up against the Chiefs this week, who are banged up in the secondary. Kendall Fuller has a broken wrist. It's looking like he'll probably play, so that might not be a huge factor. But if Fuller doesn't play, I'm going to like this one even more because I think the two guys behind Fuller are rookies.

So I just like Baldwin. the teams that are playing the Seahawks are taking away the Seahawks deep passes a lot the last couple of games. They've kind of figured out the Seahawks like to run the ball and then throw it deep. And so the Seahawks need to get more from the intermediate range. And that's Baldwin's kind of bread and butter. And so I don't know. I just got this inkling that Baldwin's going to kind of go off this week. And we'll see.

But you have to keep an eye on his health. If he's like full participation all week in practice, then I'm definitely looking forward to what he can do. I've had him on my bench for most of the season. I'm finally going to get something out of it. I can feel it. I carried Doug Baldwin on my bench for 15 weeks, and I cut him this week. Love dog. Love Dougie.

My one, so I just saw this question I kind of thought of a little differently because I think a little more zoomed out when I hear like win your league. And honestly, my first is Nick Chub to me. I think of Nick Chub is the spiritual successor to James Connor. I think James Connor won a lot of people the first half of their season, maybe won you like your first round by or whatever. Like James Connor was the guy, basically the best person you could have outside of maybe Mahomes for like the first 10 weeks of the season.

And a huge different maker. I think of Nick Chubb. Basically, honestly, he basically took off that Hyde trade happened right when Connor started to tail off. Nick Chubb, since he started, since Hyde got traded, has like, you know, 15.5. 34, 26, 14 and a half, 16, 10. He's had like five rushing touchdowns in the last six games. I mean, he's just been absolutely incredible, and it's really just been so unbelievably consistent for a guy.

A lot of people took off waivers. And then now this week, in Week 16, going against the Bengals who have, I believe, the worst run defense in all football numerically, and certainly by the eye test, I think the Brown's are going to crush him. The Browns actually, whether or not they know it, they really believe they can make the playoffs. They kind of, like, still can't because the Steelers pulled that out against the Patriots. But the Browns are not giving up.

The Browns really believe it. And the Bengals look to me like, I mean, they beat the Raiders. this week, but the Bengals to me are fairly lifeless. I think the Brown's like, not a statement win, but I think the Browns run down the Bengals throat. I think Nick Chubb has a great shot to be like the number one overall point score this week, and that to me is like a league winner. Love me some Nick Chub.

The Bengals are going to have Driscoll at quarterback. Tyler Boyd's out. Ajor Green's out. What are they going to do on offense? I think Nick Chub scores two of their first three touchdowns, and then they run up the score. I mean he, I mean, they played in week 12. He had 28 carries 84 yards a touchdown and then more receiving

and he had 26 points in Yonah's scoring. So I think he beats that this week. So there we go. Love it. What about you, Gregorio? Shiboy. So Josh Allen is going to win you, your fantasy league this week. I love Josh Allen. He's becoming my favorite quarterback and I actually just read on his Wikipedia that he turned down and offered a San Diego State, my alma mater. Because he's better than you. I suppose.

But, you know, this guy's still owned in like 23% of leagues. And in the last four weeks, he's the quarterback two behind only Patrick Mahomes. He's putting up 24 vantage points a game. Josh Allen. I don't care if it's on the ground or over the air. I actually think the on the ground thing makes me feel better. It's almost more consistent. It's like, you know what I mean?

And he's developing chemistry with these wide receivers. He's playing the Patriots. If you have Aaron Rogers, if you have Kirk Cousins, if you have Jared Gough, Over the last four weeks, Rogers is the QB 18, cousins of the QB 19 and Gough 24. I think you could potentially start Josh Allen over those guys and win your fantasy week. I love this. I love this so much.

This makes me want to watch this Patriots. I love this. I've always said when it comes down to Bill Belichick versus Josh Allen, I want Josh Allen 11 times out of 10. I love it. It's beautiful. Yeah. That's amazing.

All right. I think that is it. Yeah. We'll be doing season end superlatives on our Friday episode, giving out some awards. Mark Cooper will be getting a repeat. Friends on award. And then we will be back. We will be taking Christmas off, but then we will be back in January for some daily fantasy for the playoffs.

So keep listening. Best of luck this week. All right. Thanks, everyone.