The Fantasy Footballers Podcast Recap – Week 11
It feels great to be back, and a big thank you to Jeff, who took over while I got married! As we head into the recap, make sure to listen to The Fantasy Footballers podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Monday – Studs and Duds, Monday Punday
Jeff Saturday is undefeated, and Andy, Mike, and Jason react with sophistication on Monday Punday.
News
The Rams WR Cooper Kupp exited with an ankle injury on Sunday, and he was in a ton of pain – this does not look great in what seems to be a lost season for the Rams. Zach Ertz had a significant knee injury, and Rondale Moore may be the beneficiary here. JuJu is in concussion protocol, Leonard Fournette left with an injury as the Bucs head into their bye week, and Khalil Herbert left the game. Gerald Everett also was hurt with a groin injury.
Studs
Despite the injuries, there were highlights in the week, the first being Justin Fields who had another game for the ages. You might be able to ride him into a championship. Patrick Mahomes is still very good at football, and Tua and the offense were stellar for another week. Somehow Matt Ryan snuck into the studs section and finished as QB4 on the week. Aaron Rodgers and Dak also looked solid. JT returned to success for the now Ryan-led Colts, and he looks completely healthy. Aaron Jones is currently RB8 for the season and had a great game. Saquon had 35 carries and gets to play the Lions next week, and Dalvin Cook was successful against the Bills. James Connor finally had his positive TD regression, and both Miami RBs had success.
On to the WRs – CeeDee Lamb had a monster game and was the most successful receiver of the week, while rookie Christian Watson now seems to be the go-to WR for Aaron Rodgers. Justin Jefferson had the most ridiculous catch of all time in football, Christian Kirk had his bounce-back game, and Davante Adams balled out. Amon-Ra also returned to success, and the Awful Tower is being built beam by beam by Matt Ryan. Chris Godwin returned with Andy’s TD guarantee. Cole Kmet headlines the TE studs, and hopefully, his injury is minor. The Doctor returned and shall be reliable moving forward, and Tyler Higbee will see an uptick in targets with Kupp going down.
Duds
Justin Herbert had a rough day, losing many of his targets and dealing with an injured offensive line. Andy Dalton fell apart in the second half, and the guys are questioning when Jameis could return. Jimmy G. and Tom Brady were average. Alvin Kamara had a disappointing day and had questionable usage with a small number of plays in a defensive battle. Derrick Henry was held to average against a solid Denver run defense. Austin Ekeler did not have a great game, and D’Andre Swift is clearly not healthy. David Montgomery is also declining, and CEH had a disgusting stat line.
Andy is slightly concerned with Deebo, who returned from an injury this week. Chris Olave, Josh Palmer, and Darnell Mooney were also unsuccessful. Courtland Sutton is a challenging player in a questionable offense “led” by Russ. Wan’Dale Robinson is worth dropping if you need the roster spot. To close out the duds – TEs that had bad days include George Kittle, Everett with the injury, and the Muth with a struggling Kenny Pickett. As usual, Kyle Pitts is in this section.
Enjoy Monday Night Football!
Tuesday – Waivers and Upset City, Full Stream Ahead
Monday Night Recap
It was a great Monday night game, and the Commanders pulled off the win in Andy’s upset of the week. Washington dominated the time of possession and executed on third downs. Terry McLaurin finally showed his talent with Heinicke throwing him the ball, and the Commanders took advantage of the turnovers from the Philly side. RB Brian Robinson had a fantastic showing and has a great schedule moving forward.
News
The Chargers HC said Mike Williams and Keenan Allen will practice this week, but they play Sunday night, so be prepared with a pivot. Cooper Kupp has a high ankle sprain, which did not look good, and he is probably headed to IR. Mark Andrews has a good chance to play this week, Zach Ertz is out for the season, and Jerry Jeudy’s ankle injury looks minor. Eno Benjamin has been released.
Welcome to the Fold
Another heavy bye week looms, and there are some intriguing names to potentially pick up. Kadarius Toney and Christian Watson are at the top of the list; you can pick up these guys this week and start immediately. Andy leans toward the Toney direction if both are available. Much to Jason’s chagrin, Parris Campbell is another WR to gamble on. If you are looking at stash candidates, you have OBJ and Treylon Burks, and you can spot-start Deandre Carter.
On to RBs, and the best long-term pickups are on a bye this week – Rachaad White and Jeff Wilson. Brian Robinson is a potential spot start that could also turn out to be a long-term solution. CEH has been phased out of the offense as of late, and an Isiah Pacheco breakout game could loom on the horizon. Gus Edwards is coming off a bye and an injury, so pick him up with caution. Andy is waiting a week. You can stash Isaiah Spiller, Kenny Gainwell, and Kyren Williams in a deeper league. Tyler Higbee tops the TE pickups and could be a PPR monster with Cooper Kupp on IR. Cole Kmet could be picked up and started immediately but monitor the practice reports since he was banged up at the end of the game. Big Greg D. could have more extensive opportunities with Jerry Jeudy injured.
Defenses to look at include the Bengals coming off their bye week, Washington – with Chase Young possibly returning, and either team in the Rams and Saints matchup.
Full Stream Ahead
Mike is streaming Daniel Jones as a QB this week, Andy likes Jimmy G. in a great matchup, and Jason is living on the edge streaming Russell Wilson.
Wednesday – Playoff Primer and Strength of Schedule League Winners
News
Eagles TE Dallas Goedert will miss extended time due to a shoulder injury, and the TE landscape becomes even more scarce. Randall Cobb was designated to return for the Packers, and the team will focus more on Christian Watson moving forward. Cooper Kupp heads to IR with a 6-8 week return looming, and the ball will need to be peppered to other Rams receivers. Khalil Herbert, the most efficient RB in Chicago as of late, has been moved to IR, as David Montgomery becomes the clear lead back. Finally, Eno Benjamin was released by the Arizona Cardinals and was quickly picked up by the Houston Texans.
Playoff Primer
Before the guys jump in, remember that playoff matchups are not everything! Last year some players came out of nowhere to win people championships, and the same will no doubt happen this year. Playoff weeks are usually Weeks 15 -17, and QBs with excellent schedules include Josh Allen and also Justin Herbert, who should get his big weapons back. Jason also mentions that Zach Wilson gets the best schedule but would be a scary start. Jimmy G. and Tom Brady also have great matchups. Conversely, Tua, Mahomes, and Fields have brutal schedules. On to the RBs, and Derrick Henry has the best playoff schedule, with Alvin Kamara close behind. The Tampa Bay Bucs RBs also have some potentially great games. There are several RBs with demanding schedules – Josh Jacobs, Joe Mixon, and James Conner.
The Texans, Saints, Steelers, and Cowboys have the best matchups for WRs in the playoffs, and the guys hope that Jameis Winston will be back under center. You could get Jarvis Landry or Brandin Cooks for next to nothing. You can look to avoid the Chiefs pass catchers and the Rams WR room. Travis Kelce has the best schedule for TEs, but Greg Dulcich and Tyler Conklin are also good options. For defenses, you are looking at the Giants, Packers, and Cardinals in the first playoff week. Make sure to take the weather into account as it gets colder.
Thursday Night Breakdown
The Titans travel to Lambeau to take on the Packers this Thursday and Green Bay showed some signs of life last week. There is snow on the ground in Vermont, and you can expect a big Derrick Henry game. That is the end of the list of who Jason is interested in playing. You are starting Aaron Jones, Lazard, and Watson on the Packers’ side. Mike believes in a Lazard bounce back.
Thursday – Never Not Working, Starts of the Week, Fantasy Forecast
Never Not Working
Today the guys look at target share – an earned statistic. It is a great first step in showing you what percentage of team targets a skilled player is demanding, with the top WRs in football clearly having the highest target share overall. However, context is vital as you compare this number across different size passing pies. Compare Amon-Ra St. Brown and Darnell Mooney, who both have a 28% target share yet have drastically different contexts. The Bears rank last in pass rate, and Mooney is 45th in routes run, yet the same target share as St. Brown. Keep this in mind when considering target share and starting certain players.
News
Andy Dalton will remain the starter for the New Orleans Saints, as Jameis Winston is still not 100%. Matthew Stafford is on track to play Sunday, and Taylor Heinicke will be the starter in Washington. Conversely, Kyler might miss another game as they travel to Mexico City to take on the Niners. Hollywood Brown could be cleared to return as early as this week. The Chargers’ receivers are still both up in the air.
Fantasy Forecast
Starting with the “thunder snow” matchup as Cleveland heads to Buffalo. Cue Mike’s rant re: domes. With a potential three to six feet of snow, this game might be moved – check out Matt Disorbo’s excellent article about whether weather matters. You cannot bench Diggs and Josh Allen, and Singletary can be a flex option. Andy wants to start Nick Chubb and no one else on the Cleveland side, but Jason can flex Amari Cooper and DPJ. The Bears head south to play Atlanta in the next matchup, which offers a lot of fantasy fun. Start Justin Fields and David Montgomery, now without Khalil Herbert. Darnell Mooney can also get it done, and if Kmet is active, you can stream him. For Atlanta, you can start Patterson, close your eyes, and try to start Drake London and Kyle Pitts. The now-beaten Philadelphia Eagles play the Colts in Indianapolis in Andy’s almost upset of the week. The Colts’ defense has looked strong as of late, and it might be a close game. Play Jonathan Taylor without fear, and Pitty City and Parris Campbell must be started. Play your Philly stars.
The New York Jets play the New England Patriots in a low over/under; if the Jets win, they could move into first place in the division. Lock in Rhamondre and Jakobi Meyers, and beyond that, find other options. Jason is sitting Michael Carter for the Jets with this outstanding Pats defense. Garrett Wilson should be your only starter for New York. The Rams fly east to play the New Orleans Saints sans Cooper Kupp. Allen Robinson or Ben Skowronek are your options there. With few TE options, Tyler Higbee is startable. Owners should start Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave and move on. Detroit plays the New York Giants in the next game, and your locked starts are Saquon and Amon-Ra. Beyond that, you might have some headaches. The RB room in Detroit is confusing, similar to the WR room in New York – if you have other options, go with those. Carolina plays Baltimore in a game where the Ravens are favored by 13. Andy does not want to start a Panther with the return of Baker Mayfield. Start Lamar and Gus, and whichever TE is active.
Starts of the Week
Andy is starting Justin Fields, Brian Robinson, Kadarius Toney, and Dalton Schultz. Mike believes in Daniel Jones, Cordarrelle Patterson, Darnell Mooney, and Foster Moreau. Finally, Jason likes Dak Prescott, Jamaal Williams, Josh Palmer, and George Kittle.
After Jason’s Boom Boom Kicker, the guys say farewell!
Friday – Fantasy Forecast, Wheel of Shame
Thursday Night Recap
The Tennessee Titans beat the Green Bay Packers on the back of Allen Lazard, who had a horrible game. Christian Watson scored another two TDs, and Jason was ecstatic with the result. Mike Vrabel also had a fabulous call on the last play with a bomb pass to Treylon Burks. On the Green Bay side, it is clear that AJ Dillon is now nothing, and Andy believes he is not worthy of a roster spot.
News
The Buffalo/Cleveland game has been moved to Detroit, and with this move, the cast of this game gains back their value. The Chiefs place Mecole Hardman on the IR with an abdominal injury, and Kadarius Toney gains value here. Matthew Stafford, David Montgomery, and Jamaal Williams practiced; Zeke was limited. TE Mark Andrews is questionable, as well as Deandre Hopkins, so make sure to have pivot options in place.
Fantasy Forecast
Washington takes on the Texans in the first matchup of the day. The Commanders are coming off a big upset, and their RBs should have a great day against a horrible run defense – the pass catchers might be less utilized. On the Houston side, you are starting Dameon Pierce, who is matchup-proof, and if you must start a WR, Brandin Cooks is your guy. The Broncos play the Raiders in what will no doubt be the highlight game of the week. The matchup is good for Russ, but Andy understands if you need to close your eyes. You could start Courtland Sutton simply on the basis of targets, and the same can be said for Greg D. On the Vegas side, you are only starting Davante Adams and Josh Jacobs. Mike is considering Foster Moreau.
Dallas heads north to play the Minnesota Vikings, where Minnesota is the underdog. Even with the great Dallas defense, there should be plenty of fantasy options. Kirk Cousins is still a streaming option, and Dalvin Cook is always started. Zeke should be back this week, and the guys think that owners can start both Zeke and Pollard. Adam Thielen is the questionable start in this game. Cincinnati, back from the bye, take on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Burrow has made it clear he will not throw four interceptions, and you are starting your usual studs, adding Tyler Boyd to the mix. For the Steeler RBs, it is still Najee over Warren, and Diontae is no longer an auto-start.
The Chiefs take on the Chargers in the Sunday night game. You start your Kansas City studs, and Justin Herbert should be startable this week; hopefully at least one of the two big WRs return. Pacheco’s role seems secure in Kansas City, so you can lean on him if you need a start. JuJu has not been ruled out, but since this is the night game, you must have an available pivot. The Niners and the Cardinals fly to Mexico to close out the week. Jimmy G. is a good streamer, and the Cards are bad against the TEs, so fire up Kittle. Andy also believes you can start Eli Mitchell. On the Arizona side, we do not know who is starting at QB; you are starting James Conner and both Deandre Hopkins and Rondale Moore.
The guys end the show with Mike spinning the Wheel of Shame and sharing their DraftKings lineups for the week. Good luck FootClan!
Comments
My WR core consists of Tyreek Hill, AJ Brown, and Amon-Ra. My two top RBs are Josh Jacobs and Jamaal Williams. I’m guaranteed the playoffs and looking to solidify my final run, wanting to boost my RB position. Right now have trade offers for both Amon-Ra/Kamara and Amon-Ra/Jonathan Taylor. Do I take either, if so, which is more promising?