The Fantasy Footballers Podcast Recap – Week 14
Welcome back after the Thanksgiving holiday! Hopefully, you feasted on food and football, and now Andy, Mike, and Jason are back to lead the FootClan into championship season.
Remember to listen to The Fantasy Footballers podcast, available wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Monday – Week 13 Studs and Duds, Turkey Trauma
The guys get sophisticated, then jump right in.
Ready to Roll
As the weather gets colder, you see that RB dependency increases, so the guys look at which RBs are getting more work down the stretch and which guys are having their workloads decreased. Bucky Irving has had the most significant increase, and Andy thinks Irving can be a league winner. Tampa Bay has the fifth-highest rush rate over the last month. Chase Brown’s opportunities have jumped despite the team’s losses. Jason also mentions Rico Dowdle, who has finally been given the job of RB1 in Dallas. Conversely, Kyren Williams’ opportunities have decreased. D’Andre Swift is doing less, and James Conner has seen fewer opportunities, but Jason is not that concerned.
News
Ah, the turkey trauma. Roschon Johnson left with a concussion on Thursday, and CeeDee Lamb aggravated his right shoulder. Congrats to the Bears for firing Matt Eberflus and to James Conner on a new two-year extension. Both J.K. Dobbins and Austin Ekeler have headed to IR, and there are reports that McCaffrey might have lost the rest of his season with a PCL injury. Taysom Hill is out for the season and Trevor Lawrence basically had a car accident on the field on Sunday.
Studs and Duds
The snow couldn’t stop Josh Allen, who threw a TD to himself. He is currently the MVP front-runner. Jayden Daniels, Russell Wilson, and Caleb Williams also had great weeks. Lamar came through in garbage time, and Richardson was also startable. Bucky Irving highlights the RBs, and Bijan looked great, but he might be looking at a QB change moving forward. Josh Jacobs got it done, and James Cook had a great long run on Sunday night. Washington’s Brian Robinson Jr. looks to be a pivotal part of this offense, especially with Ekeler on IR.
Terry McLaurin continues to get it done, and apparently, Keenan Allen is as well. Welcome back, Mike Evans, and Adam Thielen needed the catch child—he would have had two TDs. D.J. Moore had 16 targets, and with this new offense, he stands to be a strong play. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is inevitable, and he has two great matchups coming up. Jayden Reed and Ja’Marr Chase also had great games. Brock Bowers is good at football, and Andy’s start of the week, the Muth, was great. Trey McBride has fewer receiving TDs than Josh Allen, and Sam LaPorta finally came through with two TDs.
Not everything was great this weekend, with Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins actively trying to lose the game for their respective teams. C.J. Stroud has not been great, and this was the matchup we were waiting for—he is not playable. Justin Herbert had no TDs against Atlanta, and Brock Purdy was rough in the snow. The Bone Zone was not alive and well, and Breece Hall made Jason extremely angry. Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt were both useless, and Aaron Jones was ineffective on the ground, even with one TD.
Cooper Kupp highlights the WR duds for the Rams, and Garrett Wilson had only 10 targets. Andy thinks there is a chance Rodgers will get benched. Amari Cooper is not getting it done yet in Buffalo, and Deebo retired on the field once again. Kittle busted in the snow, but you can throw that out, and T.J. Hockenson had a bad game. Cade Otton had seven targets but dropped a few balls. Will Dissly goosed.
Enjoy the Monday night game!
Tuesday – Week 14 Waivers and Dart Throws, Difference Makers
Monday Night Recap
The guys reflect on the longest game in history from last night. Jameis Winston threw for almost 500 yards, along with multiple TDs and INTs. Jerry Jeudy could be the Amari Cooper of last season, and Jameis might even be an option for the fantasy playoffs. The hot hand for Denver was Jaleel McLaughlin, and even with a TD, you cannot trust Javonte.
Difference Makers
Today, the guys are focusing on the biggest name in waivers this week—Isaac Guerendo. You must spend all of your FAAB here, even if you do not need him. Guerendo is big and fast, and RBs in the Shanahan system always have great opportunities. There are great matchups on the horizon as well.
News
John Harbaugh said Rashod Bateman’s knee injury is not long-term and had some interesting things to say about Diontae Johnson. It is uncertain if Josh Downs will return after the bye week and Romeo Doubs returned to limited practice for the Packers. There is no news on Chris Olave, eligible to return soon.
Waiver Wire
With six teams on a bye, the waivers are more important than ever. Behind Guerendo this week, it is a world of RB dart throws. If you are looking at guys for the playoffs, you can eye Jaleel McLaughlin or Sincere McCormick. Gus Edwards has let people down, and the matchups are not great—Mike even prefers Kimani Vidal. Keep an eye on Chris Rodriguez, as well as Blake Corum and Braelon Allen. Kendre Miller will also be eligible to return, and Andy says you can drop Gus Edwards and Kareem Hunt if needed. Moving to WR, Adam Thielen is atop the list. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine has a great matchup and is a good option if you need to shoot for the moon. You should chase the Browns and Cedric Tillman. Parker Washington had 12 targets, most with Mac Jones under center.
With the Taysom Hill injury, you can look at Juwan Johnson, who has been good before. If Jake Ferguson is out there, grab him, and Andy’s deep play is Tommy Tremble or Noah Gray. If Ladd McConkey cannot play this weekend, the guys are ready to fire up Will Dissly again. Defense-wise—the Saints, Cardinals, Seahawks, and the Bucs are options to play.
Full Stream Ahead
This week, Andy is playing Russell Wilson, Jason is going with Tua, and Mike says Will Levis will do in a pinch.
Wednesday – Hungry for More and Start/Sit Decisions, TNF Preview
It is a best friends day with Mike and Jason holding it down.
Hungry for More
Jason is starving. He is hungry for more from Jameis Winston and with him, the opportunities from the Browns’ passing attack. It would take fortitude to start him, but it might just pay off. Mike is hungry for more from Jaylen Waddle, who has been having a tough year. Hopefully, he has turned a corner.
News
It is reported that Ladd McConkey’s status is up in the air for this week against the Chiefs on Sunday night. Ensure you have a pivot option, but if he plays, Jason is starting him. There are reports that Josh Jacobs is battling a nagging calf injury but is expected to play. Breece Hall will not practice, and Jason continues to be personally attacked. San Francisco claimed Israel Abanikanda, who will now be backing up Guerendo.
Thursday Night Preview
Green Bay takes on Detroit this week in a battle of the NFC North. Playing in a dome, there are tons of offensive weapons available. Jason is confident in Jordan Love and almost all players on both sides of the ball. Detroit has lost multiple defensive players, hopefully leading to more points on the board. With that, you can even take a shot on Christian Watson. Josh Jacobs is a start, and Detroit has been good against the TE, so be cautious with Tucker Kraft. Start all your Lions studs.
The guys jump into the mailbag and send us on our way.
Thursday – Starts of the Week and Week 14 Breakdown, Jason Takes a Lap
News
Romeo Doubs is out for Thursday night, and Josh Jacobs is off the injury report. Trevor Lawrence is headed to IR, and Baker Mayfield was a full practice. Jake Ferguson practiced; if he plays, he is a solid start this week for Dallas. Finally, Diontae Johnson was suspended for not entering the game when the team wanted him to.
Starts of the Week
Andy is on a redemption tour and is starting Baker Mayfield, Tony Pollard, Darnell Mooney, and Jake Ferguson. Jason is going with Jameis Winston, Isaac Guerendo, Jauan Jennings, and Cade Otton. Finally, Mike is starting Will Levis, Tyrone Tracy, Calvin Ridley, and Big Montana.
Fantasy Forecast
The guys start with Jacksonville and Tennessee. Jason worries that Mac Jones may not be able to do much to force a good fantasy outcome. You can start Brian Thomas Jr., but temper expectations. If you have to start a Jags RB, go with Etienne. Andy is starting Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. The Jets head down south to take on the Dolphins, and the vibes for New York are bad. You still start Davante, Garrett Wilson, and Breece Hall. On the other side, Tua is a go, and you would usually fire up Tyreek Hill, but the matchup is tough. Jonnu Smith has been amazing, and you are starting De’Von Achane.
The Falcons play the Vikings in the next matchup, with Minnesota still battling for the bye. Andy likes most of the Vikings but is thinking twice about T.J. Hockenson. Kyle Pitts is retired from fantasy this year and will be a cautionary tale. Next up is the fart fest of the Saints and the Giants, and Jason’s favorite player here is the New Orleans defense. Both rushing defenses are subpar, and Alvin Kamara should have an incredible game. Malik Nabers hasn’t been impressive in a long time, and if you put Nabers in your lineup, you must know his upside is limited. If MVS does not score a TD, you will not be happy.
Carolina heads to Philly for a tough game. The Eagles’ defense is excellent, so it will be difficult to start any Panthers. Andy isn’t fighting to start Thielen or Legette, and Chuba Hubbard might not even be that successful. Saquon should have himself a day. If DeVonta Smith is active, the guys suggest looking elsewhere. Keep an eye on Grant Calcaterra. The Browns and Steelers battle again, at least not in the snow this time. Jameis is a risk and not for everyone but has a high upside. Russell Wilson is Andy’s start of the week, and George Pickens has been great. The guys would lean away from Nick Chubb, but Jerry Jeudy is in your lineup.
Enjoy the Thursday night game!
Friday – Week 14 Matchups and League Drama, Wheel of Shame
Thursday Night Recap
It WAS almost upset, and the game was good, but the biggest chatter was about Jayden Reed. He disappeared, and the Green Bay offense flowed through Josh Jacobs. On the other side, Amon-Ra let you down, but the Detorit RBs were delightful. Welcome back, Fireball Jones! You should be happy with Tucker Kraft in the TE position.
News
Breece Hall is sidelined again, and Andy does not feel great about him. Cedric Tillman is still not practicing—Jason thinks he will have another week on the bench. Malik Nabers is limited, but the significant concerns are D.K. Metcalf and Ken Walker. Jakobi Meyers was added to the injury report, and Sincere McCormick may be in play this week.
Fantasy Forecast
We are off to the Pirate Bowl with Vegas and Tampa! The game includes two start of the weeks in the TEs, and the guys say you can start both Bucs RBs. Jason is concerned about Baker Mayfield, and Andy is giving a TD guarantee for Jalen McMillan. On the other side, Sincere McCormick could be started with the state of the RB room in Las Vegas. Seattle heads to Arizona to take on the Cardinals in a big game. The defenses have been getting the job done lately, but Jason still expects James Conner to have a good game. If Ken Walker is in, he is not a guaranteed start. When it comes to the QB, with the defenses, you might want to bench Kyler. Play JSN and TMcB.
Buffalo plays the Los Angeles Rams in the next game. Puka, Kyren, Kupp, and log out. The guys would play Josh Allen, who is now the MVP favorite. James Cook is in your lineup, but there are questions with the WRs. Khalil Shakir might be the only choice there. Chicago and San Francisco are up next. The Niners’ defense has been solid for all their struggles, so there are questions on the Chicago side. You can start Caleb Williams, as most of the RBs are banged up—they should be throwing the ball. Cole Kmet is usable in a pinch. On the other side, Jennings, Guerendo, and Kittle are a go. You can pivot from Deebo.
The Chargers and Chiefs are next, and Mike is hopeful for a good game. McConkey is not 100%, the running game has gone downhill, and the matchup is tough. Jason thinks Justin Herbert will keep them in it. You can start Pacheco and even perhaps Kareem Hunt for another week. You play Kelce. Monday night brings us the Bengals and Cowboys, and Cincinnati is the bad luck team of the year. You start the Bengals’ studs, and for Dallas, you can start Rico Dowdle as a solid floor play. Monitor CeeDee Lamb’s injury status, and Jake Ferguson can be in your lineup in a great matchup.
The guys reveal their DraftKings lineup, and Mike spins the Wheel of Shame. Good luck getting into the playoffs!