The Fantasy Footballers Podcast Recap – Week 4

Monday – Studs & Duds, Jason Melts Down, Monday Punday

Welcome to a brand-new week, and Jason is tilting – tilting hard. After a horrible day against his division rival Andy Holloway, Jason is having a rough day. After getting sophisticated, Andy, Mike, and Jason jump into the news.

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News

Before kick-off, the Packers put Sammy Watkins on the IR, and Julio Jones is expected back next week. To great joy, Zach Wilson is also looking to return this upcoming week. Dalvin Cook exited with a shoulder dislocation, and this is what he does. Mike looks forward to “the device.” D’Andre Swift also hurt his shoulder, and he could miss some time, and David Montgomery left the game early with an ankle and knee injury. Initial reports are day-to-day. Joe Mixon sat out the fourth quarter due to an ankle injury, and the Saints WR room is hurt, with Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry exiting early. Mac Jones was in intense pain leaving the game Sunday, and he will probably need time. Dalton Schultz is questionable for this evening.

Studs

That Lamar Jackson is good at football with another great week. Another rushing QB excelled – Jalen Hurts, the first player with 900 passing yards and 100 rushing yards through three games. Josh Allen gets two thumbs up – he hit his finger late in the game, so monitor the injury. Trevor Lawrence looks outstanding, and this Doug Pederson-led offense looks refreshed and efficient. Finally, Joe Burrow had his bounce-back game against the Jets. Kahlil Herbert starts us off with the RBs, excelling in the absence of David Montgomery. Jamaal Williams took advantage of Swift’s time off the field and scored twice. The snow model proved true, and the Yeti reared its head. Cordarrelle Paterson is currently the RB4 on the season with another successful week, and Andy suggests selling high. Chase Edmonds is another option to sell high, Devin Singletary did well, and James Robinson cannot be stopped.

DeVonta Smith had his breakout game with highlight-reel catches a plenty. Mac Collins filling in for Hunter Renfrow and Davante Adams proved fruitful, and Hollywood ate with massive targets. Zay Jones is very involved in the Jacksonville offense, scoring a TD, and is worth a pick-up. Chris Olave looks like a different speed out there, and he has a QB that will chuck it, making him a must-start moving forward. Russell Gage, Isaiah McKenzie, and Romeo Doubs also had big weeks.

Mark Andrews paid off on his draft day price, and Travis Kelce managed to score. Tyler Conklin is currently the TE3 with seven or more targets in three games, and Andy is wondering if we are Conking. Kyle Pitts had a better week, so signs of life are there, and David Njoku also bounced back. Dallas Goedert scored again.

Duds

Russell. Wilson. Woof. Let’s ride? After three games, Geno Smith is having a better year than Russ, and fantasy owners are left wondering what to do. Andy says cut bait. Cooper Kupp did not have a great week, and therefore Matthew Stafford did not succeed. Carson Wentz did not get the revenge he wanted and was sacked nine times. Joe Mixon, Alvin Kamara, Austen Ekeler, and Javonte Williams, to name a few, were a smattering of the RBs who had a bad game. James Conner was a game-time decision, and he played, yet did not deliver. If the Cardinals offense figures it out, Conner can improve. The Darrell Henderson experiment might be over.

Jason’s Justin Jefferson had his worst game ever; he will be fine. Stars like Ja’Marr Chase and Tyreek were just not “the guy” this week. Mike Williams only had six targets from Justin Herbert, Gabe Davis looked less than 100%, and DJ Moore has been putrid this season. Allen Robinson dropped a TD, Brandin Cooks – although targeted frequently – was unsuccessful, and Jerry Jeudy looked off.

Enjoy the Monday Night game!

Tuesday – Monday Night Recap, Waiver Wire, Full Stream Ahead

Monday Night Recap

The Monday night game was questionable on whether a TD would come, but it did end up ok. Andy’s biggest takeaway is that Saquon is indeed back. With the abundance of Giants injuries, Saquon becomes even more vital to the offense. Both Zeke and Pollard ran well last night, with Ellliott getting the TD. Goal line-wise, Zeke is still the primary goal line back, and with Dak potentially returning as early as week five, he has potential. CeeDee Lamb was good but also had his faults – still lacking that complete game. Even with Gallup returning, Jason feels this will not harm Lambs’ target share.

News

Amon-Ra St. Brown underwent tests on his injured ankle, and the results were promising. Hopefully, he will not miss more than one game. Conversely, Mac Jones has a severe ankle sprain and will miss several games – streaming a defense against the Hoyer-led Pats seems like a good plan. The Chargers are injured – Jalen Guyton is out for the season, and Keenan Allen might be back to practice this week. AJ Green has a bone bruise, and Joe Mixon should be good to play on Thursday.

Welcome to the Fold – Waivers

If you have injuries or made the wrong call on someone, ahem, Cole Kmet, it is time to pivot. We start with WRs – Treylon Burks might hit the waiver this week despite his snap counts increasing. If he does, scoop him up. Rookie Romeo Doubs showed that Aaron Rodgers does have some faith in him, and he is a player to target. Some players who are very low rostered, who Andy feels are worth a stash – Zay Jones, Greg Dortch, Isaiah McKenzie, and possibly Mac Collins. DJ Chark should be the primary pass catcher for the Lions if St. Brown misses. You can drop Darnell Mooney, and Andy would even cut DJ Moore. Jason suggests using DJ Moore or Allen Robinson in a trade package.

On to RBs – Jamaal Williams and Khalil Herbert highlight this section. J. Willy will be the featured back while Swift is gone, and he can still be successful when Swift returns. The name Alexander Mattison is being thrown about, but Cook might play this week. He should still be rostered in all leagues. If you have a need for a TE, which most of us do, David Njoku and Irv Smith are fair options. Jason thinks Robert Tonyan is worth a stash, and his breakout game is coming. Defensive options are the Packers against the Pats with a backup QB, Cleveland Browns, and the Philly defense, which is extremely talented.

Full Stream Ahead

This week Andy suggests streaming Jared Goff against Seattle if Amon-Ra is a go or Jameis Winston, who also has a good matchup. Jason says you can stream Cooper Rush playing the Washington Commanders or Matt Ryan. Finally, Mike is streaming Marcus Mariota at home, taking on the Browns.

Good luck on the waiver wire!

Wednesday – Trending or Ending, Ride or Die, Thursday Night Preview

Already halfway through the week on the Fantasy Footballers Podcast, and the guys jump right into the show with their bonnets upon their heads.

News

The news segment starts with the various QB situations around the league. Tua was limited yesterday, but Andy believes he will play against the Bengals on Thursday night. Robert Saleh announced that Zach Wilson has been medically cleared and is ready to play on Sunday, barring a setback. Michael Gallup is getting closer to his return, and Brian Daboll said that Kadarious Toney and Wan’Dale Robinson are getting closer to being ready for action. In London news, Jameis Winston and Michael Thomas were not at practice. Myles Garrett is thankfully recovering from his car accident, but it is unknown if he will play this week.

Trending or Ending

The guys are looking at players who have either a few good or bad games in a row to ascertain what happens next. We start with Austin Ekeler, the only RB with 20 plus carries that does not have a single gain of over ten rushing yards. Currently, Ekeler is ineffective, but will this decline continue? Begrudgingly, Mike believes that Ekeler will not deliver on his draft capital – he should improve slightly, but he might not be what you drafted him to be. You might be able to move Ekeler for Dump Truck Fournette. Next is Christian Kirk, currently at WR6 on the year. He is proving his worth for the money spent, and Mike believes this is a trend that will continue. He has the talent and an apparent connection with Trevor Lawrence, and if he has a down week against Philly, swoop in and try to buy low. On to Deebo, who never had three mediocre games in a row last season where he finished as the WR2. Samuel has been solid, yet not spectacular, and Jason believes this trend will end with the Niners getting back into the Jimmy G. system.

Thursday Night Preview

The undefeated Miami Dolphins take on the defending AFC champions, the Cincinnati Bengals. The Dolphins are coming off a fantastic win over Buffalo last week, and they traveled early because of the hurricane. Jason would not be surprised if the Bengals pull this one out. There should be no intimidation playing any Cincinnati studs, including Joey B, but do not chase Boyd. On the Miami side, the guys continue to suggest trading Chase Edmonds as his numbers decrease, but you are starting Hill and Waddle. If you have a good enough QB to pivot to, the guys say to avoid Tua and his injury potential.

Thursday – Starts of the Week, Week 4 Breakdown

Welcome in, and it’s football time with Mike and Andy!

Never Not Working

Today we are talking about RB scoring and how it is not meeting expectations – all of the top drafted RBs are so far not delivering. The top 12 RBs have scored the fewest combined points over the last seven years – it is happening across the board. Why is this happening? The committee approach is partly to blame, with only 17 instances of an RB seeing over 20 carries. The increase in zone defense is also adding to this. Mike’s advice for these underproducing RBs is for you to go out and try to trade for them.

News and Notes

The guys start with some Thursday night news – Tua is expected to play, and Jaylen Waddle is good to go. Down south, Jameis Winston and Michael Thomas did not practice. Andy Dalton could be the guy, and our Andy reminds us he is a solid backup. Jonathan Taylor did not practice on Wednesday, and as a beat reporter said, “there is more chance of him kicking a puppy than missing the game.” In more concerning news, CMC has a quad injury, making you nervous. Zach Wilson will start on Sunday, giving you pause starting Jets pass catchers. Mike Evans is back from the suspension, Keenan Allen might be available this week, and Dalton Schultz will practice on Thursday.

Fantasy Forecast

The Minnesota Vikings and the New Orleans Saints travel across the pond to entertain the footy fans in London town. Alvin Kamara should be started, even with his slow start. If Michael Thomas plays, he is not guaranteed to be successful with his injury, so caution around him. Chris Olave leads the NFL in air yards and is a solid start. On the other side, the Saints defense is solid, so be careful with Kirk Cousins; if you have another option, it could be worth a pivot. Adam Thielen could be another intriguing start with Lattimore on Jefferson. Cleveland heads to Atlanta to play the Falcons. There will probably not be much happening through the air in this game; both teams have a solid running attack. The matchup for David Njoku is juicy, and Amari Cooper and Drake London are in your matchup. You can stream Mariota.

The Washington Commanders are at the Dallas Cowboys in a low over/under game. The Cowboys have a decent defense, and Carson Wentz will be on his back several times. It is difficult to decide between the Washington pass catchers if you are chasing one at all. Antonio Gibson‘s opportunity has been declining, and with the potential to have a negative game script, he might not be a solid start. You are starting Zeke, CeeDee Lamb, and possibly Pollard. Seattle travels east to play Detroit in a game that D’Andre Swift will miss. Jamaal Williams is set up nicely to have a great day. Amon-Ra is questionable, so keep your ear to the ground. DJ Chark could be a flex. Hockenson could have a good opportunity as well if he is healthy. On the Seattle side, Rashad Penny could be a sneaky start. DK Metcalf had success with more opportunities last week, and Tyler Lockett has been sliding under the radar.

The Titans battle the Colts in an RB battle. We are waiting for the Treylon Burks breakout game, and Andy thinks it is still a few weeks away. Alec Pierce is another rookie to keep your eyes on. You are starting your RB studs and Pitty City – hopefully, Jonathan Taylor can get it together this week. The Chicago Bears (2-1!!) play the New York Giants (2-1!!). You do not start Justin Fields and Daniel Jones. David Montgomery is day to day, and Khalil Herbert will have an opportunity against a Giants defense that is 24^th against the run. No, thank you to the Bears pass catchers, and the only possibility on the Giants side is Richie James if forced. Jacksonville takes on Philly, one of two undefeated teams remaining. The Eagles defense has been getting after the QB and making plays, so starting your Jags is a scary situation. You will still be starting James Robinson and Christian Kirk. You can chase Zay Jones in a pinch. On the Philly side, you play DeVonta Smith, especially after last week, AJ Brown and Dallas Goedert.

Check out the website with all the start/sit tools, rankings, and more!

Starts of the Week

On to the starts of the week! Jason is starting Joe Burrow, Alvin Kamara, Gabe Davis, and turd alert TJ Hockenson. Mike is riding with Russell Wilson, Breece Hall, Noah Brown, and Robert Tonyan. Finally, Andy is starting Jared Goff, Khalil Herbert, DK Metcalf, and David Njoku.

In an extraordinary rendition of Jason’s Boom Boom Kicker, Mike brought us to tears. Enjoy the Thursday night game!

Friday – Week 4 Matchups, Tua Talk, and the Wheel of Shame

Happy FootClanFriday! Remember to check us out on YouTube and set the notifications so you can be reminded when Mike goes live on Sunday morning!

Thursday Night Recap

There are two storylines to discuss here, the first being Tua and his concussion. Many questions will be asked moving forward, and if the medical professionals did not do what they were supposed to, people need to be fired. Problems need to be solved, and thankfully Tua was able to fly home with the team. The players had to shake this off – Joe Burrow had a great fantasy day, and Joe Mixon had tons of work and was stopped at the goal multiple times. Tee Higgins had a great day, and Ja’Marr was slightly muted. On the other side, Teddy Bridgewater had to take over from Tua and had a reasonably good outing. The distribution of RB snaps was shocking, with Raheem Mostert having 72% of the snaps – Chase Edmonds has had his usage decrease week after week. Tyreek Hill had a great game, and Jaylen Waddle looked a little hobbled.

News

CMC practiced Friday and Jason is still concerned he might not play – you may want a pivot option available. The device is working, and Dalvin Cook participated fully in Thursday’s practice. Corrdarrelle Patterson returned to practice on Friday, and perhaps he had a maintenance day off. Tons of Saints and Lions news – Jameis is looking to be out, and here comes Andy Dalton without Michael Thomas. Hopefully, he gets to use Alvin Kamara, who is listed as questionable. Amon-Ra was declared out, and Jason likes a pivot to Josh Reynolds. D’Andre Swift is doubtful, and Gabe Davis and David Njoku were back at practice.

Fantasy Forecast

The Jets take on the Steelers in a gross over/under game. Young Zach Wilson returns to battle Mitch Trubisky, who has been less than stellar. Andy says you can pick up George Pickens to stash, but the TD rate in Pittsburgh is trash. The Muth was not very Luth last week, but the TE landscape is sparse, so he might be an option. It is a coin flip between the Muth and Conklin on the other side of the ball. Breece Hall is Mike’s start of the week, you can flex Garret Wilson, and beyond that, you cannot trust any other Jets. Next up is Buffalo at Baltimore, which should be a much more exciting matchup. Josh Allen has been fantastic, and Devin Singletary is starting to get the targets, so he can be a good start. The other Bills studs are in your lineup, and Isaiah McKenzie is an option, especially if Gabe Davis is out. Rashod Batemen is in play on the Baltimore side, and the guys say to lean away from JK Dobbins.

The Chargers head east to take on the Texans in a game that could be the salve to what ails them. The injuries are a plenty, and it might be a hold your breath type of start. It is not looking good for Keenan Allen to start – Josh Palmer and Gerald Everett could reap the benefits. On the Houston side, with Joey Bosa out, Dameon Pierce could be a solid RB2. The success of Brandin Cooks is being limited by his QB play, but Mike says he is a buy low. The Arizona Cardinals play the Carolina Panthers on the road, where they have a great winning streak. There is a chance of rain in Carolina, which could impact your starts, and the big issue is whether CMC is injured. Do not start DJ Moore until he gives you a reason to start him. Hollywood is a great play, and the Dortch is a go if Rondale Moore is still out. James Connor is averaging 30 rushing yards a game, and Zack Ertz will not goose you.

New England, with an injured Mac Jones (or Brian Hoyer), plays Green Bay in the next game. Jones is back at practice, but with the QB situation, you should bench all your Patriots pass-catchers. You could flex Rhamondre. You are starting your Packers RB contingent, and you will have to decide between Allen Lazard and Romeo Doubs. It also looks like Christian Watson will play, so Doubs might not be the number one target this week. Robert Tonyan is Mike’s start on the week, and Andy guarantees a score. Next, the Denver Broncos take on the winless Las Vegas Raiders. The Broncos defense has been solid, and the guys are benching Derek Carr, but you are still starting Davante and Darren Waller. On the Broncos side, Russell Wilson is Mike’s steel underpants start of the week. Javonte’s fantasy points have gone down each week which is disconcerting; you are still starting him in a good matchup. Start Courtland Sutton and be aware that Hunter Renfrow will miss this week.

Sunday night football is Kansas City versus Tampa Bay in a rematch of Super Bowl 55. The offense of Kansas City did not look good last week against Indy, and it is clear that Tyreek Hill matters. Jason says that JuJu is playable as a low-end flex if you need that. CEH has been a top 20 RB, and if you did not manage to trade him, you need to start him. On the Bucs side, the defense has been fantastic, Mike Evans is back from the suspension, and Chris Godwin is a game-time decision. The guys think he will not play. You might not see much from Tom Brady this week, but he is a great trade-for candidate. The Rams and the Niners close out week four on Monday night. The offense has not found its groove in Los Angeles, and players outside Cooper Kupp are scary to start. Tyler Higbee is an ok start in a tough TE landscape against a solid San Francisco defense. Jeff Wilson is startable, George Kittle is still a go, and Deebo is always in play.

After Andy spins the wheel of shame, the guys share their DraftKings lineups. Good luck this week!!