The Fantasy Footballers Podcast Recap – Week 8

Welcome to another week over at The Fantasy Footballers! Remember to check out the Fantasy Footballers Podcast on any platform you get your podcasts!

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Monday – Studs and Duds, Arthur the Goldfish, Monday Punday

A moment of silence for all the injuries this week. It was a wild week, and Andy, Mike, and Jason react with sophistication on Monday Punday.

News

Someone give the cart drivers a raise, as these guys worked overtime this week. Breece Hall started with a huge run and his season is probably over with an ACL injury. Michael Carter will be a conversation. DK Metcalf was ruled out early, and an MRI will be upcoming. Marquise Goodwin excelled in his absence. Amon-Ra St. Brown was hurt on his first catch of the day, and Mike Williams looks to have an ankle sprain, but they have a bye this week, so hopefully, he can bounce back. Zeke is believed to have a knee contusion, yet he did return to score. Allen Lazard left with a shoulder injury, and QB Ryan Tannehill had an ankle injury. He looks to return next week.

Studs

Joe Burrow had over 300 passing yards in the first half, and he delighted fantasy owners everywhere. In this passing offense, he will win people championships. Daniel Jones, the QB10 on the year, excelled with 11-for-107 on the ground and plays Seattle next week. A San Francisco defense that was back to full strength was no match for Patrick Mahomes, who threw for over 400 yards in a win. Trevor Lawrence scored on the ground again, and Mike’s stream of the week, Davis Mills delivered. On to the RBs, who are highlighted by Brooks’ Josh Jacobs. He is currently the RB4. Austin Ekeler had an incredible game even without double-digit carries, and he is on pace for 129 receptions. Rookie Kenneth Walker showed that once given the work, he can deliver, breaking tackles left and right. Aaron Jones had a solid game on the ground and through the air. Andy suggests attempting to trade high. Eno Benjamin looked incredible on Thursday night, and Raheem Mostert delivered for the Dolphins in the Sunday night game, and he has three fantastic matchups on the horizon. The Gus Bus was back in service and is clearly the guy for Baltimore, Travis Etienne Jr. may have retired James Robinson in Jacksonville, and Jason’s start of the week, Zeke, had a great game.

Ja’Marr Chase scared owners with an early halftime departure but returned to continue dominating. His teammate Tyler Boyd also had a great day. Mecole Hardman led Andy to victory, and all the Chiefs’ WRs did well. Marquise Goodwin and Mike Williams also had solid games. Oui, Oui to Parris Campbell as well, and look – DJ Moore scored a TD! Travis Kelce is still great, and George Kittle celebrated National Tight Ends Day with a TD.

Duds

Kyle Pitts had yet another terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. He will end up being the most hurtful pick in fantasy this season. Mark Andrews had a bad game, to almost everyone’s shock. Zach Ertz, TJ Hockenson, and Mike Gesicki were also disappointments. QB-wise, Thomas Brady highlights the section, and worries abound. People were betting on Brady to figure it out, but Jason now has concerns. The same can be said about Aaron Rodgers. The RB duds came along with Tom Brady in Leonard Fournette – it was not trash day on Sunday. Kenyan Drake bounced back to the guy we knew and loved, going eleven for five. Isiah Pacheco was announced to be the starter prior to kick-off, and a mad dash to the wire ensued. With CMC added to the roster, Deebo had a dud of a day. Keenan had two targets and two catches and goes on bye this week. Drake London in Atlanta had one catch. Andy says you can consider dropping him. Courtland Sutton has been rough, and the trust is fading. There are some rumors about Jerry Jeudy being traded, which could be the Broncos throwing in the towel. Brandin Cooks, Diontae Johnson, and Robert Woods close out the WR duds.

Good luck in Monday Night Football!

Tuesday – Waivers, Trade Talk, Full Stream Ahead

Monday Night Recap

Great win for the Bears in Foxboro last night. Justin Fields led the team, running the ball well and being the overall leader for his offense. The Patriots looked frustrated. After Mac Jones got pulled, it was Zappe time, who had two quick TDs. It evened out with two interceptions later in the game. Fantasy repercussion-wise, you could consider Darnell Mooney for your flex spot in certain weeks. In the Bears’ RB room, it looks like David Montgomery will lose some touches to Khalil Herbert moving forward.

News

We have a trade! James Robinson was traded to the NY Jets to replace Breece Hall. This is a big win for Travis Etienne, who was great last week, and the Jags clearly want him to be a bell cow RB. Andy thinks James Robinson will still be fantasy relevant in New York. Moving on, Corey Davis is day-to-day, and Elijah Moore will play in Week 8. Matty Ice has been put on ice, and Sam Ehlinger will be the next guy up. He is a mobile QB and worth a look in two QB leagues. Mike Williams will miss weeks, not days, which hurts Jason on a personal level. Deebo has a hamstring injury and is day-to-day. They have a bye week in Week 9, and Allen Lazard was seen with his arm in a sling. The Rams have designated Van Jefferson to return from IR, but he might be no more than a dart throw.

Welcome to the Fold – Waivers

Only two teams are on bye this week! WRs start us off, and Wan’Dale Robinson is the first target. Robinson has been significantly involved, and now the Giants have lost TE Daniel Bellinger, so he might be targeted even more. If George Pickens is still available in your league, he is also a target, but Jason is nervous about trusting him. Zay Jones has solidified himself as a flex-worthy play every week, and Rondale Moore could still be utilized. If you must dig a little deeper, you could chase Marquise Goodwin or the squeaky wheel Elijah Moore. On to RBs, and the Gus Bus is back on the road. Edwards had two TDs on Sunday but picking him up does come with injury concerns. Michael Carter has been dropped in many leagues with the Breece Hall explosion, so check your waiver wire to see if he is available. The Carolina backfield is complicated, with uncertainty about whether to go after D’Onta Foreman or Chuba Hubbard. Melvin Gordon and Khalil Herbert should also be rostered.

Greg Dulcich is the big TE pickup of the week, at least in Andy’s eyes. Irv Smith is a great one-week rental against the Arizona Cardinals this week, and Mike Gesicki was surprisingly involved this week. The best defenses available this week are the Rams, Tennessee against Houston, and the Dolphins against Detroit.

Full Stream Ahead

This week, Andy is streaming Tua against Detroit and does not mind Jimmy G. in a pinch. Jason is streaming the New Orleans’ starting QB, whether it is Jameis Winston or Andy Dalton. Finally, Mike likes Daniel Jones this week.

Wednesday – Second Half Sleepers, Ride or Die, Thursday Night Preview

Greetings and salutations this Wednesday! After Ride or Die, the guys jump right in.

News

It was reported that DK Metcalf wants to play this week, but the guys do not think it will happen. Kingsbury said it is still uncertain if James Conner will play on Sunday. Finally, the Jets and Robert Salah will be taking it slow with James Robinson, so Michael Carter could be an option Sunday.

Second Half Sleepers

We are seven weeks into the season, and today the guys are going to talk about players that could win you your league in the second half of the season. Players that have the opportunity to emerge but have yet to become a staple in your starting lineup. First up is Rashod Bateman, whose team has an excellent matchup for the WRs moving forwards. Mike cautions us to keep an eye on the injury report as you target Bateman as a stash. Jason’s first sleeper is DJ Moore, who we all hope decides to wake up. He is the number one and “on the team,” so he should get all the targets after CMC’s departure, even despite the musical chairs with QBs in Carolina. Finding an RB this deep into the season is a tough get, and Mike suggests looking at Kyren Williams of the Los Angeles Rams. The schedule opens up around Week 11 for the Rams, and Williams could show that he is earning his keep as a starting RB.

Andy is a Khalil Herbert truther, and the Bears have a juicy schedule for the RBs in the second half of the season. A lot of Herbert’s success will depend on the success of the Chicago Bears. Staying with the same first name, Jason is targeting Khalil Shakir as a potential sleeper, who might get a bump after his bye week. He has an opportunity to take over the job from Isaiah McKenzie, and his hips do not lie. Mike likes the Broncos’ Greg Dulcich, who ran 34 routes last week and was targeted on nine. The identity of this Denver team is up in the air, and it gives Dulcich an opportunity to find a place in this offense.

Thursday Night Preview

The Baltimore Ravens take on the Tampa Bay Bucs in this week’s Thursday night game. Lamar started scalding hot but has dropped as of late, and the offense has not been putting up the same amount of points. The Bucs’ defense is hurting, so this might be a chance for Lamar and his pass catchers to shine. On the Bucs’ side, you are still playing Godwin and Evans and hope that Brady can punch in the TDs to right this ship. It is a tough week for QBs, and Jason is still sticking with Tampa Tom. The hot waiver wire pick-up, Gus Edwards, is not a must-start in Andy’s eyes, and we are waiting to hear about Rashod Bateman and Mark Andrews. Keep an eye on the snap differential between Leonard Fournette and Rachaad White.

Thursday – Starts of the Week, Fantasy Forecast, Kadarius Toney Trade

It’s football time! We SHOULD have a game tonight, and the guys are ready. Glass half full.

Never Not Working

This is the time we are looking ahead, and we currently have the best data for strength of schedule and adjusted strength of schedule. This means we have a good grasp on what teams are good against what positions and what the schedule looks like moving forward with enough time to make a difference. The QBs with the best matchups are up first. The Denver Broncos have the best-adjusted schedule moving forward, and you need to ask yourself if Russ could possibly still shine. This is a just-in-case situation. After the next two weeks, Jimmy G. has a fantastic schedule, and Justin Herbert has the second-best schedule moving forward. Miami, Buffalo, and Tennessee have the best schedules for RBs. Take a look at Raheem Mostert, whose owners seem nervous about owning. The three best schedules for WRs are New Orleans, Cincinnati, and the Los Angeles Chargers. You won’t be able to get Olave or Chase, but you could go after Michael Thomas or Tyler Boyd. Evan Engram and your Chargers’ TEs have the best schedules to close us out.

News

Darrell Henderson, Van Jefferson, and Kyren Williams were all not practicing in Los Angeles. Mac Jones will start for New England in Week 8, and DK Metcalf is unlikely to play. Deebo has a hamstring injury – he will push to play, but the Niners have a bye next week, so rest is on the horizon. Kareem Hunt has yet to be traded, with the deadline quickly approaching. Thursday Night Football news includes Rashod Bateman trending up, but Mark Andrews might not make it.

Fantasy Forecast

Set those early alarms FootClan! We head back across the pond to watch Denver battle Jacksonville. The Broncos’ defense is fantastic, and after Russell Wilson’s high knees in the airplane, he seems good to go. Jason is avoiding most Jags except Travis Etienne, and this will probably be a low-scoring game. Maybe sleep in. Andy is staying the course with Courtland Sutton and sending in the D with Greg Dulcich. Next up is Carolina taking on Atlanta in Andy’s almost upset of the week. This game will be slow, and until Kyle Pitts and Drake London show us something, they are not worth starting. RB Tyler Allgeier is an option for Atlanta, and if Chuba Hubbard does not start, D’Onta Foreman is in play. The guys are starting DJ Moore.

Chicago heads to Texas to play the Cowboys, and the Dallas defense is excellent. The Bears have yet to play a team with a defense this good, so it is scary to start any of the Bears’ offensive weapons. Andy is considering Darnell Mooney. On the Cowboys side, Jason is benching Michael Gallup until further notice, and Zeke might rest, with the team heading on bye next week. The matchup is great, so start him if he goes. Miami flies up north to play Detroit in a game that should be full of fantasy goodness. If Swift and Amon-Ra are healthy and out there, we should see a high-scoring game. You are also starting TJ Hockenson, and WR Kalif Raymond is worth a dart throw. On the Dolphins’ side, start your studs, and this is an excellent matchup for Raheem Mostert.

The Minnesota Vikings welcome the Arizona Cardinals to the great white north. The tide might be turning for the Cards with DHop back, and there is a reason for optimism. The game should have a high pace of play, and you can consider Rondale Moore or Robbie Anderson in your flex. Zach Ertz continues to be a start. On the Vikings’ side, you start your studs but can also start Irv Smith and Adam Thielen. Las Vegas takes on New Orleans, and the Raiders are favored on the road. Andy Dalton is the starting QB, and with that, Chris Olave has turned into an excellent fantasy start. Kamara has been consistent without TDs, and they could come soon. Lattimore is out, therefore Davante Adams should eat. Josh Jacobs should continue his extraordinary year.

Starts of the Week

Andy is starting Tua, Raheem Mostert, Chris Olave, and TJ Hockenson this week. Jason is going with Jared Goff, Tony Pollard, Tee Higgins, and Irv Smith Jr. Finally, Mike’s starts of the week are Kirk Cousins, Devin Singletary, DJ Moore, and Mike Gesicki.

The show ends with the eloquent Boom Boom Kicker.

Friday – Fantasy Forecast, Chase Injury, Busted!

Thursday Night Recap

Owners were disgruntled last night as all of the big names got injured. Mark Andrews, Rashod Bateman, and Gus Edwards all ended up leaving the game. Isaiah Likely will probably be the biggest waiver wire target this week, and he saved Lamar’s day. On the Tampa side, Tom Brady is not providing fantasy value for this roster. He is number one in the league for yards, but the TDs are not coming. Leonard Fournette finally scored a TD but only rushed for 24 yards, and the Bucs are the worst team in the league for rushing.

News

Ja’Marr Chase could be sidelined for four to six weeks with a right hip injury. Our injury expert Matthew Betz says you should not rush this injury, and all of a sudden, Tyler Boyd is an option now. Russell Wilson will start in London – hooray? Davante Adams missed practice due to the flu, and Darren Waller is also questionable. Allen Lazard probably will not play this week, and Mike is willing to state it outright. On a positive note, D’Andre Swift should suit up on Sunday.

Fantasy Forecast

First up today is the Patriots and Jets matchup, where Mac Jones will get the start. The Jets are finding success limiting Zach Wilson, and you cannot start any of the Jets’ players with confidence. Michael Carter is your only flex consideration. On the New England side, Jakobi Meyers is an OK play in a PPR league, and your main Patriots points will come through the RBs. The Eagles are coming off their bye and take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at home. Philly and Jalen Hurts have been steady, and it should be an excellent game for AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith. You are starting Miles Sanders, but owners are left wondering what to do with Najee Harris. Jason believes that there are brighter days ahead for Harris. George Pickens looks to be Pickett’s number-one target.

The Tennessee Titans head to the heart of Texas to take on the Texans. The Houston run defense is bottom of the barrel, so this should be a smash Derrick Henry game. On the other side, you play Dameon Pierce. WR-wise, Brandin Cooks is no longer a must-start, but without Nico Collins, you can still throw him in your lineup. The Washington Commanders fly to Indy to play the Sam Ehlinger-led Colts team. Ehlinger can scramble, but the Colts will have to play a different kind of offense, and Jason is terrified for the pass catchers. On the Washington side, you could go with McLaurin or Curtis Samuel in a full PPR. The guys are comfortable flexing Brian Robinson.

There is a big NFC West matchup between the Niners and the Rams, and Shanahan has McVay’s number. The Rams’ defense is solid, and San Francisco loves to run, so they have a chance for a good showing. It seems now that Cooper Kupp may be the only player you want to start for Los Angeles. Tyler Higbee could be used in a pinch. Brandon Aiyuk should be started for San Francisco, especially with Deebo being questionable. The 6-1 New York Giants play the Seattle Seahawks in the next breakdown. Kenneth Walker is good at football, and Tyler Lockett is a scary start with DK potentially out. The guys are nervous to start Marquise Goodwin. You are starting Saquon, but Andy is a little concerned about Daniel Jones. Wan’Dale Robinson could be flexed.

Sunday Night Football gives us Green Bay at Buffalo. The Bills are heavy favorites, and the guys are scared of starting any Packer. Allen Lazard will not play, and it seems the only person from Green Bay to consider is Aaron Jones. You are starting all your Buffalo studs. Jason suggests monitoring James Cook and Khalil Shakir to see how these rookies are worked after their bye. A battle for Ohio closes out the week, with Cincinnati battling Cleveland on Monday night. Joe Burrow has been phenomenal, but he will have to battle without Ja’Marr Chase. Tee Higgins becomes the number one, and Tyler Boyd gets to step up. The big question for Cleveland is Kareem Hunt, who seems to not touch the ball as much lately. It is a tough matchup for the Browns’ RBs.

Andy gets to relax for once while Mike spins the Wheel of Shame before revealing their DraftKings lineups. Good luck this week!