Fantasy Football - Week 15 Matchups + Wheel of Shame, PLAYOFF PITTS! - Podcast for 12/12

to the fantasy footballers podcast with your host, Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike Wright. Welcome in. Never a dull moment. Friday, December 12, the fantasy footballers podcast. Jason Moore is here. Mike Wright, Andy Holloway. Kyle Pitts is here. Oh, man. What's that all about? What was that? What?

That is the most points a tight end has scored in fantasy football in the history of the world. Because it dates back to 1983, and I don't think real fantasy football was going, you know. Well, okay, sure. Till that's a grandpa. Yeah. To the Raiders organization, whatever. In the last 40 years, that's the most fantasy points ever scored by a tight end. It happened in the first week of the playoffs. Some, there are. Do you see 150 and 3 coming from? No, no, I didn't. I've got him as my tight in four on the week. Sorry, that was insulting 166 and 3. Yeah. This is a place where now we're going in to the first week of the playoffs with three situations. You benched Kyle Pitts. Whoops, the doozles. Did that in listener league for Dalton Kincaid. I did that in my league of record for Mark Andrews. Whoopsies. You played Kyle Pitts and you now are feeling like you're almost on a bye week.

Yeah, you're almost invincible. Almost invincible if you get 40 points at the tight end position from cow pits. And or you played against cow pits in which case. I've got a lot of information about fishing rods now. It's just so fantasy football. Oh, me. Mike, I think you told me it was the 7% of his career points in one game. A tweet from Hayden Winks. The stats, you could just keep rattling a lot. Oh, they're so fun. But the Hayden Winks won he tweeted out. 7% of Kyle Pitt's career fantasy points. I believe it's his first 100 yard game since 2021. So just yardage wise. Like it was inexplicable. It was outrageous. I mean, and on top of that, I mean, it was a win by the Falcons in a game they shouldn't have won that Tampa needed desperately. The Carolina fans are singing and dancing in the streets about. Yeah. And the Tampa was up by 14 late in the fourth that they were.

on a final drive with a third and 28, a fourth at 14. And, uh, kids don't listen to Todd Bowles press conference afterwards. That is not for sensitive ears. No, it's, uh, he held nothing back. Yeah. That's rated R. Um, Baker was not. I mean, he was okay. Yeah. The pressure on Baker was significant. Um, if you played Bucky, you're pretty much unhappy. I know because I, I played him and it was. under 10 points. And so, you know, you only got one catch from him. The wide receivers, it was all Mike Evans. I mean, Mike Evans was six for 132, 12 targets. Abuka was next up at four for 61. We are inevitable, Mike. Dino Jr. We played Evans. Abuka was. Bejohn was outrageous. Abuka was fine, not anything close to what I still thought would happen. All three of his non.

So he was four out of seven targets, which is an incredible increase for him. Caught four of seven. The three he did not catch were not catch a bull. Correct. It was over his head by 20 yards. One of them was a touchdown, right? Am I remember? I thought there was an end zone target. There was an end zone target, but it should be illegal to call it a target. It was so. It was the top of the- Abuka was standing in the end zone when a football went flying past it. Yeah. It's so wild because last night, I mean, if Baker was throwing to Chris Godwin on point, on the money, in stride every time. And it's like you're throwing to Abuka. I think there's, you know, we talk about this, I believe is genuine. When a wide receiver has a couple drops and they start dealing with that. There's, there are human beings, the mental aspect of like, oh no.

I think that's going on with Baker when he targets at Buka right now. Like he's going like I I've got I have to get him. I've got to get him and it's like this has to be perfect. Yeah. And so it's it's causing him to not throw it like he's like it didn't matter who else he threw the ball to. It was okay unless it was a Bucca and then it's not catchable. Bejohn had eight catches himself for 82 yards 19 for 93 and a touchdown. Putting a super boss that they said didn't count. you got to count it that catch on the side the one hand oh that was awesome i mean it was totally out of bounds no he had a foot in he also had um a very questionable fumble yeah i mean it was two weeks in a row for bejean on the fumbles and but that was like it was it wasn't it was an incomplete pass in my opinion well i mean they did review it no i know i know that i mean they reviewed the the isaiah likely and right i mean if

Like those two things were very different that Isaiah likely and the Bijon. But it was a fumble, you know? I don't think it was. I mean, but it was a fumble. But he didn't catch it yet. Yeah, but it was like a fumble. I know it was credited as a fumble. No, no, no, I just mean like he caught it and then you're just saying he didn't take enough steps. I need to go watch it again. I'm just saying like he did catch it, right? Watch it in full speed. And I promise you'll be like, yeah, that's an that's an incomplete. Has anyone worked harder?

to get the ball 20 yards down the field in Kirk Couss. No. No guy is. That's a weighted football. Every ounce of him is trying to throw that football. And that thing just goes. And that's exactly why Jason has confidence in the seven years as senior, senior Philip Rivers. I was thinking about this on the drive in today. Couss has nothing on the drive in today. And it was great. I realized like Philip Rivers. cannot throw a ball downfield. He cannot challenge downfield. There is no world where his 44-year-old hasn't thrown the ball in five years arm is able to make a pass that travels more than 20 air yards. With speed. With speed that's like not picked off. I mean, you could get a 50-50 ball where the wide receiver goes up and wins. No out routes. You can't run a single one. Oh, that's called a PICS. Yes. There was some talk of him winning.

throwing competitions when he was training drake may before the season also he's playing against people his age against drake may against drake may he's he's playing oh he's gonna play and you're going to lose all your bets not all of them well you did i bet you didn't put him in your price fix lineup i did not yet but i'm gonna make another one with a minute i'm doing it right now you do you can't tell me we are we are celebrating philip on the oh look at the back wall if you hadn't seen it Oh, P. River. That looks pretty good. That's it. That is an authentic game worn. Yeah. Philip Rivers Jersey. Yeah. To be fair. Is it why? It's not P.E. No, but it's also, I know I had a problem with pluralization, but.

It should be P. Rivers. No, it's P. River. That's it. We shortened both. Yes. Yeah, just forever. It was a long time ago, guys. Forgive me for not remembering half a decade ago. Kyle posted the video for us to watch. I didn't watch it. I didn't watch. I would never watch that. Because of your weight. You're not going to put the work in, and then you're going to be upset that you don't know the answers. I am just surprised at what we did. It's P. River. Yeah. Because then all the jokes were about wading into Pea River and all that stuff. It's Friday and then there's no more shows. Put Clan Friday. Every Friday, $100 to Fantasychamps.com. It's a great time of year to go to Fantasychamps.com. Trophies, belts, all that good stuff. This week's winner of $100 to Fantasychamps.com. Wetzel Joseph L. From The Pretzels? I hope so. You do good work over there, Joseph L. I'm Joseph. Hey.

I appreciate your support, and congratulations on the gift card. But, I mean, you can't possibly need that. You're probably wealthy. With that pretzel cash? Yeah, find your champ and give it to him of your league, unless it's you, in which case we'll still allow you to use it. Fantasy champ stock. News and notes from Around the League, presented by Progressive Insurance. I didn't know you were going to put the tag in at the end. Yeah, you know, just trying to hit a plug. Don't worry about it. Woody Marks returned to a limited practice Thursday. Nick Chubb is sidelined. Woody Marks lined up for a... It's going to be good. Monster game. Marvin Harrison Jr. did not practice again on Thursday. He's injured. I mean, this isn't really injured. I know. I know that. It's just the... Is it going to... Is it going to work? Is he going to be a star wide receiver? Is he going to perform as a top five overall draft pick should?

No, but I do think he will be a legitimate NFL wide receiver one for many years. And I think next year, next season, when he's back starting out as the one, he'll be better than he was this year. And he wasn't that bad this year. T. Higgins limited again on Thursday concussion. Seems like he's going to play. Roma Dunes A limited on Thursday with the foot. Mark Andrews added to the injury report on Thursday with a glute injury. A glute. Come on, man. Well, you didn't. He's got a, you got other option. You still didn't pivot to pits. Uh, I can't because he was Thursday night, but thankfully, I'm actually going to make a pivot to likely to likely. Just because of this glute. How do you got to check his glutes out to see if. Well, no, no, no. It's not glutes. It's glute. Just singular one, one, but we don't know left or right, but we know it's, it doesn't make a difference to you.

Well, what one do you lean on? I think if he's usually, if he's lining up on the right side, I'd be far more concerned if it's his right glute that's okay. This is analysis. Theo Johnson remained limited. Mike's start of the week. The toe injury, he should play. Chris Rodriguez returned to a limited practice. He's been managing injury. Seems to play through it. Your start of the week. Yeah. And then C.D. Lamb cleared concussion protocol. He's expected to play on Sunday. Oh, yeah, baby. So that's good news, right? That is great news. I know it's bad news for you, Andy, because you told me before the show that you are actively rooting against me. No, I did not actually say that at all. I did not say I'm rooting against. Okay, I apologize. You're rooting for my opponent. Yes, because he's never won a championship in 17, 18 years. I will say that is the same thing as rooting against Jason. Right. Are you telling me you're rooting for Jason to match your titles? I'm rooting for Jason to win. Yes, yes, he is. For personal reasons, he doesn't want a face.

Because you want to play him. Yeah. But are you rooting for Jason to win a championship? No, of course that. Yeah. No, because I'm in. If I were out, I would root for Jason. Thank you, Mike. You're good friend. To match your titles. There's no way. I've heard you say this 10 million times. It's too late. You're already in the club. The club is ruined. It was just me hanging out with my chocolate fountain and my cheese fondue. And then you're like, hey. I'm a three-time champ too. And I was like, oh. You don't like it as much? Nah, you bring your farts in. All right. CD Lamb, cleared concussion protocol. Jake Ferguson did not practice on Thursday. We had Christian McCaffrey. Wait, Ferguson? Yeah. Deal with the calf. Uh-oh. That's from limited to not practicing? I have one league where I had to do the pits versus Ferguson decision. And thank goodness. In that one league, I made the right choice.

But yeah, the Ferguson thing is something to watch. Make sure you have somebody ready to rumble. Schoon man. Yeah. Oh, dude. Big Colts. He scored. Well, see you later. Anyone but Ibuka. CMC limited due to illness. Yeah. Okay. Sleeper. Love your platform. Appreciate your updates. When you fire through a notification that only says Christian McCaffrey has. been changed from healthy to questionable on a Thursday afternoon. Because he's sick? Absolutely not. Absolutely. Understand with great power comes great responsibility. You gave hundreds of thousands of people. I wonder if heart palpitations, perhaps a stroke. I wonder if one person died. I would not be surprised. I would not be surprised. I, dude, I got that thing.

And it was immediately, oops, on Twitter. What in the, oh, he's sick. Yeah, when I heard. My goodness. How dare you? I heard questionable first as well. And I was like, ooh. Yes. Actually, my first thought was, is Mike alive? I promise. Everyone who saw that freaked out. But he's just a little sick. He's okay. Josh Jacobs did not practice on Thursday with the knee injury. Devon A. Chan was limited. He'll play on Monday, according to reports. Devante Adams did not practice Wednesday or Thursday with a hamstring. Pay attention to that. Probably veteran management there. He's been able to play through it. And then Camara still sidelined. Lots of news. Devante Adams doesn't need to run very far when he just does routes from the one. Doesn't have a beard. That was news and notes. Sponsored by Progressive Insurance.

Uh, quote today at progressive.com, progressive casualty insurance company affiliates and third party insurers. Not available in all states or situations coverage subject to policy terms, limits and conditions. We'll take a break. We'll jump into the forecast. Were you watching happy Gilmore? It just, it just said. Tom Adams does have a beer. Yeah, that's who got me. Here we go. Fantasy forecast presented by prize picks. Yesterday we covered the Browns, Bears, Ravens, Bengals, Chargers, Chiefs, Bill's, Patriots, commanders, Giants, Raiders, Eagles, Jets, Jags, Cardinals, Texans. Seven more matchups to talk about week. 15 playoff matchups, guys, I need your best. I know, I know normally you're probably given 60%. I will call it. But if you round up. I want your best. Okay. Got it.

Detroit, 8 and 5, Los Angeles, 10 and 3, a fun game here. LA minus 6 at home, over under 54.5. That is respect. That is a lot of respect because the lions are not only a great team in their own right, but they are in a desperately must win situation here. With a win, their playoff odds are 75%. It's like, okay, we're going. With a loss, it's 40%. So this is. This is really, really important for their chances of playing in the postseason. Yeah, and it's a huge over-under, a lot of fantasy goodness to be had in this game. I mean, we've already talked about Jared Goff, who's Jason's start of the week. I believe you said you have Matthew Stafford at two on the week. So these are your... I want this game. I mean, this is one where you just expect the offenses to get it done, despite good defenses on both sides of the ball.

Over the course of the season, these two teams have been in a lot of those barn burner matchups, those large scoring, you know, total high over under that beats the over under. I mean, so far this year, there's been one game that was, this year, this is the first game that is possible to have a 55 point over under, and they tend to go very well. So yeah, I would like to play just about every piece in this game. Don't we have two this week? Two what? Or is the other one 52 and a half? What one did we talk about yesterday? Because there was one. Not this high. It was the Ravens Bengals. Ravens Bengals. How high is that one? It's at 51.5. Oh, okay. Okay. And this one's at 54.5 right now. I mean, this is not a complicated game because you have two teams that have injured tight ends. So even more of a consolidation into the wide receiver rooms where you feel really comfortable.

going beyond the superstars. Amunrah, Jameson, William. I mean, after the by week, Jameson's been wide receiver eight on the year, Puka, Devante, they're both in. You're playing the running backs. And then you look at David Montgomery and Blake Corum. There, I'll give you a decision there. If you had to play Montgomery or Corum. I think I might play Corum. I would play Corum. Oh, man. These are two both good rush defenses. I would lean Montgomery. But to be completely, to be completely frank and honest, I would I would like to play neither one of these players. I think that there are other guys out there that might be near this tier that I would prefer to play. You know, if I had Devin Neal, Kyle Monongai, those type of players. Chris Rodriguez. I would play all those over either Quorum or Montgomery. I, Tony Pollard. I think Corum's good for 10 to.

12 touches. It's just a matter of, does he, I mean, last week was Arizona. Tony. Yeah, the last week was Arizona. Tony Pollard. Terrible. Don't dodge my question. So to answer, to answer Mike's question, this week is not Arizona. It's the, the lions that they play. And they're top three against running back. Are you going to play Tony Pollard? Are you going to play one of those other guys? Did you have a question, Andy? As I have, I have, I have answered what I am prepared to answer here. I'm giving you as much time as possible. Oh, yeah, no. I know you're doing the calculus. I need no more. I need no more time. So what other big decisions are there? I don't think there are any in that game. That's the big one. The Tony Pollard one? The Tony Pollard one's the last big question from the game. You don't play Tony Pollard. We need your best here, Jason. This is my best, Michael. This is what you get. This is good for Josh Jacobs. Yeah, I mean. I hope he misses another practice today. Tony Pollard.

is running back for Tennessee. Tell me more. Tell me more. He was the running back two last week. Quorum was three. I'd go. I'd go Tony Pollard. I would too. Carolina in the driver's seat for the division right now taking on the Saints a good chance to win a ballgame and get to eight and six. The Saints are three and ten. Carolina two and a half point road favorites over under is just 40 and a half. Okay. Here we go. Carolina. I mean, look at the matchups the rest of the way. New Orleans this week, Tampa, Seattle, Tampa. Yeah, it's a tough end of the year for them, but they control their own destiny now that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost last night. Technically, they are currently in first. If they win this game, they will definitely be solidly in first. I've got the scenarios. They clinch if they beat New Orleans and then beat Tampa Bay one time. Wow. So big game.

Otherwise, they need some help if they end up splitting with Tampa Bay and not winning this game against New Orleans. But basically just like win against New Orleans this week and beat Tampa one of the times. Wow. And you are in the player. Carolina. You know, it's crazy because I'm like, that's fun. I'm thinking last night about Grisard, right? He's the third offensive coordinator Baker's had in three years. You've got Duval who is going to the playoffs, you know, in Jacksonville. And then you've got Canales. on the cusp of the playoffs, like both of those offensive. And he could miss it. Tampa could miss it. They could. Tyler Shuck. He's kind of playing well. Yeah. He should have started with him. Yeah, for sure. He's been running the ball well this last week. He had two rushing touchdowns, 55 yards.

I don't know that you can really play him here. This is a divisional matchup that I'm actually excited to watch. He put up 19 points on the road against this defense. I mean, if you're in a two-quarterback league, he's certainly in consideration. But I don't believe in the playoffs. You're going to be looking for Tyler Shuck in a single. I can agree. I agree with that. But he is, he is one of the guys I'll be watching this weekend. Over the last six weeks. The Panthers are number six in fewest fantasy points given up to the quarterback position, the matchup, the divisional breakdown, low over under. It's just not a game script I want a lot of pieces in, which makes it like, so Devon Neal, Chris Olave, those are guys that have been important recently. And you're just hoping that maybe it can be a little bit more offensive than, you know, what the over under anticipates. John Johnson won't goose you. You might not win your week like Kyle Pitts could.

But Joanne Johnson would be an option. If you need a pivot, if the Ferguson situation is happening, like if Ferguson missed? Yeah. He's an emergency pivot. How are you feeling about the running backs in Carolina? Rico Dowdell, they kind of recommitted to him and said, hey, you're still our guy. Chuba Hubbard had the big game. It was last week, right? I mean, he was the running back eight last week. Are you playing both players? I think both are definitely in play. Rico or Chuba heads up. They had the buy week. If I, the heads up, oh man, I think it might be Chuba if it's heads up. But I don't feel, I don't feel really confident deciding between two of them. But it, because it really will be hot hand. Chuba is a good player. He should see, you know, more receiving work. The receiving work will be here. He should. But it's not that Doudal's not getting those.

They both basically, I mean, they shared work. They had similar snap percentages last week. They both had plenty of opportunity. I'm going to go with the player who has been more dominant on the field, which has been Rico this year. The number five question on our start-sit tool, so the most popular question is Devin Neal or Rico Dowdle in this game. Yeah, that one makes sense. I lean towards Devin Neal, 17 opportunities. her game since the week 11 by. Eulene Devin, Eileen Dowdle. Mike, where do you lean? I lean Devin, Neil. Over the last six weeks, the Panthers are 27th against running backs. There's also a Rico Dowdell, Kenneth Walker, the third question that's near the top of the Kenbone. It was rough last week. That's the Indianapolis matchup. I think I'm with Jason on that. Yeah. I think the matchup, like, second, if it goes the way I think it's going to go, then the second half.

They'll just be trying to waste that clock. Tetaroa McMillan. Yeah. Back at it this week, back into your lineup. It is a tougher matchup. This is what we mean about the Saints defense is you look at the Saints and go, well, that team stinks. They're 3 and 10. On the season, third against fantasy quarterbacks, second against fantasy wide receivers. This game was 17 to 7 the first time they played, and I would not be shocked if it was very similar. 17 to 10, 20 to 13, something. you know yeah totally this is divisional and we we brought it up yesterday both of these defenses are surprisingly better than what like the the populace believes about them the titans fresh off a w two and eleven take on the san francisco 49ers who are nine and four Vegas line san francisco minus 12 and a half over under 44 and a half san francisco right now the six seat in the nfc

They get to finish the year against Tennessee, Indianapolis, and Phillip Rivers. The Bears at home and the Seahawks at home in a game where I don't know if it'll matter for Seattle or not, but they could move up. Them in Seattle are 5 and 6 in the NFC right now. Tennessee is sitting at dead last and point differential tied for, man, they are pacing to be tied for the second worst over the last decade. Nice. And yet they still don't have the number one pick now because they chose to win. Hmm. I like that. They chose to win. It is, it is. Do I want to have this discussion? Uh-oh. It is, it's just a funny thing because this, the sports world is evolving into analytics, right? It's like, ah, analytics rule the day. And I, sometimes I like it. Sometimes I don't. Right. I think, I think it's a little bit weird. You know, you listen to Sean Payton. He's going to go gut more than analytics. That's what he said.

But if you want to apply analytics to your team when you're eliminated from the playoffs, analytics says go lose. And we act like it doesn't. That is very funny. And I know the intangibles of working hard and building camaraderie, and those are immeasurable. And I'm not saying you should lose. I don't think. that's in the spirit of competition, blah, blah, blah. But really, if you just want to be analytics, dude, it's like the second you're eliminated, lose every game you can to get the best pick. Yeah. That's the real best path to a championship from a roster construction perspective. That's really the best thing to do. And I think the Titans are going to do it well this week. Yeah, I guess that's fair enough. Whoa. Whoa. Oh, breaking news? The boat. Yeah, I think it's breaking news.

Breaking news. Jason's nodding like he knows what it is. No, I don't know. T. Higgins, not at Friday's practice. Oh, okay. I mean, we did. You threw it out at the beginning of like he was limited again. That seems like on pace. He ran up the hill. It's still, he did. Yeah, the, uh, the T. Higgins Hill watch. He did run. And he looked at the camera and everything. The problem is now he is aware of. our analysis of how he handles the hill. So, like, it's all, it's tampered. We don't, the experiment is over. We dove knee deep into his contract. Like most, most players have a smaller active roster bonus per game. T. Higgins is up at, he's had two million over the year. So it's like 111,000 per game. But obviously, to play. To play. Just be active. How, how? What percentage of the snaps? He can technically just be active on the roster and not play. But yeah. Um,