Starts of the Week + Week 15 Breakdown, It’s Playoff Time! - Fantasy Football Podcast for 12/15

You know, you've seen big plays now. You've got big play players on the field now, right? We look over the course of the year and we say, well, you know, the Jets are an awesome defense, but the Lions didn't have Jameson Williams and DJ Chark weeks ago. And Jared Goff's been so much better at home. Like, what do you put the odds that they come out and they can do what they've been doing on offense against the Jets? I put it. well below 50%, as far as do what they've been doing, which has been just, they're putting up points, they're moving the ball with ease. I think they're going to have a much more difficult time. If they get pressure on Jared Goff against what he's, he has not been too under pressure with the great offensive line. He's not going to be able to get the ball down the field quite the same, and you've got to deal with Sauce Gardner. So I think there's going to be some struggles here. Now, you're not benching Alman-Ross, St. Brown.

like under any circumstance. He's just too good, too involved. But when it comes to like last week, we were very pro starting DJ Chark. We mentioned James and a, you know, in draft Kings type lineups for the big play. I don't see those guys having a lot of success against the Jets being able to throw the ball downfield. Tyler Conklin, Mike? He's matchup play. Yeah, this is like the, we're going to talk about him in a seconds, but you will notice a theme. in my in my starts of the week but the matchup is there and the targets have been there for conklin and the kind of highlighting you know the the mike white the way that they play the last two weeks 80 they ran 83 plays against minnesota they ran 73 plays against buffalo like they go this is a very fast offense when it is not zach wilson on the field

And, you know, what we talk about with Elijah Moore being a good play because Corey Davis is out, that helps Tyler Conklin targets as well. Pittsburgh's 5 and 8. They take on the 5 and 8 Carolina Panthers who control their own destiny. Yes, that's true. That is true. Sam Darnold, playoff appearance. Here we come. One team totally out of it. One team totally in it. Same record. Same record. Yeah, the Panthers. That is just an analogy for life, ladies and gentlemen. Sometimes just right place, right time. Same record. One of these teams, no chance. No chance to make the playoffs. Failed season awful. Other team failed season. And yet, control your own. They could make the playoffs. And I.

I really enjoyed watching them run the football last week. I thought they were incredible. The offensive line. They wore out the Seahawks defensive line. They beat them up. Yeah, they did. They beat them up. And now you have two potential starting running backs that are in the mix this week for the Carolina Panthers. You had 21 carries by Deont de Forman. You had 14 carries and 17 total opportunities for Chuba Hubbard. Now, I assume we will be on the... side of Deonta Foreman in this one, but I honestly, I think Chuba Hubbard looked better last week. That's what's getting me is Hubbard looked outstanding. Yeah, I think that you could be in a deeper league where you are looking at what do I do at the running back position. I've lost players. I think that Chuba is, he's in that desperation start area. Can we not talk about the Panthers anymore? There's no other players to talk about. Yeah, I mean. DJ Moore, don't play it. Yeah, I know. Yeah.

The other side of the ball, you have, can you picket? Do Kenny Pickett? I mean, he left the game with a concussion. And remember, I don't know what week was it. Kenny Pickett had a concussion earlier in the season. Listed is questionable right now. What's the practice situation with Kenny Pickett? Because, oh, limited on Wednesday heading into week 15. Yeah, I mean, with the second one already in the season, it seems like it'll be Mitchell Turbisky. I know that the. The Steelers prefer it not to be that way, but you've got to protect the young man. Overrunners is 37 points, Jason. Carolina's three-point favorites. Najee Harris has been better. Much better of late. You're comfortable with him? Yeah. George Pickens, Deontay Johnson? You know, it's not going to be great. Matchup is good. The matchup is good, but if the Carolina Panthers are able to run the ball, have this be a low-scoring affair, targets coming from...

probably Mitchell Trebisky. I'm not very excited about them, about really either of them. I see them as flex level options where you have to make a call, this guy or that guy. Like, for instance, and I think we'll differ here, me and you, Andy, but I would rather have Michael Pittman over Pickens and Deontay. I lean that way, too. Yeah, I don't know if I do it over Pickens. But I would be fine with over Johnson. Pat Fryermute didn't practice Wednesday. Expects to play. Nerve-wracking, Mike. Are you trying to assemble an entire lineup of questionable players? Do you have T. Higgins? You've got Pat Friermud. It is a strategy? It's mental warfare upon my opponent that they see all the questionable players on my team and they relax. And they just, they take it easy. They think they can do have a light stroll to a victory. And then. Seems like mental warfare for you too.

Oh, yeah, definitely. But it's, what is, uh, uh, iron sharp as iron? Sure. So it's just, I'm at war with myself. Right. No, this is the dark house. This is the light from the TV. The question, which one of my players scored zero points this week? It will be one. One, for sure. Yeah, you need to plan on it. Just build your lineup around that reality. Uh, no, it's nerve wracking. He's supposed to be out there. You probably don't have a better option if he is, but. Would you go like Carolina is good against the tight end to begin with. Would you go Greg D with the backup quarterback against Arizona? I would to match up Arizona. You guys have taught me week after week after week. You don't care about the name. No. If it was blank space comma, T.E. Mm-hmm. On the roster sheet, you would start him against Arizona. I'm not, I'm learning my lesson there. It works out. All right, all the rankings, the starts it tools on the website, the fantasy footballers.com is time for our starts the week.

Starts of the week. All right, I'll kick it off. I'll get it out of the way to start our starts of the week here. Michael White. Michael White himself. Let's go. The quarterback position, it's a little tough this week, and I'm going to go with the premier matchup for the quarterback, which is facing the Detroit Lions. Mike White, in six starts over the last two years, the Jets have averaged 74 offensive plays per game. That's number one in the NFL. I want him throwing the ball. They're not going to be able to run it successfully. We just broke the game down.

I think Mike White is a high upside. You'll put his picture on the wall type of player if he leads you to a fantasy playoff win. I'm going with Dak Prescott off of the bad performance against Houston Texans. We talked about that being a bad matchup to play. But since week eight, the Dallas offense, they rank number one in points per game, number two in total yards. per game. Number two and expected points per play. And this is a matchup where you can have confidence in DAC against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Over the last eight weeks, Jacksonville ranks 31st in EPA per pass stempt. 29th in points per game allowed. 29th and schedule adjusted fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks. So DAC is here in the playoffs to get you to the next round. And ladies and gentlemen, my starts of the week, these are for the downtrodden.

I know there are teams that you limped into the playoffs. You are beat up. You have lost your star players. So I have tried to go into the dumpster to find players that I legitimately think can be played and have some upside this week. We've seen the steel underpants. We've seen the titanium underpants. No, no. You got to go in. Or the underpants. And sometimes you find a deal down there. But this week. I can't. I can't look away everyone. This week we have moved to unobtainium undies. The quarterback start of the week is Matthew Ryan versus the Minnesota Vikings. And we all know how I feel about Jeff Saturday. So you know that I have to really like this matchup over the past five weeks. I have to trust your undies, bro. It has been the second best quarterback matchup on the season. The Vikings are allowing the most passing yards. The second highest rate of 15 plus, 50 plus yard pass plays. Matt Ryan has two top five finishes this year. That's as many as Justin Herbert.

before you vomit all over yourself. I'm looking for the dramamine. But the first week with Jeff Saturday and Matt Ryan was a very plus matchup against the Raiders. That offense came through. I think that Matt Ryan, should you be in a deep league and you are desperate, he works. He works. My running back start of the week, Isaiah Pacheco, those quick feet, those ferocious hits, takes on the Houston Texans. This is the preeminent matchup for the running back position. Yes, it is. Most running back fantasy points given up. Houston is so benevolent with what they provide opposing running backs. And he's been very good lately. Over the last month, he's the running back 11, 17.5 opportunities per game. They figured some stuff out with him. He had that just bone crushing run to end the victory last week. I think Isaiah Pacheco is a lock for a really high floor this week.

And at start of the week for me, I am going with the running back 39 over the past five weeks. Nice. Alvin Camara is Super Camario this week. I am trusting the matchup against Atlanta. Mark Ingram has gone on IR. They picked up Eno Benjamin and we know from every team getting rid of Eno Benjamin that they do not want. It'll be David Johnson. David Johnson will be the, I mean, he's on the 53 now and he will be the guy. But behind him, which is all you need to know. They did. They claimed, you know, right? Is that what you were saying? Yes, they claimed it was reading ahead. Eno Benjamin. Alvin Camara, I do believe we'll have a great game this week. Atlanta's 22nd versus fantasy running backs and 28th in expected points per rush attempt. They are four point home favorites in a.

Very important game. Alvin Camara has had a bad stretch of difficult, difficult matchups. He gets the pendulum swinging all the way to the other side, and I think he's a must start this week. Latavius Murray versus the Arizona Cardinals. I told you it was going to be gross. Since week 8, Arizona 28th and schedule adjusted fantasy points to fantasy running backs. Just look at what happened last week. Ramandre Stevenson, the dude for the New England Patriots, goes down and two running backs that, I don't know, the majority of people watching that game had never even heard of. Both came through with fantasy performances because you can beat this defense. No Mike Boone? I mean, like we kind of were talking about Marlon Mack, who had the one big play for the Denver Broncos this past week.

If you're not concerned about Marlon Mack, as you probably shouldn't be, that means that Latavius Murray is going to get a bunch of volume. I'm expecting 15 plus touches. You'll have the chance to get into the end zone. It's going to be inefficient. It will be gross, but the volume and the points should be there. The Cardinals are missing their best defensive linemen this week. I mean, Zach Allen is done, most likely. He's had hand surgery, and he is their best player on the defensive line. That makes a lot of sense. Keenan Allen is my start of the week at the wide receiver position against the past funnel Tennessee defense. You saw Justin Herbert just needed his guys back. That's what he needed. And this is going to be a really good game. Derek Henry is going to get it done for the Tennessee offense. So I think you have the chance for more of a shootout than people expect and is a rock solid option this week.

Yeah, I have a hard time not having Justin Herbert be my number one quarterback overall this week. The matchup is perfect, and I'm taking Mike Williams right across the field, play both of them. Everything Andy said about Keenan Allen, you know, holds true for Mike Williams. If you take out week 11 when Mike Williams played 9% of the snaps, he's averaging 13.3 fantasy points at 76 receiving yards per game. Just came back for a 6 for 116 and a touchdown on 65% of snaps. And he is the deep. That sounds like a good season. Yeah, it is. It is. He's had a great year. He's just been, you know, in and out of the lineup. Yeah, unfortunately. It's like a really nice year. Yeah. Very nice year. Very nice player. Wonderful week. Yeah. We built this. Michael Pittman.

Now is the time against the Minnesota Vikings. I laid out a bunch of quarterback stats for the disgusting play. That is Matthew Ryan. But just to piggyback on that tweet from a good friend of the show, Ian Hartett's from PFF, Vikings defense versus wide receivers aligned on the outside. Passing yards allowed, 32nd. Explosive pass play rate, 30 second. Yards per attempt, 30 second. Passer rating, 30 seconds. So, Alec Pierce. It definitely could be Alec Pierce, but like I'm saying, if I have Michael Pittman and he's just been rotting away on my bench, I think that this is the week you can put him into the flex. Close your eyes and pray. Mike is riding dirty.

These are pre-pooped underpants, by the way. These are not the kind of underpants. I told you I got him out of the dumpster. Yeah. These are not. These have been. You only throw underpants in the dumpster for one reason. These are not gently used. Imagine putting those on. That's rough. These are very used. Very used underwear. Yeah. No elastic left. The week. Greg Dulcich is my, I'm going Greg D. against Arizona. Eight targets last week. I don't care if it's Russell Wilson or not. Russell Wilson stinks. This is about opportunity. This is about. The quarter or the tight end position being an indefensible position for the Arizona Cardinals. They allow 14.8 fancy points per game to the tight end position. That is.

One, egregious, two, dead last in the NFL. It's such a crazy amount. So we all have Greg D-ranked as a top 10 tight-in this week. Yeah, he's a good play. I'm going with David Nogoku against Baltimore. Last week, 96% of snaps, nine targets, went seven for 58 and a touchdown was a tight-in three. He's already gone seven for 71 against these Ravens earlier this year. In this barren tight-in landscape, Najoku should be as good as any other back-end tight-in this week. Conk, baby. Tyler Conklin against Detroit. The Lions are the third best matchup for tight ends on the season behind Seattle and the aforementioned Arizona. The output was not there, but the opportunity was in the freezing rain this past week. He had eight targets. Again, it didn't turn into anything, but a tight end getting eight targets, that's something you want to chase. And that was just off the back of seven the previous week. So I think that Tyler Conklin is in streaming.

consideration. Jason's fist pumping. Yeah, I know why too. It must be a waiver wire thing that just happened. What you should you get? I picked up Damian Harris who was on waivers and my big fear because I was the one that dropped him last year. Yeah, I knew he was there. I will never ever, joick bell dropping joick bell and having him used against me by Andy in the playoffs years ago. I can't live with that happening again. So I had to make sure Damian Harris. Did you spend fab on him? I did. I dropped five, five bills. So you saved a lot of fab and you spent in the last couple, couple pickups. Yes. Kyle and I were talking about can we finagle away to get. That's a new word. Did they get Damien Harris? You don't know that word? Finagle? Yeah, it was finagle finagle. Okay, I stand with my statement. Go on. But I knew Damien Harris was out there because I caught Jason dirty when he dropped. I saw it, yeah. When he dropped Mr. Harris, but.

You know, Lamar Jackson, questionable. Sorry about that. There was not enough players I could drop to make it happen. A lot of questions about whether he's going to be out there. My one hope of hopes was Jason will rectify his mistake and block everyone else from picking up Harris. And I have done so. Thank you. Jason Moore's, ironclad, locked and loaded, 100% guaranteed boom, boom kicker of the week. Last week on Boom Boom Kicker, I was sold at the fart mart for two cups. Sold for pure stink. I was locked in the clank with two cellmates fully boxed in. I made a plan to strike with fart bags named Andy and Mike to bum rush Chase McLaughlin.

Welcome to the story, fellas. You know, I'm pretty happy about it. I don't know how many... You want to get worked in there, huh? Look, how many years have we been left out of the tale that is the boom boom kicker? The residual checks are going to start showing up, Mikey. So you're in this cell with Mr. McLaughlin? We. We are, well, we are, uh, the three of us are in the cell and we're going after McLaughlin together. Is he in the cell? Yeah, he's in the point. Or is he outside? He's more like the, uh, he's the warden, if you will.

So we're going, we're breaking out. Oh, yeah, we're breaking out of this place. Like Shawshank style or what's going on? Oh, no, no, no. This isn't a long play. This isn't. This will happen next week. This is, this is going to resolve itself real quick. Now, the good thing is we're in the story. But let's not forget. He did call his fart bags. And there's more information on that next week. I've been called worse. There's more, well, you've got next week figured out. Oh, yeah. Oh, good. He knew where this thing was going to end before the season. Two years ago.

Two years ago. Oh, you're not making the loss mistake. You knew the ending from the beginning. This is his ice and fire. Thank you, Mike. Any chance you want to change any of your starts of the week, Mike? Oh, yeah, desperately. I like the strategy, though, because you can't let anyone down if nobody plays any of your starts. Yeah, smart. That's, yeah, fair enough. I'm so afraid of the Colts, man. I don't like watching them. Just for the record, I don't like watching them play football. I think they're going to be okay. I know, I know. There was debate. There was debate. Mike went Davis Mills once and it worked. Yeah. It's all I'm going to say. And he does hate Jeff Saturday. So there's, it's, there is inner turmoil with this start of the week. Is that it? We got any other news breaking, Brooksie? Nothing yet. Anything from Deucer's Alley? That seems where the fart bags would probably reside in Ducer's Alley. Nah.

Over here. I just rip them over there before I leave. All right. We are going to let you go, everybody. Take care. Back with, there's a lot of suspense with the Wheel of Shane tomorrow. Any of us could be getting it. And we'll catch you then, the rest of the matchups. Goodbye. Thank you for listening to another episode of the Fantasy Footballers podcast. Join our fantasy football community on join thefoot.com. And follow us on Twitter at the FF ballers.