Week 15 Waivers + Difference Makers, Playoff Bound! - Fantasy Football Podcast for 12/10

I'd be surprised if he's able to go tomorrow. So Patrick Taylor will be talked about on the waiver wire. And I think he is a, you got to add him just in case, but we don't have the full news. So Garindo is Thursday. Yes. And so basically what we know now is that he's not practicing this week. We're not going to get new information on Garindo before the game. We're just going to find out like he's not going to practice. He didn't practice yesterday. He's not going to practice today. And then it's going to basically be. maybe he gets in a limited practice, which would be a walkthrough, and then he's either active or he's not. So this is just be prepared for him not to be active. But the quotes were basically, he's not going to practice, we hope he plays. Yeah, yeah, that's a quick turn. To you, because of the quick turnaround here for Thursday, like we know they have, so Patrick Taylor is depth chart-wise. He's the next man up. And just for the record, fifth.

Yeah, yes. Fifth on the depth chart for a reason. And, but he is technically the next guy up, but you'd have Kishon Vaughn who came in in garbage time this past week. They picked up a band of canda. Get that whip out. Get that whip out, Mike. I don't know if I have the drop. Come on, Izzy. Oh, I do. But with it being the quick turnaround, I would say I have. If Garando is out, I would have more confidence that Taylor will be the guy just because they don't have time to get the other guys ready. And I will throw this out. I believe Isaac Garindo will be the starter. That's my current. I know he's not going to practice. They've already said that. But I think he plays on Thursday and is good. That was today's news and notes presented by USAA Insurance. Learn more at usa.com slash insurance. To the waiver wire.

Well, you can say bye to the buys, no more buys. The Broncos, Colts, commanders, Ravens, Patriots, and Texans. You get their players back this week. We jump into the waiver wire with Sincere McCormick, aforementioned Sincere McCormick. Somehow only rostered still in 18% of leagues, despite being brought up, I feel like prominently last week. People didn't believe. But 15 for 78. nothing really to play for but the future for the Raiders who may or may not even have their second string quarterback. So I do think the opportunity will be there for McCormick. It's a matchup against Atlanta, then Jacksonville and New Orleans. Yeah, that's nice. That's difference making stuff that spin the fab on it if you have a need type of stuff. I'd be curious if, you know, Thielen and McCormick were somehow both out there where you'd go on that decision. I would go, I would go Thielen simply because he.

is going to be the primary target, and we know that. Sincere McCormick, I'm with Mike that I think he's earned and will retain the work when Alexander Madison comes back, but there's a chance he doesn't. Alexander Madison comes back, and now it's like, okay, well, we've got Maddie back, the starter's back, he gets the, and you know what, Sincere, you've done a good job, you're going to get a couple carries too, but it's, you know, that, that still exists. So I would go feeling first. All right, other running backs that you have the highest amount of interest in, we just talked about Patrick Taylor. I am personally nervous about that. Me too. If he was to get that opportunity, it's not that he couldn't perform. It's just that, you know, when you look at who they've had, I don't look at Patrick Taylor as possessing any of the elite traits and skills that.

You know, Garindo had elite speed and Mason elite tackle breaking. And, you know, Mitchell was a very well-rounded back. And obviously, CMC, CMC. Taylor is fifth on the depth chart for a reason. And I don't know if he's the kind of back that Shanahan would look to do everything with. Like if you had to start one, I guess he'd be the one you'd start. But it would be with trepidation. It would be somebody that I would start sincere McCormick over or Julio McLaughlin over or, I mean. Probably even Gus Edwards over. Yeah, I wouldn't go that far. I'd play Taylor over Gus. Man, I, I have more confidence just in, in the Shanahan system and the matchup, I guess, than you guys do. Yeah, I mean, the system has always worked. It's just nobody's into somebody's all the time. So, so this is, this might sound really, really stupid. But I feel like if Garindo can't go, I think it's going to be Izzy.

I think Izzy would be the guy. Obviously, he wasn't a part of the game plan last time. Just because of speed? Because of speed. He fits the system far. Like Patrick Taylor wasn't brought in to be one of these running backs. He was fifth. He's a special team's type of, you know, jag. He's a 457.40 time. This is not the type of running back that the 49ers have ever used. Izzy, I think, like his pit pro day was like. in the four threes. You know, he's got that trait where it's just like, I don't care who it is, next man up. There was an example of this. And Kyle, if you can search the recesses of your mind or the internet for the name. But there was one San Francisco running back picked up off the street a few years ago because the 49ers lose three to four running backs a year. But there was someone they signed straight off the street that came right in.

to be their starter in lieu of the depth chart. Right. And I cannot remember his name. I will probably find it here in a few minutes. I don't remember. But there was somebody that they grabbed, I want to say off of the Bears practice squad or something. He was a truck, and he played on Monday night football. But my point is they signed him and they played him and he was the guy. Sure. If you want to lean towards Vaughn. But again, it's messy. It's really messy from a fantasy waiver wire. How much fab? How much how much do you go at it for that? Patrick Taylor is currently the next man up. He was next on the depth chart, whatever. If I knew Patrick Taylor was the starter for this game, I'd be happy to play him. I'll be happy to play whoever the starter is for the 49ers. But I don't think it's as clear as just saying it's Patrick Taylor with with Izzy there.

Yeah, or Kishon Vaughn. Maybe it's Kishon Vaugh. Other names to bring up? I mean, the Jets guys should be, there are more priority pickups. We don't know what the health of Brees Hall is going to be. And you get the match up with Jacksonville. The discussion there then becomes Braylon Allen versus Isaiah Davis. And like if you want to talk total work. Braylon Allen was 11 carries 43 yards. Isaiah Davis. 10 carries 40 yards. And he got the touchdown. Six targets for Isaiah Davis. Five for Braylon Allen. They really split it up. And watching the game, Isaiah Davis was the guy who had the better day. Like he's the running. He's the running back that if I were running the jets, I know that Braylin Allen projected to be that guy. But I was like, no, we got hot hand here with Isaiah Davis. I'm giving him all the work.

If Brees misses again, it's probably a timeshare, which puts them both as startable, not the confidence level that we had hoped we would have with Braylin Allen being the true backup. The matchup against the Jaguars means I think you can start both of them if Brees is out. I did make the playoffs, so I expect Brees to be out again until I'm out and then he will dominate. That's just how the math should work. But Isaiah Davis is a worthy pickup. He's available in most of the leagues. And if you need someone to start, I mean, if I'm talking about Isaiah Davis against Jacksonville or Patrick Taylor, I think I go Isaiah Davis just because, you know, if he gets 50% of the work against Jacksonville, that could be safer than Patrick Taylor being the backup. I don't know. Would you go with any of those guys where it's a, we're in flow chart season right now of, you know, if this player is out, then I can start these guys. Or would you prefer?

Juleo McLaughlin, Denver Broncos coming back off the buy. He gets the match up with the Colts. He had, I mean, McLaughlin has done really not much except for this past week. He got a whole bunch of opportunities. Yeah, and he looked great with it. We talked about how they are riding the hot hand. Obviously, they usually give Giovante the first opportunity to show that his hands are ice. McLaughlin was so good last week. The matchup is great. He's certainly in play. And I think you could pick him up and take a shot. But it's very Patrick Taylor in the sense that he might not, he might go out there and get three or four carries. So it's very difficult to rely on that. You also have Kendrae Miller, who, you know, came in, got a touchdown. He's at least ahead of Jamal Williams. Oh, he's definitely ahead of Jamal. I mean, he had 10 carries.

One carry from the team picking him up and taking him into the end zone. Dude, he didn't go down, man. He started at the eight yard line when contact happened. I think the team got involved at the three. That was a boss run. Talk to me for a second about philosophical change. We've had the waiver show all year long. There's been a lot of the, okay, we're going to pick up players. We're going to hold them. We're going to have the insurance backs. How do these change mindset-wise? Are you dropping insurance backs at this juncture if you are viewing somebody else's, you know, how are you approaching the shift in the, win one week situation? Right. Win one week is priority. If you need to drop someone to get someone for this week, you have to do it. I'm willing to drop a backup. I would also prefer to roster at this point. I'm looking a lot at the defenses.

And I'll take a look at next week's defense and even the championship week defense to make sure that, you know, there's in most leagues, there's usually six teams that are in the playoffs. And I think the majority of those teams that make the playoffs, they're all going to be looking at their playoff defenses now. So the waiver claims are going to come in for those defenses. And I would rather play that game and make sure I get the points that I know will be scored of, you know, because. They're not going to get injured. The defenses can't get injured as a whole to where you can't play them. So I would rather roster them than the insurance backs, but I'm not like dropping insurance backs of my own players just because it's playoffs either. Wide receivers. By the way, all of our waiver wire rankings on the website, the fantasy footballers.com, also if you would like them customized to your specific league and scoring type.

All of those things are in the ultimate dashboard, which can be found at Jointhefoot.com if you want to see who's available. That is a tool that can help you there. A wide receiver, heavily rostered, but at the tippy top of our waiver rankings, Thielen number one. Quentin Johnston. He's still there. Five for 48 and a touchdown. I thought the lack of McConkey would benefit him. It did. And he's had games. So, like, he's a much higher ceiling dart throw than playing. in my opinion, a Legat or a McMillan or a Palmer or a David Moore or a Westbrookine or the Antivian Wick, some of the other names that are dart throws. But Quentin Johnson plays a lot of snaps and can score touchdown. Do you want to play Quge this week at Tampa or Elijah Moore against Kansas City? That's an easy Quge for me. Yeah, I'm on that side too. Elijah Moore's.

It had some good games, and Elijah Moore is in play. I'd like to roster him as well. I think last week he only had three catches. He did. Three for 34. And the matchup. If you look at the matchup, you're talking about one of the most difficult for Elijah Moore and one of the easiest for Quentin Johnston against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Completely agree. And Elijah Moore, I mean, even with Winston, 15, 3, 15, 4. Well, that just means a 15's coming. Come on. We know how stats work. Yeah. Only if he's on your bench, though. Remember the rules? Not for me. I've been playing him everywhere. This is the type of week where I think what you need to be taking a shot at, what you're looking for. You're not looking rest of season. You know, Adam Thieland, great. Quentin Johnston, involved enough, great. Those two, to me, are in kind of a tier of their own. They're heavily rostered. They're probably not available. If you are looking for a wide receiver to start and play, we really have to be.

We have to have the mindset of you need a touchdown. This is the playoffs. Who can go out there and get a touchdown? That's kind of how I look at it. You know, is a Rashad Bateman who. Octavian Wicks, if Dobbs is out, is the answer for me. Yeah, that's a great answer. The matchup against Seattle is good. He's got more snaps. He's very, very capable of the big explosive game. You could throw Keon Coleman in there as kind of a. As a dart throw, we still don't know if he's going to be active, but if he is, you know Josh Allen could throw five touchdowns. With that same line of thinking, for Cedric Tillman, should you get news today? Like, oh, no, Tillman's actually, he's back at practice. It's limited. But this looks like he's going to trend to play for the weekend. Where would he jump to? He would probably be third. If I knew. Still behind Cuge? Yeah.

Yeah, but he would be very, very high. He would jump into that tier. I don't think my confidence level would shoot up there. You talked about how bad the matchup is. It's very concerning, and the rapport with Judy is building. You already saw that switch start to happen before the injury, so I'd be less bullish. I'm not saying he's out of the picture, but there's also floor play options. Ray Ray MacLeod is being used a ton in the Atlanta offense. Like if you need, you know, a floor play of 7, 8 points. To me, that's where he represents. I mean, he had 11 targets. I never ignore targets in an office. And he is functioning. If you look at the way things have trended for Atlanta, delete Kyle Pitts and add Ray Ray McLeod into that equation. Targets six, six, 11 the last three weeks. But I guess if you're, if you're talking about targets, just at here. And he said 95 and 98 yards the last two weeks. If you're comparing.

the targets. Just remember, Cedric Tillman, when Javis took over, had 12 targets, 9 targets, 11 targets, 8 targets, and then four targets in the game that he got hurt. Got hurt early. Didn't play half of the game. So, and then you'd want to talk about, okay, they both got targets. They both can get yards. Tough matchup, I agree. But then it's playoff weeks. Who has the higher likelihood of a touchdown? I believe Kirk Cousins is not allowed to throw touchdowns anymore. That is one of the things he has. He said he's done with that? Yeah, he's ruling out any more touchdowns for the rest of the season. Has it been a month? Has it been a month of games since he's throwing a touchdown? Yes. Crazy. Yeah, it's been four games. But when's the last time he threw a pick? About 20 minutes ago. I think they are practicing right now. He is the last month, his touchdown to interception ratio is a 0 and 8. Oh, man. It's not been good.

He was, I don't know if we had it in the news or we brought it up. He was announced that he is absolutely the starter. He is the leader of the team. But your point of Ray Ray is very involved. He is getting targets. He should be looked at. But I, I, you said it right. He's a floor play. He's not really a ceiling. No, he's the player you play when you don't want to risk one for 19 from Westbrook of Keen. That's my point. Yeah. Is if you are a heavy favorite that still needs a flex. Yeah, I'd rather have that in there than risk a one for four from Calvin Austin, a one for 19 from Westbrook Aquina. I completely agree. I think the majority of people that are scouring the waivers are probably the underdog that are looking for a starter, but there's definitely a situation where you lost the wide receiver. You're the favorite. Yeah, exactly. Walker. It feels gross to say it, but I'm going to say it anyways. I would pick up and play Michael Wilson over Ray Ray McLeod.

Tell us why. Well, he's up against New England. He's been, like, if you want to talk about floor, he's just, he's been 50 yards for three straight weeks. And he just, he is more likely to get a touchdown than Ray Ray McLeod. I think Ray has one on the year. And this, I, I like, I like a pretty good percentage of the team's touchdown. I like, yeah, that's fair. I like the Cardinals this week. I think that they're going to be just fine. Would you drop Debo or MBS for these guys? MVS, sure. Yeah, for the top tier. NBS has no car. Goodbye. Yeah, he's walking. Oh, my gosh. All right. Boston. Thank you. Debo, Debo, it's tough. Oh, man. But, yeah, for some of them, for sure, for Q's for Thielin. Yeah, I mean, I would, if I had to start. If you had Tillman, you'd play Tillman.

Yeah, if Tillman was active, I think I would start Tillman over Samuel, Thielen over Samuel. All right. Probably cute, yeah. Crazy. Again, check out all the waiver rankings on the Fantasy Footballers.com. We'll take a break. We'll hit tight ends, defenses, and quarterbacks. All right, tight ends. Hello, goodbye to Juan Johnson. It's not impossible that he's relevant rest of season. Really tough, though. Yeah, it's really hard to rely on that without a quarterback that you can trust. So. You know, I wanted to come in here. I assumed we'd come in here and be talking Juan Johnson a lot until that injury happened. Hunter Henry comes back from the buy. He is at the top. Two bi-week tight ends that are probably on your waiver wire or could be Hunter Henry and Zacherts. Both have opportunities for touchdowns in every game. Both are the starting tight ends with big snapshares. And that's kind of all you can hope for. I mean, I...

I would still like Kate Otten more than Hunter Henry, but the gap is not that big. Since week seven, Hunter Henry is averaging seven and a half targets a week. It's just that like Baker represents a much higher chance at touchdowns, but Hunter Henry otherwise, you know, are you guys both on the side where you'd rather have Kate Otten than Hunter Henry or no? Oh, man. It is very close, but I lean with you on the Baker. will throw more touchdowns than Drake May. So I would be on the Kate Otten side in searching for that touchdown. But ahead of probably both of them would be Zach Hertz. The last three weeks, man. Yeah, he's been a touchdown, touchdown, touchdown. Exactly. And that's what you're looking for. Jaden Daniels, probably the higher likelihood of everyone to throw a touchdown. Well, him and Baker, maybe Baker a little bit more. But the matchup is pretty good against New Orleans for Zach Hertz.

He's been reliable. So those three guys are the guys you're hoping for. And then if they're not available, now you're dropping down a tier. And you don't have a reliable target share. Would you go Calcutera from the Philadelphia Eagles? He plays Pittsburgh. Or would you go Noah Gray, tight end one from the Kansas City Chiefs? Tighten 1.5. No, Noah Gray. Five more targets last week. Last four games, target pace is 85. I wouldn't play Noah Gray. I mean, I probably, if I'm being honest, I'd probably play Calcuttaire, if it were me, because of the snaps here. Like now that he's there and Dallas Goddard's gone, he played 91% of snaps. And I'm, I mean, what's the snap count for Noah Gray? 60%. Yeah, the snap count is not as consequential when.

when the other quarterback is like 150 yards a game. Yeah, no, I'm not, you can have your opinion. I just, I just said, like, that's why. I'm going to chase the offense here from the Chiefs. I don't like the whole frame of conversation around those two. I mean, if you're Calcutera or Noah Gray, you are in trouble. Yeah, you are in trouble. You might as well. I mean, I would throw Cole Komet into that mix, too, obviously just goose, but he's had a couple big games. I throw him right out. Yeah, sure. I reject your Cole commit. I mean, I'd just be terrified. I'm terrified to play any one of these three guys. But you're just talking upside. Sure. I mean, he had 10 targets a week before. Yeah, Grant Calcuttaire, Noah Gray, Cole Commet. The highest floor is probably Noah Gray. But that floor is four. It does, it's not a relevant number. So then you go, okay, well, who's got the highest ceiling? Who can go out there and actually dominate? Cole commit can actually go out and dominate a game. He's done it.

Many times. Until you lose by four points, Jason. Then you're like, no, great. There are defensive options this week that are highly attractive. The commander's defense, which will have Latimore for the first time, will face a backup in New Orleans. Is it Hainer? Is that who's going to play? Kyle? I mean, Jake heinous. Well. Oh, hmm. Oh. Well, we didn't ask for your commentary. You're a stat boy. You give us hard and cold facts. I can, I'm in. But he'll be heinous after the week. The Cardinals play at home against New England. The Cincinnati Bengals face Tennessee. That's a little bit, like the Bengals defense is just just not that good. Baltimore. You can always play a defense against Will Levis. Baltimore plays the Giants, by the way. That's going to be outrageous. I was happy to see it get.

called out because I noticed the play from Will Levis, who, oh gosh, putting my faith in Will Levis last week is an absolute disaster. But there was an end zone play they had, for whatever reason, two players, you know, leaking out to the left of the end zone. And Will Levis ignored the wide open, uh, a concho. He's like, no, I'm going to throw the guy who's got an actual defender on him for whatever reason. That guy, hey, uh, sucks. The 49ers, I don't really like them against the Rams at all on Thursday. Yeah, I mean, that would be a terrible start. I don't know why it's in this list. Delete. You've got to have options. The Jets against Jacksonville. Yeah, yeah, give me the Jets against Mac Jones. You're looking, you're targeting backup quarterbacks. The Falcons against Las Vegas. Yeah.

Back of quarterback. I would also throw in the Atlanta Falcons. They are playing Baltimore this week. That is not what you want. The next week, they're not playing Baltimore, sorry, but next week they are playing the Giants. And that is going to be an important game for the Falcons at home. And if you look at the week 16, if you're looking two weeks out to get ahead of your opponent, most of the teams that you focus and try to play against, you know, you want to play against the Titans, that's the Colts defense. It's like, oh, okay, they're not that good. You want to play against Jamis and the Browns? That's the Bengals defense. It's like, okay. So I think the Falcons are really the team for next week that you can get now. All right. Let's move forward. Full stream ahead. Well, my streaming quarterback this week, it's going to be Justin Herbert against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31st.

against quarterbacks 30th and passing yards per game allowed. I know he's been banged up. We'll see if Ladd McCocky can get back out on the field. I think Herbert will do enough. 202 should be okay. Game has a 46.5 point total. He's been a top 12 quarterback and four straight at home. I'm going to go and, you know, scared money don't make money. It's a little scary, but I'm going to. Say that you could stream Caleb Williams this week. Oh my gosh, what are you doing? Well, I mean, look, he played against Minnesota a couple weeks ago. He was the quarterback three. You know, he threw for 340 yards, two touchdowns ran for 33 yards. I know it's a divisional game. Minnesota is still a team that you want to target for the passing game because you really just can't run on them. It's a 44 point over under. It's dangerous.

But you can see the path where it works. I mean, two of the last three weeks, he's been a top six option in fantasy. He's looked good in spurts. In second half. Yes, in second halves, really, it's all in the second half. It was another, at halftime, the Chicago Bears had like a handful of yards in the first half. Like this, I don't know how this can keep happening. that you could be shut out for an entire half. And then you put up. It's a rope-a-dope, Mike. They're like, ha, you guys are too good for us. Falcon, is that more punts than yards? Yeah, I think so. Well, whatever. I don't know. I'm not verifying that, but that's fun to say. More puns than yards. Speaking of dangerous, a true streaming quarterback this week is gross. Like, we're playoffs. Please, hopefully you have your guys. But Bryce Young. This is the first time in the Bryce Young era.

They are favored at home by two and a half points against the Dallas Cowboys. So proud of him. What a world. I know you're talking about Bryce Young, but I just want to know how many packs a day, freaking Falcon is smoking. More price than yards. More punt than yards. One back. One pack? You eat it, though, right? It's a pack of 75, but it's just one. Oh, man. I think that he is. playable, hopefully more as a quarterback too. But the section is about trying to find streamers. Yeah, it's wild. All right, hungry for more on the Thursday night preview tomorrow, some mailbag, playoff mailbag to help you out as you head into your fantasy football playoffs. And we'll continue to follow along the Jason v. Al Borland battle for the week. I know Jason. I've known him for a long time. I've known him for 20 plus years. I know exactly how he's going to be playing this week. I know his exact psychological state.

I know exactly what he's going to be doing. And it's going to be a man that on the surface presents with indifference. It will be a man who... I don't even care. A man who doesn't care about the manship that's just going to... I'm just happy to be here. But inside, he still believes he can win a championship. I mean, look, I can't. Yeah, yeah. So just expect a lot of concessions, Al. Maybe I'll buy you a pizza. We'll see. I'll take that too. Goodbye, everybody. 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.