Starts of the Week + Week 17 Breakdown, Title Time! - Fantasy Football Podcast for 12/28

On today's episode, we break down the news. A lot of match up some really in-depth start-sit decisions to be made. The starts of the week. The conclusion of the boom-boom kicker, make sure you stay tuned and subscribe right now. The Fantasy Footballers podcast with your host, Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike Wright. Oh, welcome in. Hi, it's title time. Oh, man. Anxiety starts tonight. Yes. Welcome in. Hope you got DSTs tonight. Thursday episode of the show, Championship Week. Annie Mike and Jason, the fantasy footballers back with you. Mike is not wrong. Anxiety permeates the air. And this studio. You're not doing well.

No, I'm okay. I really, no, no. Is this one of those denial? Yeah, your friends could tell you you're not doing well. I have a decision to make. We all have a decision to make. Amari Cooper put up a record setting, AFC player of the week worthy, 48-ish fantasy points depending on your league scoring with Joe Flackle last week. And unfortunately, we weren't dealt the cards of, you know, a juicy matchup the next week to just roll right into. Instead, we get a short week. A Thursday night game against the number one defense in terms of fantasy points given up to wide receivers and quarterbacks. No practices. Hasn't practiced due to a heel injury. If you watch, if you watch the 70-yard touchdown he had at the tail end of that play, Omari Cooper is limping. And clearly he is actually dealing with something, although they listed on the report that it was more rest.

And it makes sense. Well, he's resting in injury. Right. It says not injury related rest, heel. Not H-E-A-L, H-E-E-L, as in his heel. So fantasy players, look, you don't get points for loyalty. Let me tell you where I'm at. You tell me, I mean, whether I'm here in an hour, we'll see. You won't be. But where I'm at right now is that. I am probably benching Amari Cooper tonight. With the news that there was a news blurred this morning. And do we have it here? Can we get the full tweet from Tom Pelliser. Yeah, I'll try and pull it up. He hasn't practiced. It's sort of a game time decision. It says he's hopeful to play tonight against the Jets, but his status remains up in the air. The short week is tough. Cooper knows his body well. They'll get a better sense close to kickoff. I appreciate that line.

that he knows his body now. Yeah. Better than anybody. Yeah. Like most players not in tune. Yeah. No idea what's going on with their body. That's my knee? But Amari Cooper, he knows his body. Yeah. It's really interesting to me the report that he's struggling, hoping to play, knows his body. Like that makes it clear that this is an injury. But their actual official, like I pulled it up right before the show, just to make sure. that on theirs, they say not injury related. How can you have these two conflicting things? And it makes a difference to me. Like if I knew they were just giving him rest, that is far, far better to me in a tough matchup where you could still have him get 13, 14 targets in this game, difficult targets, good cornerback. Or if he's actually struggling with his health and then you go, okay.

Is he going to be a little bit more limited injury risk in addition to the difficult match? That's like a tiebreaker for me. Yeah, and the reason that I'm going to likely make the decision to bench Amari Cooper this evening is because the potential outcomes for Amari Cooper this evening, I think, I think can be replicated by other players. And the potential negative outcomes for Mari Cooper this evening are significant. If he has a re-injury. or he cannot play. You're devastated on Thursday. If he's shut down by a team that shuts down the passing game. I mean, they give up, how many yards did Amari Cooper have last week? 265, I think. Okay, they give up 168 on average to the opposing offense or to the opposing passing offense. And, okay, so Amari Cooper tufts it out. Is that 10 points? My goodness, the Jets, the Jets passing defense against wide receivers.

it's brutal. It's not average. It's not above average. I mean, we know it's number one. So you say, oh, it's the best. But sometimes that's different, right? Sometimes the number one wide receiver and fantasy at the end of the year barely scored more than the second place. And sometimes it's Cooper Cup from, you know, two or three years ago where he lapsed the field. That's what the Jets are doing. And I was like, well. What about recently, you know, now that they haven't had Zach Wilson and maybe they're giving up short fields or whatever. And my goodness, this last week against the Manders, 18 points below their expectation. The week prior, 10 points below expectation to a good Dolphins. The week prior, 28 points below. It's just like- Go to points given up and read them. That's more, I think that's easier to process.

So just if you just switch it to because they're the best in that too. It's just. Okay. So last week to the Washington Manders, they gave up 11 total fantasy points to all their wide receivers, the entire wide receiver room. The week prior against Miami, 28.9. Now that's. Yeah, it's Miami. That's right. Sure. I mean, that was still double digits below what their wide receivers usually average. The week prior, Houston, five. The week prior Atlanta won. They gave up 36 to Miami again. But, you know, pretty much this is, there's only been three games on the course of the entire season where they have given up a chunk of, like call it 25 fantasy points to that wide receiver room. And those games are twice against Miami and once against Buffalo. Yeah, they've given up points. The defense has given up 28 to the commanders, 30 against the Dolphins, 34 against the Dolphins, 32 against the Bills.

They gave up six to Houston. Stroud got knocked out. That was the rain game where Wilson won it. They've given up some points, but it's a tough call. And it's not bench Cooper no matter what. It's bench Cooper based on your options. I'll tell you my situation. I can bench Cooper and I can play Devin Singletary as a home favorite with C.J. Stroud against the Titans. That's an option I'm looking at. I can play DeAndre Hopkins if it gets Levist back. It's really difficult. And I know that everybody out there is going to have a different reaction because you have different options.

So it's not a requirement to bench Amari Cooper. Kyle has poisonously chosen to reveal that Amari Cooper last year against the Jets in week two, nine for 101 and it touched in on 10 targets. But that was a long time ago. So I'm not saying this is a final decision. It's the way I'm leaning right now. And that's the best we got for you because the news reports. I didn't expect Tom Pelliserra to come out and talk about his heel. I had pretty much said, hey, I'll just ride him. But you know what? This week. This week's made for tilting. It certainly is. Now, where are you with the decision? I'm so, I'm at the bottom of the well. You guys are looking down at me. I lean at this point for your particular options, I think I would play them over Amari Cooper. Yeah, I've been Amari Cooper this whole week, but I mean, this is, you're getting a little weak in the knees now. This is just a, this is a wrinkle to, and it's be okay with your process. Like,

You need to make peace. You did say this yesterday. You have to make peace with this of like, I'm making this. If you're going to start Amari Cooper or bench it, know the reasons you're doing it. And yeah, it'll be really, really frustrating if you end up with the incorrect decision. But know the reasons why you are making the decisions you are making. And it makes it a little easier. I think if you were to handicap the potential of 20 plus fantasy points from Amari Cooper tonight. that that would be so minuscule of a potential outcome. That's sub 10%. So, and that's the only way that you're really, really happy. You could be okay with 10 points. Maybe. So, and I'm also a team that has David Najoku and the Cleveland defense. So the idea of, you know, it's a lot. Having a lot go down against that past even. I'm just, I'm laying it out because it's the biggest decision fantasy players have for this evening.

We've got all the matchups to get into today. We've got the news and notes to talk about. Just my last note on it because it's, you know, part of it is I think it makes, in my process, it makes benching Joe Flacco easier where. Oh, he's not going to be able to get it done with that. Like if Amari Cooper is, if Amari Cooper can't separate if Amari Cooper has to take a bunch of plays off. Yeah, in Joku, he'll be fine. Like I think that I'm still playing him, but. If it's Flacco or these other streaming options that we had brought up, I'm definitely moving over to them now. News and notes from Around the League. Presented by USAA Insurance. If I can see the future, it would be so much easier. You would. Well, Ross can see his future, and it's not as a member of the Denver Broncos. He has formally been benched for the remainder of the season, and they're expecting him to be cut. It escalated.

rapidly from we're considering doing this. It was, I mean, minutes later. Yeah, no, we actually, we told Russ he's not going to play. Unlimited. The background going into it was, at least we're hearing. Russell Wilson's camp was told weeks ago if you don't waive your injury protection against guaranteed money because the way it's working out. They just wanted it delayed pretty much. He has a physical coming up in March that should he not pass it, it triggers a whole bunch more guaranteed money for him. And so the team was saying, no, we don't want this right here. If you don't work with us and negotiate, either get rid of it or move it, whatever it is, then you're going to get benched. And we don't know when, but you will get benched. And here it is. You got benched. He chose not to play football. Yeah.

If he was given that ultimatum. I don't necessarily blame him because he will still get a whole lot of money. And Russ will, I mean, Russ will find a team. Like you tell me, no doubt. You tell me the, if Russell will. The Falcons. That's where exactly where I was going to go. If Russ hits the free market, the Atlanta Falcons should be drooling to go get Russell Wilson. Not that he's anywhere close to. You think they should be. I think they should. Oh, man. Compared, I mean, compared to what they have. Drake London is the only person in the entire league praying for us of Wilson right now. Yeah, that's tough. Jared Stidham will take over. Remember last year he took over and was very relevant. I mean, against San Francisco, the Niners in his first game, he was 365 and 3. More importantly, seven carries both weeks on the ground. He'll run. Probably not someone you're starting this week, but Super Flex leagues. If you lost someone, I'd start him over Joe Flacco personally.

I heard an audible from the producer area. Because it's spicy. Isaiah Pacheco didn't practice with the concussion. Not a lot of optimism there? No. Jordan Addison didn't practice with the ankle. Cortland Sutton didn't practice with a concussion. Zay Flowers. Oh, Mike. Yeah, no. Did not practice with a calf. It was an estimation. as the team held a walk through. Ooh, I'll make another estimation right now. I estimate you will be tilting very soon if he doesn't practice again. Very much, because it's either I put Garrett Wilson in tonight. Oh, no. Or I hold out for Zay Flowers. Welcome. What would your pivot be at that point? I like Dobbs, Romeo Dobbs. Welcome to the pit of despair. All are welcome.

Uh, Keenan Allen did not practice. I mean, Keenan Allen is done for the year, I think. I would imagine. He should be. He really should be. The Chargers have no purpose in getting him injured. Yeah, I have them on my matchup against Mike and I have no expectation I'm playing him because I just don't think he'll be back. Chris Rodriguez, commanders running back on injured reserve. Brian Robinson limited in practice. Okay. I'm thinking he's back. But if not, then Antonio Gibson will. receive all of the pain slash opportunity against San Francisco this week. And Josh Palmer also didn't practice. So, you know, the Gerald Everett conversation yesterday. If there's no Keenan, no Josh Palmer. Yeah, he's in play. And Echler. The matchup is perfect for Everett as well. It's going to be Easton Stick versus Jared Stiddle. Is that what we're doing? Yeah, baby. Great. Can't wait to break that one down, guys. That was today's news and notes presented by USAA Insurance. Learn more at USAA.com.

slash insurance. Fantasy forecast. We have a Saturday night special, the highest over under of the week at 53. The Detroit Lions at 11 and 4 taking on the 10 and 5 Dallas Cowboys. The Draft King Sportsbook Line Dallas minus 6. Can we finally have a 50 point game hit the over? I think we can. Only five have been in a dome this year, but 11 of 12 have not hit the over. This is the highest total. since the beginning of October. Very, very, very important game for both teams. And the Lions defense has not been looking great. I do think we get the over here. I want pieces in this game. This is a championship week type of matchup that you're really hoping for. The only player that I feel scared about is Tony Pollard. Of the guys that like, yeah, you're probably going to play them.

Right? But Detroit is good against the run, bad against the pass, and Pollard's had a lot of duds this year. Yeah, Pollard has been bad as a runner in games with much better matchups. I think Matthew Barry, I saw him talk about the fact Rico Dowdell has the same number of goalline touchdowns as Tony Pollard with 47 fewer opportunities in the red zone. So efficiency has been a problem. The defense for the Lions' fourth against running backs over the last six weeks doesn't mean Pollard is a bench. I don't know if, I mean, Devin Singletary or Tony Pollard. Is that where we're at with Tony Pollard? I think that is where we're at. And I think that's a fair assertation. You look since the by week, I mean, the last nine games, he had three of those games where he hit eight fantasy points. And so this isn't like.

Well, at least he's got a floor. Maybe he doesn't get a touchdown in a tough matchup. His floor is very often around five fantasy points, and that's going to crush you in a championship match. Would you play? I got a nasty one. Okay. It's Saturday night, so you may not have official word. Clyde Edwards O'Lear. Yeah. Pacheco is out. If Pacheco's out, I would rather have Clyde. Yeah. I was going to ask the Zemir-white Josh Jacobs side. That's who. I'd rather have whoever. The Raiders running back? The Raiders starting running back that week. If you have both, then you can wait to find out. Some of those situations, though, I mean, let's be real. We won't know about Pacheco. I don't think. Yeah, if he don't, I mean, if Pacheco doesn't practice at all this week, by Saturday night, you can have a pretty strong conviction that he's not going to play. Yeah, we may have word at that point. Home games for Dallas are beautiful. They're beautiful for Dallas. They're number one in points for game at home. 40.

a game. 71 plays a game. Six of the last seven Detroit games have hit the over. So we're optimistic about this one, which means that, you know, despite Dallas's defense, which has softened of late, Jared Gop is, he's going to have a lot of opportunities in this one. Whether he can deliver in a big dome game. So it's really tough. Follow my logic here on golf and really on anybody playing against the Cowboys. It feels like you either, if you get down, then the pass rush and you can't run the ball just is really, really, really good against you. So the lion's best chance to win this game is to really focus on running the ball. Which worked against Dallas with Buffalo a couple weeks ago. Exactly. So it almost feels like if you're down and you want to catch up, it's going to be hard and a bad game for golf.

But if the lions are good, it's going to be a bad game for golf because it's going to come on the ground. I know Mike has a number of uninspiring quarterback options for his dynasty matchup, and I know that he's trying to wheel Jared Goff to a good game. The play of Jared Goff, you are hoping that just that the touchdowns come. I'm not expecting like a 300-yard passing game for Jared Goff. You're hoping that it's 200. They get inside the five. Montgomery are good, get stuffed, and then they do a play action rollout to La Porta. Like, that's the path that Jared Gough has a big game. Yeah, Leporta could. Because they will, they will score. Like the lines, I think, will put up a decent amount of points where it's a right now with 23 implied team total. I mean, the three touchdowns, you're hoping that two of them are passing. The fringe players, I mean, obviously Citi Lamdak, you're hoping for big games there.

Jamir Gibbs is a lock. Amanra's a lock. The fringe options, Brandon Cooks, I am optimistic about him in this game. Yeah, it makes sense. I like him a lot. And, you know, Laporta's back in. Ferguson, I think he's in your lineup. Yes, Ferguson's a play. Where are you with the David Montgomery progression? I guess that would be the last question. Are you just, you know, he's been. Not what he was in the first half of the year, but he's still been a top 24 back. He's been great. And he was even great last week. He got a touchdown, but then was injured and left the game. Didn't play much. Still had 17 attempts. Really, to me, it's a matter of, you know, is he on the injury report right now? I don't believe he is. Not to my knowledge. No, he's not on. So I'm totally 100% down playing David Montgomery. All right. The New England Patriots at 4 and 11 take on the 9 and 6 Buffalo Bills in Buffalo where Buffalo.

Buffalo, Buffalo, Buffalo. They're 13 point favorites. The overrunners 40 and a half, according to the Drafking Sportsbook. Buffalo has won three straight games. New England beat them in week 7, 29, 25 at home. But I don't think they're going to beat them this week. You don't think so? I don't think so. Pretty heavy favorites here. Josh Allen, he's obviously in your lineup. He has had some success against New England in recent memory. James Cook, of course. Stefan Diggs is the big storyline from the final week on trusting him. It's so hard. This is a match. It's not fair. The last four games against New England, Diggs has 14.8, 18, 18.7, and 19.9 fantasy points. He has been great for his entire tenure as a Buffalo bill until the last two months. In the last two months, they changed coordinators. They run the ball more.

There are fewer deep shot opportunities to digs, and this is a game where you would expect, obviously they lost last time, and the NFL's crazy, anything can happen. But you would expect, process-wise, that the bills are winning this game, are running the ball, not needing to push the ball down. Isn't New England very, very good against the run? They are. I think in recent. They are very, very good against the run. Much more beatable. with wide receiver. Number one in rush yards per game average. I mean, if you got to the championship and you've still got Diggs in your lineup, you're playing Diggs. Let's be honest. You know what it reminds me? I feel like we said that for four weeks. We have, but we kind of said that about Mike Evans last year. And there were some people who got to championship week about Mike Evans. Okay. And all of a sudden, he won everybody a championship because he had his three touchdown game because he's Mike Evans. Diggs is great. You're playing Diggs. Okay. But you're not playing Kincade. You're not playing Gabe Davis. No.

So Romandre Stevenson was placed on IR. So this is, guys, this is legit like Zika and no one. That's what I think. I mean, Hunter Henry, if he played, but you're coming off an injury. It's nerve wracking. You get maybe Juju back to mix with Parker and DeMario Douglas. I think it's Zika and no one on that team. If you have to start Henry if he's active because you don't have another option, you could do worse. I mean, I play Gerald Everett over Henry, though. I would as well. Gerald Everett's a pretty good play this week. All right. Quick break, done with that matchup coming back with the Bears Falcons. The Atlanta Falcons, 7 and 8. Chicago Bears 6 and 9, Drafking Sportsbook Line. Chicago minus 3 over under is 38. This game projects to be, do we have the music for Joyke Bell? Can we play that music? What the, the lumberer? I mean, that's what this game. That's what this game. All right.

Oh, we do. Yeah. I mean, pace of play-wise, Atlanta is going to want to run the football. Chicago, they did get good news that DJ Moore's not on the injury report after the turned ankle. It's obviously not severe. Came back out on the field. You know, what are your expectations for fantasy contributors in this one for championship week? I am still fine playing Justin Fields. This is, you know, the Atlanta Falcons, they are not. great against quarterbacks. The last six weeks have been good, but their matchups have also, you know, haven't been the scariest. To me, if I've got Fields, I'm, you know, I'm playing him over golf. If I've got a golf field's decision, so he's probably in most lineups that are, that have him in championship week. I'm really curious, you're going to have to track Cole Commet. He's been pretty solid this year, especially with.

fields, but he didn't practice Wednesday, so that's just keep monitoring situation. I don't think I'd play him. Really? Yeah, I mean, I want to, but the risk is too high when you're a week off of getting knocked out of a game. Well, put it this way. Let's say both Hunter Henry and Colquette are active. If they're both active is Colquette. Yeah. Okay. So he's of the injured of the injured titans. He wins the day for sure. Okay. Colquette is active or Gerald Everett. Well, what about you? What would you do, Mike? I would go. What would you do? You'd go Colcomette? I would go Colcomit. Polka bet's been really good. The last four weeks, top 12, every single week. No, he looked awesome last week. He had 100 yards before halftime. Yeah. Yeah, he's been tight in 10, 12, 10, and 5 the last month. Deontah Foreman is going to be back full practice on Wednesday. Kalil Herbert had the big game last week. Atlanta's a brutal rushing defense. Honestly, I'm going to sit all my bears running. 100%. Yeah, Foreman kind of muddies it.

I presume that Foreman would go back to being the primary grinder, but who knows after Khalil Herbert did what he did last week. But with the matchup and everything, it, there's just, if you want to take a shot in DFS, great, but in my championship, I'm not doing it. A lot of folks want to know what to expect from Bijon this week. Dallas has been the best defense on the ground in terms of yards per game. Dallas? I'm sorry, Chicago. But. They've given up a lot of riding back receiving yards. Bejohn's in your lineup. Yeah, Bijon's in your lineup. Are you chasing anything about what Algier has done? No. No, I don't want to do that in a championship game. And I can't trust Drake Lund. I just can't. Yeah, I mean. Like the last two weeks, Drake London hasn't just kind of hurt. You're probably not in the championship. You've played in the last two weeks. Yeah, this isn't a great matchup either. The Bears defense has been pretty solid.

all around most of the season and they've got stronger down the stretch. What about Pitts versus Commet? Because Pitts, the last two Heineke starts seven for 105 in a touchdown in those games, or would you go to Colquemette knowing that the yardage is probably better there? I would go to Colcomat. It was four targets last week. They hit, you know, he had a 24-yard reception, had the touchdown, but I'll take the volume. The Raiders, Raiders, 7 and 8. They're on fire. Run, run, run, run, run, run, run. Yeah. Taking on the Indianapolis Colts 8 and 7, the Draft Kings Sportsbook line, Indie minus 3 and a half. The overrunners 43 and a half. Antonio Pierce is 5 and 3 since he took over. And this game matters. I mean, for both teams. Wild card. Yeah. Up for grabs. If the Raiders win this game, they even up record-wise with the Colts. And they have a shot to beat, what, Denver in the last week? Yeah, I mean, and then Raiders will have the tiebreaker over the Colts.

The Colts are in right now. Like the Colts are the seventh seat. It's an incredible, I mean, Shane Steikin's in the short list of coach of the year. Sure. For sure. Which, you know, just a great job. Aidan O'Connell, Josh Jacobs, Zemir White situation, Devante Adams. Man, what do you do with Adams? I mean, I don't think you can bench Devante Adams in your title game under the same argument that Jason made for Stefan Diggs. Adams had a. I mean, he's coming off of an eight for 101 and a touchdown two weeks ago. I think one of the big differences, though, is the quarterback and the style of play of the offense. This is a team that just won throwing 63 yards. Now, that's the outlier. That's not going to happen. He's thrown for 248 yards on two different occasions, Aden O'Connell has. So I would expect them to not throw the ball for only 60-something yards. But when you look at the matchup against the Colts,

It really is exactly how the Raiders want to play. They want to run the ball 30, 40 times if they can and just keep grinding and not pass the ball. And that's how you beat the Colts. They're really susceptible on the ground and they haven't given up a ton to wide receivers. So Devante Adams, to me, is a... He's someone where you look at, you look at your matchups. Andy is not happy because he has him in the. Cooper, Cooper, Adams, Jason. Here's the good news. Amari Cooper tonight are Adams. Here's the good news for Adams. You had week 10 through 15 where he was averaging about 80 receiving yards a game. And then you had the incredible dud. He's going to get targeted a bunch. Yeah, let's let's, let's hope that Michael Pittman plays. They're not favored.