Week 16 Studs & Duds + Championship Prep - Fantasy Football Podcast for 12/23

Al, I don't think you have any, you'll have to look into that. I'll check. It'll give you information for the weekend on start, sit decisions on how their trajectory of your team is going. Play safe, play, um, you know, play for the win. Jason, you're smirking. I just think that's this week's going to be so much fun. It's going to be insane with Wednesday football happening. It's so many Wednesday, one Thursday, three Saturday games. Wednesday is chiefs at Steelers and Ravens on championship week, the slow death or victory like this week is going to be a brutal football week and a glorious football week for a half

of every championship matchup. All right. That was ready to roll. Thanks again to our sponsor, Nissan adventure calls in the first ever Nissan Rogue Rock Creek. Visit NissanUSA.com to learn more. Intelligent all wheel drive cannot prevent collisions or provide enhanced traction in all conditions. Always monitor traffic and weather conditions. News and notes from around the league presented by USAA insurance. Does that, does that mean we've got Wednesday football, Thursday football, Saturday, Sunday and Monday football? Correct. What are we doing? We're taking Fridays off. Yeah. I guess that's what it means for us and our families. Friday. Yeah. All right. Well, lots of news.

You know, it was heartbreaking to watch. Tank Dell. Oh, man. Devastating knee injury on a touchdown pass. Awesome touchdown catch. He was determined a dislocated kneecap. Very. Plus tax. I mean, we don't even know what the rest of it is. Yeah. So from what I've seen is the expectation with that might come with additional ligament damage. And if it does, which we'll know soon, that would be like over a year recovery. Like 2025 might be missed now for Tank Dell. It's brutal for a player who broke his fibula and, you know, had a season ender last year. You saw CJ Stroud, very emotional.

That's his best friend. And so tough, tough for the Texans. Both injuries were caused by his own players. Yeah. That he suffered. And this was a practice squad wide receiver in the wrong place on a freak accident. It was devastating. It was his best game of the year in spite of that. It was his number one fantasy finish of the season. James Conner did a lot of work and then left in the third quarter with a hyperextended knee. Did not return. Arizona was eliminated from playoff contention. If you had to make me bet, I'd bet almost everything that Conner misses next week.

There is nothing. There is no reason other than pride of wanting to play a full season or, you know, contract incentives, you know, fighting with his guys. I mean, the likelihood of him being back is just very, very low. Yeah. I mean, we've talked about he's never finished season yet. We knew something might be coming. We were hopeful. Most people are blaming us. Well, that's a dang. I, if you think we have that level of power and control. Yeah, we accept. Yeah. Okay. We do. And you're right. James Conner. Um, the tough part here, Wednesday games, Thursday games. Yeah. Like I have Xavier worthy.

I get to play him on Wednesday on Christmas or try to wait for practice reports on James Conner. It's impossible. You know, wow. It's going to be brutal. And, um, Kenneth Walker left again. We talked about it with an ankle injury. It's a Thursday night game. Goodbye, Kenneth. Goodbye. Drake London left the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury. Didn't return their head coach. Ray Morris said that he believed he would have went back in. I don't really care what he says about that right now. I care about what practice says because I've seen that before. Yeah, for sure. I mean, we, that you can't go by the quote, but it is at least helpful to know they were

blowing, you know, this was a, a game where they did not need Drake London anymore. So it could have just been, you know, extreme caution to be like, eh, if you tweak anything, just, just rest. We don't need you. Um, we have Jalen hurts the concussion devastating. He tried to go back in the league, the referees. They did not let that happen. And, uh, they ended up losing the ball game. Josh Allen elbow contusion. Didn't miss any snaps. You could see him working on the sideline. Yeah. So he lost feeling in his hand, Josh, shaking his hand out the whole game.

And he did not look quite the same. Yeah. He only had 154 yards and one touchdown. He also, for the first time in six weeks, didn't have a rushing touchdown. He, he was coming off of 51.9 and 41.3 point performance. Um, and then, you know, this was obviously against new England at home. You expected the fireworks. Yeah. He got you when they're down 14, nothing. You'd think in that case. Yeah. That would happen. Josh Allen got everyone to the playoffs. Um, but you, you have to have had a roster around him. I took you into this world. I'll take you out.

That's basically what he did. So hopefully you have a good enough roster around him or you were playing against Jalen hurts because you know, Josh Allen teams were in all the playoffs and that was a brutal game. It was, it was, it was, where did he finish 15? No, 11, 11.2. Yeah. I think he was the quarterback 24. Um, and then, uh, George Pickens has a real chance to play on Christmas. George, some of us need you, George. Oh yeah. Yeah. Um, and then justice Hill DMP. That was, there was also a, a estimated do not practice for Zay flowers, but these are

not the flowers. One that would not like they play on Wednesday. He'll probably play the justice. Hill one. I mean, he, he was that, that dude took. Flight. Yeah. And landed on his head and he was out. Flight. Immediately. And with a Wednesday game. With a limited time. I. No chance. Yeah. Which. I mean, glass half full is. That's a lot more Derek Henry snaps. That was today's news and notes presented by USAA insurance. Learn more at usaa.com slash insurance. We'll take a break. We'll hit the studs. Uh, let's go. This week's fantasy stud muffins. I was just distracted. Cause I was expecting this entire show to be filled with you going champion.

Champion. Unfortunately. I wish, I wish that could be the case that, that it's a lot of fun to do. Our champ, champ, champ team did exit the playoffs. Who would you give the greatest thanks to Justin Jefferson? Yeah. Jefferson was. Thank you. Thank you for your best game of the year. There. Justin Jefferson. Uh, sometimes, you know, you can play great and just face great players. That's what the playoffs is all about. Speaking of great players and, um, really glad this one worked out. Spent most of the week telling you to just ride. Jaden Daniels, the number one quarterback of the, of the week.

And, uh, it was that tough matchup. People were, I mean, we got Jaden Daniels or Kyler. We got Jaden Daniels or Baker. We got Jaden Daniels or golf. Um, Daniels was the number one quarterback, five touchdowns, fully healthy in this game against Philly. Ran for 81 yards. Which the whole thing is insane. They lost their superstar quarterback and Washington had to keep pace with Kenny Pickett. I mean, I like, I get, yes. Saquon Barkley was the one doing most of the damage, but that like it was a backup quarterback and you had to throw five touchdowns. He had to throw a touchdown at the end of the game just so Washington could win.

Several good reasons for that beyond Saquon, like five turnovers by your offense. And, um, but I'm saying the, the environment, like generally when I have my quarterback and the other quarterback gets knocked out, you're like, yeah, well there's, there goes the points. Thankfully they were already down a ton. Yeah. And then Saquon had that big breakaway run and they kept turning the ball over and giving them short fields. Jared Goff got it done again. Bryce Young was the number two on the week. Wow. Cause the Cardinals suck. And, uh, Patrick Mahomes and Sam Darnold rounded out the top five. You know, you go into next week and you say, well, we think Hertz will be back.

We don't know. Um, you know, you're looking at Sam Darnold and what he's been doing with a healthy Addison and a healthy Jefferson and a big game against green Bay on the docket. And he's the quarterback eight on the year. Like Darnold is playing awesome. I mean, like it's not, it's not just system. It, you know, I, I, I think the coaching has been outrageously good setting these, the, the, the Vikings who we thought were in a rebuild that, you know, they're tied with the lions. Yeah. They're playing 13 win team. And it's, it's incredible, but it isn't all scheme.

Darnold, his pocket maneuverability that I've, I've watched these games cause I, I spent weeks trying to target defenses against Darnold waiting for the pumpkin. And you'd watch these defenders get right up behind them to the side of them, grab them and not take them down. And then he completes a pass. Obviously having Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison and Hawkins. And it's, it's very helpful, but he needs credit, especially from me because he's playing outstanding football. Anybody else you want to highlight at the quarterback position? I mean, Burrow got it done. Didn't have a prolific game, but a good game. I want to highlight the Jared Goff play, the insane Ben Johnson, like they, there was a play.

If you bark, barking dog style play. Unbelievable. They scripted a fake fumble on their offense where Jared Goff, what happened was there was, there was like a mistake. There was a play that, um, the, I think it was the Packers had where they did fumble and it turned out that it kind of caused the defense to do one thing. And then they threw a touchdown on that play. So they emulated it. And in practice, Jared Goff came out and talked about this. This was, this was actually, cause I saw people right after the play thinking, Oh, did they do that on purpose?

And I was like, no, yes, they did. Jameer Gibbs falls to the ground. Jared Goff acts like he drops the ball and stumbles. And then he turns around and throws the touchdown to Sam Laporta. It was like, when you are, when you are at the stage mentally where you are playing around with plays like that, you're, you're on fire as a, as a play designer. Yeah. There's been a big differential between Ben Johnson's performance this year coming off of his candidacy and what you've gotten in Houston. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. Houston, I mean, the play calling there is driving me insane.

Last year, Bobby Sloick and Ben Johnson, those were the two names. It was like, those are the, you know, cause CJ Stroud had his breakout campaign. Sloick's play calling is not good. It is the amount of runs on second and 10 are disgusting. And I mean, I lost two thirds of their super wide receiver room. Now Ben, Ben Johnson will be like whatever job out there. If he wants that job. Yeah. He will be able to go and take that. He should be able to do that with a job. That's not open. You know, like genuine, like he should be like, you know, maybe he likes Kyler.

Fire that guy. Yeah. You should fire him. I'll take this job. I'm bringing that up as like the structure of the Detroit Lions, you know, like the archetype of what kind of head coach Dan Campbell is. Dan Campbell's not the X's and O's drawing up creative offensive plays. I'm sure if slash when Ben Johnson leaves, that's going to be a, a, a heavily talked about point into the off season. Yeah. I, I push back just a little, like I know he is not the one doing it right now, but he was, you know, he was a tight end. He was an offensive guy.

He, he, he has done some of that in the past. So I don't think it's the same as the defensive coaches that lose, you know, that when their office is good and they keep losing their offensive coordinator to head coaching jobs. Now you're like, well, they roll start over, but that'll be the argument of, are you concerned about it? Yeah. I think, uh, I think it's Chicago time for Ben, Ben Johnson, Jonathan Taylor, number one on the week. Goodness gracious. Just showing you what he's capable of ran all the way through the back of the end zone with the football in his hands and was just outrageous.

Chuba Hubbard, number two on the week. Devon HN with the breakaway run. Barkley cook. Um, all these guys, all five of them breakaway touchdown runs. Chuba finished off overtime. And, uh, James cook keeps getting it done despite rotating on and off the field. 11 touches, 11 runs. Wow. It's that's it. He literally only had 11. I think he's at 14 rushing touchdowns this year. He was so good on a per touch base. I mean, he, he had a hundred yards. I think the team's validating this strategy. Yeah. By the results, by the results. I mean, Ty Johnson's making plays. James cook is making place.

Ray Davis is making plays. There's no evidence that they are making a mistake there, but when there is, I'll be here to talk about it. Yeah. Jameer Gibbs, 23 for one Oh nine and one also four for 45 through the air. We knew he was going to be good. Could have been better. Yeah. I mean, I mean, as silly as that is, it could have been better. I genuinely feel disappointed in that result. He wasn't a top five back. He was awesome. Scored enough was great. Not good enough. Like, like not you. We need more Gibbs. Bijan and James Connor got it done this week.

Jerome Ford was the start of the week and, uh, took care of business. Jerome CB. Jerome Ford. If you started him and if you watched the game, it was so frustrating. Of Jerome Ford literally started the game with a 60 plus yard run. And then it was like multiple, multiple possessions later that he's even up to three carries. And they kept giving Deontay Foreman the goal line. They gave Foreman the goal line carry. They were like enamored with, we try to get, we got to get DTR throwing the ball. Like, what are you doing? And then every time Jerome Ford touched the ball, it was like four or five yards.

He was so good. He was great. When given the opportunity. Given not enough opportunities. Yeah. You know, who's been outrageous is, uh, a wide receiver by the name of Keenan Allen. Jefferson led the week, two touchdowns. Keenan Allen, 13 targets for the second straight week. Third top 10 performance in five weeks. How many of those yards were in the second half? Probably all of them. I mean, he, Caleb does not come out to play. There's actually twins. And one twin plays. Oh, is this like, um, uh, the prestige. One twin plays the first half. The other guy comes out in the second half.

I would just use the second half guy. Yeah. That's what I would do. First guy should learn how to play football. He's afraid of the introductions. Ah, that makes, that makes sense. No, Keenan's been good. And what's crazy. His target pace is 183 over the last five games. What's crazy is Keenan at his elderly statesman age. Yeah, it's me, Keenan. It's like, he is doing really cool stuff. I mean, his hands haven't gotten worse. You, you have a couple of these plays where I don't even know how he saw them. Like cartwheels and somersaults. I remember he was juggling. He was basically on a slant defender blocking his vision of where Caleb was.

Caleb throws it right behind him. And somehow he reaches his hands out and snags a ball that I don't think he could have seen, but a millisecond before it was there. I mean, obviously Keenan is, you know, he's an all timer. He's great, but he's showing no, you know, no letdown on the skills side. Brian Thomas, Jr. 13 targets, nine for one 32. Another touchdown where he was open by 30 yards from the closest defender. Absolute beast. Wide receiver six on the year. I thought he helped me crush you in draft Kings because I had him in my lineup and I didn't realize that that HN run at the very end.

Oh, yeah, yeah. That took you back. So you actually won. Yeah, I ended up sneaking by. Just a cool 208 target pace with Mac Jones. That the 208. There will be plenty of time in a whole entire offseason, which, ladies and gentlemen, if you're new to the show. We don't shut the podcast down in the offseason. We are year round. We have two. Once once January hits, we're still two episodes. We're still breaking things down. That's when the fun stuff. We think Al's still coming in. Maybe. Papa Josh, definitely not. I think Al's coming in with a crown on his head.

But we talk about the truth of what happened the past year. And then, look, rookies. Tons and tons of great stuff. But the conversations on Brian Thomas are going to be fascinating. He is absolutely dominating right now. But 10, 12, 14, 13 targets. This was not the treatment that he was getting from Trevor Lawrence. It's a tough discussion because that's also natural for a rookie to progress to that point. So you become a dominator, you know, the OBJ rookie season and the chase. And, like, these guys are going to – like, I'm going to be so in on Brian Thomas because I loved him in college.

I love the skill set. You know, it doesn't mean it's always going to translate. It did translate. They found something here. They found something where other teams, you know, invested in other names. And this guy was right there. It has coincided with the injuries to Krisha Kirk, to Evan Ingram. Yeah, there's Gabe Davis. There's so much. So it's like there's all these reasons that, like, these numbers for him are inflated. And while that is true, I can't wait for people next year to be not as in as they should be on Brian Thomas because of those ancillary reasons because y'all should be soups.

He is awesome. Jameson Williams, huge day. Five for 143-1. What was it, like a 90-yard touchdown? It was 82 or something like that. I thought he had two touchdowns. No. Oh, Jameson Williams. I heard Jameson, and I was thinking the name that we have forgotten forever. Oh, you thought Crowder? Jameson Crowder. Oh, my goodness. Who did have two touchdowns. And he still plays football. If you want to use an old man voice, Mike, that's your old man. Crowder? Jameson Crowder has been in the league since the late 1960s. Yeah, he played for the Chicago Cardinals. Yeah. And you know what?