Starts of the Week + Week 16 Breakdown, FULL TILT! - Fantasy Football Podcast for 12/21

who it's going to be. This could be no one against the Jets. And if it's someone, you still have no idea who it's going to be. What about, yeah, I agree. But Curtis seems to be the preferred for Howell. I'm sure if Howell finishes the game. Hopkins or Curtis Samuel. Hopkins. Okay. Green Bay is six and eight. The Panthers are two and twelve. The drafting sports book line. Green Bay on the road. Five point favorites. Over under is 37 and a half. Another low one. Green Bay. You know, they lost last week to Tampa. It cost them a lot in the playoff race. Carolina, seven of their last eight games have hit the under because it's hard. It's just hard to watch. And it's hard for the Panthers to move the football. I am being backed into an Adam. They're winners now. They're winners. I'm being backed into an Adam Thielen start in a Dynasty League. So that feels good. It shouldn't.

You know, Chuba Hubbard, 96 plus yards for scrimmage and three straight. Honestly, I'd love to say play Chuba and no one else. That would kind of be like, I'm okay flexing Chuba and playing no one else. Yeah, I can agree with that. Yeah, sure. I think you could not play Chuba too if you really want. Ah, Chuba's been good. That's fine. Four straight good weeks. They are running the ball. like crazy because they know they can't pass the ball. Wow, the opportunities. The opportunities are outrageous. So, yes, you, I'm not saying don't plan. So it pays for 400 opportunities. So Chuba or Ty Chandler? Ty Chandler. Okay. Yeah, I mean, it's close. I could see it either way. It's just one of those things where you look at how many points the Carolina Panthers score. You know, they scored nine.

this last week. They scored six the week before. 18, 10, 10, 13, 13, 15. They haven't scored 20 points. It's what makes Chuba's fantasy output so impressive. Yeah, I mean, they just, you're not hoping for touchdowns. I mean, for him to finish it running back 11 on a week, they scored 10 points. Running back six on a week to score 18 points. Nice, nice effort. Yeah. Nice effort, Chuba. You're really giving your all. On the other side of the ball, teams don't put up a lot of fantasy points against Carolina. They haven't all year. They're second against the quarterback. They're second against whiteouts. They're first against tight ends. They're terrible against running backs because the other team can't score. I love Aaron Jones in this game. Yeah, love him. Absolutely. Aaron Jones is pretty much getting to a point of must start this week. I think he'll be the majority of the offense. You've got a very banged up wide receiving core.

Christian Watson, not practicing Wednesday, Jaden Reed, not practicing Wednesday. And it's just not a great matchup for the passing game. You just want to run on them. So I don't mind if in this game you literally say, let's start the main running back on each side and not worry about anyone else. I would be fine just because there's injuries to those wide receivers doesn't mean that like Romeo Dobbs to me becomes like a great play. Dude, Dobbs has been bad. relative to the opportunity he's been given. I mean, the last four games, I think all four weeks, you were like, Dobbs should have a nice game. Wide receiver, 62, 33, 50, 62. It's like Ben Wicks, or it's been Heath, or it's been somebody, you know, obviously Jane Reed's been heavily involved. He didn't practice. I think he didn't practice last week. He did not. He has, he has played through. He's played through a lot of injuries this year. He has not practiced. So I do. I'd play him.

He would be the one that I would throw into the lineup. But I'm benching Tucker Kraft after last week. I'm not, I don't like the matchup. Yeah, no. Are you okay with him? Craft is the level of tight end where you're playing a matchup. And this is literally the number one least points given up to tight end. So no, you're not playing craft. I was going to say the, if you're in the thick and both Watson and Reed are out, I think it's not a great matchup. that but don tavian wicks is someone that you could just pick up off the waivers like the morning of if you really need a wide receiver you know that gift of the person whose face melts off that people send around what the indiana jones no no not that one there's like a more of a digital looking face and his skin falls off i just really relate to that gift um

I see where he's coming from. Listen, the reason you saw a brief reaction there is because I see an injury update. And the injury update says the Colts running back Jonathan Taylor will practice on Thursday to determine if he can play in week 16. Oh, I'm determined. So there's a chance he gets out there. And he's like, ah, my thumb is just so painful right now. I can't really hold the football. I'm going to take another week and, you know, be ready for. Wow. The plot thickens. And just as a friendly reminder, if Zach Moss is out and Jonathan Taylor is out, he's probably Trey Sermon. I don't know that it is Trace Sermon. I think it is. Before that game got away, what's the other, I'm forgetting the name of the other running back there. He was getting work ahead of Sermon. But, yeah, I mean. Let's see. So we got it. What was his name?

Tyler Goodson. Thank you. Yeah, so Tyler Goodson, Tyler Goodson finished with 28% of the snaps. Tracerman was at 43%. I'll say this. Took half of the running back. I'm not even touching those guys in the matchup against the fourth best run defense in football if those guys are out. If Moss and Taylor are out. I'm not willing to mess around with however that would go. I think it would be a lot of Gardner Minshu and just Gamble Town on the ground. Yeah, that's fair. Oh, yeah, a tweet from John Daigle pointing out Goodson now touched sermon 8 to 2 until the Colts were up 14 or 2413. So yeah, maybe. Yeah, I agree with Andy. The right answer is neither. Tanya Harding did the wrong thing, right? Tonya Harding? I don't think that's going to help you win your matchup if you take out Josh's knees. I mean, she got a movie maybe. I wouldn't be targeting Josh.

Oh, you're going to NFL players? I'm asking you if she did this to the next level. I'm asking you if she did the wrong thing. Yes, she did the wrong thing. Okay. That's all I'm asking. No, I'm happy you asked. Welcome to starts of the week presented by Purina Pro Plan. I think Papa Josh is going to be in studio tomorrow ahead of the matchup. Nice. So I don't know if there's, can we put like one of those big water balloons above his head that I could shoot in the middle of the show? We can do whatever we want. You can make him hang it. I guess that would damage a lot of our equipment. Worth it. All right. Start to the week this week. I am going with Joe Flacco. I'm taking Joe Flacco in the Houston matchup. So your start of the week is not Jared Gough. No, Mike. Who would you start between Joe Flacco and Jared Gough? Andy. Previously this week I said Jared Gough. After today's show, it's Joe Flacko. All right. Lay it out.

It's the past attempts. I mean, they've been through the roof no matter the situation. You have Jerome Ford who's coming back from a, he's been banged up every week. You have a just the shell of Kareem Hunt. I mean, he is not a functional running back anymore. You can't move the ball consistently on the ground. So they're using their passing game. They're using their tight ends. They're using Najoku and Cooper. And Joe Flacco was not afraid to stand in the pocket and chuck it downfield. And he's done it consistently and done it well. Houston 27th against quarterbacks and schedule adjusted.

You did have Case Keenham with some competent play last week for Houston where they won the football game. So I don't think that it's a guarantee that this game is a low-scoring affair. I think it could surprise a little bit in Houston. So it matters for both teams. Joe Flacco has the start of the week. Look, I'm trying to pick somebody that's not at the tippy top of this list. I'm trying to give you somebody that you are actually making a decision like Mike is. So, you know, the case for Joe Flacco is. I would be happy with 202 from Joe Flacco this week if I'm trying to find somebody to step in there. You guys Mitch Trubisky 2002 a couple weeks ago. Flacco is above that category in a plus matchup. Pumped the brakes, man. Trubisky was a hero for our team. That's like, look, there you go. All right. Earmuffs, Andy. My quarterback started the week. Taking my ears out and I'm leaving. Justin Fields, your opponent's quarterback against Arizona.

Since returning from the injury, the Bears... He's a good play. Yeah, he's a great play. The Bears are playing at a blistering pace. Chicago is running 68.8 plays per game. That's the third most in the NFL over the last five games. And Fields has taken over on the ground. He is averaging 12.3 rushing attempts per game. And Arizona ranks 31st in points allowed. 26th in points allowed to quarterbacks. 40% of opponents passing attempts. result in a first down or a touchdown. That is by far the highest in the NFL. So the matchup at home in a favorite game against Arizona. I gave him Justin Fields. Yeah, yeah. You are the reason for your death. Just go to go to Andy's cam real quick. You know that Justin Fields has been watching you this whole show. Oh my goodness gracious. Oh my goodness gracious. Justin Fields was behind Andy the whole time. Like the boogeyman.

I knew I felt something evil. Josh. Josh did that, right? He sucks this up. I don't know. They say it's a coincidence, but there are no coincidences. Oh, man. All right. My start of the week, I'm going Baker Mayfield against Jacksonville. Wow. He was the QB because I'm like you, Andy. I'm trying to find if you don't have a locked in starter and you're scrambling. I think that Baker is a really good stream this week. I brought him up earlier, but more top 12 finishes than DAC, seven to six and Jacksonville. a pass funnel defense 29th, schedule adjusted to quarterbacks, allowing over 270 passing yards per game. That's 28. The Baker to Mike Evans connection should be strong this week. Yeah, all right.

I'm taking the combo package of Rahim Mostert and Devon A-chan against Dallas. Okay. The Dallas defense was torn to shreds last week. This is more an endorsement of A-chan. Nobody's sitting down, Rahim Mostert. But I think A-chan is going to make his mark this week. More opportunities. He's being targeted a ton. Tyree Kiel, we think he'll be back. If he's not, it's even more of an endorsement of A-chan. And so I'm going to go with the tandem there against Dallas at home. Well, I'm going with a tandem as well, two running backs that combined last week to score 2.2 half-PPR fantasy points. They are my running backs that put me out of the playoffs. Bejohn Robinson and Breece Hall. They're my guys. Nice. These dudes crushed me this last week. And because I am out, they are going to be. Wait, you put both in? Yes. Oh, yeah, baby. They're going to be great.

I know they're going to be great because that will hurt me a lot. But the truth is, they have really, really good matchups. Bejohn faces the Colts defense. I can't believe you're doing this. That ranks 26th in rushing yards allowed, 28th and expected points per rush. And Atlanta plays way better at home. Breeze faces the commanders. We talk about both of these on today's episode, 31st and schedule adjusted fantasy points to week eight. Listen to the last six running backs to face the commanders. Kyron was the running back five. A. Chan was the running back four. Pollard, who had been not doing so great, running back nine. Saquan, the running back one. Kenneth Walker, the running back five. Ramandre, the running back three. So they're not stopping nobody. I mean, those are good running backs, but Breece is a good running back too. So Bijon and Breese will do for you what they could not do for me. Mike?

I'm going with Zeke against the Denver Broncos. I want to give people the confidence after the... I think they need the confidence. The real stinker last week is just reminding you this is the type of running back that you go after. The volume. The three weeks with Remandre out, 22, 30, and 17 opportunities, 16 receptions in those three games. The Denver defense, while they have improved since the debacle against the Miami Dolphins, Running backs are still doing just fine. You had Jemir Gibbs and David Montgomery with 185 rushing yards this past week. I mean, it's just play him. The opportunities are there. And it could be a snow game, which a snow game could favor Zeke as you've heard offensive players talk about, you know, the defense because they have to react. So when they're in the snow, it's a little harder to get your footing. I'm playing Zeke.

All right. I think the theme of today's start of the week, it has been like a little pat on the butt for some guys that have let you down based on the Bijan-Breece Hall situation, Zeke last week. I'm going to go with Stefan Diggs against the Chargers. They just gave up kind of like incredible days to three Raiders wider series, Trey Tucker, Jacoby Myers, and Devante Adams. They're allowing the most passing yards in the league. And Stefan Diggs has the opportunity in this one to really take advantage of the first half of this game. Go out there, reestablish it, move down the field. And I think Stefan Diggs is a must start this week for those of you living on the edge of benching him. And I'm going to go with the stack with your quarterback, Amari Cooper. Why are you doing this? At Houston. The last two games of Joe Flacco, 22 targets and 186 receiving yards.

We mentioned the increased passing volume that's going on with the Cleveland Browns right now. Cooper leads the team in targets, 25% target share versus zone coverage. Since week six, Houston ranks 27th and scheduled adjusted fantasy points allowed to wide receivers. They're allowing the third highest completion percentage. I don't see a world where you could bench Mari Cooper with Joe Flacco with the passing volume that's there right now. And I'm going with T. Higgins. He is the last man standing here for the Cincinnati Bengals with with, I'm sorry, with Jamar Chase expected to miss. We had the eruption last week, the two touchdowns, including one of, I mean, just an absolute one of the best plays of the year with the stretch for the touchdown. Jake Browning is playing well. And in the four games that we've seen T. Higgins without Jamar Chase, the numbers are better from seven targets to nine, 62 receiving yards up to 93, 11 fantasy points up to 15 and a half. T.

I'm not scared of Pittsburgh. I'm playing him. All right, David Najoku is my start of the week. You know, with Joe Flacco, Mike. David Najoku at Houston, he has been on fire, tied in two for back to back weeks, nine plus targets per game. You watch these games. He is just, he is their offense along with Amari Cooper, Houston 27 against tight ends. So three. Give me David Najok. Cleveland Brown starts of the week. That is correct. We like them this week. Okay. Thanks. At tight end. I am going with Evan Ingram. He is, he's quietly having a historic season. I don't know if you guys realize this. He's on pace for 107 receptions right now. That'd be tied for the fourth most all time for the tight end position. He's on pace for 587 routes run. That would be top 10 all time. Schmevin is all of a sudden morphed into like a steady Eddie. He's the only tied in with four plus receptions every single game.

I personally think Trevor Lawrence will be back and clear protocol. But either way, I think that, you know, the tight end is going to be really valuable because the matchup is perfect. Tampa Bay, they're allowing the third highest yards per attempt. They are dead last against tight ends since week eight. They are a matchup I've been targeting. When you've got someone this involved in the offense in a matchup that that is where they are beat. You can't go away from Schmevin this week. And I'm going with the confidence play of Isaiah likely. And you're like, of course I'm playing Isaiah likely, but then you look at the matchup and go, oh crap, it's the San Francisco 49ers. Well, fear not because surprisingly over the last five weeks, the team that has given up the most points over expected to the tight end position is in fact the San Francisco 49ers. Trey McBride just went 10 for 102 against them. He.

likely seems like he is the primary read for the Baltimore Ravens right now. And look, it's a Christmas miracle, right? You get the Monday night game. You get some Isaiah likely action. Would you play likely or Zay Flowers in the Flex? I would play likely. Based on that. I would play Isaiah likely. Okay. That is it for starts of the week. We want to thank our sponsor, Peerina Pro Plan Sport. ProPlan sport provides fine-tuned nutrition for strength and stamina that enables dogs and owners to take on life's adventures together. Pro-planned sport, high-performance fuel for active dogs. It all starts. Here we go. Jason Moore's Iron-clad, locked and loaded, 100% guaranteed boom-boom-boom kicker of the week. Last week on the boom-boom kicker, I opened up a can of whoop on Tyler Bass.

With Christmas soon on its way, I took a list and jumped on my sleigh, crossing out naughties like old St. Nick. Cole will not do, for kickers deserve a lump of poo. Merry Christmas, you filthy animal, to the Rams Lucas Haversick. It's been, it's been good for a couple weeks. Oh, it's good. I really enjoyed the... The lack of confidence on saying the kicker's name. Thank you. Yeah. No, that's good. However. We've got, I believe we've got two more boom booms. Oh, right. I hope of all time. Maybe, I mean, I think, I think maybe. We might have to do something special. Kyle did say that that's his favorite, the only segment on the show is kids listen to, which makes sense. Oh, yeah. It's a big deal. There's a high, there's a big poo related.

kind of yeah i do i do question the parenting um you know his children are very young and sometimes this this boom boom story too young for a poop joke oh no but what i mean i'm i'm i'm straight murder at this point yeah all right well uh continue your tilting hopefully we helped you out with the matchup breakdowns we've got the rest of them tomorrow we've got uh an opportunity for me to be shamed on the show tomorrow papa josh in studio as we face off for the weekend And you want to follow along with that. I just remembered what it was. The shame. Oh, no. Did you pick it? I did. Because I won. Cool. And you're laughing. And that's bad. It's very funny to me. I can't wait. Well, I mean, it's Christmas. Maybe I'll get something good under the tree for the shame. No. Doesn't seem like it. All right. We'll catch you tomorrow. Goodbye.

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