Fantasy Flops + Playoff Scenarios, Week 18 Motivation - Fantasy Football Podcast for 1/3

On today's show, we break down some of the week 17 duds. Are we worried about them, the long-term future, as well as getting into the playoff scenarios? Who's motivated? What players can we actually play for fantasy football this week? Make sure you subscribe to this channel and enjoy the show. The Fantasy Footballers podcast with your host, Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike Wright. Oh, welcome in. Wednesday, January 3rd, the fantasy footballers back with you, Mike Wright, Jason Moore, Andy Holloway. We have Al Borland, Judge Diomati, and the Rapscallion and Ducers Alley this morning. We welcome you all in. Kind of an exhale for most of you as the season concludes as the stat corrections finalized this morning. Hope you didn't lose your championship, but I hope you accidentally won one.

Yeah, it, you know, it settled at least one of our leagues that was very close, at 0.3, I think, victory. Yep. And congrats to all the winners out there. Saw many of you picking up Foot Clan title t-shirts at shopballers.com. Let them know. And currently the retro t-shirt is winning the day. So we have our traditional and then we released a retro. And there are more people going. Which one do you like better? I mean, I got one of each. Do you? And we welcome you, and we've got, you know, yesterday we covered a lot of the studs. We celebrated with you, talked about some of the big performances over the final three weeks, went through the kind of the league winners. And today we're going to jump into a quick question here.

Regarding the duds, the players let you down. Which week 17 duds are you most concerned about going into the future? Because there are some names that have been synonymous with fantasy football victories and domination for a very long time. I would say some of these guys, the majority of the time we've done this podcast, which we're wrapping up season nine. But these guys have led the way, and now you are left wondering. So, Jason, who's at the top of that list for you? Yeah, for me, this guy hasn't necessarily led the way. He doesn't qualify as what you just described, but he was a young, exciting prospect that I think everyone was expecting a massive fantasy career, got injured, came back this year. And I'm talking about Giovante Williams, who's still only 23.7 years old. He is young enough to be successful in the future and the injury he had.

was basically like a two-year timeline. If you remember this last off-season, we didn't want to draft him anywhere. We were kind of universally out on Giovante. I'm happy because that worked out this season. But that was the expectation was like he won't get back to full strength until the following season. We didn't even think he would start the year. We thought he'd be on the pop. And then he's in preseason game one. The problem and the reason that I'm really fearful about Javante is because this offense... gave him all the opportunity this year. They gave him so much work. So far he's already got over 200 carries, plenty of 40 receptions. 257 total opportunities. Yeah, I mean, he's up there and he has wholly disappointed, not just fantasy managers, but probably the Denver Broncos. And I don't think that they can go, well, next year he'll be healthier. They've got a...

They've got to address their running back room. They don't have what they want. Sean Payton has always had a successful running back room that sets up his pass. I mean, the entire season, 3.6 a carry, and almost every single game, just ineffective. Two rushing touchdowns on the season with the amount of opportunities he has. Five top 24 performances in 17 weeks. He's just been straight up bad. And I don't blame him coming off of that injury. In fact, it's impressive he got back and he played, you know, all but one games this year. All but one game? Would that be? Yeah, it would be. Don't worry about it. We just, we tilted our head and moved on. So I guess I just worry he's going to be replaced this year. They're going to bring someone in either a big name or a high draft capital running back and we won't have the opportunity to see year two still young.

uh javanti recovered from that that injury so i you know if i have him well i i don't know that i don't know that you can get much for him right now i don't know that people are buying uh javanti's outlook he he's a worthy i mean a big discussion in general in one part because there was a time in the dynasty landscape where giovante williams was nearly untouchable we knew that the future for giovante williams was all but guaranteed as bright But one catastrophic injury and, you know, some changes in the offense, it just changes the outlook. Like adjusted expectations has to be the beginning of the Giovante story. Gilliam McLaughlin, if you watch this team during the year, a lot more juice than Giovante. Giovante was a kind of plotting adequate running back. And there will be those that I think want to take a chance on him next year.

Look, Jared Stidham could be the starting quarterback of this team. It's not going to be Russell Wilson. And they can't afford to go out and get a Kirk Cousins or something because of Russell Wilson's contract. They're going to be taking a ton of dead cap on. So this is an offense that's going to have to kind of scrape together pieces next year. So maybe what that says, maybe that's positive for Javante. Maybe it's like, well, we don't have the money and the draft capital to put more into the running back room and we'll have to rely on Javante again. If he comes back,

as the clear-cut starter next year, I think I'll probably be in because of that two-year timeline and his youth. I just, it would be hard for me to imagine. I mean, this team went out and signed Samajai P. Ryan right off the bat. They care about the running back core for this scheme. And if I'm the general manager, I don't know that I could rely on and say, we're good here with what you saw out of Giovante this season. P. Ryan is under contract next year. 4.5 mil cap number. Dead cap, should they choose to move on, would be one and a half. So, I mean, it seems like he should be there. But I'm with you, Jason, of the concern of like, you know, long-term dynasty. I got Javante chilling there. That free agency period and the draft are both going to be, you're going to hold your breath of just waiting for the Javante replacement to come in.

There's no way that Sean Payton's looking at that going. Yeah, that's next year. This is what we need to turn this into a winning football team. And historically, Sean Payton utilizes multiple backs. Yeah. So you're going to have like the opportunity for Giovante to deliver on his original promise, which would be workhorseback, four and a half a carry, explosive plays. I think that is, I think we can put it to bed. Yeah, because even if he is the primary guy next year, I think they'll bring someone in for a time share. Well, the two names I'll throw out there running back. I mean, it's not a surprise. But Austin Echler, Derek Henry, aging, declining powerhouse names. So Echler, 26 point, or sorry, 28.6 years old, free agent. Derek Henry, about to turn 30, a free agent. Derek Henry's still the RB8 this year.

I looked at it because I expected to see a worse number. No, it's insane. And he benefits from being, like if you put him on a winner next year, I think there will be draft hype around Derek Henry, Baltimore, right? If he goes to Baltimore or something. But both of these guys are potentially in the Delvin Cook trajectory, right? You shift teams and you're not necessarily handed the keys to a backfield. and you're older, less efficient, less effective. And, you know, I don't know if you can overcome those narratives in a Dynasty League either, where you're trying to, you know, how do you move on from these guys without saying I'm desperate to move on from these guys? Right. And if it were me, like if I'm in that boat and I'm saying, hey, I need to move on from Henry or Eckler. Mike, you've got Henry and Dynasty. I do. That has to be part of a bigger trade to me.

Because if the trade is just I'm trying to get rid of Derek Henry, it's like holding up a big sign. Yeah. And if you work him into a bigger deal, then maybe that name starts to pay dividends for you. That's how I would approach it. But, you know, there's a really, really slim list of age 30 plus running backs that have been relevant for fantasy. And, you know, Mark Ingram was one of them at age 30 AP. this past year, Rahim Oster. But, yeah, I am more concerned with Echler than I am with Henry for next season, though. I am as well. I think Henry will get a job. He still looked good this year. It was tough sledding behind a bad offensive line on a bad team where you're losing a lot. That's just not, you saw the games where they were winning and they were ahead. Like, they could.

do great things with Derek Henry, and he was very effective. Echler, Echler over the, I mean, over the last seven weeks, you know, he's on pace for 262 opportunities during that time, and he would have a total of 690 rushing yards on a 17-game pace. My concern with him is just the viewpoint of all teams looking for a free agent. Exactly. Where it's just, you know, I was trying to see how old. Stephen Jackson was when he had his kind of final decent years. But the Falcons years. Yeah, I guess I was just curious how old he was during those. Maybe Kyle, you can figure that out. But, you know, that's how I look at Derek Henry. Like Derek Henry can come into a place, maybe get 200 carries first and second down, not a third down back, manage his workload, go to Baltimore, go to a team that's winning ball games. Because when Tennessee had any chance of winning a ball game this year, he was great. When they had any opportunity to...

you know, be within a touchdown. He was great. Stephen Jackson went to Atlanta at age 30. And it wasn't. It wasn't good. Very special there, right? No. Yeah. So those two players are obviously on the radar. They both dutted out in the final week of the year. And Mike, you've got the name, maybe. I want to talk about Stefan Diggs and the insanity. That was the year of Stefan Diggs. It's like he powered down. Like through week nine, I don't have what he was in wide receiver terms, but just the, the consensus thought of Stefan Diggs is, no, he is wide receiver three. Okay, wide receiver three averaging almost 18 points a game, 93 yards, almost a full touchdown per game. Stefan Diggs was a locked in top five wide receiver. And then,

A blip happened in week 10. And you went, oh, that's weird. The Denver Bronx. Okay, maybe, you know, uh, certain. I don't know. Then he gets the jets. Well, that's a tough secondary. Maybe he'll bounce back. No. He did not. He did. He did not. What? Mike, since week 10, yeah. Do you know what wide receiver number he is? Uh, the, the number I, I, oh, no. He's the wide receiver 55. From weeks 10 through 17, he had one double digit game, and the rest of them are under seven points. Yeah, his average is 6.8. Barf! There was a very noticeable change. I mean, they brought, they fired their offensive coordinator, they switched play callers, all that stuff. But how does...

How does the star of your team, the not Josh Allen star of your team, vanish into absolute thin air? And if you've been with football for any amount of time, you'll know that Stefan Diggs, it's a very passionate man when it comes to all things. I'm honestly shocked. I haven't heard more from him in the recent weeks. Shocked. I think that you... It's tough because they've been winning. Yeah. We will hear from Stefan Diggs. Like, here's, you want to hear, here, here's something fun. Yeah, I won't click to play a game button, but, um, more productive fantasy receiver since week 10. Ready? This is, this is, uh, okay. Quentin Johnston? Oh, no. Or Stefan Digg. Oh, you got hugged. He got huge. Oh, that's gross. Barf. Quentin Johnston was.

Wide receiver 50 in that span, Stefan Diggs 55. Wow. See, he got dorched. He got cuaged. And here's the thing. Tank Dell was better in that span and he missed all that time. It was barf. Seven games. Seven games. Like that's in any football season. That's not just like, oh, you know, he's had a rough patch. That's almost half of his fantasy games. And they went. five and two during those games. This is the script that is winning for them when they were on the outside of the playoffs and had to fire their offensive coordinator. They're like, this isn't working. And yeah, Diggs was great. So he's 30. He still has a bunch more years and a bunch more guaranteed money. But what is going to happen? Because this will be, if Buffalo wins the Super Bowl, I imagine we won't hear anything. It'll be.

Stefan Diggs talking to the team of like, if I'm going to be here, you're going to give me the ball. Like that'll be the behind the scenes conversation. If they win the Super Bowl, he will have done something over the playoffs as well. You wouldn't think, but they're, to be fair, he hasn't done something over this four game winning streak. They beat Dallas and his production was four for 48. Last year. Kansas City with four for 24. Last year, Hollywood Brown, before he got injured, was a top 10 wide receiver in fantasy in Arizona. They close the year out, no Kyler. They come in with a new offensive coordinator, and Hollywood Browns are relevant all year. It feels a little bit like you just turned off the Diggs dependency software. And that's really what's happened. I mean, they have been willing to, Dalton Kincaid's, he had a pretty big game last week. His presence.

The return of Dawson Knox, Gabe Davis, the dependency on the run, like they did make a decision that we're not just going to chuck the ball downfield to Diggs over and over and over again. So thinking long term, because the outcomes are so large to me. Stefan Diggs, they could pass things up. And then things are perfectly fine with the Buffalo bills. They owe him a bunch of money. He still remains their number one wide receiver. or you play the game of careful what you wish for, Stefan Diggs. Fine, we're going to trade you. Kyle, he doesn't, I can't imagine he has a no trade clause or anything like that. I think his contract makes it almost impossible for them to trade him from what I had seen. But you, what do they do? Here's a glass half full approach. And by the way, I think everybody that was let down by Diggs over the last handful of weeks was thrilled to hear that entire diatribe because, you know, we understand. Yeah. And you got.

Because how do you stop playing Stefan Diggs? It's the word, him and Kelsey? The wide receiver three over the first half of the season. Those are the worst type of situations to find yourself in because you're never going to, I mean, we were here on the show. I will openly admit it. We did not say bench Stefan Diggs. It was like, it's pretty much that it's the tattoo that fantasy players have. Like you got to start, Stefan Diggs. Like you just have to do that. But he let you down as Kelsey did. Kelsey was stuck in your lineup. Yeah. Kelsey Echler and Diggs, those are the three vets that started strong, and that means you couldn't move on. At 30 years old, I don't think Stefan Diggs settles for an outcome where he's not getting the ball. So whether he fixes that outcome in Buffalo or he chooses that volume on another roster by some means of renegotiation of contracting, cut, and trade. That's what I mean, of careful what you wish for.

I just think he gets target someplace. Sure, but they could be Bryce Young targets. Yes. They could banish him to the Carolina Panthers or something. The first nine weeks, he was just over 30% target share for this team. Since week 10, that awful stretch where he's wider C-R-55, just under 30% target share. It's not a huge difference. It's a shift in what this team does. So I don't see it changing. Then. then Savon Diggs has to become a different person that would accept that. And I don't, I'm with Mike. We'll hear from Stefan Diggs if this fall. He's just waiting for a loss. He's waiting for a failure. He is. Come on. Come on, let's lose. I got some stuff to talk about. Can you put prop bets on tweets from Diggs when they're eliminated from the playoffs? We will see it for sure. Or they don't make the point. This week? Yeah, I think they're making the playoffs. Yeah, they should, but I'm saying.

That collapse. Oh, goodness. Oh, if they don't. Get the popcorn. He will unleash the fury. I will predict no signs of Buffalo bills on his social profiles within 24 hours of their elimination this year if it's not a Super Bowl title. If we know Stefan Diggs at all. All right. Let's talk a little bit of news. News and notes from around the league. Presented by USAA Insurance. Well, the Jets. have accepted reality in the terms given by Dalvin Cook who asked to be released. He was released. He wants the opportunity to go sign someplace. I think he gave up money to be released. Because he was on a guaranteed money per game scenario. So he's hoping that a team that's going to be in the playoffs will hope that won his services. It is worth saying. I mean, it was a complete crash and burn for Dalvin Cook. I mean, from the jump, right? We had.

optimism. Rogers wanted him there. Rogers is gone. But I do want to remind people, Bruce Hall could not run in this offense. So Dalvin Cook certainly was not going to be able to. So I don't know if that means Dalvin Cook has anything left. I'm sure he's got four net level stuff left. So maybe a roster adds him. I think he's got a little bit left. And the rumor is that the dolphins have made a contract offer. They obviously did. prior they did you know before he signed with the jets but that's the team that he's most linked to going forward Trevor Lawrence day to day expects the practice feeling better we'll see also Jacksonville opened up the 21 day window for Christian Kirk to return the team is much better with Christian Kirk yeah noah brown didn't practice on Tuesday a bunch of guys didn't practice for the Texans if you saw that practice report it was like all their starters

And this is a super important game. We're going to get into all the playoff implications, but that basically the Texans did make the playoffs because it starts this week. And then what I think is very valuable information when you look at the long-term decisions you have to make in keeper leagues and potential outcomes for Tray McBride, all of those things. Jonathan Gannon was on local radio here in Arizona yesterday. He was kind of asked, you know, who's the quarterback? for the future. And he was over the top in his assurance that there is no doubt that, number one, Kyler Murray is their franchise quarterback? They asked, is there any doubt in your mind, whether who will be your quarterback for next season? He said, no, there is no doubt. Number one is our franchise quarterback. That backs up everything Arizona has done despite speculation around Kyler. They also have the fourth pick now.

Yeah, and the quotes, even though they're as clear as it gets, that there's, you know, there's no doubt that Kyler's our guy, number one is our quarterback, he's our franchise quarterback. If you listen to it, it's even more affirming. The laughter that he gives when asked the question is like genuine, like, what are you talking about? We already have our quarterback. So that's, it was surprising to me that there was no question. Now, granted, this is the head coach. That's not, that's not Monty Austin for it, the GM? Maybe they do some scouting in the offseason based on where their pick is and something changes. But right now, you have to put it at 90% that Kyler's the quarterback. And if Arizona loses this week and New England beats the Jets, which I believe that game line is very, very close, and I think I took New England in that game, Arizona would be in a position to draft Marvin Harrison Jr. You look at potential dynasty quarterback buys.

Kyler might join that list. They have two first round picks. One of those is going to be an offensive player to help your team. And they're also linked to some significant free agent defensive players in Arizona like Chris Jones. So there is an opportunity for this team to improve. You saw them against Philly. They look good. They have played hard this year. They just don't have personnel. So Kyler Murray, a down year coming back from injury. We have to remember there's going to be, I don't think we let him off the hook at all this year. I'll put it that way. I agree. I don't think, you know, no Hollywood Brown basically, no receiving options, terrible personnel all around him coming back from an ACL tear. And I don't think we let him off the hook very much. Next year could be a much better year for Kyler, especially if you add someone like Marvin Harrison or Malik Neighbors. So just throwing that out there for thoughts. We have an offseason to debate it.

Yeah, I think it's a good point of you, to get maximum return, you have to take on risk. And I think that the Kyler Murray perceived risk is, like, the perception of it, I think is larger than it actually is. And Kyler Murray, when things are rolling, has been a good fantasy quarterback, a great fantasy quarterback. So if you are in a... you know, single QB, you've been struggling in Dynasty or something, you could probably get him for far cheaper than, like, the day the draft is over, or even the day that that pick five is done. Kyler Murray's value will either skyrocket or plummet, and I think that it will go up. I would do it right now if you're in a dynasty league. That's what I'm saying. This is the moment. The championship's over. Kyler had a disappointing.

season. We're not sure he's got a job. You go trade for him now. And single quarterbacks and super flex. He's even more valuable there. Also, we mentioned it yesterday. Sean McVeigh will continue coaching in 2024. This is very important for your Puka centerpiece type of discussions. Yeah, Kyran. For sure. Yeah, that's the tough. Kyron is the big one. Different head coach views a fifth round pick differently. Both those guys are fifth round picks. And you want the same system. It's crazy how high those two players are going to be drafted next year for Waverwire fodder, last round type of picks next year. They're going to be in the first and second round. Yeah. Seems right. All right. That was today's news and notes presented by USAA Insurance. Learn more at USA.com slash insurance. We're going to take a quick break and come back with our week 18 playoff primer. All right. We are jumping in. We wanted to break down the playoff motivation levels.

Go through all the teams this week. I mean, from an NFL fan perspective, there's a lot at stake this weekend. And if you're in a week 18 league, we are going to help you there too. Playoff primer. Gentlemen, let's talk about some teams that have clinched and have little or nothing to gain. So that's the AFC teams. The Ravens are the number one seed. The Chiefs are locked at three and the Browns are locked at five. How much do you expect to see these guys? I expect to see very little of the Ravens. They are locked up. I mean, honestly, I don't expect to see a full game from any of these teams, right? I mean, why would you put your players out there for 60 minutes of injury potential when it will not have an effect? Give them health. Give them rest. It's kind of what you see every year now.

So, yeah, I mean, I think last we had heard Harbaugh had not decided about Lamar, but if he does decide, I will guess it'll be a half. A half or something. I think it'll be like just a couple drives. Yeah, you could be right. And then we'll be Tyler Huntley. The 49ers are locked as well on the NFC side. And that's at the number one seed. Debo was on Kay Adams show talking about, do you expect to play? Do you want to play? And he said, yeah, but it was also clear that it won't be the entire game. Food for thought. Would it be realistic that Harbaugh is a great coach and these really good coaches, they're in tune with the players that want to set them up for success. Lamar is really close to getting an MVP. Right. So could Harbaugh, you know, play? Can anyone actually take it from him? I'm just saying if he sits Lamar, does that hurt his ability to?

win the MVP. I don't think so. I think it's done. Let's see. Kyle's saying he's minus 20,000. Okay, well then sit Lamar Jackson. It's a good, it is worth bringing up. Wait a minute. Is that real? He's a minus 20? Think about a thousand. Nothing can happen this week for any team that will change the scenario because all of the good players that would be in the running have already. They might be sitting as well. Like Brock Purdy was in the early contention. He's not going to be playing. So, I mean, unless you think Dak's going to throw over about 13 touchdowns this week, winning the division. That's what I thought is like, what if Dak balls out? But he can't take the number one seed, and I think that that matters. I think it's the fact the Ravens have it locked. Crazy. Minus 20,000 says. So that means just so if people aren't familiar, and correct me if I'm wrong, that means if I were to bet $20,000 and win.