Week 15 Studs & Duds + Revenge of the Smith - Fantasy Football Podcast for 12/18

Well, it was a wild weekend, huge playoff matchups, big names not performing, some under the radar names that delivered big performances. We get into all the studs and duds, talk breaking news, upcoming week matchups, and a whole lot more on today's show. Make sure you click subscribe and enjoy today's episode. To the Fantasy Footballers podcast with your host, Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike Wright. Oh, welcome in. That's very high pitch today. Yeah, I mean, does that mean you're happy? Are you a happy camper? I'm a whole bunch of everything, Jason. A little happy, little sad, little crazy, a little caffeinated. Yeah, you didn't win them all. You didn't lose them all. Yeah, I didn't lose any of my bye weeks. That's always a nice part. Welcome in one and all. Monday, the fantasy footballers, Jason Moore.

Mike Wright, Andy Holloway. So much to react to over the weekend. A lot of emotions were flowing here in Baller's Studio. And there's still football to be played tonight. And does Jalen Hurts play football? I think so. He better. But why don't we just kick the show off with one of our favorite segments? It's the Bejohn. I was ready for Monday Punday. Oh, man. And you hit me with a Bijon minute drop. You hit me with a Bijon from your playoffs drop. Dude. Oh, man. Revenge of the Sith. Holy moly. Arthur Smith, you suck. Arthur Smith, you suck. I'm so happy you lost that game. I hope you lose your job.

You have some different opinion? Number two. Remember when you were like... Yeah, Arthur... Yeah, it was like, oh, Loki's not a bad guy. We got like a whole super cut of you singing praises of Arthur Smith. You lost Carolina. You fell right into his trap. I sure did, man. He waited for week one of the playoffs. You think he doesn't know its playoffs and fantasy football? 100% he does. 1,000%. He's like, hey, hey, check this out. This is four weeks ago. He got his coaching staff together. He goes, hey, check this out. Do you see that the fantasy football playoffs start the week that we have the best matchup against a ground opponent? Like, we can run all day on Carolina. What if we don't use Bijon? I mean, Bijan seven for 11. Three targets. And a fumble. One fumble.

I had to teach him a lesson. The Falcons Big Three, Drake London. By the way, I sent you each $100. Oh, yeah. I did receive it. I received it as well. I put, I fell for the Drake London into my DFS lineup. The Falcons Big Three touched the ball and 25% of offensive plays. So that's Drake Lenin and Kyle Pitts, Bejohn, 25% of the plays. Bejohn had a season low, 58% of offensive snaps. Nice. That's the lowest of any healthy game this year. Perfect. Mike, did you say Revenge of the Sith? I did. Oh, man. You got screwed. He thought he could win the game without the three plays. He's like, it's Carolina. This is going to be hilarious. I'm going to.

control all the fantasy football players. And then it got out of control. Yeah. And then he was like, oh, oh, no. We can lose this. We can lose this game. You did lose. But at least. To Bryce Young and Carolina. At least you had on your other running back. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Because you had Bejohn. And this is in your dynasty playoffs. No, no, no. This is in half of my play. So I'm in four playoffs. Yeah. And in two different leagues. Well, you were. You were. Well, right. I had. Bejohn Robinson. And Brees Hall as my two running backs. And how did, what's the Brees Hall minute like? Oh, Brees Hall like quadrupled the score of Bichon Robinson. But my opponent played Tage Spears, who outscored those two guys combined. And Spears scored about five? Right. Yeah. Oh my gosh. It was not great. So those guys. Oh, fantasy football thoughts? Real big fan. Yeah. I mean, it's really ironic because, you know, my.

We've, uh, this, over the course of the season, all three of us have had really good dynasty teams in our main dynasty league. Andy and I, we were basically playing for the buy all year. And my team was built on the back of three young stud running backs, Breece Hall, Bijon, and Travis Etienne. Well, that didn't work. Yeah. Yeah. I don't think the three of them combined for 10 points. And I'm still technically in it. I need 46.1, four points. from Jalen Hertz and Devante Smith tonight. Well, we weren't the only ones reacting to the weekend, of course. And boy, there was a lot more bad than good coming in on Monday, Punday, as you would expect on a weekend like this. We didn't, some of the studs didn't perform. So let's reflect in the most sophisticated fashion possible with some of your Monday Punday entries. Why not start with the good? Like Isaiah.

Certainly. That's good. Or Yaden Waddle. Oh, he was good. Super Cup. Or Christian McTouchdown. Uh-huh. I like this guy. Rushie, nice. Yeah. How about some James Cookin? And how about Sam La Playoffs? Yeah, baby. He might end up the number one tight end on the year. Yeah. Sam La Transporter you to the next round of the playoffs. Or you got the bad. Breece Halt or Begone Robinson. Let's just stay there with Bejunk Robinson. Bejan Robin wins from me. And then, man, he's been so good, but then Mike? Yeah, Jack Poop Scott. Or sacked Prescott. Oh, Lost in Echler. Devon A. Can't. And Flake London, of course. Yeah, and sad. Travis Smelsey.

Oh. And Sam Bowles? Yeah. Yeah. Oh, man. There were a lot of letdowns this week. And as an update that is four years in the making. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Destiny. Destiny's child has disbanded. And our champ, champ, champ team. We got. Travis Smelsey here reminded me. Yeah. We got McCaffreed. We sure did get McAfree. Destiny is over. Yeah. Yeah. And I believe the other, how many teams in that league? 12. Yep. So 11 teams throwing a parade this afternoon. There was much rejoicing in the Slack. Yeah, a lot of gifts. Oh, my gosh. It was really, I think.

The rain is over. It's hurtful. The king is dead. Me and Jason were we were hurting. Oh, I'm sure. And these guys are just like, I'm going to throw all these gifts to make fun of it. I can't believe. It's completely inappropriate. Childish. I'm not in that league and I couldn't be happier. I have, I have been listening to champ, champ, champ for so long. We didn't get it. Down goes Frasia. Yeah. Champ champ champ, champ. Oh, the last year, yeah. Now you're going to have to try to go for champ, champ, champ, space, champ. Yeah, we'll take a high time. Yeah, we're probably going to need to do a little bit of rebuilding. Has the clock run out? Yeah, we are our Derek Henry, Mike Evans, Travis Kelsey, uh, lead roster is, uh, it's like a fine wine that is.

expiring. It's like, oh, this one's been too old. I know it's studs and duds today, so we're going to talk about all of them. But, I mean, you know, if you played Easton Stick, you got a lot more points than you did from Sam Hal's 11 or Dax 8 or Kyler 16 somehow or Fields 12. A lot of the, those are the quarterbacks, man. Yeah, I mean, they really stunk it up. And what's funny is, like you said, all of the no-name guys that nobody would have played. They all scored over 20 fantasy points. The Jake Brownings and the, you know. Did you see Jake Browning? He had his, you like that moment? Yeah. Oh, I missed that. He turned to the camera. He slammed his helmet down and he said, you shouldn't have something cut me. Yeah. Yeah. I read about it, but I didn't, I didn't, I haven't seen it. It was great. Yeah. He's three and oh. Yeah. I mean, fired up for him. And he got it done again. It's, it's wild. It's been a crazy.

Crazy weekend with more on the table. All the studs and duds today. Let's talk some news first. News and notes from around the league. Presented by USAA Insurance. Jamar Chase suffered an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder. The Bengals are bracing for Jamar Chase to miss some time. He's getting an MRI today. If only you made the playoffs, Mike, T. Higgins could have just carried you from here on out. Yeah, we're not going to talk about my illegal record scoring output this weekend. For Jamar Chase, there was the little bonus news blurb of he went to do the MRI and he was in too much pain to actually get it done. Well, that's not good. Yeah, yeah, be prepared to be without Jamar Chase. I think in an MRI you're just laying there. I mean, guys do crazy stuff, but we'll be talking replacements. Michael Pittman.

who was on his way to another great game. Yeah, he was. Was absolutely annihilated in a hit that left him in the concussion protocol and also had the defender ejected from the game. I think he should be ejected from several games. He should have to miss as many games as Pittman misses. That hit was brutal. And what's crazy is like it's concussion protocol. So this is this is brain. But like the hit was more than just head. I mean, the way that he. kind of got bent backwards. I was worried about his neck. Yeah, he's scorpion. Yeah. That is exactly what happened. Everybody knows what you mean when you say he's scorpion. And Levis reversed scorpion, right? No, he also scorpion. That's a scorpion, full scorpion. Yeah, you don't want a scorpion. No, you don't. It's one of my, what did Keaton Mitchell do then? Oh, that was the hyper extension of his knee. That was, that was not worth watching. Yeah. Zach Moss got off to a hot start.

And then injured his right wrist, never came back in the game. That one, like the Pittman and Moss ones feel just extra awful. I mean, injuries always feel bad, but 31% of the snaps for Pittman. He was already four for 78. He was crushing. Zach Moss scored on the play that he re-injured his arm. And then the running backs before the Colts went on to have good outputs. So it was just insult to injury. Trevor Lawrence left with a concussion. Yeah. He is in question for next week. Yeah, yeah. That was after the game. It was announced he's in protocol and so TBD. Not the concussion after the game though, right? Concussion was during the game. He got the concussion during the game. Didn't know if it was one of those hit your head in the locker room things. See the players do. Hollywood Brown. Why is this beam so low? Hollywood Brown exited again with a heel injury. Hollywood Brown has been utterly deleted from the software. Like there is no.

The remaining code for Hollywood Brown. He doesn't know. Kyler doesn't know. I mean, he left the last game he was in. He only played half of those snaps with this heel injury. Then had the by week. Then missed practice after the by week came and started and hopefully he didn't start him. You can't trust him the rest of the season. Jaden Reed left early with a toe injury after another good game. Will Levis. High ankle sprain is what's being reported. It looked bad, but then he was on the sideline standing up. Zach Wilson did not return for the second half. It was listed as dehydration by the CBS broadcast and then the team labeled it head. Ruled out with concussion. It was. I mean, Zach Wilson was in a full snapback pedal. Yeah. Every single play. Jason, you said not enough credit goes to how bad the offensive line is.

with relation to how bad the Jets are, with relation to how bad their quarterbacks. Yeah, you think, you know, the quarterback will fix it. Aaron Rogers is the problem. The fact that he got injured, Breece Hall is bad, and it's all because of the poor quarterback play, how bad Zach Wilson is, how bad the quarterbacks behind Zach Wilson were. But I know people have talked about. I mean, this isn't breaking news that the Jets offensive line is bad, but it doesn't get, like Zach Wilson's. name has just trumped probably the biggest problem like I think their offensive line is a bigger problem than how bad their quarterback play is and their quarterback play is awful but I mean if you watch that game you can't bring Rogers back no he'll you paid him all that money he will be injured he will re-insured immediately just give the man scissors to cut his Achilles again right now if you want like he's dude you can't put him behind that offensive line

Over the Jets last 17 games, they have 13 total offensive touchdowns. The Brees Hall, six for 12. So wait, Brees Hall was six for 12 and Bijon was seven for 11. Yeah. So that's 13 for 23 between two superstars. Yep. And they will enter the what, if you made it through with one of them. Yeah, I hope you had the buy. They will enter the terror start category next week. Yeah, with Garrett Wilson. Well, yeah. Breece Hall at least gets the Washington Manders. So it should be okay. Okay. Okay. We'll see. The Eagles quarterback. Jaylen Hertz, we got news yesterday. He was downgraded to questionable. Dealing with a severe illness that worsened overnight, traveling separate from the team as to not get anybody sick. You have double quarterback questions tonight. Gino Smith is considered now a long shot to play. So the NFL flexed.

The Eagles Seahawks into Monday Night Football. And then now we might get Marcus Mariotta versus Drew Locke. My thoughts right now, hopefully you picked up Mario, because you couldn't, it's not like you could pick up Gino and be sure, or pick up Drew Locke and be sure. So Mario, at least you'd be sure to have coverage for Jalen Hertz. Yeah. But, you know, I imagine Hertz plays tonight, but it's still very nerve-wracking. If you didn't make plans. I guess you pivot to the Locke Gino situation if you can. Did you say the part that Gino is a long shot? Yeah. Okay, because I was laughing to myself. Imagine you're the staff of that plane that had to fly Jalen Hertz over. Like, Jalen, why are you by yourself? Oh, I don't want to get the rest of my team sick. Thanks for flying me. Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. I mean, Drew Lock. You're that sick? Get out of my plane. I would play Drew Lock over Mario.

I would play Drew Locke, too. You're saying if you could choose that, if Hertz doesn't go. Yeah, I would agree with that. And so that's tonight's game. Now, would you, if you need a big performance, but you've got a stack with Devante Smith, would that change you to go to Mario? Just hypothetically. Not me. I'd rather, I'd rather. I'd rather take the shot against the secondary that's now without Darius Slay. Yeah. Philadelphia is already the worst in history, numbers wise. Impressive with some of the touchdown and reception totals. And then you've got D.K. McCaff, Tyler Lockett, Jackson Smith and Jigba. I guess I'd roll. Just be healthy, Hertz. Please. Yeah. Well, he's not going to be healthy, but I think he plays. If you want to follow along at home, Jason's final chance at joy in this world is Jalen Hertz plus Devante Smith equals more than 46 fantasy points. Yeah. They've done it four times. So about 30% of the time this year.

It would have worked out. But 0% of those times did he have the flu. Yeah, or whatever he's dealing with. Is that confirmed? Was it the flu? No, I have no idea. That was today's news and notes presented by USAA Insurance. Learn more at USAA.com slash insurance. Studs of the Week, presented by NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube and YouTube TV. Well, if you had Sunday ticket, you can watch Jared Gough. Yeah. Five? We got it right, boys. Five touchdown passes. And you needed every one. Yeah, I am holding on. I need, it's me versus Brooksie. Yeah. And if D.K. Metcalf scores 23 or so, Brooks will win. And I needed Jared Goff for that buffer. Yeah, and it'll be a horror show for you if, like, D.K. gets the first half touchdown.

Oh, yeah. Because if that happens tonight, you will be on like second half till watch. So this is, that's it. It's just Brooks needs D.K. And yeah. And, okay, and D.K. needs 22.4, I believe. Something like that. How many times has he done it this year in our scoring format? Once or twice. Recently. Yeah, but it was the three touchdown game, but that was not Drew Locke. I know. So Mike, Mike's already got. But it's against Philly. Jared Goff. Five touchdowns, the quarterback nine on the year. And just the nastiest, stinkiest drive home a touchdown at the very end of a game for, it's not for no reason, but they went for it on fourth and short just to ice the game. And then golf is like, I'm just going to throw another touchdown. So that was delightful. Yeah. Congrats. Yeah. So we have Baker Mayfield. Oh, my goodness. Perfect passer rating. First time in history in Lambo.

That he was excellent. He looked great. I mean, he was 22 for 28. 381 yards, four touchdowns. I know the biggest loser out there in the Megalabole, which I am out of now, he had Jalen Hertz and he was worried about the sickness. He had the gumption to put in Baker, and he got all these points. Good, good move. Yeah, I mean, the names that I'm reading out are not often started. I mean, Baker and Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew and Derek Carr. These are DFS guys. So, you know. It was a bad week for quarterbacks in general. Brock Purdy, though, four more touchdowns against the Cardinals. Next week, Baltimore, that's the matchup. Running back, CMC, three touchdowns. Oh, man. The Cardinals left McCaffrey and Debo so open on a couple of plays. I mean, they.

It's wild. They have to go play Baltimore next week, right? So that'll be a much more difficult matchup. Thankfully, it's at home. Baltimore, they're a really good defense, but Christian. It's San Francisco, though. Yeah. They're unstoppable. And he is the betting favorite for offensive player of the year. Brock Purdy? No, Christian McCaffrey. Oh, McCaffrey is? For offensive player. Oh, okay. Yeah. No, that makes sense. He's having one of those seasons. Yep. You know, you look back on and you remember Ladani and Tomlinson, you remember like these crazy seasons. He's on pace for 370 opportunities, 2,200 total yards, 24 touchdowns total. Only three running backs have ever hit that mark. L.T. Priest Holmes, Marshall, Falk. This is one of those like, you got him, you're going to win a championship. It's got to be hard to miss out. Like, it took Christian McCaffer to beat Champ, Champ, Champ. We got McAfreed.

You got McCaffrey in DFS. You fool. Yeah, yeah, I did. And I am nervous about the Baltimore game because people need them in the semis. He plays Washington for the championship. So it's like I have a team, the dynasty number one seed that I've got McCaffrey. And last year I lost in the semis when I was the favorite. And this year I'm afraid of McCaffrey against Baltimore. But you just got to hope they can overcome. Hopefully it's a good game. It's a Christmas game. Monday night, Christmas, Baltimore, 49ers. Christmas miracles. Are those the best two teams in football record-wise? Believe so. Yeah, that's crazy. James Cook was crazy. Oh, my goodness. Yeah. Like a hot knife through butter on every play, 25 for 179, two touchdowns. And they could not stop him. They couldn't stop. You know who was stopping him? The Buffalo Bills.

There were several plays where they're by the end zone. And he's like, no, we can't. We can't put James Cook in there. Well, I mean, Latavia's Murray got a touchdown on the ground in this. It was. Josh Allen had a touchdown on the ground. And the last five weeks for James Cook, the number two, number two, number 17, number nine, number 24. So somehow he's the RB5 on the year, although the last five weeks were really the only ones that you could start him with confidence. But they have changed the equation in Buffalo. They are running the football. They are giving James Cook opportunities. It has come at the expense of Dalton Kincaid and Stefan Diggs and Gabe Davis. I mean, Kincaid and Gabe Davis both goose this week. So hopefully you ran away from Kincaid the way I did in our League of Record because I was terrified. Well, you had David Nodoku. Yeah. So that made it a lot easier. It did make it easier, although I did talk to some people this week that had the other opinion.

I wanted to play Dalton Kincaid. And I was like, you crazy. I don't want to do that. You imagine? I would have lost. Jamir Gibbs continues dominating at football. 11 for 100. Two more touchdowns. He is now the RB7 in fantasy points per game. Nice. Ty Chandler. Yeah, baby. He looked awesome. 23 for 132 and a touchdown. He looked better than Madison. Madison ever looked this season. Well, Madison had 13 games and zero rushing touchdowns. Taya Chandler got one star and has a rushing touchdown. And 132 yards and explosive top end speed that you're looking for. And huge shout out to Mike because he was bullish on Chandler and I was bullish on Chandler until the like just thinking more about the quarterback situation and remembering what Mullen's, yeah. What like who is the demon quarterback that ruined Delvin Cook? Man, we would have to look that one up. It was a.

Kyle, are you listening? It was an atrocious player. This was the Green Bay game. Was this 22? This cost me a championship. Sean Mannion. No, it wasn't Mannion. Mani would have been great. Was that week 17? Yeah, it was week 17 championship? And all he had to do was help Delvin Cook get about six points. Or was it 16? Was it week 16 in a 17 week season? It's one of those. We'll find the name. Yeah, I'm trying to scout it down here. Yeah, I'll know it because, I mean... No, I think it was Sean Mannion. It was not Sean Mannion. Yeah, it was Sean Manion, because Dalvin Cook was nine for 13. Was it? Yep. And three receptions for zero yards. It was a combo. Sean Mannion was 22 of 36 and Kellyn Monde had three passes. That's who it was. It was Kellyn Monde. Well, Mon had... No, no, no, it's not that game then. It was the game Kellen Monde started. I can promise you. It was Green Bay.

Yeah, this is the Green Bay game. Did Kellamonts start that game? That I don't know. I'm just looking at box scores. Anyways. But yeah, back to Ty Chandler being awesome. And, and robbed of a touchdown. I don't remember how long the run was, but it was a, it had to have been like a 40-yard rush, gets tackled barely on the one. And then they called the stupidest pass play. that you can call for the end zone and Nick Mullins is running around, running around, throws up a prayer ball that Jordan Addison happens to catch. It was like, come on. Come on, man. Give the ball to Chandler. He deserved that touchdown. Kyron Williams, 27 for 152 in a touchdown. The chalk. He looked. It hit, baby. He looked a lot like James Cook looked where it was just unstoppable every single play back and forth. But I, I.

As good as he is, and he's been great. I mean, the Washington Manders, it's just, yes. Sometimes matchups aren't fair. Rashad White, now they are before on the year, continues to dominate. Yeah, he had 50 yards receiving with a receiving touchdown to go along with 20 plus carries again, almost 100 yards on the ground. He's been really, really great. And he's so consistent. His floor is so high. They have really changed to where. He is like the center of their offense, and he's a true workhorse. He gets volume in a way that there are like five other guys get in the league. Speaking of volume, Devin Singletary. Yeah, what? Damien Pierce, I believe, had one opportunity in this game. I saw Gumba Wally out there. Yeah, he played one snap. He had one opportunity, and then Devin Singletary, this is something to watch. I mean, 31 opportunities, once again ran the ball well, 26 for 121.

Four for 49 through the passing game. He's the reason they won this game. He's the reason they won the game. And if you look at his history over the last six games, his pace would be 300 attempts, 1,500 rushing yards, eight touchdowns, 39 receptions. Wow. And that is with a couple of games where he didn't get a lot of snaps because of Damien appears. So, you know, it's a very tough matchup against Cleveland next week, but it's at home. And Devon Singles are I think is going to get all the snaps. Yeah, and he's been really, really good. He's won the job for a team that is competing for the playoffs. They are at the point now where it's like, I think they'll have C.J. Stroud back this week, which is even better. But they're at the point where it's like they need to put their best player on the field and make sure that they're securing these games to play, you know, after week 18. And I think it takes a lot of like, it's good coaching.

because he's been 4.8 a carry during that entire stretch, and you've got a player like Damian Pierce is about three a carry, maybe lower, and you're not just... You're not Algering? Yeah, you're not just like blindly loyal. Yeah. Just try to win the game. I hate Arthur Smith. Man, you went through a real... He got me. He got me! Yeah. It's like you guys had gone through counseling. Yeah. Things were looking better. Didn't work out. Yeah, but he, Arthur relapsed. Yeah, that was the issue. Clyde Andrew DeLair, Derek McKinnon. Clyde did not look good on the ground again, but he did have a big catch, 4-4-4-and-a-touchdown through the air. Derek McKinnon scored and then, I guess, missed some time. Yeah, well, he, it was a strange situation because it was the, he went out before halftime, you know, the clock is ticking down, but he already headed back. He did come back and he had a carry in the fourth.