Fantasy Football - Starts of the Week + Week 3 Breakdown, Trade Techniques - Podcast for 9/18

The Fantasy Footballer Studio is sponsored by Walmart. Welcome to the Fantasy Footballers Podcast with your hosts, Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike Wright. Welcome in. It's football time! Yeah! Sounded like you said that on a very uncomfortable toilet, Mike. You know, Mike, it's football time. There was some straining. I was speaking on behalf of the Miami Dolphins. Oh. For it shall be difficult.

Yeah. I like it. The Dolphins shall be constipated this evening. I hope not. Because if the Dolphins offense is constipated, then at halftime it will be about 73-0. There doesn't seem to be a lot of hope there. No. For the Dolphins. I hope that Jalen Waddle plays. That was the report, right? Oh. You're going to play him if he plays? No, no, no. I just hope he plays football. Oh, okay, okay. That was the report this morning. Was that they hope he plays. Right. They have no further insight. Jade, as the last week, we had the decision of the Ravens v. Browns.

Mm-hmm. And the Ravens were laying 11-and-a-half. In our pick-em, the office pool, I think it was at a 12-and-a-half. Yeah. That the Bills are laying. Where are you going with that one? I'm going to – if it was 22-and-a-half, I think I'm taking the Bills. Okay. I think I took the Dolphins to cover. Oh, man. Yes. I took the cover. Good. I like it. That means we get a point. Mike and Andy loses out on a point. Great. Hopefully. Oh, yeah? Are you sure about that? No, I'm just kidding. Oh, I thought you were going to almost upset it. No.

I really want you to. No, sir. We have a big show today. Welcome in, one and all. It is Thursday, September 18th. We have our matchups on the show today, starts of the week on the show today, news to catch you up on, and a lot's going on in the fantasy football universe. I've been trying to trade almost constantly, move players around. This is a pretty good time to do the sell high, do the buy low. Like, a couple weeks in, you know, we talked about data gathering. We talked about the fact that, you know, there's a bunch of these rookies not performing.

There's a bunch of veterans. Can I share one of your tactics with the Fook Clan? Because I think it's helpful for anybody. I don't even know which one it is, but go ahead. I hate it. It's disgusting, and I don't like you. All right. I like the sound of that. If you're in some kind of keeper league, or it would work in a dynasty a little bit, not quite as well. But if you're playing in a keeper league and your team just don't got it, you know, you're like, I don't know if I can win a championship or not. Andy has done this probably three or four times over the last dozen years.

And it annoys the garbage out of me. I get so mad. Whoa. This is a family show. He takes his really great pieces. You know, he's got like right now this year, he's doing it again. He had the Jamar Chase and Joe Burrow stack, and he sold them for a ton. And it looks like he's selling. He looks like I'm going to, you know, in keeper leagues. You've got buyers and sellers. Yeah, I'm in it for next year. But what he's really doing is he's just accumulating more value than the players he gave up. He's taking his great pieces and trying to get a haul of haul for thems.

For thems. And then he turns around, and he will sell all of his future assets for players in the now. And then at the very end of two series of trades, he has such a better team. And I can't stand it. So stop trying to trade, Andy. Just go play for the future and bow out, man. I'm just not. It's two weeks in, Jay. It's two weeks in. You suck. Lay down. Yes, lay down. Lay down. To die. Go behind the barn. No, look. One thing that we are working on here are a couple of trade tools. And one of them will undoubtedly be a trade tool for the ultimate dashboard that allows

you to identify trade targets and teams in your league to help you start to build offers and trades and quickly identify which teams are weak or strong in different areas. And we're going to build that out. Another aspect that we're going to build out is a trade analyzer tool to help break down winners and losers in a broad sense on trades as you begin to prepare them. People want trade tools. We're working on trade tools. People have asked for it forever. We're working on it. One thing that when we were talking philosophically about trades yesterday in the office, we were

talking about the things that you look at when you're trying to make trades. And I shared something that it seemed to catch a couple of people off guard. I love trading. I trade. I try to trade all the time. But I identify trade partners oftentimes by their record. And so I try to put myself in the shoes of how content are you with your team in either side, right? Like if you're performing really, really well, then maybe you want to put yourself over the top in a weak area. But if you have started the year 0-2, right, or 1-1 or, you know, whatever, a few weeks

into the season, you're 1-3, you're 1-4. I'm definitely looking at those teams because I think there's just a generalized discontentment and they may want to make a trade just to trade, just to make a change. Even if it's, I don't, you know, maybe it's, you know, the buy low situation where they have a guy, Ashton Gentry, right? If you're 0-2 right now with Ashton Gentry, that's a big, that's a lot different feeling about Ashton Gentry than if you're, you've managed to go 2-0. And just survive with them on the roster. So I think that's one thing that I can share that's really important for fantasy players

is, you know, try to see how discontent the other person is with their team potentially. I am very discontent. With your team? Yeah. But you won last week. I know. But I am very discontent. So let's work some trades together. Oh, I know what that means. That means you're going to send me Kayshawn Booty in a trade. Hey, he could be the number one. He could be a boat. Yeah. He had one catch. So you're right. First touch, too. Let's, you know, we got a lot to talk about. So let's jump into news. News and notes from around the league.

Presented by Progressive Insurance. All right. We'll blitz this. We already said they hope Waddle can play tonight. We all hope that's the case because it's a better chance at a good game. Yeah, the Miami needs a reminder. If you do end up playing Waddle or anybody in tonight's game, make sure they are not in your flex. Move them into the running back wide receiver position so that you have flexibility. There were a bunch of Wednesday did not practices that we'll run through. One that I'm more encouraged of in the last 30 minutes than I was an hour ago. Emeka Ibuka.

He didn't practice yesterday. Hip and groin injury. Now, he was a Monday night game. You got to remember that, right? That was a Monday night football game. Yep. Also was not seen at practice today so far, but then it was reported just 30 minutes ago that he still expected to practice, just wasn't at the media open portion. So, a limited designation is what I would expect from Ibuka today, which is much more encouraging to get him out there on the field. And I don't see him on thegroinindex.com. So, he's actually fine. He's fine. Juwan Jennings not practicing on Wednesday. Zach Charbonnet.

Oh. He said, nay, I shall not practice. Evan Ingram with the back. Things have not been good for Ingram on that injury. I thought it was a calf. It was. It was a calf. It all... Hey, we know. It always starts with the calf, and it finds its way somewhere else in your body. Jaden Daniels with the knee. We're still waiting to see if Jaden Daniels is going to be there this week. I talked about if he plays, I do not expect him to run as much, and he may not play. They said the earliest he could practice was Friday.

Yeah. You could see Marcus Mariota. Of all these, you don't really care about Wednesday practice reports that much. It's just like you want to be aware of them in case you need to be prepared, but you don't like make roster decisions today based on Wednesday practices because it's very common for veterans and even rookies now to rest. I believe Tyler Warren as well was kind of given the Wednesday off. Jaden Daniels is a legit concern. I will say this. If he starts, he will be more limited mobility-wise. He'll probably be playing with a brace on his knee, and I will still start him.

If he was just a pocket passer, I think he's really good. Yeah. Isn't it a... Let me see where I have him on my rankings for the week because I just went in there and was looking at this. I think I have him down there at maybe a seven range or something like that. Um... No, I got him... I have him at 12. Ooh. Well... I have him at 12 right now. Okay. So he's still a starter. Yeah. Uh, Xavier Worthy returned to a limited practice on Wednesday. Brock Bowers limited. Christian Kirk limited. And Brock Purdy, quote, has a chance to play in week three.

Kyle Shanahan had said it doesn't really matter how Mac Jones is playing. It's just a matter of Brock Purdy's health. So we'll see if he somehow gets out there on the field against the Cardinals. It seems doubtful, though. That was news and notes sponsored by Progressive Insurance. Quote today at Progressive.com. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company affiliates and third-party insurers not available in all states or situations. Coverage subject to policy terms, limits, and conditions. We're jumping right in. It's week three. Starts of the week. Presented by Paramount+. I'll be honest. I was pretty disappointed in how it worked out last week and starts of the week.

We do watch intently on the weekend to make sure our advice comes through. That's the goal. I didn't have any jets. No, and yours were better than ours. We had jets, and that was our bad. That should be like a five-year rule. Like no jets. No jets ever? Right. Okay. It's not helpful. Mike, why don't you kick us off with your quarterback start of the week for week three? I'm going with Dak against the Chicago Bears. The game's sitting at a 50.5 over under. That means we have multiple games over 50 this week. Yeah, we've got a few. And this one with Chicago and the Dallas Cowboys, I am very interested in.

And not only are these two potentially high-scoring games that are teams' offenses, they both play fast as of right now. And bad defense. And the defenses have not been good. The Bears' pass rush is 30th right now in pressure rate. And when Dak has that clean pocket, he can absolutely tear apart a secondary. And so it's just, this is a game that we really want pieces of. And Dak is a top five option this week for me. Bears are giving up the most points to quarterbacks of any team in football. I'm going with another, just to kind of piggyback there, I'm going with another game that's up

over 50 points. It's at 53.5. Wow. That would be the Monday Night Football game. I'm taking Jared Goff in back-to-back weeks. That's right. In Baltimore, Jared Goff, who was the quarterback one last week, this idea that he's only good at home, that hasn't been true statistically over the last three years. He's averaged 19.3 fantasy points per game. Whenever there's a 50-point over-under, when he's on the road, when he's away from Detroit, it's the over-under that we're paying attention to. The Lions have averaged 28 points a game in any 50-point over-under the last three years. I won a piece of the Monday Night Football game.

Too many weapons in Detroit. Too much of a potential shootout situation. You know Baltimore's going to put up points at home. Oh, you know it. So I'm actually going to follow up the Goff number one overall performance at home with a streamable QB1 performance here in week three. I imagine if they actually give Tesla more routes. Or let him use two hands. He doesn't need it. Why? Yeah. You think he makes SportsCenter with two hands? That's like Prince's Bride when he starts with his left hand because he knows otherwise it's not a fair fight. Yeah. Well, it seems that way.

All right. My start of the week, I'm going back to the well with my dude, Justin Herbert. He's been on fire. He's straight dealing two weeks into the season. They are number one in pass rates over expectation. And Justin Herbert, at the same time, while they're throwing a ton, he's number two in average depth of target. That is a combination you want. And then it's like, whoa, why don't you run the ball, young man? You are a very good athlete. His scramble rate, 9.6% of his dropbacks, that is the highest of his career. That is something we've seen with G-Rowe.

The Denver matchup is scary. It's a divisional matchup. But Daniel Jones, the Colts, they just showed you can challenge this defense. And last year against these Broncos at home, 284-2, another 28 on the ground. The Chargers won 34-27. Herbert is locked for me right now into the lineup. Sure. Running back, I'm going with Jalen Warren against the New England Patriots. We're two weeks into the season. We got an RB-17 and an RB-13 performance from Warren. Mike Tomlinson. Now worry about Caleb. Oh, Caleb Johnson. You think he's active? Wait, yeah. Is he still on the team? He still has a role?

That would be the most Tomlin-Arthur-Smith thing ever. Just cut him. Just like, ah, two weeks in. Oh, my gosh. That would be the worst thing for you ever. We've seen what we need to see. No, that'd be the best thing. Then he can go sign for a team that's going to play him. Stay away from carry-on Johnson's, Caleb Johnson's. K Johnson's, you're out. Anyways, go on, Mike. Sorry, this isn't about you. This is about Jalen Warren. I just want to echo everything you're saying. Jalen Warren is an awesome start this week. Dog. Mike Tomlin, look, the money said he was going to be the guy.

Mike Tomlin said he was going to be the featured runner. Last week, 35% of the Steelers' offensive plays. Jalen Warren touched the ball. Fun stat. We're only two weeks in, but however, running backs with 30 or more touches and 100 or more receiving yards. Christian McCaffrey, Bijan Robinson, Jalen Warren. The Steelers are two-point road favorites against New England. We saw 8chan, you know, 10 targets, and we have this Gonzales. His name is escaping me. Christian Gonzales? Yes, Christian Gonzales. Probably. Who I'm seeing trending to playing. Oh, really? Yeah. I thought he was going to miss a long period of time.

It's a situation to monitor because we thought he was going to miss a lot of time. Oh, he did return to practice 22 hours ago. So, I think he's trending to play, which that hurts the potential of DK Metcalf. And if you want to go narrative street, we had the quote yesterday of Aaron Rodgers like, yeah, no, this guy is earning my trust of I'm going to have to check the ball down to him. And we know when Rodgers likes the guy, he goes to him. His quote was he brings a lot to the table. We might have to keep giving him more opportunities in the pass game because every time he touches

it, something good happens. And when Aaron Rodgers wants something, he just does it. Yep. He doesn't ask permission. My running back starts of the week, Travis Etienne and Bashal Tootin, the two-pack against Houston. It's getting stronger. Yeah. He looks great. Yeah. They Etienne right now, 7.1 yards per carry on this season. You can keep writing that. The Buccaneers, when they faced Houston on Monday Night Football, you saw the multi-back success. You saw both Rashad White and Bucky Irving have success against that Houston defense. The Rashad White success makes me think that anyone can have success. That's what I'm saying. Multi-back.

Look, they are, right now, Jags are running the football well. Second in yards before contact per rush. What you also saw was Liam Cohen have success with those, you know, it was Bucky and Rashad White with Liam Cohen last year, and he's kind of putting that system into place in Jacksonville. So I'm going to go back to the well with Travis Etienne and then add Bashal Tootin. Speaking of back to the well, this was a terrible start of the week last week. Sorry, Mike. But Jordan Mason, this week. I literally couldn't do it because of last week. No, I understand.

And I almost did not make him a start of the week because of last week's failure. But I think that is... There's some stink on him still? Yeah, there's some stink. But that makes it more important. Like, if you have Jordan Mason... I'm playing him everywhere. Yes, you have to start him. And based on how bad it was last week, you're like, oh, I've got to bench him. You can't. Right now, the matchup against Cincinnati, we saw it last week. It was great. Aaron Jones is on IR for the next four weeks. The quote was just said from head coach said,

I'm not sure we could have much more confidence in Jordan as a bell cow kind of back. That's what you want to hear. That's the utilization you need. They signed Cam Akers, who was on the roster last year and did a lot of jack squat. The Vikings want to run the ball. This version of Carson Wentz is needing to be protected. Jordan Mason, you saw it last year, the first seven weeks of the season when he was replacing an injured starter like he is now. He was averaging over 90 rushing yards per game. And then he was involved in the receiving game a little bit.