December 26, 2025 • 43 mins
NFL Network Fantasy Analysts Marcas Grant, Adam Rank and Michael Florio get you ready for Championship Week by telling you who to start and who to be wary of in the Saturday Double-Header which will see the Texans visit the Chargers (2:30) and the Ravens take on the Packers (3:56). They continue their start/sit discussion with analysis for Eagles - Bills (5:45), Jaguars - Colts (11:12), Seahawks - Panthers (13:02), Steelers - Browns (14:25), Buccaneers - Dolphins (18:50), Bears - 49ers (20:20), Patriots - Jets (27:20), Bengals - Cardinals (28:00), Giants - Raiders (28:45) and Saints - Titans (29:25) .
The guys break down the biggest fantasy flops of the 2025 season (23:30), plus the final editions of 'Take it to the Rank' (31:30) and 'Go with the Flo!' (34:55) for the 2025 season. They wrap the show with their Fantasy MVP for the season (38:08)!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's a Friday Championship edition of the Fantasy Football Podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
I'm Marcus Grant.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
I'll be joined by Adam Rank and Michael f Florio.
We'll get you ready for all the week seventeen games,
including Saturday's big Texans Chargers matchup at SOFI Stadium, plus
Next Gen Kin breaks down the Steelers running backs, and
who is our twenty twenty five Fantasy Player of the Year,
Pooka jt CMC somebody else. Stay tuned. The podcast starts now.
(00:39):
Happy Friday, everybody, Welcome to another edition of NFL Fantasy Live.
I'm Marcus Grant, That's Adam Rank, That's Michael f Florio. Florido,
Happy Boxing Day if you celebrate that sort of thing.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
I don't, but I do celebrate the Knicks winning on
Christmas Day every year. My favorite tradition and Stranger Things
is out now too, So it's gonna be a fun
week of here in my house.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Yeah, a lot of Premier League games today. Arsenal doesn't
play till Saturday, so that it's a stress free day.
Speaker 5 (01:07):
But then tomorrow the big match comes.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Top of the table, the Gunners having a good season
so far this year. Meanwhile, back to the American pitch
in the American football way of life. We got plenty
of action this weekend, especially starting on Saturday. The playoff
picture is coming into focus on NFL Network, CJ Shroud
and the Texans take on Justin Herbert and the Chargers.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
It's NFL Saturday.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Watch December twenty seventh at four point thirty pm Eastern
only on NFL Network and streaming on NFL Plus. Subscription
required for NFL Plus. Meanwhile, the two coaches are ready
for tomorrow.
Speaker 6 (01:42):
Everything you want. Everything you play this game for, the
reason why you suit up. Everything is in front of us.
Keep attacking it the right way, take it care every
single day, operating the best you can operate every single day.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
That's all is on your mind.
Speaker 6 (01:58):
Dominate that day, Dominate your job one day at a time,
all right, and we will be who we gotta be.
Speaker 7 (02:05):
Also worked two and zero with given the major holiday
day off. We gave Thanksgiving off this year in the
middle of the week, same strategy. So it is my
esteem to associate. Derwin James would say, how's he say
it if it ain't broke, don't fix it?
Speaker 1 (02:27):
How does he say it if it ain't broke? Don't
fix it. Yeah, man, that's a pretty common phrase. Anyway,
we're gonna start it with that Texas Chargers game on Saturday.
It should be an interesting one, which, as we mentioned,
you can see here on NFL Network Florida. What are
you paying attention to in that game?
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Look, that wasn't Jim's best work, but he does have
my favorite quote of the season when he said Justin
Herbert took a.
Speaker 8 (02:46):
Hit that would have killed a lesser man.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
And speaking of Justin Herbert, I think he's a set
this week against Houston. I know he went out and
balled out last week, but that came against the Cowboys,
the best possible fantasy matchup for a quarterback. Now he
gets the other Texans team, the Texans, and they are
the worst possible matchup for a quarterback in fantasy and
they very much so can take advantage of the Chargers
(03:10):
offensive line issues. We know they get after the quarterback
at a high rate. And despite what he did last week,
don't overlook that in the five games prior to that,
he scored less than fifteen Fantasy points. So the floor
is low, and in this game, I don't think the
ceiling is very high. So I would sit him in
Championship week.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
I could probably say CJ.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Stroud, but it's the holidays and I'm being polite, so
I'll say beware of CJ.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Stroud in this one.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Fewer than thirteen fantasy points in four of his last
five games, eight games with one or fewer touchdown passes
this season, and the Chargers have been tough on quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Third worst matchup for.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
The position this season, second fewest touchdown passes allowed, third
most interceptions. This is a recipe for a really bad
number for CJ. Stroud if you dare to start him.
The other Saturday contest takes us to lambeau Field or
the Race Evans are visiting the Packers, who did lock
up a playoff spot on Christmas Day with the Alliance loss,
(04:06):
But rank you're looking at the Baltimore side of things,
mostly with Derek Henry there.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
Yes, First of all, congratulations to Max Hosmer or whomever
that was playing quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings for getting
the Packers into the playoffs, something they couldn't do on
their own a couple of weeks ago. But this game
against the Baltimore Ravens means a lot to the Ravens,
which is why I'm going to start Derrick Henry this week.
He is fourth in the NFL and rushing guards this
year one hundred plus scrimmage yards and four consecutive games,
(04:32):
which is quite a feat considering they forgot he was
on the team last week.
Speaker 5 (04:38):
I don't know what John Harbaugh was doing.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
He's like, oh, yeah, maybe we should have played him
a little more.
Speaker 5 (04:42):
You think I would have done that.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
However, when you look at this Packers defense, they were
very vulnerable to the run last week against the Bears,
who averaged close to six yards per carry. They allowed
over one hundred and fifty rushing guards against the Bears.
That was the second most of the season. I anticipate
with Lamar Jackson being down this week that we see
a heavy dose of Derek Henry.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
A little bit more weary about the Packers wide receivers because,
like Rank just said, they clinched their playoffs spout already.
So Jordan Love's been up in the air of this week.
Christian Watson's been playing through injury. Romeo Dobbs was banged
up last we saw him. Do they opt to rest
their guys or maybe take a little bit of their snaps.
Speaker 8 (05:23):
Off their plate.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
With having all of their full allotment of receivers available,
I'm worried about them maybe mixing and matching a bit. Plus,
they've run the ball at such a high rate sixth
lowest pass rate this season. If you need to play one,
I would go Christian Watson, but the Ravens have been
so tough against receivers as of late, then I think
I'm trying to get away from all of them.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Next up a really interesting matchup, at least on paper,
between the Eagles and the Buffalo Bills, and I'm gonna
start by saying, look, I don't think you can fully
get away from Jalen Hurts because you probably don't have
another quarterback that has that kind of ceiling. But I
would say you should beware of starting Jalen Hurts in
this one. You look over the recent weeks, Hurt's best
(06:03):
performances have come against some really good matchups against some
really bad defenses, not so much in the tougher matchups,
and the Bills have been very tough on quarterbacks so
far this season. But we know this Buffalo defense is
bad against the run. I expect I'm gonna see a
lot of Sakwon Barkley, and if Hurts is going to
have success, it's probably gonna be more as a runner
than as a passer. The downside to that is he's
(06:25):
not run nearly as much this year. He hasn't had
more than forty rushing yards in a game since way
back in Week four. But maybe he gets out of
the pocket, maybe he does something like this, and that's
a way for him, I think too. Otherwise, put up
a pretty good number against the Bills defense.
Speaker 5 (06:38):
I'm gonna say that we start Josh Allen this week,
and I'm sorry, Kendll.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
I know that I am the number one Josh Allen
fan on this show, and everybody knows this.
Speaker 5 (06:47):
I've got I've got a lot of questions.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
I don't know if people are freaking out, but this
is when people are using their phone a friend with
me and they're like, what do we do with Josh Allen?
Speaker 5 (06:55):
I'm like, what do you mean?
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Like, Josh Allen is a great history against the Philadelphia Eagles.
I understand like there might be some trepidation, but one
of the things that the Eagles do is they give
up a lot of rushing yards to quarterbacks. They've allowed
the sixth most rushing yards to quarterbacks this season. Josh
Allen his twelve rushing touchdowns on the year.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
I think this is pretty I.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
Understand it's a championship game. You want to be extra sure.
Do not overthink this. Make sure you are starting. Josh Allen.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Josh Allen's been too good to get away from them.
I don't care what the matchup says.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Of course, Christmas Day was on Thursday. We had a
trio of games, and here were some of the gifts
you may have found under your fantasy tree. Doc Prescott
twenty two points, six points. Jacory krossky Merritt, who was
a late start after Chris Rodriguez was scratch, gave you
twenty two and a half. The Vikings defense took advantage
of six turnovers by the Lions to get you twenty
one points. Bo Knicks RJ. Harvey each over eighteen fantasy points.
(07:52):
So that was the good side of things. But not
everything was so good from what we saw on Thursday
in Florida. What did you take away from the trio
of holiday games.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
Well, first of all, Kendall tried to do me a
solid on Tuesday.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Was it Tuesday Show?
Speaker 5 (08:07):
It was Wednesday Show what do We Do? The White
Elephant Gift? And I got to Corey.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
I got to Corey cross the Merritt remember that, and
I was like so upset. I'm like, I should have listened.
So I apologize to you Kendall and George Pickens. Though
you know what, when you look at all those numbers
that happened on Christmas Day, not a lot of people
were great, but George Pickens. Depending on your points games,
whether it's this is eleven points in a full point PPR,
(08:33):
I was playing in a half point BBR and I
had nine points. I'm like, you know what, it feels
like a win, Like considering everything that was going on Saturday,
just the fact that it wasn't a complete disaster, the
fact that I didn't get a Christmas bagel or something
like that, Like, I'll take it.
Speaker 5 (08:47):
I think there's other areas.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
I can make up for the ground that I've lost.
But you know what could have been worse, and thankfully
it wasn't.
Speaker 8 (08:57):
I didn't feel good at all as someone who had George.
Speaker 9 (09:00):
I was like, Dak, stop staring him down, throw him
the ball, But what do ceedee Lamb Courtland Sutton Justin Jefferson,
Jamison Williams, Jamiir Gibbs, David Montgomery, Travis kelce In.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Every tight end who played have in common.
Speaker 8 (09:14):
They all gave you single digits.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
In fact, four of the six qbs who played yesterday
scored less than nine Fantasy points. So yeah, if you
played Dak or bow Knicks or RJ. Harvey Orville, you're happy.
If you played anyone else, you are hugely disappointed. You're
sitting there like, why does Netflix need two football games
on Christmas? They already had stranger things like, look, I
love watching football, but on a short week in championship week,
(09:41):
maybe we don't need to do this every year.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
Yeah, well that's really good. We don't get paid by
these people. But okay, I always say more football please.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
What was fun for me is having the two running
backs that were on that list. I had both Jamiir
Gibbs and Javonte Williams on the same team in my championships.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
That's great.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
But for me, this is a reminder to that small
percentage of you out there who think you're playing four
D chess by having your championships stretch into week eighteen.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
You're not stop doing that.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Because what we saw this past week was kind of
a dry run for what Week eighteen is gonna be.
You're gonna have a lot of teams with absolutely nothing
to play for. We had three third string quarterbacks play
on Christmas Day. Your number one wide receiver was Cavante Turpin.
He had one target.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
That's it, That's all that you got. You had him.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Sure, it was great for him to go out and
need a Tomahawk's steak afterwards. Him and Dack like a
couple of you know, Viking. Well, I guess the Vikings
actually went out and had a bunch of Tomahawks stakes too.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
But the point is, I.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Know a lot of people feel like this is some
sort of you know, great test of skill or No,
it's not. It's it's like playing preseason fantasy. It's fun
for a lark, but not fun when you actually have
some steaks on the line. And I don't mean just
the beef there that Michael Irvin is chowing down on.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
Stop doing that, Michael Irvan just invite himself to that place.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
He's okay, I'm gonna do.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
It to you.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Okay, he just helped himself to substate.
Speaker 5 (11:06):
Your neighbor just wanders in. It's eating off the table.
You're like, Okay, this is happening.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
That is absolutely wonderful.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Dropping looking those another back from the CGN talking about
it massed out to the five. God put it all
that touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, contenure, touchdown pass the tiness ets to.
Speaker 8 (11:26):
Judge of it. St of the late helse good is.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
That the game in the AFC South between the Jaguars
and the Coles. We just saw Trevor Lawrence, who has
been red hot the last few weeks, and he and
the Jaguars a chance to get themselves a little bit
closer to a division title. But Florio, what are you
paying attention to in this game?
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Yeah, I'm looking at Jacobe Meyers, not the law firm,
the wide receiver. And if you don't count that first
game he was a Jaguar where he was traded midweek
in the six game. Since then, he has averaged fourteen
to see points per game. He is shown to have
a very safe floor. But we're getting more upside out
of him as of lay and that could be an
(12:07):
upside week this week because the cultival out of the
second most receiving yards to wide receivers so given how
hot Trevor Lawrence and the Jacks passing attack is right now,
I think his wide.
Speaker 8 (12:18):
Receiver one remains in play in Championship week.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
I'm gonna tell you on the other side to beware
of Tyler Warren, who really was starting to slump a
little bit even before Philip Rivers came into play for Indianapolis.
But the last two weeks have been really bad. If
you've been starting the rookie tied end fifteen targets from
Philip Rivers, it's turned into six catches for forty nine
yards total over the two games. And the Jags have
(12:42):
been really tough on tight ends this season, a bottom
three matchup for the position over the last month. They
held Warren to just two catches for fifteen yards way
back in week not way back, but back in week fourteen.
So this is another one where Warren's been really good
for you all season long, but it does not feel
like a really optimistic matchup for him coming up this week.
Interesting game over in the NFC with the Seahawks and
(13:05):
the Panthers getting together, and look, I'm gonna look at
this one and say, Bryce Young, that's one that might
have to be careful of as well at the quarterback
position because Bryce GM's kind of been a tough riddle
to figure out. We've seen some really tough matchups like
this one against the Rams where it didn't seem like
he performed well and he put up one of his
best games of the season, but the last two weeks
and really positive matchups like against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,
(13:29):
it was just sort of mid Now he's going to
take on the Seattle Seahawks, who have been a tough
out for pretty much everybody. Yeah, I know they got
cooked by Matthew Stafford and the Rams recently, but that
seems sort of like an outlier. They've been really tough
on quarterbacks and in a championship situation, I don't know
that I feel comfortable with Bryce Young in a starting spot.
Speaker 4 (13:48):
I would feel comfortable start Walker against the Panthers. He
played over fifty percent of the snaps in Week eleven,
first time he's done that in a while, even though
he out snapped sharp in weeks one through ten. One
of the big reasons why he averaged over twenty six
yards per reception in his last six games. And he's
got a great matchup against the Panthers, who allowed the
(14:10):
eighth most fantasy points per game to running backs this season.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Matchup in the AFC North with the Steelers and the
Browns facing off against one another.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
I see you rubbing your hands over there, because phil
or Florida. I feel like this one might.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Be kind of a shoutout to one person in particular.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
Shout out to Harold Fannon Junior first and foremost, but
also to Lakwan Jones. You should go to the mall
already this weekend and start picking out what color die
you want to.
Speaker 8 (14:38):
Die, because if he finishes top five, Lakwan is going blonde.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
And with Travis kelcey struggling last night and Harold Bannon
Junior eating as of late, I think he's going blond.
But yeah, you're starting Harold Bannon Junior because since Shador
Sanders took over in week twelve, Bannon has a thirty
one percent target share, a twenty six percent air yard shap,
and he has seen two thirds of their end zone targets.
(15:03):
Plus he has scored eleven or more and four straight.
If he scores eleven this week, Marcus, he jumps Travis
kelce his fifteen fantasy points per game with Shador is
only top this season by Trey McBride. And on top
of all of that, the Steelers are top four in yards, touchdowns,
and fantasy points. So yeah, Harrod Fannon Junior, he's gonna
make mcwon blond and he's gonna win a lot of
(15:24):
you championships this week.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Fanon is questionable, but if he starts for the Browns,
he feels like a pretty good option to have in
your lineup. Also, it's given me some sleepery vibes with
Shadur Sanders in part because of how well Fannin has
been playing. Shador has not been asked to do a
ton in the offense, but he has really done well
with what the offense has asked of him. The Steelers
have the thirtieth ranked pass defense, and they've been a
(15:48):
good matchup for fantasy quarterbacks for most of the year.
They also struggle against tight ends, and because that is
where Sanders is going primarily, more than twenty five percent
of his targets have gone to Fanon since he has
taken over four Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
I means he's a nice QB too.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
If you're in a two quarterback or a super flex league,
should or Sanders does have.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Some value for you coming up this week. So there
you go.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
That is what look at least partial look at the
Steelers and Browns. But it also gets us to our
next gin nuggets with our friend, our researcher, the one
and only Kendall Murski, and we gave you sort of
the brown side of things from a fantasy perspective, but Kendall,
you were looking at it from the Steelers point of view.
Speaker 10 (16:26):
Yeah, I want to focus in specifically on the running backs,
and it's really because of how the Browns have slipped recently.
They've had their flashes on defense, but recently against running backs,
they've actually allowed the most fantasy points per game since
Week nine. And on the other hand, the Steelers they
have the seventh highest outside rush rate this season, and
the Browns they really haven't had much success since that
(16:48):
Week nine mark. Defending these runs. They've allowed the fourth
most rush yards over expected on outside rushes since Week nine,
and a lot of it has been because of the
long runway that they're giving running backs before cont but
also in that same span, the Browns are allowing the
fifth most receiving yards per game two running backs and
This works out really well because the Steelers have the
(17:08):
second highest running back target share in the NFL this season,
so much so that Kenneth Gainwell actually leads the team
in receptions, So I know. I think the tough part
for a lot of people is that they don't necessarily
believe that offenses can support two running backs, and maybe
even the Steelers offense specifically, but both Warren and Gainwell
(17:29):
they've scored twelve plus fantasy points in three of their
last five weeks, so they have proven that they can
do this and it's a sustainable product for them, and
against the Browns this week, I think it's specifically fruitful.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
All Right.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Kenneth Gangwell carried multiple of my teams down the late
season and into the playhoff, so I certainly believe appreciate
it as always kindle. All right, when we come back,
Caleb Williams and Brock Purty face off this week on
Sunday Night Football. So what did these two young guns
do we think should be in your championship lineup?
Speaker 2 (17:59):
That's surprise. Wa We come back.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
With NFL Plus Keep the NFL in reach, stream live
local and primetime games on mobile during the regular and postseason.
NFL Network, including one more exclusive live game tomorrow, live
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sign up today at Plus dot NFL dot com.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Slash Network terms and conditions apply.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
Back to the game previews, and it is a Sunshine
stage showdown between the Buccaneers and the Dolphins and Florida.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Baker Mayfield started hot lately, not so much.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Yeah, once we all started putting him in the MVP conversation,
it's all gone wrong since. But Baker Mayfield one touchdown
and fewer than two hundred passing yards in five of
his last six games. In fact, in that span, he
has thrown seven touchdowns and six interceptions. So even with
all of his receivers being back, even with him running
(19:13):
more than he typically has, the fantasy results just haven't
been there. And the Dolphins, they have struggled against the
run this year, they're surprisingly good.
Speaker 8 (19:22):
Against the pass.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
So I'm not sure how much the Bucks are going
to air it out in this one. I would play
it safe and look to get away from Baker Mayfield
and Championship week.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
So the Dolphins started Quinn viewers last week and he
exceeded expectations, So I got him as a deep sleeper
this week. Two hundred and sixty passing yards in the
start in Week sixteen, made some nice throws.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
He got both.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
Jalen Waddle and Darren Waller heavily involved in the passing game.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
But moreover, it is the matchup.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
The Buccaneers defense against passers has really struggled in the
back half of the season, nine straight weeks, allowing at
least seventeen points six fantasy points to a quarterback. So yours, look,
I'm not telling you to don't galaxy brain this and
you'll worry about Josh Allen and start quinn Ewers. He's
a QB too. He's maybe a contrarian DFS play. That's
what we're thinking about quinn Ewers. But there is something
(20:11):
there that I think is worth exploring. Interesting one on
Sunday Night Football. It is the Bears against the forty
nine Ers in Santa Clara and rank you're looking at
the Bears backfield.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
Yeah, both teams have clinched the playoff spot moving forward,
but there is still a lot to be decided, especially
with the number one overall seed in play in the
NFC here, both San Francisco and the Bears can lay
claim to it. But one of the ways the Bears
could go out there and capture this game is leaning
on the running attack, which is why I'm saying to
start DeAndre Swift in this one. He's had three rushing
(20:45):
touchdowns in his last four games. He's averaging close to
sixteen Fantasy points per game in those four and there
are few teams that run the ball more than the
Chicago Bears this season, and as a matter of fact,
they have the second most rushing yards in the NFL
this year in San Francisco. For as great as they've
played ever since Fred Warner went out, they have struggled
(21:06):
ats stopping the run. There are few, if any teams
that give up more yardage on the ground than the
forty nine Ers. So DeAndre Swift and Kyle mcanunguy are
both in play for a championship week.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
Yeah, I'm flexing Kyle mcnung guy in a championship myself,
And in that same lineup, I am starting Brock Purdy
because Purdy and the forty nine Ers the last couple
of weeks have been the healthiest they have really been
all year, and to no surprise, he top twenty six
Fantasy points in each of his last two with eight
touchdown passes in those games, and the Bears they've allowed
(21:41):
the fifth most touchdown passes this season. I know George
Kittle is up in the air, but Juwan Jennings is
there see them. See there's a lot of different ways
they could win through the air, And given what the
forty nine Ers defense has been, I think this has
a chance to be a high scoring, back and forth
kind of game. So yeah, I'm starting brock perty and
I think a lot.
Speaker 8 (22:01):
Of you should as well.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
Thinks it's gonna be a sneaky high scoring game between
these two teams coming up this weekend. But as we
take a little bit more of a look at his
time now for the season, presented by caesar Sports Book
and according to Caesars Sports Book, here are the most
likely players to score the first touchdown during this week's
Sunday Night showdown between the Bears and the forty nine Ers.
Christian McCaffrey no surprise, at the top of the list,
(22:24):
followed by DeAndre Swift. Of course, George Kittle, as Florio mentioned,
still uncertain for the game. Followed by Khamanunguy and Colston
Lovelin rounding out the top five. So of that group
or maybe somebody not listed there, Floria, who do you
think finds the end zone first?
Speaker 3 (22:40):
Yeah, I've been taking some deeper shots as of late here,
but I really like that number next to CMC. So
I'm going to go with Christian McCaffrey because he has
eight touchdowns, eight in his last five games, and he
leads the NFL in games with a touchdown this season
at eleven, plus he could do it on the ground,
he might be their top target, especially in the red zone.
Speaker 8 (23:02):
Of George Kittle does not suit up this week against
a team that has.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
Allowed a lot of touchdowns, I think there's gonna be
a lot of points scored in this game, and CMC
certainly gonna get his good share of them.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
So a little bit later in the show, we're gonna
do our fantasy MVP, But for now, I'm going to
take a look at some of the biggest flops of
the fantasy season. Lamar Jackson, who was drafted as the
QB two, has been banged up this year. He's currently
the QB nineteen. Isaiah Pacheco drafted is the RB twenty four.
He is RB fifty one Brian Thomas Junior, a significant
(23:36):
standing from where he was taken in drafts, and Evan
Ingram thought he'd be the joker. Apparently the joke was
on us. He's currently the tight end twenty nine. So
I guess me to a little call me crazy. But
as we bring back an old favorite segment on this
show talking about some guys that underperformed this year that
maybe we feel a little bit better about heading into
twenty twenty six. So, Florio, who do you think returns
(23:59):
to glory next year?
Speaker 3 (24:01):
This might not be the craziest call, but I'm going
with my guy Jaden Daniels here, who It's just been
a lost season for him, right like, he missed time
due to a knees, brain, a hamstring strain, and then
a left elbow dislocation. None of those are injuries that
I worry about hampering him next season. And just to
remind you how good he is, he hit the second
(24:21):
most Fantasy points ever by a rookie quarterback, arguably the
greatest rookie quarterback season in real life terms, and this year,
in games that he finished, there wasn't many of them,
but he averaged twenty.
Speaker 8 (24:33):
Fantasy points per game, which is exactly what he did
last season. And because he missed time, I think.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
You get a discount on him come draft season next year.
So I will be drafting a whole bunch of jad
and Daniels, and I think you should as well.
Speaker 4 (24:48):
Right, all right, call me crazy, but Ashton Jent is
going to live up to his fantasy potential next season.
Not that he was a flop necessarily this year. He
did finish as the running back thirteen, but a lot
of people were drafting him in the first round.
Speaker 5 (25:04):
You were drafting him.
Speaker 4 (25:05):
As perhaps the running back five, the running back six
somewhere there. Obviously, there's going to be a lot of
questions with what happens with this Las Vegas Raiders organization.
We don't know if Pete Carroll is going to return
for another season. We don't know who the quarterback is
going to be. There is a big matchup this weekend
between them and the Giants for potentially the number one
(25:25):
overall pick. There are a lot of questions to be
answered with the Las Vegas Raiders over the next couple
of months. But one of the things that I can
be certain of is that whomever the coach is next year,
they are going to make Ashton Genty the focal point
of this offense. If they go out there and invest
in this offensive line, Ashton Genty could be one of
(25:45):
those guys who surprises a lot of people, especially since
so many folks were burned this year by him. They
might avoid him, but I'm going all in on Ashton
Genty next season.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
Call me crazy, maybe it's not that crazy, but Justin
Jefferson is going to rebound. He's just way too talented
and even in a season that has been pretty disappointing
to say the least, still.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
A chance for him to get a thousand yards receiving
this year.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
Look, the biggest thing for the Vikings this offseason is
going to be to figure out the quarterback situation. Is
it JJ McCarthy, is it somebody else? But either way,
whoever the signal caller is next year, I expect the
priority is going to be to get number eighteen involved
as much as possible. And yeah, maybe you do get
a little bit of a discount, maybe he comes off
the board in the second round instead of top of
the first. But either way, Justin Jefferson too good to
(26:31):
be this bad again next year.
Speaker 3 (26:34):
Yeah, and then at tight end you could call me crazy.
But Colson Lovelin, Look, he was banged up to start
the year. The Bears were clearly easing him in because
of that. We saw him playing behind Cole Comet early on,
but as of late, he has been ascending, averaging twelve
Fantasy points per game since Week nine. So the handpicked
first draft pick by Ben Johnson, he has shown he
(26:55):
could play at a high level. I think this season
they will draw more plays around him and he explodes
next year. But I think he's going to be a
popular breakout pick, so unlike the other guys, I don't
think you get a discount on him next year.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
We weren't wrong on Colston Lovelin, we were just early.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
That is Mile Williams his third of the year trufendus
over the shoulder catch game on in Baltimore.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
That's a little taste of what we saw all year.
It was for brilliant NFL Fantasy Live.
Speaker 4 (27:28):
Drake may firmly in the conversation for NFL MVP, But Michael,
you say it's the defense this week that we need
to be looking at.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
For yeah, because they get the Jets and it's all
about matchups when playing defenses. The Jets have allowed the
fourth most fantasy points per game two opposing defenses, and
they've taken sacks at the second highest rate this season.
Speaker 8 (27:49):
But things have been.
Speaker 3 (27:49):
Worse since Brady Cook has taken over. The Saints scored
nineteen against them last week. The Jacks had ten the
week before. It's not every week where I'm like there's
a moustar defense. But the Patriots, yeah, they feel pretty much.
Speaker 8 (28:00):
Starty this week.
Speaker 4 (28:02):
Bill Belichick once quipped on to Cincinnati, and I will
get myself to Cincinnati by saying start Joe Burrow against
the Cardinals. He's at least nineteen fantasy points in three
of four. The Arizona Cardinals have allowed fifteen touchdown passes
in the last six weeks. That is the most in
the NFL. They have no takeaways in three out of
their last four games. So I know a lot of
(28:22):
you have asked a question about Joe Burrow. I am
here to say that you start him. And earlier in
the show, I was talking about Ashton Genty for next year. Michael,
what do we do with Ashton Genty? This week against
the Giants.
Speaker 3 (28:34):
Well, I do think he has a big year next year.
I don't think he's quite done this season. He has
a fantastic matchup against the Giants, who willow the most
yards per carry, yards before contact, and we know batt
has been an issue for genty in this offensive line.
They also allow explosive runs at the highest rate. So
I think he's going to see a lot of volume
(28:55):
against a defense that gives up a lot of big plays.
Speaker 8 (28:58):
He just might win you at each hYP after all.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
Moving on to Saints at Titans, A lot of sleepers
in this one, but when I'm looking at particularly Taja Spears,
who leads the team in reception since Week six, he's
at at least ten touches and two out of his
last three games, he has the eighth most receiving yards
amongst running backs since Week six, and the Saints have
(29:23):
allowed the most this excuse me, the six most yards
per game to running backs this season, which means both
running backs are probably in play. All right, now it
is time to take a look at the year that
was with a minute with Marcus.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
Thank you, Adam, and so we have come to the end.
It's the end of waiver picks and trade requests. It's
the end of scouting, target shares and snap counts. It's
the end of sleepers and busts and chasing upside. It's
the end of setting lineups because it's the end of
fantasy football season. But endings also come with beginnings. So
(30:05):
as we turn the page, it's time to look ahead.
It's time for combines and draft guides. It's time for
mock drafts and ADPs. It's time for draft boards and
risers and fallers. Mostly, it's a time for rebirth and renewal,
the rebirth of hope, the renewal of belief, believing that
(30:27):
next year will finally be your year, Believing that the
next draft will be the best draft, because the joy
of fantasy football is that success is always around the corner,
that things will get brighter, that tomorrow the sun will
come out. You're only a sleeper away, So don't stop studying,
(30:48):
don't stop drafting, don't stop believing. Hey man, let's get
after it next year. This has been a minute with Marcus.
Higher stakes, lower prices fell Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV
for a new lower price, not only sixty dollars for
new users for the rest of the season. Sign up now,
(31:08):
terms and embargoes apply.
Speaker 4 (31:11):
Let's get ready, well, last time take it to the rank.
All right, thank you so much, Marcus one final time
here for taking to the rank coming in and over
a sixty percent clip this season, and I gotta.
Speaker 5 (31:24):
Pulling it out number one.
Speaker 4 (31:25):
First of all, I wanted to go with one about
bow Nicks, and when I did the homework on Tuesday,
I had a bow Knicks note in there. Kendall backed
me up on this, didn't I say bo Nicks more
than fourteen and a half Russian's right?
Speaker 10 (31:39):
It was there, But obviously we had to pivot because
that game was yesterday.
Speaker 8 (31:43):
We do take it to the rank today.
Speaker 5 (31:45):
Thanks pivot, Pivot, pivot. We are gonna pivot.
Speaker 4 (31:49):
Yeah, Kendall and I tried this with Derek Stevens one time.
Speaker 5 (31:52):
Didn't work.
Speaker 4 (31:52):
There are all right, Let's go to Arizona at Cincinnati.
Jacoby Pressent has win one of the most consistent quarterbacks
in the NFL since he taken over as this starter
of the Cincinnati Bengals. He's had at least two touchdowns
in eight games since becoming the curder there in Week six,
the Bengals have allowed the second most passing touchdowns this season.
(32:13):
So I will say it on quite some authority, Jacoby
Brissett has more than one and a half touchdowns this season,
and you.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
Could take it for the rank earlier.
Speaker 4 (32:22):
Rud Oh, All right, let's go on to Carolina. Well
in Seattle, Bryce Young has been playing some pretty good football.
We saw at the end of last year after he replaced,
after he got replaced by Andy Dalton, he came back
in playing pretty well. It's got the Carolina Panthers in
position to win the NFC South. Now he's got a
(32:43):
tough matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. As great as the
Seahawks defense has been this season, they actually make quarterbacks
throw the ball a ton because teams are losing at
the end of the game, they're throwing the ball to
play catch up. So here, I'm gonna say that Bryce
Young attempts more than thirty and a half passes against
(33:04):
this Teahawks team, and you're gonna take her to the rank,
to the rank?
Speaker 2 (33:09):
What go on?
Speaker 5 (33:11):
It right out here?
Speaker 2 (33:13):
Finally, one of.
Speaker 4 (33:14):
The places where we have absolutely crossed this year. It's
predicting players who are gonna have touchdowns. Fourteen out of
fifteen weeks, we have correctly identified a player who is
gonna score.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
So this week, let's.
Speaker 5 (33:27):
Talk about Darren Waller.
Speaker 4 (33:29):
Darren Waller, when he came back to the NFL, people
were making fun of his wrap albums or all that stuff.
But one of the things that we need to realize,
Mike McDaniels offense features the tight ends. It's one of
the reasons why John hus Smith was so good last year.
Speaker 5 (33:43):
So it shouldn't have.
Speaker 4 (33:43):
Been a shock that Darren Waller has come out there
and also made a lot of noise from the tight
end position.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
So this week, going up.
Speaker 5 (33:50):
Against the Timpa Bay Buccaneers, who.
Speaker 4 (33:51):
Have allowed a six receiving touchdowns to tight ends since
Week ten, I say that Darren Waller gets into the
end zone, he'll be carrying a football and having account
at six points and you can take it to the
rank through to the rig and there it is.
Speaker 5 (34:06):
Take it to the rank for this season is done
for the year.
Speaker 4 (34:09):
But go ahead and catch me onto the insiders twice
a week starting on Tuesday.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
All right, and then let me time here's some fantasy fuego.
Here are some of the hottest breakout Fantasy Stars.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
In twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (34:22):
Drake May who's in in the conversation for real NFL MVP,
follow with Chase Brown, George Pickings, Jake Ferguson, all having
fantastic seasons, but it is time to look ahead one
last time for us to get a little bit of
fantasy zen, to get our fantasy chakras aligned with our
own fantasy guru, Michael left Florio. What do you have
for us this week?
Speaker 3 (34:44):
Yeah, Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone, except for
the man who thinks that the holidays are all about
just breaking out your credit card.
Speaker 8 (34:53):
But just like the man, Sean Payton charges taxes.
Speaker 3 (34:57):
That's right, his rookies have to pay that tax and
that's what happened to RJ.
Speaker 5 (35:02):
Harvey early on.
Speaker 3 (35:04):
But since their bye week he has averaged nineteen Fantasy
points per game. And his running backs Peytons are extremely
valuable in fantasy because no offense targets them in the
passing game more than that groovy coach Sean Payton. So
we haven't seen a running back handle the majority of
ground passing and goal on work since Alvin Camara.
Speaker 8 (35:27):
But that is what I think the explosive RJ.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
Harvey can become, so he continues his late season breakout
and returns top two, not peace two round value. But
just keep that between us, because so that he goes
a little bit cheaper next year.
Speaker 8 (35:45):
And then go with the flow this summer.
Speaker 3 (35:50):
Woh going on and we go from Duval, from Denver
to Duval. We're the only player in the NFL who
could make me jealous of his hair because everyone was
coming for his luscious locks, and now he's hot, they
all want him. That's right, Sir, William Trevor mid Lawrence,
(36:13):
who after this week shall be forever known as League
Winner Lawrence.
Speaker 8 (36:19):
The QB one. In the Fantasy Playoffs, he is shown
to have.
Speaker 3 (36:23):
A totally groovy floor and ceiling. He clearly has something
cooking up right now with Liam Cohen, and I know
you care about Week seventeen.
Speaker 8 (36:34):
He is going to win you a championship. Go and
start him.
Speaker 3 (36:38):
But whether you are like me and you got hair
like this, or you're like Rank, you can live the
long haired, don't care life this week and this summer
by simply trusting Trevor and going with the flow.
Speaker 2 (36:54):
Thank you, sir.
Speaker 1 (36:55):
We come back time from the Big Fantasy Award of
the City, Jason Who will be the most valuable player?
Speaker 10 (37:03):
Is it?
Speaker 1 (37:03):
Josh Allen said, Jonathan Taylor, isn't somebody else stick.
Speaker 2 (37:07):
Around if we hand out some hardware?
Speaker 1 (37:09):
When we return, get ready for kickoff with Rich Eisen
(37:30):
and the crew will break down all the fallout from
the Christmas and Saturday games. New England Patriots died in Hunter,
Henry shares why he's confident in quarterback Drake May. Plus,
the Bears and forty nine Ers face off as both
teams look to keep their hopes for the number one
seed alive. All that and more Sunday at nine a
at Eastern. Speaking of the Bears, a piece of injury news,
(37:50):
rome O Doonza is out again Sunday. The Bears wide
I will miss his fourth straight game as the stress
fracture in his foot still hasn't fully healed. So all
week all we've been doing our fantasy awards. We wrap
it up with the big one, the MVP for the
twenty twenty five fantasy season. We each have a nominee,
starting with our friend the Kimmy Chucks.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
Kimmy, who are you.
Speaker 11 (38:12):
Nominating Fantasy MVP for this season? Is none other than
Josh Allen. The fantasy quarterback number one finish should be
absolutely no surprise since he had not won not two
but three different games this season with over thirty seven
fantasy points, making the most by any quarterback in the
Super Bowl era. But as if those thirty seven plus
(38:34):
fantasy point games seem like just pie in the sky coincidences,
he quietly also had eight other games with over twenty
three fantasy points while being tied for leading of the
league with the most total offensive touchdowns this season. Josh Allen,
you may be a regular season MVP, but you're also
a fantasy MVP for the twenty twenty five season.
Speaker 2 (38:54):
Thank you. Jimmy all Right, Floria, who are you nominating?
Speaker 3 (38:57):
Look, I don't think any player means more to their
team in real life than Josh Allen, But for fantasy,
I'm going with Trey McBride, who has scored eighty three
point four more fantasy points than any other tight end
this season. The next biggest positional gap is at running back,
where CMC has thirty more fantasy points then the RB two,
So no player in fantasy gives a bigger advantage than
(39:19):
Trey McBride. Especially since he wasn't even the first Titan
drafted this summer, even though I.
Speaker 8 (39:23):
Was saying all year he should be. But yeah, I
think Trey McBride MVP for Fantasy this season.
Speaker 4 (39:29):
I'm gonna go with Puka Nakula, who has scored three
hundred thirty three and a third points to be the
wide receiver, won five games with at least twenty seven
Fantasy points, leads the NFL and receptions this season, averaging
close to one hundred.
Speaker 5 (39:43):
And fourteen yards per game.
Speaker 4 (39:45):
And when you think about all the wide receivers who
were drafted ahead of him, we're talking about guys like
Jamar Tase, Justin Jefferson, many others. A lot of you
wanted to fade Pooka and Akua during the summer. I
told you not to, and it is paid off in
a big way.
Speaker 2 (40:00):
In the division.
Speaker 1 (40:00):
And mine is Christian McCaffrey, who early in draft season
I was seeing him go in the mid to late
second round. People were completely off of CMC. But with
all the injuries in San Francisco, at some point Kyle
Shanahan just decided to build the whole plane.
Speaker 2 (40:14):
Out of McCaffrey. Touches.
Speaker 1 (40:15):
The top score in all of fantasy football, has scored
a touchdown in eleven of fifteen games, is on pace
for over four hundred and twenty touches this season, and
probably will be in the conversation as a top three
pick for.
Speaker 2 (40:27):
It next year. So those are our nominees.
Speaker 1 (40:30):
We put it to you all out there for a vote,
and the winner of the twenty twenty five Fantasy MVP.
Speaker 2 (40:35):
Award is Pookna come buy a nose.
Speaker 1 (40:42):
Just edging out Christian McCaffrey. We okay with that rank, Now,
I'm good with it.
Speaker 4 (40:45):
I sincerely thought it'd be CMC, but I think both
of them are good, both of them worthy choices.
Speaker 1 (40:52):
But all right, all right, So Christian McCaffrey just getting
edged out by Pooka Nikoua, but apparently belongs in the
NFC West. All right, Time now for your questions, because
it is still championship week. Time for a little bit
of championship chatter. So we go to you and we'll
go around the horn here, Florida'll start with you. Are
we starting DeAndre Swift of the Bears or Michael Carter
(41:12):
of the Cardinals. Championship is on the line.
Speaker 3 (41:16):
Yeah, Championships on the line for everyone this week.
Speaker 8 (41:18):
I like both, but I'm gonna go with DeAndre Swift
there in a good matchup.
Speaker 1 (41:21):
All right, Ranked, this one is for you, Michael Wilson
or Teterroll McMillan because the targets and technically easier matchup,
McMillan seems like the better choice.
Speaker 4 (41:31):
You know, I think a lot of our job is
just reinforcing what you already want to do. You are
showing me you want to go with Ted McMillan. Don't
second guess yourself. Both of them are great options. Similarly,
I would also go with McMillan as well.
Speaker 1 (41:43):
All right, follow your good on that one. Go with
Teterroll McMillan. And which quarterback for this this week? For
the title game? Purty, Brissette or Baker all have great matchups.
I think I'm gonna go with Jacoby Brissett in a
game that I think could be a score fest. It's
either Brisett or Perty to me, I'm gonna lean with
Jacoby Brissette.
Speaker 2 (42:01):
All right.
Speaker 1 (42:02):
Before we wrap things up, time for some fantasy New
Year's knowledge. Consider these are fantasy football resolutions for next season,
and Floria, what do you have?
Speaker 2 (42:14):
Sorry?
Speaker 8 (42:15):
Nerds. The elite running backs are worth it. I'm drafting
them next, somewhere in the first round.
Speaker 4 (42:20):
All right, Rick, don't let people bully you out of
play picking the players that you want. People didn't want
me to pick CMC this year.
Speaker 5 (42:27):
I did. I'm glad I didn't listen.
Speaker 2 (42:29):
All Right.
Speaker 1 (42:29):
I was saying this, Embrace chaos, Embrace kickers. I like
that randomness in there that shouldn't just be solving for X.
It's not a Matthew equation. Let's go out and have
some fun with that one. Thanks for tuning in to
the Fantasy Live edition of the Fantasy Football podcast. Me
Florio n LQ will be back in your feet on
New Year's Eve.
It's a Friday Championship edition of the Fantasy Football Podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
I'm Marcus Grant.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
I'll be joined by Adam Rank and Michael f Florio.
We'll get you ready for all the week seventeen games,
including Saturday's big Texans Chargers matchup at SOFI Stadium, plus
Next Gen Kin breaks down the Steelers running backs, and
who is our twenty twenty five Fantasy Player of the Year,
Pooka jt CMC somebody else. Stay tuned. The podcast starts now.
(00:39):
Happy Friday, everybody, Welcome to another edition of NFL Fantasy Live.
I'm Marcus Grant, That's Adam Rank, That's Michael f Florio. Florido,
Happy Boxing Day if you celebrate that sort of thing.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
I don't, but I do celebrate the Knicks winning on
Christmas Day every year. My favorite tradition and Stranger Things
is out now too, So it's gonna be a fun
week of here in my house.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Yeah, a lot of Premier League games today. Arsenal doesn't
play till Saturday, so that it's a stress free day.
Speaker 5 (01:07):
But then tomorrow the big match comes.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Top of the table, the Gunners having a good season
so far this year. Meanwhile, back to the American pitch
in the American football way of life. We got plenty
of action this weekend, especially starting on Saturday. The playoff
picture is coming into focus on NFL Network, CJ Shroud
and the Texans take on Justin Herbert and the Chargers.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
It's NFL Saturday.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Watch December twenty seventh at four point thirty pm Eastern
only on NFL Network and streaming on NFL Plus. Subscription
required for NFL Plus. Meanwhile, the two coaches are ready
for tomorrow.
Speaker 6 (01:42):
Everything you want. Everything you play this game for, the
reason why you suit up. Everything is in front of us.
Keep attacking it the right way, take it care every
single day, operating the best you can operate every single day.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
That's all is on your mind.
Speaker 6 (01:58):
Dominate that day, Dominate your job one day at a time,
all right, and we will be who we gotta be.
Speaker 7 (02:05):
Also worked two and zero with given the major holiday
day off. We gave Thanksgiving off this year in the
middle of the week, same strategy. So it is my
esteem to associate. Derwin James would say, how's he say
it if it ain't broke, don't fix it?
Speaker 1 (02:27):
How does he say it if it ain't broke? Don't
fix it. Yeah, man, that's a pretty common phrase. Anyway,
we're gonna start it with that Texas Chargers game on Saturday.
It should be an interesting one, which, as we mentioned,
you can see here on NFL Network Florida. What are
you paying attention to in that game?
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Look, that wasn't Jim's best work, but he does have
my favorite quote of the season when he said Justin
Herbert took a.
Speaker 8 (02:46):
Hit that would have killed a lesser man.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
And speaking of Justin Herbert, I think he's a set
this week against Houston. I know he went out and
balled out last week, but that came against the Cowboys,
the best possible fantasy matchup for a quarterback. Now he
gets the other Texans team, the Texans, and they are
the worst possible matchup for a quarterback in fantasy and
they very much so can take advantage of the Chargers
(03:10):
offensive line issues. We know they get after the quarterback
at a high rate. And despite what he did last week,
don't overlook that in the five games prior to that,
he scored less than fifteen Fantasy points. So the floor
is low, and in this game, I don't think the
ceiling is very high. So I would sit him in
Championship week.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
I could probably say CJ.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Stroud, but it's the holidays and I'm being polite, so
I'll say beware of CJ.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Stroud in this one.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Fewer than thirteen fantasy points in four of his last
five games, eight games with one or fewer touchdown passes
this season, and the Chargers have been tough on quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Third worst matchup for.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
The position this season, second fewest touchdown passes allowed, third
most interceptions. This is a recipe for a really bad
number for CJ. Stroud if you dare to start him.
The other Saturday contest takes us to lambeau Field or
the Race Evans are visiting the Packers, who did lock
up a playoff spot on Christmas Day with the Alliance loss,
(04:06):
But rank you're looking at the Baltimore side of things,
mostly with Derek Henry there.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
Yes, First of all, congratulations to Max Hosmer or whomever
that was playing quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings for getting
the Packers into the playoffs, something they couldn't do on
their own a couple of weeks ago. But this game
against the Baltimore Ravens means a lot to the Ravens,
which is why I'm going to start Derrick Henry this week.
He is fourth in the NFL and rushing guards this
year one hundred plus scrimmage yards and four consecutive games,
(04:32):
which is quite a feat considering they forgot he was
on the team last week.
Speaker 5 (04:38):
I don't know what John Harbaugh was doing.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
He's like, oh, yeah, maybe we should have played him
a little more.
Speaker 5 (04:42):
You think I would have done that.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
However, when you look at this Packers defense, they were
very vulnerable to the run last week against the Bears,
who averaged close to six yards per carry. They allowed
over one hundred and fifty rushing guards against the Bears.
That was the second most of the season. I anticipate
with Lamar Jackson being down this week that we see
a heavy dose of Derek Henry.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
A little bit more weary about the Packers wide receivers because,
like Rank just said, they clinched their playoffs spout already.
So Jordan Love's been up in the air of this week.
Christian Watson's been playing through injury. Romeo Dobbs was banged
up last we saw him. Do they opt to rest
their guys or maybe take a little bit of their snaps.
Speaker 8 (05:23):
Off their plate.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
With having all of their full allotment of receivers available,
I'm worried about them maybe mixing and matching a bit. Plus,
they've run the ball at such a high rate sixth
lowest pass rate this season. If you need to play one,
I would go Christian Watson, but the Ravens have been
so tough against receivers as of late, then I think
I'm trying to get away from all of them.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Next up a really interesting matchup, at least on paper,
between the Eagles and the Buffalo Bills, and I'm gonna
start by saying, look, I don't think you can fully
get away from Jalen Hurts because you probably don't have
another quarterback that has that kind of ceiling. But I
would say you should beware of starting Jalen Hurts in
this one. You look over the recent weeks, Hurt's best
(06:03):
performances have come against some really good matchups against some
really bad defenses, not so much in the tougher matchups,
and the Bills have been very tough on quarterbacks so
far this season. But we know this Buffalo defense is
bad against the run. I expect I'm gonna see a
lot of Sakwon Barkley, and if Hurts is going to
have success, it's probably gonna be more as a runner
than as a passer. The downside to that is he's
(06:25):
not run nearly as much this year. He hasn't had
more than forty rushing yards in a game since way
back in Week four. But maybe he gets out of
the pocket, maybe he does something like this, and that's
a way for him, I think too. Otherwise, put up
a pretty good number against the Bills defense.
Speaker 5 (06:38):
I'm gonna say that we start Josh Allen this week,
and I'm sorry, Kendll.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
I know that I am the number one Josh Allen
fan on this show, and everybody knows this.
Speaker 5 (06:47):
I've got I've got a lot of questions.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
I don't know if people are freaking out, but this
is when people are using their phone a friend with
me and they're like, what do we do with Josh Allen?
Speaker 5 (06:55):
I'm like, what do you mean?
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Like, Josh Allen is a great history against the Philadelphia Eagles.
I understand like there might be some trepidation, but one
of the things that the Eagles do is they give
up a lot of rushing yards to quarterbacks. They've allowed
the sixth most rushing yards to quarterbacks this season. Josh
Allen his twelve rushing touchdowns on the year.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
I think this is pretty I.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
Understand it's a championship game. You want to be extra sure.
Do not overthink this. Make sure you are starting. Josh Allen.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Josh Allen's been too good to get away from them.
I don't care what the matchup says.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Of course, Christmas Day was on Thursday. We had a
trio of games, and here were some of the gifts
you may have found under your fantasy tree. Doc Prescott
twenty two points, six points. Jacory krossky Merritt, who was
a late start after Chris Rodriguez was scratch, gave you
twenty two and a half. The Vikings defense took advantage
of six turnovers by the Lions to get you twenty
one points. Bo Knicks RJ. Harvey each over eighteen fantasy points.
(07:52):
So that was the good side of things. But not
everything was so good from what we saw on Thursday
in Florida. What did you take away from the trio
of holiday games.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
Well, first of all, Kendall tried to do me a
solid on Tuesday.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Was it Tuesday Show?
Speaker 5 (08:07):
It was Wednesday Show what do We Do? The White
Elephant Gift? And I got to Corey.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
I got to Corey cross the Merritt remember that, and
I was like so upset. I'm like, I should have listened.
So I apologize to you Kendall and George Pickens. Though
you know what, when you look at all those numbers
that happened on Christmas Day, not a lot of people
were great, but George Pickens. Depending on your points games,
whether it's this is eleven points in a full point PPR,
(08:33):
I was playing in a half point BBR and I
had nine points. I'm like, you know what, it feels
like a win, Like considering everything that was going on Saturday,
just the fact that it wasn't a complete disaster, the
fact that I didn't get a Christmas bagel or something
like that, Like, I'll take it.
Speaker 5 (08:47):
I think there's other areas.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
I can make up for the ground that I've lost.
But you know what could have been worse, and thankfully
it wasn't.
Speaker 8 (08:57):
I didn't feel good at all as someone who had George.
Speaker 9 (09:00):
I was like, Dak, stop staring him down, throw him
the ball, But what do ceedee Lamb Courtland Sutton Justin Jefferson,
Jamison Williams, Jamiir Gibbs, David Montgomery, Travis kelce In.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Every tight end who played have in common.
Speaker 8 (09:14):
They all gave you single digits.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
In fact, four of the six qbs who played yesterday
scored less than nine Fantasy points. So yeah, if you
played Dak or bow Knicks or RJ. Harvey Orville, you're happy.
If you played anyone else, you are hugely disappointed. You're
sitting there like, why does Netflix need two football games
on Christmas? They already had stranger things like, look, I
love watching football, but on a short week in championship week,
(09:41):
maybe we don't need to do this every year.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
Yeah, well that's really good. We don't get paid by
these people. But okay, I always say more football please.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
What was fun for me is having the two running
backs that were on that list. I had both Jamiir
Gibbs and Javonte Williams on the same team in my championships.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
That's great.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
But for me, this is a reminder to that small
percentage of you out there who think you're playing four
D chess by having your championships stretch into week eighteen.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
You're not stop doing that.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Because what we saw this past week was kind of
a dry run for what Week eighteen is gonna be.
You're gonna have a lot of teams with absolutely nothing
to play for. We had three third string quarterbacks play
on Christmas Day. Your number one wide receiver was Cavante Turpin.
He had one target.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
That's it, That's all that you got. You had him.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Sure, it was great for him to go out and
need a Tomahawk's steak afterwards. Him and Dack like a
couple of you know, Viking. Well, I guess the Vikings
actually went out and had a bunch of Tomahawks stakes too.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
But the point is, I.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Know a lot of people feel like this is some
sort of you know, great test of skill or No,
it's not. It's it's like playing preseason fantasy. It's fun
for a lark, but not fun when you actually have
some steaks on the line. And I don't mean just
the beef there that Michael Irvin is chowing down on.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
Stop doing that, Michael Irvan just invite himself to that place.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
He's okay, I'm gonna do.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
It to you.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Okay, he just helped himself to substate.
Speaker 5 (11:06):
Your neighbor just wanders in. It's eating off the table.
You're like, Okay, this is happening.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
That is absolutely wonderful.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Dropping looking those another back from the CGN talking about
it massed out to the five. God put it all
that touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, contenure, touchdown pass the tiness ets to.
Speaker 8 (11:26):
Judge of it. St of the late helse good is.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
That the game in the AFC South between the Jaguars
and the Coles. We just saw Trevor Lawrence, who has
been red hot the last few weeks, and he and
the Jaguars a chance to get themselves a little bit
closer to a division title. But Florio, what are you
paying attention to in this game?
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Yeah, I'm looking at Jacobe Meyers, not the law firm,
the wide receiver. And if you don't count that first
game he was a Jaguar where he was traded midweek
in the six game. Since then, he has averaged fourteen
to see points per game. He is shown to have
a very safe floor. But we're getting more upside out
of him as of lay and that could be an
(12:07):
upside week this week because the cultival out of the
second most receiving yards to wide receivers so given how
hot Trevor Lawrence and the Jacks passing attack is right now,
I think his wide.
Speaker 8 (12:18):
Receiver one remains in play in Championship week.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
I'm gonna tell you on the other side to beware
of Tyler Warren, who really was starting to slump a
little bit even before Philip Rivers came into play for Indianapolis.
But the last two weeks have been really bad. If
you've been starting the rookie tied end fifteen targets from
Philip Rivers, it's turned into six catches for forty nine
yards total over the two games. And the Jags have
(12:42):
been really tough on tight ends this season, a bottom
three matchup for the position over the last month. They
held Warren to just two catches for fifteen yards way
back in week not way back, but back in week fourteen.
So this is another one where Warren's been really good
for you all season long, but it does not feel
like a really optimistic matchup for him coming up this week.
Interesting game over in the NFC with the Seahawks and
(13:05):
the Panthers getting together, and look, I'm gonna look at
this one and say, Bryce Young, that's one that might
have to be careful of as well at the quarterback
position because Bryce GM's kind of been a tough riddle
to figure out. We've seen some really tough matchups like
this one against the Rams where it didn't seem like
he performed well and he put up one of his
best games of the season, but the last two weeks
and really positive matchups like against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,
(13:29):
it was just sort of mid Now he's going to
take on the Seattle Seahawks, who have been a tough
out for pretty much everybody. Yeah, I know they got
cooked by Matthew Stafford and the Rams recently, but that
seems sort of like an outlier. They've been really tough
on quarterbacks and in a championship situation, I don't know
that I feel comfortable with Bryce Young in a starting spot.
Speaker 4 (13:48):
I would feel comfortable start Walker against the Panthers. He
played over fifty percent of the snaps in Week eleven,
first time he's done that in a while, even though
he out snapped sharp in weeks one through ten. One
of the big reasons why he averaged over twenty six
yards per reception in his last six games. And he's
got a great matchup against the Panthers, who allowed the
(14:10):
eighth most fantasy points per game to running backs this season.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Matchup in the AFC North with the Steelers and the
Browns facing off against one another.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
I see you rubbing your hands over there, because phil
or Florida. I feel like this one might.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Be kind of a shoutout to one person in particular.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
Shout out to Harold Fannon Junior first and foremost, but
also to Lakwan Jones. You should go to the mall
already this weekend and start picking out what color die
you want to.
Speaker 8 (14:38):
Die, because if he finishes top five, Lakwan is going blonde.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
And with Travis kelcey struggling last night and Harold Bannon
Junior eating as of late, I think he's going blond.
But yeah, you're starting Harold Bannon Junior because since Shador
Sanders took over in week twelve, Bannon has a thirty
one percent target share, a twenty six percent air yard shap,
and he has seen two thirds of their end zone targets.
(15:03):
Plus he has scored eleven or more and four straight.
If he scores eleven this week, Marcus, he jumps Travis
kelce his fifteen fantasy points per game with Shador is
only top this season by Trey McBride. And on top
of all of that, the Steelers are top four in yards, touchdowns,
and fantasy points. So yeah, Harrod Fannon Junior, he's gonna
make mcwon blond and he's gonna win a lot of
(15:24):
you championships this week.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Fanon is questionable, but if he starts for the Browns,
he feels like a pretty good option to have in
your lineup. Also, it's given me some sleepery vibes with
Shadur Sanders in part because of how well Fannin has
been playing. Shador has not been asked to do a
ton in the offense, but he has really done well
with what the offense has asked of him. The Steelers
have the thirtieth ranked pass defense, and they've been a
(15:48):
good matchup for fantasy quarterbacks for most of the year.
They also struggle against tight ends, and because that is
where Sanders is going primarily, more than twenty five percent
of his targets have gone to Fanon since he has
taken over four Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
I means he's a nice QB too.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
If you're in a two quarterback or a super flex league,
should or Sanders does have.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Some value for you coming up this week. So there
you go.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
That is what look at least partial look at the
Steelers and Browns. But it also gets us to our
next gin nuggets with our friend, our researcher, the one
and only Kendall Murski, and we gave you sort of
the brown side of things from a fantasy perspective, but Kendall,
you were looking at it from the Steelers point of view.
Speaker 10 (16:26):
Yeah, I want to focus in specifically on the running backs,
and it's really because of how the Browns have slipped recently.
They've had their flashes on defense, but recently against running backs,
they've actually allowed the most fantasy points per game since
Week nine. And on the other hand, the Steelers they
have the seventh highest outside rush rate this season, and
the Browns they really haven't had much success since that
(16:48):
Week nine mark. Defending these runs. They've allowed the fourth
most rush yards over expected on outside rushes since Week nine,
and a lot of it has been because of the
long runway that they're giving running backs before cont but
also in that same span, the Browns are allowing the
fifth most receiving yards per game two running backs and
This works out really well because the Steelers have the
(17:08):
second highest running back target share in the NFL this season,
so much so that Kenneth Gainwell actually leads the team
in receptions, So I know. I think the tough part
for a lot of people is that they don't necessarily
believe that offenses can support two running backs, and maybe
even the Steelers offense specifically, but both Warren and Gainwell
(17:29):
they've scored twelve plus fantasy points in three of their
last five weeks, so they have proven that they can
do this and it's a sustainable product for them, and
against the Browns this week, I think it's specifically fruitful.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
All Right.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Kenneth Gangwell carried multiple of my teams down the late
season and into the playhoff, so I certainly believe appreciate
it as always kindle. All right, when we come back,
Caleb Williams and Brock Purty face off this week on
Sunday Night Football. So what did these two young guns
do we think should be in your championship lineup?
Speaker 2 (17:59):
That's surprise. Wa We come back.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
With NFL Plus Keep the NFL in reach, stream live
local and primetime games on mobile during the regular and postseason.
NFL Network, including one more exclusive live game tomorrow, live
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sign up today at Plus dot NFL dot com.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Slash Network terms and conditions apply.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
Back to the game previews, and it is a Sunshine
stage showdown between the Buccaneers and the Dolphins and Florida.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Baker Mayfield started hot lately, not so much.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Yeah, once we all started putting him in the MVP conversation,
it's all gone wrong since. But Baker Mayfield one touchdown
and fewer than two hundred passing yards in five of
his last six games. In fact, in that span, he
has thrown seven touchdowns and six interceptions. So even with
all of his receivers being back, even with him running
(19:13):
more than he typically has, the fantasy results just haven't
been there. And the Dolphins, they have struggled against the
run this year, they're surprisingly good.
Speaker 8 (19:22):
Against the pass.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
So I'm not sure how much the Bucks are going
to air it out in this one. I would play
it safe and look to get away from Baker Mayfield
and Championship week.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
So the Dolphins started Quinn viewers last week and he
exceeded expectations, So I got him as a deep sleeper
this week. Two hundred and sixty passing yards in the
start in Week sixteen, made some nice throws.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
He got both.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
Jalen Waddle and Darren Waller heavily involved in the passing game.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
But moreover, it is the matchup.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
The Buccaneers defense against passers has really struggled in the
back half of the season, nine straight weeks, allowing at
least seventeen points six fantasy points to a quarterback. So yours, look,
I'm not telling you to don't galaxy brain this and
you'll worry about Josh Allen and start quinn Ewers. He's
a QB too. He's maybe a contrarian DFS play. That's
what we're thinking about quinn Ewers. But there is something
(20:11):
there that I think is worth exploring. Interesting one on
Sunday Night Football. It is the Bears against the forty
nine Ers in Santa Clara and rank you're looking at
the Bears backfield.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
Yeah, both teams have clinched the playoff spot moving forward,
but there is still a lot to be decided, especially
with the number one overall seed in play in the
NFC here, both San Francisco and the Bears can lay
claim to it. But one of the ways the Bears
could go out there and capture this game is leaning
on the running attack, which is why I'm saying to
start DeAndre Swift in this one. He's had three rushing
(20:45):
touchdowns in his last four games. He's averaging close to
sixteen Fantasy points per game in those four and there
are few teams that run the ball more than the
Chicago Bears this season, and as a matter of fact,
they have the second most rushing yards in the NFL
this year in San Francisco. For as great as they've
played ever since Fred Warner went out, they have struggled
(21:06):
ats stopping the run. There are few, if any teams
that give up more yardage on the ground than the
forty nine Ers. So DeAndre Swift and Kyle mcanunguy are
both in play for a championship week.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
Yeah, I'm flexing Kyle mcnung guy in a championship myself,
And in that same lineup, I am starting Brock Purdy
because Purdy and the forty nine Ers the last couple
of weeks have been the healthiest they have really been
all year, and to no surprise, he top twenty six
Fantasy points in each of his last two with eight
touchdown passes in those games, and the Bears they've allowed
(21:41):
the fifth most touchdown passes this season. I know George
Kittle is up in the air, but Juwan Jennings is
there see them. See there's a lot of different ways
they could win through the air, And given what the
forty nine Ers defense has been, I think this has
a chance to be a high scoring, back and forth
kind of game. So yeah, I'm starting brock perty and
I think a lot.
Speaker 8 (22:01):
Of you should as well.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
Thinks it's gonna be a sneaky high scoring game between
these two teams coming up this weekend. But as we
take a little bit more of a look at his
time now for the season, presented by caesar Sports Book
and according to Caesars Sports Book, here are the most
likely players to score the first touchdown during this week's
Sunday Night showdown between the Bears and the forty nine Ers.
Christian McCaffrey no surprise, at the top of the list,
(22:24):
followed by DeAndre Swift. Of course, George Kittle, as Florio mentioned,
still uncertain for the game. Followed by Khamanunguy and Colston
Lovelin rounding out the top five. So of that group
or maybe somebody not listed there, Floria, who do you
think finds the end zone first?
Speaker 3 (22:40):
Yeah, I've been taking some deeper shots as of late here,
but I really like that number next to CMC. So
I'm going to go with Christian McCaffrey because he has
eight touchdowns, eight in his last five games, and he
leads the NFL in games with a touchdown this season
at eleven, plus he could do it on the ground,
he might be their top target, especially in the red zone.
Speaker 8 (23:02):
Of George Kittle does not suit up this week against
a team that has.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
Allowed a lot of touchdowns, I think there's gonna be
a lot of points scored in this game, and CMC
certainly gonna get his good share of them.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
So a little bit later in the show, we're gonna
do our fantasy MVP, But for now, I'm going to
take a look at some of the biggest flops of
the fantasy season. Lamar Jackson, who was drafted as the
QB two, has been banged up this year. He's currently
the QB nineteen. Isaiah Pacheco drafted is the RB twenty four.
He is RB fifty one Brian Thomas Junior, a significant
(23:36):
standing from where he was taken in drafts, and Evan
Ingram thought he'd be the joker. Apparently the joke was
on us. He's currently the tight end twenty nine. So
I guess me to a little call me crazy. But
as we bring back an old favorite segment on this
show talking about some guys that underperformed this year that
maybe we feel a little bit better about heading into
twenty twenty six. So, Florio, who do you think returns
(23:59):
to glory next year?
Speaker 3 (24:01):
This might not be the craziest call, but I'm going
with my guy Jaden Daniels here, who It's just been
a lost season for him, right like, he missed time
due to a knees, brain, a hamstring strain, and then
a left elbow dislocation. None of those are injuries that
I worry about hampering him next season. And just to
remind you how good he is, he hit the second
(24:21):
most Fantasy points ever by a rookie quarterback, arguably the
greatest rookie quarterback season in real life terms, and this year,
in games that he finished, there wasn't many of them,
but he averaged twenty.
Speaker 8 (24:33):
Fantasy points per game, which is exactly what he did
last season. And because he missed time, I think.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
You get a discount on him come draft season next year.
So I will be drafting a whole bunch of jad
and Daniels, and I think you should as well.
Speaker 4 (24:48):
Right, all right, call me crazy, but Ashton Jent is
going to live up to his fantasy potential next season.
Not that he was a flop necessarily this year. He
did finish as the running back thirteen, but a lot
of people were drafting him in the first round.
Speaker 5 (25:04):
You were drafting him.
Speaker 4 (25:05):
As perhaps the running back five, the running back six
somewhere there. Obviously, there's going to be a lot of
questions with what happens with this Las Vegas Raiders organization.
We don't know if Pete Carroll is going to return
for another season. We don't know who the quarterback is
going to be. There is a big matchup this weekend
between them and the Giants for potentially the number one
(25:25):
overall pick. There are a lot of questions to be
answered with the Las Vegas Raiders over the next couple
of months. But one of the things that I can
be certain of is that whomever the coach is next year,
they are going to make Ashton Genty the focal point
of this offense. If they go out there and invest
in this offensive line, Ashton Genty could be one of
(25:45):
those guys who surprises a lot of people, especially since
so many folks were burned this year by him. They
might avoid him, but I'm going all in on Ashton
Genty next season.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
Call me crazy, maybe it's not that crazy, but Justin
Jefferson is going to rebound. He's just way too talented
and even in a season that has been pretty disappointing
to say the least, still.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
A chance for him to get a thousand yards receiving
this year.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
Look, the biggest thing for the Vikings this offseason is
going to be to figure out the quarterback situation. Is
it JJ McCarthy, is it somebody else? But either way,
whoever the signal caller is next year, I expect the
priority is going to be to get number eighteen involved
as much as possible. And yeah, maybe you do get
a little bit of a discount, maybe he comes off
the board in the second round instead of top of
the first. But either way, Justin Jefferson too good to
(26:31):
be this bad again next year.
Speaker 3 (26:34):
Yeah, and then at tight end you could call me crazy.
But Colson Lovelin, Look, he was banged up to start
the year. The Bears were clearly easing him in because
of that. We saw him playing behind Cole Comet early on,
but as of late, he has been ascending, averaging twelve
Fantasy points per game since Week nine. So the handpicked
first draft pick by Ben Johnson, he has shown he
(26:55):
could play at a high level. I think this season
they will draw more plays around him and he explodes
next year. But I think he's going to be a
popular breakout pick, so unlike the other guys, I don't
think you get a discount on him next year.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
We weren't wrong on Colston Lovelin, we were just early.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
That is Mile Williams his third of the year trufendus
over the shoulder catch game on in Baltimore.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
That's a little taste of what we saw all year.
It was for brilliant NFL Fantasy Live.
Speaker 4 (27:28):
Drake may firmly in the conversation for NFL MVP, But Michael,
you say it's the defense this week that we need
to be looking at.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
For yeah, because they get the Jets and it's all
about matchups when playing defenses. The Jets have allowed the
fourth most fantasy points per game two opposing defenses, and
they've taken sacks at the second highest rate this season.
Speaker 8 (27:49):
But things have been.
Speaker 3 (27:49):
Worse since Brady Cook has taken over. The Saints scored
nineteen against them last week. The Jacks had ten the
week before. It's not every week where I'm like there's
a moustar defense. But the Patriots, yeah, they feel pretty much.
Speaker 8 (28:00):
Starty this week.
Speaker 4 (28:02):
Bill Belichick once quipped on to Cincinnati, and I will
get myself to Cincinnati by saying start Joe Burrow against
the Cardinals. He's at least nineteen fantasy points in three
of four. The Arizona Cardinals have allowed fifteen touchdown passes
in the last six weeks. That is the most in
the NFL. They have no takeaways in three out of
their last four games. So I know a lot of
(28:22):
you have asked a question about Joe Burrow. I am
here to say that you start him. And earlier in
the show, I was talking about Ashton Genty for next year. Michael,
what do we do with Ashton Genty? This week against
the Giants.
Speaker 3 (28:34):
Well, I do think he has a big year next year.
I don't think he's quite done this season. He has
a fantastic matchup against the Giants, who willow the most
yards per carry, yards before contact, and we know batt
has been an issue for genty in this offensive line.
They also allow explosive runs at the highest rate. So
I think he's going to see a lot of volume
(28:55):
against a defense that gives up a lot of big plays.
Speaker 8 (28:58):
He just might win you at each hYP after all.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
Moving on to Saints at Titans, A lot of sleepers
in this one, but when I'm looking at particularly Taja Spears,
who leads the team in reception since Week six, he's
at at least ten touches and two out of his
last three games, he has the eighth most receiving yards
amongst running backs since Week six, and the Saints have
(29:23):
allowed the most this excuse me, the six most yards
per game to running backs this season, which means both
running backs are probably in play. All right, now it
is time to take a look at the year that
was with a minute with Marcus.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
Thank you, Adam, and so we have come to the end.
It's the end of waiver picks and trade requests. It's
the end of scouting, target shares and snap counts. It's
the end of sleepers and busts and chasing upside. It's
the end of setting lineups because it's the end of
fantasy football season. But endings also come with beginnings. So
(30:05):
as we turn the page, it's time to look ahead.
It's time for combines and draft guides. It's time for
mock drafts and ADPs. It's time for draft boards and
risers and fallers. Mostly, it's a time for rebirth and renewal,
the rebirth of hope, the renewal of belief, believing that
(30:27):
next year will finally be your year, Believing that the
next draft will be the best draft, because the joy
of fantasy football is that success is always around the corner,
that things will get brighter, that tomorrow the sun will
come out. You're only a sleeper away, So don't stop studying,
(30:48):
don't stop drafting, don't stop believing. Hey man, let's get
after it next year. This has been a minute with Marcus.
Higher stakes, lower prices fell Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV
for a new lower price, not only sixty dollars for
new users for the rest of the season. Sign up now,
(31:08):
terms and embargoes apply.
Speaker 4 (31:11):
Let's get ready, well, last time take it to the rank.
All right, thank you so much, Marcus one final time
here for taking to the rank coming in and over
a sixty percent clip this season, and I gotta.
Speaker 5 (31:24):
Pulling it out number one.
Speaker 4 (31:25):
First of all, I wanted to go with one about
bow Nicks, and when I did the homework on Tuesday,
I had a bow Knicks note in there. Kendall backed
me up on this, didn't I say bo Nicks more
than fourteen and a half Russian's right?
Speaker 10 (31:39):
It was there, But obviously we had to pivot because
that game was yesterday.
Speaker 8 (31:43):
We do take it to the rank today.
Speaker 5 (31:45):
Thanks pivot, Pivot, pivot. We are gonna pivot.
Speaker 4 (31:49):
Yeah, Kendall and I tried this with Derek Stevens one time.
Speaker 5 (31:52):
Didn't work.
Speaker 4 (31:52):
There are all right, Let's go to Arizona at Cincinnati.
Jacoby Pressent has win one of the most consistent quarterbacks
in the NFL since he taken over as this starter
of the Cincinnati Bengals. He's had at least two touchdowns
in eight games since becoming the curder there in Week six,
the Bengals have allowed the second most passing touchdowns this season.
(32:13):
So I will say it on quite some authority, Jacoby
Brissett has more than one and a half touchdowns this season,
and you.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
Could take it for the rank earlier.
Speaker 4 (32:22):
Rud Oh, All right, let's go on to Carolina. Well
in Seattle, Bryce Young has been playing some pretty good football.
We saw at the end of last year after he replaced,
after he got replaced by Andy Dalton, he came back
in playing pretty well. It's got the Carolina Panthers in
position to win the NFC South. Now he's got a
(32:43):
tough matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. As great as the
Seahawks defense has been this season, they actually make quarterbacks
throw the ball a ton because teams are losing at
the end of the game, they're throwing the ball to
play catch up. So here, I'm gonna say that Bryce
Young attempts more than thirty and a half passes against
(33:04):
this Teahawks team, and you're gonna take her to the rank,
to the rank?
Speaker 2 (33:09):
What go on?
Speaker 5 (33:11):
It right out here?
Speaker 2 (33:13):
Finally, one of.
Speaker 4 (33:14):
The places where we have absolutely crossed this year. It's
predicting players who are gonna have touchdowns. Fourteen out of
fifteen weeks, we have correctly identified a player who is
gonna score.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
So this week, let's.
Speaker 5 (33:27):
Talk about Darren Waller.
Speaker 4 (33:29):
Darren Waller, when he came back to the NFL, people
were making fun of his wrap albums or all that stuff.
But one of the things that we need to realize,
Mike McDaniels offense features the tight ends. It's one of
the reasons why John hus Smith was so good last year.
Speaker 5 (33:43):
So it shouldn't have.
Speaker 4 (33:43):
Been a shock that Darren Waller has come out there
and also made a lot of noise from the tight
end position.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
So this week, going up.
Speaker 5 (33:50):
Against the Timpa Bay Buccaneers, who.
Speaker 4 (33:51):
Have allowed a six receiving touchdowns to tight ends since
Week ten, I say that Darren Waller gets into the
end zone, he'll be carrying a football and having account
at six points and you can take it to the
rank through to the rig and there it is.
Speaker 5 (34:06):
Take it to the rank for this season is done
for the year.
Speaker 4 (34:09):
But go ahead and catch me onto the insiders twice
a week starting on Tuesday.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
All right, and then let me time here's some fantasy fuego.
Here are some of the hottest breakout Fantasy Stars.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
In twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (34:22):
Drake May who's in in the conversation for real NFL MVP,
follow with Chase Brown, George Pickings, Jake Ferguson, all having
fantastic seasons, but it is time to look ahead one
last time for us to get a little bit of
fantasy zen, to get our fantasy chakras aligned with our
own fantasy guru, Michael left Florio. What do you have
for us this week?
Speaker 3 (34:44):
Yeah, Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone, except for
the man who thinks that the holidays are all about
just breaking out your credit card.
Speaker 8 (34:53):
But just like the man, Sean Payton charges taxes.
Speaker 3 (34:57):
That's right, his rookies have to pay that tax and
that's what happened to RJ.
Speaker 5 (35:02):
Harvey early on.
Speaker 3 (35:04):
But since their bye week he has averaged nineteen Fantasy
points per game. And his running backs Peytons are extremely
valuable in fantasy because no offense targets them in the
passing game more than that groovy coach Sean Payton. So
we haven't seen a running back handle the majority of
ground passing and goal on work since Alvin Camara.
Speaker 8 (35:27):
But that is what I think the explosive RJ.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
Harvey can become, so he continues his late season breakout
and returns top two, not peace two round value. But
just keep that between us, because so that he goes
a little bit cheaper next year.
Speaker 8 (35:45):
And then go with the flow this summer.
Speaker 3 (35:50):
Woh going on and we go from Duval, from Denver
to Duval. We're the only player in the NFL who
could make me jealous of his hair because everyone was
coming for his luscious locks, and now he's hot, they
all want him. That's right, Sir, William Trevor mid Lawrence,
(36:13):
who after this week shall be forever known as League
Winner Lawrence.
Speaker 8 (36:19):
The QB one. In the Fantasy Playoffs, he is shown
to have.
Speaker 3 (36:23):
A totally groovy floor and ceiling. He clearly has something
cooking up right now with Liam Cohen, and I know
you care about Week seventeen.
Speaker 8 (36:34):
He is going to win you a championship. Go and
start him.
Speaker 3 (36:38):
But whether you are like me and you got hair
like this, or you're like Rank, you can live the
long haired, don't care life this week and this summer
by simply trusting Trevor and going with the flow.
Speaker 2 (36:54):
Thank you, sir.
Speaker 1 (36:55):
We come back time from the Big Fantasy Award of
the City, Jason Who will be the most valuable player?
Speaker 10 (37:03):
Is it?
Speaker 1 (37:03):
Josh Allen said, Jonathan Taylor, isn't somebody else stick.
Speaker 2 (37:07):
Around if we hand out some hardware?
Speaker 1 (37:09):
When we return, get ready for kickoff with Rich Eisen
(37:30):
and the crew will break down all the fallout from
the Christmas and Saturday games. New England Patriots died in Hunter,
Henry shares why he's confident in quarterback Drake May. Plus,
the Bears and forty nine Ers face off as both
teams look to keep their hopes for the number one
seed alive. All that and more Sunday at nine a
at Eastern. Speaking of the Bears, a piece of injury news,
(37:50):
rome O Doonza is out again Sunday. The Bears wide
I will miss his fourth straight game as the stress
fracture in his foot still hasn't fully healed. So all
week all we've been doing our fantasy awards. We wrap
it up with the big one, the MVP for the
twenty twenty five fantasy season. We each have a nominee,
starting with our friend the Kimmy Chucks.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
Kimmy, who are you.
Speaker 11 (38:12):
Nominating Fantasy MVP for this season? Is none other than
Josh Allen. The fantasy quarterback number one finish should be
absolutely no surprise since he had not won not two
but three different games this season with over thirty seven
fantasy points, making the most by any quarterback in the
Super Bowl era. But as if those thirty seven plus
(38:34):
fantasy point games seem like just pie in the sky coincidences,
he quietly also had eight other games with over twenty
three fantasy points while being tied for leading of the
league with the most total offensive touchdowns this season. Josh Allen,
you may be a regular season MVP, but you're also
a fantasy MVP for the twenty twenty five season.
Speaker 2 (38:54):
Thank you. Jimmy all Right, Floria, who are you nominating?
Speaker 3 (38:57):
Look, I don't think any player means more to their
team in real life than Josh Allen, But for fantasy,
I'm going with Trey McBride, who has scored eighty three
point four more fantasy points than any other tight end
this season. The next biggest positional gap is at running back,
where CMC has thirty more fantasy points then the RB two,
So no player in fantasy gives a bigger advantage than
(39:19):
Trey McBride. Especially since he wasn't even the first Titan
drafted this summer, even though I.
Speaker 8 (39:23):
Was saying all year he should be. But yeah, I
think Trey McBride MVP for Fantasy this season.
Speaker 4 (39:29):
I'm gonna go with Puka Nakula, who has scored three
hundred thirty three and a third points to be the
wide receiver, won five games with at least twenty seven
Fantasy points, leads the NFL and receptions this season, averaging
close to one hundred.
Speaker 5 (39:43):
And fourteen yards per game.
Speaker 4 (39:45):
And when you think about all the wide receivers who
were drafted ahead of him, we're talking about guys like
Jamar Tase, Justin Jefferson, many others. A lot of you
wanted to fade Pooka and Akua during the summer. I
told you not to, and it is paid off in
a big way.
Speaker 2 (40:00):
In the division.
Speaker 1 (40:00):
And mine is Christian McCaffrey, who early in draft season
I was seeing him go in the mid to late
second round. People were completely off of CMC. But with
all the injuries in San Francisco, at some point Kyle
Shanahan just decided to build the whole plane.
Speaker 2 (40:14):
Out of McCaffrey. Touches.
Speaker 1 (40:15):
The top score in all of fantasy football, has scored
a touchdown in eleven of fifteen games, is on pace
for over four hundred and twenty touches this season, and
probably will be in the conversation as a top three
pick for.
Speaker 2 (40:27):
It next year. So those are our nominees.
Speaker 1 (40:30):
We put it to you all out there for a vote,
and the winner of the twenty twenty five Fantasy MVP.
Speaker 2 (40:35):
Award is Pookna come buy a nose.
Speaker 1 (40:42):
Just edging out Christian McCaffrey. We okay with that rank, Now,
I'm good with it.
Speaker 4 (40:45):
I sincerely thought it'd be CMC, but I think both
of them are good, both of them worthy choices.
Speaker 1 (40:52):
But all right, all right, So Christian McCaffrey just getting
edged out by Pooka Nikoua, but apparently belongs in the
NFC West. All right, Time now for your questions, because
it is still championship week. Time for a little bit
of championship chatter. So we go to you and we'll
go around the horn here, Florida'll start with you. Are
we starting DeAndre Swift of the Bears or Michael Carter
(41:12):
of the Cardinals. Championship is on the line.
Speaker 3 (41:16):
Yeah, Championships on the line for everyone this week.
Speaker 8 (41:18):
I like both, but I'm gonna go with DeAndre Swift
there in a good matchup.
Speaker 1 (41:21):
All right, Ranked, this one is for you, Michael Wilson
or Teterroll McMillan because the targets and technically easier matchup,
McMillan seems like the better choice.
Speaker 4 (41:31):
You know, I think a lot of our job is
just reinforcing what you already want to do. You are
showing me you want to go with Ted McMillan. Don't
second guess yourself. Both of them are great options. Similarly,
I would also go with McMillan as well.
Speaker 1 (41:43):
All right, follow your good on that one. Go with
Teterroll McMillan. And which quarterback for this this week? For
the title game? Purty, Brissette or Baker all have great matchups.
I think I'm gonna go with Jacoby Brissett in a
game that I think could be a score fest. It's
either Brisett or Perty to me, I'm gonna lean with
Jacoby Brissette.
Speaker 2 (42:01):
All right.
Speaker 1 (42:02):
Before we wrap things up, time for some fantasy New
Year's knowledge. Consider these are fantasy football resolutions for next season,
and Floria, what do you have?
Speaker 2 (42:14):
Sorry?
Speaker 8 (42:15):
Nerds. The elite running backs are worth it. I'm drafting
them next, somewhere in the first round.
Speaker 4 (42:20):
All right, Rick, don't let people bully you out of
play picking the players that you want. People didn't want
me to pick CMC this year.
Speaker 5 (42:27):
I did. I'm glad I didn't listen.
Speaker 2 (42:29):
All Right.
Speaker 1 (42:29):
I was saying this, Embrace chaos, Embrace kickers. I like
that randomness in there that shouldn't just be solving for X.
It's not a Matthew equation. Let's go out and have
some fun with that one. Thanks for tuning in to
the Fantasy Live edition of the Fantasy Football podcast. Me
Florio n LQ will be back in your feet on
New Year's Eve.
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