December 15, 2022 • 26 mins
It's Fox Sports Radio's Official Fantasy Football Podcast! Dan Beyer and Mike Harmon get you ready for your fantasy playoffs with positional rankings, hot plays, cold sores, fantasy ninjas, start/sits, Survivor picks, and much more! Plus, the guys debate if there should be limitations on waiver pickups during the playoffs for both playoff teams and non-playoff teams.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Ladies, you want experience during your football season, well, buckle love,
sweet cheeks, We've got all the experience in the world.
This is I want your flex with Dan Buyer and
Mike Harman. Mike and Dan breakdown everything you need to
set your line ups from position rankings, two starts and sits.
(00:24):
The guys help you make those hard decisions. And now
let's get your flex on. Here's Dan Buyer and Mike Harman. Yeah,
we are down the home stretch here and I want
your flex. Get Mike on Twitter at Swollen Dome. Our
executive producers, Ryan Bershinger, you can find him on Twitter
at Ryan Bershinger and you can find me on Twitter
(00:44):
at Dan Buyer on Fox. But it's winning time, Mike.
If you're in it, your miles ago get it. Because
regular seasons are ending, playoffs are starting. We are here
in the fantasy football season. Well well here from Birch
a little bit later on some of the streaming defenses
and look aheads. But it's one of the things playing
defense with your back end of your roster, with your
(01:04):
bench slots, and some of it might be finding reinforcements
from for yourself. The other might be making sure you're
looking at current and future opponents and perhaps screwing them
over with a well timed pickup as well. Better than
rot on your bench? Uh than play and beat you
on somebody else's uh? And somehow you know, I didn't
even take my own advice in one league, Dan, I
(01:26):
end up making the playoffs in the league based on
an ame tiebreaker when I thought I was out. Wow,
that's a Is that a humble bregg to tell you that? Like, no, no, no.
I felt like an idiot because I admonished the commissioner
and said, all right, what did you do here? Why
am I in the playoffs? This makes no sense? And
(01:46):
then they're like, no, no, no. The tiebreaker was points,
not record, because I shouldn't have been in because I
had a lower record than the six seed, but they
made the six seed total points. Well, that's again that
goes back to our conversation that we had last week.
So you were beaten by the guy that you had
a tiebreaker with that this, well they had there were
six teams with at least one game better record. I
(02:09):
finished at seven and seven, the what should have been
in my mind, the six place team had night and
six and beat me head to head in week thirteen,
but I had far more total points on the year,
so I end up getting the slot. The final playoff
spot goes to the of the remaining teams, the one
with the highest points. I've heard of that before. I
the first time I've ever experienced it in any of
(02:31):
these leagues, So that's why I was surprised when it's
suddenly zagged people I've been playing with before. It's like,
if you changed the rules, I probably should have known.
But I'll take the l on that, and now I
have to try to see if Baker Mayfield can give
me points to get me forward. We talked about last week.
I don't love that. I love the you know, I
love the head to head. I love those versions of it.
(02:51):
We've got certain specific rules in our league and another
rule in in my long time league that we have,
and it's very app A poll for this week and
next week. Do you guys put any restrictions or have
any restrictions in any of your leagues? And bursts You
can get in on this too. On pickups during playoffs? Yes,
do you burst? Uh no? And none of my leagues
(03:15):
have had that yes, So so it is in our league.
Where we we allow pickups all the way through the
regular season, but in the final two weeks of the
year we only allow two pickups. You only have two
pickups to make during those playoffs, so it's imperative to
set your roster on how you want it to go.
(03:37):
You're likely not carrying two defenses. If you are, you're
probably playing with a little bit of fire because of
of injuries that that could occur. What are your restrictions,
Mike in your league, Well, the guillotine, I'm still alive.
They're done. So after week fourteen there's no more pickups
completely frozen, which is too bad because I had two
guys go down to injury this past week that probably
(03:59):
are coming back. Uh. And so it's you know, the
best ball over a several week period. Uh. The other
league is the two roster change limitation as well. The
The thinking in our league is you get to the playoffs,
the playoffs shouldn't be won by a fluke pick up
(04:21):
in week sixteen or seventeen. UM. We actually at one
point a league we were whereas we didn't allow any pickups,
which is extremely difficult in today's NFL. When guys are hurt,
teams are maybe resting guys, and you could try to
set your roster as best you could, but there there
there are situations where you would have four running backs
(04:41):
get hurt in one week and now all of a sudden,
some guy doesn't or three quarterbacks. You know, you could
load up your team with quarterbacks and all three of
them would get hurt, and you're like, if it's the
end of the year, teams like, well, I'm not gonna
play him. So we ended up altering that. But that's
the thinking behind it. And I like that sort of
sort of rule. Well, I know it like gives you
some out verst if as someone who doesn't experience that.
(05:05):
How do you view a league that limits pickups in
the playoffs. I don't mind that. I think that, uh,
limiting the amount of pickups, I think it's totally fair,
um because of the exact reasons you're laying out and
and uh, I've I've heard people complain and want to
limit pickups in a way where only playoff teams can
(05:26):
make pickups, and that I'm not as crazy about because
I I think it's it's fair for the spirit of
the game for teams that are not in the playoffs.
To continue trying, because uh, there there should be at
least some incentive for them to contend you to play,
because if there's not, then what's stopping them from just
dropping all their good players for for playoff teams and
stuff like that. Also, I think they should have an
(05:47):
automatic lock if they're eliminated. That's in terms of being
able to get play unless unless you have some kind
of prize for hey, you finish stronger total points or
what the non playoff teams where you get your money
back or something to that effect. But yeah, I don't
know materially affecting the teams that are still playing, I don't.
(06:10):
I don't know. I just made the NFL allows it,
so I mean, you know whatever, I you know, like ours,
I said, our league allows two of them, and it
doesn't preclude someone from from one that some from someone
excuse me, from getting the hot hand. That also that
automatically becomes available. Hypothetical. Let's just say Dalvin Cook goes
(06:33):
out and you have Alexander Madison sitting there in the
free agent It's is probably one of the more notable
situations we have in the NFL like that that still
could happen in our league, somebody could pick up Madison. However,
if someone in our league as Dalvin Cook on their
playoff team, then they darn well should have picked up
Alexander Madison the week before. You know, I would hope
(06:53):
that that would be you know, like that would be
the case. And that's what This also allows their teams
to try to figure out how am I going to
set this up? How am I going to play this?
And then you really kind of truly you limited as
many of the flute things that you can get in
the playoffs. So I am I am a fan of it,
and I whether it's one pickup or two pickups or
(07:15):
however you look at it. Um, I just think that
some sort of rule outside of just having a free
for all is good for the postseason. Yeah, I just
remember bursch Is playing with a bunch of scoff flaws
that dropped their players. I mean, you know, playoffs don't
really meet a whole hell of a lot in terms
of that kind of flow. It's really funny in in
uh in the league where that happens. Um, I have
(07:37):
a first round by in that league, and right I
thought Harmon's was bad. I didn't think I made the playoffs,
and that I did, and I'm in the postseason. I
still think it's stupid. Even though I'm in the playoffs,
I'm not. I will still die on that hill. What
(08:00):
I find fascinating that happened in this league, it's it's
a traditional waivers. You know, they'd order the order resets
based on reverse standings every week. Um, I put in
acclaim on Dallas Goddard because he was available, assuming that
you know, I'm at the back end of it, like
and we're in the playoffs, like there's no way I'm
gonna get him. I got him, and I'm like, what
are you guys doing? Like forget he was, Like he's
(08:25):
coming off injury. He's not gonna be any good the
fair Steak tell you what, they don't listen to I
want your flex because that was some advice that we
gave in the last episode. Well tell you what, as
Mike says, give them the gift of I want your
flex for the holiday. Right, here's the logo, Dan'll sign it. Uh,
it's great. I mean, my my longtime league. We're entering
(08:47):
the final week of the regular season, so now is
the time to end up setting up your roster So
if you are in that, what your playoffs are Week
sixteen and seventeen. Hopefully they don't go to week eighteen,
but if you do, it's also likely your final week
of the regular season. Time to time to set your
lineups and move them forward. By the way you guys
talked about your playoff hopes, my playoff hopes right this
(09:07):
week on what? We have one game truly in our
league that matters. If one guy wins, he's in. If
he loses, I get in. That's what it is. So
it doesn't matter what I do this week. It's all
on another game. I don't know if I like that
or hate that. Like I hated it at first, but
then I'm like, you know what, I have some roster
(09:28):
decisions to make, and I don't want to kick myself.
Maybe it's better to just leave it in the hands
of someone else and have fate be decided that way.
Well do you want us to if you send us
the list of his players, I've got a bunch of
trading cards. I could do some kind of rich one.
Or if you send me the phone number of his opponents. Yeah,
well that's well well played. Now there's a call back
(09:52):
for him. Oh Man. All right, this is the I
Want Your Flex Podcast. Get Mike on Twitter at Swollen Dome,
find me on Twitter at Dan Buyer on Fox, and
get Ryan Bursinger on Twitter at Ryan burr Singer. All right,
let's get into the rankings. Mike it his winning Time
Week fifteen, Top five players at the quarterback, running back,
and wide receiver positions. Let's go to the signal callers
(10:14):
to start out first, your top five kmms for this week.
As I said, the Bears defense stinks. I don't care
that they had a Week four team by you know,
seeing the Wizard getting some heart whatever you want to
call it. Um, it's all about Jalen Hurts and the
m d P train right now. Too many weapons and
the aforementioned Dallas got her coming back and and running
(10:35):
them up. So yeah, we'll watched that offense go to work.
Justin Herbert going up against Tennessee at home, Williams Allen
back alongside Eckler. That only means good things. And look
he's even now getting star halls of roughing the passer calls,
as you and I discussed when you filled in for
Jason Smith, Dan, so you got that going for you too.
Patrick Mahomes against the Planet Houston. They had their big
(10:57):
effort last week against the Cowboys, for came up short.
I look for a flat effort effort KC to get
rolling again. Josh Allen go up against Miami, even if
there's a ton of to know, he'll run the ball himself,
damn it. And then Kirk Cousins going up against Indianapolis. Uh,
nobody likes Kirk Cousins. I just say throw it up
to Justin Jefferson and good things happen. Yes, absolutely, And
(11:18):
as we talked about on Wednesday night, what did the
Vikings do well? They do Justin Jefferson. Well, that's what
the Minnesota Vikings do, alright. Your top running backs for
week fifteen. Mike went through fund mentioned elk Eckler. He's
right off the Elkler. I'm now I've got Minnesota in
my head. Uh. Eckler going up Attainst. Tennessee at home.
I don't know what kind of effort we're getting from
(11:39):
Tennessee week to week at this point after the gm
UH departure, and just offensively a little bit odd. But
to that end, Chargers can't stop the run. So Derrick
Henry see the ball at his gut twenty five times,
no question about it. Jonathan Taylor going up against that
Minnesota front again, volume volume, let's play it. Miles Sanders
going up against the Bears, and then a rare top
(12:01):
five appearance because of the matchup. Alvin Kamara welcome back
for one day. Maybe bolstered by the fact that Drew
Brees is now an assistant coach at Perdue. He just says, look,
he's succeeding. I can too. They are the top five
running backs four week fifteen. Now let's get to the receivers.
Mike Hey, we mentioned Jefferson, Let's give him his love, uh,
and he can run them uck against the Indianapolis defense.
(12:24):
De Fon Digs going against Miami. We've gotta have that
tandem in full of fact A J. Brown. As you
can see, it's one to one, one to one, one
to one. How about Ceedee Lamb going up against the
Jacksonville Jaguars. Jaguars are interesting, playing some solid defense, but
just feeds Ceedee Lamb starting to become that guy that
I had my doubts after last year, but now we're
(12:44):
seeing it come together. Uh. And then how about a
little bit of a price shot with a little Garrett
Wilson going up against the deech Yes, if I could
be Mike White, I don't want to hear it from Smith.
Oh wait, I'm off next week. That's right. Hey, I
was starting to look at like starting to you know,
(13:07):
like peek ahead, and I'm like, where is Garrett Wilson
going to be in those selections? Well, that's it, right quarterback.
Even with the wrong quarterback, he's putting up numbers, so
it could be interesting. Yeah, absolutely, All right, let's get
to the hot plays for for week fifteen in the
National Football League season. Yeah. I know it's the Dallas Cowboys,
(13:27):
but give me some driver. Lawrence playing some good football
right now, spreading things around uh and Dallas's defense will
get after him. You know. That makes for a couple
of jail breaks situations. Lawrence standard tall in the pocket.
Let's get it done. Mike White. By all reports, as
you and I record this on Thursday, looks like he's
declaring himself ready to go. Even if he's got to
put duct tape and bubble wrap around himself. He was
(13:49):
not gonna miss a matchup against the Detroit defense while
they're surging defense still ranked one of the worst UH
in the league. And Aaron Rodgers makes the appearance here
op tunity against the Rams with all their injury issues.
Going to the cold, cold as game for the Rams
in thirty years. Uh, they both and they all play there.
But uh, maybe one last stand here for Rogers and
(14:13):
the Packers to to go and get a win at home. Uh.
James Conner going up against den right now, it's not
the greatest of matchups against that Denver front, but again
volume and red zone opportunities and at times, Uh, Colt
McCoy had a little bit of run before things got ugly.
(14:33):
And then David Montgomery against Philadelphia, let's get him in
and then circle back to the Packers and Aaron Jones
with a big touch count. I believe this week that
would be the only reason to watch Monday night football
to be quite hot. I'll try. I'm trying to give
everybody a reason it's not gonna be hot in Green Bay.
It's my mom sent me a picture of they got
hit with the winter storm that's likely to move across
(14:54):
and hit you know, Buffalo over the weekend, and uh, yes,
it's gonna be a white Christmas. Uh, in the Upper Midwest.
And then yes, as you moved through upstate New York,
all my friends saying, hey, you should come home for
that last week or the here, I'm like, uh huh um,
I'll be on a beach either here or in Florida.
It'll be good. You'll be good. Alright, let's get to
(15:16):
the cold source for the upcoming week and week fift. Alright,
Derek Carr going up against New England. Can't trust it,
although I'm sure Bill Belichick will be talking to Davante
Adams asking him how much he likes things, just like
you did with DeAndre Hopkins. Oh you're great man, You're
having a great career. Welcome play here. Joe Burrow going
up against Tampa Bay. You know we talked a lot,
you and I when you filled in for Jason and
(15:37):
even on the podcast earlier in the week about the
travel schedule and all the stuff the Bucks went through
and in all two before last week's game at San Francisco. Well,
now back at home, maybe a little bit of pride
after getting their tails kicked, maybe that sets in. I
don't believe any of Todd Bowls rhetoric, but hey, uh
is this is one where Burrow is still a back
(15:58):
end QB one. Uh. So we're not benching him. But
maybe you know, if you're one of those that did
draft quarterbacks close to another, uh, maybe you do have
a decision to make. Jared Goff playing some great football.
Here's where the rubber meets the road against that New
York Jets secondary. Nick Chubb against Baltimore. Uh, Naja Harris
against Carolina. We watched the Carolina defense do their thing. Uh.
(16:23):
You got Amari Cooper going back to the game against
Baltimore and then Hopkins. Uh, the aforementioned Hopkins against Denver
and Evans against Cincinnati. Can I trust the Tampa offense? No?
I can't. No, No, We're gonna get to that Bengals Buccaneers.
I got another one, and I give me one reason
coming up in just a second. But let's wrap it
up with the Ninjas. Mike Carmen's Ninjas for Week fifteen.
(16:44):
Dari O Gumbaly, Alright, how about that going up against
Kansas City? Uh? Tucking into the gun. Also, Chris Moore,
why not fifteen targets fifth? If nothing else? Volume, It's
like that old Saturday Night Live skit. How do we
make money when they were doing the change. Hey you
got a dollar, we give four quarters. We can give
you ten times. How do we make money? They said volume,
and that was the punchline. Cam Akers going up against
(17:06):
Green Bay Why because they trust him to touch the
ball a bunch? Uh. You got MBS going up against Houston.
How about Matt Jones going up against Las Vegas? If
we want to get a little bit cheeky along the way, Dan, Yeah,
the Belichick Bowl. You know it's McDaniels against Belichick. I
think I do not know where that one sides, but
that would be that would be very interesting. Plus, you
(17:27):
don't know what's gonna happen with the running game, but
it may not matter because again it's just plug and
play as always with New England. Yeah, New England with
a narrow, narrow favorite here forty four and a half
is your total? Uh curiously how the receiving course shakes out?
But Mac Jones for all of these slings and arrows,
on occasion, you can you can do some good things.
(17:47):
And it looks like they rediscovered that hunter Henry can
make play. Yeah, I mean, and you know Romadre Stevenson
tried to return in that game against the Cardinals didn't uh,
you know, didn't work out, and you know his status,
I would not be trusting him on a on a
short week with no travel as he stayed out, stayed
out West. Um, yeah, why not put it on mac
(18:09):
jones shoulders. I'd be curious and how that workload splits
in the backfield. Alright, we got what strong Harris Harris
and players to be named later, probably another guy they
add to the roster that becomes the leading rupture this week.
So I don't know that I want to It's the
old Belichickian thing if I don't know that I want
to go down that that rabbit hole. But potentially the
(18:31):
option is there now that Harmon has given you is
top five players at the quarterback, running back, of wid
receiver positions for Week fifteen, plus all the hot plays
cold source of ninjas. Now is the time for myself
and our executive producer, Ryan Bursinger to put on our
expert hats. Ronald be By in a second with his
Survivor picks. I'm gonna start out by giving you one
(18:51):
reason to start a player and one reason to bench
a player. My one reason to start a player. That
player is Bam Knights. Zonovan Knight running back for the
New York Jets against the Lions. Even with the return
of Michael Carter last week against the Buffalo Bills, the
Jets still relied on Night. In his touchdown run, I
think really showed that he needs to be the lead back.
(19:14):
I think there's gonna be opportunities against Detroit this week.
I'm gonna stay with the running back position. And I
am tempting fate here because the worst prediction of the
year on this podcast came courtesy of me when I
told you to bench Joe Mixon and he went off
for five touchdowns. I'm gonna go back to the well
of benching Joe Mixon against the Buccaneers for this reason.
(19:37):
I know it's crazy, Burst, I mean, I know it's
it's it's nuts, But the reason being is I think
Tampa Bay will bounce back from that loss last week
against the forty niners in a good positive way. I
don't know what it's gonna mean for Brady in the offense,
but the defense just had a bad day. It was
not them. I think they bounced back. So I am
(19:59):
going big a hunting in Week fifteen and benching Joe
Mixon dangerous. I know it's absolutely dangerous. All right. What
do you got for survivor picks burst for week fifteen? Well,
I think again, there are still a couple of slam
dunks on the board. But of course, if you are
in a survivor pool at this point in the season,
I'm not expecting you to still have the Chiefs available
to you. Per Se. The Chiefs are playing the Texans,
(20:20):
I think, of uh that that should be an easy win. Uh.
Same with the Eagles at the Bears this week, should
be a win there. If you've still got the Packers available,
I think there's a good opportunity Monday night at home
against the Rams. Uh. I don't know if the Mayfield
magic will strike twice, especially in degree weather. Yes, it's
not gonna happen. Um, But if you're looking, of course,
(20:42):
to thread the needle a little more, I'll go out
on a limb. I will take the Carolina Panthers at
home against the Steelers, coming off of a strong win
against the Seahawks. If they can keep that that momentum going,
it's probably a team where Yeah, again, if you're fifteen
weeks into this, you've got a whole lot of teams
off the board. The Panthers are probably he's still available
to you. Uh, And I won't say much about the
(21:03):
Survivor finale. I think it's fair fair, especially for a finale,
to give a weak grace period on that. Yes, and
no hints because I know who your predictions were and
I know so so I don't even think we can
go down those lines. I'm only an hour in because
Harmon and I were doing his show on on Wednesday night,
so so totally understandable. I think overall a great season.
(21:27):
I think one of the best they've had for all
new players in a long time. Um. Also, Dan, do
you know who Brandon Cottam is? That name? It's okay,
technically he was a member of the Seahawks, but only
on their practice squad for two years. I bring this
up because he will be on the cast of Survivor.
Oh interesting, Okay, I did not obviously I haven't seen
(21:50):
the you know What's ahead. I do think that the
the game they shouldn't have named it Survivor forty three.
They should have named it Survivor Crappy Tattoos because it
was littered with bad tattoos in that season. I don't
know if it I don't know. It's a theme, but
(22:10):
that's what it should have been called. But but a
solid season. I judge it by my wife's interest, and
she's really into the season, so I think that it's
a good season. There are others where times that she's
lost interest and it's dozed off during episodes. But I
will judge it by that first Survivor. Again, you're you're
(22:31):
a lot of the top teams are out. But if
I had to pick one, I would go Vikings off
the loss against the Lions back home. Plus, if you
can get that Saturday win in the first window, it
makes the rest of your weekend. If you're still alive
and you're likely only up against maybe a couple of
other people in the survivor pool, it will make the
rest of the weekend better. I'm going Vikings as a
(22:54):
pick for the survivor against the Colts. All right, there
it is uh the survivor pick for Week fifteen of
the National Football League season. All right, let's wrap this
bad boy up. I'll get it started with the three
point conversions points of polluts of this week. Guys, I'm
looking at Cowboys, Jaguars, I think that we can see something. Yeah,
I know there's a few higher point totals out there,
(23:15):
but I'm gonna go Jacksonville for that one. I think
Scary Terry returns because it's a huge game for the
Washington Commanders. And when you look at when Terry McLaurin
has been as at his best, it's been against the
upset of the Eagles earlier this season. It's been when
they were down against the Indianapolis Colts and he came
through in the clutch. Heck who was against Philadelphia when
(23:37):
they lost earlier in the season. It was when they
tied the Giants just two weeks ago. I think Scary
Terry is a great play for the Commander's Sunday Night
against the Giants. And then are you McKinnon me? I
know there's a lot of love for Jerick McKinnon. And
I was down on Pacheco last week. I think it flips.
I think Pacheco is the one who has the day
(23:57):
for the Chiefs, gets in the end zone in that
game against the Texans. All right, let's get it on
Elementary Watson. Yeah, it's Elemental. You're not playing anybody. Chub
Chub is an r B two Deshaun Watson, no go
against Baltimore Riddler or Ridder Atlanta New Orleans. I mean,
(24:22):
who do you trust out of that Atlanta side? Robinson?
I guess go question Mark? Uh? And for whatever reason,
Andy Dalton is still the quarterback of the Saints. But
that's a longer debate for a therapist couch for another time.
And is it Brady's last stand in terms of this playoffers?
Because all of a sudden, Steve Wilkes has the Carolina
(24:43):
play it and their other tails with Cincinnati coming in
against the Bucks, I can't trust any of the receivers,
I guess their threes. Uh. And for the backfield, no
thanks and Brady no thanks. But it's the morbid curiosity
of I always want to see how the story ends. Dan. Yes, yes,
I think it's actually gonna be a good story. I
(25:04):
actually like the Bucketeers against the Bengals. Bengals had some
really big games coming up later on this season. Not
that this isn't but again, cross conference. Uh. Since he
seems to be rolling a little bit, I wouldn't doubt
if there's a hiccup. And again, I think Tampa's got
something to play for um in this one, especially their
defense after being embarrassed last week. I was gonna say
both of us went encircled the defense. You had mix
(25:24):
and uh as a one reason, and I had burrow
on the cold play culture. So cold play. That's all right,
start playing clocks because we're running out of time in
the fantasy football season, babe, great transition. It's a perfect
time to wrap it up as well. So there it
is your week fifteen episode. Uh, Mike's going to be
on vacation next week, but he's still gonna be with us.
(25:46):
We're gonna sta have all the information that you need
for I want your flex and you can always reach
out to us as well. Get Mike on Twitter at
swallow Dome, find Ryan Burrsinger on Twitter at Ryan Burrsinger,
and you can find me on Twitter at Dan buy
your on Fox. So uh, happy holiday's best of luck
to all of you and we fifteen. Whether it's a
season long playoff or even daily fantasy, We'll talk to
you next time right here. Do not want your plays
(26:06):
h
Ladies, you want experience during your football season, well, buckle love,
sweet cheeks, We've got all the experience in the world.
This is I want your flex with Dan Buyer and
Mike Harman. Mike and Dan breakdown everything you need to
set your line ups from position rankings, two starts and sits.
(00:24):
The guys help you make those hard decisions. And now
let's get your flex on. Here's Dan Buyer and Mike Harman. Yeah,
we are down the home stretch here and I want
your flex. Get Mike on Twitter at Swollen Dome. Our
executive producers, Ryan Bershinger, you can find him on Twitter
at Ryan Bershinger and you can find me on Twitter
(00:44):
at Dan Buyer on Fox. But it's winning time, Mike.
If you're in it, your miles ago get it. Because
regular seasons are ending, playoffs are starting. We are here
in the fantasy football season. Well well here from Birch
a little bit later on some of the streaming defenses
and look aheads. But it's one of the things playing
defense with your back end of your roster, with your
(01:04):
bench slots, and some of it might be finding reinforcements
from for yourself. The other might be making sure you're
looking at current and future opponents and perhaps screwing them
over with a well timed pickup as well. Better than
rot on your bench? Uh than play and beat you
on somebody else's uh? And somehow you know, I didn't
even take my own advice in one league, Dan, I
(01:26):
end up making the playoffs in the league based on
an ame tiebreaker when I thought I was out. Wow,
that's a Is that a humble bregg to tell you that? Like, no, no, no.
I felt like an idiot because I admonished the commissioner
and said, all right, what did you do here? Why
am I in the playoffs? This makes no sense? And
(01:46):
then they're like, no, no, no. The tiebreaker was points,
not record, because I shouldn't have been in because I
had a lower record than the six seed, but they
made the six seed total points. Well, that's again that
goes back to our conversation that we had last week.
So you were beaten by the guy that you had
a tiebreaker with that this, well they had there were
six teams with at least one game better record. I
(02:09):
finished at seven and seven, the what should have been
in my mind, the six place team had night and
six and beat me head to head in week thirteen,
but I had far more total points on the year,
so I end up getting the slot. The final playoff
spot goes to the of the remaining teams, the one
with the highest points. I've heard of that before. I
the first time I've ever experienced it in any of
(02:31):
these leagues, So that's why I was surprised when it's
suddenly zagged people I've been playing with before. It's like,
if you changed the rules, I probably should have known.
But I'll take the l on that, and now I
have to try to see if Baker Mayfield can give
me points to get me forward. We talked about last week.
I don't love that. I love the you know, I
love the head to head. I love those versions of it.
(02:51):
We've got certain specific rules in our league and another
rule in in my long time league that we have,
and it's very app A poll for this week and
next week. Do you guys put any restrictions or have
any restrictions in any of your leagues? And bursts You
can get in on this too. On pickups during playoffs? Yes,
do you burst? Uh no? And none of my leagues
(03:15):
have had that yes, So so it is in our league.
Where we we allow pickups all the way through the
regular season, but in the final two weeks of the
year we only allow two pickups. You only have two
pickups to make during those playoffs, so it's imperative to
set your roster on how you want it to go.
(03:37):
You're likely not carrying two defenses. If you are, you're
probably playing with a little bit of fire because of
of injuries that that could occur. What are your restrictions,
Mike in your league, Well, the guillotine, I'm still alive.
They're done. So after week fourteen there's no more pickups
completely frozen, which is too bad because I had two
guys go down to injury this past week that probably
(03:59):
are coming back. Uh. And so it's you know, the
best ball over a several week period. Uh. The other
league is the two roster change limitation as well. The
The thinking in our league is you get to the playoffs,
the playoffs shouldn't be won by a fluke pick up
(04:21):
in week sixteen or seventeen. UM. We actually at one
point a league we were whereas we didn't allow any pickups,
which is extremely difficult in today's NFL. When guys are hurt,
teams are maybe resting guys, and you could try to
set your roster as best you could, but there there
there are situations where you would have four running backs
(04:41):
get hurt in one week and now all of a sudden,
some guy doesn't or three quarterbacks. You know, you could
load up your team with quarterbacks and all three of
them would get hurt, and you're like, if it's the
end of the year, teams like, well, I'm not gonna
play him. So we ended up altering that. But that's
the thinking behind it. And I like that sort of
sort of rule. Well, I know it like gives you
some out verst if as someone who doesn't experience that.
(05:05):
How do you view a league that limits pickups in
the playoffs. I don't mind that. I think that, uh,
limiting the amount of pickups, I think it's totally fair,
um because of the exact reasons you're laying out and
and uh, I've I've heard people complain and want to
limit pickups in a way where only playoff teams can
(05:26):
make pickups, and that I'm not as crazy about because
I I think it's it's fair for the spirit of
the game for teams that are not in the playoffs.
To continue trying, because uh, there there should be at
least some incentive for them to contend you to play,
because if there's not, then what's stopping them from just
dropping all their good players for for playoff teams and
stuff like that. Also, I think they should have an
(05:47):
automatic lock if they're eliminated. That's in terms of being
able to get play unless unless you have some kind
of prize for hey, you finish stronger total points or
what the non playoff teams where you get your money
back or something to that effect. But yeah, I don't
know materially affecting the teams that are still playing, I don't.
(06:10):
I don't know. I just made the NFL allows it,
so I mean, you know whatever, I you know, like ours,
I said, our league allows two of them, and it
doesn't preclude someone from from one that some from someone
excuse me, from getting the hot hand. That also that
automatically becomes available. Hypothetical. Let's just say Dalvin Cook goes
(06:33):
out and you have Alexander Madison sitting there in the
free agent It's is probably one of the more notable
situations we have in the NFL like that that still
could happen in our league, somebody could pick up Madison. However,
if someone in our league as Dalvin Cook on their
playoff team, then they darn well should have picked up
Alexander Madison the week before. You know, I would hope
(06:53):
that that would be you know, like that would be
the case. And that's what This also allows their teams
to try to figure out how am I going to
set this up? How am I going to play this?
And then you really kind of truly you limited as
many of the flute things that you can get in
the playoffs. So I am I am a fan of it,
and I whether it's one pickup or two pickups or
(07:15):
however you look at it. Um, I just think that
some sort of rule outside of just having a free
for all is good for the postseason. Yeah, I just
remember bursch Is playing with a bunch of scoff flaws
that dropped their players. I mean, you know, playoffs don't
really meet a whole hell of a lot in terms
of that kind of flow. It's really funny in in
uh in the league where that happens. Um, I have
(07:37):
a first round by in that league, and right I
thought Harmon's was bad. I didn't think I made the playoffs,
and that I did, and I'm in the postseason. I
still think it's stupid. Even though I'm in the playoffs,
I'm not. I will still die on that hill. What
(08:00):
I find fascinating that happened in this league, it's it's
a traditional waivers. You know, they'd order the order resets
based on reverse standings every week. Um, I put in
acclaim on Dallas Goddard because he was available, assuming that
you know, I'm at the back end of it, like
and we're in the playoffs, like there's no way I'm
gonna get him. I got him, and I'm like, what
are you guys doing? Like forget he was, Like he's
(08:25):
coming off injury. He's not gonna be any good the
fair Steak tell you what, they don't listen to I
want your flex because that was some advice that we
gave in the last episode. Well tell you what, as
Mike says, give them the gift of I want your
flex for the holiday. Right, here's the logo, Dan'll sign it. Uh,
it's great. I mean, my my longtime league. We're entering
(08:47):
the final week of the regular season, so now is
the time to end up setting up your roster So
if you are in that, what your playoffs are Week
sixteen and seventeen. Hopefully they don't go to week eighteen,
but if you do, it's also likely your final week
of the regular season. Time to time to set your
lineups and move them forward. By the way you guys
talked about your playoff hopes, my playoff hopes right this
(09:07):
week on what? We have one game truly in our
league that matters. If one guy wins, he's in. If
he loses, I get in. That's what it is. So
it doesn't matter what I do this week. It's all
on another game. I don't know if I like that
or hate that. Like I hated it at first, but
then I'm like, you know what, I have some roster
(09:28):
decisions to make, and I don't want to kick myself.
Maybe it's better to just leave it in the hands
of someone else and have fate be decided that way.
Well do you want us to if you send us
the list of his players, I've got a bunch of
trading cards. I could do some kind of rich one.
Or if you send me the phone number of his opponents. Yeah,
well that's well well played. Now there's a call back
(09:52):
for him. Oh Man. All right, this is the I
Want Your Flex Podcast. Get Mike on Twitter at Swollen Dome,
find me on Twitter at Dan Buyer on Fox, and
get Ryan Bursinger on Twitter at Ryan burr Singer. All right,
let's get into the rankings. Mike it his winning Time
Week fifteen, Top five players at the quarterback, running back,
and wide receiver positions. Let's go to the signal callers
(10:14):
to start out first, your top five kmms for this week.
As I said, the Bears defense stinks. I don't care
that they had a Week four team by you know,
seeing the Wizard getting some heart whatever you want to
call it. Um, it's all about Jalen Hurts and the
m d P train right now. Too many weapons and
the aforementioned Dallas got her coming back and and running
(10:35):
them up. So yeah, we'll watched that offense go to work.
Justin Herbert going up against Tennessee at home, Williams Allen
back alongside Eckler. That only means good things. And look
he's even now getting star halls of roughing the passer calls,
as you and I discussed when you filled in for
Jason Smith, Dan, so you got that going for you too.
Patrick Mahomes against the Planet Houston. They had their big
(10:57):
effort last week against the Cowboys, for came up short.
I look for a flat effort effort KC to get
rolling again. Josh Allen go up against Miami, even if
there's a ton of to know, he'll run the ball himself,
damn it. And then Kirk Cousins going up against Indianapolis. Uh,
nobody likes Kirk Cousins. I just say throw it up
to Justin Jefferson and good things happen. Yes, absolutely, And
(11:18):
as we talked about on Wednesday night, what did the
Vikings do well? They do Justin Jefferson. Well, that's what
the Minnesota Vikings do, alright. Your top running backs for
week fifteen. Mike went through fund mentioned elk Eckler. He's
right off the Elkler. I'm now I've got Minnesota in
my head. Uh. Eckler going up Attainst. Tennessee at home.
I don't know what kind of effort we're getting from
(11:39):
Tennessee week to week at this point after the gm
UH departure, and just offensively a little bit odd. But
to that end, Chargers can't stop the run. So Derrick
Henry see the ball at his gut twenty five times,
no question about it. Jonathan Taylor going up against that
Minnesota front again, volume volume, let's play it. Miles Sanders
going up against the Bears, and then a rare top
(12:01):
five appearance because of the matchup. Alvin Kamara welcome back
for one day. Maybe bolstered by the fact that Drew
Brees is now an assistant coach at Perdue. He just says, look,
he's succeeding. I can too. They are the top five
running backs four week fifteen. Now let's get to the receivers.
Mike Hey, we mentioned Jefferson, Let's give him his love, uh,
and he can run them uck against the Indianapolis defense.
(12:24):
De Fon Digs going against Miami. We've gotta have that
tandem in full of fact A J. Brown. As you
can see, it's one to one, one to one, one
to one. How about Ceedee Lamb going up against the
Jacksonville Jaguars. Jaguars are interesting, playing some solid defense, but
just feeds Ceedee Lamb starting to become that guy that
I had my doubts after last year, but now we're
(12:44):
seeing it come together. Uh. And then how about a
little bit of a price shot with a little Garrett
Wilson going up against the deech Yes, if I could
be Mike White, I don't want to hear it from Smith.
Oh wait, I'm off next week. That's right. Hey, I
was starting to look at like starting to you know,
(13:07):
like peek ahead, and I'm like, where is Garrett Wilson
going to be in those selections? Well, that's it, right quarterback.
Even with the wrong quarterback, he's putting up numbers, so
it could be interesting. Yeah, absolutely, All right, let's get
to the hot plays for for week fifteen in the
National Football League season. Yeah. I know it's the Dallas Cowboys,
(13:27):
but give me some driver. Lawrence playing some good football
right now, spreading things around uh and Dallas's defense will
get after him. You know. That makes for a couple
of jail breaks situations. Lawrence standard tall in the pocket.
Let's get it done. Mike White. By all reports, as
you and I record this on Thursday, looks like he's
declaring himself ready to go. Even if he's got to
put duct tape and bubble wrap around himself. He was
(13:49):
not gonna miss a matchup against the Detroit defense while
they're surging defense still ranked one of the worst UH
in the league. And Aaron Rodgers makes the appearance here
op tunity against the Rams with all their injury issues.
Going to the cold, cold as game for the Rams
in thirty years. Uh, they both and they all play there.
But uh, maybe one last stand here for Rogers and
(14:13):
the Packers to to go and get a win at home. Uh.
James Conner going up against den right now, it's not
the greatest of matchups against that Denver front, but again
volume and red zone opportunities and at times, Uh, Colt
McCoy had a little bit of run before things got ugly.
(14:33):
And then David Montgomery against Philadelphia, let's get him in
and then circle back to the Packers and Aaron Jones
with a big touch count. I believe this week that
would be the only reason to watch Monday night football
to be quite hot. I'll try. I'm trying to give
everybody a reason it's not gonna be hot in Green Bay.
It's my mom sent me a picture of they got
hit with the winter storm that's likely to move across
(14:54):
and hit you know, Buffalo over the weekend, and uh, yes,
it's gonna be a white Christmas. Uh, in the Upper Midwest.
And then yes, as you moved through upstate New York,
all my friends saying, hey, you should come home for
that last week or the here, I'm like, uh huh um,
I'll be on a beach either here or in Florida.
It'll be good. You'll be good. Alright, let's get to
(15:16):
the cold source for the upcoming week and week fift. Alright,
Derek Carr going up against New England. Can't trust it,
although I'm sure Bill Belichick will be talking to Davante
Adams asking him how much he likes things, just like
you did with DeAndre Hopkins. Oh you're great man, You're
having a great career. Welcome play here. Joe Burrow going
up against Tampa Bay. You know we talked a lot,
you and I when you filled in for Jason and
(15:37):
even on the podcast earlier in the week about the
travel schedule and all the stuff the Bucks went through
and in all two before last week's game at San Francisco. Well,
now back at home, maybe a little bit of pride
after getting their tails kicked, maybe that sets in. I
don't believe any of Todd Bowls rhetoric, but hey, uh
is this is one where Burrow is still a back
(15:58):
end QB one. Uh. So we're not benching him. But
maybe you know, if you're one of those that did
draft quarterbacks close to another, uh, maybe you do have
a decision to make. Jared Goff playing some great football.
Here's where the rubber meets the road against that New
York Jets secondary. Nick Chubb against Baltimore. Uh, Naja Harris
against Carolina. We watched the Carolina defense do their thing. Uh.
(16:23):
You got Amari Cooper going back to the game against
Baltimore and then Hopkins. Uh, the aforementioned Hopkins against Denver
and Evans against Cincinnati. Can I trust the Tampa offense? No?
I can't. No, No, We're gonna get to that Bengals Buccaneers.
I got another one, and I give me one reason
coming up in just a second. But let's wrap it
up with the Ninjas. Mike Carmen's Ninjas for Week fifteen.
(16:44):
Dari O Gumbaly, Alright, how about that going up against
Kansas City? Uh? Tucking into the gun. Also, Chris Moore,
why not fifteen targets fifth? If nothing else? Volume, It's
like that old Saturday Night Live skit. How do we
make money when they were doing the change. Hey you
got a dollar, we give four quarters. We can give
you ten times. How do we make money? They said volume,
and that was the punchline. Cam Akers going up against
(17:06):
Green Bay Why because they trust him to touch the
ball a bunch? Uh. You got MBS going up against Houston.
How about Matt Jones going up against Las Vegas? If
we want to get a little bit cheeky along the way, Dan, Yeah,
the Belichick Bowl. You know it's McDaniels against Belichick. I
think I do not know where that one sides, but
that would be that would be very interesting. Plus, you
(17:27):
don't know what's gonna happen with the running game, but
it may not matter because again it's just plug and
play as always with New England. Yeah, New England with
a narrow, narrow favorite here forty four and a half
is your total? Uh curiously how the receiving course shakes out?
But Mac Jones for all of these slings and arrows,
on occasion, you can you can do some good things.
(17:47):
And it looks like they rediscovered that hunter Henry can
make play. Yeah, I mean, and you know Romadre Stevenson
tried to return in that game against the Cardinals didn't uh,
you know, didn't work out, and you know his status,
I would not be trusting him on a on a
short week with no travel as he stayed out, stayed
out West. Um, yeah, why not put it on mac
(18:09):
jones shoulders. I'd be curious and how that workload splits
in the backfield. Alright, we got what strong Harris Harris
and players to be named later, probably another guy they
add to the roster that becomes the leading rupture this week.
So I don't know that I want to It's the
old Belichickian thing if I don't know that I want
to go down that that rabbit hole. But potentially the
(18:31):
option is there now that Harmon has given you is
top five players at the quarterback, running back, of wid
receiver positions for Week fifteen, plus all the hot plays
cold source of ninjas. Now is the time for myself
and our executive producer, Ryan Bursinger to put on our
expert hats. Ronald be By in a second with his
Survivor picks. I'm gonna start out by giving you one
(18:51):
reason to start a player and one reason to bench
a player. My one reason to start a player. That
player is Bam Knights. Zonovan Knight running back for the
New York Jets against the Lions. Even with the return
of Michael Carter last week against the Buffalo Bills, the
Jets still relied on Night. In his touchdown run, I
think really showed that he needs to be the lead back.
(19:14):
I think there's gonna be opportunities against Detroit this week.
I'm gonna stay with the running back position. And I
am tempting fate here because the worst prediction of the
year on this podcast came courtesy of me when I
told you to bench Joe Mixon and he went off
for five touchdowns. I'm gonna go back to the well
of benching Joe Mixon against the Buccaneers for this reason.
(19:37):
I know it's crazy, Burst, I mean, I know it's
it's it's nuts, But the reason being is I think
Tampa Bay will bounce back from that loss last week
against the forty niners in a good positive way. I
don't know what it's gonna mean for Brady in the offense,
but the defense just had a bad day. It was
not them. I think they bounced back. So I am
(19:59):
going big a hunting in Week fifteen and benching Joe
Mixon dangerous. I know it's absolutely dangerous. All right. What
do you got for survivor picks burst for week fifteen? Well,
I think again, there are still a couple of slam
dunks on the board. But of course, if you are
in a survivor pool at this point in the season,
I'm not expecting you to still have the Chiefs available
to you. Per Se. The Chiefs are playing the Texans,
(20:20):
I think, of uh that that should be an easy win. Uh.
Same with the Eagles at the Bears this week, should
be a win there. If you've still got the Packers available,
I think there's a good opportunity Monday night at home
against the Rams. Uh. I don't know if the Mayfield
magic will strike twice, especially in degree weather. Yes, it's
not gonna happen. Um, But if you're looking, of course,
(20:42):
to thread the needle a little more, I'll go out
on a limb. I will take the Carolina Panthers at
home against the Steelers, coming off of a strong win
against the Seahawks. If they can keep that that momentum going,
it's probably a team where Yeah, again, if you're fifteen
weeks into this, you've got a whole lot of teams
off the board. The Panthers are probably he's still available
to you. Uh, And I won't say much about the
(21:03):
Survivor finale. I think it's fair fair, especially for a finale,
to give a weak grace period on that. Yes, and
no hints because I know who your predictions were and
I know so so I don't even think we can
go down those lines. I'm only an hour in because
Harmon and I were doing his show on on Wednesday night,
so so totally understandable. I think overall a great season.
(21:27):
I think one of the best they've had for all
new players in a long time. Um. Also, Dan, do
you know who Brandon Cottam is? That name? It's okay,
technically he was a member of the Seahawks, but only
on their practice squad for two years. I bring this
up because he will be on the cast of Survivor.
Oh interesting, Okay, I did not obviously I haven't seen
(21:50):
the you know What's ahead. I do think that the
the game they shouldn't have named it Survivor forty three.
They should have named it Survivor Crappy Tattoos because it
was littered with bad tattoos in that season. I don't
know if it I don't know. It's a theme, but
(22:10):
that's what it should have been called. But but a
solid season. I judge it by my wife's interest, and
she's really into the season, so I think that it's
a good season. There are others where times that she's
lost interest and it's dozed off during episodes. But I
will judge it by that first Survivor. Again, you're you're
(22:31):
a lot of the top teams are out. But if
I had to pick one, I would go Vikings off
the loss against the Lions back home. Plus, if you
can get that Saturday win in the first window, it
makes the rest of your weekend. If you're still alive
and you're likely only up against maybe a couple of
other people in the survivor pool, it will make the
rest of the weekend better. I'm going Vikings as a
(22:54):
pick for the survivor against the Colts. All right, there
it is uh the survivor pick for Week fifteen of
the National Football League season. All right, let's wrap this
bad boy up. I'll get it started with the three
point conversions points of polluts of this week. Guys, I'm
looking at Cowboys, Jaguars, I think that we can see something. Yeah,
I know there's a few higher point totals out there,
(23:15):
but I'm gonna go Jacksonville for that one. I think
Scary Terry returns because it's a huge game for the
Washington Commanders. And when you look at when Terry McLaurin
has been as at his best, it's been against the
upset of the Eagles earlier this season. It's been when
they were down against the Indianapolis Colts and he came
through in the clutch. Heck who was against Philadelphia when
(23:37):
they lost earlier in the season. It was when they
tied the Giants just two weeks ago. I think Scary
Terry is a great play for the Commander's Sunday Night
against the Giants. And then are you McKinnon me? I
know there's a lot of love for Jerick McKinnon. And
I was down on Pacheco last week. I think it flips.
I think Pacheco is the one who has the day
(23:57):
for the Chiefs, gets in the end zone in that
game against the Texans. All right, let's get it on
Elementary Watson. Yeah, it's Elemental. You're not playing anybody. Chub
Chub is an r B two Deshaun Watson, no go
against Baltimore Riddler or Ridder Atlanta New Orleans. I mean,
(24:22):
who do you trust out of that Atlanta side? Robinson?
I guess go question Mark? Uh? And for whatever reason,
Andy Dalton is still the quarterback of the Saints. But
that's a longer debate for a therapist couch for another time.
And is it Brady's last stand in terms of this playoffers?
Because all of a sudden, Steve Wilkes has the Carolina
(24:43):
play it and their other tails with Cincinnati coming in
against the Bucks, I can't trust any of the receivers,
I guess their threes. Uh. And for the backfield, no
thanks and Brady no thanks. But it's the morbid curiosity
of I always want to see how the story ends. Dan. Yes, yes,
I think it's actually gonna be a good story. I
(25:04):
actually like the Bucketeers against the Bengals. Bengals had some
really big games coming up later on this season. Not
that this isn't but again, cross conference. Uh. Since he
seems to be rolling a little bit, I wouldn't doubt
if there's a hiccup. And again, I think Tampa's got
something to play for um in this one, especially their
defense after being embarrassed last week. I was gonna say
both of us went encircled the defense. You had mix
(25:24):
and uh as a one reason, and I had burrow
on the cold play culture. So cold play. That's all right,
start playing clocks because we're running out of time in
the fantasy football season, babe, great transition. It's a perfect
time to wrap it up as well. So there it
is your week fifteen episode. Uh, Mike's going to be
on vacation next week, but he's still gonna be with us.
(25:46):
We're gonna sta have all the information that you need
for I want your flex and you can always reach
out to us as well. Get Mike on Twitter at
swallow Dome, find Ryan Burrsinger on Twitter at Ryan Burrsinger,
and you can find me on Twitter at Dan buy
your on Fox. So uh, happy holiday's best of luck
to all of you and we fifteen. Whether it's a
season long playoff or even daily fantasy, We'll talk to
you next time right here. Do not want your plays
(26:06):
h
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