Are you ready to make your fantasy football playoffs count? On this episode, we (Frankie and Johnny) bring the heat with start-sit advice, player analysis and some lively banter about our own family league antics. We're talking about the injuries that could potentially shake up your team and the bets being placed on the losers bracket. Don't worry; we've got you covered.
We're not just about the injuries though; we're going deep into player analysis. From Ty Chandler and Jordan Addison to Chris Godwin and Marquis Brown, we've got opinions—and they're not all predictable. We're also going to talk about Lamar Jackson and his role in the Ravens' offense, Evan Ingram's record-breaking performance, and why Jerome Ford is a solid RB2 option. And of course, we're weighing in on the bets placed on the losers bracket. There's a lot to take in, and we're here to guide you through it all.
But that's not all. We're also giving you our streaming options: Matthew Stafford, Joe Flacco, Chig, and Tyler Conklin. Plus, we've got advice for the upcoming week on who to sit and how to strategize your fantasy football playoffs. Listen closely as we stress the importance of being mindful of last-minute changes and always having backup options. We've got our fingers on the pulse of fantasy football, and we're ready to share our wisdom with you. So gear up for an episode full of insights, advice, and a few laughs. May the fantasy gods smile upon you.
Thanks for Listening! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBPAVRUduAUqHORYenFfo9w
Are you ready to make your fantasy football playoffs count? On this episode, we (Frankie and Johnny) bring the heat with start-sit advice, player analysis and some lively banter about our own family league antics. We're talking about the injuries that could potentially shake up your team and the bets being placed on the losers bracket. Don't worry; we've got you covered.
We're not just about the injuries though; we're going deep into player analysis. From Ty Chandler and Jordan Addison to Chris Godwin and Marquis Brown, we've got opinions—and they're not all predictable. We're also going to talk about Lamar Jackson and his role in the Ravens' offense, Evan Ingram's record-breaking performance, and why Jerome Ford is a solid RB2 option. And of course, we're weighing in on the bets placed on the losers bracket. There's a lot to take in, and we're here to guide you through it all.
But that's not all. We're also giving you our streaming options: Matthew Stafford, Joe Flacco, Chig, and Tyler Conklin. Plus, we've got advice for the upcoming week on who to sit and how to strategize your fantasy football playoffs. Listen closely as we stress the importance of being mindful of last-minute changes and always having backup options. We've got our fingers on the pulse of fantasy football, and we're ready to share our wisdom with you. So gear up for an episode full of insights, advice, and a few laughs. May the fantasy gods smile upon you.
Thanks for Listening! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBPAVRUduAUqHORYenFfo9w
Alright, alright, alright, welcome to the show. This is the Franklin Fantasy Football Podcast. We are your hosts, frankie and Johnny. Welcome to the playoffs, frankie, my friend.
Speaker 1:Welcome, john. Let's go. Baby, we're here, we're ready. Man of my, I'm so pumped up for this episode. Dude, I am so ready for this week.
Speaker 2:You know we didn't plan this. I'm back home in my home office. I was in Chicago this week. I sit down. This is what I traveled home in. I got the Lulu Lemon you know tight workout shirt and the hat. I sit down and look at you in the green room before we start recording and we're wearing the same damn. We both look like we're either going to rob something we're going to rob a bank or we're like NPCs. We have no logos or anything on our hats. We're like NPCs in a video game like Grand Theft Auto or some shit.
Speaker 1:God damn right. We're the NPCs of frankly fantasy football man.
Speaker 2:Fantasy football in general. Hey, you know what man? I'll be your NPC any day of the week, any day of the week, that's right. Welcome to the show everybody. Wow, we got the playoffs, guys. Playoffs are here. I'm freaking out, I'm excited, I got the chills thinking about it Do or die this weekend. Oh yeah, we got your back, guys. There's some start-sick questions. There's a lot of news, a lot of guys banged up. We got your back, we're going to get you through these playoffs and we want to see you win some, frankly, fantasy championships. Right, what's that? Look like Frank Frankie, like that gold trophy in the background there.
Speaker 2:Look at this.
Speaker 1:Anybody who wants a little piece. Look at that. Look at those beautiful name plates on here John, Look at that.
Speaker 2:How many years back is that gone?
Speaker 1:This one's gone back since 2012?
Speaker 2:2008. Oh eight, oh eight, all right, nine. I got a couple of my names on there. I know you do too. Mm-hmm, sure, do, baby. All right, welcome to the show everybody. Hopefully we can get you one of those damn trophies. Welcome to the show.
Speaker 2:Please follow us on social media, guys. Instagram is a great follow. Frankie puts out some great information, updated news for everybody, rankings, who did great, who did not. Also a lot of funny shit on there too, so it's really good. Also on Twitter and X at frankly Fantasy F YouTube.
Speaker 2:We're where you're watching this right now. We appreciate it. Thank you for subscribing. It's, frankly fantasy football. Please share that guys. Give us a review, give us a comment. I hope things help the channel so much. We've had great momentum this year. Can't wait to see what we're going to do next year. It's going to be great. Guys Also, please I know you watch us here on YouTube. Please listen as well, or at least just subscribe, so in case you can't watch the video, you can listen to it. We're trying to grow the audio as well. Anywhere podcasts are found Spotify, google, apple podcasts, everywhere Look us up. Frankly fantasy football.
Speaker 2:All right, today, frankie, we've got our hit-its and quits there, starts and sits. This is the episode everyone waits for and wants to see, and we're going to get to that. But first we're going to get some news. Let's see what happens if you all listen to this dumb. Next day let's get some news and notes. Okay, I'd like to shout out my opponent this week in our family league. That we do. It's a very intense league. We've been doing it for a while with all these guys 14 team double flex. Eight teams make it to the playoffs. It's brutal man. It's trench warfare for sure Gets a little heated. Coming up with the holiday parties this weekend, we all just talk shit. The whole family gets annoyed because all we do is talk fantasy football and we're like you guys, we're complaining that we weren't close enough before. Now you're complaining because all we do is talk to each other, which all right. Talking that's generous. We're actually shouting at each other while we drink and yeah, I mean, it's not in a bad way. Just we talk loud. We get very passionate.
Speaker 1:And John. To that point, we're also betting on we got to talk about this for a second Guys in the 14 man league. Okay, we have eight people, or eight teams, that have made it to the playoffs. Congratulations to those eight teams. Johnny and I are part of those eight teams. Rock on for the other six. What we have decided to do? Spice it up a little bit. The winners are placing bets on who is going to win the losers bracket, and so everybody's thrown in 20 bucks. We're picking out of a hat and you got a random team to be rooting on. So if you guys are looking for some fun, creative, different things to spice it up through the playoffs to keep your players and your other league engaged, check it out.
Speaker 2:That's going to be pretty cool it is. It's always fun to have people still engaged even though they can't win. You know the Super Bowl, keep it, do something with your, your losers bracket so you can make it interesting. It keeps everybody engaged and going and playing the waiver wire and all that too. So that's good stuff, man. But yeah, I want to shout out Dennis, I'm playing him, I'm playing Dennis McGlone, playing him. First round of the playoffs, my cousin. And the news, the news today, dennis, it's dedicated to you, my friend. All right, first of all, jonathan Taylor. He's out this week with a thumb, not going to play, going to be without him. Zach Moss how are we feeling about Zach Moss? Frankie, is he? Is he going to be somebody we're talking about later, you think?
Speaker 1:you know, john, you know I don't know if we're going to be necessarily speaking about Zach Moss later, but I do think this is a guy that you're going to continue. If you have him, if you have Jonathan Taylor and you know what Zach Moss has done previously, I think you're going to start him up, especially in a double flex league, john.
Speaker 2:Okay, sounds good. Isaiah Pacheco running backs running back for the chiefs did not practice again on Thursday. It doesn't look good, guys. They were hoping to get him out there, but the chiefs are a team that specifically schemes to personnel. I think it's going to be a Jerick McKinnon game. I think Clyde's going to do the work between the tackles and I think you're going to see a lot of McKinnon out of the backfield. I would make plans to be without Isaiah Pacheco this week.
Speaker 2:Another guy Devon Achan Dennis, I know you're cringing right now. Devon Achan also did not practice in the walkthrough actually on Thursday with a toe injury Doesn't sound good for Achan. They were real. You know it's Mike McDaniel. I mean you're not going to get any straight answers out of this guy, but it doesn't look good for Achan, which all that means to me is that most dirt who has 16 touchdowns on the year so far. Fire him up. He's going to be a great play in that same game. I know that everyone saw Tyreek get banged up. Tyreek says he's going to play. He's not on the injury report at all. Mike McDaniel's quote was that they're going to put him in a position where he won't will not re-injure it. What does that mean, man? I have no idea what that means with an ankle. What are you going to do? Give him some roller skates.
Speaker 1:I'm a little walker, you going out there? No, definitely not happening.
Speaker 2:No, it's not happening. Tyreek will play, he'll be all right. Justin Jefferson also says he's going to play this week. You start you firing up JJ if he's playing this week, firing him up 100 percent, no question about it. All right, let's talk about it, though, because they did name Nick Mullins to be their quarterback. We talked about it briefly, but I just want to make sure we're still on the same page there. We're still there Nick Mullins at quarterback. You're starting Justin Jefferson, but you're really trying to not start Jordan Addison. Is that correct, frankie?
Speaker 1:John, that's correct At this point in time. Guys, you've got to fire up Justin Jefferson. We've seen historical evidence that Nick Mullins has done a good job in getting especially the receiver won the ball and getting the tight end very involved. Tj Hawkinson is right. There's no downgrade here. If anything, john, it actually might be a slight upgrade from what we've seen. Love TJ Hawkinson.
Speaker 1:As we were talking about in our last episode, jordan Addison bit on the fence. We were saying I probably want to stray away With these injury updates. John, I'm changing my tune a tad. I'm not saying this is a smash play. That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying it's still a very much slower risk. The reason why I'm changing my tune is because, with JJ Banged Up, he's going to play. With JJ Banged Up and what we've seen from Nick Mullins previously and now, which we're going to hit on it as well, I'm just lumping Alexander Madison, who also has it played and plans to be playing without him.
Speaker 1:John, I don't know if they're going to be able to solely rely on Ty Chandler. Again, we talked about him in the previous episode. Yeah, he's a guy that I would actually be starting, but I'm not sure about how good of a start. That actually would be, if I'm being candid with you, for me, man bringing a full circle to Jordan Addison I'm on the fence here. I'm not so much you got to fully sit him, because if you had Devon H-Hand, if you did have Isaiah Pacheco or even JT and they were in your flex position, now you might be looking at maybe a lost Kenan Allen for a beautiful call.
Speaker 1:I had that happen.
Speaker 2:I had to pick up to Marcus Robinson off the waiver wire to fill in for Kenan Allen.
Speaker 1:Brilliant call If you have a Kenan Allen. Now Addison looks appetizing or he looks better because, john, I'm talking with you about some of the issues I'm running into. Right, josh Downs, do I start? You know, obviously we're recording this on a Thursday, right? So we're talking about some Thursday night here, but like a Josh Palmer right At that point in time. But again, it's looking at like Josh Downs, do I start? Jerick McKinnon, do I start some of these other cats? I'm starting probably Addison, over both of those guys at this point in time. So now it's really about the situation at hand. So I'm not discounting him, but what I'm saying is it's a risk but there is slight upside. So take that with a grain of salt. Depends on your strategy, depends on your team. I'm not out on Addison this week.
Speaker 2:Okay, that's good advice. Man CJ Stroud still in concussion protocol. Doesn't seem likely he's going to be getting out of that. But keep an eye on Friday or Saturday it might change. Naji Harris kind of came up with a knee injury here. Didn't practice on Thursday. Definitely monitor that All right Now. I didn't feel good about starting either Naji or Jalen Warren. But if Naji doesn't go, is Jalen Warren an auto start?
Speaker 1:Definitely. Don't even think twice about it, john. I really believe that I wouldn't think twice about it. If Naji can't go, it's Jalen Warren's backfield and we're going to get a super heavy dose of Jalen Warren this week if that's the case.
Speaker 2:They play Indianapolis. Indianapolis, believe it or not, is the 32nd best, which means they're the worst at run defense. So I'm staying away from them in my playoffs If they're both on the field. If it's just Jalen Warren, you've got to start him up. Yes, absolutely. It's just a volume thing I'm a little concerned about and probably a low scoring game, but if he's by himself, yeah, lights up, let's go. Ok, dj Moore got to keep an eye on him. He did not practice on Thursday with an ankle, definitely concerning. You have to play him. You do have to temper expectations with Denzel Ward potentially coming back that Brown's defense, but if somebody's going to get some on the Bears, it's going to be DJ Moore. I'll keep an eye on his status for sure. Chris Alave also did not practice with an ankle. No other information. You're just going to have to watch some of these guys. Chris Godwin did not practice with a knee injury. His actually doesn't look very good. We might be without Chris Godwin this week, which means Mike Evans redemption game for him coming back here. Marquis Brown why receive for the Cardinals did not practice with a heel either. This is a guy I tried picking him up off of waivers just to kind of be cute for a fill in. It's not a guy you can play this week. He's not practicing. No, he'll injury. They're playing the 49ers. You're sitting. Marquis Brown, no matter what this week.
Speaker 2:Brian Robinson running back for the Washington Manders this one's a little unusual. He had a hamstring injury and kept him out the week before. They had a biweek last week, so he's had a week and a half to heal up. He hasn't practiced this week. Doesn't look good. If Antonio Gibson, if the pass through waiver somehow and is still out there in your leagues, pick him up, he could be a good play this week. But monitor Brian Robinson, doesn't look good for him. Kareem Hunt, also running back for the Browns, did not practice with a groin injury. Keep an eye on him. They definitely are going to need him against the Bears.
Speaker 2:All right, frankie, that is the news for the day. Let's see who you want to hit and who you want to quit. Yeah, I love me some Funkadelic baby. You got to have Funkadelic in the morning. All right, frankie, let's look at your. Your top starts here. Week 15 in the playoffs. Listen, you can't be cute here, frankie. This is people's playoffs. Lives are on the line. They're fantasy football. The glory is on the line here. Frankie, we're trusting you. What do you got for us in your tier one, 12 to 16 team deeper leagues? Who can we start this week, buddy? Yeah, man.
Speaker 1:You're one 12, 16 man league. The first guy that I am firing up is Zay flowers. Zay flowers at Jacksonville, okay, number one, it's a prime time game, huge. Everything is on the line. Jacksonville's playoff hopes right, and again they're still cemented as number one in their division. However, they definitely don't want to drop three in a row here and Baltimore for the number one seed in the AFC, now that both Miami and Kansas City both lost. So they're in the driver's seat right now to get that by.
Speaker 1:So, john, what I'm talking about here, zay flowers, right now, he's averaging 10.07 points in half PPR through the year over his last three, or, excuse me, over his last two weeks. Right, he played at the chargers. He ended up having what is this, sorry? He ended up having 20 points in fantasy football, okay, and half PPR. But with that being said, he had eight targets for five receptions. He ended up having 25 yards receiving and a touchdown. But what was fascinating, john, they got him involved in the rushing game. He ran the ball for 37 yards and another touchdown. Then you flash forward they had a bye week, usually teams again. We called it out the last episode. They're rescheming, they're figuring out who they are, they're teasing a couple of things, right, trying to throw the opponents off. They come back after buy, they play the Rams and what was an absolute incredible game ends up getting 10 targets, six receptions, 60 yards and a touchdown. And then John, what I'm getting at is he ended up having 17 points there. So the last two weeks he was receiver four and receiver seven.
Speaker 1:And so, john, when we're thinking about the evolution of what the Baltimore Ravens have done over the last few weeks, and this Todd Monk in offense first and foremost, we have seen a massive downgrade in Gus Edwards and Keaton Mitchell and that of Justice Hill. Right, they're not being as effective on the ground as what they once were early on in the season. And what they're doing is now they're putting the ball in Lamar's hands to make the judgment calls. Right, so it's Lamar rushing, but it's also more Lamar passing. So for me, man, coming off of a game to where he had 10 targets, coming off of a game to where he had 17 fantasy points, and then you're playing against a team, right, that is at right.
Speaker 1:The Baltimore is going to at Jacksonville. So they're playing in a must win game. Jacksonville is going to come out hot. This is going to be fascinating, because I see them needing to throw the ball around. What Jacksonville does really well is they bring Josh Allen off the edge there. Right, they have really good front seven, and so that's going to potentially take away again some of that run game. I'm looking to Lamar to distribute this ball. I'm walking in Zay flowers this week, man.
Speaker 2:I love it. I can't even add to it, man, because everything you said was absolutely perfect. Yeah, zay flowers is heavily, heavily involved. He's like a tiny little Keenan Allen out there. Yeah, he's running around the middle of the field getting some jet sweeps and reverses. Now it's pretty cool what they're doing with them. Yeah, I've got the Lamar Zay flowers stack in a Super Flex League and I am very excited for that. This week they did exactly right last week. It's the end of the season, lamar, that's okay. What we did was cute. We've got all these running backs. We ran them. Lamar had more rushing attempts than any of the three running backs in the backfield. He had more. So you're right, they're putting the ball in Lamar's hands because it matters now. It means something they need. They're fighting for that number one seed. They can still get that in the AFC. So, yeah, I love it, man. Fire them up, john. Number two.
Speaker 1:I'm going to stay in the same game here. I'm going opposite side of the field. I'm going to go Evan Ingram. What we have seen, we like this dude has absolutely blown up the tight end world for now two years in a row. The back half of last year, we saw him explode. This year, john, throughout the entirety of the season.
Speaker 1:I'll have to double check on this, but I'm usually pretty accurate when I'm throwing out stats. I believe he set the franchise record for the Jags for most receptions for a tight end, and so, if that's, I mean that just goes to show what he's been able to do. John, he's averaging 9.85 points and half PPR as a tight end Brilliant. What is that? Equate to number five overall tight end. In addition, he ended up having, in the last three weeks alone, he had 7.4 points against that of Houston out of a tight end I'm taking that and then against Cincinnati, 18.7. And then against Cleveland, who has been very good against tight ends, especially with J Okay, yet Anthony Walker writes you on Taki Taki and many of these other guys, especially with some of their safeties that were coming down. He wrecked them, john, single-handedly.
Speaker 1:Looking at what he has done against that of Cleveland and Cincinnati, cleveland. He had 10 targets, 11 receptions, 95 yards and two touchdowns the week before, as I mentioned, against Cincinnati nine targets, nine receptions, 82 yards and one touchdown, going all the way back to their by week and week nine, john. So, looking at now, week 10, seven targets. Week 11, six targets. Week 12 against Houston eight targets and then the nine and 12. The reason why I'm even more high on Evan Ingram that you can fire up not just in your tight end spot, guys, but, I truly believe, in your actual flex spot, is because Christian Kirk is out. So, with that being said, now we've started to see more distribution to that of Evan Ingram, rather than of Zay Jones and even Calvin Ridley, and so for me, man, evan Ingram is the number one passing option in this offense as it stands right now. So I'm locking him in and I'm loving what I'm seeing from this Jags offense with Evan Ingram.
Speaker 2:I want to confirm what you were questioning yourself on there, frankie. Evan Ingram's 78 receptions so far this season set a new single season franchise record among tight ends Beautiful, breaking the previous record he set last season of 73 receptions. Beautiful, you're absolutely right, yeah. Additionally, evan Ingram's 661 yards through week 14 this season is among the most among tight ends in franchise history. It's the most that he's ever in franchise history. So, yeah, really impressive stuff. Man. Yeah, this is he did it last year, he's doing it again this year. I mean, we're going to have to start calling him the Yeti, like Derek Henry. He just gets stronger in the cold, it seems like man. Yeah, all right.
Speaker 1:Who else you got? Buddy man, I'm going to roll with our brownies. I'm going to get one of them. Boys in there, go dogs. We got Jerome Ford versus that of the Chicago Bears, john, this one is definitely not usually a lock, from what we've seen, right, because they're sharing some of the field with cream hunt. We've seen Pierre Strong get involved all sorts of different things. Cream hunt is hurt, guys. Okay, he hasn't been practicing on top of it, lacko, he's been throwing the ball very, very well. So what this means is that this is opening up the opportunity for Jerome Ford to produce once more.
Speaker 1:Johnny's the number 20 back, okay, and half PPR. He's still an RB two, a very solid RB two, averaging 11.23 points a game. Okay, over the last few weeks here. If we go back even to that Pittsburgh game 10.1 or, excuse me, about 11 points week 12, 10 points week 13,. 12 points week 14 against the Jags when he was splitting time 10.7 points, guys what we're seeing is his floor is very, very high, and so that is why I am starting Jerome Ford, because, with these injuries happening, you might need a very high floor cat.
Speaker 1:You might not need a ceiling play because you already have that on your team. So if you have the ability to lock in forward in your RB two slot, you feel nice and cozy. It's a warm blanket right. You're going to be going up against that of Pierre Strong and that's pretty much it. At this point time. If cream hunt does play, it's going to be very minimal and again, the way Flacco has been widening the field with Elijah Moore and getting Cedric Tillman involved and getting a Mari Cooper back in healthy right, this aids very well for Jerome Ford. So for me, man, I'm really digging this play for a high floor, safe pick, get nice and cozy on your team and know that he's more than likely going to bring in 9 to 13 points.
Speaker 2:I love it. Man, I'm with you 100%. I can't wait to play myself. Who else?
Speaker 1:you got buddy Brian or John for the last one here in the tier one, right. So we're talking 12 to 16 man league. This one's a gimme, right, because you're probably doing it anyways. But just in case I'm firing up, brandon Iuk, what we had seen. They're playing against that of Arizona, right, people might have Debo, people might have George Kittle, right, things like that.
Speaker 1:If you're in a 12 man league, there's an opportunity. I mean, john, we're in a 14 man league together. I've seen your team, right, there are teams that have Keenan Allen, there are teams that have Cooper Cup, there are teams that literally have AJ Brown all on one team, right. And so when you're factoring in another player like this that you might have now, we got to start like stack ranking a little bit more. So for me, man, I am absolutely aligned with that of Brandon Iuk. He's the number 13 receiver and half PPR. He's averaging almost 14 points a game and with the emergence of Debo, who has gone nuclear the last few weeks, right, he's staying consistent.
Speaker 1:John, we're looking at over the last let's just take the last four weeks alone Tampa Bay 26 points, right, that was without Debo. Debo comes back still is 12 points against that of Seattle, he had 13 points against that of Philly. He had 13.6 points then against playing Seattle again. So what I'm saying is, john, he's still being targeted by that of Brock Purdy, to the tune of he had six targets in week 11, four targets in week 12, and then he had seven and nine, even with Debo back. So, john, I'm liking Brandon Iuk. He's definitely a dynamic player and I think that this could be a really great opportunity playing against Arizona.
Speaker 2:He has scored a touchdown in four of the last five games. You can pretty much shock one up against Arizona, man. Yeah, absolutely Love it. Okay, let's get to tier two Now. These are going to be the eight to 10 team leagues, where you've got just an armory of good players on your team there. All right, Frank, who are we starting out here, man? Who do you like, John?
Speaker 1:I mean, this is for those listeners and those viewers that are constantly peppering up. So those comments, keep them coming, baby. But this one's for you. If you're sitting there and you're telling me, I got Stefan Diggs on my team, I got Keenan Allen on my team, I got DK Metcalf on my team and I got you know whoever the hell else on my team, and I need to pick three of them because I know it's coming. Guys, I'm firing up DK Metcalf.
Speaker 1:I am playing DK Metcalf in an eight to 10 man league this week and I'm going to tell you why, john. He's the number 17 receiver on the year. On top of that, he's the average 15 points and half PPR as it stands. And Philly's defense from a passing perspective, from a defensive perspective, against that of the receivers right, so from a receiving end, has been atrocious, not bad, god, awful, sinful at this point, how bad they've been. And so, john, when you look at what DK's done, he's played some insane teams recently, right, let's go back to week 10. Again, with a cream puff matchup against that of Washington right, against that of Washington, he still ended up having 13.3 points and with that he ended up having 12 targets and seven receptions for 98 yards.
Speaker 1:We go to week 11 against that of the Los Angeles Rams Nine targets, five receptions, right 17 points. He played San Fran and had a very down game, or did he? The points show that? But he still had nine targets, nine targets. Then we come in and we go to Dallas Dynamic defense.
Speaker 1:That dude, single-handedly with Geno Smith, torched him. I mean, we're talking eight receptions, six or eight targets, six receptions, 134 yards and three tutties, and then, which equates to right 36 fantasy points. And then this past week, again getting revenge on San Francisco after not having that creative. Again, john, he has five targets, he has two receptions, 52 yards and a touchdown to redeem himself which is 12 points. All of this to be said that he's gone through the gauntlet of the Rams at the Rams, san Francisco, at Dallas and then at San Francisco. John, that is as difficult as it gets. And now you have Philly, who has been getting their shit pushed from the receiver perspective. John, I love this matchup. I don't care if it's Drew Locke or Geno Smith throwing the ball, because that dude is going to be open. Locke and DK Metcalf.
Speaker 2:I agree with you 100%. If you can do it against the Rams, the 49ers and the Cowboys, you're going to be fine against Philly. From what we've seen, Love it, man.
Speaker 1:John, this one's a hey man. I'm tipping the cap to you for this next one here. Again, eight to 10 man league. We're going to go with Cooper Cup Now. A few weeks ago we were nervous, right, cooper Cup didn't look right. Puka, right, honestly, was also a little bit down. At that point in time too, matt Stafford wasn't really performing very well. Things have drastically changed since after that bye week, john. Right after the bye week, right, he was still banged up. Only had one point against, that of Seattle, started to get healthier, wasn't really doing much against that of Arizona either, and so what was interesting is he still saw five targets Again, did not look healthy Now the last two weeks against two dominant, dominant defenses Cleveland and Baltimore.
Speaker 1:Eight targets against Cleveland six receptions, 39 yards in a touchdown. 10 targets, eight receptions, 115 yards in one touchdown. Against Baltimore 18 targets in two weeks against two of the top defenses overall in the NFL. Actually, I believe they're one and three at this point in time. So, john, when we're looking at, washington is the 31st worst defense right now against the pass in the NFL. Really bad. I think that Cooper Cup with Matt Stafford is going to cut them up. Super bad. So I'm going to Cooper Cup this week. Lock it in. I see a double digit point.
Speaker 2:I think I'm going to make a prediction here. I think the Rams skilled players are going to win people some championships this year. Man, I agree, I think you're going to see a lot of championship teams with some Rams players on it, just based on the matchups, based on how hot they are right now and what they're playing for. So enjoy, we'll see if that comes true, john let's go with another Ram while we're in here.
Speaker 1:Eight to 10 man league, let's go. We want to win some money. You want to get to that semifinal. Your ass better be plugging in Kyren Williams here. So Kyren Williams against that of Washington Guys, I don't know if there's a better play.
Speaker 1:I honestly, this week, truly in my soul, don't know if there's a better play. They don't have Montez sweat. They don't have Chase Young. This team is a dumpster fire right now, and the only reason why Sam Howell is looking so decent is strictly because he's throwing the ball a million times a game. And so when you look at Kyren Williams, john, and what he's done since he's come back from injury, it is on freaking believable. I mean, we're talking against Arizona, john, and week 12, he had 38.4 points right away coming back.
Speaker 1:Okay, against Cleveland, against that team that was dominated as all hell. He came in and said, yeah, fuck you Cleveland. You know why? Because I'm rushing the ball 21 times for 88 yards and a touchdown on top of that, and they're getting him involved in the passing game. He had five targets, three receptions for another 24 yards. And then you look at okay, well, baltimore, he's certainly not repeating this. Right Wrong 25 rush attempts, 114 yards, four targets, three receptions. John, what we are seeing from Kyren Williams from a utility perspective is nuts. In the last three weeks alone, since he's come back, 16 rushes, 21. And, as I mentioned, 25. George Koch I love seeing Matt Stafford to Cooper Cup getting that score up. And now we're just going to sit back and I'm going to run the tits off of that of Kyron Williams. That's what I think is going to happen this week.
Speaker 2:Dennis, I know I shit on you in the beginning of the news there talking about three of your running backs that are probably not playing this week, but you do have Kyron Williams, so I've got him as my number one running back on the week. I know he's going to torch me, I'm just hoping you have to start some shit bags around them. But congrats on the Kyron Williams star because yeah, he's going to have a hell of a week man Definitely.
Speaker 1:John, the last guy. Eight to 10 man league. I'm going to go with the number four running back on the season and half PPR. King Henry VIII has now moved up to the number four spot. Ok, I have been a proponent of King Henry. I traded for King Henry. I'm a believer. He's fucking Yeti man running over people, I'm all about it. And they're playing Houston, john. The reason why this is interesting is because of CJ Stroud, nico Collins and Tank Dell were playing. I would not be having the same conversation if Davis Mills has to play without that receiving court. And you're looking at Noah Brown and Robert Woods, I actually see the Titans running up that score a bit, or at least getting a lead. And now you just you're feeding the Yeti, you're feeding King Henry.
Speaker 1:And what we have seen over the last few weeks, man, once they have gotten ahead, they have not let up. In the last three weeks alone, john, he's had a week 12 at Carolina. He has ended up having 18 rushes for 76 yards and two touchdowns. Week 13 against that of Indianapolis Colts 21 rushes, 102 yards and two touchdowns. Ok, the last week at Miami a terrible matchup. They should have got their shit pushed. They didn't. And then the Tennessee Titans defense kept them in the game and Will Leviss gave them an opportunity to score. And guess who they relied on when they got into the red zone? It wasn't Will Leviss, it was Derek fucking Henry, john. He had 17 rushing attempts. He only had this ridiculous line. This is 17 rushing attempts, 34 yards. Terrible. Two touchdowns. That is what he has done. He's had six touchdowns in the last three weeks alone, john.
Speaker 1:And, that being said, playing a Houston team without all of their people in a divisional match, when Tennessee is not out of the playoffs yet. There is an opportunity here for this team. So for me, man, I'm right with Derek Henry. I'm starting him over some, some of the others that maybe have difficult matchups, and I'm rocking with the king.
Speaker 2:You got to roll with the king man. Do a little BB King on that shit. All right, let's look at some guys that we don't love this week. Who are? Who are some guys that we're sitting down here that you just don't trust to help you advance to the playoffs and the next round of the playoffs?
Speaker 1:Yeah, guys, if you're looking to fire up Zach Charbonnet, he's got to be my number one and it's nothing against him. It's strictly because Kenneth Walker is now splitting time with Zach Charbonnet, or should I say vice versa Zach Charbonnet is now splitting time with that of Kenneth Walker. Kenneth Walker is definitely they're running back one at this point in time. Regardless, even if he wasn't John, I still don't think I would fire him up this week. Because if Drew Lock is under center or even Gino Smith is under center, going against this Philly rush defense is completely different than going against their past defense. Now, yes, they have had some issues as of late. I don't foresee this happening anymore right from the rushing side.
Speaker 1:So Zach Charbonnet is not somebody I'm willing to risk. That is not a high ceiling play. If anything, if you're going to put him in there, it's just a plug and play, and at that point, throwing Gabe Davis. Gabe Davis has a much higher propensity to get you zero points. He also has a much higher propensity to get you 20. So why not go with a higher risk, higher reward play than going with a Charbonnet who might get to 44 yards on 10 carries and right? That's pretty much the stat line. So for me I'm sitting and I'm quitting on that of Zach Charbonnet this week.
Speaker 2:I got news for you, frankie. I'm not starting Kenneth Walker, I'm not starting Zach Charbonnet, right, and I'm sure as shit not starting Gabe Davis this week. There you go, all right. Who?
Speaker 1:else you got buddy. John, I'm going with a guy that was a start last week and I'm benching his ass this week and it hurts.
Speaker 2:And it hurts me Right, they want.
Speaker 1:Dalton Kincaid. Dalton Kincaid, unfortunately, last week was performing decent and then got hurt. Okay, he was a star for us, looked well, ended up getting eight targets, five receptions, 21 yards right, got hurt right, and it was pretty, pretty tough. So what happens now is that they're playing the Dallas defense. In addition, dalton Kincaid guys has actually only been logging limited practices and, to make matters kind of more muddy, dawson Knox is back.
Speaker 1:Dawson Knox has been right when he's played. Josh Allen's, like you know, go to guy in the check down right. It's not actually been James Cook, especially in this offense. It's been more of that of Dawson Knox when he's played, and so for me I don't know how this is going to shake out now, john, and so I actually own Dalton Kincaid. This is something I'm seriously staring at. I'm just like, do I risk a guy who might get me three points for my floor now that Dawson Knox is back, versus maybe getting somebody on the waiver that we'll talk about here in a second? So for me, it's purely matchup based and it's purely the fact that Dawson Knox is back and we haven't seen Kincaid and Knox on the same field at the same time for quite some time now. So I'm going to sit Kincaid and I'm going to wait and see all this unfolds and reevaluate for next week.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm with you on that. I love Dalton Kincaid but there's a number of factors. Yes, he's hurt, he's banged up a little bit limited practice, dawson Knox coming back but I will say that it really looked into film and stats from this buffalo game because I want to see what they did differently. Josh Allen definitely checks down to Dawson Knox and to James Cook. Yeah, they're checking, he's checking down to both of them. James Cook, he actually checked down to him a lot In the past two weeks.
Speaker 2:James Cook has had seven targets and five targets out of the back, so that, and before that he never had more than four ever the entire season. So that that's. What's interesting to me is that you know he's finding, finding ways to get people to ball a lot faster. Get away from the past, rush, not scramble as much, not, you know, throw across his body and potentially throw a pick. So I think the offense got a little smarter here of how to utilize him and I do think that that is going to take away some of the opportunity for Dalton Kincaid. I agree.
Speaker 1:John, number three sit and quit of the week. I'm actually going to go back to that Baltimore game and I'm going to be sitting. Gus Edwards, john, again, it's what we talked about, right, they're going away from running these guys constantly. We look at what Gus Edwards has done since week 12, john. So again going back to that Chargers week he, it's been pretty bad. He's had eight carries. He had eight carries for 26 yards, no touchdowns. He had one reception for 11 yards, okay, which equates to four points. Guys.
Speaker 1:Then against the Rams, right, and, by the way, the game went into overtime. Baltimore won, but for a minute there. Baltimore was up for a hot minute and so they still didn't even run him. And what I mean by this is he had six carries, six carries in the game for 15 yards, john. So for me, man, looking at this Jacksonville team, right, that's hungry, pissed off Sunday night at their house, losing two in a row. They're not going to try to drop a third here, right, I am not willing to start Gus Edwards, especially with Keaton Mitchell taking some game game time away, justice Hill, but more than anything we mentioned it multiple times Lamar Lamar taking away Gus Edwards stealing If he's not scoring a touchdown. So for me, guys, I'm not willing to risk it. I'm benching Gus Edwards and looking elsewhere.
Speaker 2:There's just no way in my mind, seeing what the trends have looked like over the past few weeks, that you can start any of the Baltimore running backs. You may have to, because maybe you had Josh Jacobs or Jonathan Taylor and you just don't have any other options. And at least he's a guy who can score. You're just going to have to hope for somebody breaking something. But as far as opportunity, like we always say, success in fantasy football is when opportunity meets talent, and sure the talent is there I don't know that the opportunity is going to be. I mean, those guys none of those guys are going to have double digit carries. Lamar, may, and then you throw in the quarterback who runs like Lamar. You've got four headed monster in that backfield when it comes to rushing the ball. I don't love it, I agree.
Speaker 1:And then, john, what happens if let's just say shit goes weird and Jackson fills up? Right? What happens if Trevor Lawrence finds his groove? Now that's completely game scripted out of everything for Gus Edwards. So again it's.
Speaker 1:You're thinking about all different scenarios here and none are really that positive for me. So that's why I'm sitting him and John, I completely agree with you, man. John, the last one to this is going to make you smile and I know you're going to be happy. And it's so ridiculous. Go screw yourself. Okay, cause I like white chocolate over here. I like a dude that's in the NFL, that's a little white guy running around as a receiver. Right, cause there's this color. It is a few and far between. It's like finding a four leaf clover. Right, I'm going with a unicorn, fucking unicorn. I'm going with Adam feeling I'm sitting his ass, john.
Speaker 1:The reason being, guys, he ended up being one of the top Cinderella stories for many, much of the year. Over the last three weeks, we have seen significant regression. Okay, so what we're looking at is he's the number 19th receiver on half PPR for the year. He's averaging still decent, though right About 12 points a game. But over the last three weeks, john week 12 at Tennessee. He had a point point, seven points, okay. He had three, three targets on one reception for two yards. Okay, you go then to a game at Tampa Bay, to where they're in it, right, fighting for it. He had six targets, three receptions, 25 yards, four points, okay. Now they go to New Orleans, all right. Now this New Orleans game is getting interesting. He had seven targets for five receptions for 74 yards, john, but it's still only equated to eight points and a half PPR.
Speaker 1:And so, guys, what we're saying is is against this Atlanta defense. This is not a great matchup. Atlanta's defense has been better than what people are giving them credit for and, on top of it, right, atlanta is fighting for everything. They're tied with Tampa Bay and the saints and six and seven. And, candidly speaking, man, this, this team with Carolina, is putrid. They're terrible.
Speaker 1:I've said it last week and I'm going to continue to say it, and this is not a reflection on Bryce Young. I want to be crystal clear. If you guys think that this is Bryce Young's fault, you're fucking out of your mind. This dude is a stud in the making. Got to give him time, in my personal opinion. But the problem is, their offensive line is terrible. Outside of that of Adam Thielen, jonathan Mingo is slowly coming together, but we're not seeing it at a high rate, and actually DJ Chark is starting to eat into some of the targets as well for that of Adam Thielen. So again, not a great matchup for me this week. I'm not willing to fire up Adam Thielen. I think that you can go elsewhere and look elsewhere. So I'm sitting him this week.
Speaker 2:I just I don't have any comments. I don't want to be agist, I don't want to take a victory lap, I just hey, you got a 33-year-old receiver and it's week 15. There's very few of those guys I'm starting, that's all I'm saying.
Speaker 1:Yeah, love it, john, we're going to go. Let's talk about some streams. Man, what do you think? Some streams for your playoff right yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, let's look at some streams, man. I mean, everybody's looking for streaming quarterbacks right now, obviously. So who's the slant? This guy? Listen, this is a slam dunk for a streaming quarterback, right Slam dunk, slam, dunk.
Speaker 1:John. We are talking Matthew Pierce Stafford. I don't think that's his middle name, but it sounded good for a second.
Speaker 2:Those of you who are new to the podcast, Frankie does like to make up middle names for guys. I'm not sure why or where that came from. I think it's cute and endearing, but yeah.
Speaker 1:Like Seyquan Jamal Barkley that's definitely his middle name. I has to be, and if not, we need to figure that out. But Matthew Pierce Stafford, over here guys, has been nothing short of incredible over the last three weeks, john. Actually he's been incredible, yeah, the last three weeks, pretty much coming out of bi-week 32 points against Arizona, 30 points against Cleveland and we told him that, yeah, you might want to start him next week, or this past week as well, against Baltimore. It was the right decision. He put up 28 fantasy points, ok, so for this week, against that of Washington, right, there's a method to the madness. We told you to start up Cooper Cup. We really like Kyron Williams.
Speaker 1:What this is telling me, man, is Washington's defense sucks and therefore Matthew Stafford has an opportunity to continue putting up 20-plus point weeks. So for me, I don't see anything changing. I will tell you what I am targeting Matthew Stafford, if I can get him and I'm firing him up over the likes of Justin Fields, I'm firing him up over the likes of even the flip side of the coin here being Matthew Hall or Sam Howell right, and many others. John, you can even make a potential argument to fire Matthew Stafford up against the red-hot Jake Browning right, and what Jake Browning has done has been nothing short of literally best in NFL history, as we mentioned on the previous episode, in completion percentage over his first three weeks starting. So I like Matthew Stafford that much. If you can get him, at least hold on to him Because if not this week, john, looking ahead into the semis, they have New Orleans Saints and then the Giants, like all of it. Try to get your hands on Stafford.
Speaker 2:Hey, listen, stafford was on the cover of our Wednesday episode and let me tell you something, guys, here's a little inside scoop here. If you see a player on the cover of our episode, I'm telling you right now they almost always hit, so just keep that in mind. All right, you know what I want to throw out us an honorable mention. I like it. I want you to be streamed. Speaking of cover of our episodes, we had Matthew Stafford and then we had Joe Flacco on the Wednesday episode. Yes, flacco is a viable starting streaming option this week. Yeah, absolutely is. Within Joku with Amari Cooper. He loves Elijah Moore bringing him back from the dead here and with I think is going to be a strong and what you've predicted to be a strong running game with Jerome Ford. I think it just leaves a lot of options open for Joe Flacco.
Speaker 1:Love it, john. John, talking about some tight ends here, I'll tell you what man I'm actually thinking about two for a stream. So again, if you have Dalton Kincaid and you're kind of on the fence here like what I am, guys, these are actually two dudes that I'm planning on targeting at live. So those in the leagues go fuck yourself. Now I told you who I'm going after. I get it.
Speaker 1:Ok, whatever, I'm going after Chig, a Cronkwo from that of the Tennessee Titans who are playing against Houston. And the reason why I like him, john, is because very consistent, high floor for a tight end. Last three weeks, 6.5 points, 8 points and 7.1 points. What he's done is he's had five targets, six targets and six targets. What this is equating to is Will Levis. Will Levis letting it fly, throwing the ball much further down the field and actually targeting more outside of that of just de-hop comparatively to Ryan Tannehill. So, really, like Chig and the other guy, john, is that of Tyler Conklin, and the reason why he is interesting is because, again, zach Wilson Zach Wilson went at the helm has provided a huge lift to Tyler Conklin over Tim Boyle, and so what he's had with Zach Wilson, let's just say the last two weeks, or, excuse me, this past week, against that of Houston. He had six or six targets, four receptions for 57 yards. He was averaging 14.25 yards of catch for a tight end man. I love that.
Speaker 1:And they're playing Miami. So what is that telling you? Number one Miami needs to win this game after dropping it. This is also a divisional game. Number two is that Miami, more than likely, is going to run the score up, which means Zach Wilson is going to be focusing on Garrett Wilson as well as Tyler Conklin. And now, when you start thinking about OK, from an NFL perspective, well, who's going to be potentially guarding that of Garrett Wilson? Jaylen Ramsey. And so for me, man, I get it, garrett Wilson is going to get his targets. We talked about it last episode. But for me, I like Tyler Conklin as a sneaky little high floor play. I'm not saying he's going to explode for 10-plus points. I'm saying he's probably going to be right around 5-9. And if you're looking for a stream, that's pretty solid. So maybe look at Tyler Conklin.
Speaker 2:I've got an honorable mention for tight end streamers just because I know if you're streaming tight end, like I am in a league or two, it's just brutal, it's ugly and you don't take any amount of information at all to get you to make a decision here. Logan Thomas, I think, is a very sneaky play as well. He's had a rough couple of weeks here. But against the Rams defense 29th against tight end, we know that Logan Thomas can get it done and Sam Howe's going to be tossing the ball around the yard for sure, because we know Kyren Williams is going to be the number one running back this week running all over their asses. So I don't think you could go worse than Logan Thomas on the streaming.
Speaker 1:I like that, I totally like that, john, and thinking about guys wrapping this up here, a couple defenses that you might be looking to target. Number one, john Cincinnati Bengals right, and they're playing that of Minnesota Vikings. This is purely just a. Is Nick Mullen's going to be coming out firing on all cylinders or not? Right, and so I'm probably going to bet. We talked a little bit about him. We've seen that he can play, but coming out cold against the red hot Cincinnati team, I'm leaning more towards that of the Cincinnati defense. And then John, my smash defensive player, her defensive team of the week is going to be the Titans versus that of Houston. We've talked about the injuries. If CJ Stroud is not playing, nico Collins is not playing, tank Della is not playing, right, they're going to be relying on that of Devin Singletary and maybe a Damian Pierce kind of one-two combo. I'm not about it, especially with that Titans defense. I like Titans versus that of Houston this week.
Speaker 2:Love it, man. Those are really really good options, and those are good options because everyone's waivers have already run. This is an opportunity for you to look at your team, Pick it up on a Sunday when you don't have to do the waiver process and you can just grab a few guys. A couple of other things to think about here, too, guys, is look at the weather. Now. I don't want the weather to freak you out when it comes to starts and sits. Necessarily If it's raining, rain's not an issue. Where rain is an issue is if the wind is blowing Anything over a 15 mile an hour wind. There's a lot of statistics about this. It definitely affects the passing games for these teams, so just take a look at that Specifically. It may not help you make a decision whether starts sit, necessarily, but certainly your kickers. I can't even believe I'm talking about kickers, but look at your kicker. Maybe you don't change it because you're like, oh, he's fine, all the kickers are the same. Don't pick a kicker. That's going to be in weather, guys. Try to get somebody indoors this time of year if you possibly can. So my PSA for the day Love it, john. All right, that's our episode, guys. Your starts and sits for your first week in the playoffs. Good luck to you all.
Speaker 2:All right, I'm going to go back and listen to this episode too, frank, because I brought a few things up specifically for me and just wanted to get your take. I didn't tell you about it, so I appreciate your advice on that. Yeah, thank you for listening everyone. Please follow us on social media Instagram. Frankly fantasy football X. Frankly fantasy F. And on YouTube. Please subscribe, share, comment, like it. All of that helps us out. You guys have all done wonderfully for us and we're so, so thankful for you, frank. What do we got coming up next week?
Speaker 1:Guys ready. We're going to be poning in on the semifinals leading into the finals coming up next week's episode. As for this Saturday, do not forget there are games on Saturday and there are games on Sunday, right? So, guys, pay attention to the injury reports, pay attention to those that are playing on Saturday. And just a piece of advice John, you say this all the time. I just want to repeat it is that if you are playing on starting a person that is playing on Saturday, do not put them in the flex spot at this point in time. Put them in a normal spot, that way, in case somebody gets hurt in practices or something like that coming in Sunday or even through walkthroughs on Sunday. You now have way broader of options to plug and play in your flex, just as a reminder, but don't pick some masks or root for your eyes.
Speaker 2:Good luck to you and the playoffs, baby. May the fantasy gods smile upon you. Bye.