September 4, 2024 • 1hr 0min
Week 1 Hype + TNF Breakdown, Starts/Sits - Fantasy Football Podcast for 9/4
Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast
Key Takeaways
- Jamar Chase contract situation: There are reports that Chase may not play Week 1 without a new contract. This is causing his fantasy draft stock to fall slightly.
- Kyle Pitts injury concern: Pitts is dealing with a hamstring injury that has apparently been lingering for a couple weeks. This adds more uncertainty to his fantasy outlook.
- Thursday Night Football preview: Ravens at Chiefs should be an exciting matchup. Key players to watch include Isaiah Pacheco's usage, Rashee Rice's target share, and how the Ravens use their tight ends.
- Jerome Ford start/sit decisions: As one of the most searched players, the hosts provided guidance on whether to start Ford over players like Rhamondre Stevenson, Javonte Williams, and David Montgomery in Week 1.
- Don't overreact to Week 1 results: The hosts emphasized not making rash decisions based solely on Week 1 performances, as it's a small sample size.
Introduction
This episode of the Fantasy Footballers podcast features hosts Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike Wright previewing Week 1 of the NFL season and discussing the latest fantasy football news and storylines. With the first game kicking off Thursday night between the Ravens and Chiefs, the hosts provide analysis on key players and matchups to watch. They also address recent news items impacting fantasy drafts and Week 1 lineups.
Topics Discussed
Jamar Chase Contract Situation (19:04)
The hosts discuss reports that Bengals WR Jamar Chase may not play Week 1 without a new contract. This is causing his fantasy draft stock to fall slightly compared to other elite WRs.
- Chase's fantasy finishes the past two seasons: WR5 as a rookie, WR12 in 2022
- The hosts would now draft AJ Brown and Amon-Ra St. Brown ahead of Chase due to the uncertainty
- Jason still views Chase as a Tier 1 WR and wouldn't drop him below players like Garrett Wilson
"I think it's appropriate to take Brown over Chase regardless of the contract situation," said Andy.
Kyle Pitts Injury Concern (20:52)
Falcons TE Kyle Pitts is reportedly dealing with a hamstring injury that has been lingering for a couple weeks. This adds more uncertainty to his fantasy outlook.
- The injury has apparently not affected Pitts much in practice so far
- Adds to concerns after Pitts disappointed fantasy managers last season
- May cause some managers to draft a second TE for insurance
"You don't want to hear this, especially for a player whose major excuse since his rookie year has been injury-related," said Jason.
Other Injury News (23:47)
- Marshon Lattimore (Saints CB): Didn't practice but team says it was planned rest day
- Emmanuel Wilson (Packers RB): Limited with hip injury
- Josh Jacobs (Raiders RB): Expected to handle heavy workload with other RBs injured
Rookie Kick/Punt Returners (25:18)
The hosts discuss several rookies being named kick/punt returners, including:
- Ty Chandler (Vikings)
- Chase Brown (Bengals)
- Blake Corum (Lions)
They note this is common for rookies and doesn't necessarily impact fantasy value significantly.
Thursday Night Football Preview: Ravens at Chiefs (35:06)
The hosts break down the season opener between Baltimore and Kansas City:
- Game details: Chiefs favored by 3, over/under 46.5 points
- Key players to watch:
- Isaiah Pacheco's usage and involvement in passing game
- Rashee Rice's target share
- How Ravens use Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely at TE
- Zay Flowers' role in Ravens offense
- Start/sit advice: Start usual suspects like Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews
"If I had Zay Flowers and Rashee Rice, I could see a situation where those are literally your flex options or your last wide receiver option. If you had to start one of them in this game, I'd go Rice," said Jason.
Jerome Ford Start/Sit Questions (49:25)
The hosts address start/sit questions for Browns RB Jerome Ford, who is one of the most searched players on their website:
- Ford vs. Rhamondre Stevenson: Hosts lean Stevenson
- Ford vs. Javonte Williams: Hosts prefer Ford
- Ford vs. David Montgomery: Split decision, slight edge to Montgomery
- Ford vs. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (flex): Hosts lean Ford
"That one is really hard," said Mike regarding the Ford vs. Montgomery decision.
Don't Overreact to Week 1 Results (53:33)
Andy emphasizes not making rash decisions based solely on Week 1 performances:
- Week 1 results can be misleading due to small sample size
- Avoid panicking if top draft picks struggle in opener
- Remember it's a long season - Andy notes he lost Week 1 last year but still won his league
"Please, Foot Clan, fantasy football players of the world, do your best not to lose your mind on Week 1," said Andy.
Conclusion
The Fantasy Footballers hosts provided a comprehensive preview of Week 1, addressing key news items, injuries, and start/sit decisions as the NFL season kicks off. They emphasized patience with early season results while highlighting players and situations to monitor closely. With the Ravens-Chiefs opener on Thursday, followed by a full slate Sunday, fantasy managers have tough lineup decisions to make out of the gate in 2023.