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September 3, 2024 • 55min
“What If” Players + Fantasy Fears - Fantasy Football Podcast for 9/3
Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast
In this episode of the Fantasy Footballers podcast, hosts Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike Wright preview Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season. They discuss waiver wire targets, the latest NFL news, and answer listener questions as fantasy managers prepare for kickoff. The hosts are excited for the start of the season and thank listeners for their support during the offseason.
“What If” Players + Fantasy Fears - Fantasy Football Podcast for 9/3
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Key Takeaways
- Waiver wire targets for Week 1: Samaje Perine, Marschon Lloyd, Trey Benson, Will Levis, Taysom Hill, Greg Dulcich, Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch, Diontae Johnson, Jalen Tolbert, Addison Mitchell, Malik Washington
- Jamar Chase's status for Week 1 is uncertain - He was present but did not participate in practice on Monday. The hosts believe he will likely play but there is some concern.
- Trent Williams will be back for Week 1 for the 49ers, which is huge news for their offense and Christian McCaffrey.
- When drafting in multiple leagues, the hosts generally recommend drafting players you have conviction in rather than diversifying, unless you're entering many best ball tournaments.
- Christian Kirk's role in Jacksonville is not concerning - The hosts expect him to remain heavily involved in the offense despite not being in two-wide sets.
- Top fantasy fears for 2023: CJ Stroud failing, CMC not repeating his elite production, Jalen Hurts struggling in the new Eagles offense, elite WRs who missed training camp (Brandon Aiyuk, CeeDee Lamb, Jamar Chase) underperforming.
- DJ Moore is projected to finish as a WR2, likely in the WR16-18 range according to the hosts.
- Drake London has a clear path to being a WR1 if Kirk Cousins plays well in Atlanta's offense.
- The hosts prefer Brian Robinson over Chase Brown for 2023, though Mike Wright likes Chase Brown's upside.
Introduction
In this episode of the Fantasy Footballers podcast, hosts Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike Wright preview Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season. They discuss waiver wire targets, the latest NFL news, and answer listener questions as fantasy managers prepare for kickoff. The hosts are excited for the start of the season and thank listeners for their support during the offseason.
Topics Discussed
Waiver Wire - Undrafted Gems (9:20)
The hosts discuss several players who went undrafted in most fantasy leagues but could have value in Week 1 and beyond:
- Samaje Perine (RB, Broncos) - Will be involved in the offense behind Javonte Williams and has standalone value.
- Marschon Lloyd (RB, Packers) - Explosive rookie who could have a role with AJ Dillon injured.
- Will Levis (QB, Titans) - Rookie QB who could provide late-round value if he takes over as starter.
- Taysom Hill (TE/QB, Saints) - Could see an expanded role, especially at RB, in Week 1 vs Carolina.
- Greg Dulcich (TE, Broncos) - Athletic TE who could emerge as a top target for Russell Wilson.
- Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch (WRs, Cardinals) - Could surprise in Week 1 opposite Marquise Brown.
- Diontae Johnson (WR, Steelers) and Jalen Tolbert (WR, Cowboys) - Veterans who had good camps and could have expanded roles.
- Addison Mitchell (WR, Vikings) and Malik Washington (WR, Dolphins) - Rookie WRs who are third on depth chart but have upside.
NFL News (17:20)
The hosts discuss several key news items heading into Week 1:
- Jamar Chase (WR, Bengals) was present but did not participate in practice on Monday. His status for Week 1 is uncertain but the hosts believe he will likely play.
- Trent Williams (OT, 49ers) will be back for Week 1, which is huge news for their offense and Christian McCaffrey.
- Mark Andrews (TE, Ravens) is not on the injury report and expected to play Week 1.
- Marquise Brown (WR, Cardinals) is ruled out for Week 1 but expected back in Week 2.
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB, Chiefs) was placed on NFI list and will miss at least 4 weeks.
- Ricky Pearsall (WR, Dolphins) was shot in an altercation but has been released from hospital. He's on NFI list and out at least 4 weeks.
- Jaylen Warren (RB, Steelers) and Dallas Goedert (TE, Eagles) practiced and are expected to play Week 1.
Mailbag - Diversifying Teams Over Multiple Leagues (24:00)
A listener asks if they should try to diversify their teams when drafting in multiple leagues. The hosts generally recommend drafting players you have conviction in rather than diversifying, unless you're entering many best ball tournaments. Jason notes it's more about personal preference than strategy for most leagues.
Christian Kirk Outlook (26:20)
A listener expresses concern about Christian Kirk's involvement in Jacksonville's offense. The hosts are not worried about Kirk:
- Kirk was WR23 through Week 13 last year before getting injured
- His 17-game pace was 130 targets for 1100 yards
- He's expected to remain heavily involved despite not being in two-wide sets
- The hosts view him as a low-end WR2 with weekly upside
Biggest Fantasy Fears (38:35)
The hosts discuss their biggest fears for the 2023 fantasy season:
- Jason: CJ Stroud failing and tanking the Texans offense
- Andy: CMC not repeating his elite production, 49ers offense not coming together as expected, Jalen Hurts struggling in new Eagles offense
- Mike: Elite WRs who missed training camp (Brandon Aiyuk, CeeDee Lamb, Jamar Chase) underperforming to start the season
Keeper Costs (30:50)
A listener asks about keeper league formats. The hosts discuss the pros and cons of keeping players at previous year's draft cost vs using first/second round picks. They prefer keeping at previous cost but debate how to handle waiver wire pickups. Their league of record uses a unique keeper system without draft costs.
Chuba Hubbard or Trey Benson as James Conner Manager (34:20)
A listener asks if they should trade Chuba Hubbard for Trey Benson as James Conner insurance. The hosts recommend keeping Hubbard:
- Hubbard is currently the starter in Carolina
- Benson may hit waivers in a few weeks if Conner stays healthy
- Hubbard provides more immediate value and depth
Where Will DJ Moore Finish? (36:00)
The hosts project DJ Moore's fantasy finish for 2023:
- Jason expects him to finish around WR16-18
- Mike projects around 11 fantasy points per game
- They note he has more target competition than last year
- The Bears' passing volume is a concern for his upside
Shane Falco or Johnny Utah? (45:45)
A listener asks which fictional QB the hosts prefer between Shane Falco (The Replacements) and Johnny Utah (Point Break). Andy and Jason pick Falco, while Mike chooses Utah for coolness factor.
Chase Brown or Brian Robinson Jr. (46:00)
Asked to choose between Chase Brown and Brian Robinson Jr. for 2023:
- Andy and Jason prefer Brian Robinson
- Mike likes Chase Brown's upside if he can take over the Bengals backfield
- Jason notes he prefers Zack Moss in Cincinnati's backfield currently
Will Dissly and Hayden Hurst (46:55)
A listener asks about Will Dissly and Hayden Hurst's potential in the Chargers offense under new OC Greg Roman. The hosts are skeptical of either having much fantasy value:
- Roman's TE usage in Baltimore was likely due to having Mark Andrews
- The Chargers lack established pass catchers, so there's some opportunity
- If choosing between the two, the hosts prefer Hurst over Dissly
Conclusion
The hosts are excited for Week 1 kickoff and thank listeners for their support during the offseason. They remind listeners that Week 1 rankings are now live on the website. Two Megalabowl draft times remain for those who want to join the largest fantasy football league. The hosts will be back with daily episodes as the NFL season begins.