Start 'Em Sit 'Em Week 1: 10 Players You'll REGRET Benching!
STACKED extracted the fantasy-relevant player signal from this podcast and kept the full transcript here for context.
9 min
Duration
Estimated from transcript
Sep 10, 2026
Published
Thu, September 10, 2026
14
Player insights
14
Players mentioned
Topics
A.J. BrownBaker MayfieldBrock BowersChris GodwinChris OlaveDrake MayeGeno SmithGeorge HolaniJadarian PriceKyren WilliamsMalachi FieldsMichael MayerMike Washington Jr.Sam Darnold
Player analysis
Player insights
A.J. Brown
NegativeInjury4:03
AJ Brown is dealing with a high ankle sprain that may keep him out for a couple of weeks. The source notes he 'crapped the bed' in his recent game and reiterates a preference for fading older players moving to new teams.
Insight pageBaker Mayfield
PositiveProjection12:11
Baker Mayfield has a solid matchup against Cincinnati and is expected to have a great week alongside Amika.
Insight pageBrock Bowers
NegativeInjury9:06
Brock Bowers is out for multiple weeks following a meniscus repair procedure. The source labels him a 'bust' and notes they did not recommend drafting him.
Insight pageChris Godwin
NegativeProjection8:59
The source expresses skepticism regarding Chris Godwin's fantasy value, stating they do not think he is very good outside of Amika.
Insight pageChris Olave
PositiveValue12:21
Chris Olave has a phenomenal matchup and is expected to have a good week, making him a potential 'trade high' candidate if already on a roster.
Insight pageDrake Maye
NegativeProjection0:34
The source criticizes Drake Maye's performance in the Patriots-Seahawks game, noting he threw three interceptions and questioning the team's decision-making in the red zone, explicitly stating he is not Tom Brady.
Insight pageGeno Smith
NegativeValue10:51
Gino Smith is a streaming option for super-flex leagues due to a good matchup against Tennessee. The source suggests picking him up to potentially trade high if he performs well.
Insight pageGeorge Holani
NegativeUsage0:59
The source expresses frustration with the Patriots' usage of George Helani, noting he received significant volume, including in third-and-short situations, despite Jadarian Price looking more effective.
Insight pageJadarian Price
PositiveUsage0:59
The source highlights that Jadarian Price looked significantly better than George Helani every time he touched the ball during the Patriots-Seahawks game.
Insight pageKyren Williams
NegativeBust8:24
The source faded Kyren Williams in drafts this year due to the expected increased role of Blake Corham near the goal line.
Insight pageMalachi Fields
PositiveSleeper8:29
Malachi Fields is a must-start and a high-upside target available on many waiver wires. The source highlights his third-round draft capital and touchdown potential against Dallas.
Insight pageMichael Mayer
PositiveSleeper10:34
Michael Mayer is a recommended start against Minnesota with Brock Bowers sidelined. The source suggests he could be a 'week winner' due to the value of waiting on tight ends.
Insight pageMike Washington Jr.
PositiveSleeper5:26
Mike Washington is a recommended flex play with an easy matchup against Miami. The source expects him to see more usage than anticipated, especially with Gentey potentially being limited by injury.
Insight pageSam Darnold
Full transcript
Episode Transcript
0:00I got 10 Must Starts for Fantasy Football Week 1.
0:03Do you want to start some of these guys?
0:05Some of these guys may be available on your waiver wire.
0:08So if you're looking for that sneaky start, I've got them here for you.
0:12Let's win Week 1. If you're new to the channel, smash it, tap it, hype it, swipe it, hit the thumbs up, interact.
0:18And also, I want to recap a little bit from yesterday's game.
0:21That was wild. Let's talk about that Patriots-Seahawks game real quickly.
0:24I mean, unbelievable. Like, what a crazy ending there.
0:27You had like multiple chances, Patriots, to literally just kick a field goal and tie the game.
0:31What do they do? Literally, what do they do?
0:34They throw an interception. The third one, by the way, for Drake May.
0:37Disgusting game. Ridiculous. What a crazy ending. Usually teams don't take that risk.
0:41What they do is they're like, hey, it's 10 to 13.
0:43We're already in field goal range. Let's kick the field goal and tie this.
0:47They don't just take a shot at the end zone.
0:50And what do they think Drake May is? Tom Brady?
0:53Like, that's ridiculous. He's just not Tom Brady. So like, why would you do that?
0:57It was crazy. Not to mention I was ticked off.
0:59With George Helani getting a lot of volume. Price looked better.
1:02And the crazy thing is they were using Helani in like third and short situations.
1:06Third and second multiple times. It was crazy. It's like, Jadarian Price looked so much better every time he touched the ball.
1:12So it was just a crazy game. Now, I'm really disappointed.
1:15What I'm really disappointed is when I put out something for you guys in my story.
1:19If not following my story mode on Instagram, go do that.
1:22At Fantasy Football Counselor. Turn on the bell. I said, listen, I got the winner for tonight.
1:27Right? I had the Patriots to cover. I had Seattle to win.
1:30I was giving that away. You could have cashed in.
1:33The line was right here. I put it in my counselor's edge.
1:36If you guys have not signed up to the counselor's edge, do that right now because people are winning.
1:41You guys are leaving money on the table. It's crazy.
1:44So for tonight's pick, if you guys want to win, DM me on Instagram.
1:48I'll send you tonight's pick or just get the counselor's edge below.
1:51Sign up, guys. I'm telling you. I do a lot of research on this.
1:55I see what's happening. I see how crazy some of this potential riggery.
1:58We don't know. It's alleged how potentially these games are being manipulated.
2:01We don't know. But I'm in there doing a deep dive to mitigate all of that risk and stuff.
2:06So make sure you guys get the counselor's edge and sign up on Underdog.
2:10Use code Lion right now. Create an account. That's where I play.
2:13So guys, go on Underdog right now and tons of stuff you could do on there to play.
2:18Get into the action. Underdog is the place I play.
2:21Use code Lion when you sign up and let's dive in.
2:24Okay? So again, what a crazy, crazy. I'm talking like just a wild game yesterday.
2:28And yeah, just unbelievable. All right? Let's talk about these must starts here.
2:31I got 10 for you. Starts and sits. You know, I did a full episode yesterday.
2:36Go back. Check that out. And again, that's why you guys got to turn on the bell.
2:40I don't want you to miss anything, especially breaking news.
2:43Oh, by the way, AJ Brown. I want to talk about that high ankle sprain.
2:47This time is recording. We don't know how long he's going to be out.
2:51Possibly a couple of weeks. So that really sucks.
2:53Sam Darnold was out yesterday. With the hip thing.
2:55Crazy. And it was just a wild game. But AJ Brown, just very unfortunate for people that drafted him in the second round.
3:02And again, I tend to fade players. I know Walter football was excited about AJ Brown.
3:06I tend to fade older players going to newer teams.
3:09I think he's in a great situation. I think he could do well if he plays.
3:13But this high ankle sprain could be an issue a couple weeks out.
3:16That's just a shame. And yesterday he crapped the bed too.
3:19Okay? I want to talk about that in the news.
3:22All right? Now let's talk about this here. Let's talk about some starts here.
3:26I do like Mike Washington. I think he's got an easy matchup versus minutes.
3:30So I'm going to rip through this really quickly here.
3:32Send you guys on your way. And then make sure you guys are following my socials.
3:37We've got tons of exciting stuff going on there with news.
3:39Everything. Everything. Like yesterday's crazy ending. So yeah, Mike Washington's got an easy matchup versus Miami.
3:44Apparently Gentey was a full go in practice. Now here's the thing with Mike Washington, right?
3:48He really came on in preseason. I got him stashed.
3:51So he's a possible flex play. But I still think they're going to use Gentey.
3:55But I think a lot of people are going to be upset with the amount of high usage from Mike Washington today.
4:01I mean this weekend. So I think it's an easy matchup versus Miami.
4:04They're at home. And I think they're going to use him more than people think.
4:08So Mike Washington is a possible good flex play.
4:11Again, we got Gentey coming off that injury. So I think they may want to limit him a little bit.
4:16All right? Number two here is Cam Scadabo, right?
4:18Cam Scadabo has a great matchup versus Dallas. He can run all over them.
4:22And here's the thing, right? You want to utilize Cam Scadabo earlier in the season in case he does get hurt because
4:28he's that kind of guy that could get hurt and blow his load in week one.
4:32We know he's going to come out strong. We know he's going to come out fast.
4:37We know he could put up a lot of points tonight or this week.
4:40I keep saying tonight. Tonight we got the game.
4:43Yes, 49ers. But no, I'm second this weekend versus Dallas.
4:45So Cam Scadabo, love the talent, love the upside and utilize him early in the season because he could break down pretty quick.
4:52Right? Number three is Blake Corham. If you're watching the game, tonight Blake Corham versus Sam Fran, the coaches have already talked
4:58about them utilizing him near the goal line a lot more.
5:00I think we're going to see a ton on Blake Corham tonight.
5:04And that's why I faded Kyrie Williams this year.
5:06Look out Blake Corham. Make sure you start him.
5:09Number four, this guy is available on a ton of people's waiver wires.
5:12Make sure you target him, draft him, or even sorry, pick him up if he didn't draft him.
5:17um, but go Malachi Fields. Relatively easy matchup versus Dallas.
5:20A must start Malachi Fields. Get him on your roster, man.
5:22He, they moved up to draft him in the third round of the Giants.
5:26Tons of upside, big touchdown monster Malachi Fields, right?
5:29Number five. This is an interesting start here, but he's got a great matchup.
5:32If you need a tight end, Kate Auden could be a good start versus Cincinnati.
5:36Solid matchup, solid talent. Amika coming off that too.
5:39Outside of Amika, I don't think Godwin's that good.
5:41I think they're going to utilize, you know, Kate Auden at, at the tight end position today.
5:46All right. Number six, this is a great start here, especially with Brock Bowers being out.
5:50The news hit yesterday that Brock Bowers is going to be out for multiple weeks.
5:54And he did some sort of repair tissue carving.
5:57I don't know what he did. Some meniscus thing.
5:59Uh, regardless, I don't have a lot of Brock Bowers.
6:02Now, some people ripping on me yesterday because he was included in 16 rounds, but guys, if you follow 16 rounds, I didn't draft him.
6:08I do mock drafts where I tell you to go core four.
6:12I have to make suggestions at certain rounds at eight.
6:14ADPs. If I don't put other players in there, people like, why is there such a small selection of players?
6:20Just your guys. I give you guys options. So I did not draft Brock Bowers.
6:24I was not recommending you drop out, drop out, draft Brock Bowers.
6:27Any of my videos. Cause I say wait on tight end.
6:30Every single one of my videos, regardless, Brock Bowers is done for multiple weeks.
6:34What a bust. So Michael Mayer is a guy you want to consider starting.
6:37Okay. Michael Mayer versus Minnesota. Consider starting him again.
6:40This is why I implore you guys with tight end.
6:42You got to wait on tight end. There's tons of value later.
6:46Mike Mayer could be an absolute week winner this week.
6:48Michael Mayer, um, you know, this week for the Vegas Raiders.
6:51Okay. Versus Minnesota. Number seven here. If you are looking to stream or super flex a quarterback, Gino Smith does have a great matchup versus Tennessee.
6:58I don't recommend starting Gino Smith week to week, but it is a good matchup.
7:02If you're desperate, if you need a quarterback, if you want to super flex, if you want to maybe bench somebody on your bench, like pick them up.
7:10If he has a big week, you could trade high on Gino Smith, right?
7:14Work him as part of trade bait, right? But Gino Smith has a good matchup.
7:18Maybe pick them up off waiver wires. There could be something going on this week.
7:22Gino Smith. All right. Two more here. Again, make sure you guys create an account on underdog.
7:26Use code line and join the council's edge. I want you guys to win big council's edge.
7:31I'll link to below. All right. Number eight here is Baker Mayfield.
7:34Another solid matchup for him versus Cincy. I think he's going to have a great week.
7:38I like him. I'm looking for him and Amika to really shine.
7:41And the last one here, I think he's got a phenomenal matchup.
7:45Obviously he's been drafted, but you may want to, you know, if you got him, this is probably a good week to trade high.
7:51Cause I think he's going to have a good week is Chris Olave.
7:55And, uh, listen, and I'll give you guys a defense as well.
7:58Chris Olave. The reason being Tyson's out. He's got to eat.
8:01They got to feed him, right? Chris Olave and a defense here for you.
8:05Falcons versus Pittsburgh. I don't trust Pittsburgh. They could have a good week, but Falcons has a really good matchup versus position.
8:10Other guys could do well. Chiefs versus Denver, potentially Buccaneers versus Cincy.
8:14Couple of good matchups here, but ultimately, and I tell people in 16 rounds, make sure you guys do draft the top 10 defense.
8:20So you don't have to worry week in week out.
8:23Okay. Make sure you guys start them. I start a good defense.
8:26Look at the matchup. Now I do like Jacksonville, uh, this week versus Cleveland.
8:30I think they could do really well. So you want to start those teams that had the suspect.
8:35They're playing against a suspect offenses. You'll do really well.
8:37All right. Those are some mustards for you. Drop a question below, hit the thumbs up.
8:42And if you guys want direct access, patreon.com forward slash FF counselor, join the all access war room.
8:46Have a great day. I'm out.
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