NFL Fantasy Football Podcast: Fantasy Headlines and Hot Takes + Week 1 Starts & Sits
STACKED extracted the fantasy-relevant player signal from this podcast and kept the full transcript here for context.
32 min
Duration
Estimated from transcript
Sep 9, 2026
Published
Wed, September 9, 2026
25
Player insights
25
Players mentioned
Topics
AJ BarnerAlec PierceBaker MayfieldBijan RobinsonBreece HallBucky IrvingCaleb WilliamsChris OlaveChristian WatsonDrake LondonGeorge KittleJared GoffJaylen WarrenJordan Addison
Player analysis
Player insights
AJ Barner
PositiveSleeper9:55
Trevor Sikkema suggests picking up AJ Barner if he is available on the waiver wire, noting that the new offensive coordinator, Brian Fleury, has a background as a tight end coach and will likely involve the position heavily.
Insight pageAlec Pierce
PositiveValue15:57
Trevor Sikkema argues that Alec Pierce is undervalued in fantasy drafts, highlighting that he led the NFL in air yards per target last year and remains the primary explosive element in his team's passing game.
Insight pageBaker Mayfield
PositiveProjection21:54
Matt Okada advises starting Baker Mayfield against the Bengals, noting that he was a top-12 quarterback before his shoulder sprain last year and performed as a QB3 when his primary weapons were fully healthy.
Insight pageBijan Robinson
PositiveProjection7:11
Trevor Sikkema believes Bijan Robinson owners should feel good about his outlook, noting that he will likely benefit from the quarterback using the tight end as a security blanket, which may lead to lower average depth of target opportunities that are valuable in PPR formats.
Insight pageBreece Hall
NegativeMatchup10:33
Trevor Sikkema acknowledges Breece Hall is trending toward a Week 1 start but expresses concern about the matchup against the Titans, who were a top-three defense against the run over the last month of the previous season.
Insight pageBucky Irving
PositiveProjection25:31
Matt Okada is excited to start Bucky Irving against the Bengals, noting that Cincinnati's defense struggled against running backs on missed tackles last year, which is a strength of Irving's game.
Insight pageCaleb Williams
NegativeMatchup24:53
Matt Okada recommends avoiding Caleb Williams against the Panthers, noting that Carolina's defense improved significantly against quarterbacks late last season and that Williams historically struggles in road games.
Insight pageChris Olave
PositiveBreakout15:15
Trevor Sikkema is high on Chris Olave, projecting him to be a target monster while Jordan Tyson is out with a hamstring injury, noting Olave's top-10 target share finish last season.
Insight pageChristian Watson
PositiveUsage29:11
Trevor Sickema likes Christian Watson as a flex play against the Vikings, noting his career 20% target share and 30% explosive play rate, which he expects to be utilized against a less athletic Vikings secondary.
Insight pageDrake London
PositiveRole6:53
Trevor Sikkema suggests fantasy owners should feel okay about Drake London despite the quarterback situation, as he will still see plenty of timing routes and back-shoulder passes along the sideline.
Insight pageGeorge Kittle
NegativeInjury8:38
Trevor Sikkema notes that while George Kittle is traveling with the team and expected to play, he does not recommend starting him this week due to his recent Achilles injury.
Insight pageJared Goff
PositiveProjection33:43
Matt predicts Jared Goff will be the QB1 in Week 1, citing his strong home performance (fourth most fantasy points per game since 2022) and his efficiency against zone-heavy defenses.
Insight pageJaylen Warren
PositiveRole26:45
Matt Okada recommends starting Jaylen Warren, noting he is listed as the RB1 on the depth chart and expects him to see increased receiving work following the departure of Kenny Gainwell.
Insight pageJordan Addison
PositiveMatchup27:36
Trevor Sickema suggests Jordan Addison could have a big Week 1 against the Packers, as the Vikings can exploit Jonathan Gannon's cover-four scheme with specific concepts while Justin Jefferson acts as a decoy.
Insight pageKyle Pitts
PositiveRole7:11
Trevor Sikkema highlights Kyle Pitts as a player to feel good about, noting he serves as a security blanket for the quarterback, which is particularly beneficial for fantasy value in PPR scoring leagues.
Insight pageKyler Murray
PositiveProjection20:37
Matt Okada recommends starting Kyler Murray, citing his rare rushing baseline, the addition of Kevin O'Connell as play-caller, and the fact that he historically performs well when paired with a Pro Bowl wide receiver.
Insight pageMarShawn Lloyd
NegativeRole28:38
Matt Okada recommends benching MarShawn Lloyd for Week 1, preferring to wait and see how the backfield split with Chris Brooks and Caleb Johnson develops, especially against a solid Vikings defense.
Insight pageMike Evans
NegativeInjury25:48
Matt recommends sitting Mike Evans for his San Francisco debut against the Rams, citing preseason soft tissue injuries and a career-low yards-per-catch average last year.
Insight pageParker Washington
PositiveBreakout23:32
Matt highlights Parker Washington as a favorite Week 1 play against the Browns, noting he rose to the top of the Jaguars' offense after the bye last year with the team's highest target rate and yards per route run.
Insight pagePatrick Mahomes
NegativeMatchup23:37
Matt Okada advises sitting Patrick Mahomes this week, citing his poor historical performance against Vance Joseph's defense, where he has failed to top 18 fantasy points in three years.
Insight pageTank Bigsby
NegativeRole27:22
Matt Okada advises sitting Tank Bigsby, noting that the Jaguars are utilizing a committee approach and that Chris Rodriguez is reportedly the preferred option for short-yardage and goal-line situations.
Insight pageTerry McLaurin
NegativeUsage24:37
Matt advises sitting Terry McLaurin against the Eagles, citing his decline in production last year (three touchdowns, 11.4 fantasy points per game) and the arrival of Stephon Diggs, who is expected to siphon targets.
Insight pageTrevor Lawrence
PositiveProjection36:16
The source projects Trevor Lawrence as the number one fantasy quarterback for Week 1, citing his 38-touchdown season last year and a favorable matchup against a Browns defense missing Myles Garrett.
Insight pageTyler Allgeier
NegativeDepth Chart13:28
Trevor Sikkema notes that Tyler Allgeier is listed as the RB1 on the unofficial depth chart and could be a factor if the starter is not 100% healthy, making him a potential risk to the starter's volume.
Insight pageWan'Dale Robinson
PositiveUsage22:19
Matt says Wan'Dale Robinson is a strong PPR start for Week 1 due to his high slot usage; he led all wideouts in targets and yards from the slot last year, and new quarterback Cam Ward targets the slot at an extremely high rate.
Insight pageFull transcript
Episode Transcript
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0:16added kick and a touch of sweetness. Grab some extra napkins and get going.
0:21Get them while they're literally hot at a participating McDonald's for lunch.
0:24We'll see you next time. Football is the ultimate team game.
0:28On any single play, it takes all 11 guys to execute it successfully.
0:32And whether they're pounding the A-gap or taking a deep shot, the best teams win in multiple ways.
0:37That's why Bet365 is giving fans options all season long with their early bird special cash out availability or early payout.
0:44Bet365 offers a bunch of different ways to play.
0:46Whether it's boosted profits before the game or getting paid out when your team goes up big, there's no shortage of exciting options.
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0:57Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET. Must be 21 plus and present in a state where Bet365 operates.
1:02Please gamble responsibly. Restrictions and terms and conditions apply.
1:05Void where prohibited. Download the app today. How do you turn 16 games, injury reports, team notes, betting lines, and matchup trends into one clear weekend preview?
1:13ChatGPT work can help. Give it the goal plus real inputs like notes, files, data, and project plans.
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1:24You stay in control, reviewing the work, and choosing the final result.
1:28Put ChatGPT to work on your most ambitious ideas and projects.
1:31Get started at ChatGPT.com by selecting work mode. Available on plus and pro plans.
1:35Football is a game of and. Offense and defense.
1:38Run and pass. Block and tackle. Home and away glory and heartbreak.
1:42It's like how Nationwide is both a great insurance company and financial services company.
1:46And they have a pretty sweet jingle too. For your insurance and financial needs, Nationwide is on your side.
1:52Nationwide Investment Services Corporation. Member FINRA. Columbus, Ohio. Oh, it is here.
1:55Let's go. Welcome to the NFL Fantasy Football Show.
1:58Mikey, I'm Trevor Sikkema with you. Look, I get it.
2:01It's a Wednesday when we're doing this show. Yes, we have actual football to get to.
2:06Yes, it is a Super Bowl rematch. Yes, the Patriots didn't look exactly great in that last game that they played a season ago.
2:13But look, there's a new sense of optimism here, not just from a Patriots perspective, but Trevor, fantasy owners.
2:19I mean, we've been waiting months for this. We have.
2:22We have. I'm fired up, Yammer. I know you are too.
2:26I know everybody out there is, but we talked about it, I think, on last week's episode.
2:31The extra time when that last preseason game up until this first regular season game, it only gets things more and more anticipated, more hyped up.
2:39And that's how I feel right now. I'm ready to get it going.
2:43The lineups are set and I'm ready to get it going, man.
2:46Not everyone's lineup is set, by the way, because we do have some football.
2:51I was actually getting your take and Matt Okada's take about one predicament that I am in.
2:56We'll get to that coming up in just a bit.
2:59I made reference to Matt, NFL.com. Start to sit him.
3:02He's got us covered all week long. He's going to be joining us in just a few minutes.
3:07By the way, we've got a new segment. Trevor Sikkema.
3:10Okay. Last name. Sick Flexes. Your thoughts? We like the title here.
3:14I thought it was great. I didn't come up with it, though.
3:18Neither did I. I love the creativity. Shout out to the incredible production staff that we have beside the scenes, making it all happen, coming up with segments.
3:26So it's like a glove. I feel great. And I'm excited to debut it here on the show.
3:32Yeah. By the way, there's also another new segment, which we'll get to.
3:36And I feel like it's a shot at me.
3:38I'll explain. That's still to come. Got some headlines to get to.
3:42It took a little bit of time, like way more time than I think anyone would have anticipated.
3:48The Atlanta Falcons saying, yeah, we know who our quarterback one is going to be, at least for week number one.
3:54Tua Tungabailoa getting a start here. I do think Michael Penix has some value, but Trevor, break this down for me.
4:00How do I handle this from a fantasy perspective?
4:03Yeah, I think that, you know, when you're looking at Tua, this is definitely a timing route type of a throw or
4:10any time they just get to throw it deep down the field.
4:13So if you're a Drake London owner when it comes to fantasy football, I think you got to feel okay about it
4:20because you'll still get plenty of timing routes with him with like back shoulder passes.
4:25Those things will happen with him at the sideline, but you got to feel pretty good if you're a B.
4:31John Robinson owner. I think also Kyle Pitts, you know, if you own any Kyle Pitts stock in fantasy, I think you
4:38got to feel pretty good about it. You're seeing on the screen right now, there are a couple of plays where, hey, things aren't breaking down too much.
4:46And the tight end ends up being sort of the security blanket who Tua is going to be able to dump the ball off too.
4:54And so, honestly, it might be more lower average depth of target stuff with some of those players.
4:59But especially if you're in a lead that gives you a point, a half a point per reception that you get there, Kyle Pitts, B.
5:07John Robinson, you got to feel good about it.
5:10Yeah, look, a lot of offensive pieces that are really strong in that Falcons lineup.
5:14Hopefully Tua is able to figure it out. This is a welcome sight here.
5:18We knew that George Kittle made the trip to Australia for the Thursday night matchup against the Rams.
5:24Actually, I think it was this show that I was doing with you a week ago where we saw Kittle playfully punting coming off of the Achilles injury.
5:33I got a little bit of concern, at least for me, but he's trending in a good direction.
5:38This is a great sign for fantasy owners. Look, I think that there's a reason why he's traveling with the team, right?
5:45He's not going to travel and sit on the plane for that long just to not play.
5:50He's going to play in this game, but I don't love him as a starting player this week.
5:55I just don't. If you're still looking for somebody to pick up, if A.J.
6:00Barner is out there for you on the waiver wire, I'd take a look at him, the Seattle Seahawks tight end.
6:06He started all 17 games for them last year.
6:09Not a fantasy monster, but his new offensive coordinator, Brian Fleury, he was the Niners tight end coach over the last couple of years.
6:16You know that they're going to get the tight ends involved.
6:19That is his home position. That's where he is most comfortable.
6:23And A.J. Barner is going to be on the field for a lot of those snaps.
6:28And so I don't love starting Kittle this week, but if you got Barner available, I'd take him.
6:33But this shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. I know Brees Hall got a little dinged up with the groin injury in the preseason.
6:41Aaron Glenn had said, look, I think he's trending towards a week one start.
6:45And that's abundantly clear with this latest update. To me, this is a great sign for the Jets in their offense.
6:51It is. And from a volume perspective, maybe you just want to start him and feel good about it because it's his
6:58name in one of those starting spots. But I'm not going to lie.
7:02I don't know if I love the matchup here.
7:05When you look at the Titans, they were top half of the NFL and least amount of rushing yards allowed per game.
7:11And when you look at the last month of the season, they were top three in that category.
7:17Now, it's new coaching staff, new roster a little bit.
7:20So a lot of things can change there. But I think this is going to be a tougher matchup for him.
7:26And if he tweaks that groin at all whatsoever, I don't know if they're going to want to risk it with him long term moving forward.
7:34So, again, from a volume perspective, you just like his name in the lineup fine.
7:39But I don't love it this week. Yeah, over 1,000 yards on the ground a season ago for Brees Hall.
7:45Hopefully he's able to get an uptick in terms of that production.
7:49Third overall pick, Jeremiah Love. I know a lot of concern about his health heading into week number one.
7:54Do you love Love? Well, I do. But do you love the player on today?
7:59Look, I do love the player. I don't love the matchup in the situation.
8:03I was saying last week, anytime it's an ankle injury, I'm really wary of it.
8:08But also, I'm a Tyler Algier guy, and they got Tyler Algier listed as RB1 on the unofficial depth chart.
8:14Now, that doesn't mean that Jeremiah Love can't get the lion's share of the carries if he's feeling good.
8:20But if he's not feeling 100%, I think there's a world where Algier can keep this offense on schedule.
8:25So, again, from a volume perspective, I think it's a little bit too much of a risk.
8:31Love the player. Not sure I love the love matchup this week for him.
8:35I cannot wait to see him healthy at 100% out on the football field.
8:39It is a brand new segment. We're calling it Say Less.
8:43Initially, when Todd Mossberg, our producer, told me about this segment, I thought it was a knock at me.
8:48I thought it was, Mike, say less. Like, we need less of you.
8:52But that's not where we're going with this. It's Trevor.
8:55It's guys that you absolutely love where you just throw the name out there and you go, of course.
9:01You want to say a little less, but we do need – because this is television.
9:06You do need to explain a little bit. But we got some players that you absolutely love.
9:11First guy up here, Chris Olave. Say less, but tell me something.
9:15Yeah, look, I'll try to say less, even though my love for Chris Olave is abundant.
9:20Because I think that this guy's going to be a target monster, especially while Jordan Tyson is out with that hamstring injury.
9:26He was top 10 in the NFL in target share in the last half of the season.
9:32And I think that they're going to pick up right where they left off.
9:36It's obviously the same offense coordinator, same quarterback, who was really rolling towards the end of last season.
9:41So, Chris Olave, I think that he is a big-time star, at least through the first four, six weeks of the season while Jordan Tyson is hurt.
9:50Yeah, 100 receptions, over 1,100 yards, and nine receiving touchdowns.
9:53The dude's an absolute stud. Meanwhile, Alec Pierce, boy, he finished real strong.
9:57Say less. What are we doing with Alec Pierce here?
10:00I've had a couple of fantasy drafts as of late that, I mean, he is going so late in these drafts.
10:06Do we forget they paid him all this money?
10:09Do we forget that he led the NFL in air yards per target last year?
10:13Almost 20. 20 yards per reception for Alec Pierce.
10:16He is the only explosive element that they have in that passing game.
10:20And it looks like he's going to be ready for week one.
10:24They're pretty confident in all of that. I just don't understand how he is going as late as he is in fantasy drafts.
10:31They are going to get this guy involved a lot, and he is going to be a big-time return on investment player
10:38with those explosive plays in this offense. All right, so Alec and Pierce, two guys that you absolutely love for the entire season.
10:45I look at the Chargers in their defense, though, for the first couple weeks of the NFL season.
10:50Say less here, because these guys might put up some big fantasy numbers.
10:54Yeah, we don't often talk about these defenses that you start, but I'll talk about them a couple of times here in
11:01this edition of the program, first starting with the Chargers.
11:04I like their first two weeks. They're against the Arizona Cardinals this week, and then it's against the Las Vegas Raiders next week.
11:11And so it might be an instance where, hey, you're picking them up, you're playing them for two weeks, and you're probably dropping them after that, honestly.
11:19But I got faith that this defense is going to be flying around a little bit more.
11:24They were better against the run last season than I think a lot of people gave them credit for.
11:30So this is a solid defense that added more playmakers, more speed, and I think that they're going to be good this year.
11:37So at least through the first two weeks of the season with ideal matchups, yeah, give me the Chargers defense is one
11:44to be hunting on the waiver wire and potentially start over the next two weeks.
11:48Yeah, look, we were talking about Jeremiah Love and the fact that you didn't love him.
11:53Cardinals, obviously, in week one, as you made reference to, we got the Raiders, where I think it's still a little bit
12:00of a mixed bag right now with that team, even though on paper they are a better football team.
12:06All right, it is the first edition of the season.
12:09Start, sits, of course, a complete deep dive on all of these players and so much more on NFL.com.
12:15Matt Akata is writing that article every single week, and he's going to be joining us here on the show.
12:21Matt, awesome to have you back with us here.
12:23All right, let's break this down. Let's just jump right into it, and that quarterback starts and sits.
12:29Give me two guys that you have to make sure are baked inside that lineup.
12:33Yeah, absolutely. Stoked to be here, Yammer. Okay, number one, Kyler Murray.
12:37I am starting him against the Packers. Listen, he's averaged more than 19 fantasy points a game in his career, but he
12:44was largely overlooked in drafts this year because of the injury history and the messes in Arizona.
12:49When he's healthy, he has a rare rushing baseline, and now he's got Kevin O'Connell calling plays, Justin Jefferson at wide receiver.
12:56Get this, the last time he had a Pro Bowl wideout and played a full season, which was in 2020, he scored
13:02the third most fantasy points in fantasy at any position.
13:05And then the Packers defense, they were much less effective without Micah Parsons last year.
13:10He won't be there. They were particularly weak against scrambling passers, which Kyler is.
13:14I'm playing him in week one. And then from one Oklahoma QB to another, I also love Baker Mayfield this week against Cincinnati.
13:21I think we have a bad taste in our mouths after Mayfield kind of struggled through the last two months of 2025.
13:28But context matters, and the Buccaneers quarterback suffered a shoulder sprain in week 12.
13:32Prior to that, he was a top 12 quarterback, and when Mecca Ibuka was fully healthy through the first six weeks, Mayfield was the QB3.
13:40Plus the Bengals, one of the softest matchups for fantasy quarterbacks last year.
13:44They might have gotten a little better, but not enough to make Mayfield a sit.
13:49I am playing him, and he just got paid.
13:51Sorry. Look, the cash alone, he's going to be in a good mood.
13:55I love the context because there was a stretch for six, seven weeks of the season here on the NFL channel.
14:02We were making the case that Baker should have been in the MVP conversation.
14:06He was uplifting these guys, walking wounded all around him.
14:09I love it. Some sits here. I was actually surprised with one of your guys because he is still one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
14:17Yes, he is. Patrick Mahomes might be the best quarterback in the NFL in general, but he's facing the Denver Broncos in
14:24four games against Denver since Vance Joseph took over a defensive coordinator.
14:28Mahomes has averaged 13.2 fantasy points per game. He's thrown just three touchdowns and four picks and racked up 64 pressures and
14:3412 sacks in those games and hasn't topped 18 fantasy points once in three years against Vance Joseph.
14:40So at full strength in a normal matchup, yeah, he's probably one of the best quarterbacks in the league and in fantasy.
14:46But in his first game, off the knee injury against a division rival, I think he's well outside QB1 range.
14:53And then I'm going to Caleb Williams against the Panthers and sitting Mr.
14:57Iceman. He's not quite a must-sit like Mahomes, but I'm going to try to avoid him against Carolina.
15:02This might surprise you, but the Panthers got much better against fantasy quarterbacks late last year.
15:07They only gave up 15-plus fantasy points to one QB after week eight, and that was before they picked up Jalen Phillips
15:14and Devin Lloyd this offseason, plus some other guys.
15:16And five of Williams' six worst fantasy outings came on the road last year.
15:21He averaged nearly three points a game fewer away from Soldier Field.
15:24So I'm trying to pivot in Charlotte in the opener.
15:27All right, what about the dudes in the backfield, running backs?
15:31Who are you starting? Yeah, I am rolling Bucky Irving out against the Cincinnati Bengals, and I'm doing it with excitement.
15:37And I promise this is not a ploy to get on Trevor's good side, but I love the Bucs this week.
15:44It shouldn't really be a surprise, given how Cincy's defense played last year.
15:47They were the softest matchup for fantasy running backs, and specifically they gave up the most rush yards to the position on
15:54missed tackles last year, which is where Irving has historically made his hay.
15:58He has been very good when healthy since Tampa Bay drafted him, so I'm rolling him out week one with confidence.
16:05And then I've also got Jalen Warren against the Atlanta Falcons.
16:08In case you missed it, he was listed as the RB1 on Pittsburgh's first depth chart over Rico Doudle.
16:14I already liked him as the lead back and a fantasy value before this.
16:18Now I love him for week one and beyond.
16:21He led all qualified running backs, Yammer, in missed tackle rate last year and finished just short of 1,300 scrimmage yards, which I think we forget.
16:29Plus, I think he's going to see a little bit more receiving work with Kenny Gainwell gone, and the Falcons defense does not scare me at all.
16:37Start Warren on Sunday. Okay, I like those starts.
16:40Who are you parking on the bench? Ooh, okay.
16:42This is going to make me very unpopular in fantasy circles, but I am nowhere near the basial tootin hype train.
16:49If the hype train is leaving from Duval, I am in Spokane, Yammer.
16:53Candidly, I just think Chris Rodriguez is the better running back.
16:56The Jags have indicated all camp that they view these two as a committee, and C-Rod is reportedly the preferred option in short yardage, goal line, two-minute situations.
17:05Those count big time for fantasy. Doesn't help that the Browns were tough against running backs last year.
17:10I think Tootin might be good at some point, but at least for week one, I am in wait and see mode on this backfield.
17:18And apparently, I'm Mr. Coldwater on the hot button running backs this week because I am also sitting Marshawn Lloyd at the Vikings.
17:25A whole bunch of Lloyd managers are really excited to get him in lineups with Josh Jacobs inactive, but I am benching him.
17:32Frankly, I just want to wait a week to see how the backfield split with Chris Brooks and potentially Caleb Johnson shakes out for Green Bay.
17:40He sits atop the depth chart officially, but there's very little evidence to suggest he'll be a bell cow.
17:46So against a solid Vikings defense, I would leave Lloyd out of your lineup.
17:50Review the snaps and the touches on Monday morning, and then adjust accordingly for week two.
17:55I think that's actually a good way to handle Lloyd, who didn't even play last season.
18:00By the way, you made reference to Spokane. Matt, I've been there a ton.
18:04Underrated tasting rooms. If you're a wine person, you know what I'm talking about.
18:08I'm just throwing that out there. We're going to give some fantasy advice, not to mention we'll share some nuggets on some extracurricular stuff as well.
18:16Just getting started here on the show. Trevor, Matt, back with me as we get an opportunity to talk and give you
18:23a little bit more advice from a fantasy perspective.
18:25In fact, it's one of our news segment. Trevor Sikkema is going to be all over this.
18:31Sick Flexes. In fact, leaning in on a rookie whose offense we don't even really feel great about.
18:36We'll explain why Casey Concepcion might be worth a flex spot.
18:40The people have spoken and McDonald's listened. Back by popular demand.
18:43McDonald's is firing up your taste buds with the return of spicy McNuggets, plus mighty hot sauce to turn up the heat.
18:50That's right. McNuggets just got hotter. You can taste it now, the crispy crunch of a McNugget coated and seasoned perfectly with
18:56aged cayenne and chili peppers and dialed up and dipped in the mighty hot sauce with a little more kick and just a touch of sweetness.
19:04You can taste it now, right? McDonald's packs plenty of flavor and spice into each bite, and that should get your attention.
19:11So grab some extra napkins, get yourself to a McDonald's now, and spice up your day with the hot combo of spicy McNuggets and mighty hot sauce.
19:19After all, you can take the heat, right? Get them while they're literally hot at participating McDonald's for a limited time.
19:26Football is the ultimate team game. On any single play, it takes all 11 guys to execute it successfully.
19:31And whether they're pounding the A-gap or taking a deep shot, the best teams win in multiple ways.
19:37That's why Bet365 is giving fans options all season long with their early bird special cash out availability or early payout.
19:43Bet365 offers a bunch of different ways to play.
19:46Whether it's boosted profits before the game or getting paid out when your team goes up big, there's no shortage of exciting options.
19:53Plus, you can cash out anytime. Bet365, where winning is everything.
19:56Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET. Must be 21 plus and present in a state where Bet365 operates.
20:02Please gamble responsibly. Restrictions and terms and conditions apply.
20:05Void where prohibited. Download the app today. How do you turn 16 games, injury reports, team notes, betting lines, and matchup trends into one clear weekend preview?
20:13Chat GPT work can help. Give it the goal plus real inputs like notes, files, data, and project plans.
20:19It can help turn them into an analysis tracker, deck outline, or workflow you can keep shaping.
20:24You stay in control, reviewing the work, and choosing the final result.
20:28Put Chat GPT to work on your most ambitious ideas and projects.
20:31Get started at chatgbt.com by selecting work mode. Available on Plus and Pro plans.
20:35Nationwide is so much more than a great insurance company.
20:38They're one of America's largest financial services companies. Just like I'm so much more than quarterback Peyton Manning.
20:44I'm also Peyton Manning. Insurance and financial services together?
20:47It's a masterpiece. Peyton Manning does it again. For your insurance and financial needs, Nationwide is on your side.
20:53Nationwide Investment Services Corporation. Ember FINRA, Columbus, Ohio. Back here on the NFL Fantasy Football Show.
20:57Yes, the season is here. You know, I think there's a lot of conspiracy theorists that are out there, just in general.
21:04And, of course, you know, the NFL world's got theirs, too.
21:07If you look very closely, they will tell you that it's going to be the Jags and the Falcons playing in the Super Bowl.
21:15I see Trevor up front and center. Bajon ready to run to SoFi Stadium as well.
21:20Trevor's like, nah, man, like that ain't going down like that, which I understand.
21:24By the way, some of Trevor's, Sycamore's sick flexes still to come.
21:28But we're going to stick on the start-sit-em train here.
21:31Matt, once again, NFL.com, you got your article. We went through some running backs and some quarterbacks.
21:36Wide receiver, give me some dudes that you have to start.
21:39Yeah, my first start at wide receiver is all about the slot, Yammer.
21:43Juan Dale Robinson, he runs the majority of his routes out of the slot, some of the highest slot rates in the league.
21:50And he led all wideouts in targets and yards out of the slot last year.
21:55His new quarterback, Cam Ward, targeted the slot at an extremely high rate as a rookie.
22:00And the Jets, who he is facing in Week 1, were very bad against the slot in 2025+.
22:05I think Colonel Tate will be the wide receiver one eventually, but it wouldn't surprise me if Robinson sees the higher target share early.
22:12So I think he's a great PPR play. And then, I don't know about the Super Bowl for the Jaguars, but I love Parker Washington.
22:20He was my favorite player in drafts this offseason.
22:23And he's one of my favorite players in Week 1 against the Browns.
22:27He rose to the top of this offense after the bye last year.
22:31Posted the highest target rate and yards per route run on the team.
22:35And we have heard nothing but rave reviews the last couple months.
22:38He's even become a folk opponent of the offense and the PR campaign for Jacksonville.
22:43I think he continues his hot finish to last year.
22:46I love both of those names. In terms of the guys that you are sitting, we have bigger name guys than the
22:53ones that you have starting that you think should be on the bench.
22:57Yeah, unfortunately, I'm sitting Terry McLaurin against the Eagles.
22:59If you look two years ago, McLaurin was great.
23:02He scored 13 touchdowns. He was a wide receiver one.
23:05Last year, he scored three touchdowns, missed seven games, and averaged just 11.4 fantasy points in the games he played.
23:11Also, the commander signed Stephon Diggs last month, and I personally see him siphoning a significant share of McLaurin's targets.
23:17Particularly when Jaden Daniels is forced to get rid of the ball quickly, which I think will be very often with this offensive line.
23:25Also, the Eagles allowed just six touchdowns to wideouts last year.
23:28That was tied to the Broncos for the fewest in the league.
23:32So I am sitting McLaurin. And then I'm going to Mike Evans against the Rams and sitting him in his debut with San Francisco.
23:39He's been dealing with soft tissue injuries all preseason.
23:42That never gives me confidence heading into September, even though he's supposed to be healthy now.
23:47And even when he was healthy last year, I think he lost a step or two.
23:52He averaged a career low in yards per catch.
23:54He scored just three touchdowns in the eight games before his season-ending injury.
23:58And the Rams are terrifying on defense, Yammer. You know it.
24:02We all know it. Miles Garrett, Trent McDuffie, Jalen Watson.
24:05I'd rather start either of the guys that I mentioned as my starts over Evans in week one.
24:10Can't wait for that game. But I'm with you 100%.
24:13My God, that lineup for the Rams is an absolute juggernaut.
24:17By the way, NFL.com slash start sits. You can see all of the names that Matt is talking about.
24:22More analysis. We didn't even touch those tight ends and those defenses.
24:26That's also in the article. Once again, NFL.com slash start and sits.
24:30Meanwhile, Trevor, here we go. Sick flexes. You got a branded segment.
24:33I love it, Trevor. Sickema, take it away, man.
24:36Jordan Addison, love me up this dude. Yeah, so look, career low for Jordan Addison in fantasy points last year.
24:42But I actually think this matchup this week could be great for him.
24:46Why? Vikings are going up against the Green Bay Packers.
24:49Their defensive coordinator is Jonathan Gannon. He runs a lot of cover four, quarters coverage.
24:54How do you attack that? Mills concepts, dagger concepts.
24:57And on those concepts, I actually think that Justin Jefferson could be the decoy for a big day for Jordan Addison.
25:03So I think that just how you attack a Jonathan Gannon defense could actually go into Addison having a surprise big day to start the season here.
25:11All right. Christian Watson, another name that has been buzzing in fantasy circles.
25:15Yeah, so the same game, right? Just on the other side of the ball.
25:19I love Christian Watson in this game because he's going to be their explosive player.
25:24And when you look at the Vikings secondary, very smart with Josh Patelos and now Harrison Smith coming back, but not the most athletic guys.
25:32When you look at Christian Watson, a target share above 20% throughout his career, but more importantly, an explosive play percentage above 30% for his career.
25:40I think that they're going to go, man, when they need to push the ball deep down the field, they're going to go to Christian Watson.
25:48And I actually think this is a great defensive matchup to exploit that.
25:51So Christian Watson, again, a flex play for me here this week.
25:55This one for me is personal because I actually got your take on Casey Concepcion and Matt's take because we talked about the season starting trade on Henderson.
26:04Not healthy enough to give it a go. I'm thinking about starting this dude as my flex guy.
26:09Somebody's got to catch the ball with Cleveland, right?
26:12And I understand there's all sorts of like, hey, you know, what's the quarterback position going to look like?
26:18How effective is it going to be? Is it going to be?
26:21They got to move the ball somehow. And Todd Munkin is somebody who's always hunted for explosive plays, whether he's been an
26:28offensive coordinator or head coach, college or the NFL.
26:31He is hunting for those explosive plays. In my opinion, Casey Concepcion gives you the best ability to get those explosive plays.
26:38So I don't know what the volume is going to be like.
26:41I don't know how much they're going to spread it around.
26:45But when they need an explosive play, I think they're going to go to the rookie.
26:49And so I think that this is a matchup where he could get the majority of those looks this week.
26:56So I like him as a flex play as well.
26:59Yeah, I'm telling you, it is too early in the season, at least in my mind, to have to deal with one of these types of decisions.
27:07But once again, this is the spot that I'm in.
27:10When you watch these preseason games, and I know everyone had their eyes on the quarterback spot, whether it was going to
27:17be Shador or Watson, the one dude who was consistently making plays in this team's offense in a variety of ways was Casey Concepcion.
27:24So I'm with you. At some point, someone's got to go and score.
27:28They're not going to get shut out in the game.
27:31Cleveland Browns fans are like, we might. But look, I do think that that is probably not necessarily going to happen.
27:37Time for some hot takes. Give me a bold take right now, Matt, on week number one.
27:43Yeah, listen, Jared Goff is going to be the top scoring quarterback in week one.
27:47He's not that hot of a name, but he plays hot.
27:50I think he's generally a lot better than he's given credit for.
27:54But he thrives in two particular contexts, Yammer, at home and against zone-heavy defenses.
27:58He has averaged the fourth most fantasy points per game at home among all quarterbacks since 22 with Detroit.
28:04And he is at Ford Field on Sunday. And then he's also finished, or last year he finished, second in passing yards,
28:11passing touchdowns, and fantasy points against zone coverage behind only the MVP, Matthew Stafford.
28:15And Brandon Staley's Saints defense ran the third highest rate of zone last year.
28:19And just for fun, in his 2025 home opener, Goff was the QB1 on the week 34 fantasy points.
28:25I like it. Look, he's parked on my bench right now.
28:29Trevor, I'll ask you this question. Would you start Dak or would you start Goff?
28:33Because clearly Matt says it's Goff, but that's what I'm facing right now.
28:37I got to go with my guy Matt here.
28:40I'm not going to go against him here on the show.
28:43We can't have that kind of energy to start the year.
28:47I'm going with Jared Goff. All right, fair enough, fair enough.
28:50Give me your hot take for week one. Look, I said that we were going to talk defenses.
28:55I'm talking New York Jets defense. I think the New York Jets, yes, the Jets finished this week as a top five fantasy defense.
29:03I like their matchup against the Tennessee Titans. Cam Ward, known to be prone to turnovers.
29:08So I think that they could take advantage of that.
29:11They're going to be better up front with David Bailey and David on Yamada.
29:15Love that they've got DeMario Davis now at the second level.
29:18And they've got Megan Fitzpatrick at the third level at the secondary spot as well.
29:23So to me, it's a new look Jets defense.
29:26I think they're going to come off just firing on all cylinders.
29:29Give me the Jets to be a top five fantasy defense this week.
29:33All right, I got one name for you. Trevor Lawrence.
29:36Here we go. Week one, number one fantasy quarterback.
29:39He's coming off a career high, a franchise record, 38 total touchdowns a season ago.
29:44Matt was just telling you about Parker Washington. This wide receiver room is sneaky good.
29:48You got Brian Thomas, who I expect to see a bounce back.
29:52Jacoby Myers, when they traded for this dude, was basically a pro bowler in the second half of the season.
29:58And then you got that guy, Travis Hunter. We haven't even seen this dude at the peak of his powers.
30:04I feel like against the Browns without Miles Garrett, Trevor Lawrence is going to be an absolute baller in week number one.
30:11Appreciate you guys checking us out. We'll do it again next week.
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31:49The entire draft room groans because you just took the guy they wanted.
31:53There's no better feeling than crushing your fantasy football league.
31:56I'm JJ Zacharyson, host of the award-winning Late Round Podcast.
31:59Before your draft, our players to target and players to avoid episodes tell you exactly who to circle and who to cross off.
32:06Listen to the Late Round Fantasy Football Podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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