The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast

It's Draft Kit Launch Week at The Athletic, and Beller and Jake are ready to celebrate. What better way than by setting the draft day stage with a look at players being selected inside the top 100 in fantasy drafts this summer?It's probably no surprise that, say, Christian McCaffrey is the consensus first overall pick, Kyler Murray is a top-three quarterback, or Tee Higgins is a rising receiver who hears his name called among the first 80 players in typical drafts. But would you believe that Cam Akers has made himself an easy top-20 pick? That Justin Jefferson is an easy top-10 receiver? That Miles Sanders could slip out of the first three rounds? That's where the guys focus their ADP energies on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.Plus, we've got another round of Guess That Player!Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Funston on Twitter: @BrandonFunstonWatch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/M2aD9c0p1ZsSubscribe to our YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/AthleticFantasyEmail us: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 11th annual Scott Fish Bowl kicked off on Monday, and all three of our hosts are participating. Beller, Jake and Funston discuss the players they've drafted thus far, as well as other general SFB11 tomfoolery, on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.Then, the guys get into some common draft-day dilemmas fantasy managers will face at the wide receiver position. Should you take Michael Thomas or Keenan Allen? Allen Robinson or Terry McLaurin? Deebo Samuel or Will Fuller? The guys break down those three battles, and three others, too.And of course, we've got another round of Guess That Player!Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Funston on Twitter: @BrandonFunstonWatch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5K4F38-uFESubscribe to our YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/AthleticFantasyEmail us: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beller, Jake and Funston turn their attention to the backfield on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast. The guys take a look at new-look backfield groupings to uncover where the value lies in each situation. Should you be targeting Josh Jacobs or Kenyan Drake in Vegas? What about Melvin Gordon or Javonte Williams in Denver. And is there any value to be found in Houston, where David Johnson and Phillip Lindsay lead a backfield that could have four players getting touches? The guys answer those questions, and more.The trio also discusses players they say are riskier than is being assumed, and their favorite fantasy rule tweaks. Plus, they've got another round of Guess That Player.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Funston on Twitter: @BrandonFunstonWatch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U-hHZwk5JUSubscribe to our YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/AthleticFantasyEmail us: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beller, Jake and Brandon turn their attention to the air on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast. From Jacksonville to Denver, New York to Arizona, there are more than a few teams with passing attacks that are both exciting and hard to decipher. The guys will dive into nine such offenses on this episode. They'll also play another round of Guess That Player and give away a spot to Scott Fish Bowl 11!Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Funston on Twitter: @BrandonFunstonWatch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FaDOUp0nrwSubscribe to our YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/AthleticFantasyEmail us: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another 18 teams hold mandatory minicamps this week, running the number of teams that have gotten together in a meaningful way to 28. Beller, Jake and Funston focus on a handful of those teams on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.Where do we stand on Odell Beckham? What should we expect from the Steelers offense under Matt Canada? Is Cam Newton vs. Mac Jones a legitimate camp battle? Did Jamison Crowder and the Jets just throw a whole bunch of cold water on Elijah Moore? Should we already be worried about Amari Cooper and/or Saquon Barkley? The guys answer that, play another round of Guess the Mystery Player, and more.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Funston on Twitter: @BrandonFunstonWatch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOYIlAYvJt8Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/AthleticFantasyEmail us: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beller, Jake and Funston cover the Julio trade fallout from every angle on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast. Who's a fantasy winner (hello, Ryan Tannehill and Kyle Pitts), and who's a fantasy loser (sorry, Matt Ryan and Josh Reynolds) with Julio now on the Titans? What happens to A.J. Brown's stock? How far up do Russell Gage and Olamide Zaccheaus climb? Are the Titans worth a bet to win the AFC South, or even the entire conference? We've got it all covered for you here.The guys also take a look at three second-year receivers that Jake has among his top-10 breakout candidates at the position. Plus, our first installment of Guess The Mystery Player, and a few impromptu sidebets.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Funston on Twitter: @BrandonFunstonWatch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly2OmzowQnwSubscribe to our YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/AthleticFantasyEmail us: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beller and Funston get together for this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, starting with a look at the twin ACL recoveries of Saquon Barkley and Joe Burrow. Should talk of Barkley easing into the season and limited mobility for Burrow push down their draft stock?Then, the guys talk about MVP bets, and find that there isn't much sense in betting anyone outside the top-eight QBs. A look into New Orleans reveals an undervalued Latavius Murray, and do we care about Zach Ertz or the Texans?Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Funston on Twitter: @BrandonFunston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This has been quite the newsworthy fantasy football week for late May, led by the Julio Jones trade speculation fueled by none other than the receiver himself. What's the best trade destination for Julio? And what becomes of the Atlanta offense without him? Beller, Jake and Brandon dive into that on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.After that, the guys discuss Anthony Lynn's comments on Jamaal Williams and D'Andre Swift, Miles Sanders "love" for Nick Sirianni's offense, Chase Edmonds' "now-or-never" season, and Jake's breakout QB candidates.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brad Evans of Fade the Noise joins Jake and Brandon to focus on rookies on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast. The guys discuss Travis Etienne as a wide receiver, Justin Fields as a QB1, and Najee Harris' shot at immense volume. They also get into players being over and undervalued in early drafts, and the idea of drafting two receivers from the same team. Plus, some fun with rookie production over/unders.Follow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunstonFollow Brad on Twitter: @NoisyHuevos Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jake and Brandon discuss the return of Tim Tebow, Joe Mixon's path to an an extremely heavy workload, Julio Jones rumors, and several mailbag questions. Follow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Funston on Twitter: @BrandonFunston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jake, Funston, and special guest Graham Barfield, from Fantasy Points, break down winners and losers from the NFL draft, Rookie sleepers + Star Wars trivia fun!Follow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Funston on Twitter: @BrandonFunstonFollow Graham on Twitter: @GrahamBarfield Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston share their thoughts on Round 1 of the NFL Draft and look ahead to day two and three. Which first round picks are in great situations to shine as rookies and which players should you avoid looking ahead to your own fantasy draft. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jake, Funston, and special guest Marcas Grant from the NFL Network break down the 2021 rookie QB class. Is Trevor Lawrence immediately a top 10 quarterback? Will Zach Wilson be relevant in redraft? What kind of upside will Justin Fields have as a potential QB1? Can Kyle Shanahan make Mac Jones into a QB1? Those answers and more on the final pre-draft episode.Follow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Funston on Twitter: @BrandonFunstonFollow Emory on Twitter: @MarcasG Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jake, Funston, and special guest Emory Hunt, from CBS Sports HQ break down the 2021 Rookie WR class, including the big three WRs - Chase, Waddle, and Smith. The trio also talks about how they value size in receivers and some potential sleepers who could emerge as fantasy stars! Follow Jake on Twitter: @allinkid Follow Funston on Twitter: @BrandonFunstonFollow Emory on Twitter: @FBallGameplan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jake, Funston and special guest Scott Bogman, from In This League, discuss how they value this year's rookie running backs, and try to sort out potential landing spots. The trio also discusses which veteran running backs are at risk for losing significant value along with their favorite sleepers at the position in this year's draft. Follow Jake on Twitter: @allinkid Follow Funston on Twitter: @BrandonFunstonFollow Scott on Twitter: @BogmanSports Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 49ers, Dolphins and Eagles shook up what's typically a ho-hum week on the NFL's offseason calendar, swinging a three-team trade that landed the 49ers in the third spot in the NFL Draft, the Dolphins at six, and the Eagles at 12. Beller, Jake and Funston get into the fantasy implications on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.Plus, the guys explore what sort of changes we should make in the fantasy world with the advent of a 17-game NFL schedule.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Funston on Twitter: @BrandonFunstonPlease fill out our listener survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/athleticaudiosurvey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The free agent fun didn't end when the new league year began. After a slow day or two, action picked back up on Thursday afternoon, with the likes of Kenny Golladay, Will Fuller and Kenyan Drake finding new homes, while Chris Carson and Juju Smith-Schuster ended up staying put.Beller, Jake and Funston break it all down on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast. Jake throws some shade at Jared Cook—again—and disagrees with Beller on DeSean Jackson. Plus, the guys get into what should be the proper pronunciation of Travis Etienne's last name.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunstonPlease fill out our listener survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/athleticaudiosurvey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The new year has officially begun, and thankfully the league didn't use up all of its free agency juice during the legal tampering period. Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston get you caught up on everything that's happened in the new league year, putting a fantasy spin on the latest free agent signings.Follow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunstonPlease fill out our listener survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/athleticaudiosurvey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The start of the new league year is on the horizon, but that hasn't stopped nearly every team in the NFL from engaging in some good old fashioned legal tampering. The legal tampering period has delivered gems such as Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith to the Patriots, Ryan Fitzpatrick to D.C., Corey Davis to the Jets, and more.The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast returns to break it all down. Plus, Beller engages Jake and Funston in a fun round of "Is our fantasy community lexicon flawed?"Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Funston on Twitter: @BrandonFunston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carson Wentz, Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff have already been traded this offseason. Could Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson soon be joining them?On this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, Beller, Jake and Funston consider just how real Wilson's, "I want to stay here, but..." posturing is. Beller, our resident Bears fan, fantasizes about a world in which Wilson finds himself playing home games in Chicago. The guys also discuss Wentz's fantasy value in Indianapolis, Ben Roethlisberger's presence in Pittsburgh, early Super Bowl LVI futures, and more.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a two-week break, The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast is back! Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston return with the 2020 season behind us and the 2021 league year on the horizon. The guys celebrate by kicking off their 2021 with a deep dive into the loaded free agent class.There's no way Dak Prescott ends up anywhere but Dallas, right? Are Allen Robinson and Chris Godwin going to get tagged? Who stands the most to gain by finding a new home? Where do Aaron Jones, Chris Carson, Will Fuller, Kenny Golladay and James Conner end up? The guys get into all that and more.Listener Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/athleticaudiosurvey Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Beller and Vic Tafur are back to lock in their favorite bets for Super Bowl LV. Both of them like the Chiefs to repeat as Super Bowl Champions, but there's a difference of opinion on which side to back against the spread. The person who likes the Chiefs against the spread really likes them, making an argument to play them all the way up to -6 and -9.The guys also dive into the prop market, discussing, among other props, Patrick Mahomes passing yards, Leonard Fournette total yards, Travis Kelce's receiving yards, Chris Godwin receptions, total sacks in the game, and length of the shortest touchdown.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Vic on Twitter: @VicTafur Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Super Bowl LV is now just days away, and while this may be a fantasy football podcast, the entire football world is captivated by the impending matchup between the Chiefs and Buccaneers. On this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston hammer down their best bets for the big game, including props on Patrick Mahomes, Chris Godwin, Leonard Fournette, Travis Kelce, and more.After that, the guys turn their attention to Jake's early 2021 rankings, taking a look at the running back and wide receiver positions. Which second-year backs make their way into Jake's top 10? Who could be next season's breakout receiver star? And who wins and loses as a result of the blockbuster quarterback trade between the Rams and Lions? The guys answer all that, and a whole lot more.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Super Bowl is still more than a week away, but that doesn't mean we can't already start talking about our favorite ways to bet the game. Sure, we're going to be playing the line, be it on the Chiefs or the Buccaneers, but this is the Super Bowl. There are seemingly countless ways to get in on the action, and no time to waste.In the first part of our Super Bowl betting extravaganza, Michael Beller and Vic Tafur begin discussions on the wagers that have caught their eye this week. While they're not locking in all these plays just yet, they are the ones that the guys are, at the very least, zeroing in on as the big game draws nearer. Will Patrick Mahomes go over 329.5 passing yards? Does Beller have a sneaky angle on the first touchdown scorer? Is Vic crazy for wanting to trust the running backs in a game like this? We'll get into all that, and a whole lot more.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Vic on Twitter: @VicTafur Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Super Bowl matchup is set, making this one of the final episodes of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast for the 2020 season. And don't get us started on that. Yes, it might be 2021, but this is still the 2020 season.On this episode, Michael Beller, Brandon Funston and Jake Ciely offer up their early thoughts on Super Bowl LV, with the Chiefs favored by a field goal. They also discuss their ideal landing spots for Deshaun Watson and Matthew Stafford, and take a look at some of the most interesting players in Jake's early 2021 rankings at quarterback and tight end.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the opinion of one of our two hosts, this is the best NFL weekend of the season. Championship weekend routinely brings together at least three of the four best teams in the league, if not all four, and this season is no exception. The Packers and Buccaneers get things going on Sunday in the NFC Championship Game, and then the Chiefs and Bills cap off the night in the AFC Championship Game.Start your Championship Weekend prep with Michael Beller and Vic Tafur on The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast. The guys offer up their picks for sides and totals in both games, highlighting their absolute favorite plays of the weekend. And hey, Beller found a fun prop he likes, while Vic came up with a new segment to put a bow on the episode.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Vic on Twitter: @VicTafur Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2021 fantasy football draft season is just about six months away. Crazy, right? Kidding aside, we in the fantasy football community are always ready to talk about the next season at this time of year, and that's exactly what Michael Beller and Jake Ciely do on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.How should fantasy managers treat the bevy of attractive second-year backs, from likely first rounders Jonathan Taylor and James Robinson, to the likes of Antonio Gibson and Clyde Edwards-Helaire? Is it time to rethink the strategy of waiting on the quarterback position? Is Davante Adams in a tier of one at wide receiver? The guys answer those questions and a whole lot more, plus take a look ahead to the conference championship games this weekend.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkid Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NFL is down to its final eight teams, which means we're running out of opportunities to bet on the league this season. Michael Beller and Vic Tafur have you covered on this week's precious few games with our latest episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.Can the Rams keep rolling, or will Aaron Rodgers and the Packers cover the 6.5-point spread. Who comes away with the win and cover in Ravens-Bills? Can the Browns at least keep things close against the Chiefs? And can the Saints topple the Buccaneers for the third time this season, covering in the process? Or does Tom Brady have some more playoff magic in his arm? The guys answer all those questions, and offer up their favorite bets of the weekend.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Vic on Twitter: @VicTafur Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No season is complete without handing out some awards. That's exactly what we do on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Show, highlighting the best, brightest, and, in some instances, worst of the 2020 fantasy football season.Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston hand out the hardware with a little twist. Jake's our resident video game guru, so instead of simply naming a fantasy MVP, or a waiver wire pickup of the year, we found video game inspirations for all of our awards. Who was this year's fantasy football Oddjob (cheat code)? Who was the Super Mario Bros. 2 (better than you think)? Who wins the Blow on Cartridge Award (should've been better)? And who, most simply, was On Fire? We hand out all those awards and more, and also take a look at this weekend's Divisional Round.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The most wonderful time of the year may be behind us, but the most wonderful time of the NFL season is just beginning. The playoffs are here, with Saturday kicking the first ever six-game Wild Card weekend.Michael Beller and Vic Tafur are back to dive into their top plays against the spread. The guys get into all six games this weekend, discussing leans for all six, while highlighting the ones on which they'll actually be placing wagers. They also discuss their favorite futures bets for the postseason.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Vic on Twitter: @VicTafur Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The regular season is over, but the fantasy football season isn't. The NFL postseason provides the fantasy community with another opportunity to play fantasy football before closing the book on this season.On this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston walk through the different ways to play playoff fantasy football with a focus on the most popular way, draft-and-hold. The guys give their playoff predictions, the foundation for any playoff fantasy draft strategy, and then conduct a six-team, six-round draft to illustrate how a draft-and-hold league could play out.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunstonDraft Board Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When is the right time to start thinking about the next fantasy football season? Right after the current one ends! That's what we're doing here at The Athletic, having already conducted one early mock fantasy football draft for the 2021 season.On this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, the last in 2020, Nando Di Fino, Chris Vaccaro and Eric Moody break down that early mock draft. They consider whether running backs will once again dominate the top of the first round, who could be next year's big risers, price changes at the quarterback position, and a whole lot more.Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifinoFollow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisVaccaroGSTFollow Eric on Twitter: @EricNMoody Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Still playing fantasy football in Week 17? Good news! We're still here to help guide you through your overlooked championship week.On this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston dive into the unique problems related to playing fantasy football in Week 17. Namely, what do you do if you've been riding Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce all season? What other teams should you be concerned about resting? What teams could pull the plug on their starters at some point during the game? The guys answer all those questions, plus take a look at Rams without Jared Goff, the resurgent Cowboys, and, once again, Mitch Trubisky.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, Michael Beller and Vic Tafur run through the Week 16 slate from a gambling standpoint, highlighting their favorite picks against the spread. Can the Cardinals move one step closer to a playoff berth and, more importantly, cover against the 49ers? Can the Browns get another double-digit win against a team from New York? Will the Steelers bounce back in a tough spot against the Colts? Who covers in the crucial NFC West battle between the Seahawks and Rams? The guys answer those questions, and a whole lot more.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Vic on Twitter: @VicTafur Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Wednesday of Week 16, and that can only mean one thing for this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast. It's time for championship week rankings.Michael Beller, Brandon Funston and Jake Ciely get you ready for your championship by discussing the most confounding players in Week 16. Can Baker Mayfield keep it rolling? Is Le'Veon Bell worth starting with Clyde Edwards-Helaire out? Can you count on a boom week from Tyler Lockett? The guys get into those questions, and a whole lot more.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunstonFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkid Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fantasy football championship week is here, and so are Nando Di Fino and Chris Vaccaro to take a look at Week 16. At the same time, 2021 is on the minds of many fantasy managers, including those who are playing for titles this week.Nando and Chris mix Week 16 with 2021 on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast. The guys discuss the players who have great matchups in Week 16, the offenses that could carry managers to fantasy titles, 2021 outlooks for the tight end position and a handful of intriguing teams, and much more.Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifinoFollow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisVaccaroGST Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aaron Jones, Calvin Ridley, Dalvin Cook, Josh Allen, Kyler Murray and plenty of others helped send their fantasy football managers to championship games with their performances in Week 15. You already knew you could lean on those guys going into their matchups, however. On this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, we're more interested in the surprise stars of Week 15 who could repeat in Week 16.Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston probe that class of players, discussing, among others, Jalen Hurts, Le'Veon Bell, J.D. McKissic, Tony Pollard, Matt Ryan, Marvin Jones, Baker Mayfield, and many, many more.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, Michael Beller and Derek VanRiper break down the Week 15 DFS slate. They discuss the high-priced players who should be at the center of your lineups, the abundance of $6,000ish receivers who look good this week, love for rookie running backs, and more.Later, Beller runs through the slate from a gambling standpoint, highlighting his favorite picks against the spread. Can the Bills and Packers get off to good starts on Saturday? Can the Patriots bring the Dolphins back down to earth? Who wins and, more importantly, covers in the showdown between the Chiefs and Saints? We get into those games, and a whole lot more.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Derek on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A few weeks ago, it would've sounded crazy to say that fantasy managers would be trusting Jeff Wilson, T.Y. Hilton and Mitch Trubisky in their semifinal matchups. Even though those three, and many others deemed newly worthy of our trust, will be in lineups, should we be thinking harder about how much we're willing to lean on them?Nando Di Fino, Jake Ciely and Eric Moody dive into the question of newfound trustworthiness on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast. They also play a fun game of either/or to help you with your toughest lineup decisions this week.Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifinoFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Eric on Twitter: @EricNMoody Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's semifinal week in the fantasy football playoffs, and while we know almost everything we need to know about almost every player with fantasy relevance, there are still questions to be answered. Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston dive into the most vexing ones on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.Among them: Can Baker Mayfield and Philip Rivers keep things rolling this week? What other quarterbacks would you have to have to sit Taysom Hill? Is there any universe in which James Conner or Ezekiel Elliott should be benched this week? Is Gus Edwards playable alongside J.K. Dobbins? Is D.J. Chark back in our good graces with Gardner Minshew starting once again? Should Cole Beasley and Tim Patrick be locked into starting lineups? The guys answer all of those questions, and a whole lot more.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ravens-Browns wasn't just the game of the year. It also likely swung more than a few first-round matchups in the fantasy football playoffs with huge late touchdowns by Rashard Higgins, Baker Mayfield, Marquise Brown and Kareem Hunt, plus a lateral-fest safety on the last play of the game.Now that we've all settled down from that crazy end to Week 14, it's time to turn the page to Week 15 and the fantasy football semifinals. Nando Di Fino and Chris Vaccaro do just that on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast. Can late-season breakouts like Cam Akers and Jonathan Taylor carry fantasy managers to championships? Is Mitch Trubisky—Mitch Trubisky!—a must-start? Should we be even more worried than usual about bad teams mailing it in? The guys answer all those questions, and more.Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifinoFollow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisVaccaroGST Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One month ago, neither Jalen Hurts nor Mitch Trubisky were starting for their real-life teams. Now, they could both legitimately carry fantasy teams to championships. On this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston discuss Hurts and Trubisky, as well as the other big Week 14 storylines that could weigh heavily on the fantasy football playoffs.Among them: What's up with the Steelers' and Buccaneers' offenses? A positive week for D'Andre Swift. The return of T.Y. Hilton. Alvin Kamara finally getting the Alvin Kamara treatment again. The viability of Raheem Mostert and J.D. McKissic. And a whole lot more.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, Michael Beller and Derek VanRiper break down the Week 14 DFS slate. They discuss an abundance of attractive players across the three major positions priced between two $7,000 and $7,700, Dalvin Cook vs. Derrick Henry vs. Davante Adams, the lack of cheap pivots at quarterback, and more.Later, Beller and Vic Tafur run through the slate from a gambling standpoint, highlighting their favorite picks against the spread. The guys are going head-to-head in three games, including marquee matchups between the Bills and Steelers, and Vikings and Buccaneers. They also dive into Packers-Lions, Saints-Eagles, Chiefs-Dolphins, and a whole lot more.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Derek on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperFollow Vic on Twitter: @VicTafur Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The fantasy football playoffs have arrived, and they have brought into focus the meaning of a certain fantasy buzzword: trust. A bad game from an individual player sprinkled here or there throughout the regular season isn't a big deal. One in the fantasy football playoffs, however, could send a fantasy manager home. And that's why we ask, "Who can you trust?"Nando Di Fino, Jake Ciely and Eric Moody get into the question of trust on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast. They do so by discussing Giovani Bernard, D'Andre Swift, Jonathan Taylor, T.Y. Hilton, Chase Claypool, Matthew Stafford, Jalen Hurts and more.Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifinoFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Eric on Twitter: @EricNMoody Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The fantasy football playoffs are here, with Week 14 kicking off a three-week sprint to championships all across the fantasy football world. Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston are also here, helping you make the tough start/sit decisions with an in-depth look at the Week 14 rankings on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.The guys got into more than 30 of the most confounding players for Week 14, including Kirk Cousins, Jalen Hurts, J.K. Dobbins, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kareem Hunt, CeeDee Lamb, D.J. Chark, Juju Smith-Schuster, and a whole lot more.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week 13 was not kind to our friend Chris Vaccaro, but he's still here to dive into the week's biggest stories from a fantasy perspective, and break down how we can use what we learned in the fantasy football playoffs.Chris and Nando Di Fino discuss, among other topics, Cam Akers' usage, Washington's offense without Antonio Gibson, the Dolphins with Tua Tagovailoa back at the helm, Corey Davis fulfilling his draft-day promise, and a whole lot more.Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifinoFollow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisVaccaroGST Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week 13 isn't quite over, but the fantasy football playoffs are upon us. Some berths will be earned on Monday and Tuesday, but most people who are headed to the playoffs have already punched their tickets. And yet, there are still many questions to be answered that could determine who raises the trophy in any fantasy league.Among them: Has Cam Akers' time finally arrived? Are Miles Sanders and Kyler Murray trustworthy? Is Jonathan Taylor set to become a playoff hero? Can you roll out Baker Mayfield with confidence, or should we be looking at the other side of Browns-Titans and attacking the latter's defense during the playoffs? Is Cam Newton a set-it-and-forget-it starter? Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston answer those questions, and more, on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, Michael Beller and Derek VanRiper break down the Week 13 DFS slate. They discuss building lineups around an elite back or receiver, finally paying up for a quarterback, the desire to get invested in Browns-Titans, and more.Later, Beller and Vic Tafur run through the slate from a gambling standpoint, highlighting their favorite picks against the spread. Can the Raiders bounce back against the Jets? Will Taysom Hill hit his first speed bump as a starter in Atlanta? Can the Browns spring an upset on the Titans—or at least keep it within 5.5 points? Will the Packers run away from the Eagles? Can the Bills take care of business against the 49ers? The guys answer those questions, and a whole lot more.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Derek on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperFollow Vic on Twitter: @VicTafur Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week 13 has arrived, and not a day too soon. Instead of Thursday and Monday night games this week, we're getting a Monday night doubleheader and Tuesday Night Football to wrap up the final week of the fantasy football regular season. The last part of that sentence is, of course, the operative part, with fantasy managers looking lock up regular season championships and playoff berths.On this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast. Nando Di Fino, Jake Ciely and Eric Moody discuss the Jets, Raiders and Cowboys, dive into the Browns-Titans and Rams-Cardinals games, try to figure out what's going on in Philadelphia, and more.Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifinoFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Eric on Twitter: @EricNMoody Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the final week of the fantasy football regular season in most leagues, meaning that regular season championships will be won and playoff berths will be secured when this week comes to an end. Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston help you get ready for it all with a deep dive into Week 13 rankings on this episode of Fantasy Football in 15.How much have our expectations for Deshaun Watson changed? Is Latavius Murray now on the RB2 radar? How do we make sense of the jumbled mess that is the WR3 class? Should Myles Gaskin and Jonathan Taylor go right back into fantasy lineups? The guys answer all those questions, plus a whole lot more.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.