The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast

An unprecedented Week 12 is still rolling along, with Ravens-Steelers looming on Wednesday afternoon. We have plenty to break down after this wild week, however, and Nando Di Fino and Chris Vaccaro dive into it all on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.What do you do without Will Fuller for the rest of the season? Can Deebo Samuel keep up his unconventional style of production? Is Austin Ekeler a better back to have right now than Alvin Kamara? Will we finally see an unleashed D'Andre Swift for the remainder of the season? 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.

Week 12 was one of the stranger NFL slates any of us has seen, from what happened during the week leading up to Sunday, to the historic performances and surprising duds turned in once the games started. Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston are here to break it all down and look forward to Week 13 on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.How back are Austin Ekeler, Raheem Mostert and Deebo Samuel? Is it time to get worried about Alvin Kamara? Is it well past time to put some respect on Kirk Cousins' name? Should you be spending whatever remaining FAAB you have to get Devontae Booker? Can we finally trust Jonathan Taylor and Ronald Jones? The guys answer all those questions, 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.

On this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, Michael Beller and Derek VanRiper break down the Week 12 DFS slate. They discuss Dalvin Cook chalk, a willingness to pass on high-priced receivers, the desire to get invested in Chargers-Bills and Chiefs-Buccaneers, and more.Later, Beller and Vic Tafur run through the slate from a gambling standpoint, highlighting their favorite picks against the spread (begins at 30:35). Will Beller finally back off the Cardinals? Can the Browns cruise against the Jaguars? Can Taysom Hill and the Saints keep it rolling in Denver? Are the Giants worthy of laying nearly a touchdown against the shorthanded Bengals? Will the Chiefs hand the Buccaneers another loss and, more importantly, do so by more than 3.5 points? 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.

Thanksgiving Week is here, and with it comes not only a full plate of food, but a full slate of NFL games. With all 32 teams in action, start/sit decisions could be a bit more taxing than they've been with fewer options in play. Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston are here to help you make the right ones on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.Can you trust Carson Wentz against the Seahawks? How much does the loss of Joe Burrow hurt Giovani Bernard, Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins? Does Raheem Mostert go right back into your lineup if the 49ers activate him? Is D.J. Chark still startable with Mike Glennon getting the start for the Jaguars? The guys answer those questions, plus a whole lot more, and offer up some big predictions for Week 12.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We know we'll have two games on Thanksgiving, and we could have a third, pending decisions that have to be made regarding the scheduled nightcap between the Ravens and Steelers. Nando Di Fino and Chris Vaccaro look ahead to those games, and the 13 that follow them this weekend, on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.What can we expect from the Lions' offense on Thursday? Could benching Duke Johnson make sense? Might Washington-Dallas be a good game, from both real-life and fantasy perspectives? Is Diontae Johnson already a fantasy star? The guys answer those questions, and a whole lot more. Plus, a fun series of Thanksgiving-themed rapid fire questions to wrap up the episode.Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifinoFollow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisVaccaroGST Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Was there any quarterback news in Week 11? Specifically, anything about a much-maligned, little-used pseudo-quarterback who made the most of his opportunity to start, proving once again that it is the man in the arena who counts? Ah yes, indeed there was.But there was more to Week 11 than Taysom Hill, and his effects on the Saints' offense and the fantasy football landscape. Joe Burrow tore his ACL. J.K. Dobbins and Jonathan Taylor saw some distance between themselves and their RB teammates. New England's defense got exposed...again. The Chargers' offense put up big numbers...again. Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston dive into all those stories, and a whole lot 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 11 DFS slate. They discuss Alvin Kamara and Dalvin Cook reaching CMC territory, the Jameis Winston free space, Keenan Allen as the WR1, the lack of meaningful tight ends, and more.Later, Beller and Vic Tafur run through the slate from a gambling standpoing, highlighting their favorite picks against the spread (begins at 29:42). Can the Titans bounce back in a tough spot against the Ravens? Can the Jaguars keep things respectable against the undefeated Steelers? Can Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins keep things rolling against the Broncos? 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.

With three weeks left in the typical fantasy football regular season, and the bye-week portion of the schedule nearly behind us, there's no better time to check in on all 32 teams in the league than the present. That's exactly what Nando Di Fino, Jake Ciely and Eric Moody do on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football podcast with another edition of 32 teams, 32 questions.Is there a clear leader in Buffalo's backfield? Who's the better player for the rest of the season, D'Andre Swift or James Conner? Is there a window to trade for Austin Ekeler right now? The guys answer those questions, and a whole lot more.Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifinoFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Eric on Twitter: @EricNMoody Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jake catches up with Chargers running back Austin Ekeler about his role as a team owner in Fan Controlled Football, Thanksgiving side dishes, video games, chaos in the Chargers' backfield while he's been sidelined, why fantasy players should trade for him now, and more.Follow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Austin on Twitter: @AustinEkelerCheck out Fan Controlled Football at www.fcf.io Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week 11 rankings day has arrived on The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, and with it comes a whole host of start/sit questions.Jameis Winston is back in our lives. Should he be back in our lineups, too? Will Washington's pass rush wreck Cincinnati's offensive line, and thus Joe Burrow's fantasy day? Is Pittsburgh's offense trending away from James Conner in a dangerous way? Are both of Arizona's running backs startable? Is Michael Pittman Jr. the top dog in the Colts' passing game? If so, what does that mean? Which team has the better trio of fantasy receivers, the Buccaneers or Steelers?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.

Go check the roster of the team at the top of your league's standings. Chances are good that it features Kyler Murray. The Arizona quarterback has been one of the biggest stories this football season, no matter if we're talking fantasy or the actual game. He's also Chris Vaccaro's favorite topic.Vaccaro and Nando Di Fino discuss Kyler, of course, on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast. The guys also get into Jameis Winston, Ronald Jones, Michael Thomas, Lamar Jackson, the Patriots' defense, the Buccaneers' offense, the Cowboys coming off their bye, and more.Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifinoFollow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisVaccaroGST Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins put the capstone on what was a crazy Week 10, but don't let the play of the cloud the rest of the big stories of the day, included but not limited to...D'Andre Swift's breakout; new-look offenses for the Buccaneers, Steelers and Patriots; real reasons to worry about the Ravens; the emergence of Michael Pittman Jr. and Salvon Ahmed; and Kenyan Drake's triumphant return.Michael Beller and Brandon Funston discuss all that, plus a whole lot more, on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow 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 10 DFS slate. They discuss Rams-Seahawks and Bills-Cardinals, the Mike Davis free space, a trio of attractive cheap quarterbacks, the diversity of high-priced receivers, and more.Later, Beller and Vic Tafur run through every Week 10 game, highlighting their favorite picks against the spread (begins at 30:45). Can the Buccaneers bounce back against the Panthers? Who wins the expected shootout in the desert between the Bills and Cardinals? What's the right side to be on in the showdown between Justin Herbert and the Chargers and Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins? 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.

Early in the season, conventional wisdom holds that fantasy managers don't need to worry about securing their starting running backs' real-life backups. You want to maximize every spot on your roster when so much is unknown. At this time of year, however, when the picture has come into focus, those real-life backups become must-have pieces to finish putting together a championship puzzle.On this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, Nando Di Fino, Jake Ciely and Eric Moody take a look at backfields that are clearly dominated by one player, discussing which backups are must-have (hello Alexander Mattison and Giovani Bernard) and which are unlikely to inherit a significant workload should the starter go down with an injury.Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifinoFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Eric on Twitter: @EricNMoody Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week 10 could ease some running back concerns in the fantasy world, with Nick Chubb back, Joe Mixon likely back, and Miles Sanders potentially back. All three of them will be highly ranked, assuming they play, but that just scratches the surface of Week 10 rankings.Who wins the first NFL battle between Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert? Can you trust their draft classmate Joe Burrow against the Steelers? Are we rethinking what we thought we knew about the backfields in Baltimore and Buffalo? Is Jerry Jeudy locked into starting lineups? Is D.J. Moore the WR3 on his own team? 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.

Week 10 ushers in the final third of the fantasy football regular season, with the playoffs starting to come into focus. This year, it brings a number of fun developments that Nando Di Fino and Chris Vaccaro dive into on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.Jerry Jeudy's Week 9 breakout is a sign of things to come in Denver, right? How excited should we be about the return of nick Chubb this week? How much fun is Bills-Cardinals going to be? The guys answer all those questions, plus a whole lot more, including Nando taking a crack at songwriting!Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifinoFollow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisVaccaroGST Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins upsetting Kyler Murray and the Cardinals, to heroics from many of the fantasy world's biggest stars (hello, Patrick Mahomes, Dalvin Cook and Josh Allen), Week 9 was one of the most exciting slates of the season. So exciting, in fact, that it was hard to keep track of it all in real time.Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston are here to help you run it all down on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast. Is Tua now in the starting discussion every week? Is Chase Edmonds not who we wanted him to be? Is Tyler Lockett a boom-or-bust player? And what might be out there on the waiver wire heading into Week 10? The guys answer all 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.

On this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, Michael Beller and Derek VanRiper break down the Week 9 DFS slate. They discuss Dalvin Cook chalk, the appeal of mid-tier backs and cheap receivers, a possible Lamar Jackson bargain, and more.Later, Beller and Vic Tafur run through every Week 9 game, highlighting their favorite picks against the spread (begins at 30:02). Who wins—or, more importantly, covers—the NFC South clash between the Saints and Buccaneers? Can the Ravens' offense get going in Indianapolis? Are the Dolphins a live dog again, this time against Kyler Murray and the Cardinals? The guys answer those questions, and a whole lot more.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperFollow Vic on Twitter: @VicTafur Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At this point of the season, we typically have to take players and teams at face value. With that in mind, fantasy values can still change on the margins, or in even bigger ways, and those changes could make the difference between winning a championship and getting booted in the first round of the playoffs.On this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Eric Moody make their calls on rest-of-season rankings. Will J.K. Dobbins, D'Andre Swift or Jonathan Taylor be the better back? If you can trade Tyler Boyd or Adam Thielen for Allen Robinson, should you? And will Travis Fulgham keep up his WR1 pace? The guys answer all those questions, and more.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Eric on Twitter: @EricNMoody Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are now into the final third of the typical fantasy football regular season, marking desperation time for some managers, and moving time for others.Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston have you covered, no matter which group you're in, on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast. The guys discuss about 50 players from a rankings standpoint, breaking down the toughest start/sit decisions of the week. Can you play both J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards? Is it safe to trust Jonathan Taylor? And what should we expect from Antonio Brown in his first game with the Buccaneers? Our trio of experts answer all 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.

Teams generally are what they are at the halfway point of the NFL season, but many are still undergoing change that will be felt in the fantasy football world. Whether due to a quarterback change, injuries, a new addition, or some other force, these teams could look different in the second half of the season than they did in the first.On this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, Michael Beller and Chris Vaccaro take an in-depth look at 10 such offenses.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisVaccaroGST Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are more than a few backfield headaches across the league that fantasy managers might be better off avoiding than trying to decipher. The Ravens and Bills may seem like they're in that group, but their approaches in Week 8, while diverse, actually bring some clarity to their respective pictures.Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston discuss J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, Devin Singletary and Zack Moss, the five untrustworthy backfields, Week 9 waivers, and a whole lot 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 8 DFS slate. They discuss Alvin Kamara chalk, the appeal of Titans-Bengals, the enduring bargain on Keenan Allen, and more.Later, Beller and Vic Tafur run through every Week 8 game, highlighting their favorite picks against the spread (begins at 29:39). Can the Dolphins spring the upset on the Rams in Tua's first start—or at least stay within 3.5 points? Can the Seahawks bounce back against the 49ers? Can the Bills officially take the AFC East torch from the Patriots? The guys answer those questions, and a whole lot more. Plus, a difference of opinion on this week's marquee game between the Steelers and Ravens.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperFollow Vic on Twitter: @VicTafur Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Halloween is Saturday, sandwiched in between the beginning and end of Week 8. What better way to celebrate than with a graveyard smashup of fantasy football and our spookiest holiday?Are Darrell Henderson and Baker Mayfield great pumpkins? Is Daniel Jones destined to send you to a nightmare on fantasy football street? Do JaMycal Hasty and DeeJay Dallas have your roster looking like Frankenstein's Monster? Nando Di Fino, Jake Ciely and Eric Moody bring you treats, without the tricks, on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifinoFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Eric on Twitter: @EricNMoody Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week 8 brings four more teams—the Cardinals, Texans, Jaguars and Washington—going on bye and more injuries than we've dealt with at any point of the season. That's going to create complicated start/sit decisions, as well as some opportunities for some players who typically find themselves on fantasy benches to step up.Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston dive into those tough decisions with a look at Week 8 fantasy football rankings. Can Baker Mayfield get back into lineups after his five-TD game? How do fantasy managers handle the Seahawks', 49ers' and Chargers' backfields? Where do rookies Brandon Aiyuk and CeeDee Lamb stand this week? The guys answer all 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.

We're now more than halfway through the standard fantasy football regular season, and have been disabused of some of the notions we held back in draft season. The great, the good and the bad have been separated from one another, but what happens from this point forward will determine who wins fantasy championships.On this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, Nando Di Fino and Chris Vaccaro name their top 13 fantasy football players for the rest of the season. Is Alvin Kamara or Derrick Henry No. 1? Where does the soon-to-be-back Christian McCaffrey rank? Has James Robinson put himself in the group> How many of the top 13 are receivers? And is Ezekiel Elliott still here?Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifinoFollow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisVaccaroGST Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week 7 was inarguably one of the best of the season, highlighted by the Seahawks-Cardinals shootout on Sunday night. That game almost made it easy to forget that we had a number of other wild finishes, from Steelers-Titans to Browns-Bengals to Lions-Falcons. Oh, and we also had monster games from a couple of rookie quarterbacks, one of whom has turned himself into a QB1, one receiver who surpassed 200 yards and another who came close, and an undrafted running back vaulting into the top three at his position in fantasy scoring.How do you make sense of a week that packed with fantasy goodness? You turn to Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston 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 7 DFS slate. They discuss ideal running back pairs, which typically include two high-priced backs, the abundance of attractive, mid-priced receivers, and budget savers at quarterback.Later, Beller and Vic Tafur run through every Week 7 game, highlighting their favorite picks against the spread (begins at 31:01). Can the Cardinals keep it close with the Seahawks? Can the Patriots bounce back against the 49ers? And who wins the clash of 5-0 teams between the Steelers and Titans in Nashville? The guys answer those questions, and a whole lot more.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperFollow Vic on Twitter: @VicTafur Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nando Di Fino, Jake Ciely and Eric Moody go back to the vault, peering into the crystal ball to make predictions for Week 7, and then securing them behind lock and key, only to bring them back after this week's action takes place.Who catches more passes: Ezekiel Elliott or A.J. Green? Who scores more fantasy points: Andy Dalton or Drew Lock? Who totals more yards from scrimmage in Week 7: James Robinson or Kenyan Drake? The guys answer those questions, plus a whole lot more.Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifinoFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Eric on Twitter: @EricNMoody Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week 7 marks the unofficial halfway point of the standard fantasy football regular season, which means it's moving time in fantasy leagues. Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston do what they can to help you move in the right direction on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.The guys dive into Week 7 rankings, discussing more than 50 players you could be thinking about starting, sitting or trading. Should you start Ryan Tannehill in a tough matchup with the Steelers? Are you trusting Jerick McKinnon with Raheem Mostert out? Is it time to worry about the Cowboys' receivers after what we saw in Andy Dalton's first start? The guys answer 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.

A Monday night doubleheader featuring four teams loaded with fantasy-relevant players gives us the perfect jumping-off point for this Tuesday episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.Nando Di Fino and Chris Vaccaro discuss the first start of the Andy Dalton era in Dallas, Kenyan Drake pushing back against the Chase Edmonds hype, Clyde Edwards-Helaire making the most of his last game without Le'Veon Bell, 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 6 gave us more than its fair share of storylines at the running back position, and most of them were good! Is D'Andre Swift breaking out in Detroit? Is Darrell Henderson officially in control of the Rams' backfield? Can we finally trust Bruce Arians when it comes to Ronald Jones? Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston dive into those questions on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.Plus, the guys discuss how worried you should be about Mike Evans, Juju Smith-Schuster and Cam Newton, and take a look at Week 7 waivers.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 6 DFS slate. They discuss ideal running back pairs, a desire to pay up at receiver, and attractive mid-priced quarterbacks.Later, Beller and Vic Tafur run through every Week 6 game, highlighting their favorite picks against the spread (begins at 29:23). Can the Buccaneers possibly slow down the Packers' offense? Can the 49ers get on track against the Rams? Should the Cowboys really be home dogs in Andy Dalton's first start with the team? The guys answer those questions, and a whole lot more.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperFollow Vic on Twitter: @VicTafur Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're just about one-third of the way through the NFL season, and every team in the league, even the undefeated ones, have questions that need to be answered. That's what we're going to try to do on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast. Nando Di Fino raises a fantasy question for all 32 teams, and Jake Ciely and Eric Moody answer them. Included: Is Kenyan Drake sneakily underrated? Can James Robinson hold up? Better back for the rest of the season: Chris Carson or Miles Sanders?Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifinoFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Eric on Twitter: @EricNMoody Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If it seems like we just put a bow on Week 5, that's only because we did. And yet, Week 6 is already upon us. Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston help you get your fantasy lineups in order by running through more than 50 players from a rankings point of view 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.

Week 5 is just about in the books, with the Bills and Titans set to put a bow on the week on Tuesday night. Nando Di Fino and Chris Vaccaro take a look back at the week that was on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.Is Justin Herbert a better fantasy quarterback than Drew Brees and Matt Ryan? Is Zach Ertz's fantasy stock plummeting. Is there any role for Mike Davis in a world where Christian McCaffrey is healthy? The guys get into those questions, and a whole lot more.Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifinoFollow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisVaccaroGST Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two big upsets dominated the headlines early, but it was Dak Prescott's season-ending ankle injury that ultimately turned into the biggest news in Week 5. On this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston discuss how Andy Dalton changes the Cowboys' offense, and the best replacements for Prescott available on the waiver wire.Then, the guys get into Dalvin Cook's groin injury, breakout games for Chase Claypool and Travis Fulgham, David Montgomery's evolving role in Chicago, D.K. Metcalf as a top-five receiver, the Week 6 waiver wire, 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.

On this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, Michael Beller and Derek VanRiper break down the Week 5 DFS slate. They discuss a lack of high-priced options at running back and receiver, and what that means for the slate as a whole.Later, Beller and Vic Tafur run through every remaining Week 5 game, highlighting their favorite picks against the spread (begins at 29:19). Can the Browns pull a mini-upset on the Colts? Can the Falcons finally get their first win of the season? Are the Chiefs going to run away and hide from the Colts? And can the Vikings keep pace with the Seahawks? We have answers to those questions, and plenty more.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperFollow Vic on Twitter: @VicTafur Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week 5 begins on Thursday with the Buccaneers and Bears, but the games have already begun on The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast. Mini-games, that is. What five words describe David Montgomery's ranking this week? How about five words for Devonta Freeman for the rest of the season? Who wins a theoretical Joe Mixon/Derrick Henry trade? Or one involving Adam Thielen and Miles Sanders?Nando Di Fino poses the questions, while Jake Ciely and Eric Moody answer them, on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifinoFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Eric on Twitter: @EricNMoody Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Believe it or not, we're one-third of the way through the typical fantasy football regular season. Week 5 brings the first planned bye weeks of the year (Packers and Lions), and another slew of challenging start/sit decisions for fantasy managers.Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston help you get your lineups right by discussing more than 50 players in a Week 5 rankings context 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 Brandon Funston play a little game of Does This Matter?Bill O'Brien got fired. D.K. Metcalf ranks 33rd in targets per game. Zach Ertz has fewer than 20 yards in two of four games. Clyde Edwards-Helaire has been entirely dependent on volume this season. Does any of that matter? The guys answer those four questions, and six more.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week 5 is shaping up to be the lightest waiver wire week of the season, but there's still a whole lot to discuss coming out of Week 4. Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston get into the injuries to Nick Chubb and Austin Ekeler, Sean McVay's backfield shenanigans, Kirk Cousins vs. Baker Mayfield, the abundance of intriguing receivers available on the waiver wire, 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.

The weekend has arrived, bringing with it 14 more Week 4 games. On this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, Michael Beller and Derek VanRiper break down the Week 4 DFS slate. They discuss how a flat pricing week creates to a diversity of team-building options...but still find themselves targeting some expensive backs.Later, Beller and Vic Tafur run through every game, highlighting their favorite picks against the spread (begins at 29:33). Are the Bears a good bet in Nick Foles' first start with the team? Can the Saints and Cardinals bounce back? Who finally gets their first win when the Texans and Vikings get together? We have opinions on that, and a whole lot more.Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperFollow Vic on Twitter: @VicTafur Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three weeks of the NFL season are behind us, and if your fantasy league is like many others, it's likely trade discussions are starting to pick up steam. Nando Di Fino, Jake Ciely and Eric Moody discuss some of the most interesting potential trade targets, including Joe Mixon, Odell Beckham and Allen Robinson, on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.Rundown1:38 Best practices for Steelers-Titans4:26 Trade buzz and questions5:58 Joe Mixon's trade prospects14:42 Odell Beckham's place in the trade market23:57 A surprising dearth of Allen Robinson trades30:26 Buying low on David Johnson?35:12 Ranking the trade targets we've discussed36:54 Where is A.J. Brown in all of this?41:28 A.J Green's trade value47:05 Cole Beasley and Hunter Renfrow51:11 Mike Davis, Darrell Henderson and Devonta FreemanFollow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifinoFollow Eric on Twitter: @EricNMoodyFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkid Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week 4 is here, which means we are about to be one-third of the way through a typical fantasy football regular season. Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston discuss more than 50 players in a Week 4 rankings context to help you get your lineups right on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.Rundown3:08 Do we still trust Drew Brees?6:35 A quick Titans-Steelers update8:51 Recalibrating expectations for Matthew Stafford?11:17 Difference of opinion on Joe Burrow13:56 A rebound week for Gardner Minshew18:05 Not seeing eye to eye on Cam Newton20:51 QB lightning round23:40 Is Myles Gaskin locked in as an RB2?26:07 Tempering expectations for Rex Burkhead28:37 Is Philadelphia's offense a problem for Miles Sanders?31:49 What does a Mike Davis trade look like?34:44 Where does Carlos Hyde fit into the RB picture?38:39 Is this a sell-high moment for Darrell Henderson?41:48 RB lightning round44:19 Cognitive dissonance on Julian Edelman46:05 Can Allen Lazard be a consistent fantasy starter?48:31 No love for Justin Jefferson51:15 Auto-starting all Dallas receivers53:18 Is it over for A.J. Green?57:19 WR lightning round59:25 How aggressive would you be in a Chris Godwin trade?61:41 D.J. Chark is back at practice!62:06 A little tight end talkFollow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It wasn't even a month ago when Jordan Howard and Matt Breida were forming a sneaky fun backfield in Miami, Cam Akers was poised to take ownership of the Rams' backfield, and Saquon Barkley was challenging Christian McCaffrey for alpha status in the fantasy football world. Now, Myles Gaskin is in control of Miami's backfield, Darrell Henderson looks like a breakout star, and Devonta Freeman and Dion Lewis have replaced the injured Barkley. Nando Di Fino and Emory Hunt dive into all the backfield changes across the league on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.Rundown3:30 Chicago's backfield after Tarik Cohen's injury8:26 Myles Gaskin takes over in Miami10:20 Sizing up the Rams' backfield when everyone is healthy15:01 Why Emory has to watch all 60 minutes17:20 Nando's and Emory's obligatory Dwayne Haskins segment28:15 A matter of time before Devonta Freeman takes over?32:41 What's up with the turf at the Meadowlands?33:50 Making sense of the Lions' backfield36:13 Potential practice squad gems39:24 Who's the Chargers' starting QB when Tyrod Taylor is healthyFollow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifinoFollow Emory on Twitter: @FBallGameplan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week 3 was thankfully a relatively quiet one on the injury front, but there are still a handful of standout players to target on the waiver wire. From Rex Burkhead and Myles Gaskin, to Justin Jefferson and Brandon Aiyuk, Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston break down the Week 4 wire on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.Rundown1:46 Russell Wilson's greatness4:58 Rex Burkhead and the Patriots' backfield7:52 Myles Gaskin takes over in Miami10:18 Jeff Wilson on the radar12:20 Seattle's backfield after Chris Carson's mild ankle injury15:13 Cordarrelle Patterson's role with Tarik Cohen (torn ACL) out17:50 Detroit's annoying backfield21:12 Any interest in La'Mical Perine?25:24 Justin Jefferson breaks out27:59 Brandon Aiyuk takes advantage32:10 Can Allen Lazard keep it up when Davante Adams returns?35:00 A Nick Foles bump for Anthony Miller?38:58 Enough targets in Tampa to make Scotty Miller interesting?41:15 K.J. Hamler and Tim Patrick43:55 Buying into Andy Isabella's two-TD game?45:57 Hunter Renfrow's opportunity in Vegas49:08 Buffalo's WR depth chart if John Brown (calf) misses time50:55 Tee Higgins shows up53:55 Ignore Philadelphia's receivers56:02 Blowing past the tight end position58:59 Quarterbacks to stream in Week 461:02 Defenses to stream in Week 4Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are a few monster totals on the board in Week 3 (55.5 in Lions-Cardinals and Cowboys-Seahawks), and that always makes for interesting DFS and gambling weeks. Michael Beller and Derek VanRiper break down the DFS slate, then Beller welcomes on Vic Tafur to discuss their favorite picks against the spread, on this hybrid episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast and The Athletic Football Show.Rundown1:20 Games to target for DFS in Week 33:47 Quarterback targets in Week 37:55 No shortage of ways to attack the running back position15:17 Stars and scrubs at wide receiver24:14 Finding bargains at tight end26:14 No obvious options at defense29:47 Week 3 picks against the spread30:18 Week 2 audit31:57 Patriots (-6.5) vs. Raiders33:23 Bills (-2.5) vs. Rams34:30 Steelers (-4) vs. Texans36:41 49ers (-4) at Giants38:51 Titans (-2.5) at Vikings40:26 Browns (-7) vs. Washington42:14 Eagles (-4.5) vs. Bengals44:24 Falcons (-3) vs. Bears46:10 Colts (-11.5) vs. Jets47:18 Chargers (-6.5) vs. Panthers49:03 Cardinals (-5.5) vs. Lions51:08 Buccaneers (-6) at Broncos53:02 Seahawks (-5) vs. Cowboys54:37 Saints (-3) vs. Packers55:38 Ravens (-3.5) vs. Chiefs56:58 Recapping our Week 3 picks58:01 Week 3 survivor picksFollow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperFollow Vic on Twitter: @VicTafur Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The third week of the NFL season is upon us, and as we start to figure out some situations, other questions arise. Is Jacksonville's new starting running back, James Robinson, better than their old one, Leonard Fournette? Did people just waste a whole bunch of FAB money on Nyheim Hines? Can Jerry Jeudy be a WR3 for the rest of the year? Nando Di Fino poses the questions, and Jake Ciely and Eric Moody answer them, on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.Rundown2:48 Today's topics4:28 Fill in the blanks on James Robinson8:11 James Robinson vs. Leonard Fournette10:28 What happened to Matt Breida?14:05 Reason to believe in Brandon Aiyuk?17:23 Nyheim Hines vs. Jordan Howard20:10 Cutting your FAB losses22:09 Emmanuel Sanders vs. Sony Michel31:21 Is Jerry Jeudy a top-36 WR this week?32:27 Is Jerry Jeudy at top-36 WR for the season?33:06 A K.J. Hamler tangent37:33 Is Russell Gage a top-50 WR this season?39:18 Will A.J. Green top 850 receiving yards?40:12 Will Devonta Freeman hit 1,100 total yards?40:55 Mike Davis vs. Jeff Driskel in PPR Superflex leaguesFollow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifinoFollow Moody on Twitter: @EricNMoodyFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidGet a subscription to The Athletic for $1/month at theathletic.com/fantasyfootballpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week 3 has arrived, and with it a new batch of rankings questions. What's your concern level on Drew Brees, Carson Wentz and Tom Brady? Are all of this week's waiver-wire RB darlings must-starts? Is CeeDee Lamb going to be in the top two on the Cowboys in targets? Has any tight end made the "if-you've-got-him-you-start-him" leap? Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston answer those questions, and more, all while discussing the Week 3 prospects for more than 50 players or so on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.Rundown1:26 The Consensus Start-Every-Week QBs4:48 Concern Level for Drew Brees?8:04 Concern Level for Carson Wentz?10:39 Concern Level for Tom Brady?13:35 A Regular QB Starter You'd Sit This Week14:30 A Fringe QB You'd Start This Week17:28 Are We Auto-Starting the New Starting RBs?19:49 Can Darrell Henderson Run Away with the Rams' Job?22:07 Has Leonard Fournette Taken Over Tampa Bay's Backfield?24:31 Is James Robinson Locked Into RB2 Territory?26:39 The Mess in Baltimore29:06 Antonio Gibson Expectations31:19 A Regular Starting RB You'd Bench This Week32:47 A Fringe RB You'd Start This Week35:12 Players to BUY HIGH or SELL LOW38:00 Is CeeDee Lamb a Must-Start Receiver?41:03 Jerry Jeudy's Standing for the Rest of the Season44:00 Tre'Quan Smith's Role for the Saints46:47 Forcing Robby Anderson and Corey Davis Into Lineups This Week?52:39 A Regular Starting WR You'd Bench This Week54:20 A Fringe WR You'd Start This Week56:08 Have Any Tight Ends Made the Leap This Year?57:05 Noah Fant vs. Dallas Goedert59:22 A Fringe TE You'd Start This WeekFollow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerFollow Jake on Twitter: @allinkidFollow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunstonGet a subscription to The Athletic for $1/month at theathletic.com/fantasyfootballpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.