The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast

The first week of the NFL preseason is in the books, and while no one wants to overreact to anything we saw this past weekend, there are still things we can properly react to. How worried should we be about Myles Gaskin? How excited should we be about Justin Fields and Trey Lance? Is there cause for concern with Michael Carter?

Beller, Jake and Funston answer all those questions, and a whole lot more, on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast. Plus, they just might indulge in an overreaction or two. Because this is supposed to be fun!

Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBeller

Follow Jake on Twitter: @allinkid

Follow Funston on Twitter: @BrandonFunston

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LJgHeyH5r0E

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The training camp news spigot is turned all the way up this week. Dak Prescott is going for another MRI on his throwing shoulder. Carson Wentz might be ready for Week 1. Curtis Samuel is on the PUP list, and things don't look great. Rashod Bateman will miss multiple weeks, a huge blow for a rookie in the summer. Beller, Jake and Funston get into the fantasy takeaways for all that news on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.

After that, Brandon and Jake engage in their first ADP Battle of the summer. In one corner is Brandon and Antonio Gibson. In the other is Jake and Najee Harris. If you can only draft one, who should it be and why?

Finally, all three of our hosts name one of their most overvalued players at every position. Listen to the arguments for fading Justin Herbert, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Adam Thielen and Mark Andrews.

Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBeller

Follow Jake on Twitter: @allinkid

Follow Funston on Twitter: @BrandonFunston

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VKTXyJFEuko

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/AthleticFantasy

Email us: [email protected]

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Nando, Brandon and Chris discuss their approach to the tight end position this season — including their willingness to build around Travis Kelce in Round 1, shared love for Darren Waller, a possible rebound from George Kittle, expectations for Kyle Pitts in Year 1, undervalued players at the position, late darts, Vaccaro’s favorite option among the Top-12 tight ends, and how to adjust your roster build around the decision to draft a tight end early on.  

Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifino

Follow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonHerFFB

Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisVaccaroGST

Email us: [email protected]

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By now, you've likely heard the spooky tales of the RB Dead Zone, a Bermuda Triangle type area that hangs over the third through sixth rounds of 12-team drafts. Some say that fantasy drafters wander into the Dead Zone dazed, unsure of themselves and their surroundings. Others say that drafters go into the Dead Zone confidently, sure that the backs they select anywhere between pick 25 and 72 overall will at least meet, and potentially exceed, expectations.

Of course, we know that backs in this range often fail, especially when compared against the receivers taken in the same neighborhood. We also know, however, that there are multiple success stories every season, from David Montgomery (RB4) in 2020 to Aaron Jones (RB2) in 2019, and that someone in every league will be brave enough to draft these backs in the Dead Zone.

On this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, Beller, Jake and Funston brave the wilds with an RB Dead Zone Draft. The guys have devised a scoring system that rewards upside AND bust avoidance, helping you find the right RB selections to make when the Dead Zone descends upon your draft.

Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBeller

Follow Jake on Twitter: @allinkid

Follow Funston on Twitter: @BrandonFunston

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kk4RefEegDQ

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/AthleticFantasy

Email us: [email protected]

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We wrap up this week on The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast with an episode jam-packed with legitimate training camp news. How strong should we be fading the Colts' skill position players, most notably Jonathan Taylor, in the wake of Carson Wentz's foot surgery? With Tarik Cohen likely to miss regular season games, is it time to push David Montgomery up the rankings. What does DeVonta Smith's knee sprain mean in the fantasy world?

Beller and Funston answer all those questions on this episode. They also go toe to toe on DeAndre Hopkins vs. D.K. Metcalf, shine a spotlight on Kareem Hunt, and discuss quarterback touchdown props.

Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBeller

Follow Jake on Twitter: @allinkid

Follow Funston on Twitter: @BrandonFunston

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/AthleticFantasy

Email us: [email protected]

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Say hello to The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast's new Wednesday crew: Nando Di Fino, Brandon Marianne Lee and Chris Vaccaro. The trio will be coming to you every Wednesday through the end of the regular season, bringing The Athletic's fantasy football written word to the airwaves.

On their debut episode, the gang discusses this summer's Saquon scaries, Sam Darnold getting out from under Adam Gase's thumb, the composition of the Jaguars, Nando's Daniel Jones obsession, and more.

Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifino

Follow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonHerFFB

Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisVaccaroGST

Email us: [email protected]

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/AthleticFantasy

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It's another offbeat draft Monday here on The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast. This week, Beller, Jake and Funston build fantasy teams made up of two QBs, two RBs, three WRs, one TE and two flex players. The catch? Anyone who has been a QB1, RB1, WR1 or TE1 in either of the last two seasons is not in the eligible player pool. In other words, the guys are trying to help you target and prioritize potential breakout players in 2021 in this draft.

The top players in the pool include Joe Mixon (just barely), Antonio Gibson, Najee Harris, Terry McLaurin, CeeDee Lamb, Robert Woods, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, Matthew Stafford, Kyle Pitts and Noah Fant. Upside is king in the No #1s Allowed Draft, although there's plenty of floor to be found, as well.

Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBeller

Follow Jake on Twitter: @allinkid

Follow Funston on Twitter: @BrandonFunston

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rrFMVaj5mmw

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/AthleticFantasy

Email us: [email protected]

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We've reached the end of the beat writer roundtable series on The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, and we wrap things up with what just might be the best division in football: the NFC West.

Any chance Russ gets to cook all season in Seattle? What does Matthew Stafford bring to the table for Sean McVay that Jared Goff didn't? How will the Raheem Mostert/Trey Sermon pairing shake out in San Francisco? And can Kyler Murray make another leap this year? Our beat writers answer those questions, and a whole lot more.

Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBeller

Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifino

Follow Michael (Seahawks) on Twitter: @MikeDugar

Follow Jourdan (Rams) on Twitter: @JourdanRodrigue

Follow Matt (49ers) on Twitter: @mattbarrows

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/AthleticFantasy

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Beller and Jake welcome training camp—and all the craziness that comes with it—with open arms. The guys discuss Aaron Rodgers' return, Dak Prescott's shoulder injury, and the sudden change in Michael Thomas' outlook on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.

From there, the guys get into their favorite sleepers at every position. They also launch two new segments that will be staples for the rest of draft season here at TAFFP: ADP Battle and Player Spotlight. The former pits Raheem Mostert against Javonte Williams, while the latter shines on Matthew Stafford. And of course, they play another round of Guess That Player.

Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBeller

Follow Jake on Twitter: @allinkid

Follow Funston on Twitter: @BrandonFunston

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rgZjfGInW2s

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/AthleticFantasy

Email us: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've reached the AFC South edition of the beat writer roundtable on The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast. This division underwent plenty of meaningful fantasy football change, with Trevor Lawrence, Julio Jones and Carson Wentz finding their way to one of the four teams during the offseason.

How do the Titans balance Julio and A.J. Brown? Is Jonathan Taylor set to become a true workhorse? What does Lawrence have in store for his rookie season? Is there anything of fantasy substance in Houston. Our AFC South beat writers answer those questions, and a whole lot more.

Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBeller

Follow Joe (Titans) on Twitter: @joerexrode

Follow Zak (Colts) on Twitter: @zkeefer

Follow Andy (Jaguars) on Twitter: @Andy_Staples

Follow Aaron (Texans) on Twitter: @aaronjreiss

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/AthleticFantasy

Email us: [email protected]

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