The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast

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: @MBeller

Follow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunston

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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: @MBeller

Follow Jake on Twitter: @allinkid

Follow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunston

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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: @MBeller

Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper

Follow Vic on Twitter: @VicTafur

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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.

Rundown

1:38 Best practices for Steelers-Titans

4:26 Trade buzz and questions

5:58 Joe Mixon's trade prospects

14:42 Odell Beckham's place in the trade market

23:57 A surprising dearth of Allen Robinson trades

30:26 Buying low on David Johnson?

35:12 Ranking the trade targets we've discussed

36:54 Where is A.J. Brown in all of this?

41:28 A.J Green's trade value

47:05 Cole Beasley and Hunter Renfrow

51:11 Mike Davis, Darrell Henderson and Devonta Freeman

Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifino

Follow Eric on Twitter: @EricNMoody

Follow Jake on Twitter: @allinkid

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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.

Rundown

3:08 Do we still trust Drew Brees?

6:35 A quick Titans-Steelers update

8:51 Recalibrating expectations for Matthew Stafford?

11:17 Difference of opinion on Joe Burrow

13:56 A rebound week for Gardner Minshew

18:05 Not seeing eye to eye on Cam Newton

20:51 QB lightning round

23:40 Is Myles Gaskin locked in as an RB2?

26:07 Tempering expectations for Rex Burkhead

28:37 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 round

44:19 Cognitive dissonance on Julian Edelman

46:05 Can Allen Lazard be a consistent fantasy starter?

48:31 No love for Justin Jefferson

51:15 Auto-starting all Dallas receivers

53:18 Is it over for A.J. Green?

57:19 WR lightning round

59:25 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 talk

Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBeller

Follow Jake on Twitter: @allinkid

Follow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunston

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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.

Rundown

3:30 Chicago's backfield after Tarik Cohen's injury

8:26 Myles Gaskin takes over in Miami

10:20 Sizing up the Rams' backfield when everyone is healthy

15:01 Why Emory has to watch all 60 minutes

17:20 Nando's and Emory's obligatory Dwayne Haskins segment

28:15 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' backfield

36:13 Potential practice squad gems

39:24 Who's the Chargers' starting QB when Tyrod Taylor is healthy

Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifino

Follow Emory on Twitter: @FBallGameplan

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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.

Rundown

1:46 Russell Wilson's greatness

4:58 Rex Burkhead and the Patriots' backfield

7:52 Myles Gaskin takes over in Miami

10:18 Jeff Wilson on the radar

12:20 Seattle's backfield after Chris Carson's mild ankle injury

15:13 Cordarrelle Patterson's role with Tarik Cohen (torn ACL) out

17:50 Detroit's annoying backfield

21:12 Any interest in La'Mical Perine?

25:24 Justin Jefferson breaks out

27:59 Brandon Aiyuk takes advantage

32:10 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 Patrick

43:55 Buying into Andy Isabella's two-TD game?

45:57 Hunter Renfrow's opportunity in Vegas

49:08 Buffalo's WR depth chart if John Brown (calf) misses time

50:55 Tee Higgins shows up

53:55 Ignore Philadelphia's receivers

56:02 Blowing past the tight end position

58:59 Quarterbacks to stream in Week 4

61:02 Defenses to stream in Week 4

Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBeller

Follow Jake on Twitter: @allinkid

Follow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunston

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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.

Rundown

1:20 Games to target for DFS in Week 3

3:47 Quarterback targets in Week 3

7:55 No shortage of ways to attack the running back position

15:17 Stars and scrubs at wide receiver

24:14 Finding bargains at tight end

26:14 No obvious options at defense

29:47 Week 3 picks against the spread

30:18 Week 2 audit

31:57 Patriots (-6.5) vs. Raiders

33:23 Bills (-2.5) vs. Rams

34:30 Steelers (-4) vs. Texans

36:41 49ers (-4) at Giants

38:51 Titans (-2.5) at Vikings

40:26 Browns (-7) vs. Washington

42:14 Eagles (-4.5) vs. Bengals

44:24 Falcons (-3) vs. Bears

46:10 Colts (-11.5) vs. Jets

47:18 Chargers (-6.5) vs. Panthers

49:03 Cardinals (-5.5) vs. Lions

51:08 Buccaneers (-6) at Broncos

53:02 Seahawks (-5) vs. Cowboys

54:37 Saints (-3) vs. Packers

55:38 Ravens (-3.5) vs. Chiefs

56:58 Recapping our Week 3 picks

58:01 Week 3 survivor picks

Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBeller

Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper

Follow Vic on Twitter: @VicTafur

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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.

Rundown

2:48 Today's topics

4:28 Fill in the blanks on James Robinson

8:11 James Robinson vs. Leonard Fournette

10:28 What happened to Matt Breida?

14:05 Reason to believe in Brandon Aiyuk?

17:23 Nyheim Hines vs. Jordan Howard

20:10 Cutting your FAB losses

22:09 Emmanuel Sanders vs. Sony Michel

31:21 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 tangent

37:33 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 leagues

Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifino

Follow Moody on Twitter: @EricNMoody

Follow Jake on Twitter: @allinkid

Get a subscription to The Athletic for $1/month at theathletic.com/fantasyfootballpod

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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.

Rundown
1:26 The Consensus Start-Every-Week QBs
4:48 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 Week
14:30 A Fringe QB You'd Start This Week
17:28 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 Baltimore
29:06 Antonio Gibson Expectations
31:19 A Regular Starting RB You'd Bench This Week
32:47 A Fringe RB You'd Start This Week
35:12 Players to BUY HIGH or SELL LOW
38:00 Is CeeDee Lamb a Must-Start Receiver?
41:03 Jerry Jeudy's Standing for the Rest of the Season
44:00 Tre'Quan Smith's Role for the Saints
46:47 Forcing Robby Anderson and Corey Davis Into Lineups This Week?
52:39 A Regular Starting WR You'd Bench This Week
54:20 A Fringe WR You'd Start This Week
56:08 Have Any Tight Ends Made the Leap This Year?
57:05 Noah Fant vs. Dallas Goedert
59:22 A Fringe TE You'd Start This Week

Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBeller
Follow Jake on Twitter: @allinkid
Follow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunston

Get a subscription to The Athletic for $1/month at theathletic.com/fantasyfootballpod

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