Stay ConnectedGet the award-winning strategies, insight and analysis you need to win your league, every week. The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast has you covered with the analysis of Jake Ciely, Brandon Funston, Chris Welsh, Nando Di Fino and Chris Vaccaro.
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Injuries were the main story of Week 2, but there were plenty of side plots that will roll on as we turn the calendar to Week 3. Nando Di Fino and Emory Hunt dive into some of those—including Washington's offense, Nyehim Hines' usage, and old quarterbacks throwing the deep ball—on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.
Rundown
5:30 What's up with Mitch Trubisky?
7:10 The Giants' (Unfortunate) New-Look Backfield
11:43 How Does a Back Fix a Fumbling Problem?
18:31 Dwayne Haskins and the Washington Offense
23:39 Checking in on Antonio Gibson
32:43 Nyheim Hines' Week 2 Usage
35:52 The Cowboys' Decision to Go for Two
38:51 Tampa Bay's Backfield
40:05 Tom Brady's and Drew Brees' Arm Strength
40:53 Curtis Samuel's Role Without Christian McCaffrey
42:08 No Time to Fade Austin Hooper
44:15 Buying Washington's Pass Rush
Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifino
Follow Emory on Twitter: @FBallGameplan
Get a subscription to The Athletic for $1/month at theathletic.com/fantasyfootballpod
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The good news? The waiver wire is filled with intriguing players ahead of Week 3. The bad news? It's only because so many players suffered injuries in Week 2. Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston break it all down on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.
Rundown
1:16 Josh Allen is Taking Off
5:02 Justin Herbert Makes a Successful Debut
7:01 Another Curveball from Sean McVay in the Backfield
11:13 Christian McCaffrey out 4-to-6 Weeks
15:02 The Giants' Backfield Without Saquon Barkley
17:58 Raheem Mostert Has a Sprained MCL
20:04 Myles Gaskin Drawing Our Attention
21:54 Ranking the Waiver Wire RBs
28:43 Courtland Sutton Out for the Season
32:07 Another Big Game for Robby Anderson
34:28 Russell Gage Proving Himself Viable
37:33 Time to Buy Corey Davis
41:05 Sterling Shepard's Injury Opens the Door for Golden Tate
44:04 Any Interest in Allen Lazard or Marquez Valdes-Scantling?
49:04 Keelan Cole Shows up Again for the Jaguars
52:39 Jordan Reed Delivers in George Kittle's Absence
53:57 Time to Drop Rob Gronkowski
55:15 Tight Ends to Stream in Week 3
56:36 Quarterbacks to Stream in Week 3
58:25 Defenses to Stream in Week 3
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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Falcons-Cowboys dominates the Week 2 DFS slate, but there is plenty of goodness to be found outside that game. Michael Beller and Brandon Funston help you find it...while also talking plenty about that likely scoring bonanza. Then, Beller and Vic Tafur highlight their five favorite picks against the spread among the 15 remaining Week 2 games.
Rundown
1:34 Games to Target in DFS Contests
3:21 Dak Prescott Tops the QB List
4:59 A Case for Kyler Murray
6:42 Going Cheap at QB with Mitch Trubisky and Kirk Cousins
8:27 Jonathan Taylor a DFS Free Space
10:09 The RBs to Back if You Spend Big at the Position
12:09 The Ronald Jones Argument
13:41 Believing in Miles Sanders Right from the Jump
16:35 Playing all the Falcons' and Cowboys' Receivers
19:01 Emmanuel Sanders Climbs the Ranks
20:46 Tampa Bay's Receivers with Chris Godwin (Concussion) Likely Out
22:16 A Bounceback for Tyler Higbee
24:06 Brandon Beats the Drum for Jared Cook
25:21 Defense/Special Teams Plays
29:52 Week 2 Picks Against the Spread
32:03 Rams-Eagles
33:15 Panthers-Buccaneers
34:25 Broncos-Steelers
36:10 Falcons-Cowboys
37:55 49ers-Jets
39:29 Bills-Dolphins
41:13 Vikings-Colts
42:36 Lions-Packers
43:49 Giants-Bears
45:45 Jaguars-Titans
47:42 Washington-Cardinals
49:51 Ravens-Texans
50:58 Chiefs-Chargers
53:06 Patriots-Seahawks
54:41 Saints-Raiders
57:23 Recapping our Picks, Plus a Look at Survivor
Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBeller
Follow Brandon on Twitter: @BrandonFunston
Follow Vic on Twitter: @VicTafur
Get a subscription to The Athletic for $1/month at theathletic.com/fantasyfootballpod
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Nando, Jake and Moody had so much fun peering into the crystal ball last week that they decided to run it back for Week 2. Will Nyheim Hines or A.J. Green have more receptions? Will Adrian Peterson or James Robinson rack up more yards from scrimmage? Which former Iowa tight end will have more receiving yards this week: T.J. Hockenson or Noah Fant? Jake and Moody answer all those questions, and more. Plus, Nando wraps up the show with a screwball game of Would You Rather?
Rundown
3:18 Tiki Barber on Saquon Barkley
7:35 Saquon Barkley vs. Jonathan Taylor
8:31 More Receptions: Nyheim Hines or A.J. Green?
13:03 More Total Yards: Adrian Peterson or James Robinson?
16:24 Starting in a Superflex: Baker Mayfield or Melvin Gordon?
19:50 More Passing Yards: Tom Brady or Joe Burrow?
25:43 David Johnson Over/Under 88.5 Yards From Scrimmage
27:20 Frank Gore Over/Under 10.5 Non-PPR Fantasy Points
30:06 Washington's Leading Rusher in Week 2...
32:56 More Receiving Yards: T.J. Hockenson or Noah Fant?
34:35 More Receiving Yards: Tre'Quan Smith or Christian Kirk?
37:04 Difficult Decisions, or Would You Rather?
37:40 Start Frank Gore; Start Rex Burkhead; Congestion Issues?
39:07 Start 120th Player at Flex; Start 30th QB; Not Enough Sugar?
41:32 Start Three Jets; Start Three Patriots; No More Eggs?
43:00 Lineup Locks on Wednesday with All Questionable Players; Lineup Made up Entirely of Rookies; Every Checkout Person Thinks You're 'Super Creepy'?
45:24 No. 1 QB Accuracy, but Bad Everywhere Else; Discover a Formula to Perfectly Predict Kicker Performance; Every Fantasy Question Has a Follow-Up?
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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One week does not make a season, but it can alter our perception of players heading into Week 2. Is Drew Brees in trouble without Michael Thomas? Is J.K. Dobbins the lead back in Baltimore? Is Mike Williams the best fantasy receiver for the Chargers? Beller, Jake and Funston get into all that, while also offering up opinions on nearly 50 players for Week 2, on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast.
Rundown
1:51 The Game of the Week for Week 2
3:41 A Tepid Start for Tom Brady
7:12 Drew Brees Without Michael Thomas
9:15 Can Carson Wentz Rebound in Week 2?
11:44 Quarterback Lightning Round, Featuring Jimmy Garoppolo, Gardnew Minshew and Cam Newton
16:27 What Do You Need to See from the Browns on Thursday?
20:07 Ronald Jones is Jake's RB22?!?
22:05 Any Clarity on Buffalo's Backfield?
24:00 Is J.K. Dobbins the Man in Baltimore's Backfield?
27:06 The Week 1 RB Surprises Who Need to Be in Your Lineups This Week
29:30 Running Back Lightning Round, Featuring Austin Ekeler, Benny Snell and D'Andre Swift
34:59 Emmanuel Sanders is a Play, but We Have a Difference of Opinion on Tre'Quan Smith
39:00 Enough Space for CeeDee Lamb to Get Going This Week?
42:13 Trusting Marvin Jones Against the Packers?
44:25 Implications of Week 1 Usage for Mike Williams, Diontae Johnson and Anthony Miller
47:52 Wide Receiver Lightning Round, Featuring Jalen Reagor, Mike Evans and DeVante Parker
52:31 Should T.J. Hockenson Be Locked Into Fantasy Lineups?
54:07 Should Dallas Goedert Be Locked Into Fantasy Lineups?
57:28 Should Noah Fant Be Locked Into Fantasy Lineups?
59:15 Trust Level in Evan Engram
61:20 Tight End Lightning Round, Featuring Tyler Higbee, Hayden Hurst and Logan Thomas
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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Nando Di Fino and Emory Hunt get together on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast to discuss what was real and wasn't from Week 1. Were Saquon Barkley's struggles an anomaly? How are we feeling about Tom Brady and the Buccaneers? Where do the Colts' and Browns' backfields go from here? Nando and Emory ask and answer all those questions, and more.
Rundown
1:33 A Résumé-Based Week 1 Victory Lap
7:16 Saquon's Anomaly
13:41 The Colts' Backfield Without Marlon Mack
17:46 Is Jacksonville's Week 1 Performance for Real?
26:07 Time to Panic about Baker Mayfield?
30:55 Checking in on Nick Chubb, Mark Ingram and Nyheim Hines
34:31 An Appropriate Spot to Overreact
37:49 Tom Brady and the Buccaneers' Offense
39:17 Ugh, Jets
41:21 Auditing the New Head Coaches
42:45 Still Buying Pat Shurmur and the Broncos
45:12 The Ageless Adrian Peterson
Follow Nando on Twitter: @nandodifino
Follow Emory on Twitter: @FBallGameplan
Get a subscription to The Athletic for $1/month at theathletic.com/fantasyfootballpod
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The NFL is back and it did not disappoint in Week 1. Michael Beller, Jake Ciely and Brandon Funston dive into the biggest Week 1 fantasy football stories on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast. Will Josh Jacobs and Jonathan Taylor retain major roles in the passing game? How big a problem is Joshua Kelley for Austin Ekeler? Is J.K. Dobbins already pushing Mark Ingram aside? The guys answer those questions, plus take a comprehensive look at the Week 2 waiver wire.
Rundown
3:04 Josh Jacobs', Jonathan Taylor's, and Austin Ekeler's Activity in the Passing Game
7:44 J.K. Dobbins Pushing Mark Ingram Aside?
12:24 Concerns for Austin Hooper?
14:37 The Seahawks' Offense Delivers
19:43 How Aggressive Should You Be on Joshua Kelley?
21:53 Buying Malcolm Brown in a Big Way
25:54 Is Nyheim Hines Lesser Austin Ekeler or Better James White?
28:17 Adrian Peterson Keeps on Ticking
30:00 Don't Fall for Peyton Barber
31:34 Where Does Myles Gaskin Fall?
34:14 Parris Campbell Looks the Part
35:49 Russell Gage Goes Off in Week 1
37:33 Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling Deliver
40:34 Week 1 Sammy Watkins Rides Again
42:42 Robby Anderson Shines in Carolina Debut
43:59 Ranking the Waiver Wire Receivers
46:58 Is Dallas Goedert a TE1?
49:21 Logan Thomas Puts Himself on the Radar
51:15 Quarterbacks to Stream in Week 2
52:37 Defenses to Stream in Week 2
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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Week 1 is here, and the first full Sunday of NFL action can't arrive soon enough. Michael Beller and Derek VanRiper get you ready for the DFS weekend ahead with their favorite plays at every position, and various lineup-building strategies. Then, Beller and Vic Tafur make their five favorite picks against the spread for the week. They also both give an upset special, and weigh in on survivor pools, where there aren't a lot of attractive picks in Week 1.
Rundown
2:38 The Latest on Injuries to Courtland Sutton, Kenny Golladay and Mike Evans
6:34 Games to Target in DFS Contests
8:55 Quarterbacks to Play in Week 1
11:09 A Bears Stack Led By Mitch Trubisky?
14:41 The Difficulty of Working Christian McCaffrey Into Lineups
16:59 Lots of Love for Josh Jacobs and Joe Mixon
19:11 Targeting the Mid-Level Wide Receivers
23:31 Paying the Premium for George Kittle?
27:05 Trusting Washington's Defense Against the Eagles?
31:16 Let's Make Some Picks Against the Spread
32:05 Dolphins-Patriots
33:58 Browns-Ravens
35:59 Jets-Bills
38:25 Raiders-Panthers
40:02 Bears-Lions
41:16 Colts-Jaguars
42:59 Chargers-Bengals
46:36 Cardinals-49ers
49:10 Buccaneers-Saints
51:43 Cowboys-Rams
53:28 Steelers-Giants
55:47 Picks Recap and Upset Specials
58:32 Backing the Bills in Survivor Pools
Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBeller
Follow Derek on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper
Follow Vic on Twitter: @VicTafur
Get a subscription to The Athletic for $1/month at theathletic.com/fantasyfootballpod
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Nando Di Fino brings a crystal ball to this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast, asking Jake Ciely and Eric Moody to peer into it and share what they see for Week 1. Will Dwayne Haskins throw for more than 275.5 yards? Can Tom Brady toss three touchdowns in his Buccaneers' debut? And who will lead the Lions in rushing? The guys share their thoughts on those questions, and a whole lot more.
Rundown
3:33 Dwayne Haskins Over/Under 275.5 Passing Yards
6:43 Bryce Love Over/Under 45.5 Total Yards
12:32 A.J. Green Over/Under 62.5 Receiving Yards
13:52 Tom Brady Over/Under 2.5 Passing Touchdowns
15:12 O.J. Howard Over/Under 23.5 Receiving Yards
18:36 Who Leads Jacksonville in Rushing?
20:40 Who Leads Detroit in Rushing?
25:45 Who Leads Tampa Bay in Rushing?
31:36 Who Leads New England in Rushing?
34:00 CeeDee Over/Under 62.5 Receiving Yards?
36:14 Melvin Gordon Over/Under 15.5 PPR Points?
39:16 More Total Yards: Todd Gurley or Cam Akers?
45:01 Week 1 Quick Hits
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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The NFL is back, Week 1 is here, and it's time to rank some players. Jake Ciely, Brandon Funston and Michael Beller dive into the Week 1 fantasy football rankings on this episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast. Are you starting both Colts running backs? What are you doing with Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones? Is DeSean Jackson set for more Week 1 heroics? What's the game of the week? The guys answer all those questions, and a whole lot more.
Rundown
2:38 The Game of the Week
5:43 The Mid-Tier QBs You're Trusting and Fading in Week 1
11:55 Victory Lap Off-the-Radar QB
13:00 Is There a Regular Starter at QB Who Should Be Benched?
15:10 Watch Darrel Williams Closely on Thursday Night
16:40 If You Have a Colts RB, Are You Starting Him?
19:33 Start Both Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay?
21:28 What Do We Make of Titans-Broncos?
23:36 Throwing Antonio Gibson Right Into the Fire?
27:45 Stay Away from Tampa Bay's RBs
29:08 Victory Lap Off-the-Radar RBs
31:10 Regular Starting RBs Who Could Be on Your Bench
35:38 DeSean Jackson Crushes Week 1
37:33 Odell Beckham and the Browns Draw a Tough Week 1 Matchup
39:31 Sterling Shepard and the Giants' Receivers
41:37 Riding with the Raiders' Receivers
44:18 Victory Lap Off-the-Radar WRs
46:07 Regular Starting WRs Who Could Be on Your Bench
47:58 Trusting Rob Gronkowski Right out of the Gate?
49:57 Sneaky Value in Eric Ebron
54:00 Not Worried About Mike Gescki's Depth Chart Standing
55:41 Victory Lap Off-the-Radar Tight Ends
57:08 Regular Starting TEs Who Could Be on Your Bench
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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