Joining host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) this week is Matthew Freedman (@MattFtheOracle), and their first order of business is to sift through the wreckage of what looks like a season-ending injury for RB Derrick Henry. Is Jeremy McNichols the next man up for the Titans? How will this affect the fantasy value of Ryan Tannehill and A.J. Brown? Matt and Pat also discuss lessons learned from the 2021 season to date. Have we figured out optimal TE strategy yet? Are there hard lessons to be learned from Robby Anderson’s collapse or from Kenneth Gainwell’s scant usage in Week 8 despite the absence of Miles Sanders< Matt and Pat also discuss rookie RBs Elijah Mitchell, Michael Carter and Jaret Patterson.  Matt details his Waffle House challenge this summer – how he approached the task of downing numerous large waffles over a short time period, and what it was like to spend nearly a full day in a Texas diner. Matt talks about doing research for a book on the late Alice in Chains frontman Layne Staley, leading to a broader discussion of early-to-mid 1990s music and some of Matt and Pat’s favorite albums from that period. Matt talks about some of his hits and misses with player evaluations this season, and Matt and Pat close with some discussion about the Falcons’ passing game minus Calvin Ridley, the potential value of Michael Thomas, the outlooks for Stefon Diggs, and what’s gone wrong with Mike Williams.  Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)  Guest: Matthew Freedman (@MattFtheOracle)        Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)  Music provided by International Jet Set    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fitz on Fantasy

Waffle Ironman (guest: Matthew Freedman)

Host Pat Fitzmaurice @Fitz_FF) welcomes in fellow Chicagoan Andy Behrens (@andybehrens) of Yahoo Fantasy, and of course the conversation begins with a little Bears talk. After some nightmarish performances, should we be concerned about Justin Fields’ long-term future? And is rookie RB Khalil Herbert good enough to have a significant role in the Chicago offense once David Montgomery returns from injury? The NFL declared Sunday of Week 7 to be National Tight Ends Day, and there were some newsworthy TE performances. Is Kyle Pitts good enough to pass Travis Kelce to become the TE1 for 2022 fantasy drafts? What’s the outlook for Zach Ertz in Arizona? How should fantasy managers feel about George Kittle and T.J. Hockenson going forward?  Andy talks about being a superfan of the band The Replacements in the late ’80s, and he and Pat discuss the band, its legacy and some of its best songs. At this year’s King’s Classic at the Fantasy Football Expo in Canton, Ohio, Andy drafted a team that was widely panned by Sirius XM Fantasy Channel hosts and Twitter critics alike. Who’s on that team and how is it doing? Andy tells all. Andy and Pat also discuss Leonard Fournette, Chase Claypool, Michael Gallup and Tua Tagovailoa.  Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)  Guest: Andy Behrens (@andybehrens)               Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)  Music provided by International Jet Set and The Replacements  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Replacements-Level Talent (guest: Andy Behrens)

Host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) welcomes in Troy King (@TKingMode) of Footballguys.com and Yahoo Fantasy. After a brief discussion about injuries and horror movies, Troy, a Dolphins fan, offers his take on Miami’s convoluted backfield, the value of Jaylen Waddle and Mike Gesicki, and whether Tua Tagovailoa is going to become a quality NFL quarterback. Six weeks into the season, we’re starting to figure out where we went right and wrong on players, and Troy lists some of his analytical hits and misses, including Antonio Brown, Leonard Fournette and Marquise Brown.  Troy explains how he first got into fantasy football and how he came to be a fantasy content creator. Then he tells Pat about his significant recent weight loss: what made him decide to make a change, and how he went about slimming down. Troy and Pat then try to peg Christian McCaffrey’s rest-of-season value, discuss the eventual return of Michael Thomas, and offer their assessments of Calvin Ridley. There’s also some talk about Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, Michael Pittman, T.Y Hilton and Elijah Mitchell.  Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)  Guest: Troy King (@TKingMode)                      Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)  Music provided by International Jet Set   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fit for a King (guest: Troy King)

Joining host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) this week is Dave Kluge (@Dave Kluge) of Footballguys.com, co-host of the Footballguys Mailbag Show. It’s Bears-Packers week, and with Dave and Pat on opposite sides of the NFL’s oldest and most storied rivalry, they share some Bears-Packers memories and discuss Justin Fields, Allen Robinson and A.J. Dillon. There’s also some rookie receiver talk, as Dave and Pat take stock of Ja’Marr Chase’s eye-opening season, try to determine whether Kadarius Toney’s scorching-hot start is for real, and debate whether to believe the Rondale Moore hype.  Dave talks about how his wife Emily supported him in the decision to leave the security of a real-world job for a job in the fantasy industry, then tells the story of how Emily got her fledgling pie business off the ground. Then it’s back to football for the final leg of the show. Is Alvin Kamara a sell-high candidate after a big Week 5? How should we feel about Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault going forward? Is Adam Thielen’s value crumbling? How valuable can Elijah Mitchell be? Is Trey Sermon droppable? Dave and Pat discuss these topics and more.  Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)  Guest: Dave Kluge (@DaveKluge)                     Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)  Music provided by International Jet Set   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Age of Kadarius (guest: Dave Kluge)

Host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) welcomes in 4for4.com senior editor Jennifer Eakins (@themondaymommy), proving that Pat doesn’t hold grudges even though Jen and John Paulsen just defeated Pat and Melissa Jacobs in a big Week 4 Hall of Fantasy League showdown. Jen discusses her HOFL team, the Boston Barflies, and the outlook for two of her running backs, Javonte Williams and Elijah Mitchell. Jen and Pat also talk about the rise of D.J. Moore, the unexpected emergence of Cordarrelle Patterson in an otherwise disappointing Atlanta offense, and the strange dynamics of the Eagles’ backfield.  A self-described cheese freak, Jen lists some of her favorite varieties, and she and Pat (who hails from Wisconsin, the land of cheese) offer some melting-hot takes on American, Swiss and parmesan. Jen and Pat also discuss survivor pool strategy, players who can be dropped from fantasy teams in Week 5, and 2021 surprises and disappointments.  Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)  Guest: Jennifer Eakins (@themondaymommy)   Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)  Music provided by International Jet Set   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Say Cheese (guest: Jennifer Eakins)

Mike Tagliere of FantasyPros died last week after a battle with COVID-19. Tags was a beloved figure in the fantasy industry – an outstanding analyst deeply devoted to his work, and a mentor and friend to many.  Host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) brings in Dan Harris (@danharris80) of FantasyPros to discuss their friend, to share stories, to remember, mourn and celebrate the loss of someone who meant so much to so many people.   Please consider making a donation to the GoFundMe campaign that FantasyPros has organized to help support Tags’ wife Tabbie and their two children, Alyssa and Jonathan: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-tagliere-family.  Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)  Guest: Dan Harris (@danharris80)                      Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Farewell, Tags (guest: Dan Harris)

Fitz on Fantasy returns after a one-week hiatus, which host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) explains at the top of the show. Then he brings in Joe Bond (F6P_Joe) of FantasySixPack.net and the Fantasy Six Pack hour to discuss some early-season developments. What does the insertion of Taylor Heinicke mean for the Washington offense, and will J.D. McKissic continue to be a thorn in the sides of Antonio Gibson investors? Is it worth keeping Trey Sermon and Brandon Aiyuk on rosters, or are they simply Joe Williams and Dante Pettis 2.0?  Joe talks about his faithful dog, explains the significance of Old Bay Seasoning to Marylanders and, as the host of a show that blends fantasy football and beer-drinking, offers a few IPA recommendations. Joe and Pat discuss whether Courtland Sutton can be a true alpha receiver for Denver and whether all hope is lost for Jacksonville’s WR trio. They also assess the suddenly high-flying Raiders passing game and the fantasy value of Derek Carr, Henry Ruggs, and Bryan Edwards. There’s also some talk about the feast-or-famine Saints, the surging Sam Darnold, the polarizing Kyle Pitts, and the intriguing Cordarrelle Patterson.  Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)  Guest: Joe Bond (@F6P_Joe)                              Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)  Music provided by International Jet Set   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Old Bay Network (guest: Joe Bond)

The offseason is over! The NFL season is nigh! With just hours to go before the Thursday-night kickoff, host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) is joined by Matt Donnelly (@MattDonnellyFF) of dynastyvipers.com and the ViperCast. Should we feel confident about Dak Prescott now that he’s back from a shoulder injury? And how good should we feel about his Week 1 matchup with the Buccaneers? What about Saquon Barkley, who’s coming off a major knee injury? Matt and Pat assess the recovering superstars, and then Matt touts two of his favorite young WR crushes: Darnell Mooney and Jakobi Meyers  How does someone living in Medicine Hat, Alberta, get so into the NFL and fantasy football? Matt discusses his football fandom, his proximity to hockey, his big (and I mean BIG) family and his glorious mustache. Then, Matt and Pat talk about the Patriots’ offense and their mutual affinity for Rhamondre Stevenson, what Wayne Gallman’s arrival means for the Atlanta backfield, and players Matt has been chasing avoiding throughout draft season  Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)  Guest: Matt Donnelly (@MattDonnelly)            Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)  In association with TheFootballGirl.com  Music provided by International Jet Set   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Man on the Mooney (guest: Matt Donnelly)

Host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) is joined by Joe Dolan, who’s the managing editor and co-owner of FantasyPoints.com and will be in your ear on NFL Sundays as the co-host of “Gameday” on the Sirius XM Channel. Joe and Pat talk about how to value Gus Edwards after the J.K. Dobbins injury. Could Edwards be a Derrick Henry lite? There’s also a re-examination of the Rams’ backfield and how fantasy managers should regard Darrell Henderson and Sony Michael. Joe and Pat also offer some thoughts on a couple of Jacksonville fantasy assets: James Robinson and Laviska Shenault. Joe provides some thoughts on the Deshaun Watson-to-Miami rumors, and as a lifelong Eagles fan, he also gives his take on Jalen Hurts, Miles Sanders and the Eagles pass catchers.  After moving to Greenville, South Carolina a little over a year ago, Joe sizes up his new home – its vibe, its climate and its culinary delights. Joe muses on hosting “Gameday” and talking for nearly eight hours straight on fall Sundays. Finally, Joe lists some of his favorite late-round dart throws in drafts, players he’s been trying to acquire in every draft, and players he’s been avoiding.  Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)  Guest: Joe Dolan (@FG_Dolan)                         Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)  In association with TheFootballGirl.com  Music provided by International Jet Set   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Janis’s Razor (guest: Joe Dolan)

Host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) opens the show with a shout-out to ailing friend Mike Tagliere, then welcomes in Sean Koerner (@The_Oddsmaker) of The Action Network. Sean and Pat discuss where James Robinson should go in fantasy drafts now that Travis Etienne is out for the season, and whether Marquez Callaway should be a draft target after his tour-de-force performance in a preseason game against the Jaguars. Sean offers some thoughts on macro RB strategy, and then he and Pat dig into the upper tiers of the position. They agree that it’s hard to parse the running backs in the RB5-RB14 range, and they reveal the players they’re targeting and the player they’re avoiding in that range. Sean defines “frozen pond running backs” and names a few RBs who fall into that dangerous category.   Keenan Allen and Terry McLaurin are popular draft targets for a lot of people, but Sean explains why they don’t fit his draft plans. Sean and Pat talk about Ja’Marr Chase and whether it’s right that his fantasy stock is plummeting. After some discussion about QB and TE strategy, Sean talks about how he became interested in betting odds and gambling, when he first began placing bets, and some of the weirdest things he’s ever wagered on. To close the show, Sean names some of his favorite late-round dart throws, some of the players he’s targeting in every draft, and some of the players he refuses to touch.  Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)  Guest: Sean Koerner (@The_Oddsmaker)          Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)  In association with TheFootballGirl.com  Music provided by International Jet Set   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Wizard of Odds (guest: Sean Koerner)

This is a BIG week of fantasy drafts, so host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) welcomes in another heavy-hitting guest, Justin Boone (@justinboone) of TheScore.com. Justin and Pat open with a meditation on Preseason Week 1, focusing on the shifting tectonics of the Miami RB situation and the increasing appeal of the Denver offense. Justin and Pat compare notes on a couple of players they have ranked above consensus (Tua Tagovailoa and D.J. Moore) and debate a few players on whom they disagree (Chris Carson, Robby Anderson, Ryan Fitzpatrick.  Justin has finished in the top seven of the FantasyPros in-season accuracy competition for seven straight years. Pat asks Justin about his rankings process – not how he builds rankings and projections, but where in the house he works, what he listens to while doing it and how long it takes him. Justin and Pat also compare notes on their in-season rankings anxiety. Finally, Justin and Pat talk about favorite late-round dart throws, and Justin names players he’s avoiding and players he doesn’t want to leave drafts without.  Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)  Guest: Justin Boone (@justinboone)                   Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)  In association with TheFootballGirl.com  Music provided by International Jet Set   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boone or Bust (guest: Justin Boone)

Joining host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) this week is Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) of Yahoo Sports and ReceptionPerception.com. Despite being FantasyPros’ reigning accuracy champ for draft rankings, Matt has a fraught relationship with fantasy rankings. He and Pat discuss the shortcomings of rankings and projections, and Matt talks about how he generally likes to construct his teams. Then it’s a heavy dose of wide receiver talk, with Matt offering thoughts on Michael Pittman, Brandon Aiyuk, the Steelers’ WR trio, CeeDee Lamb and, on a less enthusiastic note, Jalen Reagor. (Sorry, Eagles fans.) Matt and Pat also take a closer look at the San Francisco and Pittsburgh offenses and elaborate on why decoding them is so important for fantasy managers this year.  Matt talks about the adjustment to a two-dog household and his unlikely source for great cooking tips. Then it’s more receiver talk, with Matt weighing in on longtime Harmon favorite Tyler Lockett, underrated Jakobi Meyers, hipster darling Laviska Shenault, and rookies Elijah Moore and Rashod Bateman.  Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)  Guest: Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB)     Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)  In association with TheFootballGirl.com  Music provided by International Jet Set   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Receiving End (guest: Matt Harmon)

August is upon us, and with the heart of fantasy draft season dead ahead, host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) welcomes in Scott Pianowski (@scott_pianowski) of Yahoo Fantasy. Scott shares his philosophy on how to value injured players, and he and Pat discuss what to do with Michael Thomas and how to value Jonathan Taylor and other Colts now that Carson Wentz and Quenton Nelson are hurt. In Scott’s world, steady, undervalued, profitable veterans are referred to as Raul Ibanez All-Stars – a hat tip to the ever-reliable MLB slugger. Perhaps the NFL equivalent should be the Robert Woods All-Stars. Who besides Woods offers dependable, unsexy value, and why are those types of players so important? Scott and Pat drop some names.  Scott recaps his recent golf trip and explains how golf helped get him through the pandemic. There’s also some musical conversation, of course, with Scott explaining why John Lennon is his favorite Beatle and assessing the career of George Harrison. Scott and Pat talk about “Hard Knocks” and this year’s featured team, the Cowboys. Who’s likely to be the more valuable WR – Amari Cooper or CeeDee Lamb? And how early is too early to draft Ezekiel Elliott? Scott and Pat debate who should go 1.03 in drafts, and Scott weighs in on Damien Harris, Jakobi Meyers and D’Andre Swift.  Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)  Guest: Scott Pianowski (@scott_pianowski)      Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)  In association with TheFootballGirl.com  Music provided by International Jet Set   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Isn’t It Good, Norwegian Woods (guest: Scott Pianowski)

With NFL training camps opening in full this week, RotoViz co-owner and Zero-RB innovator Shawn Siegele (@FF_Contrarian) joins host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) to cover a wide array of fantasy topics. Is Jonathan Taylor ready to become a fantasy ultra-back? Shawn offers compelling reasons to take Taylor in the middle of the first round. Although he wasn’t pleased that his Chiefs drafted Clyde Edwards-Helaire over Taylor, Shawn lays out a scenario where CEH could gain significant fantasy value in 2021 and also expresses enthusiasm for J.K. Dobbins, Antonio Gibson and D’Andre Swift. Shawn talks about his new podcast with RotoViz alumnus Ben Gretch and offers some thoughts on polarizing tennis star Novak Djokovic.  In his Scott Fish Bowl draft, Shawn took Cam Akers late in the third round and didn’t take another RB until the 15th round. The six running backs he took in the last eight rounds are among his favorite Zero-RB targets. Find out which cheap RBs he went after. Shawn also explains why he’s high on Logan Thomas and discusses his Tyler Boyd and Henry Ruggs selections. Shawn and Pat talk about the fallout from the Akers injury and discuss possible ripple effects of the Michael Thomas injury. Do you believe the WR position is deep? Shawn and Pat believe that’s a fallacy and offer reasons why. There’s also some talk about whether any of the Chiefs’ WRs other than Tyreek Hill offer compelling fantasy potential.  Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)  Guest: Shawn Siegele (@FF_Contrarian)           Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)  In association with TheFootballGirl.com  Music provided by International Jet Set   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jonny and Clyde (guest: Shawn Siegele)

Fitz on Fantasy is THE podcast for obsessive fantasy football enthusiasts. Brought to you each week by Pat Fitzmaurice with a special guest from the fantasy football industry to discuss fantasy's hottest topics and dish out plenty of advice, with occasional forays into food, music, TV, and other real-world topics. Fitzmaurice has been sharing top notch fantasy tips since the '90s, when he was an editor at Pro Football Weekly. He was 2017's second-most accurate ranker in the FantasyPros accuracy competition. His work has appeared on 4for4 and SI.com and can currently be found at TheFootballGirl.com. Thanks for listening, and don't forget to subscribe to make sure you don't miss a show. Follow Fitz on Twitter at @Fitz_FF.

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Fitz on Fantasy

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