The NFL Draft draws ever nearer, so the Class of 2021 continues to be a primary topic on the show. This week, host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) brings in RotoViz co-owner and senior analyst Dave Caban (@DaveCabanFF) to discuss his research into the rookie RBs and WRs. Which metrics should we be looking at? Who’s popped in Dave’s research, and who has red flags? And after Dave empties the left side of his brain, Pat taps into the right side, asking Dave which prospects he’s conflicted about and which ones he’s planted flags on.  

Dave talks about his battles with depression and anxiety, and the coping methods he’s had success with. There’s some macro conversation about dynasty startup drafts, as Pat and Dave talk about which positions they like to attack and whether they like to chase a title right away or play a long game. Dave and Pat also discuss what the 49ers could and should do with the No. 3 pick, favorite late-round best-ball targets, whether Jarvis Landry is a strong bounce-back candidate, and how to play (or not play) the Buccaneers’ backfield in 2021. 

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) 
Guest: Dave Caban (@DaveCabanFF)              
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland) 
In association with TheFootballGirl.com 
Music provided by International Jet Set

Fitz On Fantasy

Going, Going, Vaughn (guest: Dave Caban)

It’s another dynasty-heavy episode of Fitz on Fantasy this week, as host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) is joined by Shane Manila (@ShaneIsTheWorst) of Dynasty League Football and the Dynasty Trades HQ podcast. Shane and Pat start by talking about their preferred dynasty formats. Is there a case to be made for 1QB dynasty leagues? Is TE premium the way to go? There’s also some 2QB dynasty philosophy, as Shane and Pat discuss whether managers in 2QB leagues should feel compelled to draft Zach Wilson and Mac Jones over RBs and pass catchers such as Ja’Marr Chase and Najee Harris.  

Shane explains how he first got into fantasy football and how he got so wrapped up in the dynasty format. He also explains his “less personal s**t, more fantasy” mantra on his Twitter profile page. There’s some rookie TE chatter with Shane talking about the depth of the class and offering thoughts on Kyle Pitts and Pat Freiermuth. What’s Deshaun Watson worth on the trade market these days? Is Cam Akers being overrated in dynasty? Why is Robert Woods perpetually underrated? Is Jalen Reagor a dynasty buy? Shane and Pat tackle these questions and more. 

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) 
Guest: Shane Manila (@ShaneIsTheWorst)       
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland) 
In association with TheFootballGirl.com 
Music provided by International Jet Set

Pitts Stop (guest: Shane Manila)

NFL Draft week is finally upon us, and host Pat Fitzmaurice celebrates by bringing in Matt Waldman, longtime Footballguys.com staffer and the creator of the indispensable Rookie Scouting Portfolio, a must-have for fantasy managers. Matt explains why Peyton Manning was a chef and Tom Brady was a baker, then discusses which of the top QBs from this class might fall into those culinary categories. Matt won’t be aghast if Mac Jones goes to the 49ers with the third pick and explains why, then extols the virtues of Trey Lance, explains why knocks on Justin Fields’ processing are flawed, and expresses his concerns about Zach Wilson. 

Who’s Matt’s No. 1 RB? It isn’t Najee Harris. Having once preferred Marshawn Lynch as a prospect over Adrian Peterson, and Nick Chubb over Saquon Barkley, Matt makes the case for Trey Sermon – and it involves something called curvilinear movement. After offering words of praise for Najee Harris and Michael Carter, Matt makes elevator pitches for Khalil Herbert and Kylin Hill. 

Matt talks the decision to finally ditch his 9-to-5 job to work on the RSP full-time, then discusses his musical background. Then the conversation turns to receivers and what Matt calls the best WR class he’s ever evaluated. He explains why Jaylen Waddle is his No. 2 receiver, compares Rashod Bateman to Cordarrelle Patterson (in a good way), and touts the upside of Kadarius Toney. He also goes to bat for two of his favorite sleepers in the class: Frank Darby and Josh Palmer. Finally, Matt offers a vast array of Kyle Pitts comps – Calvin Johnson, Travis Kelce, Kellen Winslow, Jimmy Graham, Evan Engram, Albert Okwuegbunam – and puts a few chips down on the one he thinks is most likely to stick. 

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) 
Guest: Matt Waldman (@Matt Waldman)         
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland) 
In association with TheFootballGirl.com 
Music provided by International Jet Set

Sermon on the Mount (guest: Matt Waldman)

The 2021 NFL Draft is in the books, and host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) brings in Marcas Grant (@MarcasG) from NFL.com and the NFL Network to discuss rookie landing spots. With so many disappointing RB/team matchups, how excited should we be about the Najee Harris/Steelers fit? Will Melvin Gordon block Javonte Williams in Denver? What should we make of a Travis Etienne/James Robinson/Carlos Hyde backfield in Jacksonville? Marcas lists his top six rookie WRs post-draft and explains why he’s not crazy about the Rashod Bateman/Ravens pairing. He also talks about Terrace Marshall’s outlook in Carolina and Amon-Ra St. Brown’s opportunity in Detroit. Marcas liked Justin Fields more than Trey Lance pre-draft, but does he still feel that way? 

Marcas details his recent trip down a rabbit hole of old dystopian action movies and talks about what he was binge-watching at the onset of the pandemic. A USC grad, Marcas talks Pac-12 rivalries and casts some shade on both UCLA and that most hated of Pac-12 figures, the Stanford Tree. Speaking of USC, there’s a quick glimpse ahead toward next year’s draft as Marcus sizes up USC QB Kedon Slovis, a top 2022 prospect, and Marcas and Pat discuss whether Sam Darnold’s career can be rejuvenated with the Panthers. There’s some obligatory Aaron Rodgers conversation, and the show ends with Marcas offering some quick thoughts on Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Tua Tagavailoa, the Steelers’ WRs, the Saints’ QB situation, and how soon Trey Lance might make his first NFL start. 

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) 
Guest: Marcas Grant (@MarcasG)                     
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland) 
In association with TheFootballGirl.com 
Music provided by International Jet Set

Chopping Down the Tree (guest: Marcas Grant)

Host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) is joined by Dalton Del Don (@daltondeldon) of Yahoo Fantasy, a longtime 49ers fan who thinks Trey Lance deserves consideration as pick 1.01 in superflex dynasty rookie drafts. Dalton also sizes up a San Francisco RB room that now includes rookies Trey Sermon and Elijah Mitchell, and he offers his thoughts on how targets might be allotted between George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. Should Jalen Hurts be a top-10 QB in redraft leagues? Dalton and Pat make the case for Hurts and discuss what the Eagles’ additions of Kenneth Gainwell and Kerryon Johnson mean for Miles Sanders. 

Dalton talks about covering three sports for Yahoo, his favorite all-time team, doing a podcast with the outspoken Chris Liss and working with the eclectic Yahoo team. Should A.J. Brown be the WR1? Is Mike Davis going to be a value pick in 2021 drafts? Is the runway clear for Chase Edmonds and Myles Gaskin? Are we getting too excited about Najee Harris? Do we need to start downgrading Davante Adams and Aaron Jones because of the Aaron Rodgers situation? Dalton and Pat discuss these topics and more. 

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) 
Guest: Dalton Del Don (@daltondeldon)          
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland) 
In association with TheFootballGirl.com 
Music provided by International Jet Set

Sir Lance a Lot (guest: Dalton Del Don)

Host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) welcomes in Pete Davidson (@Rotobahn) to discuss fantasy football and music. Pete and Pat start by discussing how rookies Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne might fare in Jacksonville under new head coach Urban Meyer. Pete makes the case that dynasty managers shouldn’t get locked into their pre-draft evaluations of rookies and should listen to what the NFL is telling them when a player slides, as with Hakeem Butler two years ago. But should that apply to Justin Fields this year? Pete makes the case for Kyle Trask as a worthwhile sleeper in dynasty rookie drafts, and he and Pat discuss the enticing upside of Trey Sermon. A lifelong Jets fan, Pete weighs in on the Zach Wilson pick, the Jets’ messy WR situation, and the likelihood that Michael Carter instantly becomes the Jets’ top RB. 

The conversation shifts to bands, as Pete and Pat talk about musical awakenings – what they were listening to before their ears were opened to the good stuff, and what changed their tastes. Pete answers a series a rapid-fire questions about favorite albums and songs from legendary bands, then recommends a favorite obscure album. There’s a little more conversation about dynasty rookie drafts and whether it makes sense to hoard QBs. Then Pete offers thoughts on some of the second-year RBs, whether Saquon Barkley’s 2020 knee injury still concerns him, and how he views the Browns’ Chubb-Hunt backfield for fantasy purposes. 

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) 
Guest: Pete Davidson (@Rotobahn)                  
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)
In association with TheFootballGirl.com 
Music provided by International Jet Set

8-Trask Tape (guest: Pete Davidson)

Host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) welcomes in Matt Schauf of Draft Sharks (@SchaufDS) to parse some of the hard-to-read RB situations. Will Leonard Fournette’s playoff momentum carry over to the 2021 regular season? Will Travis Etienne completely trash James Robinson’s value? Is it worth investing in Trey Sermon? How confident should we feel about Miles Sanders and D’Andre Swift? Are Mike Davis and Zack Moss value buys? Matt and Pat dig into these ambiguous backfields.  

A longtime IDP ace, Matt discusses the format and offers some strategy tips. Then, after some discussion about grunge music and Pete Rose, Matt and Pat circle back to football, with Matt naming a few players he believes to be overpriced (sorry, Najee Harris truthers) and talking about his dynasty rookie drafts so far. Matt also explains why Mike Gesicki is the cryptocurrency of TEs, then answers a few rapid-fire questions to close out the show. 

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) 
Guest: Matt Schauf (@SchaufDS)                     
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland) 
In association with TheFootballGirl.com 
Music provided by International Jet Set

GesickiCoin (guest: Matt Schauf)

Chris Allen (@ChrisAllenFFWX) of Footballguys.com and 4for4.com joins host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) to discuss two of the greatest things in life: fantasy football and beer. Chris reveals the WR traits he’s looking for in the early, middle, and late rounds of drafts and lists a few of the receivers he likes at their respective costs, including Amari Cooper, Odell Beckham Jr., D.J. Chark, and DeVante Parker. An avid homebrewer, Chris talks about how he got into the hobby, what he likes to make, and the homebrew he considers to be his magnum opus. 

As a resident of Dayton, Ohio, Chris is an avid Bengals fan, and Pat picks his brain on all things Bengals. Was drafting Ja’Marr Chase over Penei Sewell the right move? Should fantasy managers be worried about target competition among Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd? What sort of season can we expect from Joe Burrow? Should we be optimistic about Joe Mixon? Chris and Pat also discuss weather effects, a subject Chris has studied extensively. Chris details his tight end strategy, reveals which rookie RB he expects to draft most often this year, speculates on what a Julio Jones trade to Tennessee would mean for A.J. Brown, and takes his best guess at what the Saints will do at the QB position. 

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) 
Guest: Chris Allen (@ChrisAllenFFWX)          
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland) 
In association with TheFootballGirl.com
Music provided by International Jet Set

Something’s Brewin’ (guest: Chris Allen)

The Julio Jones trade is the big news of the week, and Dan Clasgens (@DanClasgens) of the Fantistics Insider show on the Sirius XM Fantasy Channel joins host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) to break it down. What does the trade do for the fantasy value of Julio? How far should we drop A.J. Brown and Matt Ryan on our draft boards? How much of a bump should we give Calvin Ridley, Kyle Pitts and Ryan Tannehill? Who else gains or loses value? 

Dan and Pat also dig deep into the best-ball format. Dan analyzes a few of his favorite best-ball values, including Terry McLaurin, Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds and Trey Sermon. Dan and Pat also recap the highlights of a charity best-ball draft they recently did together, discussing players such as Cam Akers, Najee Harris and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Dan talks about his work with the Disabled American Veterans and gives Pat an overview of Cincinnati and its local delicacies, covering everything from chili to goetta. There’s also some Bengals talk, as Dan opines on whether taking Ja’Marr Chase over Penei Sewell was the right move, makes a sales pitch for Joe Mixon, and explains why he’s so bullish on the Cincinnati passing game. 

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) 
Guest: Dan Clasgens (@DanClasgens)              
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland) 
In association with TheFootballGirl.com 
Music provided by International Jet Set

Goetta Piece of the Bengals’ Offense (guest: Dan Clasgens)

We’re less than a week away from the official start of summer, which means the heart of fantasy draft season is dead ahead. Host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) welcomes in longtime Footballguys staffer Jason Wood (@fbgwood) for a wide-ranging discussion on fantasy and non-fantasy topics alike. Jason and Pat name some players they believe to be mispriced based on their current ADPs, including Davante Adams, Aaron Jones, Najee Harris, Adam Thielen and Kenny Golladay. Jason makes the case for Tom Brady, David Montgomery, Amari Cooper, Brandin Cooks and some of his other favorite value plays. 

Pat subjects Jason to a quiz about his personal life, asking him about everything from the worst job of his youth to how he likes his eggs. An Eagles season ticketholder, Jason offers his thoughts on a variety of Eagles-related topics. Why is Jalen Hurts more appealing in redraft leagues than in dynasty? Does a crowded RB room temper enthusiasm for Miles Sanders? Is DeVonta Smith likely to be an alpha receiver right from the start? Pat and Jason also discuss the outlook for Carson Wentz in Indianapolis and try to pinpoint where in the first round the first wide receiver should go, and which receiver it should be. 

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) 
Guest: Jason Wood (@fbgwood)                       
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland) 
In association with TheFootballGirl.com 
Music provided by International Jet Set

Short Order Cooks (guest: Jason Wood)

The fantasy football playoffs dead ahead, and host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) is joined this week by Davis Mattek (@Davis Mattek), a well-known fantasy and DFS pundit and the host of an excellent new podcast called The Taekcast. Davis discusses his wide-ranging pod, his past and future in podcasting, and what sort of compensation an archvillain’s henchmen might earn. With Pat and Davis about to clash in the Scott Fish Bowl playoffs, they chat a little about their SFB teams – the good picks, the bad picks, and FAAB money spent wisely and not-so-wisely.

A Kansas City resident who grew up in Chiefs country, Davis talks about Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs’ excellent season (so far) and the possibility of Andy Reid blowing it all with a clock-management blunder. There’s also some discussion about golf and the best barbecue in Kansas City. Pat and Davis close the conversation with some chatter about a number of players, including Cam Newton, Austin Ekeler, Amari Cooper and Phillip Lindsay,

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)
Guest: Davis Mattek (@Davis Mattek)
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)
n association with TheFootballGirl.com

Music provided by International Jet Set

Save Us the Burnt Ends (guest: Davis Mattek)

Happy New Year! For the first podcast of 2019, host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) is joined by lead FantasyPros analyst Mike Tagliere (@MikeTagliereNFL), who talks about putting together his weekly opus “The Primer” during the regular season, what he plans to with his offseason downtime, how his wife motivated him to pursue a full-time career in fantasy football, and why letting Fitz pick the venue for a round of golf is a terrible idea.

Tags and Fitz also discuss whether Le’Veon Bell should be a first-rounder next season, why Lamar Jackson is more of a floor play than an upside play for 2019, what the future holds for Mitch Trubisky, who the top-ranked receiver should be in next year’s drafts, how to play the tight end position in the year ahead, and much more.

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)
Guest: Mike Tagliere (@MikeTagliereNFL)
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)
In association with TheFootballGirl.com
Music provided by International Jet Set

Tags, You’re It (Guest: Mike Tagliere)

With Mardi Gras just around the corner, guest Sigmund Bloom (@Sigmund Bloom) stops by to tell host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) about his recent move to New Orleans, why it feels like home to him, and how some of best fried chicken in the Big Easy can be found in gas stations.

It’s been a surprisingly busy week of NFL news, and Bloom weighs in on the Browns’ signing of Kareem Hunt, Antonio Brown’s goodbye tweet to Steelers fans, and that viral picture of muscled-up Ole Miss receiver prospect D.K. Metcalf. Bloom also discusses the Steelers’ backfield, the evolution of fantasy football podcasts, and some of his favorite finds in the Crescent City’s myriad record stores.

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)
Guest: Sigmund Bloom (@SigmundBloom)
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)
In association with TheFootballGirl.com
Music provided by International Jet Set

Big Easy Does It (guest: Sigmund Bloom)

As the NFL Draft closes in, Russell Clay (@RussellJClay) of FantasyGuru.com joins host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) to discuss some of this year’s draft prospects, starting with a deep dive at wide receiver. Is the Hakeem Butler hype warranted? Is Marquise “Hollywood” brown the next Tyreek Hill or the next Tavon Austin? What should we make of Miles Boykin and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside?

After explaining how he came to love football and what attracted him to the college game, Russell talks about the significance of draft capital on player success rates. Then, Russell and Pat run through some of the RB prospects, debating whether Darrell Henderson is a better prospect than Josh Jacobs, and discussing an interesting player comparison for Damien Harris. It’s draft season, baby!

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)
Guest: Russell Clay (@RussellJClay)
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)
In association with TheFootballGirl.com
Music provided by International Jet Set

Hooray for Hollywood? (guest: Russell Clay)

Host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) is joined this week by Jeff Ratcliffe of Pro Football Focus (@JeffRatcliffe) who weighs in on the Todd Gurley/Darrell Henderson hullabaloo and offers a Philadelphian’s assessment of Carson Wentz, Jordan Howard, Alshon Jeffery, Zach Ertz and some other Eagles. Jeff also talks about being a native and resident of Philadelphia – what he loves about the city, what sets Philadelphians apart from other big-city dwellers, and why Philly sports fans have such high expectations.

How does someone go from lecturing college students about cultural anthropology to running the fantasy branch of pro football’s premier think tank? Jeff tells that tale which includes a detour into online poker and a well-timed bluff about his background in statistics. Jeff also reveals which running back tops his draft board, which players he’s been scooping up repeatedly in best-ball drafts and which players he’s been avoiding.

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)
Guest: Jeff Ratcliffe (@JeffRatcliffe)
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)
In association with TheFootballGirl.com
Music provided by International Jet Set

Lecture Notes (guest: Jeff Ratcliffe)

After doing 53 episodes with 53 different guests, host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) brings in his first repeat guest, Scott Pianowski of Yahoo (scott_pianowski) Scott and Pat chat about the fantasy value of Tyreek Hill now that no suspension is imminent, Brandin Cooks vs. Robert Woods, and how to sort out the top wide receivers. Scott and Pat also discuss risk philosophy in fantasy football and why some people might be able to justify more aggressive risk-taking with injury cases.

Scott talks about simultaneously juggling fantasy football and fantasy baseball at this time of year, then lists a few of his “Ibanez All-Stars” – players who provide boring but dependable value and make good choices in fantasy drafts. There’s a digression into college basketball. And finally, Pat shamelessly steals a concept from Scott’s baseball podcast and challenges Scott to conduct a draft of female vocalists. (There’s heartbreak involved when someone is sniped on a favorite singer – find out who the coveted chanteuse is.)

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

Winehouse, Women and Song (guest: Scott Pianowski)

Joining host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) for a special Thanksgiving edition of Fitz on Fantasy is 4for4.com contributor and fellow Wisconsinite Alex Gelhar, formerly of NFL.com. Alex explains why he left a full-time fantasy job with the league in order to attend law school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and why he dipped a toe back into the fantasy waters by doing the weekly waiver wire column at 4for4. Alex and Pat then discuss some of the more attractive Week 13 waiver options, including Ryan Tannehill, Rashaad Penny, Randall Cobb, Ryan Griffin.

Alex talks about what it was like to be roommates with Matt Harmon in L.A., then weighs in on some of his favorite Thanksgiving dishes. Alex and Pat also discuss superflex leagues, how they approached the TE position this year, the big leaps for D.J. Moore and Deebo Samuel, the value of Jonathan Williams, and whether Carson Wentz can be started against a series of soft pass defenses in the coming weeks.

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)
Guest: Alex Gelhar (@AlexGelhar)
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)
In association with TheFootballGirl.com
Music provided by International Jet Set

Say Cheese (guest: Alex Gelhar)

It’s semifinal week in the fantasy playoffs, and with so much at stake, Patrick Daugherty of RotoWorld (@RotoPat) toughed out a case of the stomach flu and left his deathbed long enough to join Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) for a discussion about Drew Lock, Marquise Brown, Tyler Lockett and Raheem Mostert. RotoPat also sheds some light on what it’s like to write news blurbs for RotoWorld, and how he felt about the departures of Evan Silva, Rich Hribar and Ray Summerlin.

Fitzmaurice has been polling guests on their favorite league formats, and RotoPat dishes on a couple of his favorite leagues, including one with an old-school scoring format. He also lists some of his hits and misses with preseason player touts, questionably putting his endorsement of Mark Ingram into the “miss” category. A proud St. Louis resident, RotoPat goes to bat for Provel cheese, Imo’s pizza and, of course, the St. Louis Cardinals, and explains what it’s like what it’s like to live in the best baseball town in America. The two Pats wrap up the show by discussing Joe Mixon, Breshad Perriman and O.J. Howard.

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)
Guest: Patrick Daugherty (@RotoPat)
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)
In association with TheFootballGirl.com
Music provided by International Jet Set

Quid Provel Quo (guest: Patrick Daugherty)

With season-long leagues on hiatus, January is a good time for dynasty talk, and this week host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) is joined by Jordan McNamara (@McNamaraDynasty), author of the book “The Analytics of Dynasty.” Jordan outlines some of his core principles of dynasty league strategy, discusses the value of WRs vs the value of RBs, lists some of the biggest mistakes that novice owners make, and explains how he approaches dynasty startup drafts.

After Jordan talks about how he’s handling a New Year’s resolution that has him abandoning meat, poultry and dairy, he and Pat discuss the class of rookie 2020 and the value of early-round picks in this year’s rookie drafts. Jordan mentions the one special rule in some dynasty leagues that he hates more than any other, and then Jordan and Pat discuss the value of Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield, Jared Goff, David Montgomery, A.J. Brown, D.K. Metcalf, Terry McLaurin and JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)
Guest: Jordan McNamara (@McNamaraDynasty)
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)
In association with TheFootballGirl.com
Music provided by International Jet Set

In It for the Long Haul (guest: Jordan McNamara)

Host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) is joined by Rotoworld’s John Daigle (notJDaigle), who’s riding out the pandemic in Stamford, Connecticut. John and Pat share notes on the quarantine life, including a few potential silver linings, and John offers his best guess on what the 2020 NFL season might look like. Rotoworld has been all over free agency, and John talks about some of the low-key beneficiaries of the free-agent period thus far. He also talks about why free agency hasn’t been especially kind to Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman.

John tells Pat how he got into the fantasy industry and how he ended up at Rotoworld, also dropping a key bit of advice for anyone looking to break into the fantasy biz. After writing a series of articles on best-ball tiers at each position, John explains why he’s high on Miles Sanders Devin Singletary, Calvin Ridley and A.J. Brown, and why he’s down on James Conner, Kerryon Johnson, A.J. Green and Aaron Rodgers.

And as John mentions during the show, please be sure to join him this Friday for a star-studded Twitch event featuring a number of fantasy football luminaries and some other special guests. It’s a charity event, with proceeds to benefit those hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak. Check out John’s Twitter feed for more information.

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)
Guest: John Daigle (@notJDaigle)                   
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)
In association with TheFootballGirl.com
Music provided by International Jet Set

Hard Luck for Hardman (guest: John Daigle)

Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) welcomes back 4for4.com rankings ace and Wisconsin basketball legend John Paulsen (4for4_John) to the show this week, and although they mostly talk fantasy football, other topics include the White Stripes’ airport-restaurant etiquette and whether the unexpected springiness of the Bradley Center floor cost John a Division I scholarship. As for the stuff you actually care about …

John and Pat do a deep dive on redraft rankings, discussing whether CeeDee Lamb and Jerry Jeudy can return value in their rookie seasons, whether Tyler Lockett should be ranked higher than D.K. Metcalf, and whether David Johnson and Le’Veon Bell will get the sort of touch volume to make them bargains at their current ADPs. Fellow native cheeseheads John and Pat critique the Green Bay draft and assess the 2020 fantasy outlook for various Packers.

John shares the results of his research into past instances where teams traded up to draft RBs and what it suggests for Jonathan Taylor’s rookie-year value. John and Pat dig into the Rams’ passing game and express their mutual love of Robert Woods, then discuss how they’re approaching the QB and TE positions in fantasy drafts.

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)
Guest: John Paulsen (@4for4_John)                
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)
In association with TheFootballGirl.com
Music provided by International Jet Set

Return of the Babyface Baller (guest: John Paulsen)

Joining host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) this week is Scott Barrett (@ScottBarrettDFB), who explains how he wound up as co-owner, director of analysis and lead DFS writer at the high-powered startup FantasyPoints.com. Scott then discusses his buzz-worthy “Upside Wins Championships” series – how his philosophies on the link between investing and fantasy football have changed over time, how he was inspired by Shawn Siegele’s famed Zero-RB article, and how the articles have already gotten him some backlash.

Scott and Pat talk about whether median projections have any significant utility for fantasy football, then take a closer look at some of the high-upside players mentioned in Scott’s series, including Russell Wilson, Daniel Jones, Kenyan Drake, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Odell Beckham Jr., Calvin Ridley, Diontae Johnson, Rob Gronkowski and Gerald Everett. Scott sings the praises of his adopted hometown, Houston, and offers a Giants fan’s thoughts on whether Evan Engram is a good investment and which NYG wide receiver to target.

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF)
Guest: Scott Barrett (@ScottBarrettDFB)       
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)
In association with TheFootballGirl.com
Music provided by International Jet Set

Why the hell are you drafting James White? (guest: Scott Barrett)

Host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) opens the show by discussing last week’s cancelation of Bobby Sylvester and why he won’t unfollow Bobby on Twitter. Then, Shawn Siegele of RotoViz jumps in to talk about his Chiefs winning the Super Bowl and to assess the fantasy value of Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Mecole Hardman. As the architect of the much-debated Zero RB strategy, Shawn lists a few of his favorite Zero RB targets for 2020. Shawn and Pat shift gears for a few minutes to talk tennis, since Shawn was a Division 2 college tennis player. 

Shawn talks about why he’s high on DeAndre Hopkins for 2020, even though this wouldn’t seem to be a great year to be a team changer. Shawn also explains his enthusiasm for D.J. Chark and Tyler Boyd, why he and some notable RotoViz alumni are bullish on Jaguars rookie Laviska Shenault, and why Zach Ertz and T.J. Hockenson are two of his favorite TE targets. 

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 ;

Jumping the Chark (guest: Shawn Siegele)

Joining host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) this week is Hasam Rahim (@hrr5010), a lead writer at RotoViz and co-host of the Fantasy Football Report podcast. Hasan and Pat kick things off by examining the increasingly relevant Bengals WR corps. Is A.J. Green a buy-low target? Is Tyler Boyd undervalued? Is Tee Higgins ready for liftoff? Hasan and Pat discuss the Cowboys’ WRs and the near-term outlook for CeeDee Lamb, then put a pair of Jaguars rookies under the microscope: James Robinson and Laviska Shenault. 

Hasan talks about his introduction to football as a visiting student from Pakistan, how he came to be so immersed in fantasy football, and how he wound up at RotoViz. Hasan and Pat then tackle some other pressing questions: Should Joe Mixon owners be panicking? Was Justin Jefferson’s Week 3 breakout for real? How should we be viewing the Bills’ backfield? Could Carson Wentz be benched? Which player who’s currently off the fantasy radar has a chance to become a useful asset? 

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) 
Guest: Hasan Rahim (@hrr5010)                       
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland) 
In association with TheFootballGirl.com 
Music provided by International Jet Set

Tee Time (guest: Hasan Rahim)

Yahoo fantasy analyst and Breakfast Table Podcast co-host Scott Pianowski (@scott_pianowski) joins host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) to discuss the Dak Prescott injury and the fallout from it, the disappearance of the learning curve for rookie WRs, the sluggish starts for rookie RBs Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jonathan Taylor, and the hierarchy of the Pittsburgh receivers after the Chase Claypool explosion.  

Scott and Pat also talk about the frustrating usage of D’Andre Swift and the remarkable rise of Robby Anderson, Mike Davis and the Carolina Panthers, plus other assorted fantasy football topics. Then Scott and Pat mourn the late guitar great Eddie Van Halen with a discussion of the artist, the band and how to rank the all-time guitar greats. 

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) 
Guest: Scott Pianowki (@scott_pianowski)       
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland) 
In association with TheFootballGirl.com 
Music provided by International Jet Set

VH Won (guest: Scott Pianowski)

As we roll into lucky Week 13, host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) brings in Chicago native Michael Beller of The Athletic (@MBeller) and immediately teases him about the Bears’ nearly three decades of futility against the Packers. COVID-19 wreaked havoc on Week 12, and Beller and Pat talk about the best way to handle players from games that might be in jeopardy, which roster-building skill has been most important in this challenging season, and whether the NFL season will make it to the finish line uninterrupted. Taking an early look ahead to 2021 fantasy drafts, Beller and Pat sort out the top tiers of the RB and WR positions, try to figure out how many RBs should come off the board before the first WR is taken, and decide which WR that should be.  

Beller and Pat then take a detour into college sports, quickly zipping through a variety of college basketball topics, recalling the greatest bowl games they ever watched, and naming their favorite and least favorite college programs. They also discuss The Band and their epic concert film “The Last Waltz,” and then it’s a return to fantasy football, with conversations about Latavius Murray, Cam Akers, Antonio Brown and Deebo Samuel. 

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) 
Guest: Michael Beller (@MBeller)                    
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland) 
In association with TheFootballGirl.com 
Music provided by International Jet Set

Saved by the Beller (guest: Michael Beller)

Host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) welcomes in Pat Kerrane (@PatKerrane), co-host of the Ship Chasing podcast and part of the Establish the Run team. The two Pats discuss the Zero-RB strategy, why it worked so well in 2020 and how it sets up for 2021, and Kerrane pinpoints some attractive middle- and late-round RB targets. With draft rooms open, there’s ample best-ball discussion in this episode. Is this a good time of year to draft, while rookies are still undervalued and ADPs haven’t solidified, or is it tougher to draft early because the waters tend to be so shark-infested? Are rookie RBs Najee Harris, Travis Etienne and Javonte Williams three of the best values at RB right now? Who are some of the more overvalued and undervalued players based on early ADP data? 

Kerrane talks about moving from Manhattan to Brooklyn and why he considers his new borough a starter suburb. He also explains why his home state of Delaware is really two states in one, and the two Pats express their appreciation for Delaware-based Capriotti’s subs and the legendary “Bobbie” sandwich. Kerrane talks about some of his favorite rookies and waxes poetic about the sublime résumé of LSU receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Pat and Pat also discuss where they stand on DeVonta Smith, Kyle Pitts and others, and Kerrane explains why he’s so bullish on D.J. Moore and Laviska Shenault for 2021. 

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) 
Guest: Pat Kerrane (@PatKerrane)                    
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland) 
In association with TheFootballGirl.com 
Music provided by International Jet Set

Cut to the Chase (guest: Pat Kerrane)

This week, host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) is joined by distinguished RotoViz and Fade the Noise alumnus Anthony Amico (@amicsta), who’s now lone-wolfing it with a blog/newsletter/toolbox called In the Aggregate that you can find at amicsta.substack.com. Anthony and Pat discuss last week’s Carson Wentz trade, whether Wentz can get his career back on course and whether the Eagles are now all in on Jalen Hurts. Then, the focus turns to Anthony’s outstanding new WR prospect similarity app and what it tells us about players such as Rashod Bateman, Sage Surratt, Tutu Atwell and Dyami Brown.  

After a little more rookie banter, Anthony talks about the challenges of being a high school teacher during COVID-19. And after finishing with the highest regular-season point total in last year’s Scott Fish Bowl despite not drafting a running back until the 12th round, Anthony talks about how he was able to employ the Zero-RB strategy so successfully. He also lists a few players he’s targeting in 2021 drafts along with a few fades. And as a Giants fan, Anthony also shares some thoughts on Daniel Jones, Evan Engram and Darius Slayton. 

Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) 
Guest: Anthony Amico (@amicsta)                    
Podcast produced by Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland) 
In association with TheFootballGirl.com 
Music provided by International Jet Set

Sage Advice (guest: Anthony Amico)

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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