Bearing Down on Chicago (Guest: Michael Beller of SI.com)

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 Dec 202059min

Host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) brings in guest Ian Hartiz of PFF (@IHartitz), one of the hardest-working analysts in the fantasy biz and an essential Twitter follow. Pat talks to Ian about how he developed his Twitter presence and how he came upon the idea for Helicopter Guy, a two-dimensional muse with a knack for predicting breakout games. Ian does a deep dive on the Buccaneers, discussing Ronald Jones’ Week 10 explosion, whether Leonard Fournette is still in play for fantasy, and how to value Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown. Pat and Ian also talk about the sluggish return of Michael Thomas, the outlook for Jonathan Taylor and the recent slowdown for Mike Davis. Following a windswept Week 10, Ian weighs in on weather effects and how much they matter for fantasy. He also talks about his high school playing days in football-crazed Dublin, Ohio, the possibility of coaching someday, and whether he has any lingering physical effects from his gridiron days. Ian explains why Darek Carr blocked him on Twitter and nonetheless praises Carr for changing his playing style. Pat and Ian close the show by discussing Antonio Gibson, J.D. McKissic, Carson Wentz, and whether a number of recent fantasy risers will have staying power. Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) Guest: Ian Hartitz (@IHartitz) 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

16 Nov 202051min

Joining host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) this week is Michael Salfino (@MichaelSalfino) of The Athletic, FiveThirtyEight, The Independent and the Breakfast Table Podcast. With Dalvin Cook on a historic two-week rampage, Mike and Pat discuss the Mount Rushmore of NFL running backs and how they should be ordered. Mike offers on Adam Gase as a Jets fan, assesses Sam Darnold’s future and offers thoughts on what the Jets should do if they get the No. 1 pick in next year’s draft. Then Mike and Pat talk about Lamar Jackson’s suddenly uncertain future and which young QBs might have better long-term outlooks. Mike tells a story about playing basketball against Lawrence Taylor, offers thoughts on how the pollsters and betting markets did with the presidential election, and plays a game of free association with some classic rock bands. Mike and Pat also talk about David Montgomery, D.J. Chark, Tyler Higbee, and the top five quarterbacks of all time. Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) Guest: Michael Salfino (@MichaelSalfino) 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

10 Nov 20201h 16min

It’s a special election issue of Fitz on Fantasy, and – trigger warning! -- host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) and guest Pat Daugherty of Rotoworld (@RotoPat) dare to mix fantasy football and politics. Is all hope lost for Jonathan Taylor after a disastrous Week 8? The two Pats conduct a postmortem and look for a primary cause of disappointment. They also discuss the J.K. Dobbins breakout game, the value of Damien Harris and the state of the Buffalo backfield. Following a windswept slate of games, Pat and Pat share their views on how weather effects should affect start/sit decisions, then stay on a philosophical track by discussing how much emphasis we should put on defensive matchups when making lineup calls. Pat D. talks about mixing Twitter and politics, how he handles the Twitter hecklers and how, as an avowed liberal, he deals with the Donald Trump supporters in his life. The two Pats also get into their least favorite aspects of the Trump presidency, the future of the Republican Party and what might go down on Election Night (including Jägerbombs). Pat and Pat wrap the show with conversation about Antonio Brown, Lamar Jackson, Corey Davis, the Lions’ RB usage and the QB change in Jacksonville. Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) Guest: Pat Daugherty (@RotoPat) 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

2 Nov 20201h 6min

Joining host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) this week is Chris Raybon of the Action Network (@ChrisRaybon), who helps parse the RB situations In Kansas City, Tampa and San Francisco. How big a bite will Le’Veon Bell take out of Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s workload? Is Leonard Fournette going to kneecap Ronald Jones value? And what should we make of the 49ers’ backfield? Chris and Pat also size up the Pittsburgh passing game and discuss the Buccaneers’ signing of Antonio Brown. An authority on several different types of wagering, Chris reveals where he invests the biggest percentage of his bankroll. He also talks about what it was like to live in New York City during the early days of the pandemic and what it’s like now. And with Halloween coming up, Chris lists a few of his favorite horror movies. He also talks about his recent article on identifying franchise quarterbacks and how we should be viewing Baker Mayfield, Gardner Minshew and Sam Darnold. Chris and Pat discuss Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa, sift through the wreckage of the Patriots’ passing game and debate whether Ezekiel Elliott is a buy or a sell. Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) Guest: Chris Raybon (@Chris Raybon) 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

27 Okt 20201h 5min

Razzball analyst and podcast host DonkeyTeeth (@DonkeyTeeth) joins host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) to discuss Alexander Mattison’s Week 6 face-plant, the Chiefs’ newly ambiguous backfield, Lamar Jackson’s fantasy value, and Stefon Diggs’ and Derrick Henry’s magnificent seasons to date. DonkeyTeeth and Pat also talk about the 2020 Razzbowl, how DT got his nickname, the content and the vibe at Razzball, and the benefits of playing golf on a difficult course. There’s also some chatter about D’Andre Swift, Baker Mayfield, Travis Fulgham, Henry Ruggs III and more. Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) Guest: DonkeyTeeth (@DonkeyTeeth87) 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

20 Okt 20201h 2min

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12 Okt 20201h 10min

We’re a quarter of the way through the fantasy season, and NFL teams are putting up points at a dizzying pace. Kyle Yates of FantasyPros (@KyleYNFL) joins host Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) to discuss the offensive fireworks, trade theories on why it’s happening, and debate whether we should change our approach to drafting quarterbacks. They also talk about Joe Burrow’s moxie and whether Kyle’s bold deal to acquire Burrow in the FantasyPros dynasty league was worth it, whether Joe Mixon is an RB1, and whether A.J. Green is toast. Kyle also offers thoughts on a player he was touting heavily all off-season, Jonnu Smith. Kyle reflects on an eventful first year at FantasyPros, which included a dramatic spike in his Twitter following, the expansion of the FantasyPros football podcast, and an unwelcome crisis following a colleague’s misconduct on social media. Kyle and Pat also discuss why the Cardinals’ offense has been so disappointing, how we should be viewing Odell Beckham Jr., whether DaVante Parker is a more valuable fantasy contributor than D.J. Moore, why Antonio Gibson might be a surprisingly stable asset, and whether Trey Lance could be taken ahead of either Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields in the 2021 NFL Draft. Host: Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) Guest: Kyle Yates (@KyleYNFL) 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

5 Okt 202054min