The Raiders bench Derek Carr for Jared Stidham, throwing Davante Adams' fantasy value into chaos.
This episode of The Athletic Fantasy Football Podcast focuses on Week 17 fantasy football rankings and lineup decisions for championship matchups. Hosts Jake Ciely and "The Welsh" analyze major NFL news and its fantasy implications. They discuss the significant quarterback change for the Las Vegas Raiders, where Derek Carr has been benched for Jarrett Stidham. This decision directly impacts the fantasy value of star players like Davante Adams and Josh Jacobs. The hosts also cover other key injury situations, including Derrick Henry being expected to miss the game and Tony Pollard being doubtful for Thursday night football.
Jake Ciely argues that while the Raiders' move is understandable from a team-building perspective, it creates a difficult fantasy scenario for Adams and Jacobs owners. He compares Jacobs' situation now to that of Najee Harris, relying on volume over efficiency. The hosts debate whether fantasy managers can stomach benching elite talents like Adams in a championship week. They reference DeAndre Hopkins' recent poor performance with Trace McSorley as a cautionary example of a star receiver struggling with bad quarterback play. The conversation shifts to potential replacements, with Ciely ranking Hassan Haskins as a low-end RB3 but advising against starting him in championship lineups.
A surprising insight is Ciely's ranking of Brock Purdy as a top-tier QB1 start over veterans like Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. He highlights the favorable matchup against the Raiders' defense. The hosts also identify Tyler Allgeier as a potential league-winner, noting his RB8 performance over the previous two weeks. They discuss the dramatic difference in Zonovan Knight's production with Mike White at quarterback versus Zach Wilson. Another memorable moment is their shared enthusiasm for Cam Akers, who was the top-scoring running back the previous week despite a poor offensive environment.
The tone is highly conversational and analytical, with both hosts offering direct advice and personal opinions on start/sit dilemmas. The style is educational but informal, filled with insider fantasy terminology and references to specific statistics and matchups. Fantasy football managers in their league championships would love this episode for its actionable rankings and nuanced discussion of volatile player situations. Listeners not involved in fantasy football or those seeking narrative-driven sports content should skip this highly technical, advice-focused episode.
