The Advanced Route: A show about fantasy football-logo

The Advanced Route: A show about fantasy football

The Athletic

The Athletic's Michael Beller and Emory Hunt bring stats and scouting together with a singular goal: winning fantasy football championships. Stats do a great job of telling us the what, but not always the why. Emory, founder of Football Gameplan and a former running back at the University of Louisiana, will provide us with the why and, more importantly, if we should believe in it. Get ready to step up your fantasy football game with the Advanced Route. For 40% off a subscription, subscribe to The Athletic at theathletic.com/theadvancedroute.

Location:

United States

Networks:

The Athletic

Description:

The Athletic's Michael Beller and Emory Hunt bring stats and scouting together with a singular goal: winning fantasy football championships. Stats do a great job of telling us the what, but not always the why. Emory, founder of Football Gameplan and a former running back at the University of Louisiana, will provide us with the why and, more importantly, if we should believe in it. Get ready to step up your fantasy football game with the Advanced Route. For 40% off a subscription, subscribe to The Athletic at theathletic.com/theadvancedroute.

Language:

English


Episodes
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Predicting 2020 Fantasy Football Breakouts

12/17/2019
Rundown4:36 Lessons Learned from Austin Ekeler8:10 Is There an Early 2020 Ekeler?9:57 Lessons Learned from 2019's Breakout Receivers14:05 The Quarterback Effect on Potential Breakout Receivers17:00 Is there an Early 2020 D.J. Chark?20:50 The Unicorn Players28:17 Lessons Learned from Jameis Winston's Monster Fantasy Season34:45 The Chicken or the Egg at Tight EndFollow Emory on Twitter @FBallGameplanFollow Michael on Twitter @MBeller Our listeners get 40% off the annual subscription. Get your discounted subscription at theathletic.com/theadvancedroute. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support—and please tell a friend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:39:31

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Surprises Abound for the Fantasy Football Semifinals

12/10/2019
Rundown4:04 DeAndre Washington a Potential League-Winner7:57 Washington's Cushy Matchup with the Jaguars11:08 Raheem Mostert the Alpha in San Francisco's Backfield14:57 49ers' Remaining Fantasy Schedule16:31 Adrian Peterson Back on the Fantasy Radar20:17 Patrick Larid's Fantasy ViabilityFollow Emory on Twitter @FBallGameplanFollow Michael on Twitter @MBeller Our listeners get 40% off the annual subscription. Get your discounted subscription at theathletic.com/theadvancedroute. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support—and please tell a friend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:27:37

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Midseason Turnarounds and Their Staying Power for the Fantasy Playoffs

12/3/2019
Rundown3:49 Impact of Ron Rivera's Firing6:07 How Did Miami's Offense Find Its Footing?8:26 DeVante Parker's Breakout10:39 The Dolphins' Fantasy Playoff Schedule13:26 Ryan Tannehill's Ascension in Tennessee14:23 Tannehill's Effect on Derrick Henry17:17 The Titans' Fantasy Playoff Schedule19:04 Ryan Tannehill as a Fantasy Starter in Weeks 15 and 1620:04 Saquon Barkley's Disappointing 2019 Campaign21:41 How Much Can Be Placed on Daniel Jones?24:02 The Giants' Fantasy Playoff Schedule25:17 The Dramatic Improvement for Minnesota's Passing Attack27:49 Dalvin Cook's Parallel Success Alongside Kirk Cousins29:41 The Vikings' Fantasy Playoff ScheduleFollow Emory on Twitter @FBallGameplanFollow Michael on Twitter @MBeller Our listeners get 40% off the annual subscription. Get your discounted subscription at theathletic.com/theadvancedroute. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support—and please tell a friend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:34:29

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Previewing 49ers-Ravens, Vikings-Seahawks, and Patriots-Texans

11/26/2019
Rundown3:49 Jimmy Garoppolo Against Baltimore's Improved Secondary6:42 49ers' Ground Game Against the Ravens8:16 How Will the 49ers Try to Contain Lamar Jackson?9:47 A Larger-Than-Usual Presence for Mark Ingram?11:18 Can the 49ers Execute Their Game Plan Against Lamar?12:41 Picking Sides in 49ers-Ravens16:06 Adam Thielen's Return17:26 Dalvin Cook's Presence18:37 Kirk Cousins' Narratives21:31 Big Game for Seattle's Receivers?23:31 Rashaad Penny Earning More Work25:02 How Will the Vikings Try to Counteract Russell Wilson's Strengths?25:48 Picking Sides in Vikings-Seahawks27:18 How Will Houston Attack New England's Defense?28:35 DeAndre Hopkins vs. Stephon Gilmore30:11 Prioritizing the Slot Receiver31:17 More Duke Johnson?32:20 Can Houston Use Baltimore's Blueprint?33:16 What's Wrong with New England's Offense?34:47 More N'Keal Harry and Jakobi Meyers?35:36 Picking Sides in Patriots-TexansFollow Emory on Twitter @FBallGameplanFollow Michael on Twitter @MBeller To support our podcast and get every show ad-free, including subscriber-only shows, subscribe to The Athletic. Our listeners get 40% off the annual subscription. Start your free trial now at theathletic.com/theadvancedroute. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support—and please tell a friend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:39:55

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Previewing Cowboys-Patriots, Packers-49ers, and Ravens-Rams

11/19/2019
Rundown3:50 How Will Dallas Attack New England's Defense?4:52 Can the Cowboys Mimic What the Ravens Did against the Patriots?6:46 Randall Cobb a Key Player This Week8:28 Patriots Offense vs. Cowboys Defense13:15 Who Wins Cowboys-Patriots?14:19 Setting the Matchup Foundation for Packers-49ers15:37 Can Jimmy Garoppolo Step up in a Big Spot?18:36 Emory Gives Us a Comp for Jimmy G19:35 Importance of Aaron Jones against a Defense Like San Francisco's21:52 Aaron Rodgers and Competitive Advantage23:52 Who Wins Packers-49ers?25:15 Lamar Jackson and Aaron Donald27:54 How Can Rams' Front Seven Slow Down the Ravens' Ground Game?30:25 What's Wrong with the Rams' Offense?32:34 Jared Goff and the Rams' Passing Game against Baltimore's Pressure and Big Corners34:57 Who Wins Ravens-Rams?Follow Emory on Twitter @FBallGameplanFollow Michael on Twitter @MBeller To support our podcast and get every show ad-free, including subscriber-only shows, subscribe to The Athletic. Our listeners get 40% off the annual subscription. Start your free trial now at theathletic.com/theadvancedroute. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support—and please tell a friend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:38:13

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Appointment Fantasy Football Television with Texans-Ravens, Kareem Hunt and Nick Foles in Week 11

11/12/2019
Rundown3:01 Texans Offense vs. Ravens Defense5:33 A Tough Matchup for Houston's Receivers7:10 A Good Spot for Carlos Hyde?8:04 Is There Any Stopping Lamar Jackson?10:36 How Will Houston Try to Slow Lamar Down?13:38 Marquise Brown a Key for the Ravens in This Game?15:23 Texans-Ravens Predictions18:01 Kareem Hunt's Role in Cleveland's Offense19:38 Using Hunt and Nick Chubb Together24:33 Nick Foles Set to Return in Week 1127:50 Changes for Jacksonville's Receivers with Foles Back29:22 Frank Reich's Familiarity with FolesFollow Emory on Twitter @FBallGameplanFollow Michael on Twitter @MBeller To support our podcast and get every show ad-free, including subscriber-only shows, subscribe to The Athletic. Our listeners get 40% off the annual subscription. Start your free trial now at theathletic.com/theadvancedroute. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support—and please tell a friend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:32:56

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Breaking Down Vikings-Cowboys, Cardinals-Buccaneers, and Seahawks-49ers

11/5/2019
Rundown3:27 Vikings Offense vs. Cowboys Defense4:35 A Dalvin Cook Game for Minnesota?6:35 Stefon Diggs vs. Byron Jones9:09 Where Does Dallas Find Its Offensive Success?11:28 Why Haven't We Seen More of Ezekiel Elliott as a Receiver?14:02 Vikings-Cowboys Either/Or? (Example: Who Has the Better Game, Dalvin Cook or Ezekiel Elliott?16:18 Cardinals Offense vs. Buccaneers Defense18:32 Pairing David Johnson with Kenyan Drake20:27 Time to Trust Ronald Jones?23:13 A Great Matchup for Tampa Bay's Passing Game26:56 Cardinals-Buccaneers Either/Or29:37 Seattle's Passing Game vs. the 49ers Defense32:44 A Tough Test for Chris Carson34:51 George Kittle in a Prime Spot36:54 A Lot on Jimmy Garoppolo's Shoulders38:43 Seahawks-49ers Either/OrFollow Emory on Twitter @FBallGameplanFollow Michael on Twitter @MBeller To support our podcast and get every show ad-free, including subscriber-only shows, subscribe to The Athletic. Our listeners get 40% off the annual subscription. Start your free trial now at theathletic.com/theadvancedroute. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support—and please tell a friend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:42:45

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Assessing the Kenyan Drake Trade and Previewing Patriots-Ravens

10/29/2019
Rundown3:52 What Does the Kenyan Drake Trade Mean for David Johnson and Chase Edmonds?7:11 The Challenge for a Running Back Changing Teams During the Season9:00 Drake's Fit in Arizona's Offense14:19 What Does Drake Bring to the Table that Johnson and Edmonds Don't?15:38 The Week 9 Matchup with San Francisco17:22 Take Your Pick: Drake or...?23:47 Breaking Down Patriots-Ravens25:41 What Will Bill Belichick Try to Take Away from Baltimore's Offense?32:27 New England's Offense Against Baltimore's Defense35:01 Any Surprise Studs or Duds in This Game?39:07 Who Wins Patriots-Ravens?Follow Emory on Twitter @FBallGameplanFollow Michael on Twitter @MBeller To support our podcast and get every show ad-free, including subscriber-only shows, subscribe to The Athletic. Our listeners get 40% off the annual subscription. Start your free trial now at theathletic.com/theadvancedroute. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support—and please tell a friend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:41:33

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Using Personnel Groupings to Our Fantasy Football Advantage

10/22/2019
Rundown4:16 Explaining 11 and 12 Personnel5:06 Changes in the Packers' Tendencies9:05 Why Would a Team Increase Its Usage of 11 Personnel?11:00 Explaining the Eagles' Increase in 12 Personnel14:47 Eagles in 11 vs. Eagles in 1218:10 Explaining Why the Texans Are Succeeding with More 1222:18 How the Rams are Adjusting to the Adjustments26:17 Which Rams' WR is Hurt Most by Decrease in 11 Personnel?26:54 The 49ers' Recent Dip in Usage of Two-RB Sets29:08 How Can the Niners Use Two RBs Together with Kyle Juszczyk Injured?30:30 The Bears Cut Their Two-RB Sets—To No Avail34:19 What's the Ideal Personnel Grouping for the Bears?35:31 Explaining the Broncos' Increase in Two-RB Sets37:33 What Changes Should We Expect after the Emmanuel Sanders Trade?Follow Michael on Twitter @MBellerFollow Emory on Twitter @FBallGameplan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:39:49

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Time to Buy the Cardinals and Jets

10/15/2019
Rundown2:31 Why is Arizona's Offense on the Rise?5:06 Kyler Murray's Improvements as a Passer8:08 Murray's Unique Fit with Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk9:17 Kliff Kingsbury's Growth11:13 The David Johnson/Chase Edmonds Pairing16:46 A Comp for Johnson and Edmonds18:23 The Sam Darnold Effect in New York20:05 How Dangerous Can the Jets' Offense Be?23:04 Le'Veon Bell's Rest-of-Season Outlook26:20 How Will We Know Darnold is Taking the Next Step?27:39 Outlook for Darnold and the Offense Against the Patriots in Week 7 Follow Emory on Twitter @FBallGameplan Follow Michael on Twitter @MBeller Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:32:14

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The Delicate Balance of Wide Receiver Duos

10/8/2019
Rundown 2:56 How Do Teammate Receivers Affect One Another? 3:45 How Much of Chris Godwin's Emergence Owes to Mike Evans' Presence? 8:35 Does Evans Ultimately Benefit from Godwin Drawing Away Attention? 11:26 How Much Credit Should DeAndre Hopkins Get for Will Fuller's Monster Week 5 Game? 13:58 How Does a Coach Use The Defense's Fear of an Elite WR to Scheme His Other WRs Open? 17:33 Adjusting From Being the WR2 to the WR1, Starring Tyler Boyd 21:37 How Will A.J. Green's Return Affect Boyd? 26:40 Explaining the Divergence of Adam Thielen's and Stefon Diggs' Numbers 32:35 Buy Diggs Low? 34:27 How Do Teams Balance a No. 1 and a No. 1a Receiver? Follow Michael on Twitter @MBeller Follow Emory on Twitter @FBallGameplan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:37:59

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How Much Do Matchups Matter?

10/1/2019
Rundown 3:01 How Do Players and Teams Prepare for a Specific Matchup? 7:07 How Much Does Matchup Dictate Gameplan? 10:01 The 8-to-10 Specialized Plays 13:06 Individual Matchups vs. Team Matchups 14:39 Understanding Matchups with Week 5 Games 21:23 How Quickly Do Teams Change How They Perceive Opponents? 27:40 Which Stats Matter, and Which Are Just Noise? 38:56 So...Do Matchups Matter? Follow Emory on Twitter @FBallGameplan Follow Michael on Twitter @MBeller Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:41:11

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To Believe or not to Believe? That is the Fantasy Football Question

9/24/2019
Rundown 2:22 What's Working So Well for Cooper Kupp? 5:11 Cooper Kupp vs. Robert Woods 7:07 How Will Defenses Adjust to What the Rams Are Doing? 9:22 Can Kupp Keep it Rolling? 10:23 Terry McLaurin's Smooth Transition to the NFL 13:33 How Does McLaurin Adjust to the Eventual Adjustments Defenses Will Make 15:12 How Do Things Change When Dwayne Haskins Takes Over? 17:16 D.J. Chark Exploding in Year Two 21:35 The Fit with Gardner Minshew 25:17 What's Gone Wrong for Baker Mayfield? 28:21 How Do the Browns Turn Things Around? 30:36 Will the Talent Win Out in Cleveland? 32:07 What's Behind Joe Mixon's Struggles? 35:13 Mixon's Alarming Usage in the Passing Game 37:03 Simply a Question of Health for Mixon? 38:08 Sony Michel's Disturbing Numbers 39:28 Will the Patriots' Aspirations Hurt Michel's Fantasy Value? Follow Emory on Twitter @FBallGameplan Follow Michael on Twitter @MBeller Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:45:49

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Fantasy Football Effects of The Big Quarterback Changes

9/17/2019
Rundown 1:16 Mason Rudolph Takes Over in Pittsburgh 4:07 What Did Rudolph Do Well in Week 2? 5:57 Effect on Juju Smith-Schuster and James Conner 10:07 Stock Up for James Washington? 11:29 Teddy Bridgewater Takes the Reins in New Orleans 14:56 How Quickly Can Bridgewater Get Back in the Saddle? 16:42 Efficiency Concerns for Alvin Kamara? 20:48 Daniel Jones Unseats Eli Manning 24:18 Emory's Pre-Draft Scouting Report on Jones 25:43 A More Modern Offense for the Giants? 28:17 Ranking Rudolph, Bridgewater and Jones 30:07 Trying to Figure Out the San Francisco Backfield 34:27 How Do Things Change When Tevin Coleman Returns? Follow Emory on Twitter @FBallGameplan Follow Michael on Twitter @MBeller Subscribe now to hear new episodes of The Lead each weekday morning: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lead/id1478448344 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:45:00

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The Great, Good, Bad and Ugly of Quarterback Performances in Week 1

9/10/2019
Rundown 2:33 Lamar Jackson's Week 1 Explosion 4:36 What Worked So Well For Baltimore's Passing Game? 8:36 Lasting Power for Baltimore Offense 9:19 Something New from Dak Prescott? 12:43 How Will Ezekiel Elliott Change the Equation? 14:22 Can Michael Gallup Be a Consistent Fantasy Option? 16:21 What Went Wrong for Baker Mayfield? 19:14 Offensive Line Fixes for the Browns 21:31 Level of Concern for Cleveland's Offense? 22:32 Kyler Murray's Tale of Two Halves 25:41 Protection Fixes for the Cardinals 30:14 Excitement Level for Lamar Jackson vs. Kyler Murray 31:22 Josh Allen's Up and Down Week 1 35:00 John Brown the Clear No. 1 WR in Buffalo? 37:41 Devin Singletary's Role in the Offense 39:37 Sam Darnold's Week 1 Disappointment 41:59 Breaking Down Adam Gase's Week 1 Gameplan 43:47 What to Watch for from Sam Darnold in Week 2 Follow Emory on Twitter @FBallGameplan Follow Michael on Twitter @MBeller Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:46:01

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Week 1 Preview

9/3/2019
Rundown 3:22 Kalen Ballage and Kenyan Drake 9:15 What to Make of Miami's WR Corps 15:28 Mike Gesicki a Sleeper? 18:20 A Larger Role to Play for Rashaad Penny? 24:58 Expectations for D.K. Metcalf 26:40 If Seattle Throws More This Year, How Does That Translate? 30:10 Much Ado about Nothing with Antonio Brown? 31:22 Immediate Expectations for Josh Jacobs 34:56 The AB-Tyrell Williams Pairing 36:16 Some Love for Derek Carr Follow Emory on Twitter @FBallGameplan Follow Michael on Twitter @MBeller Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:40:46

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Jacoby Brissett Takes Over in Indy

8/28/2019
Rundown 2:40 Jacoby Brissett's College Tape 4:50 Brissett as a Starter in 2017 6:57 What Emory Has Seen from Brissett This Preseason 10:30 The Offensive Environment in Indianapolis 15:10 Brissett's Fit in Frank Reich's Offense 23:11 Who's Hit the Hardest by Andrew Luck's Retirement 25:49 Treating the Colts Exactly the Same? 27:04 Why Emory Remains Bullish on T.Y. Hilton 33:19 Does Anyone Get a Sneaky Value Boost? 36:27 Any Change in Draft Stock for Nyheim Hines? 39:41 Where Does Brissett Rank at His Position? Follow Emory on Twitter @FBallGameplan Follow Michael on Twitter @MBeller Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:47:55

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The Return of Josh Gordon, and the New Breed of Tight Ends

8/20/2019
Rundown 1:46 Immediate Expectations for Josh Gordon 4:36 What Will Indicate That Josh Gordon is Back? 6:22 Gordon Effect on Julian Edelman 8:50 Gordon Effect on N'Keal Harry 13:37 Gordon Effect on Tom Brady 19:23 Gordon vs. the Low-End WR2 Class 25:40 Increased Importance of the Tight End Position 31:46 Emory on O.J. Howard 37:26 Emory on Hunter Henry 41:22 Emory on Evan Engram 48:41 Emory Drops a Surprise Sleeper Tight End Follow Michael on Twitter @MBeller Follow Emory on Twitter @FBallGameplan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:54:11

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In a Down Year for Rookie Receivers, Who Can Make an Immediate Impact?

8/14/2019
Rundown 3:22 Any Reason for the Thin Rookie WR Class? 6:27 Why Emory Likes Jalen Hurd and Deebo Samuel 14:41 Emory on D.K. Metcalf as Seattle's WR2 19:36 Parris Campbell's Fit in Indianapolis 24:38 Miles Boykin's Opportunity in Baltimore 27:43 Terry McLaurin The Top WR in Washington? 31:50 Ranking the Rookie WRs Emory Trusts 32:49 Why Emory is Out on Marquise Brown 35:55 Fade the Camp Buzz on Hunter Renfrow 38:55 Diontae Johnson Fighting an Uphill Battle 42:08 Trust in Dak Prescott 48:28 Does Dak's Game Change Without Ezekiel Elliott? 50:00 Dak vs. Other QBs with Similar ADPs Follow Michael on Twitter @MBeller Follow Emory on Twitter @FBallGameplan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:53:10

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Kyler Murray, Lamar Jackson and the New-Look Fantasy Quarterbacks

8/7/2019
Rundown 1:06 Lamar Miller Before the Duke Johnson Trade 10:48 The Trade for Duke Johnson 13:33 Emory on Kyler Murray 19:49 Kyler Murray a Top-Five Fantasy QB? 22:20 Emory on Lamar Jackson 30:10 Lamar Jackson's Effect on Mark Ingram 33:58 Emory on Mitch Trubisky 43:34 Emory on Dwayne Haskins Follow Michael on Twitter @MBeller Follow Emory on Twitter @FBallGameplan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:55:13