The Advanced Route: A show about fantasy football

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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 for

The Advanced Route


    • Dec 17, 2019 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 42m AVG DURATION
    • 21 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Advanced Route: A show about fantasy football

    Predicting 2020 Fantasy Football Breakouts

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2019 39:31


    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

    Surprises Abound for the Fantasy Football Semifinals

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2019 27:37


    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

    Midseason Turnarounds and Their Staying Power for the Fantasy Playoffs

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2019 34:29


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2019 39:55


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2019 38:13


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2019 32:56


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2019 42:45


    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

    Assessing the Kenyan Drake Trade and Previewing Patriots-Ravens

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2019 41:33


    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

    Using Personnel Groupings to Our Fantasy Football Advantage

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2019 39:49


    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

    Time to Buy the Cardinals and Jets

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2019 32:14


    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

    The Delicate Balance of Wide Receiver Duos

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2019 37:59


    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

    How Much Do Matchups Matter?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2019 41:11


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2019 45:49


    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

    Fantasy Football Effects of The Big Quarterback Changes

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2019 45:00


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2019 46:01


    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

    Week 1 Preview

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2019 40:46


    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

    Jacoby Brissett Takes Over in Indy

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2019 47:55


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2019 54:11


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2019 53:10


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2019 55:13


    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

    Does Running Back Matter?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2019 54:22


    1:51 Emory's Football Background 7:10 Does Running Back Matter? 11:32 The Melvin Gordon Effect on the Chargers 19:00 Can Austin Ekeler Be Melvin Gordon? 31:37 Changing of the Backfield Guard in New Orleans 36:10 Is Alvin Kamara Being Overdrafted? 43:52 Biggest Change for Saints Offense Follow Michael Beller on Twitter @MBeller Follow Emory Hunt on Twitter @FBallGameplan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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