The Ringer Fantasy Football Show
The Ringer Fantasy Football Show

Oct 30, 2026 · 1h 43m

Chicago and Seattle push their chips into the NFC race

Bears Blockbuster Trade! Plus, Week 8 Preview: One Stat for Every Game.

The episode frames Week 8 as a test of whether aggressive roster moves can turn Chicago and Seattle into genuine conference powers.

3 key takeaways
  1. 1Chicago’s acquisition of Jeffrey Simmons and Seattle’s addition of Quenton Nelson signal a league increasingly willing to spend heavily on immediate impact.
  2. 2The Week 8 slate turns on injuries, quarterback matchups, and whether contenders such as Buffalo, Baltimore, Kansas City, and Philadelphia can withstand pressure.
  3. 3Fantasy value remains volatile as depleted backfields, trade rumors, and regression debates reshape expectations across the league.

Don't miss

The hosts read an FBI special agent’s explanation of how a scent-transfer unit could capture and preserve the smell of a fart.

The brief

Chicago’s trade for Jeffrey Simmons and Seattle’s acquisition of Quenton Nelson frame Week 8 around teams spending major capital to accelerate their rise.

The Bears-Seahawks matchup becomes a referendum on two emerging NFC powers, with Ben Johnson, Mike Macdonald, and the new arrivals at the center.

Across the schedule, injuries and uncertainty drive the analysis: Baltimore’s health, Philadelphia’s depleted skill positions, and Kansas City’s matchup with Denver’s defense.

Fantasy angles range from Basiul Tootin’s tackle-breaking potential to Chase Brown as a buy-low candidate, while trade rumors complicate player values.

The episode’s comic left turn arrives with an FBI agent’s explanation of scent-transfer technology, followed by a debate over embarrassing songs and party-saving anthems.

Weekly email

State of the Pod, every Monday

The week's most-discussed names and stories from podcasts, with the moments behind them. Free, five minutes, unsubscribe in one click.

Listen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.