Fantasy Football Hot Takes 🔥 | Fantasy Focus 🏈

Summary

Fantasy Focus Football – "Fantasy Football Hot Takes 🔥"

ESPN // Hosts: Field Yates, Mike Clay, Daniel Dopp
Date: August 28, 2025

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Episode Overview

This lively episode of Fantasy Focus Football features Field Yates, Mike Clay, and Daniel Dopp as they unleash their boldest (and often scorching) fantasy football hot takes for the 2025 NFL season. The session, a playful echo of the "Hot Ones" challenge, has the trio enduring escalating levels of spicy hot sauce as they debate player outlooks, draft dilemmas, and bold predictions around key names for the upcoming fantasy draft weekend. Regular banter, inside jokes, and a rapid back-and-forth style keep the energy high, while the takes range from spicy predictions on rookies to pointed cautions about aging veterans.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Rashee Rice Suspension Fallout

[03:05–07:23]

• News: Rashee Rice (KC WR) gets a six-game suspension starting Week 1.
• Field: Balances “better and worse” outcomes — missing half the fantasy regular season is brutal, but clarity up front is valuable.

  "If you draft Rashee Rice before week 11, you will use him for a total of three weeks."[04:03]

• Daniel: Ranks Rice closer to WR30 vs. WR20–25, noting upside but pointing out safer options (Smith, Ridley, Odunze, et al.) with no suspension. Advises against too much risk stacking.
• Mike: Suggests diversifying risk if drafting Rice, i.e., avoid pairing with boom/bust RB types (e.g., Javonte Williams).

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First Round of Hot Takes

1. Field: George Kittle Outscores Bowers/McBride

[10:01–12:30]

• Take: George Kittle will outscore either Brock Bowers or Trey McBride (or both) at TE.

  “Kittle should have a very healthy target share this season. Wouldn’t surprise any of us if it's around 25%...”[10:44]

• Daniel: Notes consistency last year (top 12 scorer 13 of 14 weeks) and that Kittle may be underrated due to blocking and “dirty work”.
• Mike: Labels this a “cold, hot take” — plausible, but not too spicy.

2. Daniel: J.J. McCarthy & Drake Maye Both Top-12 QBs

[13:01–14:28]

• Take: Two rookie(ish) QBs will be Top-12 in fantasy.
• Field: “That is definitely hotter than mine.”
• Daniel: Points to favorable situations and breakout upside, especially Maye resembling Jaden Daniels’ leap.
• Consensus: Excitement over late-round QB upside and draft flexibility.

3. Mike: Dak Prescott Rebounds to Top-7 QB

[15:49–18:05]

• Take: After a tough 2024 (QB21), Dak will rebound into the Top 7.
• Mike: Backs it with past top-8 finishes and WR upgrades; doubts the running game, expects a pass-heavy offense.

  “Most importantly, I don’t trust the running game...which is why I think Dak is a top seven guy.”[17:12]

• Daniel: Skeptical due to scheme, Prescott’s age, and dwindling rushing upside.
• Field: Sees passing stats potential, but also acknowledges health and situational concerns.

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Second Round of Hot Takes

4. Field: Christian McCaffrey is Top Non-QB Scorer

[19:22–24:37]

• Take: CMC bounces back as the highest-scoring non-QB.
• Field: “There are some who feel totally snake-bitten by Christian McCaffrey...but I’m in.” [20:27]
• Positional debates: CMC vs. rising stars (Gibbs, Bijan, Gentry) and WRs (CeeDee Lamb). Consensus leans CMC slightly for security and offensive focus.
• Daniel: Likes McCaffrey as a mid-to-late 1st rounder due to ceiling.

5. Daniel: Tyreek Hill Gets Dealt to Denver

[26:52–29:37]

• Take: Dolphins will trade Tyreek Hill to the Broncos (Steelers as backup) at deadline.
• Logic: Dolphins defense issues and Denver’s need for WR firepower make this plausible; big fantasy ramifications.
• Field: Notes Bo Nix's improved deep passing as a complementary angle.

  “Tyreek Hill’s superpower is his speed.”[29:11]

• Mike: Loves the additional revenge narrative vs. the Chiefs.

6. Mike: Emeka Egbuka Outproduces Mike Evans

[31:40–32:42]

• Take: Bucs rookie Emeka Egbuka will average more fantasy points/game than Mike Evans.
• Mike: Acknowledges Evans’ incredible consistency, but leans “better too early than too late” on aging WRs.

  "He will have more catches, he will have more yards, he will have a higher target share and more fantasy points per game than Mike Evans in 2025."[33:33]

• Field/Daniel: Question if youth can truly supplant Evans, reminding of early vs. late season splits with Godwin’s return.

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Overheated Segment: Rookie Impact & Rapid-Fire

Mike: 5 Rookies in Top 25 RBs

[44:03–45:30]

• Predicts 20% of Top 25 RBs will be rookies: Ashton Gentry, Omarion Hampton, Trey Henderson, RJ Harvey, and Bill Croskey Merritt.
• Discussion over which rookies have the clearest path (Harvey and Caleb Johnson noted as alternatives).

  "I think there is a reason why you trade away Brian Robinson, because you know, you got something.”[45:41] — Daniel

Mike: Rookie TE > Travis Kelce

[47:27–51:41]

• Extremely hot take: Either Colston Loveland or Tyler Warren will outscore Travis Kelce in 2025.
• Mike references Kelce’s age-related decline and the new wave of high-usage rookie TEs.

  “Now we got Colson Loveland... I think this is going to be a top 10 in pass attempts this year. The Bears are going to throw the ball a ton.”[47:56]

• Adds Taylor Swift song puns (“wildest dreams,” “blank space,” “shake it off,” etc.) for comic relief.
• Field: Calls this bold, still has Kelce higher but likes the debate, suggests a “Travis Kelce mug” wager.

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Bonus Lightning Hot Takes & Quick Hits

[55:09–61:03]

• Odunze & Waddle will outscore DJ Moore & Tyreek Hill, respectively
• Hampton finishes outside RB20
• Bills WR Keon Coleman will be a Top-25 WR

  “Keon Coleman is a completely different player.”[57:54] — paraphrased from Dion Dawkins

• Cam Ward as Top-12 QB — upside all about his running.
• Alan Lazard as highest-scoring Jets or Giants WR (very spicy; acknowledged as such.)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Kittle should have, you know, a very healthy target share this season. Wouldn’t surprise any of us if it's around 25%.” — Field [10:44]
• “Both J.J. McCarthy and Drake Maye finish as Top 12 fantasy QBs." — Daniel [13:01]
• “Most importantly, I don’t trust the running game...That's why Dak is a top seven guy.” — Mike [17:12]
• “CMC has as good a chance as any back, Gibbs included, Robinson included, to lead all backs in targets and catches.” — Field [20:28]
• “The Dolphins will trade Tyreek Hill to the Broncos at the trade deadline.” — Daniel [26:52]
• “He will have more catches, he will have more yards, he will have a higher target share and more fantasy points per game than Mike Evans in 2025.” — Mike [33:33]
• "20% of the top 25 fantasy RBs this season will be rookies." — Mike [44:03]
• “One of the two rookie tight ends, Colston Loveland or Tyler Warren, will finish with more fantasy points than Travis Kelce.” — Mike [47:27]
• Taylor Swift song puns galore, e.g., “Last year was not a love story for Travis Kelce fantasy managers...We know your feelings All Too Well.” — Mike [50:20+]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Rashee Rice suspension & draft strategy: [03:05–07:23]
• Hot Take 1 (Kittle TE outlook): [10:01–12:30]
• Hot Take 2 (McCarthy & Maye Top-12 QBs): [13:01–14:28]
• Hot Take 3 (Dak Top-7): [15:49–18:05]
• Hot Take 4 (CMC top non-QB): [19:22–24:37]
• Hot Take 5 (Tyreek trade): [26:52–29:37]
• Hot Take 6 (Egbuka > Evans): [31:40–32:42]
• Rookie RB Impact (5 in Top 25): [44:03–45:30]
• Rookie TE > Kelce: [47:27–51:41]
• Lightning bonus takes, WR & position debates: [55:09–61:03]

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Tone & Style

• Conversational and punchy with ongoing friendly ribbing.
• References to last year’s “hot sauce trauma,” showing camaraderie and running jokes.
• Mix of serious player analysis with self-aware fantasy humor and light self-deprecation.
• Frequent cross-talk, rapid debate, and insider references; fantasy enthusiasts will feel “in the room.”
• Touches of pop culture (Taylor Swift, milk references, hot sauce gamesmanship).

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Summary Takeaways

• The 2025 fantasy football landscape is full of rookie opportunity — both at RB and TE. Multiple panelists expect serious top-12 impacts.
• Veterans (Kelce, Evans, Prescott) are at risk of being lapped by younger talent or suffering due to team context or age.
• Key draft risks (like Rashee Rice) require careful strategy; avoid stacking injury/suspension headaches.
• Boldness rewarded! Several panelists advocate “being early” on breakouts rather than missing the next big thing.
• Draft flexibility at QB and TE— wait for upside late or target high-ceiling rookies if you miss top-tier options.
• It’s hot-take season! Don’t be afraid to throw a dart — but have a plan for when it inevitably goes wrong, as the hosts (and their digestive systems) know all too well.

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For anyone prepping for their fantasy draft:
This episode is a treasure trove of bold strategies, cautionary tales, and breakout candidates — all delivered with signature ESPN Fantasy Focus camaraderie…and more than a little distress from progressively hotter hot sauce.

Transcript

[Daniel]

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[Mike]

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[Field]

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[Field]

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[Mike]

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[Field]

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[Daniel]

Get started at LinkedIn.com results, terms and conditions apply. Fantasy.

[Mike]

You're in the whole 6, 010.

[Field]

Fantasy.

[Mike]

Fantasy.

[Daniel]

Focus.

[Mike]

What's good, friends? Welcome into Fantasy Focus. We are back for round two, baby.

[Field]

Yeah, speak for yourself.

[Daniel]

I'm actually busy. I'm gonna be fantasy hot. You guys take the show, please.

[Field]

How about an update projections for the next hour? You guys got this?

[Daniel]

We are pumped.

[Mike]

I'll tell you what, every single show, I end it with, don't forget to love each other and be to yourself. We're not going to be kind to ourselves today. We are going to dive back in on a second round of hot takes here in 2025. This is going to be a fun show. Well, it's going to be a show. We'll see if fun is the adjective you guys want to use once we're done with this show.

[Field]

Reserved description such as fun show. That's fair for shows in which we just show up to work and don't torment our guts. I have to make a decision in like the next 90 seconds because for those that haven't looked at listened to one of our recap of last year's episode. You don't know this, but I will reveal to you now that I spent the rest of the day in the bathroom.

[Daniel]

Yeah.

[Field]

After last year's show, as a matter of fact, you guys saw me on the way out walk to the bathroom and I think you guys were like, we'll wait for you. And then like you came back like 20 minutes later and you're like, is everything okay? Have you fallen in?

[Daniel]

Yeah, we went home and a couple hours later you were like, I'm still at campus. I can't.

[Field]

So I, I have to make a business decision one way or the other. And if people call out my courage or my audacity, that's okay.

[Mike]

I gotta be honest.

[Field]

I guess I have good takes at least.

[Mike]

I forgot you got. Well, we'll. We'll see if you have good takes right now. I forgot that last year you battled through not only the shoulder but also the gut.

[Field]

This preceded the shoulder.

[Mike]

Yeah, yeah.

[Field]

So I thought that was bad. My shoulder fell off.

[Mike]

You really battled through injuries last year.

[Daniel]

Maybe that's why your body was fragile from the hot sauce. And then you fell on your shoulder.

[Mike]

And that's what it was.

[Field]

You know, the last part.

[Daniel]

Maybe that's what happened.

[Field]

That could be it. It's actually very possible that I was just more vulnerable.

[Daniel]

Your bones were melting.

[Field]

Also. We were noticing this when we were watching the recap of last year's show. Who was that guy?

[Mike]

Your hair was so tight. I mean, you looked beautiful.

[Field]

It looked like I was trying to enroll into the military. Compared to where I'm at in looking like.

[Daniel]

Are you going back?

[Field]

I don't know. There's some negotiations about what? I don't think I'll ever go back to that short.

[Daniel]

Okay.

[Field]

But there is some talk about possibly cutting my hair before the season.

[Daniel]

Oh, you were talking. The NFLPA coming with a. You have to negotiate. Negotiate agreement before.

[Field]

Yeah, the NFL Pa. The NFL actually asked me to buzz it. The NFLPA on my behalf said maybe we won't buzz it.

[Daniel]

Yeah, but we'll get a violation to tell someone to cut their hair. It's a violation, so. Okay, I understand.

[Mike]

I feel like you guys led us into this perfectly. Before we get into our hot takes, we got one bit of news that we need to cover on today's show. We do actually need to give the people something of substance on today's show. So it's not just going to be us tormenting ourselves. We got a lot of very fun hot takes we're going to give to you. But we did get a piece of news that is very important for fantasy managers yesterday. Rasheed Rice has accepted a six game suspension that will start at the beginning of the year field. This is one of the things that you and I talked about is depending on where that suspension lands, it's going to change the way that we approach him in drafts. Now that you know that it's the first six games, how are you feeling about Rasheed Rice going into draft season here over Labor Day weekend?

[Field]

I think people are wondering not just how we're feeling, but how do we feel about this outcome as opposed to the possibility of him going in for a hearing on September 30, which was the most recent expectation we had. My answer is both better and worse. Here's the reason why it's worse. I think it's pretty straightforward. We now know that he is going to miss half of the fantasy regular season.

[Mike]

Right.

[Field]

Six games plus obviously a week 10 buy. So if you draft Rasheed Rice before week 11, you will use him for a total of three weeks. And by the way, as a suspended player, you can't put them on your IR spot. You will have a player who for 70% of the first 10 weeks will just be taking up real estate and not be able to use it better, though, because there's a world in which Rasheed Rice had his hearing on September 30th and it was six games, and then he basically is of no value to you for the rest of the season. Or if you started the season slow with Rasheed Rice on your roster and then he gets suspended, you are going to have to sell him for probably pennies on the dollar because you're not going to be able to trade into somebody that could get Rasheed Rice on their roster and utilize him right away. Now that we have the clarity, although it does stink that you're not going to have him for half of your fantasy football season, if you start slow with Rasheed Rice, you could potentially orchestrate a deal in which you're probably not getting 100 cents on the dollar, but you are going to get something back in return because the person you're trading Rasheed Rice to is saying, well, hey, you, I know I'm going to have him starting in week seven, even though I won't have that player in week ten during his buy. On top of that, you also know that from week seven through 17, with the exception of week 10, you might have Mike, a top 12 wide receiver every single week.

[Daniel]

You might. I think that's the thing you have to decide on draft day is do you believe this guy goes right back in as a wide receiver one. If you believe that, I think you rank him around 20, a receiver 20 to 25 in that range.

[Field]

I had him around 25.

[Daniel]

Yeah. If you think that, you know, there's a decent chance he settles in as like a wide receiver two or three, because listen, we can't assume he's going to be top five. He might not be worthy. Was a first round pick last year, obviously. Travis Kelsey, best shape of his life, ready to make a comeback this year. They have other wide receivers.

[Field]

Hold on, though. But you buy it this time around.

[Daniel]

What?

[Field]

Buy what? Like, every time a player says like, best shape of their life, I'm like.

[Daniel]

Okay, dude, so is everybody else.

[Mike]

Travis Kelsey, I might take it last year, right?

[Field]

We don't.

[Daniel]

We don't have a good track record of doubting Travis Kelsey, so fair enough. But nonetheless, the fact is he might not See that target share of last year and Maybe he is 20th in points per game when see when the season comes to an end. So I think there's a possibility of that. You know, you got to look at the floor, you got to look at the ceiling. So for me I have him a little closer to 30. I think there's plenty of upside players in that range. Whether it's Devonte Smith, Calvin Ridley, Jameson Williams, Odunze, Travis Hunter, those guys could beat him in points per game. And you don't have a six game suspension as well. So I think you gotta, you gotta kind of decide how you feel about Rice and then make a call.

[Mike]

The one thing that you've got to do if you are going to draft Rasheed Rice is probably take less risk.

[Field]

Elsewhere in the Chris Godwin or players.

[Mike]

Jordan Addison.

[Field]

Yep. Jordan Addison. Right. It's exactly right. Daniel, is that like I don't know that you have just one roster spot to kind of fudge with during the draft, but you probably don't have three.

[Daniel]

Yeah.

[Field]

Right. So just be very mindful of that. Like if you are taking Rasheed Rice and you have a running back, like here's an example of a running back that I would not want to pair with Rasheed Rice. And not that I like really want to have this running back on my roster anyways, but like if you're saying I'm just going to go like light on running back and then pound like Javante Williams as my RB2 or even RB3, like Javante Williams could be the backup by like week two this season in Dallas. Right. So just understand that if you're going to roll the dice on Rasheed Rice, you got to go for a bit more certainty elsewhere.

[Daniel]

Yep.

[Mike]

With you on that. All right. And with that, my friends, before we get into anything, I do want to give a quick shout out before we can't speak anymore on this show, I want to shout out trophy smack. We got a trophy chain over field shoulder right here. Use the promo code focus10. Over at trophy smack.com you get 10% off. Again using the promo code focus10. So go out and grab that. And with that being said, let's dive in to our first set of hot takes.

[Daniel]

Oh boy.

[Mike]

Hey, this is going to be level two out of 10. I'd like to call this first in five. We just had encroachment on the defense. Okay. I love, I love Mike Clay bringing out the medicine.

[Daniel]

I got all the stuff.

[Field]

We're start calling you the pharmacy.

[Daniel]

I even need crackers. Just in case.

[Mike]

Okay, that's incredible.

[Daniel]

Pull them out.

[Field]

We did come a little more prepared.

[Daniel]

I'll share those. For those that medicine wipes.

[Field]

I don't think we can show this, but on the last. I don't think we showed this in the video because there was a different studio, and it's hard to see everything. But last year, we came in with chips and sauce, obviously. And then the milk we had was Nesquik milk.

[Daniel]

Yes.

[Mike]

Like, protein milk.

[Field]

Vanilla protein milk. This is just straight up whole milk right here. Honestly, the kind of stuff that you should be drinking to dull some of the hotness from the sauce.

[Daniel]

Although I will say I don't know that this is near enough. Yeah, you have two over there. I do, yeah.

[Field]

We all have two.

[Mike]

Yeah, we all have two.

[Daniel]

I feel like I need seven.

[Field]

I also.

[Daniel]

I don't drink.

[Field]

I'm not like my kids who just, like, drink milk. All the cup of milk with dinner or something.

[Daniel]

Not back on milk.

[Field]

No, I'm not.

[Daniel]

Do you guys drink milk like Shane Gillis said? He. During the pandemic, he moved back in with his mom. He's back on milk now.

[Field]

Oh, really?

[Mike]

Do you not drink milk? You guys can't tell that milk's done my body good. You just like, I need that silence. There was a pause and a silence I didn't appreciate.

[Field]

Guys, like, there's a time in your day where you're like, I'm going to go have a glass of milk.

[Mike]

No, definitely not.

[Daniel]

No. Not in a long time.

[Mike]

Not even my.

[Daniel]

My dad used to have us have a glass of milk with dinner. Which we. We still, to this day, are like, okay, that was a decision.

[Mike]

Why did. Why did dad make us do that?

[Daniel]

I don't know. But maybe. Maybe it was good for us. I don't know. Maybe I had strong bones. Now I didn't break my shoulder last year. I'm just saying, Mike, it was a.

[Field]

Dislocation, not a break, thank you very much.

[Mike]

Feel. Do you want to go first, or do you want me to have Mike go first and you continue to think about it. All right, so this is the first in five.

[Field]

I might just keep it here in this little guy right here.

[Daniel]

All right.

[Field]

Keep it on, too. All day. You guys didn't mess with me a little. That's like the babiest.

[Daniel]

That is a baby.

[Field]

I'm not kidding. I was in the bathroom for 12 hours.

[Daniel]

The one you could handle, though. This is one. This is like mine.

[Mike]

Like I said, this is first and five. You had encroachment on the defense, it's a really easy setup. You got an easy play right there. All right, first hot take, take one.

[Field]

George Kittle outscores Brock Bowers or Trey McBride or both this season.

[Mike]

Wow.

[Daniel]

Okay.

[Field]

We've been talking a lot about those two in a tier unto themselves. Why are you laughing at me, by the way?

[Daniel]

No, I'm just. We're just waiting to see George Kittle.

[Field]

Actually average more fantasy points per game than any other tight end in the league.

[Daniel]

Sure did last year.

[Mike]

Absolutely.

[Field]

George Kittle. Also, for all the talk that we've had about like, should it be Ricky Piersol or should it be Juwan Jennings? We might be missing the forest for the trees a little bit there, which is that it might just be all of Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle. Right. Kittle should have, you know, a very healthy target share this season. Wouldn't surprise any of us if it's around 25%, it could get that high.

[Daniel]

Early in the season.

[Field]

I think definitely early on in the season. On top of that, like, Kittle's an amazing player. He's. He's just an amazingly talented guy who probably in a different set of circumstances, either the team that he played on or if he had like a little bit more selfishness to him, could have way bigger numbers because he's asked to do a lot of the dirty work in San Francisco and because he's an A plus dude is like, I will go out there and block the crap out of guys for you for most of the game. I think in some ways he's become underrated as a receiver. Not that I have any concerns about Brock Bowers or Trey McBride, but it's one of the reasons why Kittle was one of my, I think three most drafted players during our mock draft project. I was getting Kittle and at the end of the fifth round, the 10 team league, like, yes, those two guys are totally worth paying the price for. But Kittle could absolutely mash. He's had a year in which he led the NFL and receiving yards amongst tight ends. Like he's had double digit touchdown seasons. Plenty of upside here.

[Daniel]

Yeah, that was my take in my ultimate draft board article which, and this is something I learned during that experiment which was like, oh, I want one of Bowers or McBride. And then a couple rounds later I'm like, oh man, Kittle's still there. And after seeing that a couple of times, I thought actually the best value is George Kittle and fantasy in fantasy drafts. And by the way, Kyle Shanahan has a History of being very game plan dependent. It's not like we're going to go into a game and spread it and make sure all the guys get their 70 targets. There's games where he'd have like Richie James get 15 targets because that's what the game plan that happened. Like that's. Don't like that because the game plan would suggest it. But last year, and that is, that is. Is something that has affected George Kittle. At times he'd be very boom, bust. But not last year. 14 full games. He had 13 weeks in the top 12, which is incredible. In fantasy, that consistency is wild to be a top 12 scorer. 13 of 14 games. So I'm with you. And especially with the receiver injuries, he's in a good spot.

[Field]

So that was like a cold, hot day.

[Mike]

That was a low level hot take. I mean, we got to start at the bottom.

[Field]

Yeah.

[Mike]

Right. Like that's how it works.

[Daniel]

Yeah.

[Mike]

I don't, don't hate that. All right, your turn. This is hot. Take number one. Like I said, first and five is what we're calling this.

[Field]

I'm so nervous right now. I think I'm just going to stop.

[Daniel]

Yeah.

[Mike]

Honestly, I'm just pumped to eat chips today during the show. That's not too bad. You can handle that, Mike.

[Daniel]

Not too bad. I feel a little bit on the tongue. Like ate a medium. Medium in there, so it's fine.

[Mike]

All right.

[Daniel]

My first take a little hotter, I would say than Fields. J.J. mcCarthy and Drake Mabel both finished as top 12 fantasy quarterbacks.

[Field]

That is definitely hotter than mine.

[Daniel]

Two guys that might be a five out of 10. Yeah, both of them.

[Field]

Yeah.

[Daniel]

We talked a lot about these guys. They're my two favorite breakout players at quarterback this season. McCarthy and Unknown obviously de facto first season, but love this game. We've seen Kirk Cousins at the end of his career, but back to back top 12 fantasy seasons together. Feeling it a little bit.

[Field]

Yeah.

[Daniel]

Sam Darnold renaissance does it again and McCarthy has the talent, has the rushing ability to get there, I think. And obviously the scheme with, with Kevin o' Connell helps. And then Drake may again. I think this is a guy. I feel like, like last year at this time I was kicking myself. I was like, why did I not draft more Jaden Daniels? I feel like I'm there with Drake May. I wish I just was more buying. I think I got a little stuck on the supporting cast and the fact that they might lean on the run a lot because that's a staple of Mike Rabel's teams. However, he could run the ball so well and if he has year two is the quarterback breakout year. So if he gets it done this the ceiling is super high. I mean there's a short list of guys I think that haven't done it yet that have QB1 overall upside. It wouldn't shock anyone. I don't think if he's that next guy that makes that huge leap like Josh Allen did. So I'm not saying he's going to do that, but I definitely think he could finish in the top 12, top 10, top 8, maybe top 5.

[Field]

I love it.

[Mike]

I agree with you.

[Field]

This year more confidence in those two.

[Mike]

I Greg man, me too.

[Field]

And I think it's like who has a better chance to totally new can go for like a top six season.

[Daniel]

Exactly.

[Field]

Who has a better chance to maybe get to like quarterback 13 probably JJ yeah.

[Daniel]

McCarthy is the scheme behind him early for a reason. Has a better resume and certainly has the combination of rushing and passing ability.

[Mike]

If you were in a 12 team league, would you just, I mean if you didn't get one of those first four that you want to get, would you be comfortable just waiting and grabbing those two guys as your quarterback?

[Daniel]

Maybe you don't have to like you can go safer because guys start falling, you know, like you can just be like I'll take Kyler Murray and then take one of those two.

[Mike]

Sure.

[Daniel]

Rather have safeguard early in the season. Although we did talk about this. What was it yesterday? Drake Mays three of his first four games are very attractive. He's very attractive at the beginning of the schedule is good. So we we're going to know pretty quick. I think this guy's going to be a fantasy starter.

[Mike]

Okay. All right.

[Daniel]

What do you got buddy?

[Mike]

Then I am up. I'll do a dip. You guys did a little baby.

[Daniel]

You can do plenty.

[Field]

Man. I was not touching this stuff. I'm just, I'm pass. I'm passing today and I don't if the YouTube chat wants to roast me and never vote for one of my teams in the morning mock draft project again or the mock drafts again. That's totally fine.

[Daniel]

That's not bad.

[Mike]

It was not bad. Yeah, but if that's the first one.

[Daniel]

Yeah, I was. I kind of hoping that would be the second one. I'm a little nervous about 10.

[Mike]

All right. My first hot take is after finishing as QB21 last season, Dak Prescott will finish as a top seven quarterback here in 2025.

[Daniel]

I don't like this one.

[Field]

Interesting. Why not?

[Daniel]

I don't think you could do it?

[Field]

I. I don't.

[Mike]

How about I give you my reasoning first and then you can tell me why. All right.

[Daniel]

He has been the milk already.

[Mike]

Oh yeah. I got a little baby.

[Daniel]

Come on. Where's my. Did you bring that with you? You brought outside.

[Mike]

I came prepared for the show. Yes.

[Daniel]

I don't like that.

[Mike]

He has been a top eight quarterback in fantasy points per game in four of his last six seasons. Three of those four seasons. He was actually a top four quarterback each of the last three seasons where he's played at least 16 games. We're talking healthy seasons, which is what you're talking about when you're looking at a quarterback.

[Field]

Yep.

[Mike]

He's averaged over 20 fantasy points per game. I love that. For a guy that right now is coming off the board is like quarterback 14 to 16 in a lot of fantasy leagues. CD Lamb is back. Adds George Pickens on the other side, I think Jake Ferguson is going to be a borderline tight end one I have him as tight end 12. I think if you waited at the position he's going to be somewhere in that range. And most importantly, I don't trust the running game. You kind of mentioned it earlier in the show when we were talking about Rashid Rice. It's not. I don't trust Javante or Jaden or Miles Sanders. I think it's going to be a bottom seven rushing attack and will we see a much more pass heavy offense here in 2025. Which is why even though Dak Prescott doesn't utilize his legs very often, I think he's going to be a top seven guy this season.

[Daniel]

Yeah. I don't think their scheme is going to be as pass friendly as Mike McCarthy's was. And he, you're right, he had some big weeks.

[Field]

But you brought your own milk.

[Daniel]

That's what I just said.

[Field]

I did.

[Daniel]

Yeah. He's tuned out already. He's like I'm so we just had this whole conversation outside milk. Unacceptable.

[Mike]

There's nothing wrong with outside milk.

[Field]

Sorry.

[Daniel]

But anyway, my point is, you know, he struggled last season. I don't think it'll be as pass friendly of a scheme here. He's now 32 and last year he ran for 54 yards. That is a big concern. Do we think at age 32 now.

[Field]

No.

[Daniel]

He's got running a lot more.

[Field]

I do not.

[Daniel]

No. I don't think he's going to get back to that 400 yard range. I mean if he gets to like 250, 300, maybe he could pull this off, but he's going to need big passing numbers, and we didn't see that last year.

[Field]

I mean, I think big passing numbers are possible.

[Daniel]

They look possible, but you're. You're banking on it. You're banking on it.

[Field]

Will Micah Parsons play Week 1 for the Cowboys?

[Daniel]

Probably not right now. It's not looking good.

[Field]

Will Micah Parsons play for the Cowboys at all this year?

[Daniel]

I think.

[Field]

I don't know.

[Daniel]

He seems pretty strong willed. I think it'll get done. I don't. I don't know that he really has leverage other than.

[Field]

I don't know that I think he will. I just think they're going to be bad. Bad on, like, they're going to be.

[Daniel]

Yeah, there's a lot of injuries over there.

[Field]

A lot of injuries. They're thin. Really important spots there. Like, this could be a team that. This could be the Bengals.

[Mike]

Like a minute.

[Field]

Yes.

[Mike]

Thank you. That's what I was just going to say.

[Daniel]

Although it looks like Tron Diggs is going to play against Philly, so that's good. Getting digs and land in there. That'll help it.

[Field]

Corner digs.

[Daniel]

Yeah, we'll see.

[Mike]

This is why it's called a hot take. Sorry, sorry. My take was too hot for you already.

[Field]

I like it.

[Mike]

I appreciate it.

[Daniel]

Well, I'm just going to. Look, I'm just going to tell you how it is, all right?

[Mike]

Nothing wrong with that.

[Field]

You're the cold water guy on hot takes day.

[Daniel]

I am, Yeah. I. Hey, look, I haven't touched a milk yet, okay? You haven't either.

[Mike]

I wanted to coat. I wanted to coat my mouth before we got into hot take two.

[Daniel]

I think that's. That's why I haven't actually. I'm saving it.

[Mike]

All right. Feel. J's hot take number two. How are we going to approach this? You going to go back to hot take one or you going to dive into this?

[Field]

Right back to number one. I don't care. Call me a baby. I don't care. Oh, that was too much.

[Daniel]

Oh, I don't blame you, man. You had a rough go last year.

[Mike]

I do blame you. You are a baby. But I accept it.

[Daniel]

We'll talk about him behind his back later. I'm actually in the chat right now.

[Mike]

In the YouTube channel.

[Field]

No, I deserve that.

[Daniel]

I want to be, though.

[Field]

But hot take number two.

[Daniel]

Yeah.

[Field]

Christian McCaffrey finishes the highest scoring non quarterback in all the fantasy this.

[Daniel]

Okay. All right. All right.

[Field]

This one doesn't feel that hot either.

[Mike]

Nope.

[Field]

Sort of.

[Daniel]

You got too many. Like, the Hot sauce attack. You're going light on the takes. Well, here's the thing.

[Field]

I wrote for volume shooting yesterday, like yesterday before our producer Tyler had reached out and said, like, hey, send me yours and rank them. I started to put together a bunch of them because I care obviously deeply about the show and the game. I put together lots of options. Mike only came. He like, got pressed to finally find three. He had one.

[Daniel]

Yeah, I gave him one. And then they made me.

[Field]

Right.

[Daniel]

Made me do two more.

[Field]

So I had a lot of them. And I guess I was thinking more just like these are things that are relatively plausible. But I think that McCaffrey and I've seen this so far in drafts and just talking to people and we've talked about this throughout the past three weeks here. There are some who just feel totally snake bitten by Christian McCaffrey and they feel as though they will not touch Christian McCaffrey. They feel as though he burned them too bad last year and you know, doing the same thing over and over again. His definition of insanity, when you're expecting a different result, I think you're out.

[Daniel]

There in or you're out.

[Field]

And I'm in on Christian McCaffrey here. McCaffrey, we talked about this with George Kittle. The offense is Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle. Right now in San Francisco, it is those two. But McCaffrey I think has as good of a chance as any running back, Jameer Gibbs included, Bajan Robinson included, to lead all backs in targets and catches. On top of that, Christian McCaffrey has a real chance to push for 12 rushing touchdowns this season. It feels like there's a revenge tour coming for Christian McCaffrey.

[Daniel]

Yeah, I like this a lot. I feel like if I get a pick in the second half of round one, like. Cause here's the thing, you don't have to take that risk early in the first round. I agree with what you're saying, but you don't have to because you have Robinson, you have Chase, you have Jefferson, you can go Barkley or Gibbs. You don't have to do it. But if I have like pick seven or eight, I'm like, you know what this is? I'm going to strike on McCaffrey. It feels good to do because he does have that ceiling. He does. So that's generally my strategy if I'm picking in the toward the end of round one is if he's there, I'm taking McCaffrey.

[Field]

Let's talk through something that I brought up yesterday and a different show here at espn, where I was asked, like, what are some of, like, the most important questions or dilemmas that you're facing in drafts right now? Most obvious one is, if you have the first pick, who are you taking? Everybody always asks that every single year. I think there's a really interesting inflection point in drafts. Mike kind of got there. But the first five players off the board and a lot of the mocks that we did, some order. Jamar Chase, Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley, Justin Jefferson, Jameer Gibbs. Right. We feel like those five kind of have settled in as the most likely top five. So pick six is kind of a decision. And I think also RB4 is kind of a decision. Aston Genty versus Christian McCaffrey, and in some ways, Christian McCaffrey versus, in my eyes, CD Lamb at player number six overall. But certainly somebody else could be entered into the fray. How do you guys. Let's attack Those one on one or one by one. Christian McCaffrey version versus Ashton Genti. Is there a clear and decisive answer in your opinion?

[Mike]

Clear and decisive?

[Daniel]

No.

[Field]

Okay.

[Mike]

But I would go with your cmc.

[Field]

Okay. Cmc. The lean there being obviously there's a little bit of like the proven commodity before good offense.

[Daniel]

Right.

[Field]

Mike, do you agree? Yes.

[Daniel]

McCaffrey.

[Field]

Okay.

[Daniel]

McCaffrey has 20 point difference in the projections.

[Field]

Okay. So we all see it the same way. Obviously. Genti has incredible talent. Probably less of a health risk right now being fresh legs. That's not a wrong answer to take Ashton Genti, but we all lean towards cmc. All right, pick six. This is important too, because if you have pick six in a draft like this might be exactly what you're staring at tonight or sometime soon. Christian McCaffrey, your CD Lamb.

[Daniel]

I'm going to take McCaffrey in that spot.

[Field]

Okay.

[Daniel]

I think it's a toss up.

[Field]

Is the Lee is the lean because of positional depth. Okay.

[Mike]

Yep, same.

[Field]

Okay, so Christian McCaffrey versus C. Lamb. I got to be honest with you, as much as I just made the case for why Christian McCaffrey deserves to be talked about even higher than like pick six or pick seven or eight overall. I'm like a 5149 CD lamb, because one of my takes that I consider, but I think it would have been like almost too obvious, is CD Lamb finishing his wide receiver one overall this year, which I think is absolutely within the realm of possibilities.

[Mike]

If he does that. Dak Prescott's probably like a top seven quarterback at least.

[Field]

Maybe a top six.

[Daniel]

Maybe top six. I'll be like Jared Goff. He'll be like QB 14 or something.

[Field]

We could probably do a show that's just like the top 25 players, like, rank the top 25 guys. Now, you can find our rankings on ESPN.com but yeah, a lot of the decisions that people are making in drafts is not like, hey, I'm debating between quarterback three and quarterback four. It's I'm debating quarterback three versus wide receiver 17. Who do you prefer? Right. Anyways, Christian McCaffrey's good.

[Daniel]

All right. Wasn't McCaffrey and Lamb the top scorers the position two years ago? Yeah. Okay. I think McAfee, you were like, you were trying. You're debating which one you wanted to go with. Your bold take is just drafted a from two years.

[Field]

Yeah, well, I mean, Mike, look, I'm.

[Daniel]

Just saying it was just an observation. I hear you. Obviously, they have the ceiling.

[Field]

I will take this hot. Okay, so if it was so easy, though, like, why aren't they going first and second overall?

[Daniel]

Because there's better, better, safer options.

[Field]

My point is this is that, like, I get a CD Lamb you can push back on. Which is why I didn't use that take. I said it was too cold of a take. But, like, Christian McCaffrey has become divisive.

[Daniel]

Abercrombie is an official fashion partner of the NFL and I'm CD Lam wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys. You know, I'm here for Abercrombie's Cowboys gear. That's not a question, but I need a whole wardrobe to go with it. No shade to the guys, but I'm used to having the best tunnel fits. This season, Abercrombie has me covered. Shop NFL by Abercrombie in the app, online and in store.

[Field]

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[Mike]

It didn't know what to do with your hands there. So you just ate the chip while we were finishing.

[Daniel]

It was a pre chip.

[Mike]

All right, this is.

[Daniel]

Guys, I dipped it.

[Mike]

This is third and seven right here. That's what this one is.

[Daniel]

Number two.

[Mike]

This is third and seven right now. All right, Mike Clay, hot take number two. We're gonna take a minute. We're gonna let him. We're gonna let him get it in.

[Field]

I'm not touching.

[Daniel]

Marinating. Yeah.

[Mike]

No big deal. Loading.

[Daniel]

While it's marinating, I'm going to start talking because it's going to hurt soon.

[Mike]

Yep.

[Daniel]

This one's a little more.

[Field]

And if you bring outside milk. Daniel.

[Mike]

I did bring outside milk.

[Daniel]

Yeah. So when this one. Yeah, you're killing the time for me.

[Mike]

You guys got some. You guys got some extra milk from me if they want it.

[Daniel]

Okay. This one's a little more NFL, but it will have a big effect on fantasy.

[Field]

Of course.

[Daniel]

The Dolphins will trade Tyreek Hill to the Broncos at the trade deadline. Wow. I love it. Denver. I'll put a backup clause in there of maybe the Steelers, depending on if they're contending. I'm going Broncos here. I think he goes to Denver. I think the Broncos have a good defense. The offensive line is outstanding. The quarterback, the coach are all good. The question is the skill. Guys. Marvin Mims already a little beat up.

[Field]

Yeah.

[Daniel]

We'll see about Pat Bryant. I don't know, like, how he's going to develop this year. Troy Franklin's there, but all you really have is Cortland Sutton and Evan Ingram. If they're a contender and they're hanging there with the Chiefs and the Chargers, which I think they will. Yeah. They go out and make a splash at the deadline, bring in Tyreek Hill, and it he gets a big. He's a big second half of the season for fantasy.

[Field]

I'll get to the fantasy takeaway here in just a second because I do have some good context that is important. Important here. But I dropped my 2026 mock draft last week. My real 2020, not my real football mock draft, not a 2026 fantasy football mock draft. And I thought it was very interesting to see that, like, the two pieces of feedback that were strongest was one, Browns fans were pissed that I had them picking number one overall, even though I made it clear 30 different ways.

[Daniel]

Yes.

[Field]

That ESPN's Football Power Index determined the order. Like, I think the Browns are picking high. I don't know if I would put the Saints number one overall personally, but the bottom line is that Browns fans were irate with me. The number two piece of feedback was Broncos fans. I had gave him a wide receiver named Jordan Tyson from Arizona State, younger brother of recent Cavs first round pick Jalen Tyson. Very athletic family. Broncos fans were like, this is ridiculous. We need more offensive line depth. We need more. We don't need receivers. We're set there. I'm thinking to myself like, no, you're not. That tells you how good your roster is if you're quibbling over whether we should add offensive line depth or a really talented wide receiver. But I, I kind of like it, Mike. And here's especially why I would like this idea. In weeks one through nine of last season, Bo Nix had zero touchdowns on passes that went 20 or more air yards down the field. He had three interceptions. In weeks 10 through 18, he had five passing touchdowns on those throws. Best in the NFL or tied for most of the NFL. So Bo showed himself to be a much more capable deep ball thrower in the second half of the season than he did in the first half of the season. Tyree Kill superpower is of course his speed.

[Daniel]

Yeah. And I think, you know, Miami is going to struggle. Their defense has some major issues, especially in the secondary. There's going to be a lot of games.

[Field]

Illness list yesterday.

[Daniel]

Yeah, yeah, no doubt. So I don't, I think they're going to have a hard time hanging the AFC and I do not think that'll be the case for Denver. So I think this one makes a lot of sense. If they're struggling and Tyreek's not producing like he had us in the past, I could see this going down and I think it'll be a boost in fantasy football. So I'm, I'm in on him for.

[Mike]

That'd be fun for two reasons. One, just to give Bo Nix another option to get the football to. But also because we can talk about the revenge games that he's going to play against the Kansas City Chiefs in that division.

[Daniel]

Yeah, that.

[Mike]

Which I think would be fun.

[Daniel]

That feels like a missing piece for them as they try to make the. I mean they've. Their goal is the super bowl this year. Yeah, no doubt about it. They have a good angle. They're set for a run this year and I think they can do it. Okay.

[Mike]

Quarterbacks that have young cost controlled rookie contract quarterbacks, when they have started out the way that the Broncos and commanders have. They should be trying to maximize this window as much as possible.

[Field]

Laramie, Tunsil, Debo Samuel. Potentially. Tyree Kill.

[Daniel]

Yeah, no doubt. By the way, I almost mentioned DJ Moore as well, but I think Chicago's going to hang in there. I don't know if they're going to move him this year because I think they're going to hang in the playoff race and I don't think they're going to move him at the deadline.

[Field]

I just.

[Daniel]

I want to, like. It would have been fun to, like, send him to the Steelers in one of these, but if they are struggling, I think it happens. But in this scenario, I think they.

[Mike]

I think they hang in there in the playoff race. Which one of the NFC north teams isn't in the playoffs?

[Field]

All four of the teams.

[Daniel]

I think they're all going to hang.

[Mike]

Four of them.

[Field]

I think they all will hang. Yeah.

[Daniel]

At least hang long enough past the deadline that they're not trading away key players.

[Mike]

Felt like maybe that one was a little bit hotter. Mike, was that true? You know what?

[Daniel]

Not as bad as gurgling.

[Field]

And I had two little dips.

[Daniel]

I was expecting one. I was expecting that to be worse. I'm hanging in there right now.

[Field]

I wonder, are these the same bottles from last year? Doesn't hot sauce.

[Daniel]

They're really.

[Mike]

Well, they're new bottles. They have. Yes, there is an expiration date on hot sauce.

[Field]

But doesn't hot sauce, like, last a long time? Because it's just basically salt and I.

[Daniel]

Don'T know, science of where you were researching in advance of this. I don't know.

[Field]

I don't research fantasy football.

[Daniel]

I just research hot sauces.

[Field]

Yeah, that one's hot. Daniel, that one's hot.

[Daniel]

Oh, my God. All right, this is a good bet. I see where this is.

[Field]

You brought your own milk.

[Mike]

I didn't bring my own milk, guys. Yeah, I needed a little bigger milk for this one. This one's a half a gallon. All right.

[Field]

Oh, God. You want some. Some yogurt?

[Mike]

I could use a little bit of. A little bit of nice Greek yogurt. All right. My second hot take is Ameca abuca.

[Field]

Yeah.

[Mike]

Finishes 2025, averaging more fantasy points per game than teammate Mike Evans.

[Daniel]

Okay.

[Field]

Wow.

[Daniel]

All right.

[Mike]

All Mike Evan does is score thousand yard seasons and have 10 touchdowns. Right? I mean, he does until he doesn't. I think this is the year that he doesn't.

[Field]

Wow. That might be a good hot take in.

[Daniel]

And that is a good. I like that one.

[Mike]

Evans only has two seasons with 80 plus catches. He's played in the league a decade. He's not like a big catch guy. Right? That's not, it's not where he makes his hay. I'm very comfortable too. I'm one of those people. And you've got to decide this for yourself. I'm comfortable being one of those people that's a year too early rather than being a year.

[Field]

I'm a year too late.

[Mike]

And I, hey, I get it.

[Field]

I'm a chicken. I only barely eat hot sauce.

[Mike]

I'm okay being a year too early. And by the way, I'm okay being a year too early because. And if you listen, you learn something here about a rookie. I don't know how well you know Mecca Abuca Field. Nope, don't know much in 2022. I mean he's a first round talent for a reason. 74 catches, 1150 yards and 10 touchdowns. 23 dealt with a bunch of injuries unfortunately. And then 2024, 81 receptions for over a thousand yards again and another 10 touchdowns.

[Field]

He has the most catches in Ohio State history.

[Mike]

Yes, he does.

[Field]

Darren McLaren, Garrett Wilson, Jackson Smith and Jigba. Just some of the recent players from Ohio State that also. Chris olave, Marvin Harrison Jr. Yeah.

[Mike]

Seven most catches in Ohio State history. Seventh most touchdowns in Ohio State history. I mean, and that's coming from like you just mentioned, all those wide receivers. They're not a bunch of scrubs. So he is unbelievable. For me, I think even once Chris Godwin comes back, there's going to be a ramp up period. And I still think that a Mecca Abuka will be a top 20 to 25 wide receiver even when Chris Godwin comes back. Because you cannot take the toothpaste and put it back in the bottle at that point. So I would rather have the more ascending young buck over the descending former superstar. He will have more catches, he will have more yards, he will have a higher target share and more fantasy points per game than Mike Evans in 2025.

[Daniel]

That's a tough one. Yeah.

[Field]

Question for you guys. I think there's two guys that probably fit into this category that define this category. Maybe a third, but definitely two. I probably shouldn't ask Daniel this. I'll just ask Mike because Daniel's most recent hot take kind of suggests how he feels about it. Have we gone too far on Trayvon Henderson and Mecca Buka?

[Daniel]

I don't think so. I was going to make the comparison the Buka and Ricky Pearsall. I think it's a similar trajectory because at first it seemed like there's too many mouse to feed in these offenses right there. There's just how are they going to get there? But now things have kind of changed, obviously in San Francisco with, you know, Iuke's going to be out for a while and now, you know, even demarcus Robinson is suspended. Juan Jennings, we'll see how long it takes him to get going or if he even plays. And then Tampa Sim similar. Chris Codman's gonna miss time. Mike Evans, as you mentioned, is older. And Jalen McMillan even, who finished strong last year to be out for a while. Also, Kate Otten might miss week one, so it sets up them to be really good out of the gate this season. My only concern with Daniel's take is that what happens when Chris Godwin is a full go. Is there going to be enough, you know, I think, like they're still going to choose Evans over a book. I think to be on the field in those scenarios, that's what concerns me a little bit about this. So I could see this early on and then maybe it shifts the other way. Um, and as for Henderson, yeah, I mean, he's going a little earlier, but also I could see him finishing RB9 or something. So I don't. I. I can. I can. I can understand it, where he's going.

[Mike]

Let me give you adp. Can I. Can I do that?

[Field]

At one point for Henderson, it was like 83.

[Mike]

Travion Henderson right now is coming off the board as running back 19 at pick 50.

[Daniel]

I have 18 on my board.

[Mike]

Ameca Abuka is coming off the board as wide receiver 40, pick 101.

[Field]

That's surprising to me.

[Mike]

I think we have been in on a mecca Abuka, and we've been trying to pump that adp, but it's still quite a bit lower than I think it should be. Especially because the first four to six games of the season, you think that you're getting a starting wide receiver.

[Field]

It's interesting. So salary cap leagues are super fun, except for the fact that they take forever to do the draft. Daniel and I are in a league together. Mike wasn't invited because it's.

[Daniel]

Yeah, I know. I'm too good at those.

[Field]

We had our draft last.

[Daniel]

I do wish I did. I do wish I did more of those because I love.

[Field]

But it just takes forever and like we. It does not. Keith is the organizer. It's a great league. He's been around probably for about a decade or so. Our draft took like four hours last night. My wife was like, you're still drafting. And I was like, don't. Don't worry about it. I have no.

[Daniel]

Don't worry.

[Field]

But, yes, I am still drafting. It's just so funny because the reason I asked that question was, I, I. It's a keeper league, too, so you have some guys left over. So I already had Marvin Harrison Jr. And Malik neighbors. So my intent last night, plus Chase Brown was going into it to find a running back, like, and the options are narrowed because it's a keeper league. And Henderson was kind of like the last of the preferred targets on the board, and I ended up getting him for $27 out of a $300 set. A little bit under 10%. And then I'm like, watching other guys go off the board, and I'm like, dang it. I'm like, did I just overspend on him? Did I underspend on him? It's also wild because I got Chris Godwin a few, like, maybe, like, I don't know, an hour and a half later for $8. And you're like, I mean, that's basically free in a $300. It just. The prices all over the place last night.

[Mike]

Yes.

[Field]

Were wild. They were insane. Didn't Jamar Chase go for, like, $1,000?

[Mike]

It felt like $1,000. And I agree with you. I realize this is not necessarily what we're talking about, but in salary cap leagues, I can't help but wait and see, like, other people come off the board, and then it's like, wait a minute. I can't spend this much money on Caleb Johnson. When this guy, you know, seven picks ago, went for this much money, like, it just. You feel like malpractice. As a fantasy manager, if I'm spending as much money on one guy and I know another one is. Is so much better. So salary cap leagues are totally different. Animal.

[Field]

All right, I brought seven takes. You're right. So I'm gonna give you my third one. Seven takes. Well, I just had a lot of ideas, and maybe I was more aiming for accuracy than I was, like, ridiculous.

[Mike]

I was bringing hot takes.

[Field]

I'm not going to lie to you guys. My stomach is already gurgling, and I've barely touched hot sauce.

[Mike]

Yeah, don't worry about it.

[Field]

I'm going to bypass the sauce. It's not a good feeling. It's bringing back some PTSD number three. And Mike is going to poo, poo the crap out of this one. But again, it's not because what we're saying, Mike is going to downplay this one, it's not because of what we have seen in prior years. It's because of the fact that we're talking about these players in a different light right now. Brian Thomas Jr. And Nico Collins going to finish a top three wide receiver this year.

[Daniel]

Top three? Both of them or one of the two? Okay, all right.

[Mike]

Who's the wide receiver? 1. I mean wide receiver.

[Daniel]

Nico's never done that, so.

[Field]

Okay, there we go. Yeah, Brian Thomas Jr. Did get there last.

[Mike]

Love that.

[Daniel]

He just got there.

[Field]

But again, it just. To me, my, my, my, my view on hot takes is. I mean some of them are bombastic, right? But some of them are also just like stuff that we wish we had talked about a little bit more. Mike, you used this example a little bit recently. Like last year we spent so much time talking about Caleb Williams and the potential that it was like. And this guy, me spent way too much time talking about Anthony Richardson that we just whiffed on. Not whiff. We talked about Jaden Daniels too, but we should have just been paying more mind. Jaden Daniels, like just Jaden Daniels. Jaden Daniels. Jaden Daniels, right. And it's like Nico Collins, incredible talent who had a 28% target share last year for a team that can't, I don't think will be able to run the football this year with a quarterback who maybe is not going to be a top 10 or even 15 fantasy quarterback, but as a bonafide slinger, like this dude is an app. Like I love watching CJ Stroud pass the football. It's a young receiver room besides Nico Collins and Christian Kirk, like maybe Nico Collins just ends up as the highest scoring wide receiver in all of fantasy this year.

[Daniel]

Yeah, I have moved CJ Stroud up a little bit as well as his past offense because of what's been going on with the running game. So there's a little more appeal there. So that's just a side note on Nico Collins, on one hand I could, you know. What did you say?

[Mike]

Not what, downplay.

[Daniel]

Yeah, I could because they're seventh and eighth. So saying they're top three, you know, they're close. But also on the other end, that means they're beating out one of Chase Lamb or Jefferson or even Nakua or neighbors. So. All right, all right, that's. I would say that's your spiciest of the three.

[Field]

We, we're taking. So the War Room League, which you guys are listening, may know, it's 16 team. It's a lot of us on the ESPN here at ESPN, it's all ESPN people. 16 team league. And we talk about this frequently, right? Like, we talk about picking at the turn in like 10 or 12 team leagues where if you want a guy, you got to go get him. When you're picking. We're picking ninth this year. In a 16 team, you still gotta make your decision. Like, if I want Nico Collins, I'm not getting him unless I take him at number nine.

[Mike]

Correct.

[Field]

I won't get him at 20, whatever it is. 24. So, like, he's on the list.

[Daniel]

Yeah. 16 team leagues. You're going in, like, making a decision on what am I sacrificing here, what am I going to work on this season? Because I'm not going to fill out this lineup on draft day.

[Field]

Correct.

[Daniel]

You just can't do it. Like, if you. If you punt that second running back spot, it's going to be terrible in week one. I mean, last year. Yeah. I mean, that's just the way it is with those leagues. You got it. You have to plan that in advance. Where am I okay, being.

[Field]

Until this early on, 2 Flex League, by the way, not Super Flex changes, it just flexes. Plus two flexes.

[Daniel]

Now it's one.

[Field]

Now it's one.

[Daniel]

Oh, interesting. Okay.

[Field]

I think, you know, last year when you got guys who are starting, like, you know, a player who's out for the season in a second flex, you're like, it's probably time to.

[Mike]

Do you prefer leagues? I'm going to take us on a quick tangent here, but, like, do you just. While you're talking about it, do you prefer leagues where. Not necessarily every year, but I'm going to say it for now. Every year, like, you kind of implement a new rule or a rule change, or do you like things being static? I want my league to stay the same.

[Field]

I'm okay with like every handful of years addressing what may be going on. Like if there's something that is perpetually bothering people. But generally speaking, I like the same thing year after year.

[Daniel]

Yeah. Or to stay current. Yeah. Like, if you were like, all right, you know what? We're done with kickers now or we're going to. At some point, a lot of people switch from standard to pbr or now we're seeing, including our friends at the Nice Man League, switching to Super Flex. That was a lot of fun. That was a fun element of being down in the Bahamas, was those guys that was new to them. This is a league that's been around for a while. Started the whole thing with Bahamar and they were legitimately asking questions like what do we do here? Like what's this gonna. What's the draft gonna look like? You know what work. This is all new to these guys that have been in this league for so long. So which that's kind of a side note. But anyway, I, yeah, I like that stuff. I like evolving the league but I don't want to constantly be just I think overhauling non stop.

[Mike]

That's a good way to say it. I like evolving the league where it's like, you know what, we've been doing this for four years. It's kind of been the same. Why don't we make it super flex or why don't we make it tight end premium or find one thing and then live with that for a little.

[Field]

While and see how else that I like right now that I think is like evolving with the league. And there are people that just don't believe in having kickers in your fantasy league in general. I believe kicker decimal scoring is very much important now for like I see a ton of 65 yard attempts and the idea that a 60, like a 65 yard field goal can be worth one more point than a 49 yard field goal. I play in some leagues where it's just three points for anything under 40 yards and four points 40 yards and above. Yeah, you can have a 40 yard field goal count the same as a six.

[Mike]

That is not the same. Agreed.

[Field]

Now you also get downgrades for you know, a 19 yard attempt if some coach is a coward decides to kick it. You know, not our teams. Nope, nope, not you guys.

[Mike]

Lions and Eagles are just push it. We're just going to go for it.

[Daniel]

That's right. Yeah, our kickers can be cool this year.

[Mike]

I hope it's cool, dude. I mean kickers back Cam Little already kicked a 70 yarder.

[Daniel]

A lot of them could do it. There's a lot more position. Just speaking of something that's evolving, the kicker position. These guys are just better and better and better.

[Mike]

Hot take. Do you think we see a 70 yarder in the regular season from Brandon.

[Daniel]

Aubrey gets to 70.

[Field]

Somebody will take.

[Mike]

Someone's going to give it a shot try.

[Daniel]

I hope so. Better be early in the year because once it gets cold it's going to be.

[Mike]

I would love that.

[Field]

What do you got, Michael?

[Daniel]

All right, here we go.

[Mike]

All right, last take.

[Daniel]

This is it like this? I'm going to.

[Mike]

Oh, that's you barely even trying to.

[Daniel]

Get the right amount.

[Mike]

What a baby dip.

[Daniel]

All right, we got. We Got a good amount. That's a. That's a respectable amount.

[Field]

Do you have a cow in your backpack for the third?

[Mike]

I don't know. I only brought the two. I wish I had. I may need one of these little ones again. I got plenty here left, though, so we'll be fine. You feeling it? You remember what it was like last year?

[Field]

I'm touching it. I'm already, like, shaking.

[Mike]

I did.

[Daniel]

See, this is problematic. Where's your.

[Field]

Where's your stuff? Where's your medicines? Your medicines.

[Mike]

You may need it. I need 55 tums. 55ammonia. 55.

[Daniel]

Read it for you.

[Mike]

I ate all this.

[Field]

You mean read this for you or not?

[Daniel]

I'm going to read this for you.

[Mike]

We're taking a minute. Mike's got to take a minute. Hold on. Everything's got to calm down. Everything going on has got to. Just chill for one moment, okay? We can breathe.

[Daniel]

We're gonna try. Mike.

[Field]

You got this, buddy. You got this. You got this. You got this.

[Mike]

They're spicy.

[Daniel]

5 or 20% of the top 25 fantasy running backs this season will be rookies. Ashton Jenny, Maureen Hampton, Trey Van Henderson, RJ Harvey and Bill Crosky Merritt. Wow. We have some other options here. Caleb Johnson. Yeah. Caleb Johnson's. Maybe Tooton Lou Scott about. Oh, my God, this hurts.

[Mike]

You're feeling it.

[Field]

That's it here. You want to just worry about yourself right now. Will Daniel and I react to it? All right, Daniel, do you want to start?

[Mike]

I love this. I love the call. I mean, we have a lot of rookie running backs that we do have high expectation on to this year. Right. I mean, Ashton Gentio, Marian Hampton and Trevion Henderson, they're all now top 20 running backs. So we expect them, I mean, maybe.

[Field]

Not to be quite as high percent of the way there.

[Mike]

Yeah, we're already close. We'll see what happens. Like, RJ Harvey, I think, for me is the next one after that list. I don't know if you have a different feeling there, if it would be him or Caleb Johnson or.

[Field]

Yeah, yeah. Caleb Johnson would. It's close. Caleb Johnson and Bill Crosby. Merit. Like Crosby Merit, Crosky, Merit Seems like.

[Mike]

He'S still going up a little bit. Caleb Johnson seems to have leveled off.

[Field]

I think with Caleb Johnson and Bill Crosby. Merit is. There's such dissimilar prospects in the sense that, like, Caleb Johnson is a volume dude. Like, if he gets, you know, 17 carries a game, he might get there. Why are you guys laughing?

[Mike]

I'm looking at Mike's face. And it's just. It makes me laugh.

[Field]

Bill Crosby merits the big play specialist here. I know. You're. You're doing great, bud.

[Daniel]

It's going to milk, too.

[Field]

Yeah. So number two, milk, cheese.

[Mike]

Can you. Mike, can you give me, like. I mean, do you have a reason why you.

[Field]

Eight more.

[Mike]

Where have you moved Bill Crosby? Merit to. Now that we've had, like, these changes recently?

[Daniel]

I have him 29. He's the least likely to get there.

[Mike]

Running back 29.

[Field]

Number 100 on my 100 overall players this year.

[Daniel]

Really? I think there is a reason why you trade away Brian Robinson, because you know, you. You got something. You have too many players, and they want McNichols there. They don't want to get rid of Chris Rodriguez, who will play more probably early in the year than he will later, depending on injuries. And Austin Eckler is not going anywhere. Nope. He's going to be there.

[Mike]

So do you think Debo.

[Daniel]

He's the bold one. Like, the other four would not shock us. No. Crosky Merrick, at this point, maybe wouldn't, but he's the riskiest of those. But I. I think it's possible. I think there's a reason why they're gonna feature this guy. Yeah.

[Field]

Like it? Yep.

[Mike]

I like it, too.

[Field]

Your hot take. I know. I'm sorry, Mike.

[Mike]

That's too bad for Woody. Yeah. I got one more. I got one more. I'm not really excited about it. If I'm being honest, though, after watching Mike go through this.

[Daniel]

Get in there. He's fine, man. I was just acting. All right.

[Field]

Oh, yeah.

[Daniel]

Dip in there big time.

[Field]

Yeah. Just keep going. No, that's not.

[Daniel]

I just feel it.

[Mike]

Does that feel good? I feel like that's a good amount. That's a good amount.

[Field]

You can just take that ramekin and do a shot the rest of the way.

[Mike]

Not excited about a cheeseburger.

[Daniel]

That's a smart move, right?

[Field]

That is smart. That is a veteran. Excellent gamesmanship right there by you. Yep. Say that.

[Mike]

Oh, ma'.

[Daniel]

Am.

[Field]

It's so good.

[Daniel]

That's what hurts.

[Mike]

My fourth and 15 is what this feels like right now. Nothing about it.

[Daniel]

27.

[Mike]

Fred X. Fred X. Dorian Thompson. Robinson.

[Daniel]

I think 27. That was the Eagles. Packers. I remember. I was in college for that.

[Mike]

Goodness, guys, this is ridiculous. I cannot handle this right now.

[Field]

How much did you spend at the store on milk?

[Daniel]

You better donate.

[Field]

You expense this or something.

[Mike]

Can I do that?

[Field]

Probably. I don't know. There's got to be, like, petty.

[Mike]

It's not enough, though. Hold on.

[Daniel]

Can I expense my medical bills because.

[Field]

All right.

[Mike]

My.

[Field]

I'm going to expense four rolls of toilet paper.

[Mike]

I remember this now. I remember this. I've been practicing though, so I can handle it.

[Field]

You guys are maniacs. I'm never doing this again.

[Mike]

All right, My hot take is one of the two rookie tight ends. Colston Loveland or Tyler Warren will finish with more fantasy points than Travis Kelce. You named Travis Kelce. Over the last two seasons, we have seen something that we would not have expected in our wildest dreams, and that is two rookie tight ends absolutely dominating. Just crushing. I don't think so. No.

[Field]

Was that an intentional.

[Mike]

No. Now we have two more first rounders and Colston Loveland isn't wildest dream.

[Field]

Isn't that a Taylor Swift song?

[Mike]

He's going to be in a Ben Johnson led offense.

[Daniel]

What was it called? I can't hear it because of my mouth.

[Field]

He said something about we have seen.

[Mike]

Something we wouldn't have expected in our wildest dreams. Two rookie tight ends just finishing at the top of the position in fantasy football. Now we got Colson Loveland and Bed Johnson led offense. I think this is going to be top 10 in pass attempts this year. The Bears are going to throw the ball a ton. He's going to play that Laporta role. And by the way, the Bears already had.

[Field]

You got it, buddy. You got it. You got it, dude.

[Mike]

Bears already had a nice tight end. Yeah, it sits like it's hot at first, but then it even settles in more.

[Field]

Oh, it's brutal. Stings.

[Mike]

They already had a nice tight end in Cole Comet that they spent a bunch of money to keep for what it's worth. And they still used a first round investment.

[Daniel]

Yeah.

[Mike]

On Colson Loveland. Huge draft capital guy in order to get Ben Johnson's dude. And then there's Tyler Warren in Indy with Daniel Jones under center. Excited about that Last year for those that don't watch college football, 104 receptions, 1230 receiving yards, eight touchdowns. Plus he ran the ball for 218 rushing yards and had four rushing touchdowns. Last year was not a love story for Travis Kelce. Fantasy managers. He delivered his worst fantasy season since 2015. You should have said no to drafting him. There were multiple weeks in which it felt like you had a blank space in your tight end spot because he had six games under seven fantasy points. You don't like that. And these weren't like the Jack Welch Management institute at Strayer University. Helps you go from. I know the way to I've arrived with our top 10 ranked online MBA. Gain skills you can learn today and apply tomorrow. Get ready to go from make it happen to made it happen and keep striving. Visit strayer.edu Jack WelchMBA to learn more. Strayer University is certified to operate in Virginia by Chevin as many campuses, including at 2121 15th Street north in Arlington, Virginia.

[Daniel]

Mint is still $15 a month for premium wireless and if you haven't made the switch yet, here are 15 reasons why you shouldn' 1. It's $15 a month. 2. Seriously, it's $15 a month 3. No big contract 4.

[Mike]

I use it. 5.

[Daniel]

My mom uses it.

[Mike]

Are you. Are you playing me off?

[Daniel]

That's what's happening, right? Okay, give it a try. @mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment of 45 per.

[Field]

3 month plan $15 per month equivalent required. New customer offer first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra.

[Mike]

See mintmobile.com Introducing the perfect companion to your morning listening routine, AG1's clinically backed formula is now flavor packed with three new delicious tropical berry and citrus. Start the day on a high note with probiotics that taste like the tropics. Mix it up with micronutrients that taste like berry or citrus, and take it all the way back with the classic AG1 original with notes of pineapple and vanilla. Do your health a flavor or four with AG1 NextGen, the daily health drink. Learn more at drink ag1.com champagne problems these were real problems for your fantasy league. Fewest total fantasy points, fewest points per game, fewest receiving yards and fewest touchdowns. And that was in a season where we know that there were less people to feed in that offense with everyone being hurt and being out, right? So I know some of you field and I know that you feel this way. You're still enchanted with Travis Kelsey and I. We're just hoping that he can shake it off this year and get back to being the guy that he is. I know your feelings all too well, feel Jets. But when I look at Travis Kelce, all I can think to myself is I knew you were trouble last season. Which is why I am never ever getting back together with Travis Kelsey. I'd rather draft one of the new romantics, which is what I'm calling these two rookie tight ends and Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren. Give me one of these two rookies over Travis Kelsey. I have Loveland as tight end eight, Warren is tight end nine and Travis Kelsey Is tight end ten.

[Field]

Whoa.

[Daniel]

Wow.

[Mike]

Good for you guys. You want a bold takes. That was a bold take.

[Field]

Well, but the thing is, like, these are calls. Like, these are things that we're not. Like, we're not suggesting. These are likely. These are hot takes. You've got those guys both as top nine tight ends. I respect the crap out of it. I still have Travis Kelsey ranked ahead of those.

[Daniel]

You do?

[Mike]

Yes, you do.

[Field]

Are we in on board bets this year? I feel like we don't do as great of a job paying off board bets. So can we just write this down?

[Daniel]

Just lives the life of a showgirl, Right. I'm a little disappointed and worked the new album and that was a mistake. I was.

[Mike]

I should have worked the new album in there.

[Field]

You guys are unbelievable. Question for you guys. Do you think that Travis Kelsey, now being engaged, is going to actually make him play better this year?

[Daniel]

No.

[Field]

Okay.

[Daniel]

No.

[Mike]

He went from hero to anti hero last year.

[Daniel]

He is more, folks. He is more.

[Field]

I thought it was tight end four.

[Mike]

I got him as tight end ten. What's the difference there? Tight end seven.

[Field]

Six.

[Daniel]

Yeah, I'm at six. However, I will say that I did actually have to change one of my takes because one of mine was that both rookies will finish top 10. So we were on the same page. I love that I wasn't, you know, defaming or is that the word? Beaming Travis Kelce Demeaning Travis Kelsey.

[Field]

Smirching him.

[Daniel]

Yeah. Besmirching Travis Kelce is part of it, but yeah, I think I do.

[Field]

You're letting the hair down once.

[Mike]

So hot, man.

[Daniel]

Actually, I guess that's not much of a hot take because I have them 10 and 11. So I move Warren up with Daniel Jones under there. Me too.

[Mike]

That was a big.

[Daniel]

By the way, I wanted to mention this when you were talking. We saw Brock Bowers running a little bit last year, too. Watching tight end evolve the last couple of years is interesting. I wonder if we see more and more of these athletic tight ends running the football a little bit, which adds. Yeah. To the value. Because you think about the nature of the tight end position, it's hard. I mean, it's honestly easy to finish top 10 at tight end, especially in the back end. There's not a lot of guys that just come through each year, so adding value with your likes could go a long way.

[Mike]

Also, I know Travis Kelsey doesn't actually run the football, but that stupid little flip play that they do, like, it's basically a run, right? Like, that's it.

[Daniel]

So I feel like I don't.

[Field]

I don't want to do board bets. I feel like, you know, we've kind of jumped the shark there a little bit. I just want to do, like, a wager here. Like, I want if. If Travis Kelsey finishes a top seven tight end, I would like a Travis Kelsey mug from you.

[Mike]

Okay.

[Field]

Mug. And if he doesn't, what would you like? That's, like, commensurate value of Taylor Swift new concert tickets? Totally. That's a fair deal.

[Mike]

Yeah. Those things even to me.

[Field]

Do you want VIP package or no? Or would you like it in, like, this guy can't.

[Daniel]

In the wedding? For sure.

[Mike]

Yeah, that's what I would love. I just want to be at the reception. I don't even need to do the wedding.

[Field]

I did get a plus one.

[Daniel]

All right.

[Field]

My wife.

[Mike]

Dang it.

[Daniel]

Come on, Chapin.

[Mike]

What is. I mean, why Chapin over Mike and I. What do Mike and I not have?

[Field]

You know what? Depends on. Let's. Let's see how well you guys treat me for the next four months.

[Mike]

All right.

[Field]

Before the season's over.

[Daniel]

I think field is great. Wait, roll that tape from yesterday.

[Mike]

Yeah, you said a lot of nice stuff yesterday.

[Field]

Oh, that's a good one there.

[Mike]

I didn't dive in as hard.

[Field]

You want a mug like, but you don't want a Colson Loveland mug, do you? Tyler Warren.

[Mike]

No, I would do a Tyler Warren.

[Daniel]

Mug whichever one scores higher.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Field]

Okay.

[Mike]

I'm good with that.

[Field]

All right, so the. The states.

[Mike]

One of the two. I think one of the two will finish higher than.

[Field]

Okay, so the stakes are I get top seven, I get a Travis Kelsey mug. What happens if Kelsey finishes tight end 7 and one of them finishes?

[Daniel]

I get a mug of my choice.

[Mike]

Then Mike gets a. Mike wins.

[Daniel]

That's what it is.

[Mike]

Yeah, that's.

[Daniel]

I always like. That's a. I like that.

[Field]

Michael.

[Daniel]

Tiebreaker.

[Field]

I have a few extra bonus ones. You guys want to hear them?

[Mike]

Yeah. Are you going to dip any chips or. These are just bonus ones for fun.

[Daniel]

We'll decide which chip it would be.

[Mike]

All right. Perfect.

[Daniel]

Perfect.

[Field]

Yeah, that's a good one. All right. This one's not going to surprise anybody because we've talked about this throughout the season so far. Roma Dunze and Jalen Waddle outscore DJ Moore and Tyreek Hill, respectively.

[Daniel]

Waddle over. Tyreek and Odunze over. Okay, I'll do the middle one.

[Mike]

I was going to say that's a hot take two.

[Daniel]

It might be a little between two and Three because both just talked about.

[Field]

Pettigreid the player and both of them just being outstand. Maybe some vibes, issues with the veteran and the quarterback and each totally see it. Omarion Hampton, one of the buzziest players of the preseason, finishes outside the top 20 of running backs.

[Mike]

Wow.

[Daniel]

Top 20. That is. I mean we're going to, we're going to say like points per game, right? So not like. Yeah, not because he gets hurt. So I would say that's between two and three as well.

[Mike]

That's pretty spicy.

[Daniel]

I know he's an unknown, so it could go source. And also like late first round running backs, not as successful as top 12 top 15 running backs who have been elite in fantasy as rookies. So. But still he is a path to an awesome situation there with the Charger.

[Field]

These again, these are hot takes, people. These are not things that align with how I necessarily feel and how I have been drafting and how you have them ranked. I have Hampton as a top 15 or 16 running back.

[Daniel]

And by the way, how this happens is essentially not enough work in the passing game. And Najee Harris probably steals more than we expected. Scores a lot of the touchdowns.

[Field]

So that is exactly how it happens.

[Mike]

Also, I mean am I fill me in if I'm just missing all the other stuff. Like I know Naji is back. Like have we had any updates on like what he's really dealing with? On how bad it is? Yeah, I know he's practicing, I understand that.

[Field]

But clearly bad. He's almost two months of time miss. So it's definitely. It was bad.

[Daniel]

But yeah, but as long as he can essentially see though, right? I mean that was the question. So if he can see it, if he's practicing, he should be able to see. It's not like it's a nagging knee injury. Right. So I would imagine he's. I'm assuming he's going to be essentially a full go. Yeah. For week one.

[Mike]

Okay.

[Field]

Number six.

[Mike]

Yep.

[Field]

This is a player that I don't know if we've talked about him at all so far this preseason. So I kind of like this one. Bill's second year wide receiver, Keon Coleman finishes in a top 25 wideout.

[Daniel]

Wow, that's bold. I could obviously second round pick last year can make a year two leap has Josh Allen, but three overall, by the way, I think this is a bold call for a few reasons. I in fact including that like there hasn't been a lot of buzz. Right. It's been like Josh Palmer buzz this offseason. They have a lot of mouths to feed.

[Field]

Dion Dawkins, left tackle for the Bills, who's great behind the mic, by the way. And he was, he was at the podium somewhat recently and he had this, like, comment that he just like, kept repeating it over and over and over again. He was like, you guys don't get it. Keon Coleman is a completely different player. And like some reporter like, began a separate thought and he was like a completely different player.

[Daniel]

All right.

[Field]

And then someone was like, I'm going to press him on like a different question. He was like, keon Coleman is a completely different player.

[Daniel]

Maybe they're keeping a lid on also an elite teammate.

[Field]

He knows the right things to say in front of people. So I don't know. I just feel like it's Josh Allen, maybe he takes that big step. He ends up with 12 touchdowns this season. Becomes DK Metcalf Light.

[Daniel]

They also rolled back the passing game a little bit last year. Very more conservative last year. And I was better for team success. And that could, you know, that that might be a little part of why you're. You were a QB4 and Josh Allen and why the receivers in an offense where they spread it around might not, you know, the offense might not have the ceiling of some others. So I think that's a. I, I like that. I like it, you know, because where he's going, he's a palatable adp. And if you're saying he is that upside, then I would, you know, it makes him more justifiable.

[Mike]

That'd be a big jump. I mean, he only had four games over nine and a half fantasy points last year. So he needs to be a completely different player.

[Daniel]

Was starting to heat up and then he got hurt.

[Field]

Yep.

[Daniel]

And then it never happened for him.

[Field]

Josh Allen, a reminder, is three spots behind Lamar Jackson in my quarterback rankings. He's also three spots behind Lamar Jackson in my overall rankings.

[Daniel]

Right. It's tight.

[Field]

It's 1, 2, 3, 4 are there.

[Daniel]

My point is there's a reason he's not clearly number one right now. And the main reason for that is that they. The pass volume from 23 to 24 dropped a lot. Was it 150 drop backs lower, something like that?

[Field]

It was a huge way different. They play extremely slow. They just kill that clock up there in Buffalo. By the way, Buffalo hosting Baltimore in week one. The takes are going to be incredible.

[Mike]

Really fun.

[Daniel]

That's in Buffalo. And I'm taking, I'm taking the Ravens, really. They're my super bowl pick this Year. So.

[Field]

Wow, way to take. We gotta do that next.

[Daniel]

Way to take my door. We gotta do our picks next year, next week, playoffs and Super Bowl.

[Field]

Here we go. Last one. Cam Ward finishes.

[Daniel]

Yes.

[Field]

The top 12 quarters.

[Daniel]

Yeah, good one. This is a. This is a light question for sure. This is how much is he going to run?

[Field]

Yes, correct.

[Daniel]

He's not going to throw 40 touchdowns. But anyway, go ahead.

[Field]

That's really just. It's all about how much he uses his legs. He is a good gifted runner. He's a good athlete. He's not a great athlete. He's a good to very good athlete. The Titans have what I would describe as a very average wide receiver group around him. Although Ella Gao Manor, my deep, deep sleeper. Keep an eye on that one there. But yeah, I mean it's. Again, we're both. I just another player that I feel like perhaps not just we on fantasy focus, but like the entire football world has failed to discuss. Camward as much as the number one overall pick in the draft deserves to be discussed.

[Daniel]

Yeah. You know what's interesting and this is I brought up a similar the other day. Like a. Was it McMillan vs. Waddle? I think was my example. But like, what about like Jared Goff versus Cam Ward? Right. Like our. Our rankings are. There's a wide gap and because Goff is like a safer fringe QB one, but you know, that's his ceiling. Like he's not going higher than 10, most likely. He just doesn't do it.

[Mike]

You're right. He hasn't finished his quarterback six or quarterback seven. And he's points per game.

[Daniel]

He's been better than 10th one time in his career and he's got massive passing numbers the last three years, so I think that's fair to say.

[Field]

Yep.

[Daniel]

Cam Ward, though, his range of outcomes is higher than that. So at that point in a draft, do you even bother taking golf? I don't. Or would you rather just wait till later and take a throw a lottery ticket at a McCarthy or.

[Field]

Usually that's where you end up. Yeah, that's where I end up usually.

[Daniel]

That's why I take guys like that. Yeah.

[Field]

You guys ready for this?

[Daniel]

I'm ready. Bring it. By the way, that was a two. I'll say two. Maybe. Maybe a little toward the one.

[Mike]

But did he. Did he. How much? And I don't mean to derail you here, but he played at three different colleges.

[Field]

Incarnate word. And then Washington State and then Miami.

[Mike]

And then Miami.

[Daniel]

Okay. All right.

[Field]

Last but not least, talk about the teams in New York that use the city of New York. They don't actually play in New York. They play in New Jersey.

[Daniel]

Okay.

[Field]

Alan Lazard is the highest scoring wide receiver from New York.

[Daniel]

That's a four. What's a five?

[Mike]

Whatever is above the last one is what that is.

[Daniel]

Yeah. Terrible. He almost. He was on the might not make the team list.

[Field]

And who else is going to be on the jets roster?

[Daniel]

That's why it was concerning. They were like, is this guy going to make. Even make the 53? He was a little beat up there, though, for a little. So. But he made the 53. Malachi Corley did not.

[Mike]

And we made it through this episode in one piece.

[Daniel]

I feel okay. Honestly, I was a little.

[Field]

Don't rub it in, Mike.

[Daniel]

I mean, I don't know how I'll feel in a half hour, but for.

[Field]

Now I'm gonna go stop over at Flaming Farm, which is one of the local farms here, and just start milking cows to help Daniel out tomorrow.

[Mike]

I'm. Why not? I. I got three of them right here.

[Daniel]

I felt better. Take that home and drink all that.

[Mike]

I will drink all of them for dinner every. Yeah, every dinner for the next week. My dog's gonna be drinking milk.

[Field]

The kids always like, our expiration date is not like they're too hot or too hungry. It's like, dad, it smells so bad here. Can we please leave?

[Daniel]

What?

[Field]

That's what drags my kids out of the farm.

[Mike]

Out of the farm?

[Daniel]

Yeah.

[Mike]

I'm gonna be making Mac and cheese at home. I'm gonna be made. What other dishes use milk. Milkshakes. I'll be doing. Yeah. A lot of smoothies, whatever I can to be able to help get through all this milk. All right, that's gonna be it for today. Thank you so much for hanging out with us. We're back tomorrow with one more mock draft heading into Labor Day weekend. To be able to let you guys know where we would attack different positions within the draft. So we will be back, Mike Field and I, tomorrow. Don't forget to love each other. Be kind to yourself, and we'll see you guys on Friday.

[Field]

Always take your antacids for your belly.

[Mike]

Yes.

[Field]

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[Daniel]

Didn'T turn out quite the way he imagined.

[Field]

I decided I wanted to have one.

[Mike]

Of the most organized goodbyes in history.

[Field]

30 for 30 podcast presents Chasing Basketball Heaven.

[Daniel]

Available now wherever you get your podcasts.