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- [00:00]
Commercial Narrator
I wrote a little song to remind you. Choice hotels get you more of the experiences you value. The Cambria Hotel's got it all. A rooftop bar. Have a ball. Cocktails up here. Feel just right. Ms. Cambria.
- [00:17]
Daniel Dopp
Amazing.
- [00:19]
Commercial Narrator
All right, bring a date, your teen, or even your mom. Book direct@ChoiceHotels.com See you on the roof.
- [00:30]
Liz Loza
When Jaylen Warren was sidelined, he managed a total of 130 yards and 30 fantasy points in that single effort. Hey, I'm Liz Loza. This is facts versus feelings. And today's fact is that good things come to those who wait. Hello, Daniel Do. It is so good to see you. You know, I have to say this is becoming one of my favorite days of the week because we get to connect and also, you know, do this.
- [01:02]
Daniel Dopp
I love that. Me too. Liz Loza. One of my favorite days of the week as well. By the way, you waited and then I got to come on this show and now we get to do this every single day throughout the entirety of the season. How freaking cool is that?
- [01:13]
Liz Loza
It's super cool. Especially because you just proved my point so early.
- [01:17]
Daniel Dopp
I love you. You're the best. All right, well, today we are talking about players being drafted outside the top 95 of our ESPN fantasy drafts. Lizzloza and we're going to start in Tampa Bay with the man who practices the safest sacks in the NFL. That is Kenny G, obviously, Mr. Kenneth Gainwell moving on from Pittsburgh to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now being in this Tampa Bay offense coming off the board an ADP of 121.6. Liz Loza, are you thinking about calling out his name on draft day?
- [01:47]
David
Oh my gosh.
- [01:47]
Liz Loza
He is one of my favorite late round flyers. He is coming off of a career season in which he was the RB4 in receptions, the RB5 in receiving yards. And while it was only one game, it is important to note that Gainwell really succeed the lead. Back in Pittsburgh when Jaylen Warren was sidelined, he managed a total of 130 yards and 30 fantasy points in that single effort. Now clearly Tampa Bay took note of the production and signed Gainwell to a two year deal with about $10 million guaranteed. So that's a not for nothing fact, you know. And I do think that that change in scenery will keep Gainwell producing, will keep him busy. Especially with R.A. white off the roster and with Baker Mayfield back to health and under center. Here's something awesome. Last year Mayfield targeted the running back position 90 times that ranked sixth in the NFL. His 77 completions to the position ranked fourth in the league. So we know he likes a safety valve and Gainwell is situated to be
- [02:56]
Daniel Dopp
that for him and we love that. It sounds like the man has great hands. Liz, you know how much I love great hands. I know how much you love great hands. After our last live show, you talked to me about this fireman. It doesn't matter the story that you told me. But listen, the point is we know how much you love a guy that's a good pass catcher. Right? So here's the thing. My question is, is this dude more than one dimensional? Can he be more than just a pass catcher? Can he do more than that for you in fantasy?
- [03:19]
Liz Loza
Well, that's the thing that's so great about him because he has proven that he is more than just a quote, change of pace option. He demonstrated serious metal as a runner last season, averaging 5.1 yards per carry on first downs. No, I'm not going to pretend that he profiles as some sort of bell power every down back, but he has proven capable of handling a variety of touches, which is particularly important given that Bucky Irving is still nursing this nagging shoulder injury. To me, Gainwell profiles as a premium flex option with tons of upside in PPR friendly formats and you're getting him
- [03:59]
Daniel Dopp
in the 13th round of ESPN fantasy drafts, which is great value right now. All right, next up on the list, Liz Loza, Uber talented young wide receiver that just got a massive pay. You and I both know that Christian Watson has had some ups and downs in his career, but now that he's going in the 10th round 96.9 as his ADP, is it finally know enough that it is time to start paying attention to Christian Watson?
- [04:23]
Liz Loza
Okay, so full disclosure, I have never been a Christian Watson, Stan or apologist. But I am intrigued in the potential investment this year because I was stunned frankly by the packers investment in him. Green Bay signed Watson to a four year extension worth an estimated 110.5. I would love that.05 million dollars. And this happened months after Romeo Dobbs and Don Tavian Wicks were already departed from the team. So not only does that open up over 130 targets, but it also demonstrates a lot of confidence in Watson's ability to lead, which is striking given the player's injury history.
- [05:09]
Daniel Dopp
Yeah, it's really the elephant in the room there and not just like a little baby elephant, Liz, like a big mama elephant in the room. They're so adorable. But this is the problem with Christian Watson. Anybody that is in a draft room. The only thing when you hear Christian Watson that you think about is the fact that his hamstrings were installed backwards at the hamstring factory when he was a baby. So how do you get around that when you're looking at Christian Watson?
- [05:31]
Liz Loza
Well, I don't think you do if I'm being honest. Like, there is no getting around the fact that he has durability concerns. But I also think the volatility that he is presenting with is baked into his adp, especially when additionally factoring the boom potential that he presents with. I mean, Watson has managed a career Touchdown Length of 23 and a half yards. We know that he excels as a vertical threat and that pairs very nicely with Jordan Love, who has led all qualifying quarterbacks in deep throw rate since 2023.
- [06:09]
Daniel Dopp
Hey, that's a pretty good Liz Loz. As long as he's on the field, Christian Watson, we know is uber talented. All right, let's give the people one more. Liz, you and I obviously both, we love smashing tight ends, especially in the later rounds of fantasy drafts. So I want to ask you, is there a late round gem or even an undrafted guy, someone maybe at pick 160 or later that you like coming off the board as a late round tight end option?
- [06:33]
Liz Loza
I really like. Get ready for it, Daniel. Greg Dulcich.
- [06:38]
Daniel Dopp
Ooh, okay. Who else is there to catch the ball in that offense?
- [06:43]
Liz Loza
That is it. This is simple addition by subtraction. Miami subtracted Tyreek Hill, Jalen Waddle and Darren Waller and that only adds to Dolcich's breakout appeal. And now let's also say that there's more to it because Dolce did flash down the stretch of last season. He was the tight end 4 in yards per catch and the tight end 2 in yards after the catch per reception from weeks through 18. I expect those traits that he has to be further highlighted in this new scheme that is being written by Bobby Slowik. Remember, Dalton Schultz cleared 80 targets in both 2023 and 2024 when Slowik was the Texans offensive coordinator.
- [07:29]
Daniel Dopp
All right, Liz Loza, thank you very much. Before we move on, don't forget to like and subscribe to this little podcast that we have right now. We are going to be back every single week through the rest of the season. Make sure you stay locked in. There is a PODC you can find us every single week on the ESPN on NFL YouTube page. And the voicemail line is back. That is right. We've been getting a ton of great submissions. Give us a call with all of your questions and hot takes. The number is 323-391-4855.
- [07:55]
WNBA Announcer
You know, when you're locked in, focused and fearless.
- [07:59]
Daniel Dopp
Welcome to the wnba.
- [08:01]
WNBA Announcer
Your vision narrows. You can't look away. Every assist, every stop, every logo.
- [08:07]
Daniel Dopp
Three from beyond the logo, every.
- [08:11]
WNBA Announcer
Did you see that moment?
- [08:13]
Daniel Dopp
You bet.
- [08:14]
Liz Loza
What records are going to be broken this season?
- [08:17]
WNBA Announcer
All of it. Right here. Lock in. It's the WNBA on ESPN all season long.
- [08:26]
Daniel Dopp
I'm so scared right now. You shut up. Okay. Liz Losie, you know how on Sunday mornings I guess I'll just say the normals because you and I don't live a normal life. But you're watching Sunday football, 1pm the best time to watch football, 1pm and Sunday afternoon is a great time. 10am well, okay, east coast, west coast, no big deal, whatever. And then you get to the very end of that game and you start getting this feeling right before what I call the four o' clock games, you guys might call them. Something else starts and. And I get this feeling and it doesn't feel great. Do you know what that feeling is that I'm talking about?
- [08:59]
Liz Loza
I think, I think you're alluding to something called the Sunday scaries.
- [09:04]
Daniel Dopp
Yeah. You get a little bit deeper into Sunday and as much as you're loving your football, you know right around the corner is work and you've got this feeling and it doesn't make you feel good. Well, I wanted to take that and turn it into a bit that we do here around wide receiver scaries because I think there's some scary wide receiver rooms in the nfc. There are very much.
- [09:21]
WNBA Announcer
Okay.
- [09:22]
Daniel Dopp
And so why not have a little bit of fun with it. So I'm going to give you some scary wide receiver rooms at the end. I will give you a scale that you can use to tell me how scared you are to draft these players. But I just kind of want to hear you go through your thought process on how you're approaching all of these wide receiving course. So we're going to start in Arizona, maybe the scariest wide receiver room in all of fantasy football. And that's just because there has been so much unrealized production. Liz. Marvin Harrison Jr. Was the number four overall pick just two years ago and he has just frankly been a disappointment. He was unfortunately dealing with a lot of injuries last season, but he only has three games of 20 or more fantasy points over the last two years, which is not enough when the team spent that level of draft capital on you. And then you've also got Michael Wilson Jr. Who had a monster second half to this season, but there's no way he can continue to be that. Right? Because if he does, he's basically just one of the 10 best wide receivers in football. So I don't know how to approach him. And then you've still got the 33 year old quarterback that just started practicing in Jacoby Brissette and the offensive coordinator is now in Detroit in Drew Petzing. So you got a lot of different things moving on here that I think make it a very scary situation. Talk to me about how you feel about this Arizona Cardinals wide receiving corps.
- [10:35]
Liz Loza
Well I feel worse about it now.
- [10:37]
Daniel Dopp
Yeah, sorry about that. I gave you a lot.
- [10:39]
Liz Loza
My goodness. So like there's a lot of unknowns here but our job is to dig through the data and help provide clarity. That is actually the task at hand for us, particularly at this time of year. And so yes, MHJ is a curious case because he has ranked outside of the top 30 wide receivers in fantasy points per game, averaging fewer than 12 fantasy points per game in back to back seasons. Now you mentioned the injuries was which certainly affected him but before he was injured he averaged 12.5 fantasy points per game from weeks 1 through 10 which was the wide receiver 30 last year. Ironically or maybe not ironically, his ADP is currently the wide receiver 29. He's going in the ninth round so I think that's a fair exchange. There is a floor of what he can do and he is going at that place. Now if he does bounce back and I think he could probably score some more touchdowns and help that but I don't think he's going to see the volume he as previously not with Jeremiah Love entering the equation so probably it's a wash. But here's a player who's probably going to give you wide receiver three or flex production with a little bit of room to be a low end wide receiver too. So based on the adp, if you feel like making the gamble, it's fair. As for Michael Wilson, Love, this player adored him coming out of Stanford. Really, really enjoyed watching that breakout happen at the hands of Jacoby Brissette who you mentioned is coming back. So that helps Wilson. But it's important to look at the splits from when Marvin Harrison Jr. On the field with Wilson and when he was not because over that time in Brissette's 12 starts last season, Wilson averaged 10.2 fantasy points per game with MHJ on the field and 26 fantasy points per game with MHJ off the field.
- [12:27]
Daniel Dopp
Here is the question on a scale of I'm in a movie theater and a scary thing just happens and I jump a little bit because I'm so scared in my heart races to I'm in a movie theater and something scary happens and I jump a little bit because it makes my heart race a whole lot. And then a little bit of pee comes out at the no, no, no, no, no.
- [12:43]
Commercial Narrator
Daniel.
- [12:43]
Daniel Dopp
Yeah, just a little bit. Not so much that it's like everywhere, but enough that you have to say, Daniel, walk really close behind me so no one can see. Because people would see like between those two things, how nervous are you to draft one of these wide receivers?
- [12:54]
Liz Loza
Girl, I do too much Pilates for that to ever happen. Maybe I spill a little Diet Coke, but that is it. Next.
- [13:02]
Unknown Caller
Okay.
- [13:03]
Daniel Dopp
Okay, sounds good. Not nervous, not nervous. All right, let's talk about the Denver Broncos. Elizabeth Denver Broncos had a whack a mole approach to their wide receiver one last season. As we all know, with both wide receivers now being drafted outside the top 20, Cortland Sutton basically is a floor play is what it feels like. Every once in a while he'll flirt with a ceiling game, but he has as many 20 point games last year as Troy Franklin did. And to be honest, Jalen Waddle coming over from this Miami Dolphins offense, there's a lot of questions about what he can be here with Sean Payton under center. And that doesn't include Troy Franklin or Marvin Mims or Pat Bryant or little Jordan Humphries or that guy that they're going to join off the street that's going to do something in Week 9 and score 13 fantasy points for them. So tell me how you're approaching this Denver Broncos wide receiving core with the plethora of options that they have.
- [13:52]
Liz Loza
Well, I think we have to acknowledge that the Jalen Waddle hype is building and I understand it. I mean Denver did give up three 20, 26 picks, a first, a third and a fourth to add waddle. It is strongly suggested that he is going to work as the team's number one wide receiver. And in adding him, the hypothesis is that Sean finally gets his quote joker who we thought Evan Ingram might emerge as last year. But now Waddle is going to move all over the formation, be deployed into the from the slot and work the outside. Right now Waddle is going as the wide receiver 22. I think he should pay off that ADP with potential ceiling for even more. If everything aligns like we're thinking, it might maybe even flirt with A low end wide receiver one. So I don't mind it. He is just happens to be going in a place with a lot of other options. Lad T. Higgins, Terry McFlurin, all going to all going in a similar spot. So Waddle having that upside in a new place is certainly intriguing. As for Cortland Sutton, I think you pretty much said it all. Yes, he has produced, but that production has largely came and really only came because of massive volume. He's cleared a hundred targets in back to back seasons. A conversion rate though of barely 60%. I don't think that Sutton will be able to field the same amount of opportunities, especially with Waddle projected to clear 120 targets. So Cortland Sutton is like floor ish wide receiver 3, but certainly not someone you're going out of your way to add.
- [15:21]
Daniel Dopp
All right, then, let's put you on the scale with this one, Liz. On a scale of being out hiking and you see a gigantic snake and then you decide to power walk past it because snakes are really scary. Two, you are out hiking, you see a gigantic snake and you're so afraid that your body literally goes rigid and then you fall over limp and then because of that you're unconscious and the snake crawls into your mouth and then it lays eggs and then they crawl down into your belly and it burst out of your belly like in the Alien movie. On a scale of those two things, how nervous are you about drafting one of these Broncos wide receivers?
- [15:53]
Liz Loza
I mean, do they reboot the Alien franchise with me playing with you as the lead? Because. Okay, yeah. Yeah. Because if I could be Ripley, if I could be Ripley, all the eggs
- [16:01]
Daniel Dopp
in the mouth, then let's move to Jacksonville where nothing is.
- [16:05]
Liz Loza
No, let's not. Oh yai yai.
- [16:08]
Daniel Dopp
Last year we had the hype train that was Brian Thomas Jr. Coming off that hot rookie season, and the generationally talented Travis Hunter Jr. Who was going to revolutionize both wide receiver and cornerback at the same time. And then guess what happened, Liz? None of that.
- [16:22]
Liz Loza
It didn't work. It didn't work.
- [16:24]
Daniel Dopp
It didn't work. And now we're talking about Jacobe Myers and Parker Washington Jr. It's not the same. So now we're in a situation where, as much as I love Liam Cohen, I am absolutely terrified about being able to predict what this offense is supposed to be because I thought we had two young superstars at our disposal for fantasy football, and it's really the vet and this young safety valve that I feel like we need to look at. So Talk to me about how you are approaching the Jaguars wide receiving corps in drafts this year year well, let's
- [16:50]
Liz Loza
start with the safety valve. It's Jacobe Myers. We know he presents with a high floor. We know he's going to work out of the slot. He averaged 12 fantasy points per game which was the wide receiver 26 after debuting with the Jaguars. That makes a lot of sense. Parker Washington vs. BTJ I think is the most polarizing debate that I'm seeing within the community. Parker Washington obviously exploded last season averaging 14.6 fantasy points per game. That was the wide receiver 16 from Weeks 10 through 18 after Jacoby Myers joined the squad. So all things being equal if you will, but this is a weird thing that I read. Parker Washington is supposedly the front runner to return punts, which seems odd. If he's going to be the team's number one wide receiver, it's giving me a little bit of pause. Regardless, he is the wide receiver 38 going just behind Brian Thomas Jr. Who is the wide receiver 37 coming off boards. Now Brian Thomas Jr. Entered this summer reportedly focus on building a quote true connection with Trevor Lawrence. I think the chemistry is a problem and sometimes when someone's not for you, they're not for you. So we'll see if they can meld the chemistry and build the rapport. Still, last summer Brian Thomas Jr. Was going in the sixth round. This year he's going in the 10th or the 11th round. In the double digit rounds is exactly. And I'm speaking strategically here where I want to flirt with upside and when I'm looking at Washington and I'm looking at Brian Thomas Jr. I'm going to go with BTJ for the upside. Given the ADP.
- [18:24]
Daniel Dopp
I like it. Liz Loza and by the way, as a part of you doing that experiment you would have already made sure that your roster was in a nice spot to take a dart throw like Brian Thomas Jr. You're not going to take a bunch of dart throws, right? So we know that's going to happen. But I want to do this now on a scale of you being on Fantasy Focus filling in for Mike Clay all week next week. Thank you so much for doing that. And you're a little bit gassy and your tummy hurts but you can't hold it in so you let it out. It's just a little silent too. Nobody knows about it. Between that and you're on Fantasy Focus next week all week filling in for Mike and you're a little bit gassy and your tummy hurts and it feels like you also need to let it out. And it's not a toot, Liz. Oh, Daniel, you locked eyes with me and you didn't have to say words. And you and I both know that you just pooed a little between those two things. How nervous are you about drafting the Jaguars wide receiver?
- [19:13]
Liz Loza
If I so much as in front of field gates, my soul will leave my body. This cannot. I'm like now I'm in my head. I am. Oh, can you imagine for barging in front of field? No, he does. I like don't think field farts and so therefore I don't either. And I am certainly gonna load up on like Gas X or Imodium or Pepcid or whatever I need to do. And I'm not eating Raisin Bran that morning for breakfast.
- [19:43]
Josh
This is a safe place. It's a place where we can feel free sharing our feelings.
- [19:48]
Liz Loza
Daniel we have been getting so many voicemail submissions people. Please keep them coming. It's super exciting. So let's dig right in. Who do we have first?
- [19:57]
Daniel Dopp
So many voicemail submissions. All right, first one up, twinkle toes. We have a question about the Rams backfield.
- [20:03]
David
Hey, this is David from Los Angeles. I'm a Rams fan and while I'm excited for a Super bowl run, is it a tough or questionable decision to take kyron as your RB1 knowing that quorum is going to eat into it or should I just stash coram later on? Thank you.
- [20:22]
Liz Loza
All right, so we have a lot of investment in one team here. I want to start with the positives as it pertains to Williams. There's a lot to like. Part of an awesome, as you mentioned, high powered offense that should keep him efficient and regularly put him in scoring situations. He's a proven producer. He's cleared 1100 rushing yards for three consecutive seasons. He also has massive end zone appeal. He managed double digit rushing touchdowns for three straight years. Plus he registered twice as many rushes inside the five yard line than Corm in 2025. We're getting to the COR effect, David, which you mentioned because it is very real. Quorum started to emerge in week seven just ahead of the Rams buy. After that, from weeks nine through 18, take a deep breath. Williams only posted two games of more than 15 carries. We do not like that restriction in volume and I do expect that Corum will likely pick up where he left off. Here's what I am most curious about. If Williams is going in the fourth round, David, what are you doing with your first three picks. I love Williams as an option, but he can be your RB2. He doesn't need to be your RB1. We've talked all off season about how the running back position dries up quickly, so I would encourage you. Fine, draft Williams. Great RB2, but please get a running back before him in the fourth round.
- [21:41]
Daniel Dopp
I am with you on that one 100%. All right, this next question is about the Indianapolis Colts, who by the way just allowed the Chicago Bears to move into their state after they had a fight with their classy thing to do actually every week. From you classy.
- [21:56]
Josh
Hey, what's going on guys? This is Josh calling from Houston, Texas. I'm a big Colts fan, so my question is this year's draft. How are we feeling about Colts players? Obviously Jonathan Taylor is a no brainer. I know being a realistic fan that he won't produce the same numbers as last year, but who else on the roster would you select this year for the Colts?
- [22:28]
Liz Loza
Thank you Josh, that's a great question. I also appreciate that we are not just regionally stuck, that you are traversing the country with your fandom and that you put a qualifier in for Jonathan Taylor. It makes me think that you're listening to the show regularly because not that I would ever want to yuck anyone's yums, but I am not as high on Jonathan Taylor as the consensus, largely because he has recorded over 300 carries in back to back seasons and last year he was just one touch away from crossing the quote curse of 370 threshold. Wanted to get that out of the way really quick. Alec Pierce, you got paid a bunch of money currently on the PUP list. Don't love that. Therefore the answer for me is clearly Tyler Warren. He is my tight end 4 heading into the season I think he's going to see a boost in volume with over 100 targets vacated via Michael Pittman's departure. Also, we love the way that Warren and Daniel Jones synced up early ahead of Jones's injury in week 12, Tyler Warren was averaging over 13 fantasy points per week currently going in the fifth round. You know I obviously if we're talking about hometown players, prefer Colston Loveland around that same spot. But Warren is a perfectly willing and acceptable suitable option if you want to draft someone from your favorite team team.
- [23:45]
Daniel Dopp
Last question that we have. Liz Loa from our voicemails today. This one is about a crazy league
- [23:51]
Unknown Caller
type hey Liz, my name is Carlos Corrales. I'm from Visalia, California. I had a quick question. I'm in a League with two quarterbacks, three receivers, three running backs, tight end, defense and kicker. What are some advice for the first couple rounds? Do I go in on all QBs or do I go for the running backs and receivers? Let me know know. Love you guys.
- [24:12]
Liz Loza
I love you Carlos for having the onions to tweak your league format. This is one of the most exciting question, Daniel, don't you appreciate it when fantasy football players like stay curious and switch things up?
- [24:26]
Daniel Dopp
Absolutely. Regular leagues just get stale. I've been doing the same thing over and over and over again. Every once in a while, let's make it different. And this is different, Liz, because there's no flex position. They're adding a third running back instead. And it's two quarterbacks as far as I know, not a super flex. So let's dive in and answer Carlos's question. Do you think he should go all in at the quarterback position or does he wait and take some running backs and wide receivers?
- [24:49]
Liz Loza
Well, I think you have to prioritize elite quarterbacks and elite running backs early in those first four rounds. Quarterbacks obviously traditionally score the most raw points and running back, as we've talked about, dries up real quick. So in terms of the very first pick, Carlos, I want you to do the opposite of whatever your league is doing. If everyone is drafting a quarterback, you go get that running back. And if everyone is drafting a running back, you target Josh Allen. It is so important to remember that you always want to start a run. You never want to finish it. So that's what I would start. In your first four rounds. I would aim to get two quarterbacks and two running backs. Then plan to get your three starting wide receivers in rounds four through eight. Staying mindful to keep an eye on running back value. Probably getting a running back somewhere in between there as well. So. So good luck. Congratulations and I am so pleased. You know what, call us back and let us know how this goes because I actually want to know what you end up draft like where you draft from and the team you end up with. I think we should revisit this over the course of the season.
- [25:58]
Daniel Dopp
It's always fun to see where drafts like this end up, Liz. And I agree with you. For what it's worth, I'm definitely hammering both the quarterback and in running back position and trying to differentiate from the rest of my league where I can because of course I agree with you. Everything that you say usually is right, Liz. However, if there was ever something you said that I didn't agree with, I would. It call call you and I would tell you about it and give you peace of my mind. I'd call you at 323-391-4855. Last call.
- [26:25]
Liz Loza
Today we learned that Kenny G offers investors more than just a good set of hands, that MHJ is a curious case, and that good things come to those who wait. Remember, landing a high value lotto ticket is one of fantasy's most satisfying experiences and it can also save your save your season while helping you win your league. Be sure to check out my favorite Fantasy Flyers article which is currently live on the dot com. And remember, you can leave us a voicemail. Hit us up at 323-391-4855. Oh my gosh. And please come hang out with us at the Fantasy Focus Live show which is taking place on August 20th in New York City. Live link for those tickets is in the description. Until next time, may your facts be solid, your feelings be right, and your bus be someone else's problem.