Running Backs you can TRUST in Week 5 | Fantasy Focus

Summary

Fantasy Focus Football: “Running Backs You Can TRUST in Week 5”

Podcast Date: October 2, 2025
Hosts: Field Yates, Daniel Dopp, Mike Clay (Stephania Bell not present in main discussion)
Episode Overview:
The crew dives into actionable fantasy advice and analysis ahead of Week 5, with a particular focus on running backs you can depend on. They cover injury updates, key backfield situations in flux, critical Thursday Night Football implications, and go deep into the stats, matchups, and projections for several running backs. They finish with fun segments like The Real Deal pizza challenge, deep league dart throws, and Mike Clay's crucial Shadow Report (WR/CB matchups).

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Main Themes & Episode Purpose

• Evaluating running backs in shaky and newly emerging backfields as we approach Week 5
• Injury fallout and new opportunities impacting fantasy start/sit decisions
• Previewing Thursday Night Football with major personnel changes
• Strategic advice on player pickups, pivots, and statistical trends
• Utilizing advanced stats—like target share, yards per carry, EPA—for deeper league analysis
• Listening for Mike’s critical Shadow Report to adjust receiver expectations

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Cardinals Backfield Shakeup: Trey Benson Injury Fallout

[03:28]

• Trey Benson out 4–6 weeks after arthroscopic knee surgery. Remains a “prime IR candidate,” but he should return this season.
• Daniel Dopp: “Trey Benson is a priority IR candidate... if you have someone else just sort of been rotating through.”
• Mike Clay: Projects a timeshare between Michael Carter & Amari Demercado; expects Carter to be the “lead rusher, probably have an edge at the goal line” but Demercado sees 8+ carries and significant passing game work.
• “I think Carter will be the lead rusher... Demercado, change of pace rusher could still get eight carries or so and also be more involved in the passing game. I don't think that this is something I want to invest much into in fantasy. However, I have no issue throwing them both on your bench and then just kind of seeing how it plays out.” —Mike Clay [05:36]
• Strong caution: neither is a slam-dunk start, but stash-worthy.

Michael Carter vs. Demercado: Who’s the Better Week 5 Start?

[06:03]–[08:55]

• Both are in the low-end flex discussion; Mike & Field have Carter a bit higher.
• Carter’s historical pass-catching role now flip-flopped—he’ll likely handle more early downs.
• Neither is preferred, but “if you’re desperate, it’s fine to throw a dart.”

Ashton Jeanty: Trust Him After a Breakout?

[09:07]

• “Sunday was a virtuoso performance from Ashton Jeanty... but matchup not quite as soft as last week,” —Field Yates
• Colts have been decent in some advanced metrics, but are allowing 5+ yards/carry.
• Jeanty safely ranked in top 20 RBs for the week by all hosts, but “he’s not inside the top 10”—as Mike notes, the TD-heavy game masks inconsistent target and efficiency profile.
• “He might not score [many more] receiving TDs the rest of the season... We need more, we need better or it’s not going to be consistent.” —Mike Clay [10:56]

Tight End Check-In: Brock Bowers vs. Tyler Warren

[11:41]–[14:22]

• Field proposes a debate: “Who would you rather have for the rest of the season, Brock Bowers or Tyler Warren?”
• Both have nearly identical routes run, targets, catches per game, and target share so far.
• Mike: “Tyler Warren has clearly proven to be the best value at tight end by 10,000 miles in the first quarter of the season.” [17:25]
• General tight end landscape still uninspiring outside the very top.

Dolphins Attack Minus Tyreek; Is Waddle a Lock?

[17:58]–[19:41]

• With Tyreek Hill out, Jalen Waddle becomes a clear No. 1—guaranteed WR2 value with volume, but the matchup is tough and secondary options are risky.
• Darren Waller (at TE) a possible beneficiary: “...worth adding on waivers and could be second in line for targets in this Miami offense.”—Mike Clay [20:19], especially as Panthers have been bad vs. TEs.

Saquon Barkley: Realistic Expectations Going Forward

[22:44]–[29:23]

• Daniel Dopp highlights “historical regression” after Saquon’s monster 2024; his touches and volume are still elite, but efficiency way down (yards/carry from 5.8 to 3.1).
• “...This is what you get when you go from RB1 to RB12. I don’t want to say that’s a huge negative,” —Daniel Dopp [25:28]
• Barkley remains safe RB1, but don’t expect as many ceiling games.
• Mike Clay: “The rushing efficiency I wouldn’t have predicted—3.1 yards per carry—that will fix itself. He’s too good for that... All in all, a return to earth to an extent, not surprising.” [28:57]

Giants Pass-Catchers/Affects of Malik Nabers’ Absence

[30:22]–[32:44]

• Wondale Robinson the best bet for a “weekly starter in PPR.”
• Cam Skattebo (RB) emerges as a strong start, with 25 rush attempts last week; all hosts have him as RB9–RB10 for Week 5.
• Giants-Saints projected as a close matchup—volume could be limited again.

Running Back Start/Sit Lightning Round

[35:28]–[39:56]

• Woody Marks vs. Ravens: Trending up, flex/low RB2-worthy, especially in PPR, as injuries have made the Ravens defense the most generous to RBs.
  • “If you're running back playing 70% (of snaps), that's like, we're talking good RB2... I'd be fine with 58–60 in that range as long as he's at least splitting the carries, maybe like the 1A in the carry department. But also the passing game work's huge for him.” —Mike Clay [37:08]
• Quinshon Judkins (Browns): Has moved firmly into must-start territory after two big games, showing value in both running and passing game. Mike and Daniel both have him in their top 10 RBs for the week.

Jets Backfield Without Braelon Allen

[41:41]

• Breece Hall “might be entrenched as your RB2 rest of season”—his goal-line value rises with Allen on IR; Isaiah Davis the next man up for those in deep leagues.
• “...Breece Hall is a baller. He is so good.”—Field Yates [42:08]

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Shadow Report: Key WR/CB Upgrades & Downgrades

[46:45]–[55:10] (host: Mike Clay)

WR Upgrades

• Michael Pittman (vs. Raiders): “Great matchup... one of my favorite [targets], he was this year’s Courtland Sutton.”—Mike Clay [47:06]
• Giants WRs vs. Saints: Saints quietly among the worst in advanced pass defense metrics—bump for Wondale Robinson, Darius Slayton.
• Garrett Wilson (Jets) vs. Cowboys: “Most fantasy points allowed to both X and Z receiver spots... If anyone blows up, it’ll be Garrett Wilson.”—Mike Clay [49:30]

WR Downgrades

• A.J. Brown (vs. Patrick Surtain II): “Tough spot... 14 fantasy points still impressive against Surtain.” [50:52]
• Courtland Sutton (vs. Quinyon Mitchell): “Eagles have been good vs. the pass, tough assignment here for Sutton.”
• George Pickens (vs. Sauce Gardner): Must start him still, but expect regression.
• Dolphins WRs (vs. Panthers): Carolina has allowed only one WR (Diggs) over 11 points all year.
• Browns WRs (vs. Vikings): Avoid, even Judy. Minnesota a major pass-game suppressor so far.

Notable Data (from the segment):

• EPA explained: “Expected Points Added”—a per-play efficiency stat to identify true defensive strengths and weaknesses [47:36–48:12].

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Thursday Night Football Preview: 49ers at Rams

[57:39]–[63:15]

• 49ers: Ravaged by injuries (no Purdy, no Kittle, no Aiyuk, no Jennings, no Piersol). Only Christian McCaffrey is a trustworthy start; in deep desperation, DeMarcus Robinson or Kendrick Bourne could see volume but outlook grim.
• Rams: All systems go. “Rams give us very straightforward answers for fantasy”—start Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams, Devante Adams, no hesitation. Matthew Stafford is a deep-league streaming option.
• Kyren Williams is a clear lead back but Blake Corum seeing a bit more work—still, “nothing too massive” to worry for Kyren drafters.
• Rams D/ST: A “streaming” defense, especially vs. shorthanded Niners. Mike Clay: “I’m running them into the ground.” [59:39]

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Fun and Noteworthy Segments

“The Real Deal”—Little Caesars Pizza Challenge

[44:12]

• Hosts pick a sub-60% rostered player; if he scores ≥15 pts, listeners get a pizza promo code. This week: Jackson Dart (QB, Saints: “projected over 16.1 pts. Week 5”).
• “My pizza confidence: we have a shot at pizza on Monday!” —Mike Clay [45:40]

Deep League Darts: Raheem Sanders Monopoly Fund (Touchdown Lottery)

[63:54]

• Each host selects a <0.5% rostered player to score a TD; winner claims “Monopoly money.”
  • Picks: Xavier Hutchinson (Field), Jalen Hyatt (Mike), Greg Dortch (Daniel), Khalif Raymond (Producers) [all <0.5% rostered].

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Daniel Dopp, on Saquon Barkley:
  “This is what you get when you go from RB1 to RB12. I don't want to say that that's a huge negative thing, but like, yeah, that’s probably appropriate regression based on the historical context of this volume.” [25:28]
• Mike Clay, on clarity and humility in fantasy:
  “Sometimes the best thing you do in fantasy analysis or when setting your lineup is admit you don’t know something... Just accept what you don’t know and make the best decision.” [07:40]
• Field Yates, on Breece Hall:
  “Breece Hall is a baller. He is so good. This guy is super talented. One of the 10 most talented running backs in the entire NFL right now.” [42:08]
• Mike Clay, on value tight ends:
  “Tyler Warren has clearly proven to be the best value at tight end by 10,000 miles in the first quarter of the season.” [17:25]
• Daniel Dopp, on Giants RB Cam Skattebo:
  “Watching this kid run the football... holy smokes, I had no idea we had a battering ram at running back.” [35:03]

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• Cardinals Backfield Analysis – [03:28]–[08:55]
• Ashton Jeanty RB Outlook – [09:07]–[11:41]
• TE Comparison (Bowers vs. Warren) – [11:41]–[14:22]
• Dolphins Pass Game Outlook – [17:58]–[22:17]
• Saquon Barkley Regression Discussion – [22:44]–[29:23]
• Giants/Saints Matchup and Cam Skattebo – [30:22]–[35:28]
• RB Start/Sit Lightning Round – [35:28]–[39:56]
• Jets Backfield/Breece Hall – [41:41]–[43:22]
• Shadow Report: WR/CB Matchups – [46:45]–[55:10]
• TNF 49ers-Rams Preview – [57:39]–[63:15]
• Deep League Darts/Monopoly Fund – [63:54]–[66:41]

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Final Takeaways

• Several backfields are in flux—don’t force confidence where there shouldn’t be any; monitor splits (Cardinals, Giants, Browns, Dolphins).
• Don’t overreact to early-season inefficiency, but be open to: RB2s and committee “risers” (Marks, Demercado, Judkins, Skattebo).
• Rams D/ST, Garrett Wilson, and Michael Pittman are key “plays of the week”; Wondale Robinson also an intriguing PPR flex with increased usage.
• Barkley and Jeanty belong in starting lineups, but expectations should be RB7–RB14, not top 3.
• Stay flexible: Injuries and opportunities are rapidly shifting value at RB, TE, and D/ST.
• Check Mike Clay’s Shadow Report for crucial WR/CB matchup edges before setting your lineup.

Tune in Friday for more updates and Week 5 wrap-ups from the Fantasy Focus crew!

Transcript

[Field Yates]

When did making plans get this complicated?

[Daniel Dopp]

It's time to streamline with WhatsApp, the.

[Field Yates]

Secure messaging app that brings the whole group together.

[Mike Clay]

Use polls to settle dinner plans.

[Field Yates]

Send event invites and pin messages so no one forgets. Mom 60th and never miss a meme or milestone.

[Daniel Dopp]

All protected with end to end encryption.

[Field Yates]

It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone.

[Daniel Dopp]

Learn [e-mail] fantasy. You're in the whole 6010.

[Mike Clay]

Focus fantasy. Fantasy. Focus.

[Daniel Dopp]

What's good friends? Welcome into Fantasy Focused Football presented by Little Caesars alongside Mike Clay and Phil Jates. My name is Daniel Dopp, here for a very fun Thursday show previewing all the things that you need to know. Part one of our week five preview. We're going to dive into a handful of the topics we brought to the table as well as the shadow report now that the playbook is out. Go check that out right now on ESPN.com it is an awesome article every single week. And we got a Thursday Night football preview and a little bit of fun at the end of the show. So very fun show planned for today, but first and foremost fun. Yeah, today it's going to be fun. No, you don't field and I plan the fun. You just sort of show up, Mike. That's how that works.

[Field Yates]

Just sit there.

[Mike Clay]

I don't see fun. I don't see fun. On this note, it's not there.

[Field Yates]

It's not there. And I have breaking news. I'm either going to be the most tired I've ever been on a show in my entire life or I am going to be so wired that my voice will never drop below the current level that it's at.

[Daniel Dopp]

Why? What were you doing last night?

[Field Yates]

22 Wake up call this morning.

[Mike Clay]

5. 22.

[Field Yates]

Yeah, my 2 year old. I don't know what planned that. No, definitely not. Maybe in her brain, but it wasn't in my brain. And so I'm trying something. I have a, in my hand, I have a cup of mushroom coffee. Have you guys, what you guys heard of mushroom coffee?

[Daniel Dopp]

No, I have heard of it and I think it's revolting.

[Field Yates]

I am about 3 sips into it and I feel like what I actually did was I went out to one of the beds of flowers here at ESPN and just took some mulch and stuffed it in my face because I don't like the taste of this stuff.

[Daniel Dopp]

Do you think that it will make Mike Clay prettier? Like once all the hallucinations start factoring in that, that kind of mushroom coffee?

[Field Yates]

Oh, I mean, I don't know. I've only had three sips, so maybe, who knows.

[Mike Clay]

Do you think ever there will be a moment where field slips a little bit?

[Daniel Dopp]

I.

[Mike Clay]

He's perfect in every way. Do you think he slips a little bit because of.

[Daniel Dopp]

I don't know. I don't think so.

[Field Yates]

You got to see a couple of my fantasy teams, they've been slipping since the moment we drafted them, I'll tell you that much. Honestly, like, so usually I spend Thursday mornings whenever up early, you know, waivers, ob, Tuesday night, Wednesday, I think about my teams. But I always tell myself just get through the day of practice stuff because you might get some suggestions of guys that will or won't play. So Thursday morning is usually my. I carve out a handful of minutes and set my lineups and I was looking at a couple of them this morning and I was like, what on God's green earth was I thinking?

[Mike Clay]

Well, at least you didn't trade a two second and a third round rookie pick for Trey Benson hours before he was. That's on iron. Because that's what I did with her old friend Kyle Soppi.

[Field Yates]

Yes.

[Daniel Dopp]

In our Dynasty League. I couldn't believe. Actually, I thought you got a, like, I mean, you getting Trey Benson is great for you until the things happen.

[Field Yates]

If you guys want to do that right now, I don't know if either of you have.

[Daniel Dopp]

That's my number one takeaway.

[Field Yates]

Okay. Gotcha.

[Mike Clay]

All right, so let's dive right in.

[Field Yates]

So let's just dive into our preview because we have our big things that we are watching in.

[Mike Clay]

The playbook. Required a lot of like last minute tweaks for all of the Niners and Rams stuff and the running backs and the Cardinals running backs and. Why don't you lead us off on that topic, Daniel?

[Daniel Dopp]

Yeah, that checks it out. Trey Benson, unfortunately on iron, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his meniscus. Expected to be sidelined four to six weeks per Adam Schefter. It is definitively though he is expected to come back and play again this season. That has been said a number of times. So he is a prime IR candidate for your fantasy squad. If you have someone else that just sort of been like rotating through because you've had the ability to throw someone on there. Trey Benson is a priority IR candidate. Excuse me, Trey Benson, not Trey Benson. I want to ask you guys now, with that being said, Mike, I'm going to start with you actually.

[Mike Clay]

Go for it.

[Daniel Dopp]

Projections wise, we're going to have Amari. Duh. And it seems like we're going to have Michael Carter at least this week. Maybe the Cardinals may add someone in.

[Mike Clay]

This backfield over the Bam Knight too as well. So he went bam night.

[Field Yates]

He's got Bam Knight.

[Daniel Dopp]

Yeah. I originally remember him from the Jets.

[Mike Clay]

I was excited about that cup of tea there. Yeah.

[Daniel Dopp]

When you talk about Amari D. Mercado, what I think of more often than not is a guy that's a third down back. I think almost half his snaps so far in the NFL have basically been played on third down. But between him and Michael Carter, how are you projecting this offense with these backfields guys to be able to play out here in week five?

[Mike Clay]

Yeah, this is an interesting one because they've both been somewhat effective when they've been called on. They just have been, haven't been called on a lot. I mean, Michael Carter, there was a time where he was the heartbeat of the jets offense. I remember that.

[Daniel Dopp]

I do remember that.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah. So he's gotten a lot of run as a backup. We did see that in the final two games last season. And he was serviceable filling in for when Connor was out. And of course Trey Benson was out and D. Markatto was out. So they were down to bare bones. So he has more of that body of work of being a guy that can handle like 12, 15 touches. DeMarcusato doesn't have that. He has six career games with double digit fantasy points. He hasn't had double digit carries in a game since his rookie season and that was only three games. So I do think this will be a fairly even time share. Michael Carter did kind of let it slip yesterday that he was starting. I don't know really if it's 1A, 1B or regardless. But also keep this in mind. Trey Benson was a clear lead back last week and he was the starter and all that stuff. And it was almost an even snapshare with D. Mercado because game script. So we could see kind of something similar here. So I would expect Carter weeks, maybe not this week.

[Field Yates]

They're playing the Titans.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah, well, good matchup here. But I, I Anyway, my point being I think Carter will be the lead rusher, probably have an edge at the goal line. D. Mercado, change of pace rusher could still get eight carries or so and also be more involved in the passing game. I don't think that this is something I want to invest much into in fantasy. However, I have no issue throwing them both on your bench and then just kind of seeing how it plays out if there. If it is a 7030 split then maybe, you know, we haven't. We have a flex option at the.

[Field Yates]

Very least blocking other people from adding those players. It's interesting because early on in Michael Carter's career, besides being called the heartbeat of the jets offense, he was known as this past catching running back, this change of pace guy. Here we are, let's see. He's 26. That's. Wow, he's only 26. Four years later Michael Carter is going to be asked to be maybe something of a bell cow. I am with Mike it certainly sounds like if you could choose just one to start the answer would be Michael Carter. The starting thing yesterday was notable to me. I don't think he would say that unless he was directly told that by his position coach. So I've got Michael Carter ranked just ahead of Amari D. Markado but I do think it is worth noting a lot of people have pointed to the fact that Michael Carter and Mike just alluded to it had that great role in week 18 of last year, the only game that James Conner missed. Mike also mentioned this but just to reiterate, there was nobody left in that game and in that game he had 17 rushes for 43 yards. It was a very inefficient week 18 effort last year from and it is.

[Mike Clay]

By the way a great matchup against Tennessee by the most touchdowns, running backs five yards per carry. So there's a shot one of them gets into the end zone or has a decent day. The question is which one? Which one's going to be clear cut. So I know where all a lot of us are in trouble. I have D. Mercado on my bench in the league where I traded for Benson. So he's going to end up in a flex in that league.

[Field Yates]

We're playing each other in that week.

[Mike Clay]

Oh yeah.

[Field Yates]

And you.

[Daniel Dopp]

Yeah, you have.

[Field Yates]

I have a hilarious.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah, we're both in It's a super.

[Field Yates]

Flex league and Aaron Rodgers on a buy Lamar Jackson might not play on Sunday and Joe Flacco just got hurt.

[Mike Clay]

So Mac Jones tonight bench.

[Field Yates]

Yeah. So I do have Mac Jones who will be starting from yeah and I'm.

[Mike Clay]

Missing missing a few guys too. Lamb and Benson among others.

[Field Yates]

You think CD Lamb is a bigger absence than Aaron Rodgers or Joe Flacco?

[Daniel Dopp]

Come on.

[Mike Clay]

Well, not than Lamar Jackson. That's a big one. That's actually the bottom line is avoid if you can but if you're in a tough spot you could throw a dart on one of Sometimes the Best thing you do in fantasy analysis or when setting your lineup is admit you don't know something we don't know for sure, which. That's like the solution. You can't just force it and say, I definitively am going with one guy. It's not going to work out over time. So you got to accept what you don't know and make the best decision.

[Daniel Dopp]

You know, I'm going to accept that. I'm actually not sure I might need Chat's help here in this situation because I don't know who actually is better at accents. Is it Field saying Joe Flacco or is it Mike St. Amari D. Mercado. I would just love to know what Chat thinks is like the better accent of the two. Do it again.

[Field Yates]

Just give me one more time.

[Mike Clay]

Mari D. Mercado.

[Daniel Dopp]

There we go. That was a. That's a pretty good.

[Field Yates]

Pretty damn good, right?

[Daniel Dopp]

Yeah.

[Field Yates]

I'm not gonna lie.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah.

[Daniel Dopp]

Can I get a Joe Flacco from you?

[Field Yates]

Joe Flacco?

[Daniel Dopp]

Yeah. See, I don't know. You're both pretty good in their own right. For what it's worth, I've got Trey Benson. Excuse me, Trey Benson. I've got Amari D. Mercado in like the 25 to 32 range. I think Michael Carter, honestly, they both are in like a seven to eight spot range there, so I would rather not start either one of them as well. But at least, unfortunately, if you have Trey Benson, you know that he will be back sometime this season.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah, yeah. They have a buy in there too, which is nice. So we like that. It's better than him coming back and then they have their buy. Exactly. At least that gives us a little breather. I believe I tweeted week 11 would be 5 weeks out, so that could be when he's back.

[Field Yates]

I don't follow you, so I have no idea what you're talking about. My first talking point for the week ahead is after a tremendous week last week, he just won Mike a boardbed of finishing inside the top 20. That being Ashton Genti, of course, just barely. Can Ashton Genti stay hot against this Colts run defense? So the positives that I pointed to yesterday on the show are not just that Ashton Genti reminded the world of just how talented he was this past, like weekend. Like Sunday was a virtuoso performance from Ashton Genti. Love seeing him break tackles. I love seeing him avoid contact. I love seeing him being a factor in the passing game. On the two occasions that they actually threw him the football. The breakaway Speed was on display. All of it was really good. He also took advantage of what we thought was going into the game and proved to be a very, very good matchup. I don't think it's as good of a matchup this weekend against the Colts for a specific reason that I will dive into, but I do think there is some yards before contact areas that the Raiders can take advantage of. I mentioned yesterday the Colts are sixth worst in terms of yards per carry, yards before contact per carry so far this season, again early in the season and fewer rushing back running back rushing attempts faced so far by the Colts and compared to most of the league. So that's a good thing. The bad thing I would say would be that the Colts have also played a ton of snaps with the lead this year. If they are playing with a lead, a notable one at that, then Ashton Genti is not going to be on the field quite as much. That being said, we still all have Ashton Genti inside our top 20 of running backs this week. Anything to add on that that you guys feel confident or less confident?

[Mike Clay]

No, I think that and, and we talked about it a little bit yesterday. We're not, it's not like the workload changed and every things changed enough in week four where we're like okay, this is what we thought and when we drafted them. Yep. It's still not.

[Daniel Dopp]

Still some question marks.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah, we, we. Look I think I projected him for like a year 15% target share which is about right for a guy drafted that early that we expect to be a clear lead back with little competition. He had a 6% target share in week one, 10% week two, 0% week three, 10% last week. So even last week with the two touchdowns, which by the way running back, receiving touchdowns, very, very hard to predict. Very, very rare. So he might, honestly, he might not score one the rest of the season or maybe one. It's just that rare. So we need to get the rushing touchdowns. We need him getting more than one yard before contact per carry and that. And again that target share needs to go up too. So it was good that he was on the field for 64% of pass plays. That's been about where he's been this season. That's kind of why I was confident because he's at least been on the field. But we're not all the way there yet. We're not. We need more, we need better or it's not going to be consistent.

[Field Yates]

That's why he's not inside the top 10. But he was inside the top 20 for Ashton Jensen, still a starter in that same game. I am going to ask you a question I did not anticipate asking five weeks into the season. But here we are in the unlikely event, but possible event that you are choosing between Brock Bowers or Tyler Warren to start a tight end. Who are you choosing?

[Mike Clay]

I am going with Brock Bowers. We did. I just wanted to point this out quick slight aside related. But we did a redraft yesterday.

[Field Yates]

It's available on ESPN which I'm sure.

[Mike Clay]

I'm sure we'll refer to it. I could not believe how far tight ends fell in that draft. I took Trey McBride in the third round thinking that was a good deal. And then six round rolls around, I was one pick away from also taking Brock Bowers. I was going to take him too. Eric Moody beat me by one pick. I couldn't believe it. I mean, I don't think it's that bad. I think there's a lot of reason for optimism going forward, certainly with McBride. Bowers wasn't healthy but he had a huge week one. Then he got hurt. He was kind of slumping since then, but his target share was back last week. The playing time is still similar to last year. There's a lot of reasons to think Powers is going to have a big game and be back on track and back near where he was last year. So I'm still very confident.

[Daniel Dopp]

I disagree with the statement you just made when you said tight end is not that bad. I think tight end is that not.

[Mike Clay]

With those guys at the top. I mean, you think Brock Bowers is.

[Daniel Dopp]

At the top when he's tight end 10 so far on the season?

[Mike Clay]

I still think, yeah. I mean he's hasn't been healthy. I think there's reasons based on last week to think he's getting closer to being.

[Daniel Dopp]

To being healthy.

[Mike Clay]

I mean, who's 100% but back to. Back to his normal stuff.

[Daniel Dopp]

Yeah. I think the difference for me is the idea that when I was drafting one of those tight ends early there was an expectation that I would have massive positional advantage over the rest of the group.

[Mike Clay]

You felt like that probably in week one until he got hurt.

[Daniel Dopp]

Until he got hurt. Yes.

[Field Yates]

I mean and that to me I think is the important part because Bowers was back to limited practice yesterday. He had been full participation in practice in at least last week and maybe the week prior as well. It's an indication he is definitely playing through a painful knee injury right now. Maybe it's the kind of injury that Once the buy, once the bye hits, hits, he comes back on the other side.

[Daniel Dopp]

Is that an accident?

[Field Yates]

Sounds like an accident. Once the buy he hits. Sorry. Once Brock Bauer's buy comes and goes that maybe he'll be in a better spot for the rest of the season. But he is not on a buy this week and we're still ranking for week five. Again, I think it's very unlikely that somebody is making the choice between Brock Bowers and Tyler Warren, but based off of adp, it's not entirely unpossible. I thought it was also just kind of an interesting debate about who would you rather have for the rest of the season.

[Daniel Dopp]

I'm pretty sure that. Hold on. I'm just so sorry. I just have to interrupt you when you said it's not unpossible.

[Mike Clay]

Okay, I'm trying to just let it go. Okay?

[Daniel Dopp]

All right.

[Field Yates]

It's not impossible.

[Daniel Dopp]

It's just the cutest thing in the world to hear you say. Well, yeah, rather than impossible. You said, you know, me fail English. That's unpossible.

[Field Yates]

Yes. Me not good at the game.

[Daniel Dopp]

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[Field Yates]

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[Mike Clay]

Bang bang.

[Daniel Dopp]

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[Field Yates]

So Ashton Genty, that was part one. Brock Bowers, Tyler Warren. I am totally off kilter right now. Check out the per game averages for these guys so far. In a note, a handful of notable categories. Tyler Warren is running 28 routes per game exactly so far this season.

[Mike Clay]

Okay.

[Field Yates]

Brock Bowers 28.75 routes per game. Tyler Warren so far this season, 6.75 targets per game and 4.75 catches per game. Brock Bowers this season, 6.75 Targets per game, 4.75 catches per game.

[Daniel Dopp]

That's crazy.

[Field Yates]

How about this last thing? Target shares so far for these two players. Tyler Warren 22.7% Brock Bowers 22.0% so you're getting a very comparable profile. Maybe the biggest takeaway here is not that Brock Bowers is not going to end up being a very valuable part of your roster and not that you're making the choice between these two players even if it is not unpossible, such as the case. But most importantly, I think the answer is that Tyler Warren has clearly proven to be the best value at tight end by 10,000 miles in the first quarter of the season.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah, he has been awesome. I will say this. Speaking of Target share 30% for Brock Bowers last week. So again that's. There's. What I saw last week was like okay, maybe he's getting closer to where he needs to be. So we'll keep an eye on it. But I'm still confident.

[Field Yates]

What we are not seeing right now, I think this is fair to state is we are not seeing game changing ability on the field from Brock Bowers over the past couple of weeks, which last year and week one for sure, I felt like we were getting total game changing.

[Mike Clay]

Agreed.

[Daniel Dopp]

All right, you're next.

[Mike Clay]

Speaking of teams affected by injury, the Miami Dolphins offense is worth a look here and how we're going to attack it. Obviously Devon Hn has been tremendous where you know he's a lineup block, one of the best running backs in fantasy. Weirdly a big carry share but a low target share last week which is a big change for him. But anyway he's, he's rocking and rolling this year. So the guys we need to talk about, certainly Jalen Waddle who came up a little bit yesterday. I know we've talked about him throughout the week. Exactly five or six targets in all four games this season averaging just 46 yards per game. So it's been a bit of a slow start. He's been bailed out by the two touchdowns that he scored. But a little bit different now with no Tyreek Hill. He is the number one receiver and when he was that number one receiver years ago, he was top 25 in fantasy points per game each of his first three NFL season. Never really got over the hump and became that elite guy but he was just a guy that it was a clear lineup lock a candidate for 90 to 100 catches each and every season. We did see a 24% target share on Monday night with Tyreek obviously played a chunk of that game but left that was a season high for waddle and it was closer to where he was early in his career and that's I think the key point. If he can hang around a quarter of the targets, this is a guy that can hang in the weekly wide receiver two conversation. And another reason for that is his competition for targets. Not great. Malik Washington, day three pick last year could be a 16 team league slash dynasty stash. I got a monitor. Nick Westbrook, Akini maybe he score some touchdowns like he did in Tennessee last year. Those are next up. This is a very tough matchup. Carolina, we talked about him last week. Very cover three heavy. They've shut down receivers so far. So I don't want to get carried away with anyone other than waddle or receiver. Just keep that in mind.

[Field Yates]

There's a very important name.

[Mike Clay]

There's an. Yeah, there's another important name here. A guy that we're monitoring. I know you. We've all scooped him up I'm sure on waivers a little bit this week. Darren Waller at tight end. Is that who you were going to talk.

[Field Yates]

Yeah, it was for a couple of reasons here and I'm sure I'm going to let you finish because I'm sure what I'm going to talk about you have already highlighted.

[Daniel Dopp]

What is it?

[Mike Clay]

Well it's. Yeah, I mean we talked about it yesterday. Only played a quarter of the snaps.

[Field Yates]

28%.

[Mike Clay]

Yes. Yeah, he had four. Yeah, we had. I have 25 but I don't know. I don't know.

[Field Yates]

I use NFL. GS is on there.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah, I think I do too. But anyway we have to figure out why. I've noticed that we're like off by.

[Field Yates]

Well, they updated points, they update the snaps because it counts towards incentives. So they do an initial comb and then nerd alert. Oh yeah, I'm okay with that.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah, that's okay. It's important to be precise. As you point out often. Yes, yeah, but still only the four targets but scored two touchdowns. Obviously not sustainable but they are going to use him near the goal line. We expect playing time and targets to go up with no Tyreek and as he gets acclimated. But he is this is something Keep in mind he's 33 years old. He hasn't played more than 12 games in a in a season since 2020 and the last time we saw him for a full season obviously missed some time. As I pointed out, 9.4 fantasy points per game. So I don't want to get too carried away here with Darren Waller, but it's a guy right now that's worth adding on waivers and could be second in line for targets in this Miami offense. Maybe third if you consider HN and Waddle 12 but there's a chance for a a big role here if he can stay healthy.

[Field Yates]

On top of all the things that Mike just said, the Panthers, who they play this weekend, have done an excellent job against wide receivers, as Mike noted, but not so great against tight end. As a matter of fact, they've allowed the fourth most fantasy points. Two tight ends. Yes. Hunter Henry had a big week against them. Is that last week?

[Mike Clay]

Yes, that was last week.

[Daniel Dopp]

Last week.

[Field Yates]

Last week.

[Mike Clay]

Henry's Heat two touchdown game was two weeks ago. Yeah, not this past week.

[Daniel Dopp]

Oh, I guess Henry just got in the end zone again last week. Scores touchdowns nonstop.

[Field Yates]

Giro Evero, their defensive coordinator, was asked about how they have struggled against tight ends and he acknowledged it. It's out there that we haven't done a great job of that area, but it's also a great opportunity for us to show growth. So this is not just one of those where it's like we just say it's a problem. Like the defensive coordinator has admitted as much. They have been struggling with tight ends so far this season. So in a desperation opportunity, if you need a tight end to step in and there are some uncertainty surrounding Juwan Jennings, he did not practice Juwan Johnson, excuse me, he did not practice yesterday for the Saints. Tucker Craft is on a buy this week.

[Daniel Dopp]

Kyle Pitts is on a buy on.

[Field Yates]

A buy this week. Yes. So if, if you are totally stuck at the tight end spot, at least a speculative add on Darren Waller might have some merit. It wouldn't surprise me if a month from now he's playing 60% of the snaps for this Dolphins team because they Certainly do need him.

[Daniel Dopp]

They really do, honestly. Imagine if they hadn't traded John who Smith and then Tyreek Heel gets hurt and then it would have opened up all those John who targets again in this.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah, this actually, it's funny. This scheme they're facing is a lot like what they faced most of last season when it was all John who were now Darren Waller and all Achan in the passing game last year. And the receiver struggled. So maybe it sets up for Waller and Achan to have some big target games. Stop it.

[Daniel Dopp]

I've got a lot of Jalen Waddle now, and I don't want you to speak.

[Mike Clay]

He's the only receiver we can really count on, so I think he'll be okay.

[Daniel Dopp]

All right. We've done a lot of conversation about the Philadelphia Eagles, talked a lot specifically about their past catchers. It's been really frustrating.

[Mike Clay]

Agreed.

[Daniel Dopp]

Do you guys, though, in looking at the running back situation, we haven't done a big deep dive into Saquon Barkley after the first four weeks of the season.

[Field Yates]

Do you have a reason why? But go ahead.

[Daniel Dopp]

Do you think this should be considered, like, the norm for what we're going to see in Saquon in 2025?

[Field Yates]

No, I think Saquon would get better. I think the entire Eagles offense will get a whole lot better. This is just sort of classic malaise for a team that has won 20 of its last 21 games. Saquon's way too talented. The offensive line's way too good. Even while dealing with some injuries of late. I think they faced a couple, as was highlighted by. Is that Mike or Joe or both of you talking about how since Todd Bowles became the Bucks head coach, they have been like the best run defense in the NFL?

[Mike Clay]

I think it was Joe.

[Field Yates]

Yeah. So they faced a couple of matchups that have not been as conducive to big days from Saquon Barkley. I think those are coming soon.

[Daniel Dopp]

I just don't like that. Just doesn't mean anything to me because last year when they faced those matchups, Saquon was just able to overcome a lot of that.

[Field Yates]

I think that's fair. But that's also why, coming into the season, he wasn't the number one player in fantasy football.

[Daniel Dopp]

Correct. He was the number two or three running back for a lot of people on their boards. When you look at what he did in 2024, 11 games with 100 rushing yards, he has zero of those so far. He had 13 games with 100 yards from scrimmage. He has none of those so far. Maybe he's just not touching the ball as much. Maybe that's the thing. But the. Actually he's. That's not the case. Eagles are second in the NFL in rush attempts. He, at the running back spot is also second in rush attempts and second in touches. Last year they averaged 5.8 yards per carry. This year he's averaging 3.1 yards per carry. It's awful. His yards before first contact, 4.17. Last year that was first far and away first. This year it is 1.7. When I look at this, I recognize all the things that you just said, field. But this is part of right now with him being RB12, this feels like the appropriate ish range for the historical regression. When you look at a guy that had the amount of touches that he had last year, he's got three games still. I want to say something positive. He's got three games over 17 and a half fantasy points to start the season. That's really good. You would take that from your starting running back in the first round almost any day of the week. But what he's not doing is giving you those unbelievable ceiling games where he's scoring 25, 28, 30 plus fantasy points. And I think a big part of this is just like this is what you get when you go from RB1 to RB12. I don't want to say that that's like a huge negative thing, but like, yeah, that's probably appropriate regression based on the historical context of this volume. That's the way that I look at it.

[Mike Clay]

No doubt. And we spent a lot of time in the off season talking about this as it applies to Saquon Barkley and Jamar Chase too. Because to have a season like that where you make it healthy through the whole year and you are by far the number one scorer at your position or, you know, in that conversation most of the year, the number one. I know he rested quite a bit and Jameer gives past him at the last second. But Jamar Chase, by far the number one receiver. You need everything to be perfect. And it's almost impossible in the NFL for that to happen two years in a row. And that's why, you know, I made the observation with Chase, of course, that like the number one scorer in fantasy, like doesn't generally do great the next year. It's just so hard to do.

[Field Yates]

Don't be so modest right now, Mike. I sent this to Mike yesterday. He had forgotten about the clip, but I just want to bring it back up here. Because once again, the Internet jumped on the show. I don't know why we become this easy target for some people in some corners of the Internet, but Mike had a case when we were talking about something else, but it was. I would not be surprised by. And Mike came with something on Jamar Chase. Mike very, I think, coherently and cogently outlined how, hey, don't be surprised if Jamar Chase finishes outside the top 20 of wide receivers. At no point did Mike make reference to, like a fading skill set of Jamar Chase. It was simply that it's really hard to do back to back seasons of historical things.

[Daniel Dopp]

Correct.

[Field Yates]

Injuries can take place not just to the player himself, like Justin Jefferson a couple of years ago, but the quarterback can impact a wide receiver's outlook. Look, all these people from all corners of the Internet. This guy's a bomb. This is why I don't bother listening to espn. This is trash. This is what happens when you let nerds go on tv.

[Daniel Dopp]

That one was me. That was my comment.

[Mike Clay]

Yes.

[Field Yates]

All right.

[Mike Clay]

And you know what?

[Field Yates]

You guys can say whatever you want about Mike Clay. Whatever you want. You don't like his haircut. You think Eagles stink. Whatever you want. I like it. And I think the Eagles are good. I'm just saying. I'm just saying you can do whatever personal shots you want. If you think Mike is ever going to come onto the show and say something without logic behind it, you have no idea what you're talking about.

[Daniel Dopp]

Agree.

[Field Yates]

So you owe an apology. Because, hey, if I had to bet on Jamar Chase finishing outside the top 20 for the rest of this season, I might make that bet.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah. And I think ice cream's overrated.

[Daniel Dopp]

So.

[Mike Clay]

There. See, there you go.

[Field Yates]

Get mad at them about ice cream and his crazy takes like that.

[Mike Clay]

I'm just saying, like, I appreciate that you're right. I think that, that it's logical. I mean, it's the same. It's essentially the same conversation we had with Barkley. It's just like that guy played at that level of volume and that skill level with everything going right through the Super Bowl. I mean, the amount of touches he saw was the most since DeMarco Murray many years ago. So it's just hard to do. I will say this.

[Field Yates]

I have one counterpoint after you're done.

[Mike Clay]

Okay. As. As it applies to the Eagles, because Jamar Chase is obvious. Right? Joe? Joe burrows out.

[Daniel Dopp]

Correct.

[Mike Clay]

He's seen it with Eagles. The offensive line hasn't been as dominant as years past. That's certainly a variable here. The passing game has been good. They're going three and out a lot. They. It just hasn't all been there so far. But he's playing 85% of the snaps which is up from last year. His target share is up from last year. Carry share is up from last year. He still has 18 plus carries and in every game four plus catches in three games. So that's up a little bit. So there's reason to think he'll be fine in terms of just hanging on to RB1 value. Absolutely. But it's just we didn't draft him at his ceiling because it's so hard to match up with your ceiling. So we, we kind of saw this coming in the off season. I'm just not shocked by what we've seen so far. It's about as the rushing efficiency I wouldn't have predicted. 3.1 yards per carry. That will fix itself. He's too good for that. He'll have some big plays and that'll fix itself. But all in all, a return to earth to an extent not surprising.

[Field Yates]

Last thing that I'll say is you said RB12 is about right to what about right as far as what to expect. I don't know that I can find RB12RC.

[Mike Clay]

I would say 612. That was just a general kind of like.

[Field Yates]

No, he was saying RB12. I think that Saquon is more like at worst RBC. Like it works.

[Mike Clay]

Exactly.

[Field Yates]

It could be higher. Like I think if you have give me the chance I would take Bajan obviously. I would take Jonathan Taylor, I would take cmc. I would take Jameer Gibbs, I would take Devon Hn and then I would.

[Mike Clay]

Say Cook, James Cook right there.

[Field Yates]

Saquon Amarian Hampton maybe if things get going again, Derrick Henry, like that to me is the cause. Like look at the guys who are on our board between 6 and 10 now this week like Javante Williams or Cam Scatterboo, like really like Alvin Camaro I think has had what one double digit game so far this season? Like it's not like those guys are guarantees to either hold the value we have for them this week. In the case of a guy like Cam Scatter boo or get going because Alvin Camara frankly hasn't.

[Daniel Dopp]

And I do want to say just to make it about this week as well. A big part of this was just about like is this what we should expect from Saquon Barkley? Still a really good season still. Like I said, three games over 17 and a half fantasy points but not the high end. Yeah not the high end production that you saw because it was historical last year. This week he takes on the Denver Broncos. Denver Broncos got roasted by both Jonathan Taylor and Omarion Hampton. Both scored over 24 fantasy points. So this could be another like a nice rebound game here for Saquon to be able to do another one. All right field, give me your next one.

[Field Yates]

Yeah, we'll rip through a couple of these here. Obviously the first game without Malik Neighbors for the New York Giants. I think the question is is there a pass catcher that you think immediately vaults into usable territory this weekend? Let me give you the names involved. You guys can decide whether there's value in any of them or not. Amongst wide receivers, Wanda Robinson, Darius Slayton are the two players likely to play the most snaps for this Giants offense. At tight end it's second year player Theo Johnson. I don't think there's anybody else that is being bandied about right now as a name that could be on the fantasy radar consistently for the Giants. Do you guys disagree with that?

[Mike Clay]

No, I would agree with you. A good matchup against the Saints, but.

[Field Yates]

Are any of those three players ok? So you can save your thoughts there preview Mike will talk more about them but I would just say this. My personal assessment without being like super super specific with some of the numbers is just that out of those three players the guy that I think has the best chance to emerge as like a weekly starter in PPR formats is of course Wandell Robinson. We talked about how he is just an incredibly high volume player and has been in prior years. He was red hot in weeks one and two and the ball has to go somewhere. The mitigating factors are that the ball, the team threw the ball 21 times last week. In some ways the Saints might be a good matchup in Mike size. The only concern for this week might be the Giants could throw the football again 21 times. It might be that Wondale actually proves more valuable in games when they play Philadelphia like they do next Thursday night where they could be down by 14 points early in the game. The most usable player in this roster right now is Cam Scatter Boo who I have this week. Let me get the specific number. I believe it is number nine on my running back rankings right in line with Mike and Daniel after. How about this 25 rushing attempts last week, the most of any running back in the NFL. And to my point about game script and how this week might be more throwing running than throwing. The Giants are only one and a half point underdogs on the road in New Orleans this weekend. For those that don't know, generally speaking, Vegas is giving the home team a point and a half advantage because of playing at home. So this is basically in Vegas. His eyes a flip the coin game between the Giants and the Saints.

[Daniel Dopp]

Is this the first game this year in which the Saints are overdogs? Probably, yes.

[Field Yates]

It's probably the only game they will be all season as well. We could confirm that, I'm sure with ESPN bet, but it's probably pretty rare.

[Mike Clay]

I think the Giants are better than advertised because now they have a better quarterback and their defense is underrated.

[Field Yates]

So I've got Scottaboo as a top nine running back for me. I think there is some question though. So we all see it the same way this week, correctly. Got to get a little bit more in the passing game, but 25 rushing attempts is nothing to shake a stick at yet.

[Daniel Dopp]

Eight years ago, I blew my football career.

[Field Yates]

He dropped it at the one yard line.

[Daniel Dopp]

Chad Powers has arrived on Hulu. If I can't play as Russ, I'll play as someone else. My name's Chad and last name Li.

[Mike Clay]

From executive producers Eli and Peyton Manning. Remember, you're wearing a prosthetic mask.

[Daniel Dopp]

This is acting and starring Glenn Powell.

[Field Yates]

He thinks you're a rubber chew toy.

[Daniel Dopp]

Not rubber. I'm a man made of flesh. The Hulu Original Series Chad Powers is.

[Field Yates]

Now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney plus for bundled subscribers. Terms apply. New episodes Tuesdays. Tron Ares has arrived.

[Daniel Dopp]

Hostiles.

[Field Yates]

Repeat, we have hostiles.

[Mike Clay]

Mayday, Mayday.

[Field Yates]

Oh, my God. There's hundreds of them on October 10th. We came here from the digital world.

[Daniel Dopp]

The war for our world begins. What in God's name is that?

[Field Yates]

Even imax.

[Mike Clay]

This is the end to this world. No, it's not.

[Field Yates]

I can help you. Tron Ares treated PG13 may be inappropriate for children under 13. Only in theaters October 10th.

[Daniel Dopp]

Get tickets now.

[Field Yates]

ABC, Wednesdays. The Golden Bachelor is all new. Hi, Mel.

[Mike Clay]

Hello.

[Field Yates]

Former NFL star Mel Owens is looking for his second chance at love.

[Mike Clay]

I'm hopeful that I'll find true love.

[Field Yates]

But these women are in a league of their own.

[Mike Clay]

Mel has never been exposed to women like us. I don't know how he can handle it all.

[Field Yates]

The Golden Bachelor Season premiere To love, happiness and fun. Wednesdays, 9.8Central on ABC and stream on Hulu for the rest of the season. Filled in the blank. Filled in the blank. Cam Scatterboo will be a top blank running back for the rest of the season.

[Mike Clay]

I would say I have My numbers very specific. This goes back to the depth at RB2 because when Tyron Tracy comes back and he has somewhat of a role, that's going to knock him to the back end of that RB conversation. So, so I would say conservatively top 25. I could give him top 20 though, because I think he's shown enough to hang in there and they're going to use him a lot. So I, I, I'll say if I had to pick a number, he'll finish 18th the rest of the way.

[Daniel Dopp]

Ooh, I like that. I was gonna say one more than whatever Saquon Barkley is gonna finish, but that's just because I'm being a troll. Guys, let's be honest. I think he'd be a top 20 running back though. And watching this kid run the football, I had my buddy Scott, who's a Giants fan, texted me and he was just like, holy smokes. I had no idea we had a battering ram at run a battering ram.

[Field Yates]

I hope he holds up.

[Daniel Dopp]

Me too.

[Field Yates]

Very fist. RB24 for the rest of the season. Mike, you're up.

[Mike Clay]

Okay, next one for me is Sart. Are you starting? Speaking of wide running back twos, starting or sitting? Woody Marks. Yeah. This week he has a Ravens. His snap percentage has increased each week. It got up to 58%. That was a career high last week. 17 carries, 69 yards and a touchdown. Four catches, 50 yards and a touchdown. Sounds a lot like Cam Scatabo recently for sure. His rushing volume did benefit from them actually winning a game handily, which is not something we had seen so far this season. But when I look closely at how he was used, it was throughout the whole game. So it wasn't like Nick Chubb was clearly the lead back. And then late in the game it was all Woody Marks. It was not like that at all. They clearly made an effort to utilize him early in the game. As we know, he was one of the best pass catching backs coming in through the NFL draft this year. Nick Chubb still had 15 touches last week, but again, it was a lot of volume in that backfield. And Nick Chubb has faded a little bit. Obviously. The Ravens defense, the most injury plagued in the NFL by far. They've had the most touchdown so far. To running backs, they've allowed the most fantasy points. To running back.

[Field Yates]

So bad.

[Mike Clay]

Woody Marks is, I think well positioned here this week. I have him at 25 in my rankings because again, RB2, I just can't hammer it enough. There's so many good options in there. 23. I think if I. And I have him on some teams, I feel pretty good throwing them in my flex or even my RB2 slot.

[Field Yates]

Very instructive week to me going forward.

[Mike Clay]

Agreed.

[Field Yates]

Woody Marks, because if they, you know, sort of once again, playing 50 to 55 or 60% of the snaps this week and Nick Chubb plays 42% of the snaps, it's a sign that the intention for now is to continue to keep this as a committee. If it's 65 to 70% of the snaps for Woody Marks, giddy up.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that. That's a big number, though, though. I mean, if you're. If you're a running back playing 70%, that's like, we're talking good RB, too. That's a. That's a big number. So I would be fine with 58, 60 in that range, as long as he's at least splitting the carries, maybe like the one A in the carry department. But also the passing game works huge for him. Yeah, like, he can be. He can be this year's Bucky Irving to an extent, if he. Me, like, if he gets that passing down work, too.

[Daniel Dopp]

How worried are you about this offensive line ranking below a number of Division 2 schools in college right now? Like, are you worried about how bad it is?

[Mike Clay]

Unsurprising.

[Field Yates]

Specific to this week, though, not as worried because the Ravens are so.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah. Yes.

[Field Yates]

So they are going forward. Not as fair for this week.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah. Yeah. This is.

[Daniel Dopp]

This is the matchup. I mean, taking on the Ravens. How crazy is it that four weeks, five weeks into the season, and we're saying, you know what I want to do? I want to start all my running backs against the Ravens.

[Field Yates]

And your wide receivers, too, right? I mean, with the injuries you have in the back end.

[Mike Clay]

Look at your Lions. I mean, they were an elite defense in the first half last year, and then we were picking on them down the stretch because everyone got hurt. They lost in the playoffs because they couldn't stop Daniels because, hey, nobody left on D. I mean, it happens. The Ravens, on paper, were a legit powerhouse this year, which is no surprise. I mean, they've been good for so long, but this happens to teams. Everyone gets hurt, and it's just like, what. What can we do? We're just playing practice squatters. Like we're starting practice again. You know, exactly.

[Daniel Dopp]

I know exactly how that feels.

[Mike Clay]

It's just. It's impossible. So they. The Ravens, I think, will rebound at some point, but I would not be surprised if they lose at home. To Houston this week. This is a tough, tough, tough ask in Baltimore. Yeah, yeah.

[Daniel Dopp]

It'd be tough for me not to start Woody Marks just against how like how bad this Ravens defense has been and the fact that we've had a number of running backs that I feel like are underperforming. He's a close to a top 20 guy for me.

[Mike Clay]

What do you got there?

[Daniel Dopp]

I got one more. Quinton Judkins. Judkins. Excuse me. Can he keep it rolling?

[Mike Clay]

Yeah.

[Daniel Dopp]

Last two weeks, 19 fantasy points combined. Over the last two weeks, 16 and a half against the Packers. We thought the packers had a good defense. I'm still trying to figure out what the packers defense is. If I'm honest, they were the packers.

[Mike Clay]

Defenses is like the Saints offense of last year.

[Daniel Dopp]

Yes.

[Mike Clay]

Started out so look at this juggernaut. And then they come crashing back to earth. Yeah.

[Daniel Dopp]

But he did score 21 and a half fantasy points against the Lions last week. It's the Vikings this week. And the Vikings were just torched by Kenny Golladay for 31 and a half fantasy points.

[Mike Clay]

Yes.

[Field Yates]

Kenny Golladay.

[Daniel Dopp]

Kenny. Did I say Kenny Golladay again? Oh my gosh. Kenny Gainwell. It's because I was thinking about making a Payday Golladay joke earlier in the show when you were talking about Giants wide receivers.

[Mike Clay]

What a name. What a name to pull, right?

[Daniel Dopp]

Yeah, that's. That's. We haven't thought about Kenny Gall in a minute. Sorry about that. Also against this squad though, against the Vikings, Bajan and Tyler Algier Both scored over 15 fantasy points. Bajan almost had 20. So this feels like a great situation. And after just two games as the lead back Quinton Judkins looks like the man he is.

[Field Yates]

The RB11 in back to back weeks.

[Daniel Dopp]

Must start for me right now in. In Cleveland.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah.

[Field Yates]

Oh, definitely.

[Mike Clay]

Definitely involvement in the passing game. On top of the massive carry totals. He's been a bad offense and. And maybe the offense is better. I mean, again, we talked about it yesterday. Can't be much worse. Maybe Dylan Gabriel could complete passes and. And keep them competitive. So we'll see.

[Daniel Dopp]

Yeah, he's a big one for me. I have him inside my top 10 this week. Field, what about you? Where are you going?

[Field Yates]

Last one here it's. The headline is can Justin Fields and Garrett Wilson take advantage of what is the best matchup you're going to see in fantasy football for both a quarterback and a wide receiver have allowed the most fantasy points to both quarterbacks and wide receivers this season? My bad yes, we all have them recordedly. Mike said Justin Fields is QB2 for him this week. I think we all have his top three or four quarterback. It's very, very, very high for Justin. Same thing for Garrett Wilson inside all of our top fives this week. I actually wanted to reserve a little more time though on Breece hall and talk about something that took place on Monday night that we didn't dive into a ton because we do not have all the information. But Braylon Allen, who was the jets second running back is now heading to injured reserve according to Rich Samini after Aaron Glenn said it was, you know, significant injury he's dealing with to a foot that matters. It's not that Brace hall did not have value with Braylon Allen. Breeze has actually been rock solid so far. But we do know that Braylon Allen was the biggest threat not named Justin Fields to goal line work for Breece Hall. A little bit of a potential uptick here for Breece hall without Braylon Allen for some period of time. Isaiah Davis, if you are in a very deep league, is the next running back up for the jets. And I don't think this is going to be Breeze hall playing 85% of the snaps like Saquon Barkley. It might be 62, 63% of the snaps because he's yet to play Breece More than 64% of the snaps in a game this season. But Breece, who was a very, very radioactive player in the preseason, all of a sudden has become the kind of guy that might be entrenched as your second running back for the rest of the season because the role is there and the part that I've been most excited about for Breece and not that I doubted this, but the jets, the jets didn't do this. There were some indications that the jets did not feel this way. The jets flat out never said this, but there were some indications this might be the case. Bruce hall is a baller. He is so good.

[Mike Clay]

He's really good like this.

[Field Yates]

This guy is super talented. Like he's probably one of the 10 most talented running backs in the entire NFL right now. Is Breece hall happy to see him to get the opportunity to play a top 10 running back type?

[Mike Clay]

Yeah, no doubt I'm higher than you guys this week, probably because I moved him up a couple spots after Allen. By the way, it looks like Allen's injury will probably take him to or past the trade deadline. So less worried about a Breeze hall trade here. I imagine he'll stay put this season. I'd be surprised if you'd have to.

[Field Yates]

Get blown away if you're jets if someone sent you a third round pick for Breeze Hall. I think that was the thought that.

[Mike Clay]

Like he might be one of them guys if they're doing seven or whatever it might be and move him. So. So that would be a win now.

[Field Yates]

Like if the Chiefs call and they're like, we're so desperate and we're three and four, we can't get the running game going. How about a third round pick?

[Mike Clay]

Shard Smith might. There's rumors they're going to expand his role. We've seen them use late picks right away as rookies and he's been last week actually. Yeah, great stuff. By the way, that was Dan and Jeremy. Every week Jeremy did that buzz file. Yeah. Very, very good article. Lots of good content in there. There. Yeah. I mean, I have him as an RB one right now and he might hang on as a mid to back end RB1 going forward. Should he, you know, with. With Bri Braylon Allen out. Of course. So, yeah, a lot of confidence there.

[Daniel Dopp]

Do you guys remember when we were in the Bahamas, we were doing a fantasy draft over the Bahamas with our buddy Matthew Berry and it's for a different league that we're in with.

[Field Yates]

Oh, yeah.

[Daniel Dopp]

And I auto drafted overnight by accident, Breeze hall, and I was like, dang it, guys. Shoot. I don't want to. You know what though? Don't roll it back from me. Good managers can overcome bad draft picks, guys. I feel great that I accidentally auto drafted Breeze hall this year.

[Mike Clay]

Dude, were you going after Chase? Chase Brown?

[Daniel Dopp]

I was gonna go after somebody. Not Breeze Hall. But Breeze hall has worked out. I've got him as a top 11 running back and I love this matchup against the Cowboys, so. All right, I'm with you, field.

[Field Yates]

Last one for you, Mike.

[Daniel Dopp]

Last one, Mike.

[Mike Clay]

That's it. Mine is on the receiver corner.

[Daniel Dopp]

Oh, that's right.

[Field Yates]

Okay. Okay.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah. Lots of other topics, but Tyler was like, lock it up. Field took all.

[Daniel Dopp]

No, you're not allowed.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah, yeah.

[Daniel Dopp]

Oh, that's so good.

[Mike Clay]

All right, so receiver corner.

[Daniel Dopp]

Not yet.

[Field Yates]

Not yet, Mike.

[Daniel Dopp]

Not so fast, my friend. To quote the great league course, that's right. Now it's time for the Real Deal, presented by Little Caesars. We're going to go around the table every single week. I've got it this week. Okay? We're going to pick one player rostered under 60%. And here's the deal. If they reach 15 or more fantasy points, you can come back on Monday for a 15% off promo code from Little Caesar. So I'm.

[Field Yates]

Who can. Me, Mike.

[Daniel Dopp]

All of us.

[Mike Clay]

Everybody would be a Little Caesars Cheese Pizza center right there. Yes.

[Daniel Dopp]

The viewers, the listeners, everybody that consumes the show. If the player that we have chosen, and I'm picking it this week, we're going to go around the table in future weeks where we're picking a guy under 60 rostered. This week, I am going to choose for our listeners.

[Mike Clay]

Pizza on the line.

[Daniel Dopp]

Jackson Dart was projected over 16.1 fantasy points in week five taken on the Saints. If you remember what he did this last week. 10 carries for 54 yards and a rushing touchdown. Also did some things with his arms. But I was most excited about what he did with his legs. Both arms. It was mostly his right arm. I shouldn't have said plural. Arms.

[Field Yates]

He danced both arms.

[Daniel Dopp]

19.8 fantasy points last week. The Saints have allowed the fifth most points to quarterbacks so far this year. In fact, all four quarterbacks the Saints have faced, Josh Allen, Kyler Murray, Sam Darnold and even Mac Jones have hit at least 16 and a half fantasy points so far this year. So Jackson Dart is our player for the real deal presented by Little Caesars.

[Mike Clay]

I'm not confident my pizza confidence.

[Daniel Dopp]

We have a shot at pizza on Monday.

[Mike Clay]

Expect pizza.

[Daniel Dopp]

So that'll be a lot of fun. That'll be hopefully if things go right, you guys can, you know, that'll be a me thing. If things go wrong, you can blame me. I'm used to taking some of that after the Chase Brown call this year.

[Mike Clay]

I mean, pizza is on the line. I cannot be more clear about it. Yes.

[Daniel Dopp]

This is important right now. Yeah. So that'll be a lot of fun. Jackson Dart is our player for this week. We'll continue to see if hopefully everyone's going to root for him to get over 15 and a half fantasy points.

[Mike Clay]

Back when I was young, I was on a basketball team and I was on the bench because I was not very good and I was very tiny growing up. But we had a year where our team was a powerhouse and we were undefeated. Wow. Never lost a game. I still have like the little trophy, which for me was like a participation trophy. Technically I was on the team, but I would play when we were just, you know, I've got a lot of work in garbage time, put it that way. But we, if we scored 50, we got a pizza party. The coach would buy his pizza.

[Daniel Dopp]

Oh, that's so exciting.

[Mike Clay]

So there's a lot. Pizza is a good Motivator it is in our lives. It is that I agree.

[Daniel Dopp]

So we could all use a little pizza. Pizza. All right, let's talk about the Shadow Report. My friend. Mike Clay, you do this every single week. Breaking down important wide receiver, cornerback matchups. Give us a couple of upgrades.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah, I have a lot here, so I'm gonna just whirl through these. You guys stop me at any time. We'll start with Michael Pittman in the.

[Daniel Dopp]

I'm good right now if you want to stop.

[Mike Clay]

Okay, go ahead. What's your thoughts?

[Daniel Dopp]

I love it.

[Mike Clay]

You cannot, Michael, you stop me. So you guys have to do the announcement analysis.

[Daniel Dopp]

Michael Pittman's got a good matchup this week.

[Field Yates]

I'm gonna sit back and enjoy this.

[Daniel Dopp]

Michael Pittman scored in three of four matchups so far this year, Mike.

[Mike Clay]

He has been awesome. One of my favorite, he was this year's Cortland Sutton. For me, that was what I called him. I love Sutton in the 10th round last year. And Pittman was about there this year. Nice bounce back. Great matchup against the Raiders here. Third most fantasy points allowed to receiver so far. The eighth highest EPA against the pass. So we've picked on the Raiders every week. I'll leave it at that. Good matchup for Pittman. We can't really trust any other Colts receivers right now, but agreed.

[Daniel Dopp]

I want to ask if just for our listeners and viewers at home, in case people don't know what EPA is. We've mentioned it a couple times, a lot of times in this segment.

[Mike Clay]

What is EPA available? Expect a point. Yeah, well, we need a metric. Yeah. Well done.

[Daniel Dopp]

Yeah.

[Mike Clay]

Expected points added. So it's essentially an efficiency stat. So, you know, we don't have to get really into the details, but third best, you know, if you're in this case, the eighth highest EPA allowed to the pass. Means are bad against the pass. They're eighth worst against the pass.

[Field Yates]

Got it.

[Mike Clay]

And vice versa.

[Field Yates]

By the way, EPA, like an astronomically high number for EPA is like 0.28 because it's 0.28 points per added per play.

[Mike Clay]

Per play.

[Field Yates]

A lot of numbers are like 0.07 to negative 0.12 or something.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah, yeah. It's a more valuable way than just yards can be distorted and such. So it's just a valuable efficiency stat with many of which we have from our great SIG team. Next one, Giants receivers against the Saints again, another team we picked on most weeks. But you know, they've lived up to it. They've lived up to the concern Here, fourth highest EPA against the past fourth most fantasy points to the perimeter this season. They're mid pack and fantasy points allowed to receiver. Sometimes you need, you know, perspective on this. You might look at your player one day, Robinson or Darius Slayton, and say, well, they're mid pack. This isn't a great matchup. They faced the fifth fewest wide receiver target. So if you adjust for that, they've been pretty terrible against that position. So it makes Wondale, who you talked about, Darius Lane, more appealing starting options this week. Last one in upgrades. Again, we've talked about this ad nauseam, but Garrett Wilson up against the Cowboys. The most fantasy points allowed overall. They've allowed the most fantasy points to the left perimeter and the right perimeter this season. It has been terrible across the board. The worst defensive EPA overall and against the pass. And they will add the most yards and touchdowns with nine to wide receivers. 3. Three receivers in four games have hit 28 fantasy points against them. And as we talked about yesterday, Daniel, I don't think it's gonna be Alan Lazard or Tyler Johnson or Josh Reynolds. It's probably gonna be Garrett Wilson that comes close to that number.

[Daniel Dopp]

Mason Taylor is signing up for a three touchdown game here this week. So, yeah, if Romeo Dobbs can find the end zone three times, I would like to think that Garrett Wilson can maybe also make that happen.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah, those second rounder tight ends I'm monitoring. You know, Mason Taylor now worth a bench spot. He's had a couple good weeks.

[Field Yates]

Weeks.

[Mike Clay]

Elijah Arroyo's role is expanded, but AJ Barner is kind of in his way now. And Terrence Ferguson probably gonna be active this week, he hasn't played much, but Tyler, he's not gonna play. So he'll get some run tonight actually, and Thursday Night Football. So I hope he sees a few targets. Hopefully.

[Daniel Dopp]

Never mind.

[Mike Clay]

That was gonna be a bad joke.

[Daniel Dopp]

It was gonna be a bad joke.

[Mike Clay]

I want to hear it now.

[Daniel Dopp]

Hopefully lying second round tight end Sam Laporta also gets involved because he has been as absent as those guys you just mentioned is what it feels like.

[Mike Clay]

That's fair. That's a. That's a. A fair joke. I like it.

[Daniel Dopp]

Thanks, bud.

[Mike Clay]

All right, downgrades. What? I'm just giving you. I know.

[Daniel Dopp]

You're too nice of a guy. You are a supportive guy.

[Mike Clay]

Just like booing my dad jokes on Sundays.

[Daniel Dopp]

I don't boo your dad jokes. I'm not even at the desk. I don't like. I laugh at them from the other side of the studio. Don't you hear me?

[Field Yates]

Daniel is a very good courtesy. Laughter.

[Daniel Dopp]

I try, I try to make sure that everyone.

[Mike Clay]

Joe's the best courtesy.

[Field Yates]

Joe's good because he also laughs silently.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah, yeah, he does do that too. Yeah, but I can hear it. He's right next to me. All right, guys, let's do downgrades. AJ Brown against Pat Sir Tan the second. I don't know if it's going to be a bounce back week for A.J. brown here going up against these Broncos.

[Daniel Dopp]

Johnston just did it. Maybe A.J. brown can do it.

[Mike Clay]

I mean he, Johnson had a great game for a game where he was shadowed full time against Pat certain he had 14 fantasy.

[Field Yates]

Yeah, he was awesome.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah, it's going to be tough. He's. He shadowed in all four games this year. And those receivers averaging 9.2 fantasy fantasy points per game. So tough spot here for one A.J. brown.

[Daniel Dopp]

I would give up my firstborn child to get nine fantasy points from AJ Brown right now, if I'm honest.

[Mike Clay]

I mean, two weeks ago he had what, 25 or so? He had a huge game.

[Daniel Dopp]

He had a huge game.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah.

[Daniel Dopp]

That's not the game we're talking about. We're talking about the consistency right now.

[Mike Clay]

It's a tough assignment. Next one, Cortland Sutton, same game. Unlike last year, Quinion Mitchell has changed his role. He is shadowed in all four games so far this season. Pickens, Devonte Adams and he shadowed Hollywood Brown in the first half of that Chiefs game. Pickens at three and a half fantasy points. Devonte Adams had 14.6 and Abuka, remember, almost did nothing that whole game. Then he caught that long one that it just slipped through two defenders. He caught and walked into the end zone. Otherwise he was had a quiet day. So Eagles have been good against the pass so far. This is going to be a tough assignment here for Cortland Sutton. Next up, another shadow, George Pickens. Pickens against Sauce Gardner. Coming off a couple actually. Pickens has 17 plus fantasy points down three straight games. So he's been terrific even when CD Lamb was out there. Sauce has Shadow, DK Metcalf and Mike Evans already this season. They had 12.3 fantasy points and 13.3 fantasy points. So he's done a pretty good job. Maybe a return to earth here a little bit for Pickens, but you got to start him.

[Daniel Dopp]

I mean, Sauce was upset this last week with some calls. I saw some comments that Sauce made.

[Field Yates]

He was.

[Mike Clay]

Yep.

[Daniel Dopp]

Feels a little saucy. I'm. I'm interested to see how aggressive he's.

[Field Yates]

Going to Be spicy saucy that moment.

[Daniel Dopp]

Yeah.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah. Well, they need him because they have. He's quite the assignment this week against Pickens who's been red hot but again, we're still starting him but downgrade may be more helpful in DFS there Two quick ones here. Dolphins receivers against the Panthers. I mentioned this earlier. Second fewest fantasy points, the fewest yards and lowest catch rate to receivers. Only one receiver has hit 11 points against them and it was last week, Stefan Diggs. He's the only one to hit 11 against them. So tough assignment for the Dolphins receivers. And finally Brown's receivers. This is an easy one because we don't really want to start any of them anyway.

[Daniel Dopp]

Correct.

[Mike Clay]

Including Jerry Judy. Fewest fantasy points allowed to receivers for Minnesota as well as. Here's that stat again, the lowest EPA allowed to the pass so far this season. By the way, Jerry Judy has not reached 12 fantasy points at a game this year. Might be tough to do it this week.

[Daniel Dopp]

Do you think that Jerry Judy sees more or less production with rookie Dylan Gabriel under center? Is a fire lit under this Browns team? Can it get worse?

[Mike Clay]

Yeah. Oh, okay. All right. Okay, Michael. That was good. Yes.

[Daniel Dopp]

I wish for those of you that are audio listeners, this is why you need to watch the YouTube chat. Yesterday, Shador Sanders was asked a question about why he wasn't playing and he just basically like mimed his answer. That's what Mike just did here. That was really funny, Mike. That was good.

[Mike Clay]

Well done by. Thank you. I'm here for. As the joke.

[Daniel Dopp]

Our director actually was very nervous at.

[Mike Clay]

The mic, so I did all the hand defense.

[Daniel Dopp]

That was awesome.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah. So I, I do, I think it has to be a little better than what it's been so far. They've had a light schedule at it, beat up struggling defenses and they have not produced so. I hope so. I hope so. If not, we'll see sh. Sanders out there. We'll see what happens.

[Field Yates]

I think it's going to be a while before we see a second quarterback change.

[Mike Clay]

I think so. I think it could be another four week window here and then another look, depending on how much pressure there is.

[Field Yates]

Yes. If they're playing poorly and there's a lot of external pressure and sometimes, you know, people at high levels of the organization start to exert some influence, then yes, you might see a player who, of course, if he starts, would draw every bit of television coverage you could ask for in the weekly.

[Mike Clay]

I mean, I want, you know, selfishly, I would just want to see it. I just want to see him get a look. I do. So yeah. So that's it for Downgrades. The only other one I'm watching here but I'm not really going to move the needle. Is Marvin Harrison up against Legarius Sneeze. He's getting healthier. Sneed is playing a little better. He has been shadowing most weeks so far this season. The receivers he faced have been fine so far. Actually pretty good for the most part. But I think it's just taken him some time to get back to his 2023 self and the Titans have allowed the six most fantasy points to receiver. So Marvin Harrison higher bust risk than usual with this matchup against need but I think you can still start him and feel okay about it.

[Daniel Dopp]

This feels like and this is not a celebrating injuries in any way shape or form but if you told me that James Conner was going to get hurt and be done for the year and we were going to lose Trey Ben even and we're going to be to these like third and fourth string running backs, I just say to myself how many targets can we just give to Marvin Harrison?

[Field Yates]

I don't think it'll change.

[Daniel Dopp]

I agree with you and that's so infuriating because it doesn't feel if I expect more. I think I'm just setting myself up for failure.

[Mike Clay]

Unfortunately, the Cardinals are the second pass heaviest or third pass heaviest offense in the NFL. Chargers and Chiefs.

[Daniel Dopp]

How is that possible?

[Mike Clay]

Where are all the They've been ahead a lot so they just. There hasn't been a lot of pass volume in that offense and Kyler's been running a little bit more. That's kind of dried up the last couple of weeks to some extent. So I'm still confident Harrison could be a guy we feel good starting each week which is not he's been all over, all over the map so far this season. I have a question for you guys. Which team has when they have the ball? So we're just talking about when they're on offense. Which team has trailed least often so far this season?

[Field Yates]

Team that has trailed least often.

[Mike Clay]

So they've been ahead or tied at the highest rate. Nope. It's going to surprise you.

[Field Yates]

Cardinals.

[Mike Clay]

And it kind of explains a little bit here. No, not the Cardinals. It explains a little bit of the lack of production and perhaps volume from their past. Yes, the jags 6%.

[Field Yates]

Do you think the Jaguars defense is real for fantasy purposes?

[Mike Clay]

I'm a little. I'm lukewarm. Like I Trayvon Walker now is going to be out probably for a little while. Which is going to hurt. I don't think so. I think they're going to come back to earth a little bit. I think they're okay.

[Field Yates]

We're the Chiefs Monday night. That's got to be. No, I was going to get something hyperbolic out there.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah, it's a truck.

[Field Yates]

You want one of the biggest regular season games for Jacksonville in a long time. This game on. I remember seeing it on the schedule at the beginning of the. Whenever that was released back in May and I was like, really? Jaguar Chiefs, Week five. Like, I know it's the Chiefs and Travis Hunter, but like, is that game even going to be competitive? This would be a good game on my. Feels really good game.

[Mike Clay]

Especially if, you know, we might see something different if the Chiefs are ahead in this game. Yeah, maybe we actually get to see the Jags flinging the ball around a little bit in the second half. We just haven't seen it. They have not had to throw the ball. Cause they just. They've trailed 6% of the time.

[Daniel Dopp]

And there is a chance that Liam Cohen legitimately fights Andy Reid at the end of the game. So, you know, we'll see how that.

[Mike Clay]

Works out there, I think.

[Daniel Dopp]

Yeah.

[Field Yates]

All right. Good stuff, Mike. Any else?

[Mike Clay]

That's it. It was a big one this week. We're going to have some light weeks. We're going to have. I feel like we have back to back big ones. It just kind of depends on. On the matchups and that's actually there's four teams on a buy so it's kind of surprising how heavy it was.

[Daniel Dopp]

A lot of big wide receivers on buy too. When you look through those teams, there's. There's a lot that we would normally be trusting. Go check out the rest of the playbook that Mike does. It's not just the shadow report, Mike. You have a bunch of great stuff in the playbook helping everybody get set up for their fantasy matchups every single week. Let's dive into a little Thursday Night Football preview if you guys don't mind. We got the 49ers or what's left of them at least taken on the Los Angeles Rams. Couple of big quick injury updates right now. There is going to be no Brock Purdy. There's going to be no Ricky Piersol. There's going to be no Juwan Jennings. We already knew that George kittle was on IR.

[Mike Clay]

Still no Brandon I. Nope.

[Daniel Dopp]

So it is Christian McCaffrey and DeMarcus Robinson and who else? Hendrick Bourne at wide receiver.

[Field Yates]

Yeah. I think it's pretty obvious here tonight with the 49ers absence. Christian McCaffrey, the only way you're playing a player from this roster is if you are in a very deeply 16 team league like he. You might see a couple of 49ers wide receivers started in the war room league tonight. 10 team league. I do not. I could one of them have a decent night? Sure, it's possible. But this Rams defense is outstanding. I am avoiding if I can.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah, I mean you. If you go to your league to add players near the top of the receipt, you soar by projected points for receiver. You're probably going to see Ricky or DeMarcus Robinson and Kendrick Bourne there right around 10 points because they have to. They're going to throw the ball 35 times or so and they have to go somewhere. And their number three receiver is Sky Moore. Marcus Valdez scantling like they're probably going to try to lean into those two guys and Jake Tonjas and obviously what 30% target share for CMC so far. They're going to give him as much as he can handle in this game. So. And by the way, this could be a very one sided affair. So I don't want to say that about, about Kyle Shanahan cause he's, you know, he. If anyone can pull off an upset, it's him here. But this is going to be a tough challenge against a fairly healthy Rams.

[Daniel Dopp]

Team with all of these guys being out. Do you think right now Rams are rostered in 40% Rams defense rostered in 40% of leagues. Do you think that they are like a sneaky. This is the Streamy defense.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah, I had them last week and I was going to. I had waiver claims set to go elsewhere and obviously I pulled that back with everyone out for the Niners. So I'm running them into the ground.

[Daniel Dopp]

Yeah, if you need a defense this week, Rams go grab them into the.

[Field Yates]

Into the ground for the next four weeks, including tonight. 49ers with all the pieces they're out for the Ravens next weekend. Lamar Jackson, not a certainty to play in that game. The Jaguars who have been excellent defensively, not so good offensively in the Saints for the next four weeks. That's exactly the defense you want.

[Mike Clay]

Very good front seven, some question marks in the secondary, but there's some talent there too. Some young talent talent, but yeah, very good defense.

[Daniel Dopp]

Wow, that's incredible. All right, on the other side, let's talk about the Rams. Any major takeaways that you guys have from the Rams, first off, we know that the wide receivers are really good.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah, Puka Nakua, the. He was the first overall pick in our redraft yesterday, and rightfully so, but by far the number one receiver.

[Daniel Dopp]

Yes, I took. I had to choose between him and Bijon Robinson. I just felt like I had to go with Puka there.

[Mike Clay]

I don't think you are wrong, but it's hard to go against Nakua now.

[Field Yates]

Yeah, the Rams are this nice team who once again just gives us very straightforward answers for fantasy every year.

[Mike Clay]

We love Sean.

[Field Yates]

We love Sean. We are starting Kyron Williams. Yours starting Puka Nukua. You are starting Devonte Adams. Matthew Stafford was outstanding this past weekend. Had over 27 fantasy points. You can probably find a better option at quarterback, but again, in a deep league, Stafford, even without any rushing whatsoever, can always go off for 250 passing yards and three touchdowns.

[Mike Clay]

You said not. That's what I was going to talk about, so. But you said it very well. But I wanted to point out you said no rushing whatsoever. Actually he's lost fantasy points from his rushing.

[Field Yates]

Is that right?

[Mike Clay]

It's negative four rushing yards. This amazing. Has one rushing touchdown the last eight years. I believe it is. He's just amazing. Getting you nothing there. So. Yeah.

[Daniel Dopp]

Can I ask you guys about the running backs? Cause I've been a little bit surprised the last two weeks because Kyron Williams, I think is still the clear lead back there. He's had 29.6 fantasy points over the last two weeks combined.

[Field Yates]

Good. Right.

[Daniel Dopp]

Blake Corum only 8.9 fantasy points over the last two weeks Combined. But when I look at their touches, Blake Corum has 19 touches to Kyron Williams 38. I feel like we're just seeing a little bit more Blake Corum than we have seen in the past. Like, Mike, when you look at this, do you. Do you see like the projections becoming a little bit more of like a. Not a committee, but they're just utilizing a second running back in ways that we haven't seen Sean McVay do in the past.

[Mike Clay]

Nothing too massive. I mean, maybe instead of ranking him RB or rank, projecting out like RB 80s, RB 12, you know. So yeah, last year we saw this, especially as the year went on. We saw Blake Corum get entire series, like Kyron get the first one, Corum the second one, Kyron third, Corum fourth. And then it was basically all Kyron. Yeah. Yeah. This year it's a. They would like take it easy early early in the game. Maybe this year they're taking it Easy on him a little bit early in the season because they did give him an extension. Like he's not going anywhere. So if I have Kyron, I'm not worried. But occasionally you might lose a goal line carrier. A couple of touches, you're going to lose some points. But at the end of the day, he's still a, you know, their clear.

[Field Yates]

Feature back like a fringe RB one coming into the season. Maybe he is a little bit closer to like a mid tier RB2, but whether he's in your lineup or not is not a different conversation where it was a month ago.

[Daniel Dopp]

Yes.

[Field Yates]

Yeah.

[Mike Clay]

But I will say this. Blake Corum, the clear insurance running back, he's that guy. Do you have them? I know you guys do too. Like them guys that are on and off your roster throughout the week. Like they got to pick up someone to start. Guy dropping back the next week. He's one of them guys that if Kyron goes out. And remember, Kyron has been very healthy the last couple of years, but if he misses time, it's going to be. It's going to be Corum. And I wasn't a huge fan of him coming in. I like Hunter, who they drafted this year more, so I'd be more. More. I definitely scoop him up as like a stash. If something happens to Kyron, just keep an eye on it. But Corum very clearly would get the first shot at that job.

[Daniel Dopp]

Okay, pick this game, guys.

[Field Yates]

I will go with the Rams.

[Daniel Dopp]

You guys don't have any love for Stefania. No one wants to stand up for Stefania in the show. I'll take the Rams as well. I'll do that.

[Mike Clay]

Trying to. I'm trying to find my score here.

[Daniel Dopp]

Oh, our producers are taking the 49ers. Thank you. @ least the producers are doing it. Thank you, guys. We needed that.

[Mike Clay]

It's a bold call. It's in LA 2418, so I'm actually giving closer.

[Field Yates]

Yeah.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah. I mean, I don't think that's far off the line.

[Field Yates]

I think it's the line moved from the 3 and a half to 7 and a half following the Brock Purdy news.

[Daniel Dopp]

I would take the over on that.

[Mike Clay]

I would take over. You think that I would.

[Daniel Dopp]

I think they will, yeah. So they will cover on that? Yeah.

[Mike Clay]

Yeah. Okay.

[Field Yates]

All right, Last piece of business, shall we? With the Raheem Sanders Monopoly Fund.

[Daniel Dopp]

That's right field in case people are just listening in. Explain the Raheem Sanders Monopoly Fund.

[Field Yates]

We have an opportunity to pick a player who has been rostered, who is Rostered, excuse me, in under 0.5% of leagues. If that player scores a touchdown this weekend, you get all this fake monopoly money from the jug. Mike actually already nailed this with Tyquan Thornton all the way back in week two. Since then we have been shut out. 30 bucks in the pot.

[Mike Clay]

I almost went Tommy Trimble last week and he didn't score. I thought about Greg Dorche and score and I forgot who I ended up picking. Honestly, same with me was Isaiah Bond. He didn't.

[Field Yates]

Okay, I'm going with this week I am going with Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson. Roster.1% of leagues. We saw more of Jaden Higgins last week. That was cool. Probably not good for Xavier Hutchinson but really good matchup against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore he saw in the all.

[Mike Clay]

Route running team club this year and actually throughout his career so far. Mine is. I'll go second here. Guy that's getting a little bit. Here's my five bucks. A little bit of a promotion this week. Third rounder from 2023. He's yet to score a touchdown on 61 career targets. It is of course Jalen Hyatt of the New York Giants probably got a handful of targets here and we'll see if he can turn them into something he met. He had one of the best catches of the preseason for a touchdown. So Jaylen Jalen Hyatt. Let's see it. Let's see it. That was a shot.

[Daniel Dopp]

See it. I'm going to go with the number two pass catcher or maybe just the number two. I don't. I was gonna. Never mind.

[Mike Clay]

I'm gonna go different nail on this.

[Daniel Dopp]

Well, I was gonna say something but it was. I recognized before it came out that it was an NSFW by accident thing that I didn't mean to say but I'm gonna go with a guy that touches the ball a lot in this offense and it's gonna be Greg Dorch. 0.4% roster right now. Yep. And he has eight touches over the last two games. Marvin Harrison only has nine touches over the last two games. So not great, Bob, not great. But I'm gonna go with him finding a way into the end zone especially.

[Mike Clay]

With the lack of running backs coming back. He's still questionable at the concussion that.

[Daniel Dopp]

Game in actually Arizona Torch is questionable right now. He had two rush attempts as well. So you'd love to be able to see that producers are going to go with Khalif Raymond to get in the end zone. Rostered in 0.2% of leagues. Got in the end zone last week with a. Yeah, with a punt return for a touchdown. Almost had a reception for a touchdown as well last week. So we'll see how that works.

[Mike Clay]

I wonder why they picked him, but I see that they forgot the why in his name name there. So that. That explains it.

[Daniel Dopp]

Oh, wow.

[Field Yates]

Khalif Ramond.

[Mike Clay]

Right now everyone is that. You know what? Come on.

[Daniel Dopp]

While we're doing it, let's pull up the poll. We got a poll here of how things work out.

[Mike Clay]

That's right.

[Daniel Dopp]

People like Mike Clay's DeMarcado more than feels. Joe Flacco, although 32. That's not bad.

[Field Yates]

Not bad. I'll take it.

[Daniel Dopp]

That's not bad.

[Mike Clay]

I like it. Yeah, I did see some comments. People are like, yes, you get to say it now. More that Benson's out. You get to say D. Mercado more.

[Daniel Dopp]

Yeah.

[Mike Clay]

Oh, man. We do a lot. Hopefully. I mean, hopefully he gets a plays a nice role this weekend.

[Daniel Dopp]

Absolutely.

[Mike Clay]

It's not all the Michael Carter Show.

[Daniel Dopp]

We'll find out. Unfortunately, if it is, that's going to do it for us today. We love you guys. Don't forget to love each other. Be kind to yourself. Have fun watching Thursday Night Football. Go pick up the Rams defense and we'll see you guys on Friday. You in the whole 6010 Focus Fantasy, Fantasy Focus.

[Mike Clay]

He got Willa. He got my daughter. I need to find her.

[Field Yates]

From acclaimed director Paul Thomas Anderson.

[Mike Clay]

You can save that girl.

[Field Yates]

Today experience what is being called the best movie of the year. This is the end of the line.

[Daniel Dopp]

Not for you.

[Field Yates]

Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Pan, Benio Del Toro, Tiana Taylor, Chase Infinity.

[Mike Clay]

Let's go.

[Daniel Dopp]

Here I am.

[Field Yates]

One battle after another. Now playing only in theaters. Experience it in IMAX. Rated R. Under 17. Nine emitter without parrot.

[Mike Clay]

You can have.