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The BEST Starts for Week 1 | Fantasy Focus 🏈
01:06:57
The BEST Starts for Week 1
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- [00:00]
A
Quick break. Got your fire safety game plan. When it comes to your home, every second matters. That's why we trust Kidda smoke alarms. They're built to respond fast and cut down on false alarms. So you can act with confidence when it counts. And now you can upgrade to over 25% faster smoke detection. With Kira's latest technology. It's more time to react and more peace of mind. That's why Kidda is North America's 1 home fire safety brand. So whether you're upgrading or installing for the first time, go with the alarms that deliver performance when it matters the most. Kidda help protect what matters most. Find it at the Home Depot. How doers get more done 29% faster Average smoke detection based on internal testing of smolding fires for Kita 9th edition versus leading competitor 8th edition products based on total household installations as of December 2023, you're in the 6010 Focus Fantasy. Fantasy Focus. What's good, everybody? Welcome into Fantasy Focus Football alongside Mike Clay and Phil Jates. My name is Daniel do and guess how many days we have until football, my friends?
- [01:11]
B
Zero days.
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A
Zero days.
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B
That's right. I get it.
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A
I wore my Jameer Gibbs jersey today. It has a big zero on it.
- [01:17]
B
Uh huh. And I wore my Philadelphia Eagles. Reigning no one cares.
- [01:20]
A
No one cares. Mike and I just feel you have a short straight button down.
- [01:23]
C
Thank you. Two things here. I finally drafted Jameer Gibbs last night.
- [01:28]
A
Yeah.
- [01:28]
C
Yes. Second to no. Third to last draft that I was in. I had another one later that evening. But I finally got Jameer Gibbs at pick four. And I'm not going to lie, like it's going to take me a moment. Well, it's going to be easy to identify Jameer Gibbs when they play the packers on Sunday because he's the fastest player on the field. But I have like. I kind of thought 26 is a cool running back number. Like between Saquon Barkley and Jameer Gibbs, those are probably the two coolest running backs in the league. So making that shift to zero. I like it. But I also was totally cool with Jameer Gibbs rocking 26 for the rest of his career.
- [01:59]
A
Do you think 0 is one of those numbers that looks fast or is it not?
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C
I think it's generally an awkward running back number.
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A
Okay.
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C
Yeah. But that's how I felt about it in the past. Like Clinton Portis made it cool. There have been a few examples of guys that made it cool to wear number 26, but I felt like it has looked clunky on a Lot of guys. And Saquon Barkley and Jameer Gibbs have. Well, previously Jameer Gibbs have totally nuked that thought.
- [02:21]
A
They've made it.
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B
I think the key is like, you don't want much downforce, right. So if you have a lot of, like, if you're 88, that's holding you down a little bit. You need smaller numbers. Like number one's the least amount of material that's true to sew on. So that could be the edge. You know, in the NFL, it's a game of inches, perhaps centimeters.
- [02:37]
A
That's right.
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B
Could be the difference. I want smaller numbers.
- [02:39]
A
Well, tonight we got a big football game. We are going to preview the Philadelphia Eagles taking on the Dallas Cowboys.
- [02:46]
B
Go Birds.
- [02:47]
A
Or at least part of the Dallas Cowboys. They're going to have enough people on defense to roster a full defense. Correct.
- [02:52]
C
I have some good news for the Dallas Cowboys fans out there. They enter the season with the second most cap space in the entire NFL. All right, let's go, baby.
- [03:00]
B
Love that.
- [03:01]
C
That doesn't money to spend on players that might be deserving of a contract.
- [03:05]
A
That's. Yeah, absolutely. We're gonna dive into that.
- [03:08]
B
Good to know.
- [03:08]
A
That'll be very fun. We're also gonna do our part one of the week one preview. We split up our previews into two different parts, obviously on Thursday and Friday. So we're gonna bring a bunch of different storylines. Each one ofus brought three storylines to the table. We'll dive into a bunch of good stuff there. But quickly, before we get started, I want to give a shout out to our friends over at trophy smack. As always, go to trophy smack.com, use the promo code focus10 for 10% off your order. You can get a trophy, you can get a chain. You can get a belt, you can get a toilet seat, you can get some rings. They got everything that whether it's for a championship or a loser punishment, head on over to our friends over@trophysmac.com Again, the promo code is Focus10 to be able to get something fun for your league.
- [03:46]
C
We are currently potty training our second child at home. Maybe I get a toilet seat for my recently turned 2 year old who absolutely loves just love sitting on the john. She'll just sit there for 20 minutes.
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B
I mean, we've all been there. But I hope that your toilet seat doesn't look like the one behind Daniel.
- [04:03]
A
Yeah, this one is. This came from trophy smack. It says I suck at fantasy. And then.
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C
Not yours though.
- [04:09]
A
No, it is not mine. No, I hope not.
- [04:12]
B
That's unfortunate.
- [04:13]
C
It does crack me if there are other parents out there that are doing it right now. I know that it's a pain in the. You know what, to get this job done to teach them how to not go to the bathroom in their diapers, but it is hilarious.
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B
Yeah, I'm past that, fortunately.
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A
Yeah. And when I came into my son's Life, he was 15, so I didn't also, I skipped right past the diaper phase.
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C
Yeah. He had just finished with diapers like, a year prior. So you moved past the diapers.
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B
Exactly. Yeah.
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A
We went right into teaching him how to shave. So that's a little bit of a difference.
- [04:39]
C
Oh, God.
- [04:40]
A
Oh, hey, make sure you hang out with us in the YouTube chat as well. Our buddy Eric Moody in the YouTube chat, being able to answer questions and just hang out with everyone that is in there. Eric's going to be a part of our show moving forward, as always in the YouTube chat. So give. Go give him some love and follow him on social media at ericandmoodie. And with that being said, my friends, let's dive into the week one preview, part one. Yeah, we're going to get a couple of things here, a few storylines that we brought to the table field. Why don't we start with you?
- [05:07]
C
I think generally speaking, when we're starting our preview for the week on Thursdays, it'll probably have some level of rank to it. Right. I'm just not trying to wish this into anybody's future, but if there's a star running back who goes down and it's the first game after that star running back goes down, our lead story will probably be how does it look in insert NFL backfield here going forward? Because it's week one, you're kind of all over the board. I am not picking my storylines because they are, like, the unequivocally most important. This is not the exact order I would put them in. These are just notable storylines to me. So I wanted to preface that before we dive in, but my first storyline to monitor is do the Cardinals immediately emphasize Marvin Harrison Jr. Good one. Marvin Harrison, Jr. Of course, the fourth overall pick last year who went like 18th to 25th overall in a lot of fantasy drafts and was a disappointment. Right. The raw numbers, you look back on them, you might say like, oh, those are okay. But for fantasy purposes, he was far from okay. He had that incredibly inauspicious start against the Buffalo Bills. Remember week one of last year? The Cardinals were blowing out the Bills early in the game in Buffalo. They Ended up, I think, scoring 31 or 32, two points. And Marvin Harrison Jr. Had zero catches in that game.
- [06:19]
B
Yeah.
- [06:19]
C
And that was not good. Not good at all. So they need to find a way to get him the football early and often. They play the Saints in week one. I want to see not just how much volume Marvin Harrison Jr gets, but the type of volume he gets. I mean, by that is, are they just going bombs away like they have? Is he getting the football from the. Is he lining up in the same spot every single snap like they used to do with, you know, DeAndre Hopkins and Hollywood Brown and the Cliff Kingsbury system in Arizona previously? Very curious to see what it looks like for Marvin Harrison Jr. Stefania's reference, how he's put on 10 extra pounds of muscle. How does the player himself look? There is just boundless curiosity surrounding Marvin Harrison Jr. This season.
- [06:57]
B
Yeah, I'm fascinated. This is a guy that in some ways did see a lot of volume last year. I mean, he was third in end zone targets and ninth in air yard. So certainly high value looks. The problem was the efficiency. And you're right, it's going to be curious to see if they evolve how they use him because right now it's just kind of like that, you know, you know, like a Mike Evans role in a lot of ways where it's a lot of vertical targets, low percentage throws, and we need that to change a little bit if he's going to reach his peak. And it took like, you know, a guy like Mike Evans, well, he was, he was fast right away, but sometimes you see them vertical guys, the perimeter vertical guys take a little while to evolve into clear fantasy starters. So hopefully this is the year.
- [07:35]
C
I think we also accept now, maybe we didn't know it right out of the gates, but like, Mike Evans is on the short list. I don't know how long that list is, but he's on the list at least of the greatest vertical threats we've ever seen in the NFL. Right. So like Marvin Harrison Jr. Could get there, but at this point, I'm not yet ready to say that he's so good at that skill set that Arizona can continue to go bombs away only to him and will be okay with his items.
- [07:59]
A
That is true. I never. I mean, when you think about it, with everything Mike Evans has put together in his career, like who else? I mean, other than Randy Moss, he's probably the best one.
- [08:06]
C
Yeah, Tyree kills probably at his apex, he was a more dominant player than.
- [08:10]
A
Mike Evans, but Mike Evans brought more Consistency. I felt like with the touchdown, you know, equity that he brought to the table.
- [08:16]
C
It's a short list ahead of Mike Evans.
- [08:18]
A
Very short list.
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C
Agree on that.
- [08:19]
A
How do you guys feel about this Saints defense? Because from an offensive perspective, this, obviously that's who the Cardinals are playing. From an offensive perspective, we have very little that we're trusting in fantasy on the defensive side of the ball. Is this one of those defenses we're going to be saying all year long they're playing the Saints, play everyone against them?
- [08:34]
B
Yeah, I think so. I have big secondary concerns there for sure, especially a corner which I was surprised they didn't address a little more after trading Marshawn Lattimore away last year. So, you know, they could be okay at the edge. Rusher, but position. But keep in mind, like, perhaps their two best players, Cam Jordan and Demario Davis from the past five years are ancient by NFL standards. I mean, they're in the 30, like pushing 30. So I definitely worry about that.
- [08:59]
C
I would say this is that, like, there have been times recently where you've seen, like, I think the Giants are going to be a very good defense. I just worry that if the offense isn't getting the job done, is that defense going to need to be perfect to keep that team in the game, which can be exhausting for a defensive player. For the Saints, they are not going to be in games offensively, which the defense may just get worn down and you're just like, yeah, what are you going to do?
- [09:21]
B
Yeah.
- [09:22]
C
Towards the tail end of Bill Belichick's tenure with the Patriots, they were always like, the defense was like kind of hanging around there in epa. You're like, oh, wow, this Patriots team is like once again, like a top eight defense. But the offense was just so bad that it was like it didn't matter. Right. Like, eventually the bend but don't break turned into bending and then breaking.
- [09:39]
B
Yeah.
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A
Well, at least he's got a really good defense at unc. Mike, who do you have for your storyline?
- [09:46]
B
My first storyline, I think, is an obvious one if we think about the fantasy impact from the NFL draft back in April, which is the roles for the rookie running backs.
- [09:54]
A
There's a lot of them.
- [09:55]
B
We've been talking about them all off season long. But finally this weekend we're going to find out what the roles are for these guys. So I think I kind of split them into three tiers right here and maybe you guys can tell me if you agree or disagree. Tier 1 is Genti and Hampton. I think those are the clear lineup blocks. Both of those guys should be featured. The Najee Harris will start stuff I'm not worried about. Hampton has been there all offseason. He looks good. He was a first round pick. There will be enough there that he should be in lineups. You drafted him. He should be in lineups.
- [10:23]
C
So I would say. Here's what I would say. I do agree with it. I think perception and perception is not always reality. Right. I mean insert Marvin Harrison Jr vs. Malik neighbors at this time last season.
- [10:34]
A
Right.
- [10:34]
C
It was Harrison should be in lineups and Neighbors can figure his way onto the floor. Flex radar reverse those based off of investment and the rest of the backfield. There's zero excuse for Ashton Genti to not see the ball a crap ton this year. Like if the. If the Raiders don't, it's just like why. And I think by the way, the Raiders are run by some really smart people now. Yeah, it just would seem like malpractice to draft a running back sixth and then not have him play 70% of the snaps. Right. Hampton. I could see. I don't think Najee Harris is the same level of player as Omari and Hampton. I could see the Najee usage in the first week even with him coming back from this ice situation be a little bit more annoying.
- [11:17]
B
More annoying. That veteran is the right word.
- [11:19]
C
So I think it's correct. I still have him did in my top 20 running backs but I almost feel like my perception again what the results are different but my perception is that it's Genti Tier 1, Tier 12 or 1A.
- [11:33]
B
Yeah, I could have done that. I kind of did. I kind of did three.
- [11:35]
C
Thank you.
- [11:35]
B
I did three chairs in a sense of like lineup locks. Fair probably in lineups and then not. We're just waiting to see. So the next year would be Trevian Henderson and R.J. harvey. Henderson maybe a little closer to Hampton. Maybe those two could have been on their own tier together. You're probably starting those three. Harvey's a little tricky too because J.K. dobbins listed as the starter. But I think especially in 12 team leagues, I think you could start Harvey. I think I'll have a big role.
- [11:59]
C
It feels like J.K. dobbins is better than anybody the Patriots have to compete with for Travy on Henderson. Which is why you have Harvey a little bit further.
- [12:07]
B
Yeah, Harvey is hot. Dobbins and Anderson as Stevenson. So they both have little competition there. And then the bottom tier is these guys that I don't think I'm Starting. I know I'm not starting any of these guys, but they belong on benches because this is the. These. This is the tier where I'm really curious to see which play which don't. Which are maybe a healthy scratch Sunday morning. Bill Crosby Merritt for sure. Very intriguing. Caleb Johnson in Pittsburgh. I don't think he should be near lineups. I know that we kind of drafted him seventh round at 12 team leagues thinking he'd be Najee Harris in that offense. That doesn't seem like it's going to happen anytime soon. Bashaw Tutin in Jacksonville. Camp Scatterbo in New York, Jaden Blue in Dallas, Dylan Sampson in Cleveland, Ollie Gordon in Miami, Woody Marks in Houston. I think those are the. There's a lot of them. There's a lot of them. And you could maybe pick three of those guys who might play way more than we expected in week one and be must ads on. On waivers or in our flex position next week. So there's a lot of them and I think that's a fantastic storyline for this week.
- [13:01]
C
Yeah, Jaden Blue, the first one who plays tonight, of course for the Cowboys against Eagles. I wonder if he'll be active or not. They have a great kick return man in Kevante Turpin, so they don't need him. Return.
- [13:11]
B
Yeah, but they only have three. Right. So I don't think they have a fourth running back on the roster. So I'm guessing.
- [13:15]
A
I was gonna say the fullback.
- [13:17]
B
You're right.
- [13:17]
A
Yeah.
- [13:17]
B
He could be. He could fill that void.
- [13:19]
C
Would not surprise me.
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B
Good.
- [13:20]
A
Paul wouldn't love that.
- [13:21]
B
I hope he's active.
- [13:21]
A
I'd like to see him.
- [13:22]
B
I hope he's active too, but I.
- [13:23]
C
Want to see him like I'm calling it right now. Don't be stunned if like I'm just of the guys that you mentioned, he.
- [13:28]
B
Feels like, yeah, that's going to be the case for quite a few guys. We're going to get some surprise week one inactives that it's going to check out based on roster construction.
- [13:35]
C
Remember when Tyreek Hill was almost inactive in week one last year? That was a surprise. Remember that?
- [13:39]
A
I do not remember that. Oh yeah, that's right.
- [13:43]
B
That was week one.
- [13:44]
C
Week one. It was like, hey, welcome into fantasy football now. And for more we bring in crime reporter Jeff Johnson.
- [13:49]
B
Darlington, yeah, Darlington had been with.
- [13:51]
C
Remember that Darlington had spent Scotty Shepler thing right there. His wharam league fantasy team he plays in a couple is Free Scotty. Which is because everybody's like free Scotty when he was the guy he was. Everybody's yelling that around Jeff, when Jeff was the guy literally doing the reporting because he was the only person from the media within, like, I think like 50 yards of Scottie Scheffler. He got arrested.
- [14:12]
B
Doesn't it feel like the Tyreek thing was like five years ago?
- [14:14]
A
It does feel like it was forever.
- [14:15]
B
So much happened since then.
- [14:17]
C
But then, I mean, amazingly, he went for like seven catches and 180 yards and a touchdown that game.
- [14:21]
A
And then that was unsurprising to me. You got angry Tyreek, that game, kind of showing what he could do. By the way, I just want to say this. I know you already mentioned it, but I think Caleb Johnson is going to be one of those guys that might be disappointing to fantasy managers to start the season because they did draft him with a high enough pick. I kind of have some expectations of production, but given how that backfield is going to shake out, you need to like be patient like that. Not. He's one of those guys that if you see a couple weeks where he doesn't get the utilization that you want, I'm probably giving some trade requests to that manager. Being like, boy, it doesn't seem that they want to use Caleb Johnson enough. Knowing that. I think some of that production will come in the second half of the season.
- [14:56]
B
Don't be surprised if Kenny Gainwell out snaps him this week.
- [14:59]
A
Oh, yeah, no one wants to hear that.
- [15:01]
B
If I had to put money on it, I would say Kenny Gainwell is second.
- [15:04]
C
I can see it. Sorry for bringing the world's loudest water bottle known to mankind. I took one sip and I was like, this sounds like church bells ringing.
- [15:12]
A
All it means is that you're hydrated, field. And there's nothing wrong with being hydrated.
- [15:15]
B
You're up.
- [15:16]
A
All right, Again, this is not in any order. Mine as well is not in any order. Just like yours, field. So I'm going to skip ahead to Monday Night Football. Shout out to our friend John Sutcliffe. But what does Caleb Williams and the Ben Johnson led offense look like in Chicago? When you look at where we have him ranked, it looks like we got a couple of guys that we have as starters in this offense. D.J. moore, wide receiver, 20 for us in week one. Roma Dunes, a wide receiver, 35. So maybe in the low end flex conversation, definitely some question marks still there. Deandre Swift, wide running back, 22. We think he's going to be someone that you could utilize as a low end running back as a starter for your squad. But then Caleb. Caleb is quarterback 22 for us this year. It's like this week, excuse me, tough matchup there is. It is a very tough matchup and it seems like, all right, if you need to trust a lot of these players, the skill position players in this offense, we think that you can go ahead and throw that dart. But not a lot of them are like set it and forget it players in this offense at this point, we still need to see it. But that's one of the biggest question marks that I think everyone is going to be having going into week one because there's been so much hype around. Not just Caleb Williams in his second season, but what is Ben Johnson going to do to revitalize this offense in Chicago? It's one of the biggest things against a division rival on an island game Monday Night Football. It's going to be the biggest thing I think that I watch all week.
- [16:30]
C
Even if Caleb Williams doesn't reach the level of a top 10 like mustard quarterback, I hope we get to a point where it's pretty clear there's four guys that are start a bull in the Chicago offense. One of course being DeAndre Swift, DJ Moore, Roma Dunes A and Colson Loveland. It'd be fun if Loveland entered that starting territory for tight ends because there is just so, so little depth this season.
- [16:51]
B
Yeah.
- [16:52]
A
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- [19:20]
C
My next storyline is the cousin of Mike's. Mike talked about rookie running backs. Mine is just like the uncertain backfields backfield usage in and these are just a handful of the teams you could probably add to this list. Houston, Denver, who of course has a rookie. Cleveland, New England, who also has a rookie and the Jets. You could probably do a whole topic on just the jets themselves, right? Breece hall has been one of the most fascinating players to rank and speculate upon this preseason. I don't know that we're going to get the definitive answer on season long things after just one week, but I have no clue who will take the first carry in Houston. It might be Nick Chubb. It could be. Damn. I would.
- [19:58]
B
I would put my money on Nick Chubb.
- [19:59]
C
But you're right but could be could not be Woody Marks. We'll see whether he has any role whatsoever. Mike already dove into both the Denver and the New England dynamics with Cleveland. I think it's going to be a heavy dose of Jerome Ford. But if a Quintean Judkins contract is reached at some point in the near future and a potential suspension is served, how does that backfield shake out? Does there become a guy or does it just become a backfield by committee? And the jets, which Braylon Allen became one of My favorite last or second to last round targets only because some of the noise this summer has suggested the jets could let him lead the team in carries. But leading the team in carries and being inside fantasy lineups is not necessarily. Those things can be mutually exclusive or not. Whatever. You guys know what I'm trying to say. He can have a lot of carries but not be in your lineup because he is getting zero passing game utilization or only. Only averages like 100. Sorry, like 12 carries per game. But yeah, I'm fascinated by all of those backfields this weekend.
- [20:56]
B
Yeah, agreed. And I could add a few more because I actually pitched this topic as well. So we're on the same page. Jacksonville for sure. Travis Echan, Tank, big speed, B. Shaw too. And Laquin Allen is there as well. Again, one of them will be a healthy scratch on Sunday. We'll see who it's going to be. Washington again. I think the safest fantasy play early in the year is going to be Austin Eckler. I'm not going to start Bill Crosby Merritt this week. I think he. We need to see for sure if he is the number one or number two or if he's the number four because Chris Rodriguez is there. Jeremy McNichols actually played ahead of Chris Rodriguez last year and he's still just hanging there. So we have to see what happens in Washington. And of course playing tonight, Dallas. We just talked about that Javante Williams would be. Be the guy I'm starting in fantasy.
- [21:38]
C
If I'm losing from them my storyline for later on.
- [21:41]
A
Wow. Michael.
- [21:43]
B
Yeah.
- [21:43]
A
So Avery.
- [21:44]
B
All right, fine. I didn't, I didn't know you guys. Okay. I don't know all the topics. All right, so. I'm kidding. We'll see. We'll see what happens later. But yeah, there's a lot of backfields like that.
- [21:54]
A
Yeah, I wish I just. This isn't going to be super nerdy and it's not going to make sense to anyone. But Austin Eckler, one of his big things is a guitar guy, right? Like he loves being able. Like he'll do that thing.
- [22:02]
B
Yeah.
- [22:03]
A
Jakkori Krosky Mirror. I know he goes by Bill, but like jcm, like there's a Marshall, which is an amp company, has a line of amps called the JCM800, JCM900, a bunch of different things. I feel like there is a guitar duo that we could do between Jakori, Kroski, Mera and Austin Eckler. I gotta find the right way to be able to make this happen because I gotta bring the music abilities in.
- [22:22]
C
That is one of those perfectly niche things. It reminds. This is something that happens a lot in first draft with Mel. He'll reference a player from, like, 1972, and he'll be like, yeah, I feel like he reminds me a little bit of, like, you know, like, you know, Gerald Ferguson, like, Washington State, 1972. I'm like, you're totally Mel. I'm sure the entire audience knows what you're talking about.
- [22:38]
A
We're all there.
- [22:39]
C
We're all with CM 8 hundreds. Like, that's my favorite. You said amp.
- [22:42]
A
Yeah, yeah, it's an amp.
- [22:43]
B
Yeah.
- [22:44]
C
It's one of my favorite amps on the market.
- [22:45]
A
Beautiful. Beautiful, Marshall.
- [22:47]
C
But if you make that happen like that, like, that's your corner, right?
- [22:49]
A
I gotta thread the needle in order.
- [22:50]
C
To get a marketing deal for JCM and Daniel. Slash.
- [22:55]
A
Yeah. Marshall and all this. Yeah. Let's get. Let's. We'll find a way to make something work. We'll find a way to make believe.
- [23:00]
C
Like, I was Jacori for a long time. I think I'm team Bill in terms of.
- [23:04]
A
You like Bill?
- [23:04]
B
I like Bill.
- [23:05]
C
Yeah. I don't know. It's almost, like, ironic. I don't know. Yeah, it's a great name. And you go by Bill.
- [23:11]
B
Yes.
- [23:11]
A
That is the thing.
- [23:12]
B
I'm on board with.
- [23:13]
A
It definitely made a change.
- [23:13]
C
I also like people because I know some people that are like this, where, like, you know, their first name and their nickname are completely dissimilar. Not like a nickname like, you know, like Daniel. Like to Danny. I mean. Yeah, my first name is Daniel, but I go by Frank. Frank.
- [23:27]
A
That's fair. That's fair.
- [23:28]
C
I like Jacori. To Bill.
- [23:30]
A
My. My son's name is Rashawn, but we all call him Manny.
- [23:34]
C
That's a great example there. I never knew that.
- [23:36]
B
Yeah.
- [23:37]
C
His name is Rashawn.
- [23:37]
A
Rashawn, yeah.
- [23:38]
C
Like Slater.
- [23:40]
A
It is not spelled the same, but it is like that. Yes.
- [23:43]
B
You guys don't even know my first name. I go by Mike.
- [23:46]
A
But now. Okay, hold on now.
- [23:48]
C
International man of mystery.
- [23:49]
A
I might need to smooth this.
- [23:51]
B
How about Tyler Fulton?
- [23:53]
A
That's right. Yeah, that's true.
- [23:56]
B
All right, next one for you, Mike.
- [23:58]
A
Next storyline. Oh, sorry.
- [23:59]
C
Are you Daniel?
- [24:00]
B
Whatever.
- [24:00]
A
Yeah. You just. Well, didn't you. You just doubled on to field, right? That was.
- [24:05]
B
That was not my actual. My actual one is one of the. Perhaps the most intriguing player of week one, Travis Hunter. Yep. Yeah. Fascinated to see what this looks like, whether it's how well he Plays, but certainly his deployment. How much is he playing offensively? What is the role there? Yep. Is he the number two target? Is he the number one target or is he third? Is Diami Brown ahead of him? Not to mention what his role is defensively. And I don't think it's going to be a big defensive role. That's how I would anticipate this. I'd say maybe 25, 30% of the defensive snaps because they're pretty good on that side of the ball and then offensively a pretty decent chunk. I think that's where I'll be featured here in, by the way, against Carolina and I'm not super afraid of that matchup. You know, their perimeter corners did a pretty good job last year, Jackson and J.C. horn, so they're fine, but otherwise the defense doesn't scare me. So I think it's a good spot for him. Are you starting him this week, say 10 team league? Probably not.
- [24:59]
A
I'm not.
- [25:00]
B
I think it's borderline. Yeah, I think he's a borderline flex option. That's probably would.
- [25:04]
C
Because it's too fun. Like, it would suck if he goes off for like seven touchdown. You'd be like, God damn it. The unicorn went for. Would that be 21.2 points and I benched him, so I probably will. I have to think about that a little bit longer.
- [25:16]
B
I put the ball in his hands.
- [25:17]
C
20 minutes reserved later on this afternoon to go think about lineups and do my decisions there.
- [25:21]
B
Yeah, I was doing that before the show. Right.
- [25:23]
C
What you said, Mike, just a minute ago, like you think he's going to end up playing 25 to 30% on defense.
- [25:28]
B
On defense.
- [25:28]
C
If you could read, if you could assess right now, where would you have again, update your rank for Travis Hunter in preseason rankings? Would you have him higher, lower, or about where you've had him before right.
- [25:39]
B
Now, based on that? The same. That's what I was anticipating most of the off season. And part of that was from you because you and I had this conversation not long after the draft and you know, asking you what, what you thought the rates would be like, what would his snap rate be on offense versus defense? And that's about what you said, so I'm sticking with it.
- [25:57]
C
So if, if, if, if he plays like 98% of the Snapchat, that's going.
- [26:00]
A
To be your fault.
- [26:01]
B
Oh, I'm definitely blaming you. I mean, yeah, you're going right under the bus, sir. Yeah. Yeah.
- [26:05]
A
Well, I'm going to pivot off of that one. With a similar kind of thing. But do you guys think that we. And it doesn't seem like it, but how fun would it be to see these two rookie wide receivers lined up against each other because we've got Teo McMillan and Travis Hunter playing in the same game. Happened in college and it happened in college field. I was just going. I went back and looked at the tape. A lot of people know me as a tape guy, so I went back and looked at the tape. 2023 Colorado played Arizona. Tellon had a couple of catches against him. However, one of them was a beautiful one handed spinning catch in the back of the end zone over top of Travis Center. When you're 6 foot 4, things just look easier for you in life. For what it's worth. But I still have.
- [26:43]
C
You did go back and watch it.
- [26:44]
B
I did, yeah.
- [26:45]
A
Yeah. I went back. Yeah. My buddy John Perelin and I, we were sitting upstairs. John Perlin from research. Yeah. So we were going through looking at a bunch of stuff because I was just curious, you know, it doesn't sound like he's going to be the number one corner on the number one wide receiver. That's not the expectation. But just for fun, I would love to see it happen for like one or two plays while they're out there. Just seeing the top two wide receivers of this draft lined up against each other on offense.
- [27:08]
B
I would bet it happens a couple.
- [27:09]
A
Times at some point.
- [27:10]
C
That will be sweet.
- [27:11]
A
I still have Tetaroa, McMillan and I think you guys do as well. Clearly ranked ahead of Travis Hunter just given the clearer path to targets here.
- [27:18]
C
In New York trending up. That's for sure.
- [27:19]
B
He. I moved him up quite a bit in my rankings for variety of reasons. But yeah, I think I. I do think though that if Hunter covers him on like say three plays in. Teo should have to play defense for three plays. I think that's only fair.
- [27:31]
A
That's. That is fair.
- [27:32]
C
That could work.
- [27:33]
A
I'm down to that.
- [27:33]
B
Teo would be a great. Pete Carroll perimeter corner. He would love him.
- [27:37]
C
He would love him.
- [27:37]
A
Big, long, physical perimeter guy. Like how great would that be?
- [27:41]
C
Would be sweet.
- [27:41]
A
That'll be. So I'm just excited to watch those two rookies play against each other potentially in the same game. All right field.
- [27:47]
B
But we went off.
- [27:48]
C
Are you right?
- [27:49]
A
Well, that was my second one. Was. Will we see the top two rookie wide receivers lined up against each.
- [27:55]
B
Yeah. Wow.
- [27:55]
A
I was going to pivot that into a little bit. So yeah, that was great.
- [27:58]
C
We've got a lot more Time to get through stuff tomorrow. So this is a little bit more off the radar. I don't think this is like the first thing that's hitting most people's brain when they think about the weekend ahead. No, not that deep. Sneaky. I've got my eyes on two players in the offense in Seattle. Of course, Sam Darnold is the new sneaky.
- [28:15]
A
Sneaky, sneaky.
- [28:17]
C
New quarterback Sam Darnold. New system under Clint Kubiak. They came out like a blaze of fire last year in the first two weeks. Alvin Camara had like 9,000 yards in those first two games, but two guys specifically for different reasons. Kenneth Walker III and Cooper Cups. Stefania has been kind of noting that, like been some suggestion that there could be a little bit more Zach Charbonnet. We talked about that yesterday on the show as well. Is Kenneth Walker iii due for 15 to 20 carries on Sunday in a system that does run the football very effectively with an interior offensive line that's been upgraded this offseason or is it going to be like, hey, this. We could see ZACH Charbonnet play 41% of the snaps and Walker play 55% of the snaps. That would be not great based off where he is being drafted right now. And then Cooper cup. We talked about this one yesterday as well. Like, is he just done? Like, are the days of Cooper cup being a fantasy asset behind us or is the contract that Seattle gave him $15 million a year reflective of a team that believes there's still a lot of good football left? Remember, they. It's not like they were required to trade DK Metcalf. I think they felt like the value in that second round pick and the ability to reallocate that money would be good.
- [29:27]
A
And dude, this is one of been the hardest things for me to figure out because the Rams just let him walk. They didn't seem like they were interested at all. And then another team comes in and they're like, we're going to give you real money to be our number two. Two teams viewed him incredibly differently and the team that watched him play basically in his entire career like that. That's the part that gives me a little bit of pause.
- [29:47]
C
I like, I mean, I actually like the calculus the Rams ended up with. I think Devonte Adams is a clear upgrade.
- [29:52]
A
I agree with that.
- [29:53]
C
Yeah, I mean, a small amount of money difference, so I'm good with it. But yeah, it's the Rams making a bit of a dare bet there. Right? Because if Cooper cup goes and balls out in Seattle, there will Be some dispirited people given how much respect he had within that Rams organization.
- [30:08]
B
Yeah, no doubt. I'm team Cooper Cup. I've drafted him a lot this year and oftentimes he's the first guy on my bench. So, so not something I'm really sweating. If it works out and he's a wide receiver two or three, I'm going to be happy about it. If not, not a huge investment there. And as for Walker, by the way, I think I will say this. The T I do like NFL like project win totals and power rankings and stuff. The biggest disparity between my analysis and the consensus is the 49ers this year. I do not see it. I don't, I like, I, I don't.
- [30:37]
C
Like doubting the overall team or meaning.
- [30:40]
B
Like I've seen people ranked him fifth, like fifth in power rankings. I'm like 20th, like I don't, I don't get it. I don't get it. I'm like two full games between low there win total. I, I, I, I don't understand why they're viewed that way. I feel like, you know, I, I don't like doubting Kyle Shanahan. He's obviously fantastic. He can make me look totally silly. But on the defensive side of the ball, I have major concerns and I point that out because Seattle wants to run the ball with Walker and Charbonnet. The 49ers stunk against Iran last season. That was a team that we, we ran all over with running backs. Ran all over them last year. Yeah. And this sets up perfectly for Seattle to come out and run the ball. And by the way, I should add this, the 49ers did not upgrade in the interior. It's probably maybe the shakiest defensive tackle situation in the NFL. Major uncertainty there. So this sets up really well for.
- [31:28]
C
Seattle drafting Alfred Collins in the second round out of Texas and CJ west out of Indiana. He started at Kent State and maybe.
- [31:35]
B
They'Ll be great fourth round but CJ.
- [31:36]
C
West will be fine. He is like a high floor, lower ceiling player. Alfred Collins. We'll see. He was a very, he was like the Mel calls him the LTP or look the part guys. Right. He definitely looks like he belongs in the NFL. His play was very inconsistent at Texas. It has been according to those that closely watch it out there in San Francisco. Very inconsistent as well this preseason. So yes, the run defense is shaky right now.
- [32:01]
A
When you're looking at this backfield, I mean they're obviously we, you know, we've Been talking about this, but the rumblings that Zach Charbonnet is just going to get more work here. Do you think that this is going to be like 70 to 30 to start the season? Do you think that, like, are people looking at this and I don't want to keep comparing everything to Lions, but they're like, hey, what Jameer Gibbs and David Montgomery have done has worked really well for that team.
- [32:20]
B
By the way.
- [32:21]
A
Both players get to stay fresher longer in theory. When you get two good backs like that, do you think it's going to be that kind of a split or do you think it's still Clint? Ken Walker is clearly going to be the 1A and then, you know, Zach Charbonnet will be just the number two.
- [32:33]
C
That's the question I have. I don't know the answer. I mean, I think I lean more towards like 60, 40 and Kenneth Walker the third saver or he's got to stay healthy too.
- [32:41]
A
I mean that's got to be part of it.
- [32:42]
B
Doesn't mean the problem.
- [32:42]
C
Yeah, it's been banged up. Yep.
- [32:43]
B
But it's. I might think 70, 30 if Walker was healthy all offseason. But it seems like the gap kind of closed and it is a new coordinator there, so it definitely could change from what we saw last year.
- [32:52]
A
Yeah, new coordinator. Feels like everyone has got to like re earn their role a little bit.
- [32:56]
B
Within an offense like the matchup. So I do feel good about starting Walker. Walker not going to start Charbonnet this week.
- [33:01]
A
Not this week. Want to see some things? Yeah, yeah, that's fair. That's fair. All right. My other week one storyline. Oh, sorry, Mike Clay. Sorry, my bad. We're doing a circle. That's my fault.
- [33:11]
B
Yeah. So mine's going to be. My third one is going to be similar to my first point which is kind of the tiers of like how we're evaluating rookie running backs. But this year it's for second or this time it's for second year quarterbacks. Do you guys realize that if you take the first seven quarterbacks drafted last year year, all seven will start this week. That's about a quarter of the NFL will be the first seven quarterbacks from last year's draft. So here they are. Three of them I have in my top 10. So I think these are all starters. Jaden Daniels, of course, Bo Nix, of course. And Drake May Daniels gets the Giants, Nicks, the Titans and we like May against the the Raiders. So he's a very, you know, fine streamer here in week number one. Next year. This is guys who maybe in a 16 team league, you're squeezing them in but probably not starting them. Caleb. And it's the same game. Caleb Williams against J.J. mcCarthy. Tough matchup. We have two really good defenses. So not starting those guys this week. And then of course the final two. Michael Penix against Tampa Bay, Spencer Rattler against Arizona. Not going to be close to my lineups this week. I need to see Pennix throwing at a high level and adding some value with his legs before we're considering him as a streamer. So stay away.
- [34:12]
C
The best case for Michael Penix Jr. Is that Falcons quarterbacks carved up the Bucks defense like no one has ever seen. Last year, granted it was just Kirk Cousins twice, but only two technically the Falcons quarterback. Cause they'd carve up the Buccaneers twice last season. I'll be interested. And this is a note that matters for fantasy because it has implications on both sides of the ball. I wonder if Tampa is that much better on defense. Like they made some moves this offseason but there's not a single player that they added where I'm like, okay, that changes the complexion entirely.
- [34:42]
A
Right?
- [34:42]
C
Like Hassan Redick. We'll see.
- [34:43]
B
Yeah, exactly.
- [34:44]
C
Like he was not good for the jets once he actually returned to action last year. And a couple of guys they drafted outside of the first round. We'll see. And that would be good for our purposes because if they're bad on defense, it means lots of peppering of the football by Baker Mayfield. We'd love to see you now you're up.
- [34:59]
A
Now I'm allowed to. Sorry. We just go in these circles. We all get a chance to talk. I forget that Mike hasn't. Mike's already said so many words. I just assumed he had already given his third take. So that's my bad, Michael. I apologize.
- [35:09]
B
No, I give like 10 takes. That's what I do.
- [35:11]
A
Nothing wrong with that. My last one for week one is going to be something I kind of mentioned yesterday and it is. Can Daniel Jones breathe life back into this passing game in Indianapolis? When you look at week one, the only player that we honestly have ranked as a starter in week one amongst these pass catchers is Tyler Warren's arresting right? Yeah, he's the one that is a top 10 tight end. Part of that is because of the position this like taking on, excuse me, taking on the Miami Dolphins. This is a matchup that I would have loved if it was a bi week week. But because we're in week one, we don't have anyone that has to sit out in our lineups. And that's the hard part for me. I can't find a way to squeeze Michael Pittman Jr. Or Josh Downs into my starting lineup.
- [35:50]
C
More.
- [35:50]
A
More likely than not, unless you went really heavy on some risk players like the, you know, Chris Godwins, Rashee Rice, you know, Jordan Addison's kind of guys. But this is the kind of matchup that I want to watch and see. All right, Can Daniel Jones do the things that we're expecting him to be able to do? Matriculate ball the ball down the field, help this offense get in the end zone, do some things that we, unfortunately we didn't see happen under Anthony Richardson. So even though I'm only starting one pass catcher from this group, it's going to be one of the biggest things that I watch because if they can't get it done against this Dolphins defense, I'm going to start having some concerns later on down the season.
- [36:22]
C
I have like, usually right around this time each year I have like, I don't know if it's regrets, it's just like things that make me most nervous that I didn't put enough stock into. And one of them is like, should I have just ranked Tyler Warren and Colston loveland, tight end 7 and tight end 8? Because they have a. And I talked about this at the very beginning of the season. The way that I construct my rankings is like, who has the best chance to finish as the highest ranked player, highest scoring player at his position. And Warren and Loveland, off talent alone, immediately walk into the NFL and I believe our top seven or eight talents. Yeah, but you know, the concern for Warren was the quarterback uncertainty. The concern for Loveland is that a lot of mouths, it's going to be especially right out of the gates. Like I think there's going to be a little bit of like we're going to. Cole Comet's not going to disappear.
- [37:11]
B
Yep.
- [37:11]
C
Right. Like this is going to play. I think Loveland's role will grow and grow and grow. But to begin the season, Cole Comet, who's still a useful player and does things that go beyond the box score, will play enough that people are going to be saying, like, I thought you drafted this kid 10th overall. Why are you not throwing him the football more?
- [37:27]
B
Yeah, I'm curious to see on Comet because you remember last year there was long stretches where he'd have be lucky to get one target. So I wonder if he might get one to two targets a game and that could be a factor at all. So we'll see a new scheme though. We'll find out.
- [37:39]
A
They paid him a bunch of money.
- [37:40]
C
Kokomet. Yeah, I'll be. Yeah.
- [37:42]
A
And by a bunch, I mean maybe it's just to me it's a lot.
- [37:44]
B
Of money, but Oliver gets a lot of money too.
- [37:45]
A
You're right.
- [37:47]
B
There was another blocking tight end that just got paid as well. I'm going to, I don't know.
- [37:51]
C
Recently.
- [37:52]
B
Yeah. I don't know if it's going to come to me. Maybe I'm, maybe I am thinking of Lupke, but I think there was someone else, though.
- [37:56]
A
I have to think about it. I don't have him at 7 and 8. I do have Colson level and Tyler Warren at tight end 89 in my preseason ranking. So we'll see. Field maybe fortune favors the bold in this one. All right, let's talk about one of the the best things that we do here at ESPN Fantasy every single week, and that is Mike Clay's wide receiver cornerback matchup. Michael Fields kind of alluded to this yesterday. One of the best things that you do here, one of the best things in the industry, I think that's really spurred a lot of people being interested in these matchups and trying to look at fantasy from another angle, not just the way that we normally do. So when you got a couple wide receivers that have some stock up, a couple wide receivers that have some stock down, hit me.
- [38:30]
B
Yeah. Before I do that, just a little somewhat of an announcement here is that the traditional shadow report article is, is gone. We're not doing that anymore. When? 10 years. It's over. That's the bad news. The good news is that we're folding it into the playbook. So it's all going to be in one place now. You're going to roll through each game. It will definitively say right in there, this is a shadow report capsule. And it'll talk about who's shadowing upgrades downgrades. The cheat sheet will still be there. So it's all there. And the best part is there's no more. Let me finish my thought. There's no more ESPN+ written content. So now it's all free, too. The playbook is free. That was my question.
- [39:07]
C
How much does it cost me to read this?
- [39:08]
B
It costs you now. 0dol. So it's all going to be in the playbook. So if you're looking for it and I've had a bunch of question marks because usually or questions because usually it comes out Wednesdays, people are asking where it is that's where you find it. Now it's going to be folded right into that playbook. Everything's there. Player projections, match up grades. All that is right in that.
- [39:24]
A
Now that. Now, this is worth a hundred dollars, but it costs you $0, not like $0. And it's not today, right? Correct. Yes, yes. Yes.
- [39:33]
C
Jeff Bezos rates. What's Bezos worth? Like every second? 100 bucks?
- [39:40]
A
I don't think so.
- [39:40]
C
Do some math.
- [39:41]
B
Right now it depends how much you're using Amazon.
- [39:43]
A
All right, give. Let's start with some positives. Give me one stock up and then give me a stock down. My clay.
- [39:46]
B
Okay, yeah, I'll give you a couple. Maybe more than one.
- [39:48]
A
Yeah, you can give me more than one. I just want to start with each. Okay, deal.
- [39:51]
B
Okay, I'll. I'll give you two upgrades, two downgrades. Okay. Perfect. Is that acceptable? I mean, you're in charge, so.
- [39:55]
A
I will allow it, Michael.
- [39:56]
B
That's why I have it written on my sheet. And if you start messing me up, I'm gonna be like you. I'm gonna be like, who's next?
- [40:01]
A
Who's next?
- [40:01]
C
Wow.
- [40:02]
A
Just throw me under the bus in front of everyone.
- [40:04]
B
Well, you set me up wrong, man. So.
- [40:06]
A
Okay, you're right. You're right.
- [40:07]
B
No, it's. It's cool. All right, let's do stock ops. Well, you just talked about it. Yes. So we're on the same page. Colts receivers against Miami. A lot of question marks. I don't even know who's going to be on the field for Miami. A corner this week. We talked about Storm Duck, Russell Douglas, Patrick S. And you wish. And Jason Marshall.
- [40:27]
C
I'm talking about his dad.
- [40:28]
B
Oh, his dad. They could used to play corner for the Dolphins. They could use him for sure. Maybe they'll just like sign Kendall Fuller back today and he could start or something because he's still out there. But we talked about those guys. But you look at their unofficial depth or. Jack Jones is listening as the starter. Ethan Bonner on the second team. Juju Brentz from Indy is. Is on that team now as well. So they are just picking up guys left and right. What's that?
- [40:50]
C
He was claimed like a week ago. Yeah, he might even play.
- [40:52]
B
Yeah, Russell Douglas was just signed. Jack Jones is picked up from the Raiders in desperation. So, you know, I think Storm ducks their one and the rest is. Who knows? So we'll. We'll see. But anyway, anyway, Pittman Downs. Maybe we get another Alec Pierce Long touchdown. AD Mitchell, Year 2. Like all these guys are in a good spot this week. So that's upgrade one the other one is Stefan Diggs. We talked about this yesterday going up against the Raiders. They're at home. We like Drake May. Obviously Diggs is coming off off the injury but this is another one where we don't know what's going on at the corner. Eric Stokes comes over from Green for from Green Bay. Darien Porter third round rookie. I don't he's not listed as a starter. Caillou Blue Kelly is. He's he played 13 snaps last year. They may plug him in on the perimeter. He might Diggs might run 15 routes against him in this game and then Darnay Holmes probably going to manage the slot. So it is a good matchup for the Patriots receivers.
- [41:44]
C
Did you see Drake May was asked I think yesterday how the team plans to account for Max Crosby.
- [41:50]
B
Okay.
- [41:51]
C
And what is what his answer was? The best thing that I can do is get the ball at the.
- [41:55]
B
Yeah.
- [41:55]
C
Before he gets there. Right. So bad corners or inexperienced corners however you want to describe them with a wide receiver who's more of like an underneath to intermediate player and fun digs and a vertical threat quarterback trying to get the ball out fast. Wouldn't surprise like I would not be surprised by eight catches on Sunday at all.
- [42:12]
B
Yeah. No doubt. Plus Pop Douglas too could be a sneaky play here in week number one. Kishan Booty's getting a lot of hype too. Is like he was one of the guy they were like he's probably going to not make the team this year early on and now suddenly he's right.
- [42:23]
A
Back in the can I just I'm going to be that guy that feels like I'm out on all Patriots wide receiver hype until I see it realized with my eyes. I have had so many Patriots wide receivers that have been hyped up over the last couple of years starting with Nikhil Harry and moving on from there. Jalen I am until I see it on the field.
- [42:41]
C
I think I'm okay with Diggs. I think he falls into a different Diggs is different.
- [42:46]
A
He's not a rookie. A lot of these guys are like.
- [42:48]
B
Kyle Williams even we thought would be a big deal.
- [42:51]
C
Clear pathway to play play.
- [42:52]
B
Yeah exactly.
- [42:53]
A
Darian Porter wasn't he. Isn't he a big cornerback?
- [42:55]
B
Yes.
- [42:56]
C
He's a gigantic cornerback.
- [42:56]
A
That's all.
- [42:57]
B
That's all.
- [42:57]
C
He is a former wide receiver.
- [42:58]
A
That's okay. That makes sense.
- [43:00]
B
Yeah. So we'll nonetheless I think out of the gate here especially at home I feel like New England's set up to start. Start hot. Yeah.
- [43:06]
A
All right, so those are the two positives.
- [43:08]
B
Positives we have.
- [43:10]
A
Hey, can I really quickly before we move on, where do you have Stefan Diggs ranked? Do you have him ranked as a starter? Is he a flex plate?
- [43:16]
B
I have Diggs. Let's see. And again, remember, first game off the ACL. So there is some question marks here.
- [43:22]
C
42.
- [43:22]
B
I am a 42. Yeah. So it's like a 12 team league flex, but nonetheless, you know, I, I wouldn't be upset if you put them a little higher, but you know that you might be like, okay, you just upgraded him. How can you have him that low? But look at the guys ahead of him like a dude. And golden and Cooper cup and Olave and Hunter and Jacoby Myers like Pierce all. And Jennings. It goes on and on. There's just so many good receivers.
- [43:41]
A
Super fair. Super fair.
- [43:43]
C
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- [44:14]
A
When did making plans get this complicated? It's time to streamline with WhatsApp, the secure messaging app that brings the whole group together. Use polls to settle dinner plans, send event invites and pin messages so no one forgets mom 60th and never miss a meme or milestone. All protected with end to end encryption.
- [44:34]
C
It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone. Learn more at WhatsApp.com Abercrombie is an.
- [44:41]
B
Official fashion partner of the NFL and I'm CeeDee Lamb, wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys. You know I'm here for Abercrombie's Cowboys gear. That's not a question, but I need a whole wardrobe to go with it. No shade to the guys, but I'm used to having the best tunnel fits. This season, Abercrombie has me covered. Shop NFL by Abercrombie in the app.
- [45:01]
C
Online and in store.
- [45:08]
A
All right, give us some downgrades.
- [45:10]
B
Yeah, same game here. We talked about this a little bit yesterday. The Titans and Broncos game. I. I think we're going to see shadows on both sides of the ball. Legarius need returns up against Cortland Sutton and Pat Sartan. Up against Calvin Ridley certain shadowed six time or eight times last year. Six of those receivers at single digit fantasy points and honestly late in the year there was a couple big games against him. I think the Jerry Judy game was against them. But he wasn't really on him much in that game even though he was shadowing him on and off. So that's a very tough matchup for Ridley. We're downgrading him and lingerious need remember maybe the best corner in the NFL in 2023 get Kansas City. I'm going to pay him. They trade him to Tennessee. He opened up the year shadowing Garrett Wilson and Tyree Kill and then he got hurt. He missed the rest of the season. So I would expect him to return and shadow here in week one up against Scoreland Sutton, the cliff clear number one for Denver. So downgrading both of those guys. Yikes.
- [46:05]
A
I don't love that as much. I don't love the downgrade portion as much as I love the upgrade portion. It's there.
- [46:09]
C
Well what's interesting on a guy like Cortland Sutton and Calvin Ridley is both of those guys were being drafted in a lot of cases. Your wide receiver three or your flex. So you may have the first man on your bench. Like maybe there's a case that you take Stefan Diggs and put him into your lineup over either of those.
- [46:24]
B
Yeah, especially Ridley up against certain that one makes me nervous. First year quarterback for first game quarterback as well in Tennessee.
- [46:31]
C
What a way to start. Like I expect the Broncos to handle business on Sunday.
- [46:36]
A
Agreed.
- [46:37]
C
I am extremely excited about Cam Ward and I will not be making a referendum on his career after just one game positively or negatively. But if he leads the Titans to a victory on Sunday, it's just going to be insane For a guy who was so under discussed as the number one overall player that might like lead the morning shows on Monday if he can go to Denver and beat what we believe is a really, really good team. Yeah, it's going to be like well hey you know they played an awesome defense. They just paid Nick Bodito by the way, $30 million a year. Like this is like that's what you expect to have happen.
- [47:13]
A
I don't remember the last time we had a quarterback drafted one overall and talked about him this little. Like I can understand other positions maybe but like I don't a quarterback. I don't think we've had one.
- [47:23]
C
I would say that's fair.
- [47:25]
A
That's it's going to be very interesting to see. I mean is This a chance Mike. Are we. Are we going to get that Elek Ao Manor long shot touchdown.
- [47:31]
B
Glad you said that because that was where I was going next is we probably think Tyler Lockett maybe works in the slot in this offense which puts Ale Manor on the other side which means he'll be up against a rookie as well on the other side if certain is on really Ale Manners up against Baron the first round corner and sometimes it takes those guys a while to get going there. You know they don't all, you know break out and sometimes it takes them a couple years. So that could be a good spot for your boy.
- [47:54]
A
Dude, I would I gotta we gotta pull the clip of whenever the first time was that you mentioned it field if that if he gets a touchdown especially a long touchdown in week one, I'm gonna lose my mind.
- [48:03]
C
He's become buzzy now. He's like gained a little bit of steam it seems like which we will take.
- [48:08]
B
You were ahead on all the credit.
- [48:10]
A
You were definitely ahead of the curve. Yeah. No for sure. All right so make sure you go.
- [48:13]
C
Anything else on the notes Mike or no?
- [48:15]
A
Yeah.
- [48:15]
C
Yes.
- [48:16]
B
We have the other shadow situations from keep this quick because these ones aren't necessarily upgrades or downgrades but just wants to know so I'll keep this tight. Jalen Johnson probably going to shadow Justin Jefferson. He actually did a good job when he shouted him in Week 12 last season. That was Jefferson's worst game of the season. Two catches, 27 yards in that game. But it's also Justin Jefferson, your first round pick so you're not starting him. So maybe not a dominant game like we're used to, but obviously, you know, maybe avoiding dfs but otherwise you're starting them up. Marshawn Lattimore on Malik Neighbors I think he they did not face each other last year, but Lattimore did shadow a couple times when he joined Washington late in the year. So don't be surprised if he's on neighbors again not moving the needle. Lattimore has missed a lot of time has not been as dominant in recent years. And then AJ Terrell on Mike Evans last year Terrell shadowed Mike Evans in Week 5. Evans had five catches, 62 yards and two touchdown in that game. He's reached 20 points in two of his four matchups against Terrell in the past. So Terrell just good corner hasn't been much of a deterrent to Mike Evans. No Chris Godwin, no Jaylen McMillan should be all systems go for Mike Evans Trivia.
- [49:23]
C
What color eyes does AJ Terrell have. For those that are watching now you understand why I'm asking that question. He just had his headshot up there on the screen. I don't know if we can put that.
- [49:33]
A
Is it one of those. Is it those eyes that look into your soul? Nope. You can't even see A.J. terrell's face.
- [49:38]
C
You know, like, what's the breed of dog? That's why you can't all the.
- [49:42]
A
Yeah, the. That's a great question.
- [49:43]
C
Honestly, it's how my hair looks when I wake up in the morning.
- [49:47]
A
He could wear contacts. Do you remember back in the day, it was. Was it Kyle Vanden Bosch that wore red contacts on the other side? Yeah, he was.
- [49:55]
C
Kyle was an absolute maniac.
- [49:56]
B
In a good way as a defensive player.
- [49:57]
A
Mike, I don't know if you've ever heard of.
- [49:59]
B
I know I was going to.
- [49:59]
C
I and Babin were like the two animals, like just maniacs. Those are nuts.
- [50:04]
B
I always love Chris Canti's face shield. That was my favorite thing. All the bars and everything. I was so scary. I love, love it.
- [50:10]
C
Congratulations to Chris. Candace become a dad. By the way, he announced that yesterday. ESPN radio.
- [50:14]
A
Yeah, I'm in a spot. I'm just going to make this personal for a minute. I'm in a spot where we were talking about the Bucks and Mike Evans. I've got to decide whether or not I want to start a mecca abuka or. Or Garrett Wilson. And I know that Garrett Wilson is probably going to be ranked higher, but I just have better feelings about a behind.
- [50:31]
C
Yeah.
- [50:32]
A
Do you? They're right there, neck and neck. It's so weird to think about drafting one guy in the sixth round and one guy in like the, the 11th round.
- [50:41]
C
I want to say on that is I think it's probably felt to those that listen or watch daily like the tenor of Garrett Wilson has been overwhelmingly negative. Like he's still a really, really solid option in most of your lineups. Like he'll be in my top 20 many, many, many weeks this year. It's just, you know, again, relative to some of the players that were being drafted right around him, he had, in my opinion, a lower season long upside.
- [51:05]
B
Yeah, it's just a weird one because Garrett Wilson might get seven targets on a good day and that just might be the status quo for a Booka. So it's just a matter if you believe in the talent because that offense we know is going to be very good.
- [51:15]
A
Well, make sure you go check out Mike Clay's playbook available now. Has all of The Nuggets that you to make sure that you are ready to set your lineup for week one.
- [51:23]
B
Yep.
- [51:23]
A
And with that, my friends, let's look ahead to our first football game of the season. Thursday night preview Cowboys and Eagles Mike, I don't know if you know this but but the Philadelphia Eagles are the returning super bowl champions. So I'm going to let you go first with what you are watching in this football game.
- [51:40]
B
Yeah, perfect timing because we just did a receiver corner and this is where I'm going with this as well. Big questions about the cornerback room in Dallas right now. Land well paid. He's a very good corner. We'll see how they utilize him inside or out. He could very well shadow AJ Brown in this game. However, I don't think he will because I think Trabon Diggs will play in this game. He's. There's some level of uncertainty there there but he's practiced in full. The thing is I don't know if he's going to be his full self or if he's going to be limited in some way because he missed a huge chunk of the off season and again is still uncertain to play in this game. So with the digs, uncertainty care Elam they bring over from Buffalo to be probably a starter. Siobhan Revel was a third round pick this year. He's not going to play in this game. He's out. So otherwise it's question marks at corner for Dallas and I think heavy Zynski. Yeah, those. Well those guys are going to be rotated in and I think they're. It's going to, it's going to set up well for the Eagles receivers to get off to a hot start and that's what we want to see from A.J. brown and of course Devonte Smith.
- [52:38]
C
Yeah. Matt Eberflus now the defensive coordinator, he was previously with the Bears. A lot of COVID 2 action there for Iberflus's defense.
- [52:44]
B
Yeah, but I mean Dallas though maybe could offset some of that by getting pressure with Micah. Oh no, not as good. Yeah. Did you see the front question marks there?
- [52:54]
A
The report that came out today that Schefter said the Eagles were one of the teams that were in the Micah Parsons trade conversations. Imagine if Philly had gotten Mike.
- [53:01]
B
That doesn't surprise me that how he made that call but I'm sure Dallas was like nah, we're not gonna trade.
- [53:06]
A
It in the same division.
- [53:07]
C
Like buddy Billy Rachetti had a good tweet on it. He's. He saw that and quote tweeted. You miss 100% of the shots. You don't.
- [53:14]
B
Exactly. Right. Yeah. Well said. And how he will always make the.
- [53:17]
C
Call, you know, gotta do it right.
- [53:18]
A
Got to field. What about you? What you watching in this Thursday night football matchup.
- [53:22]
C
But I think the NFL would have just spontaneously combusted if that happened.
- [53:25]
A
Oh my gosh.
- [53:25]
C
If Micah actually went there.
- [53:27]
A
Jerry Jones trading him to a divi like a division rival and the super.
- [53:30]
C
Bowl champion, the team that come on opportunistic trade.
- [53:34]
B
I'm surprised he didn't just for the headlines like that would have gotten so much.
- [53:37]
C
Oh boy, would it have ever. Yeah, I am watching the Cowboys backfield tonight. Mike kind of alluded to it earlier but again it's. It seems, it seems that we have a sense of how it's going to look tonight. It feels as like it feels like Javante Williams will be the guy.
- [53:50]
B
Yeah. First shot.
- [53:51]
C
And Miles Sanders will be the change of pace player and then we'll see whether Jaden Blue plays at all. On all. He is clearly the most explosive. And they want to run the football. Brian Schottenheim broad. Brian Schottenheimer has made no mystery of the fact that they want to run the football a ton. They think it opens up play action. They think it makes them more balanced.
- [54:14]
A
Do they know they need good running backs to do that or.
- [54:16]
C
Well, they don't believe they need good running backs. Now maybe the Cowboys are contending that hey, last year nobody was talking about Rico Dowdle as some stellar back and he had over a thousand rushing yards last season. So is it possible that the Cowboys can run the football effectively? Yes. Am I dubious also? Yes. Because it feels like Javante Williams is just no longer the player that we hoped he would become both in college and during his rookie season as well. But is this going to end up being basically a trap backfield where nobody has value or is it one where Javante Williams maybe for a short period of time, four to six weeks is the guy and he ends up being being, you know, sort of that ideal RB3 on your roster.
- [54:55]
B
Yeah, I think this, and I think this applies in Jacksonville, among other backfields too, which is like might be a little bit of Justin Jefferson as a rookie in Minnesota the first week or two where it's like all right, we're going to just give the veterans their shot and go status quo. And then they're like, all right, let's give some of more explosive a shot like they did with Justin Jefferson in week three that year and maybe they will with Jaden Blue and basically Jacksonville and then suddenly these guys start making plays. It's like, okay, it's time to turn it over. And I'm not saying those guys are at that level, but the deployment of personnel might be similar to that. It might be a week or two of not much of the young guys.
- [55:30]
C
Yeah. The reason why I'm concerned about Jaden Blue is two things like the. To me, two of the areas that were most vulnerable during the pre draft process were one ball security was a huge problem. Yeah, huge problem. And what do coaches hate more than anything else?
- [55:42]
B
Bumbling.
- [55:44]
C
Number two, pass protection. He's a tiny guy. There's effort. It's just he's small. So those are the reasons why. Whereas Tutin, who's also a small guy has to hold onto the football as well. I thought he was maybe a slightly stronger pass protector. And in Jacksonville like I don't know, just feels like an offense where they're getting the ball out quick. Anyways, I'm sure to grasping for straws here but we'll see on Jaden Blue.
- [56:08]
A
Brian Schottenheimer, you just said wants to run the football. ESPN BET has Javante Williams regular season rushing line at 500 rushing yards. If they want to run the football that much. That feels like that line is way too low to me. You wouldn't risk it?
- [56:24]
B
I wouldn't risk it. I think there's just a chance he just doesn't hang on long enough if they he just does grind away to three and a half yards per carry and he's the starter most weeks of the season. He'll get there. He'll just chip away at it and get there. But I just wouldn't bet it. It's not like I'm hammering the under. I just wouldn't touch that one.
- [56:38]
A
Are you doing that because you are now an official ESPN bet?
- [56:41]
B
Yes.
- [56:42]
A
Sponsors. Is that a part of it?
- [56:43]
B
I looked at this one. I think we talked about it during the marathon because we did talked about Jaden Blue as a late round, late round flyer.
- [56:49]
A
500 rushing yards for a starting running back in the NFL is such a low number like the expectations feel like. That's unbelievable.
- [56:58]
B
Yeah, I'm not not doing any ESPN BET touchdown parlays with Javante Williams tonight.
- [57:03]
A
Not with this one.
- [57:04]
B
But yeah, running at we're gonna see more Jordan Davis this year apparently. So you know he's only played like a third of the snaps because the Eagles have been so stacked defensively. But they need him this year. So yeah Nonetheless, tough matchup.
- [57:14]
A
All right. The thing I'm watching in this game is the number of opportunities we're going to see George Pickens. We know what CD Lamb is going to be on the other side of the field, but obviously George Pickens has had an up and down career coming from the Pittsburgh Steelers and there is a lot of excitement as to what he can be in this Cowboys offense. Wanting to right a lot of the wrongs with where he started his career. A lot of volatility, not just in his play, but within. It seems like his attitude towards a lot of things on the field. Excited to be able to see him potentially in Dallas.
- [57:41]
C
I'm pumped, man, I'm pumped.
- [57:42]
A
And this is going to be be what I think is going to be a pass heavy offense. I mean, I would expect, like we've kind of talked about, Cowboys are probably going to trail a lot. And if that's going to happen, then it's not just CD Lamb that's going to get the football, it's going to be George Pickens. We drafted him to be someone that can be a substantial wide receiver too, potentially for our squad. And do we see those that excitement realized here in Week 1 against the Eagles?
- [58:04]
C
I tell you, part of the reason why, and I know the draft season is essentially over, but part of the reason why it was just so to me appealing to just snag two running backs or snag one of those elite tight ends or quarterbacks with like your first three round picks as you're sitting there and you're like, I can get George Pickens or Roma Dunes, a Jerry Judy or Teterro McMillan or all these wide receivers where they're not guarantees. This is not, this is not like drafting, you know, a CD Lamb or a Justin Jefferson type. But man, you're like, I could really see it with these guys between the talent they bring to the table, plus the situations that they have that they are playing within, man, it is. You just feel like you get such good value in those wide receivers around.
- [58:42]
A
6, 7 and 8, especially based on, and I don't know if we would officially call it this, but like to me that felt like the running back dead zone where it's like, why would I want to take one of these running backs here if I have all of these wide receivers that I think.
- [58:52]
B
Have so much potential value, like Tyrone Tracy or any of these receivers? Or that's like, how do you go running back in that scenario?
- [58:59]
C
Especially if it's a, like if it's 12 or larger it really matters to me.
- [59:02]
B
Yeah, yeah.
- [59:03]
A
Yep.
- [59:03]
C
10 team leagues. I'm, I'm sort of like, you know, YOLO. I'll find two running backs somehow.
- [59:08]
A
I am excited to see just in general what the entire passing game looks like. Hopefully Jake Ferguson gets some too as well. I mean, he just got a ton of money. We'll see. Again, with how thin the tight end position, what if Jake Ferguson establishes himself as someone in a past heavy offense?
- [59:20]
C
I think he's going to be boring and useful.
- [59:22]
A
Is that like Tucker Kraft last year, kind of like a boring, useful tight end.
- [59:25]
C
Tucker Kraft was a little more volatile. Like, I don't know that like Jake Ferguson to me feels like a decent bet for like 110 targets this year.
- [59:32]
B
Yeah, he'll be, he'll be busy and what, he had zero touchdowns last year, right? Naturally he'll score two tonight. Yes.
- [59:38]
A
That's it.
- [59:38]
C
Yeah, that would be interesting.
- [59:40]
B
I like that. Is that the, that's, that might be. That happens then we'll, we'll roll it back. By the way, I don't know, I don't want to jump the gun if you guys are going to bring this up tomorrow, but the new kickoff, the kickoff adjustment too, I think is going to be more impactful this year. Last year it wasn't as much as we thought, but this year I think it's going to be a little different with more return touchdowns and more. Some. We've seen some teams do like a line drive sort of squib kickoff too. I'm very curious to see what that looks like tonight. And you mentioned Turpin before. You know, he could be of X.
- [60:05]
C
Factor for those that don't know. Thank you so much for referencing. There were zero kickoffs returned in the super bowl this past season. Because the touchback line was the 30 yard line, they moved it up to the 35 yard line, which is, you know, if you get a return out to the 35, you're normally saying to yourself that's a great return. So honestly, those five extra yards make a, make a difference.
- [60:24]
A
If you start at the 35 and you get two first downs, you're basically in field goal range with today's NFL teams.
- [60:31]
B
Do not.
- [60:32]
C
Brandon Aubrey, correct?
- [60:33]
B
Yes. Yeah. Yeah. And so teams are just not going to boot it through the end zone anymore. It's too much Pen. They're going to make penalty. You have to make them return, return. And those game changing returners are going to be very, you know, fun to watch this year.
- [60:44]
A
Yes, they will. That'll be a Lot of fun. All right. Do you have a pick for this game?
- [60:49]
C
How about the Eagles?
- [60:50]
A
Yeah, I think so.
- [60:52]
B
Yeah. You know, Eagles awesome guys this off season.
- [60:57]
A
Can't even do it without a smile on his face.
- [60:59]
B
Step back defensively. Eagles 30, 22.
- [61:02]
A
Yeah. You think it's a 10.302 only eight point game. I think it's a double digit win by the Philadelphia Eagles.
- [61:07]
C
I think the Eagles start off hot. The emotion, the. The energy carries them early. The Cowboys come out flat. The Cowboys crawl back into this game. It's somewhat close, like mid to late third quarter. And then the Eagles end up finishing them off.
- [61:19]
B
Yeah, like the super bowl last year. Well, that was. That wasn't that close. I mean the. That game is over. And then Worthy scored the two touchdowns to make the score somewhat respectable. But it was 40 to 3 or something. Whatever it was, I swear though, if.
- [61:31]
A
This happens where we don't get a Saquon Barkley or we need at least one Saquon Barkley and one. Jalen hurts rushing touchdown down. Because if Will Shipley gets in the end zone, I'm going to lose my mind again.
- [61:41]
B
Yeah, I, I wouldn't. I'm not too worried about Shipley in this game. We didn't get many Kenny. Kenny Gainwell scores last year, right?
- [61:46]
A
We didn't.
- [61:46]
B
I. I'd say as usual, it's much like last year. Speaking of touchdown parlays like Saquon and Jalen hurts do the best bets in the entire NFL to score a touchdown. Hurts always undervalued in week one. Yeah, no doubt. Yeah.
- [61:59]
A
All right, that's going to do it for our game preview. Let's get a couple of mailbag questions, guys.
- [62:03]
C
So great.
- [62:04]
A
Head on over to our YouTube chat. If you don't usually head on over there, there's a lot to be able to ask questions. Like I said, our buddy Eric Moody is hanging out there. But we're going to take a couple of questions now from our chat. First one comes from Daniel Gilbert says Marvin Harrison or Travis Hunter for your wide receiver. Three. I got to go. Marvin Harrison Jr.
- [62:22]
B
Here. Of course.
- [62:22]
A
Yeah, I love Travis Hunter, but this is not someone that I'm ready to trust here in week one. I need to see a little bit more of the uncertainty with Travis Hunter is as big as any player in the NFL with us not knowing how they're going to deploy him, but then off.
- [62:36]
B
Plus if you start hunter here and McMillan does score a touchdown on Hunter.
- [62:41]
A
Then that should be negative six points.
- [62:42]
B
That's going to Be like double pain to watch that happen.
- [62:45]
A
Right. Every time that a touchdown is scored against Travis Hunter on defense, it should negatively count for fantasy. Exactly.
- [62:52]
C
They're going to be some people just like completely reaching for stuff. It's going to be hilarious.
- [62:56]
A
Yeah. Marvin Harrison Jr. Though, don't worry about last year. He's still a guy that. Absolutely. Especially against the Saints. We already talked about it.
- [63:02]
B
We hope.
- [63:02]
C
I'm telling you, we hope. We need. We pray.
- [63:04]
B
Yes.
- [63:05]
A
All right, we're going. We're going. Martin, Harrison Jr. With that question. All right, Next question we have from our chat comes from senior 56. I think I said it wrong.
- [63:17]
B
It's a 32 team.
- [63:18]
A
Need to start one of these.
- [63:19]
B
Oof.
- [63:19]
A
I don't like this at all. Ollie Gordon, Caleb Johnson or Bill Crosby Merritt. Which one has the best chance in week one?
- [63:27]
B
Well, I have an answer.
- [63:28]
A
You just talked about all of those rookie running backs, so one that actually.
- [63:31]
C
Plays would be nice. I'll take this. My answer is Ollie Gordon.
- [63:36]
B
Interesting.
- [63:36]
C
Really?
- [63:37]
B
Okay.
- [63:37]
C
Because I think there's a chance that he only has like six carries, but he told me he goes like six carries, 25 yards and a touchdown. I won't be surprised.
- [63:45]
B
Yeah, I mean, he might have this. He might have the safest path, like the safest floor to touches in week one because there's really no one else. It's going to be Jalen Wright.
- [63:54]
C
Yeah.
- [63:55]
B
Washington, Crosby, Merritt could be one of them shocking inactives this week. We don't know for sure. They have four tailbacks and he's listed fourth on the depth chart. We don't know for sure. Sure. And the other one was Caleb Johnson, which again, probably third on the depth chart there. And I don't know how many touches he's going to get. I would go Crossy Merit because I think he will be active and I think he will get some involvement and is, you know, and a guy that can be an explosive playmaker and emerges there and lead back pretty quickly in a good offense. So I'd give him the edge and I have it ranked as such. But it is a lottery for sure.
- [64:24]
A
Boy, I would, I guess, do I just say Caleb Johnson so that we can each take one of the three? Is that why it is?
- [64:30]
B
Why not sure.
- [64:31]
C
Yeah. We're going to be right.
- [64:31]
B
Two of the three.
- [64:32]
A
One of us is going to. Honestly, that's sort of what I'm thinking is like, although, you know, Jaylen Warren did just get a new contract. We're excited about him being able to get a little bit of extra money. So, yeah, I think I probably would go with Jakori Crosky, Merritt, who is the other. Other running back in that offense. Austin Eckler, Chris Rodriguez, Jacqui Cross. Who's the fourth?
- [64:48]
B
Jeremy McNichols.
- [64:49]
A
Oh, Jeremy McNichols. Which doesn't include Jaden Daniels, who's also a fantastic runner.
- [64:53]
C
So, yeah, I mean, Dan Quinn talked about this. And the kickoff has impact on not just guys getting potentially more return opportunities, but also it means you have to carry more core special teams players on your 47 man roster on Sundays because you need guys to cover kicks more frequently. Whereas last year you might be able to carry an extra running back or wide receiver who may not play on special teams because you just boot the ball out of the end zone and you worry about the defensive side of that equation, the 70 yards. You have to then just.
- [65:22]
A
Did you ever have to play special teams?
- [65:23]
C
That was pretty much the only thing.
- [65:24]
A
I could do was that terrifying running down the field, full speed, going.
- [65:27]
C
I was a long snapper, too, in college.
- [65:29]
A
No, you were not.
- [65:30]
C
Yeah, it was. Yeah, that was, like, probably where I got my most playing time. Again, there was extremely limited playing time, so.
- [65:35]
B
Wow, zap the football. Yeah.
- [65:37]
A
I had no idea you were long.
- [65:38]
C
Can I still do it?
- [65:39]
B
You still spin it a little bit?
- [65:40]
C
Yeah, yeah.
- [65:41]
A
Little bit.
- [65:42]
C
Like to say.
- [65:43]
A
I. I definitely.
- [65:44]
C
I feel I haven't tried it in years. I don't really have an occasion to try.
- [65:47]
A
Are you one of those guys that you could, like, put, like, a trash can behind and you could snap it from like 15 yards away into the trash can?
- [65:53]
C
No, but I do have a funny story.
- [65:55]
A
We'll be the judge of that.
- [65:56]
B
Yeah.
- [65:57]
C
So there's a gentleman named Lonnie Paxton. He was the Patriots long snapper for a while there. When the Patriots won their first Super Bowl, Adam Vinatieri kicked the ball with time as time expired. Lonnie Paxton famously went down to the end zone and started doing a snow angel in the end zone. The game was being played in New Orleans. Inside, there was no snow. Ha ha. He. He's a legend. Great guy. Absolute. He's just the man ended up going to Denver when Josh McDaniel's there. Got a bag. Great dude. Cali's finest. Love him. Training camp, back when I was working for the Pats way back in the day, you know, long snappers have a lot of time on their hands because there's sort of two or three periods in which they snap.
- [66:33]
B
Yep.
- [66:33]
C
And he was like, hey, field, he was like, I bet you 50 bucks that I can snap the ball into that trash can right over there that had sort of an exposure that was made maybe like an inch and a half on either side, thicker than a football would be. And I was like, sure, why not? What am I gotta lose? I'm 16 years old, right? 50 bucks the answer. So he, like, just misses it on the next one, on the first one. And he's like, all right, double or nothing. And I'm like, sure, go for it. 100 bucks.
- [66:57]
B
Mrs.
- [66:57]
C
It again. Like, just barely misses it. Like, this guy is throwing absolute, like, lasers but just missing. And he keeps going and keeps going and keeps going. And finally, he goes up to, like, 800 bucks, and he's just missing every single time.
- [67:09]
B
You're like, no, I'm done now. No more.
- [67:10]
A
Good. I'm out.
- [67:11]
C
I'm like, 16. I'm like, I'll take it. And I'm like, you know what? Screw it. And he's like, one more. And I'm like, all right, fine. What do I have to lose here? And then he hits it. He's like, all right, you want a chance for, like, you know, revenge? And I'm like, sure, whatever. So we finally get it down, and, like, he just starts drilling them one after one after one after one. He gets into his own. And I'm like, all right, fine. So he's like, well, listen, I still owe you 50 bucks, because that was the original bet, and I feel like I should pay it off to you. I'm like, okay, sweet. Sounds good. I walk into the locker room, like, a day later, and I see him and Adam Vinitage, Terry and the punter, Ken Walter. They just have rolls of pennies, and they're just unrolling pennies. And I get $50 worth of pennies, which is 5,000 pennies. I brought that box home. It sat in my bedroom for probably 15 years. I was like, what do I do with $50 worth of pennies? I guess go spend it, is the answer. But I didn't want to have to take the time to go reroll all of them. So shout out Lonnie Paxton. Shout out accurate long snappers. I was not one of them.
- [68:07]
A
That's amazing. You could. That sounds like a similar story to what I had.
- [68:10]
B
Yeah. Yeah, you could use those pennies. Yeah, we'll leave it there, I guess, right?
- [68:13]
A
Yeah, we'll save that for another day. But I had a similar story that's going to do it for us today. Make sure you come back tomorrow. We got part two of our preview. Diving into the rest of the games here in week one. But recap. That's right, we're going to recap Thursday Night Football. Have fun being able to watch Thursday Night Football. Make sure you set your lineup. Don't forget you got Thursday Night Football players. This is the first week that it starts. Don't forget to love each other, be kind to yourself. Have fun on Thursday Night Football and we'll see you guys tomorrow.
- [68:38]
C
Later.
- [68:38]
B
See you in the.
- [68:48]
A
Se.
- [68:53]
C
You've seen the headlines, heard the debates. The three point ball has created a monotonous rhythm to the the game.
- [68:58]
A
And others.
- [68:59]
B
Has the three pointer ruined basketball?
- [69:01]
C
And how did we get here? The rise of the three point shot can be partially traced to an eccentric Kansas genius named Martin Manley, whose story didn't turn out quite the way he imagined. I decided I wanted to have one.
- [69:14]
A
Of the most organized goodbyes in history.
- [69:16]
C
30 for 30 podcast presents Chasing Basketball Heaven. Available now wherever you get your podcasts.