
Week 7 MUST Starts of the Week + Key Injuries to Monitor
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Field Gates
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Daniel Dopp
Good friends. Welcome into Fantasy Focus, presented by Little Caesars. My name is Daniel Dopp. Alongside Field Gates and Mike Clay, we are here to give you a big Friday show. We got a Thursday Night Football recap of a Thursday night game. Also, we got our week seven preview part two, as we always do, and we're going to get into our starts of the week as usual. But first and foremost, honestly, we're starting a little bit late here. We had some technical difficulties here at the mothership, so we're going to dive right into football. Because there's one thing that I noticed from yesterday, it's that Joe Flacco understood the assignment.
Field Gates
Damn right he did.
Daniel Dopp
That was one like, that was my big takeaway. How about we just pepper our superstars with the football over and over? Chase got 38.1 fantasy points.
Mike Clay
That seems like a lot.
Daniel Dopp
T. Higgins had 21.6. This was everything that we were looking for from a passing game perspective. It felt like with Joe Flacco under center field.
Field Gates
Mike, you ready to give him some respect or no?
Mike Clay
Yeah. I tweeted out hashtag elite last night. So I gave him the respect.
Field Gates
One of us in this podcast, one of us has been a very fervent Joe Flacco backer for quite some time now, as a matter of fact, like, one of us picked the Bengals to win yesterday. So 3331. Hello. Thank you very much. You're welcome. It was actually amazing because there was a play. So Jamar Chase had a catch in the end zone that was initially ruled a touchdown and it was very clearly a drop. He didn't complete the process of a catch. And you're thinking to yourself, like, that's frustrating. On the very next play, Flacco right back to Jamar Chase on a great touchdown catch. He ends up with 16 catches for 161 yards and a touchdown. Did Jamar Chase. And it felt like the Bengals running five plays last night, one of which was Joe Flacco in the Shotgun. Jamar Chase just running like a 15 yard out route on Jalen Ramsey and just keep throwing him the football on that exact same route over and over and over again. So the hope when they traded for Joe Flacco was that there was a chance, maybe not a great chance, maybe not a perfect chance, but a chance that he could resuscitate the value of Jamar Chase. Two games with Jamar Chase, the first one, as we discussed yesterday, pretty much all garbage time for that 10 catch, 95 yard, one touchdown game. They were down 10 nothing last night and Jamar Chase did score a touchdown. 10 nothing. But in a game in which they had the lead for a lot of it, Jamar Chase went for his second best game of the year. He is back.
Daniel Dopp
How many targets did he end up having in this?
Field Gates
23.
Daniel Dopp
23 targets.
Field Gates
Third most in a game ever.
Mike Clay
A lot of guys want to have that this season. It's just an incredible number.
Field Gates
So Derek Henry over, under 23 targets this season?
Mike Clay
Yeah, probably. Probably under at this point. It'll be close to it. Yeah. Look, you guys give me a hard time all the time for, you know, not liking the older players, right? Well, the younger quarterback got it done last night.
Field Gates
That's a good point. That's a good point.
Mike Clay
You know, youth is important. It is. The younger quarterback both got the W. So yeah, it was, it was incredible. I think that a lot of times throughout that game I wasn't thinking like, man, Joe Flacco is like doing something extraordinary. A lot of times I was thinking, what are the Steelers doing? Like, yes, the running lanes for Jazz. We'll get to Chase. Brown were wide open. Yep. Guys were. The wide receivers were wide open. I mean, there was times where the Browns needed, the Bengals needed to get the ball to the sideline to get out of bounds and they weren't even covering the sideline. It was just easy. It was just easy for them. I. So I think there is obviously the Bengals offense and the fantasy impact on their school guys is the top story. But also like we've got a, you know, shake our heads a little bit about the Steelers defense moving forward because that was wild.
Daniel Dopp
I really felt like. And you said they basically called five plays last night. Yeah, I like watching the Bengals was like watching me play Madden against a team that I know that's better than me. I'm going to keep running the same five plays over and over. And sooner or later in Madden, the defense figures it out and they adjust. Steelers didn't figure it out. They just were they were able to. Bengals just kept doing the same thing over and over last night.
Field Gates
23 targets.
Daniel Dopp
Unbelievable.
Field Gates
Jamar Chase was incredible last night. Joe Flacco, in case you did start him in a super flex league, which this guy had to and I did.
Daniel Dopp
No way.
Field Gates
Yeah. I guess our buddy Damian in our dynasty league. Lamar for me this week. And my four quarterbacks are Lamar, Joe Flacco, Aaron Rodgers and Mac Jones who Mack might start on Sunday night. But I didn't know you started both. So I started both of the old men last night and I ended up with like almost 50 points combined between those two. So they took care of business. Chase Brown was good last night. He had 11 carries for 108 yards, nearly 10 yards of pop for Chase Brown. He had yet to have a 20 yard rush this season. He had multiple last night. So he looked great as well. Much more like the player that we drafted in the second round in a lot of leagues this year. And the Steelers, other than DK Metcalf were actually kind of to expectation. Right. Galen Warren was excellent last night. 137 total yards for Galen Warren. Rogers was a potential streaming option for some people. He had nearly 23 fantasy points. So all the rounds. Like a lot of fantasy points in a game that we thought might be much more of a grind it out AFC north type type of game.
Mike Clay
Yeah. Let me talk about these running backs. More snaps. We talked about, we talked yesterday about how the gap was closing.446. It was 4527 in favor of Chase Brown.
Field Gates
That was last week.
Mike Clay
Yeah. So the gap widened a little bit in this game. Chase Brown was playing a little bit better. Um, I'm. I do wonder if this is something that's going to be sustainable. He only had 11 carries and he's been hanging around that number. Did have big running lanes to work through. Played pretty well.
Daniel Dopp
But he.
Mike Clay
Guys, he had negative 8 yards and 4 targets in this game. He is now averaging 13.4 receiving yards per game. That's less than half of what he averaged when he was the lead back last season. So a little worried about overall volume for him still and I wonder if this is going to be sustainable going forward. As for Jalen Warren, now 13 plus fantasy points and four of five games this season. At least 59 yards in every game. If we ignore Week 6 when he came back from injury and played just about half the snaps, he has 18 plus touches and three straight now. So yeah, he's found his way into that fringe RB1 conversation and I'm I'm more confident in him than I am Chase Brown. Despite the fact that it seemed like Brown was a little flashier last night. But weren't just got the job done play after play and had a long touchdown taken away on penalties. Yeah, yeah.
Field Gates
On a holding call on Zach Frazier, the center. Warren has just been. I would say he has punched above the expected weight that I had for him as a lead rusher. You know, the Steelers have been very judicious over the past few years. Obviously Najee Harris has been the bigger workhorse for them. And I thought maybe part of the calculus there was. Warren's just not the kind of guy that you really want to be rushing 15 to 20 times per game. He has proved me wrong. Perhaps proved the Steelers wrong as well. He has been excellent for them.
Mike Clay
Well, they remember they did draft Caleb Johnson so he assumed he would step into that role. But it became pretty apparent in August that wasn't going to be the case. And then it was like, okay, we have to recalibrate our opinion on this backfield. It's probably going to be the Warren show. And here we are.
Daniel Dopp
DK Metcalf had five targets again guys. Remember how I came in saying is the production going to be able to keep up with the volume touchdown dependent this week? It's not ways about it. Yeah. And you know who caught all the touchdowns in this freaking game? All the tight ends. Pat Friermuth had two and then you had John Smith that had one and Darnell Washington found the end zone. Are there no offenses know how to do anything? Yes, yes. Other than utilize tight ends for us in fantasy football immediately googles who are the Titans?
Mike Clay
No, he doesn't know how to. You know, he spreads it all out amongst the four tight ends.
Daniel Dopp
You're right.
Mike Clay
Actually when he had Connor Hayward at an end zone target like he. It's not helpful for us. It doesn't help us.
Daniel Dopp
You're right.
Mike Clay
If he did it to one or maybe two, it could be helpful, but this is not helpful.
Field Gates
Did you see the play last night where the Steelers threw? It wasn't like a fade in the end zone, but it was sort of like a fade down the left sideline to Darnell Washington. Yes. And Rodgers just kind of floated it up there and it was still like 7 yards past where Darnell Washington was like he is probably the best blocking tight end of the NFL. I don't think I'm scheming up to any more fade unless they're from the one yard line.
Mike Clay
As someone who Started three Steelers against you in the FF now league. I was furious about some of those putting DK Metcalf.
Daniel Dopp
So he's huge, though, when you just watch him on the field, some of the cornerbacks, he's. He's gigantic. It's very fun.
Mike Clay
That applies to Metcalf and Washington.
Daniel Dopp
Any other big takeaways as we move forward from this Thursday Night Football game?
Field Gates
Who is winning the AFC north this year?
Mike Clay
Nobody.
Daniel Dopp
No one is winning it.
Mike Clay
I think the Ravens.
Field Gates
I'm curious with the number. I was thinking about figuring that out. Has the number adjusted since last night? I'm sure it has.
Mike Clay
It's plus something. Mo. I don't know what that number is.
Field Gates
You know, so there was a part of me yesterday that picked the Bengals. And like, just to sort of not agree with you guys, I also picked them because this is what the Steelers do. They play with their food and they just find ways to not win games they should win. Sometimes they win games they shouldn't win, in my opinion. But this was a classic Steelers letdown game. So the Steelers still up in the division. They're 4 and 2. The Bengals are 3 and 4. That being said, Cincinnati next two weeks playing at home. I believe it's the jets and the Bears the next two weeks for Cincy before they're by.
Mike Clay
How about the Steelers next game?
Field Gates
I don't know who that is.
Mike Clay
Sunday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers.
Daniel Dopp
Rogers.
Mike Clay
Yeah. So that's going to be fun. Next Sunday. That'll be a fun.
Field Gates
They'll probably win that game because it feels like they should have been.
Mike Clay
Yes. Yeah. Roger. But this is two weeks in a row, by the way, where the opposing, like the losing head coach. And even in this case I'll include Aaron Rodgers. Just like kind of stunned about what was happening, you know, like Sean McVeigh. Same thing. That whole game it was just like he's like, how. How are we not dominating here? And I felt like the Steelers were the same way. Rodgers would get them down the field, score touchdown, and then the defense would just let him go right back. And he's just like, man, how are we still down 10 points?
Daniel Dopp
We can't keep up.
Mike Clay
And it doesn't check out. It just doesn't make sense. But that's the fun of the NFL.
Field Gates
Last thought before we get into our previews. I know Rogers told Pat McAfee, Whatever it was three, four months ago, like, this is probably, probably his last season. He's playing like a guy that could keep going, that's for sure. And you can't tell me. I mean, there's he's got to be in the. I'd say somewhere around like the 20th best quarterback right now in the NFL, maybe a little bit lower than that. But he's not like a bot. This is not a bottom five quarterback who's definitely not just because there are 32 jobs available and not 32 qualified starters.
Daniel Dopp
I agree with you on that 100%. I just want to give Mike that.
Field Gates
Might be better than that. I got to look at that closely.
Daniel Dopp
But I want to give Mike just a little bit of love, just a tiny bit. Because you did talk about how DK Metcalf was going to get a little bit of a shadow here. We end up seeing the guy that shattered him come down with a sick interception in the game. So I just want to give you a little bit of props on that one.
Mike Clay
He did a good job on him. He. That's part of why he Metcalf was not the first read often because he was just glued to Jay Turner, who's quickly emerged as one of the league's better shadow corners. So we'll be talking about him more going forward.
Daniel Dopp
All right, let's dive into our week seven preview Part two. Check out yesterday's show if you want to have part one of our Week seven preview field. I'm going to let you lead us off here. What's your first topic?
Field Gates
Is Jackson Dart a top 12 fantasy quarterback?
Daniel Dopp
Oh, this week against Denver.
Mike Clay
No.
Field Gates
Tell you what, this is the week, though, where he either puts himself into that conversation or he comes back down to earth a little bit. He has now started three games, has Jackson Dart. He's quarterback nine over those three games with just over 59 fantasy points. 19.67 fantasy points per game so far for Jackson Dart in his three starts. Why? Mostly because they are running the football a lot with Jackson Dart. That is a cheat code in fantasy. But as Daniel Dopp reminded us very clearly last Friday at this time, the Broncos have a problem with opposing running quarterbacks.
Daniel Dopp
You weren't here on Friday. You guys were. You guys were out at the game. So we did the Thursday, I think.
Field Gates
Didn't they say that to Liz?
Mike Clay
Oh, no.
Daniel Dopp
I thought. I think I said it to you guys. It doesn't matter either way.
Mike Clay
Talked about it. Whatever.
Field Gates
Okay. As Daniel remind us last Thursday the Broncos have a problem with opposing running quarterbacks. Is in. They don't like them very much and they mitigate their rushing in a very. Yep. Notable way, including 31 rushing yards last week for Justin Fields, probably a top five, at worst rushing quarterback in the entire NFL. So if Jackson Dart is not able to run as effectively this week, then it definitely puts a ceiling on his fantasy value. He is not Inside My top 12 for fantasy quarterbacks this week. I am very excited for this game because have you guys seen all the trash talking these two teams are doing on social media right now?
Daniel Dopp
I have not.
Mike Clay
I have not seen it.
Field Gates
I don't know exactly who started it. I know that Nick Bonito started or tweeted and then deleted something, which I'm like, dude, you might be the best defensive player in the NFL. You can tweet whatever you want right now. Abdul Carter's gotten in on the mix. Like, a lot of guys are chiming Kayvon Thibodeau. A lot of. There's no love lost between these two teams right now. They don't wait for this game. But I've got Dart not in my top 12 recording.
Daniel Dopp
Do they have bad blood between each other?
Field Gates
I don't think. I think it's probably a classic. The Giants are starting to play a little bit better. This is a good test. So, yeah, I don't exactly know the roots of the beef, but, um, I think the Broncos do win this game. Kind of ugly, but I don't have Jackson Dart as a top 12.
Mike Clay
Can I give you a nugget, too? On Jackson Dart, I just wanted to show a little, little history here on what he's been doing as a rusher, and it's not sustainable. He's 55 plus rushing yards in three straight games in the last decade. Fellas, There are only 11 instances of a quarterback with 50 plus rushing yards in four straight games. I'm going to go with Lamar 8. Lamar. Lamar is six of them. The other ones are Fields Hertz, Cam Newton, Josh Allen, Kyler Murray. So, yeah, that checks out. Jackson Dart may be a plus rusher, but for him to keep doing the level he's been doing, it is not sustainable. It's just not going to happen.
Daniel Dopp
If he gets 55 plus rushing yards in this game, he will have more rushing yards than every quarterback that has played the Denver Broncos so far this year combined. Yes. And at that point, I think we would be saying, okay, if he can do this against the Broncos, he probably is a top 12 quarterback because of what he can do with his.
Mike Clay
You guys realize The Broncos have 10 more sacks than any other team this year?
Field Gates
Yeah, they're on pace for incredible 85.
Mike Clay
They have 30 and the next 25.
Field Gates
Yeah.
Mike Clay
Unbelievable. Wow. Yeah.
Field Gates
Insane.
Daniel Dopp
Wow. All right, Mike, where are you going with this next one?
Mike Clay
First one for me, fellas, is tight ends. I feel like this is becoming a weekly.
Field Gates
We're going to have to play the game where we say stop.
Mike Clay
No, we're not going to do that. We're just going to talk about it. Stops.
Daniel Dopp
Stop. Yeah.
Mike Clay
Okay. All right, I'm done. Then you move on. I'm done.
Field Gates
All right, Dan, your first thought.
Daniel Dopp
All right, one of the things I'm going to talk about is.
Mike Clay
Go ahead, go ahead, go ahead. All right, we're going to talk about three tight ends. We're going to start with Michael Mayer here. So Mayer in Week 6, paced the Raiders with seven targets, played career high, 91.2% of the snaps. I had to. I had to go to the decimal place because there was one where he was 91.1 rookie year. It was a close one.
Field Gates
He got there.
Mike Clay
He got. He got over the top. Checks out 50 yards and a touchdown on five catches at 16 fantasy points, also career high. They're playing the Chiefs, which if you're setting your lineup, it might look like a tough matchup, but they just haven't faced much tight end volume. So I'm not really worried about that. They've allowed an 88% catch rate tight ends this season. So Michael Meyer. Michael Meyer.
Field Gates
I think it's appropriate during the month of October. Michael Myers, we're going to call him that. Michael Meyer.
Mike Clay
Yeah. He is a startable tight end. We all have him ranked as a. As a fringe streaming option. So if you need a tight end, you're Brock Bowers guy. You might need him. So, Mayor, I have a tight end.
Field Gates
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Mike Clay
Next one Dallas Goddard I think is.
Field Gates
Worth 26 fantasy points last week.
Mike Clay
Yes, he is a very interesting conversation. I have him six this week. I think he's going to be fine In a game where you know Minnesota's they've let three touchdowns to tight end so far, six most yards like they, you know, tight ends haven't had trouble against them. But the more interesting conversation is, is, is this sustainable for Goddard going forward? What what he's doing so already matched a career high with five touchdowns this season. Leads the Eagles with 20 targets over the last two weeks. Which is why you know, we feel comfortable at least starting him. But he has one end zone target and his expected touchdown total, remember he's five touchdowns is 2.1 which is suggests that's not going to Continue. He's cleared 45 yards in one game so far this season. But again he has a 23% target share and a good offense for the most part. So I think we're still starting him run that back.
Field Gates
In a what offense.
Daniel Dopp
It's a good offense in an, in an off. In an offense, in an NFL offense.
Mike Clay
It'S still, it might not be as elite as last year but it's still a good offense.
Daniel Dopp
I don't know.
Mike Clay
Yeah, I trust they will rebound but I think that Goddard as a set it and forget it lineup lock tight end going forward might not sustain itself but for this week we're going to keep starting him.
Daniel Dopp
He's been in that touchdown dependent range. Right. He's had four touchdowns and four, five touchdowns in four weeks.
Mike Clay
Yes. Yeah.
Daniel Dopp
So like game too.
Mike Clay
Yeah, he missed the game.
Daniel Dopp
That's unbelievable.
Mike Clay
Yeah. So he's been he's been odd. So again we're starting him this week, but again, something to keep an eye on. If he's your tight end one right now, don't put all your eggs in that basket. I think he's going to return to earth pretty, pretty soon. Last one, guys, is a guy going the other direction. Juan Johnson. Weeks one through three. Exactly. Weeks one through three, he was the number two scoring fantasy tight end. Had a 28 targets, a 24% target share. Last three games, he's 39th in fantasy points. He has a total of nine targets. That's an 11% share. Has zero touchdowns on seven catches during the span. Guys, he's never finished a season with a target share above 14%. So you have to think he's going to come back to earth here as he has the last few weeks. You also have Taysom Hill, who's really a running back at this point but takes away opportunities from the other guys, and of course, Foster Moreau, who always gets a handful of targets as well. The matchup this week, Chicago. I mean, I don't think he can be anywhere near lineups. I mean, I dropped them in a couple of leagues, so just kind of a note here. This guy was a tight end one, but if you felt like through week three, I have my starter now. That's long gone. That's long gone.
Daniel Dopp
Agreed. I am with you on that, unfortunately. All right, I'm going to dive into a couple more pass catchers here. I'm going to talk about some wide receivers, though, because I want to talk about the Chargers taking on the Colts this week.
Field Gates
Okay.
Daniel Dopp
Quinton Johnson was limited in practice on Wednesday, ended up practicing him full on Thursday. Seems like he's going to be a full go, so not worried about there. But he's ranked lower than he was before the dud that he had last week. I want to ask you guys kind of a little bit about how we're looking at this Chargers wide receiving core. Again, started out super hot, right? Had at least 14.9 fantasy points in each of his first four games. Had a touchdown, four touchdowns in each of his first four games. Week five was a dud, unfortunately. Four for 40. Very costly fumble in that game against the Commanders, too, which was really tough. And then he missed Week 6 because of a hamstring injury. And we all remember what happened in week six because we talked about it nonstop. Is this a week that lad McConkey can come out and finally kind of like re reinvigorate the things that he can do inside this offense, yes. Nine targets, seven catches, 100 yards and a touchdown. 23 fantasy points. So now they take on the Colts. Colts have allowed the fourth most fantasy points to wide receivers, but that's like, a little bit deceiving because while they've allowed the fourth most, only three guys have scored more than 14 fantasy points. It's just like a lot of. Yeah, they're spreading around a lot. A lot of guys with like, low teams, like low double digits or high single digits. There's not been like a boom game against them. So Mike infamously asked us the question, where are you at on how you're ranking these Chargers wide receivers? Coming out of a dud from Quinton Johnston and then a week in which he missed and lad McConkey had a really nice game. Quinton Johnston, outside our top 15 for the first time in quite a while. How are you guys approaching the Chargers wide receivers this week?
Field Gates
So we get to again, once again, like, draft them 1, 2, 3, basically.
Daniel Dopp
Is kind of what I'm saying. Have they. Has that order changed from the last time we had the conversation?
Field Gates
Quinton Johnston, lad McConkey. Keenan Allen.
Mike Clay
Agreed. Okay, that's it. The only switch for me is the last two.
Daniel Dopp
Okay.
Mike Clay
I'm moving Lad. I feel like with Alan cooling a little bit and Ladd getting heating up last week and also, you know, liking our tweet, which obviously motivation motivated him. Yeah. To leap over Keenan Allen to go. Yeah, for me, it's still Johnson one. I think he has the. I think it's a real deal connection with Justin Herbert.
Field Gates
And Herbert, which is, you know, the. Just the explosive plays.
Daniel Dopp
If he.
Field Gates
If he turns four catches into 80 yards, that's possible.
Mike Clay
It's not like he's just leading in air yards. He's leading in targets too. Like, he's general. He's the top target, so. And again, not to mention a goal line option as well. So I think Ladd and Keenan are close, but I would now go Ladd.
Field Gates
It's also possible that where this actually nets out throughout the course of the year is there are now, what, 12 weeks left. Yep. It's possible that, like, QJ leads them in receiving yards five times, lad does it four times and Keenan does it three times. And it's like they're very close. And the reality is not that one deserves to be way ahead of the other two, but instead they're all three, like, pretty close to usable every single week.
Mike Clay
Yeah. My lowest ranked one is 21st with Allen, so I'm starting three guys especially in a game that we expect them to throw more. What we need from them though. So you need to score more touchdowns. They're not scoring touchdowns.
Daniel Dopp
Gotta find the end zone.
Mike Clay
One of four teams that haven't cleared two touchdowns in a game since week one.
Field Gates
Wow.
Mike Clay
So that's not two or fewer in every game.
Field Gates
No offensive tackles. Turn that around. Touchdowns calculus right now.
Mike Clay
And they're using a Ronda Gadsden more as a pass catcher. They got to score more to keep these guys up here.
Daniel Dopp
All three of those wide receivers just heading into week seven. ESPN consensus. QJ is at wide receiver 15, LAD is at wide receiver 20 and Keenan is at wide receiver 25. So all three, I think are in play this week.
Field Gates
25 receivers?
Daniel Dopp
Yep. All right. Field, where you going?
Field Gates
We fully expect Puka Nkua to be out. The Rams do travel tonight from Baltimore. They're still in Baltimore. They've been practicing at Camden Yards all week, which is the home of the Baltimore Orioles. They leave for London tonight. Is there any other Ram not named Devonte Adams that you would want to start this weekend? Any other London game? 9:30, of course. Against the Jaguars.
Daniel Dopp
Sure. I'll take Kyron Williams. Mike, who are you going to do.
Mike Clay
Yeah, Kyron Williams.
Daniel Dopp
No, I already took Kyron Williams. Mike, you got to pick a different one.
Mike Clay
I think if you're looking for a obviously Kanata Mumfield.
Field Gates
Oh, of course, let me.
Mike Clay
But I honestly, it looks like Tutu Outwell's clear to go, so I mean he's your. He's like your 12 team league flex option. I think that's probably it.
Daniel Dopp
Yeah.
Field Gates
Jordan Whittington is a name that I think is at least worth mentioning as well. Now last season there were three games which no Cooper cup and no Puka Nuku. Different dynamic here. There's no Puka Nukua, but Devonte Adams will play in those three games. Jordan Whittington went seven catches for 89 yards on 10 targets, six catches for 62 yards on eight targets and three catches for 28 yards on three targets. He did not score a touchdown in any of those three games. Worth noting that last week, Puka, of course, gets hurt relatively early in the game. And Whittington goes from playing a lot, which is 62% of the snaps this season, to playing 92% of the snaps last week. So he became a full time player. His target share last week for Whittington was 15.4% in the absence of Puka Nukua for much of that game. So I'm not sure that I can confidently start he or Tutu Atwell. But we are giving you names in case you're either in the DFS world or playing in a deeper league and you're like I am screwed because you could have Puka Nukua plus you could have Josh Allen and a couple of Ravens and Bills on by this week.
Daniel Dopp
You know how every coach just seems to have like an affinity for a guy you just don't understand. Yeah. Tutu Atwell is that guy for me for Sean McVay because I feel like Sean talks about him a bunch and then he doesn't really ever get utilized within this offense in a major league.
Mike Clay
Yeah, they've I you know obviously I've been tracking this cause I fill out like the top three receivers in the in the cheat the wide receiver corner cheat sheet. They basically were rotating Atwell and Whittington between that three jobs. One way could be it would be Whittington next week it would be at. Well it's been back and forth. I think what's going to happen here is you're going to see a rotation of all those guys including Mumfield, Xavier Smith. All those guys are going to kind of rotate in to that number two and three job this week. So like it? We'll see.
Daniel Dopp
All right. Sounds like we only like Devonte Adams and Kyro if we can help it there.
Field Gates
You can avoid the Rams. You would if you are desperate. We mentioned two names for you.
Mike Clay
I'm at 14 on Stafford so I mean maybe in a 12 team league you're streaming them and I think I.
Field Gates
Was thinking more from the pass catchers part.
Mike Clay
No, I agree. I just wanted to make sure we added that in there.
Daniel Dopp
All right Mike, give us your second topic.
Mike Clay
All right, second topic for me guys is how back he's back a little bit. How back is Brian Thomas Jr. And we did talk about this I believe on Wednesday but I think he is an interesting topic for sure. Seattle last week which is A good defense, 8 for 90 and a touchdown, 23 fantasy points is most since week 17 of last season. His prior season high this year was 12 so he goes from 12 all the way up to 23. A big leap for him. Again I mentioned this the other day but his playing time, his target share haven't really changed but his catch rate that's gone from 28% the first three games all the way up to 74% the last three weeks. The Rams have been good against the past fourth lowest EPA so it is a tough defense. But Brian Thomas is a guy you feel more comfortable starting. That connection has improved with Trevor Lawrence. He's still a I, I, I take more targets. Like the target share could be a little higher. It's kind of capped at like 24%. Let's get that number a little higher. But for now, he's at least a fringe wide receiver too.
Daniel Dopp
Feels like you have to continue to trust him after what you saw last week. It'd be tough for me to bench Brian Thomas Jr. Right now.
Mike Clay
But in 10 team leagues you were certainly considering that you did there. Were considering if you were in a year, if you drafted well. But now I think you feel more comfortable putting him in there.
Field Gates
By the way, Liam Cohen noted this week and I forget exactly the platform. It might have just been. It might have been on one of his press conferences. It might have been a radio spot or something where he said we need to get Travis Hunter more opportunities. First look opportunities as well. Someone track this. He's been saying a lot of these things for like months now and they have yet to actually bear fruit. So the idea of Travis Hunter maybe taking on a more prominent role does not make me feel any different about BTC because I'll believe it when I see it.
Mike Clay
That affects some other guys. Parker Washington and Diami Brown. It won't affect Brian Thomas. I don't think there's plenty of room. Better not for both of those guys. Not to mention Brenton Strange is still out. So they need to. I can see them following through with that and getting Hunter the ball a little bit more. But again it won't.
Field Gates
My focus team needs it. My focus team is invested in Brian Thomas Jr. We're on the comeback trail right now. People do not call it a comeback when I win the whole dang thing.
Mike Clay
We'll see, sir. I guess would love it though if.
Daniel Dopp
Somebody could go out and just aggregate what coaches are saying and tell us whether or not they're accurate or not accurate or that'd be a thing.
Field Gates
Hat tip, Coach.
Daniel Dopp
Beacon deck.
Field Gates
Thank you. Yeah, very valuable tool.
Daniel Dopp
All right, my second topic. Harold Fannin Jr. And his outlook against the Dolphins. I bring this up because David and Joku has not practiced yet this week. Missed practice. Feels like we're not going to have David and Joku, unfortunately. Which if you've got Harold Fannin is not an unfortunately. You're actually feeling pretty pumped about it. Last week, Harold Fannin 10 targets seven catches for 81 yards and that was against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Obviously.
Mike Clay
He.
Daniel Dopp
I said this on Tuesday already. So I'm sorry field, you're going to hear a lot of this over again. But as a part of the waiver ad I said this guy that you need to add off of waivers, he was roster in under 50% of leagues and you look at what he's done so far, he's been the best pass catcher in Cleveland, which is crazy low.
Mike Clay
Bar to clear but yes, yes, exactly.
Daniel Dopp
Leads all Browns wide receivers and tight ends and receptions, receiving yards and fantasy points second on the team and target behind only Jerry Judy. Dolphins have allowed the fourth most receiving yards to tight ends this season. Fannin was already tight end 8. Like even with David and Joku being projected. Have you officially pulled in Joku out of the projection?
Mike Clay
I have not but I will later today. I wanted to see if he practiced today just because I would love to notice are kind of unique. Sometimes these veterans will not practice and then get a limited Friday and play. So I kind of, you know, kind of use instincts on this kind of stuff. So we'll see today. But it's kind of interesting because how high does he go?
Daniel Dopp
Right?
Mike Clay
How does he.
Daniel Dopp
We've already got him at tight end day. I think most of us now with how Njoku has been limited to start the practice, we've actually moved fan in ahead of David and Joku even though Njoku is also still in the top 10. But if where do you go from tight end 8, I think maybe he's tight end 5. He's a must start either way, especially if there's no David and Joku. Harold Fannin is a must start right now.
Mike Clay
Yeah, you have McBride, Ferguson, Kittle back Porter, Tyler, Warren and then that's probably like Dallas Goddard's next. So at that point Kelsey it's in that team going to project high though.
Daniel Dopp
Yes, agree.
Field Gates
Worth noting just in case. I mean we'll talk about this more on Sunday for sure because we'll actually have a better look at it. But feels like the first real weather alert game of the season. It's lake effect stuff coming to Cleveland, which is what happens in Cleveland by the way. But high, high winds, lots of rain. Probably a bit more concerned about the Dolphins offense and the Browns offense because the Dolphins offense does actually stretch the field. The Browns are going to run the football a ton and a lot of short area work for Harold Fannin Jr. Yeah.
Mike Clay
What's the line at ESPN BET for Quinshon? Judkins carries.
Daniel Dopp
Ooh, how many of them?
Mike Clay
20S at this point. Right.
Daniel Dopp
So that'd be interesting. All right, Phil, give Me your third topic, my friend.
Field Gates
All right. Pending the health of Juwan Jennings and Ricky Piersoll, it's Kendrick Bourne on the radar. I want to throw this one out there to check because I've done this previously. I think that Ricky Piersol with Back to back DNPs is unlikely to play on Sunday. Still working on that knee injury is Ricky Piersol. But Juwan Jennings practiced in limited capacity Wednesday and Thursday. I suspect that Juwan Jennings is going to play. Mike mentioned that George Kittle declared himself back for this week. He fully expects to play. How high does Kendrick Bourne deserve to be ranked over the past two weeks? Kendrick Bourne in Week 5, 11 targets, 10 catches, 142 yards, good for 24.2 fantasy points. And he ran a route on 82% of the team's dropbacks. Week 6, five catches on nine targets for 142 yards, 19.2 fantasy points, and he ran a route on 83% of the team's dropbacks. He has a chemistry with Mac Jones. Feels like Mac Jones has a chance to start this upcoming weekend. Bad matchup, though. Atlanta has been really good, as we have seen against pretty much every team so far this season. Not named the Carolina Panthers.
Mike Clay
Yeah. Can I ask you a trivia question based on that? Yeah. How many receivers have reached 11.5 fantasy points against Falcons this season?
Daniel Dopp
I'm going to say 3.
Mike Clay
2. Split the difference. 2. So far they have been very good.
Field Gates
Against that position, they've been excellent. So is he on the radar? And I think we can agree he's on the radar. Mike has removed Ricky Piersol from the projections. All right, Chat. Ready for this one for a little vote scheme.
Mike Clay
Here we go.
Field Gates
All right. In the war room league, my flex considerations, normally it would be so I have Nico Collins and Roma Dunes as my two wide receivers.
Mike Clay
Those are pretty good.
Field Gates
Almost always starting. My next receiver will be Xavier Worthy. Worthy Or Bourne Worthy or Kendrick Bourne. Listen, you dismiss it, but let's just.
Daniel Dopp
Okay.
Field Gates
Let's see what Chad has to say. I'm just curious. I'm just curious what Chad is saying.
Mike Clay
Is I supposed to save my vote?
Daniel Dopp
Is there, like a concern with, like, Rashee Rice coming back? He kind of had a down week last week.
Field Gates
Two catches last week. I'm just, you know, I'm throwing it out there. Kendrick Bourne's been the man in that 49ers offense.
Mike Clay
He has been.
Field Gates
What does Chad think via vote? Kendrick Foreigner, Xavier Worthy out here.
Daniel Dopp
Great. Mornings sound a little different.
Field Gates
It's the season when your pets and.
Daniel Dopp
Animals all need a little more and.
Field Gates
We'Re here to help you do it for less. Tractor supply for life out here.
Daniel Dopp
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.
Field Gates
Send event invites and pin messages so no one forgets mom's 60th and never.
Mike Clay
Miss a meme or milestone.
Daniel Dopp
All protected with end to end encryption.
Field Gates
It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone. Learn more at WhatsApp.com it's the Smuckers Uncrustables podcast with your host Uncrustables.
Daniel Dopp
Okay, today's guest is rough around the edges. Please welcome crust. Thanks for having me. Today's topic.
Mike Clay
He's round with soft pillowy bread. Hey.
Daniel Dopp
Filled with delicious PB and J. Are you talking about yourself?
Mike Clay
And you can take them anywhere.
Field Gates
Why'd you invite and we are out of time. Are you really cutting me off?
Daniel Dopp
Uncrustables are the best part of the sandwich.
Field Gates
Sorry crust. Anyways, how high do you guys have born ranked right now?
Mike Clay
Now after removing Thursday night, I gotta be end of the 30. So it's gotta be. I'm a 35.
Field Gates
35. End of the 30. Okay. He'll be higher for me than that. I'll be top 30 for me.
Daniel Dopp
Wow. Top 30.
Field Gates
You'll be top 30 for me.
Mike Clay
Yes.
Daniel Dopp
Wow. Okay. I have met 42, but that's because I haven't adjusted him since the. You put took Pierce all out of the rank.
Field Gates
Doesn't care about the job.
Mike Clay
Wow.
Daniel Dopp
Let's dive into some of the. Let's talk about the injury report here in week seven.
Field Gates
All right. What do you got?
Daniel Dopp
Got a handful of things here. You guys already talked about a bunch of them. We already mentioned Pukinakua. Not going to play. You already mentioned all the 49ers field. They're not going to go.
Mike Clay
Yeah, we say that every week.
Daniel Dopp
Basically all the 49ers are not playing. We do think George Kittle is going to be back.
Field Gates
I should say that I fully expect to play what he says.
Daniel Dopp
I'm going to dive in. I'm going to save one of them. We got a Bears injury. I think Mike, you're going to talk about them in a little bit. So I'm going to dive into the rest of them. Bucky Irving officially doubtful. This is nothing new. We expected Rashad White to be the guy not didn't practice on Thursday. Rashad White is going to be a top 10 option again this week against the Detroit Lions. Chuba Hubbard, limited participant in practice both Wednesday and Thursday. We already had this Rico Dowdle conversation.
Field Gates
Yesterday and Chuba is going to play.
Daniel Dopp
It sounds like he is going to play unless there is a setback that we are not thinking.
Mike Clay
Yeah, I think the mindset here this is again, we just have to assume common sense here to some extent or put our head in their brain is, you know, Hubbard's not 100%. Let's just, you know, he'll be worked in. But the Dowdle show to an extent. So I actually separated their, their playing time a little bit more. So Dowdle, I'm a little more cemented in as an RB2 Hubbard. I'm probably leaving on my bench this week.
Daniel Dopp
Bless you Field Chuba Hubbard right Now running back 32 consensus at ESPN. Rico Doll, running back 19. So that's why we have the gap there. A Mecca Abu did not practice on Thursday with a hamstring injury. Chris Godwin also did not practice on Thursday with a lower leg injury. We do know that Mike Evans though looks like he's going to be good to go. He's a top 20 wide receiver against a banged up and suspended lion secondary. Unfortunately, there's gonna be some new names.
Mike Clay
When you're watching that game. Like who is that? That guy is like a end of bench or practice water on. On both sides. Both sides.
Daniel Dopp
And a reminder, this is a Monday Night Football game. This is the first of two Monday Night Football games. So if you're going to trust any of these guys, just make sure that you have a couple of things in place.
Mike Clay
Huge opportunity for Tez Johnson to generate some more MVP vote.
Daniel Dopp
That's right.
Mike Clay
So we're on pump for Tez.
Daniel Dopp
Let's talk about the Raiders. Jacoby Myers didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday. That doesn't feel good. What's he dealing with? A knee injury?
Field Gates
I don't think. Yeah, I think it's getting the heck out of here.
Daniel Dopp
You think that's what it is?
Mike Clay
Yeah, I mean he. Right. He asked for a trade before the season and it's still, you know, there's a.
Field Gates
The winds are definitely, you know, swirling. There's. There's definitely a lot of, a lot of buzz around Jacoby Meyer being on the move at some point here.
Mike Clay
I love him. He's an underrated player. I hope he just goes somewhere where he gets his target.
Field Gates
Where would you like him to go? Pick your favorite landing spot for you.
Mike Clay
I. I have to think about it more, but I think the one I've seen. I think actually Bill Barnwell just projected him here would be the Giants. Which would logical fit I think on this. Yeah. I mean there's opportunity for there for a lot of work but I'd have to think more about. I haven't put much thought in this. I'd like to give 10 minutes. I have 10 minutes. Yeah.
Field Gates
Yeah.
Daniel Dopp
I'd like to Patriots and go to Drake.
Mike Clay
Man. If. If he's. Yeah. I mean it's a trade so he doesn't have a choice, I guess. But yeah, if he's happy to go there. That'd be.
Daniel Dopp
I'm not asking if he's happy to go there. You're just saying where do I want to see him? He'd be very happy to go back anyways. Jacoby Myers did not practice. I'm doubtful. I want to know what Friday is going to look like if he doesn't go. There's not another Raider pass catcher that you're interested in playing. Brock Bowers and you already talked about this with Michael Mayer. Doesn't sound like he's going to go this week. So Michael Mayer gets an upgrade. He's a low end tight end. One for us. Calvin Ridley did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday. Does not feel great with a hamstring injury. If he doesn't go Alec IO Manor and Van Jefferson as we know is going to score a touchdown. Both of those guys get upgrades but not for a 10 team fantasy league. Those are like deeper league teams if you need somebody. Terry McLaurin didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday.
Field Gates
Again, practice Wednesday, not Thursday.
Daniel Dopp
Sorry, you're right. And then he had a quad injury so we'll see how that one works out. Debo did not practice Wednesday or Thursday.
Field Gates
I expect Deebo to play.
Daniel Dopp
He's been playing. This has been a thing that Deebo's been doing with his heel injury.
Field Gates
I have no idea. McLaurin. I don't know if this was the. Remember last week Xavier Worthy practiced in full on Thursday and then went dnp. Sometimes teams are just doing this by design, right?
Mike Clay
Yes.
Field Gates
We're going to get you a little bit of work, little bit of rest. That might be where the commanders are with Terry McLaurin. We'll keep our eyes on it. I'll check the old Tweet bird machine right now to see if.
Daniel Dopp
To see where we're at.
Field Gates
Anything but.
Daniel Dopp
All right, sounds good. I'm going to keep on moving. By the way. Friday is an important day for both of those guys. If either or both of them can't go for some reason. Zach Ertz, who right now is a little bit lower in our tight end rankings. I'm the highest at tight end nine. I think he would move into a potential streaming option for you here at the tight end spot. Again, there's no pass catchers. And then we already know Garrett Wilson is not going to be playing this week.
Mike Clay
He's doubtful.
Daniel Dopp
It seems like Wednesday and Thursday with a knee injury. Our friend Sam Sherman said that if you have Josh Reynolds, make sure you remember he's a lineup lock in a 16 team, AFC east only league that came. Yeah, that was a tweet.
Field Gates
Update my lineup right now there. Yeah, so we'll see Again, I just, I cannot find anything on McLaurin yet.
Daniel Dopp
Well, it's, well, it's early. It's only 11:00am Eastern Time right now.
Field Gates
We are hopeful on Debo only because his recent cadence, the way this be, this is how it goes. So obviously, obviously always check because we'll have more information by Sunday morning. But stand by on the two receivers in D.C. yes, absolutely.
Daniel Dopp
Last one that I have here is we have a banged up wide receiver in Chicago in DJ Moore that we may need to be able to plan around. Mike did not practice Wednesday and was limited on Thursday with the groin injury. What is your third topic?
Mike Clay
Yeah, so it's CJ Moore. And again, we talked about him earlier a couple days ago. Again, we, we need more target volume. Let's assume that he goes in this game. Right. Do you even feel comfortable starting him at this point?
Field Gates
No.
Mike Clay
No. He's been between four and six targets in every game so far this season. Lowest target target share since his rookie season at 15%. Being out targeted by Alamode Zakias this year. We expect more Mark Holson, Loveland going forward. They're working Luther Burden in. If Burden's on the field, he's getting targeted. So it's, it's a tricky one right now with DJ Moore. He's hit 10 fantasy points once this season. It was a game where he found the end zone. Yikes. The only thing I will say if you're considering him is they are playing the Saints. This is a secondary we take advantage of for sure. But otherwise, I mean, I think he's. Where do I have him? 42, you know, fringe top 40 guy right now that, that's just where we are with DJ Moore. I, I honestly I'd love it if he got traded somewhere else because I just don't see a path to him getting back to his ceiling. In this offense.
Daniel Dopp
Agree.
Mike Clay
Too many other players there right now.
Daniel Dopp
Feels like it'd be a lot.
Mike Clay
He's got it.
Daniel Dopp
I mean, he just got that big contract, so we'll see how that works out. However, that's.
Field Gates
I remain very skeptical that he would be traded this year.
Daniel Dopp
We have an update on the poll question that we just recently put out. Who would you rather play this week, Kendrick Bourne or Xavier Worthy? This is a question for 57% say they would rather play Kendrick Bourne over Xavier Worthy.
Mike Clay
All right.
Field Gates
I.
Daniel Dopp
At least.
Field Gates
No, I just put in. I just. No, no, I don't. I don't want to board bet. I like. I got way too much to risk here. I have made a board bet.
Mike Clay
The chat.
Daniel Dopp
Yes, yes, Mike.
Field Gates
Versus the chat. The chat would love that.
Mike Clay
I just said, okay, all right, let's do it.
Daniel Dopp
Let's do a board bet. The chat.
Mike Clay
Can someone type it in there?
Field Gates
I will do the. The chat.
Mike Clay
You want to be on behalf for the trick. I say Xavier Worthy will outscore Kendrick Bourne in fantasy points here in week number seven.
Field Gates
And I say that Kendrick Bourne outscores Xavier Worthy in fantasy points in week seven. Short circuiting.
Daniel Dopp
Put it on the board.
Field Gates
Put it on the board.
Daniel Dopp
Oh, that was pretty good.
Mike Clay
Is that the first ever chat board bet?
Daniel Dopp
I think we've never done a chatboard bet. That's the first one.
Field Gates
AI me right there.
Daniel Dopp
Is that what that was?
Field Gates
I sound like a robot.
Daniel Dopp
You did sound like a robot.
Mike Clay
I don't know. AI sounds pretty. It sounds scary how.
Field Gates
This is what I like. This is what I love about the chat, though, is that, like, I throw a question out there, that when I said it, Mike, your initial reaction was almost like dismissive, straight dismissal. Excuse me.
Daniel Dopp
Yes.
Field Gates
And the chat reinforced why I asked the question in the first place. You know why, Mike. I am for the people here. You are for the sharks.
Daniel Dopp
Sounds like chat.
Mike Clay
We'll see if I'm wrong then. The chat has to sit in this.
Daniel Dopp
All of chat has to sit in the seat.
Mike Clay
There's just a machine with chat. And you guys ask them a question that they just type in in their.
Field Gates
Answers, trying to think what would be the worst thing that we could take away from Mike. For a week. Your computer is my possession for a week.
Daniel Dopp
If you.
Mike Clay
Yeah, that would be bad for everyone.
Field Gates
You don't do it by hand.
Mike Clay
You don't want to update the projections. You want to handle that?
Field Gates
I do them. All right.
Mike Clay
I'll do the pod Monday and Tuesday. You could sit there and grind through all of the numbers.
Field Gates
That sounds great.
Mike Clay
Turn. Projections.
Daniel Dopp
No, no one wants that. Do you do Raiders return projections?
Mike Clay
Do everything. Returners, kickers, punters, defenders, offense. Every week. Team, team level, stuff. All of it, down to the fullbacks and defensive tackles.
Daniel Dopp
Wait, is that why you don't show up to work on Monday and Tuesday?
Field Gates
Yeah.
Daniel Dopp
I've wondered what you've been doing those days. That's what I'm doing. This whole time.
Mike Clay
That's what I'm doing.
Field Gates
Yeah, I assumed lifting weights, but I. Wow.
Daniel Dopp
Interesting.
Mike Clay
I wish I had time for that.
Daniel Dopp
Good for you.
Mike Clay
I know.
Field Gates
Same.
Mike Clay
No idea I'm slacking.
Field Gates
Next year, Next year, Next year.
Daniel Dopp
All right, let's dive into our starts of the week here for week seven. I've got a punishment I gotta pay off while we do. Start of the week.
Mike Clay
Now we're doing it.
Field Gates
How about Mike and I give our starts of the week?
Daniel Dopp
Here's how it's gonna work. I'll tell you how it's gonna work. Field. So here's what I've gotta do. I lost starts of the week last week. Technically, we all lost. Cause all of our teams were bad. But I was the worst of the worst. I have to put a marshmallow in my mouth every time that one of you mentions who your start of the week is. That means we've got 12 starts of the week. So I'm gonna try to have 12 marshmallows and give my analysis at the end of all of this.
Field Gates
So great.
Mike Clay
This is a punishment for us, too. Yeah.
Field Gates
No, this is great. This is hilarious.
Mike Clay
This is very full size, too. Oh, yeah.
Daniel Dopp
They're not mini marshmallows.
Field Gates
No. The mini marshmallows that you put in hot chocolate, you'd have to have like five.
Daniel Dopp
Correct. You got. I got one. I'm going to start with one.
Field Gates
Okay.
Daniel Dopp
I'm going to go with C.J. stroud.
Mike Clay
Okay.
Daniel Dopp
Okay. C.J. stroud is a nice matchup against Seattle this week. Back to back games over 18 fantasy points, which you love. And when you're looking at quarterbacks outside the top 10, there's only so many options that have decent matchups. So I'm going to go with CJ Stroud this week.
Field Gates
Great points.
Mike Clay
I feel like I'm being punished. I hate this.
Daniel Dopp
I have field your neck start of the week.
Field Gates
You have, like a lisp right now.
Daniel Dopp
Look. Well, I got a marshmallow in my mouth.
Field Gates
Okay. I'm going to go with my quarterback is Jared Goff.
Daniel Dopp
Jared Goff. Jared Goff. Did you see that? There was somebody at Nevermind well, we'll.
Mike Clay
Talk about it later.
Daniel Dopp
Go ahead. I want to talk as less as possible.
Field Gates
I think there was like somebody at a random life event who was doing a Jared Goff chant. Is that where you're going there?
Mike Clay
It was.
Daniel Dopp
Yes, correct. Yes.
Mike Clay
Jared Goff at Lions.
Field Gates
We expect a lot of points on Monday night. Monday night between the Lions and the Buccaneers. Monday night football quarterback 15 this week.
Mike Clay
Love it. Mike, where are you going? My quarterback is one Jordan Love.
Field Gates
You love him?
Mike Clay
Kind of all over the map. Yeah, I do. Yeah, all over. All over the map this year. But 20 plus fantasy points twice and guys, he has 54 rushing yards and 10 carry. 54 rushing yards and 10 carries over the last two weeks. He has 88 rushing yards this season. That's more than his season total of 83 last season. So a good sign for Jordan Love playing the Cardinals. Neutral matchup. They've had a light schedule so far, so Jordan Love and they're two and four.
Field Gates
Can you remind us the parameters of starts the week? By the way, Daniel Field?
Daniel Dopp
They had a big quarterback outside of top 10.
Mike Clay
Yeah.
Daniel Dopp
A running back outside the top 20, a wide receiver outside the top 30, and a tight end outside the top 10.
Mike Clay
Okay, here we go.
Daniel Dopp
My next pick is J.K. robinson.
Field Gates
The J.K. dobbins.
Mike Clay
J.K. dobbins.
Daniel Dopp
You got decent matchup against the Giants. Double digit fantasy points every week until last week in which he had a dud against the Jets. Obviously. He's still the lead back though over RJ Harvey. No question there. Harvey's seen a little bit more passing game work. But I like J.K. dobbins to get rolling against the Giants.
Field Gates
Yeah, a little. Gus Edwards. Y right now is J.K. dobbins. It's all ground. You got to score a touchdown to pay off. That being said, he's a good runner and probably get 15 carries. My running back is Kimani Vidal. Chargers presumptive next man up running back after what we saw last week. He was of course much better than Hassan Haskins. They play against the Colts this weekend. Give me Kamani Vidal to hopefully have 15 plus touches and 15 plus fantasy points.
Mike Clay
I like that. Guys, if I lose this week, it's going to be because of this one. Oh, when I, when I started, I picked him and then I started looking at the numbers and I was like, oh, this is, this is a bad idea. Oh, you did it. Ramandre Stevenson, 18 yards and 13 touches last week, but he did play over 6, 70% of the snaps. He was bad the prior week Too. But he did score two touchdowns and kind of bailed you out. The key, of course, here is the matchup. The Titans fly out eight, an NFL high 10 touchdowns and the fourth most fantasy points to running backs. 16.5 plus fantasy points to the opposing lead back in four consecutive games now. And remember the last time Stevenson had a great matchup? It was Miami earlier this season. He had 21.2 fantasy points. So I'm going to take my chances on Stevenson this week. I'm going to give him a chance. Okay, good.
Field Gates
Yeah. Great thoughts right there, Mike.
Daniel Dopp
I don't know why you feel.
Mike Clay
Paul. Yeah. Thoughts right there. Daniel. We got nothing. What is wrong with you? We can't understand you. Yep. Michael Pittman Jr. We got there.
Field Gates
Michael Pittman Jr. Okay. I like deciphering this.
Mike Clay
You need to. You gotta stop. Yeah.
Field Gates
For the health and wellness of all.
Daniel Dopp
Involved, I gotta start over. Okay.
Mike Clay
Yeah. Start fresh.
Daniel Dopp
Michael Pittman. Gunnar. Tough matchup against the Chicago or the Chargers. Obviously. He got a shadow last week, Mike. I believe that was a thing. But Josh Downs looking unlikely to go this week. Right now, he's missed practice each of.
Mike Clay
The first two days of concussion practice, right?
Daniel Dopp
Yep. Making his way through the concussion protocol. So if that happens, maybe a little bit more. Michael Pittman Jr. This week, I'm going to go with him as my wide receiver.
Field Gates
Well done right there. I'm just going to wait a few minutes while you stuff your face. Jordan Madison for the Vikings, who's played two games since returning from suspension, one of which he went up over 100 yards. It feels like in both of those games, patience has paid off. Addison started slow. Last time we saw the Vikings, he was suspended for the first quarter because of. I think it sounded like he maybe like missed a walkthrough. He wanted to go enjoy London, so he missed a walkthrough there. But Jordan Addison, obviously very talented player. I believe Carson Wentz will start this week over JJ McCarthy, which means Carson Wentz against the Eagles.
Mike Clay
Yes, sir.
Daniel Dopp
Jordan was like, wait a minute. I thought you said we were supposed to walk through London. I don't understand. Yeah.
Mike Clay
By the way, it looks like Quinn. Yeah. Mitchell will play. He'll likely shadow Justin Jefferson. That's good news for Jordan Addison because the Eagles weak spot in the defense is cornerback two right now. Like that. So this is what makes my. My next one, my receiver. This is where it makes my lineup. Kind of gpp, like. Cause I'm going Matthew Golden. So other end of the Jordan Love Battery, if that's a Dude situation against Arizona. I'm going to be in deep trouble this week. But Matthew golden continues to progress. It's like more every single week. New career high in yards each of his last three games. Guys, he had 102 scrimmage yards against the Bengals last week. So just kind of quietly over a hundred yards, yet to get to six targets a game. That bothers me a little bit. You're yet to clear six targets in a game, but does have at least five touches in three straight and Arizona should be fine. So that's my guy.
Daniel Dopp
Okay, I'm going to go with my tight end here.
Mike Clay
Okay.
Field Gates
Good answer.
Daniel Dopp
I gotta do Zach Ertz.
Field Gates
Yeah.
Mike Clay
It's okay.
Field Gates
Don't worry. Nice pick on Zach Ertz. It hurts when you eat so many marshmallows.
Daniel Dopp
McLaurin and Debo both banged up. Maybe we get a little bit more Zach Ertz in this one, so could be a nice game.
Mike Clay
You're gonna have a tight end. You're gonna have a tight end from eating all the marshmallows.
Daniel Dopp
Don't joke.
Field Gates
Please, please. I think Zach hurts as well for all the reasons that Daniel tried to articulate.
Mike Clay
Sorry, I almost killed Daniel.
Daniel Dopp
I am gonna have a tight end from all these Martha Mellows.
Mike Clay
Oh, God. Don't swallow them.
Field Gates
Bravo by Mike right there.
Daniel Dopp
All right, Mike, where are you going? Do you even get a tight end pick or do you just have to?
Mike Clay
I talked about him earlier, so. Michael.
Field Gates
Michael.
Daniel Dopp
Oh, my gosh.
Mike Clay
Michael. I've never done that till today. And now I've done.
Daniel Dopp
And I've done it twice.
Mike Clay
Unbelievable. I'm in the season, guys. That's so Michael Mayer.
Daniel Dopp
Okay, all right.
Field Gates
Michael Mayer.
Mike Clay
Mayer.
Field Gates
Whatever. Mine was Zachary. Yeah, got it.
Mike Clay
We talked about mayors.
Daniel Dopp
Yes, we did. Man, that was. I gotta tell you, it's hard. It's a lot harder than I thought because they start to disintegrate in your mouth. And then it's like I've got to find, like, pockets to put them in a swallow. Yeah.
Field Gates
You respect chipmunks more, dude.
Daniel Dopp
It's impressive. I don't know how people do it. Whoever does all this marshmallow stuff, good on you. Because I don't know what I'm doing. All right, that's it. We got a couple of quick mailbag questions here very fast here. First one is gonna come from our friend at the YouTube chat. That comes from Joe Dak Prescott or Drake May this week, my friends.
Field Gates
It's such a good matchup for Dak Prescott, isn't it?
Mike Clay
Yeah. I'm going Dak. They're both top five for me, but Dak against Washington Commanders. Yeah.
Field Gates
There's a part of me that wonders like, there's a part of me that fears like the Drake May downside is this. The Patriots play awesome offense, but maybe punch it in on the ground a couple of times and they're up big in the third quarter and you're like, Drake May's barely passing the ball.
Daniel Dopp
If they do that, they're not going to use Herman Ray Stevenson though right field.
Field Gates
I probably will.
Mike Clay
I wonder if you'll get a little new head coach jolt from the Titans this week, too. A little. A little more energy. We'll see.
Field Gates
Maybe. Yeah.
Mike Clay
It happens sometimes.
Field Gates
Can't be much. Yeah. Can't be much worse.
Daniel Dopp
Can't be less energy than what they are.
Field Gates
Less energy. Correct.
Mike Clay
Yeah.
Daniel Dopp
All right, let's get another question here from our YouTube chat. This one comes from Daniel Lore wants to know, would you start Diggs and Keenan and Michael Pittman Jr. All of them over Rico this weekend. Stefan Diggs, Keenan Allen, Michael Pittman Jr. Over Rico Dowdle.
Field Gates
Okay, so if I'm ranking those four, I would rank Steph Diggs one.
Daniel Dopp
Yep.
Field Gates
Rico Dowdle, two.
Daniel Dopp
Okay.
Field Gates
Airtight with Keenan Allen there. Three. Pittman four.
Mike Clay
Yeah, I have. I could go the opposite with Dowdle just because I'm feeling more confident he'll be the lead this week as Hubbard get, you know, him not being full in practice makes me think they're. They have every reason in the world to be like, we're just playing it tomorrow. We're going to let RICO Be the 1A this week. You know, I think that makes sense. So. But either way, I think the answer is yes. I would. I would start Dowdle, I would start Diggs, and I would start Allen. Pittman would be the odd man out for me. Remember, they are playing the Chargers and they've been really good.
Daniel Dopp
Let's say that you had to choose one of those for the flex spot and you didn't pick three of them.
Mike Clay
Yeah. I do have Dowdle projected highest. I have no issue going with digs. It's very close.
Daniel Dopp
Those are my top two. Dowdle and Digs.
Mike Clay
Yeah, I would go that way.
Field Gates
Only thing that I'm going to say about your stance on the pants, which I think is totally logical and totally reasonable and might be where I lean as well.
Mike Clay
Yeah.
Daniel Dopp
Probably wrong. But all of those things that feel.
Field Gates
If there's one thing that the NFL reminds us of every single week, it's sometimes coaches treat their Backfields in mysterious way.
Mike Clay
You know, you're exactly right. We've seen that. So many examples of a guy coming in. Whether it's Alex Madison behind Dalvin Cook or Zach Charbonnet in years past in for Ken Walker, we've seen so many examples of those. Guys like that. Oh, man, Madison was the number one.
Field Gates
No way to hold that guy down.
Daniel Dopp
Right.
Mike Clay
And it happens every time. They just prefer the lead back. So you're right. You're right. We've seen it many, many times.
Field Gates
It's. I'm.
Mike Clay
I'm.
Field Gates
Again, I think I. I think I align with you. I'm also bracing for any kind of possibility this weekend.
Daniel Dopp
Just speaking of running backs, what was it thinking of? Of infamous running backs. What did Jonas Gray.
Field Gates
Four touchdowns on Sunday Night Football.
Daniel Dopp
And then what happened? Did he miss practice or late to practice or something? And it became a thing.
Mike Clay
That was something like that. They, like never played and then he.
Daniel Dopp
Never played again after 200 yards. That was a crazy one. All right, maybe one more question. Maybe two more questions. What do you got here for us? YouTube chat. We'll see what else we have available. This one comes from heart and Soil wants to know. JCM versus the Cowboys or Tet McMillan versus Sauce Gardner. Soil.
Field Gates
I'm going with the running back here. ACM should be busy. The Cowboys run defense is trash. And yeah, Sauce Gardner has really rounded into form. As Mike told us.
Mike Clay
I love a good JCM anytime touchdown play this week as well. The highest projected touchdown scores of the week. He scored a lot already and his role just continues to increase. About two thirds of the snaps last week. We could use a little bit more in the passing event. We're getting there. We're progressing a little bit. So, yeah, it feels like JCM's a top 10 play. I want him in my lineup.
Daniel Dopp
Agreed. I'm with you on that. All right, let's do one more and then we're going to get out of here. One more question from our YouTube chat. This comes from Blake. Andre wants to know for anyone, why is every ranking so low on Mason Taylor? He'll likely be the one or two receiving target against savory Panthers matchup. Who was bad against tight ends. This is because there's no Garrett Wilson. This is sort of what he's referring to. Doubtful to play this week.
Field Gates
That's fine.
Daniel Dopp
Limited pass catchers.
Field Gates
So there's a question like fine, that's reasonable.
Daniel Dopp
It's a reasonable take.
Field Gates
It's a reasonable take. We're also preparing for the possibility of a Better Mason Taylor game last week and what happened.
Mike Clay
Yeah, I think there's two reasons. One is you saw that passing game last week. I mean, just the downside for that offense. I mean, we hope we. What if you start Mason Taylor, you're hoping to get what, 45, 50 yards? Is that's what their total passing yardage was last year?
Daniel Dopp
Yeah.
Mike Clay
Or last week, 42 yards for Justin Fields. That's one. Number two is who do you move them up ahead of? I mean, there's so many tight ends in that conversation. If you want to put him 10 over TJ Hawkinson, fine. But then you have Mayor Ertz, Kate Otten who boost him this week, Tucker Kraft who's been awesome, Hunter Henry, Evan Ingram's back now, Kyle Pitts, Darren Waller, I mean, that's the guys that are ahead of him. So I mean it's, he's, he's certainly in that top 20 conversation, but it's a lot of the same.
Daniel Dopp
I think the reason why he's not higher is because with some of those other guys, we've either cons, we've either seen it consistently to know that it's something that can happen, or we just feel like that offense is in a better spot to make production happen there. Which is not that we don't like Mason Taylor as a prospect. Yeah, I think he's a really good tight end, but in this situation with the guys in front of him, that's why he's so.
Field Gates
I also like this question because I think it underscores an important point that I try to communicate to my friends who ask for fantasy advice all the time is sometimes they'll ask me like, you know, this player or that player and I'll give my opinion and they'll come back and they'll say, really? And I'll say, okay, you didn't ask this question because you wanted my opinion. You asked this question so that if my opinion aligned with your opinion, you could use it as validation.
Daniel Dopp
Validation.
Field Gates
Your team, your rankings, your choice. Like, if you feel like Mason Taylor should be started over, whoever your normal starting tight end is, by all means, go for it. It's a funny game we play. Mason Taylor might have eight catches for 55 yards on Sunday. Who knows?
Mike Clay
Yeah.
Daniel Dopp
As evidenced by the fact that field started two 40 year old quarterbacks this week and it happened to work out for you in fantasy.
Field Gates
My options were somewhat limited, of course.
Daniel Dopp
Well, that's. But that's the point. If we're limited and you got to start. Yeah, that's. That's how it is.
Mike Clay
Yeah. Yeah.
Daniel Dopp
So, all right. That's gonna do it for us today. It was good hanging out with you.
Mike Clay
Guys this week, Mr. NASA.
Daniel Dopp
Appreciate it. Thank you very much.
Field Gates
To Venus after this.
Daniel Dopp
That's right. Well, it is. I'm a big fan of this, of the swoop, you know, the sweatsuit.
Mike Clay
Obviously, no one can see your pants by you.
Daniel Dopp
No, I got. I got a full. I mean, you're not gonna be able to see. You can't even see it.
Mike Clay
I got a full.
Daniel Dopp
I mean, stars everywhere. I wore this because obviously with Joe Flacco under center, Bengals to the moon. Right? Like, we all know that.
Mike Clay
So we need.
Daniel Dopp
Let's close the show out with that. Today's show is presented by Little Caesars. Make sure you come hang out with us on Sunday Fantasy Football. Now 10:00am Eastern to 1:00pm we will see you guys there. Don't forget to love each other and be kind to yourself. You deserve it. We'll see you guys on Sunday Fantasy Fantasy Focus.
Mike Clay
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Field Gates
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Mike Clay
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Field Gates
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Mike Clay
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Episode: Week 7 MUST Starts of the Week + Key Injuries to Monitor
Date: October 17, 2025
Hosts: Field Yates, Daniel Dopp, Mike Clay
This week’s episode of Fantasy Focus Football dives into the aftermath of Thursday Night Football, addressing standout player performances and underwhelming defenses. The crew—Field Yates, Daniel Dopp, and Mike Clay—debate Week 7 must-starts, discuss key injury situations, and answer listener mailbag questions. The episode is packed with actionable fantasy football insights, memorable moments, and lively banter, aiming to set fantasy managers up for success in Week 7.
(00:32–10:22)
Key Highlights:
Joe Flacco and Jamar Chase Deliver
Steelers Defensive Struggles
RB Performances
Tight End Takeover
(10:22–12:44)
(10:43–24:13)
(10:43–13:44)
(13:47–19:10)
(19:10–22:30)
(22:32–24:58)
(42:03–48:52)
(33:34–39:34)
(49:29–54:59)
“Your team, your rankings, your choice. If you feel like Mason Taylor should be started... by all means, go for it. It's a funny game we play.” — Field Yates (54:46)
This episode successfully blends strong, practical advice with humor and relatability, mixing deep-dive analysis (especially on tight end volatility and RB workload splits) with unique fantasy community moments like the chat board bet and live “punishment” stunts. Injuries and lineup uncertainty are a thread throughout—be sure to monitor final news through the weekend.
For those leveraging their starts/sits and waivers—keep an eye on the Chargers WR order, the roulette at TE, and the increasingly usable committee RBs. Continue monitoring injuries as Sunday approaches, and, as the pod reminds, trust your own research and instincts as well!
For more, catch the show Sundays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET, on ESPN’s Fantasy Football Now.