← Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry
Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry
Broncos trade for Jaylen Waddle + Connor’s Top 10 Prospect Positional Rankings
00:51:51
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- [00:01]
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- [00:32]
Travis A Chan
growing up, Travis A Chan. So it'd be like a c h a n e. And that's how you always said Travis A Chan. But when I went to college, I kept telling my. Telling them my name, like, every day, every day, every day. And like, after, like, four weeks, they just couldn't get it. So I'm like, man, it's etn. Like, how you see it is how you say it. I'm very much open to being Travis A Chan again, just being myself. I don't have to correct people here on how to say my name each and every day.
- [01:02]
Matthew Berry
Fantasy football happy hour with Matthew Barry.
- [01:07]
Jay Croucher
Welcome to the fantasy football happy hour and welcome to the Travis A Chan era. He drinks for free today, fellas. It's about damn time. Finally get the man's name right.
- [01:18]
Lawrence
I figured since Travis ETN going back to Travis hn. Figure I'd tell y' all my real last name right now. As I was growing up, it was always Jacson.
- [01:30]
Connor Rogers
Oh, there you go.
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Lawrence
Not Jackson is Lawrence Jkason Jr. So from here on out, we'll go with that. It looked like Michael Jackson. Like Michael Jackson, but it's Jkason. Yeah. So get it right.
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Jay Croucher
Connor Rogers. Lawrence Jkason Jr. J. Cruschet. Jay Crusher.
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Connor Rogers
There's an accent on the people always forget the accent.
- [01:50]
Travis A Chan
Yeah.
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Jay Croucher
And Matthew J. Berry out in the world somewhere.
- [01:53]
Connor Rogers
Yeah.
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Jay Croucher
Roll Tide. Mr. Barry.
- [01:58]
Matthew Berry
Yeah. Beret. It's tournament. Listen, it's the start of the tournament.
- [02:02]
Connor Rogers
It's gonna be a long show.
- [02:04]
Matthew Berry
Yeah, it's the start of the tournament. And as you know, I grew up in College Station, Texas, so Giga Maggies,
- [02:12]
Jay Croucher
but I with a bama shirt on. Good God, what a disgrace.
- [02:17]
Matthew Berry
But Texas A and M. I don't have a Texas A and M shirt with me at the moment. So my kid goes to Alabama. So Roll Tide. Those are my two teams in the tournament. Syracuse, of course, did not make the tournament. Thank God we fired Adrian Autry. All right, there you go. That's my tournament talk for today.
- [02:31]
Connor Rogers
That's absolutely outrageous. Yeah, I'm a Lakers fan, but here's my Celtics shirt, so I forgot my lake.
- [02:36]
Lawrence
He got the same colors though. Bama. Texas. Kind of the same.
- [02:41]
Matthew Berry
Those are my two teams. I've consistently ever since my kid went to Alabama. Ever since my kid went to Alabama. I had been an Alabama fan. I grew up in College Station. My dad's professor there, so I root for Texas A and M as well. Those are my two SEC teams. I went to Syracuse, but we're not in the tournament. So the two tournaments, the two teams I'm rooting for in the tournament for Texas A and M and Alabama. I thought I had an A and M hat which I was going to wear, but it's not here. I can't find it. So one of my kids must have taken it. So whatever. Giga Maggie's Roll Tide and screw you, Jay. There you go.
- [03:10]
Connor Rogers
I'm going to guess the kid did not take your A and M hat and you instead lost it and misplaced it and are unable to to fight it. But no good to be with you, Matthew. Looking forward to a great show.
- [03:21]
Jay Croucher
It's really good to be back in studio and Matthew in the bunker. It looks like the safari bunker.
- [03:26]
Lawrence
Where are you at, Matthew? That don't look like Alabama you're in right now.
- [03:30]
Matthew Berry
No, yeah, I'm in. I'm in the great state of Florida. My kids have a. I don't know the bandwagon. Nah, the bandwagoner. Hello.
- [03:41]
Connor Rogers
Are you an FSU fan too?
- [03:44]
Jay Croucher
Got your Gator's towel by the pool.
- [03:47]
Matthew Berry
You can tell Even Aloha Bricks is rusty. Because it should be the bandwagoner, honestly.
- [03:53]
Jay Croucher
That's true.
- [03:55]
Matthew Berry
You know, but so I'm in the great state of Florida here. My kids had a few days off from school, so my wife and I decided to get out of the cold and bring the kids down to Florida. So, yeah, anyway, happy to get into it. Let's get into it. Connor.
- [04:12]
Jay Croucher
This is the first time in four years Matthew has said let's get into the actual news. He's not enjoying the piling run. So let's get into the Roto World player news. We do have a pretty big trade to kick things off, not only in the NFL, but in the fantasy world. The Broncos get Jalen Waddle from the Dolphins. Obviously the big return here was the 30th overall pick in the draft and a swap of some other assets and a third rounder going in this as well. But Jay Denver, good team, super bowl contender. Didn't feel like they had that game breaker on offense that's what they want from Waddle.
- [04:45]
Connor Rogers
Yeah, I think it's a good acknowledgment that despite the fact that this team went 14 and three. One seed, I think they would have made the super bowl if Bo Nicks didn't get hurt against the Bills and they would have beaten the Pats. That game was close enough. You feel that Knicks, a good chance to tip them over the edge, but also an imperfect team and they played really well in one score games was probably not going to be sustainable year on year and they just didn't have to. Your point that game breaker, that guy to be opposite Cortland Sutton. And I think as much as we think of Jalen Waddle as a, you know, an over the middle guy and after the catch guy, I think what this is really exciting for the Broncos is that he's going to give Bo Nix another deep threat.
- [05:18]
Jay Croucher
Right.
- [05:18]
Connor Rogers
Which I don't think outside of Sutton, he hasn't really had. Knicks wasn't great on the deep ball last year even though he throws a beautiful ball. So yeah, I think this certainly really raises the ceiling for Denver's offense.
- [05:28]
Lawrence
Yeah, like you said, Jay, I like the fact that they were on the cusp of a Super bowl and they said, hey, we know we're right here. We're going to go get another game breaker. From a fantasy perspective though, Jalen Waddle aside here, I really love this for Bo Nix because like you said, Jay, he can get deep. He will be another deep threat. But think about all of those, you know, where you throw it at the line of scrimmage and Jalen Waddle could go take it 20, 30 yards and maybe even to the house. That's what Bo Nicks needs and I think that'll make him better. It'll be able to make the offense open up more. So I think it's good all around for Bo Nix.
- [06:04]
Connor Rogers
Yeah, I think Connor, the thing too with Bo Nix, even though he had an uneven year, like he closed the year really well and like we forget because he did the he had the injury at the end but he like outplayed Josh Allen in a playoff game. And so what did you see? What do you think that Waddle can activate in Knicks game?
- [06:20]
Jay Croucher
Well, the fact like you said, and we know, we look at Troy Franklin, even Marvin Mims, they can get down the field sometimes but Waddle has difference making speed to get over the top. So you unlock that and then there's a side of it too. Denver wants to run the ball a lot, but they were Just okay at running the ball. It felt like there should have been and Dobbins got hurt who was pretty solid for them. They want more out of Harvey. Waddle's presence should open up the field a little bit for them as well. He's going to be good in the screen game. You can get him working over the top. And then the fact can you get a defender out of the box to help their run game as well. It helps everybody on this offense and Matthew Denver had to go through this process and go, we're simply not going to get a Jalen Waddle level player with the 30th pick in the draft.
- [07:02]
Matthew Berry
I think what you mean is Jalen Waddle is what I understand. Yeah, Waddle a Wadali either way. But there's no question about it, right. Because of where they're picking and it's not a great draft class in terms of wide receivers impact wide receivers. Connor, I know we're getting to your NFL draft rankings coming up a little bit later in the show, but they've tried to Jay's point about finding a deep threat, whether it was Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant, Marvin Mims. They have tried. They have tried to sort of get, get, you know, kind of a deep threat. But here you get a proven threat in Jalen Waddle. I agree with everything that Jay and Lawrence said here. I'm as a low end wide receiver too. I think, I think he's the top ranked wide receiver in the Broncos offense going to next year. Courtland Sutton moves down to a kind of wide receiver three. But I think Waddle's in that 18 to 22 range. But I also think, by the way, let's just talk about the Miami side of this as well. It hurts the Dolphins. I mean like, you know, with the last person in Miami, turn up the lights. You don't feel great about Malik Willis who we were excited about a week ago because their wide receiver room I believe is Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell. You know, I mean like so so. And they've said they're not going to trade Devon Hn. So I think so the way that it opens up the offense for the Denver, it hurts the Dolphins. For the. I'm sorry. For Denver, it hurts Miami's offense because I think teams are going to stack the box and say like will dare Malik Willis to throw to one of these guys and we're just going to stop Devon Hn, who by the way was already hurt with the Willis signing because Willis doesn't dump off to the running back the way that Tua does. So I think this move obviously hurts Malik Willis. I think he's more of a mid tier QB2 and you knock Achan down a few spots as well.
- [08:49]
Jay Croucher
Yeah, it feels like the Dolphins right now, Lawrence, you know, for going out and making the move for Malik Willis. Besides that, there's a lot of moves where they're eating dead money, a ton of dead money they're trying to have. It's a new regime. Feels like outside of getting Malik Willis, this is a reset for them. They're going to get more draft capital to make picks.
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Lawrence
So it looks like a rebuild.
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Jay Croucher
Right. It really besides Malik Willis.
- [09:11]
Lawrence
But you don't go out and spend that type of money on a quarterback. Not that it's like 50 million a year quarterback money, but it's like with this roster, why not see what Quinn Ewers could do. But I think the, I think with the new coach being familiar with Malik Willis, I think that has something to do with it. But it now it just, just doesn't make sense.
- [09:34]
Jay Croucher
Ryan Oswald says I'm as confident drafting a Denver wide receiver as a cup of Diet Coke sitting on a table next to Barry's flailing arms.
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Matthew Berry
Strong comment, strong comment from Oswald there. And it's fair. It's very fair. I mean like they do mix and match. But I just my only comment to Ryan there other than by the way, good joke, well done is that I just don't think you give up Conrad. I don't think you give up a first round draft pick for a guy that's just going to be another rotational guy. I think it is because they've had to do wide receiver by committee, Ryan and Mims and Franklin and Sutton and I think that that's why they spent a first round pick to go out and get a game breaker a guy like Jalen Waddle, who you know is incredibly talented and I think the now pound for pound the best wide receiver on that team. Much as we all love Cortland Sutton,
- [10:24]
Jay Croucher
I mean last year Waddle was able to get over 900 yards out of that situation in Miami and Cortland Sutton is going to turn 31 in October. So maybe at Jay at some quick. Right, right. 31 in October. That could be kind of a shift of where the targets start to go as well.
- [10:40]
Connor Rogers
Yeah, I would have set the over under 27 and a half. Doesn't feel like Colin Sutton's been in our lives for that long. But yeah, I mean Jalen Waddle think back to his rookie season where he's just an absolute receptions machine. So yeah there's still, I think there is potential here for Waddle to do even more.
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Lawrence
And don't forget Denver ranked fourth in pass attempts last year too. That it doesn't seem like that was the case but it really like Bo Nix was letting it rip.
- [11:02]
Jay Croucher
Some more news. The jets held on to Justin Fields and a lot of people didn't know why they were able to find a trade partner for him. They get a 2027 sixth round pick in return as he goes to Kansas City. So Matthew, we know Patrick Mahomes working his way back from injury. It's not that Fields is expected to start, but Kansas City clearly prioritizing the backup that is very run heavy over pass heavy.
- [11:28]
Matthew Berry
He is. But you know what I mean. I just like Justin. I would argue Justin Fields is one of the 32 best quarterbacks in the NFL. You know and to get somebody of that caliber to be a backup I think is, I think it's strong. If you think about some of the other backups over the years behind Mahomes, the Carson Wentz is of the world. The Blaine Gabbard to the world like Justin Fields is as good if not better than any of them. And I will say this, if I had Justin Fields on my Dynasty team, I would be thrilled with this because obviously he loses a starting job. He's never unseating Patrick Mahomes, but he will learn from Andy Reid. He will learn from this system. Andy Reid I think is as good an offensive line as there is in the NFL and as good a quarterback as there were. I feel strongly about this, Connor. And you can talk this about what Mahomes, you know, draft, you know, his scouting report was coming out of Texas Tech. But you know, guy with a big arm that was a little bit of a loose cannon. I argue that somewhere that isn't Kansas City and not Andy Reid still might have been a successful quarterback, but he wouldn't become face of the NFL potentially the greatest of all time the way he has been. Andy Reid got the best season out of Alex Smith of his career. He made Mike Kafka a thing for a little bit. He had Kevin Cobb as a thing. You know, look at Donald McNabb in Philadelphia versus how he was in Washington. Like I just, I think he is as good there is in the NFL. And so for Justin Fields to go to a system like this where he doesn't have the press around him, where he can learn from Mahomes and learn from Andy Reid. I think this is ultimately similar to sort of Sam Darnold. You know where Darnold went and backed up Brock Purdy for a year in San Francisco and learned from Kyle Shanahan.
- [13:06]
Jay Croucher
Yeah, I think that, you know, at the end of the day,
- [13:13]
Matthew Berry
Good jets forgetting something out of Justin Fields.
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Jay Croucher
I think this is going to be the last shot for Fields and it's not like with the Steelers and with the Jets. He had his second and third shot to play. He'll get to sit a little bit and then even if he doesn't play a lot for Kansas City, he'll get one other shot somewhere else. But we are getting kind of to the end.
- [13:32]
Lawrence
I feel like they, I mean, I don't know if Kansas City is sure about whether or not Patrick Mahomes will be ready to go week one. I'll tell you this, whether or not Justin Fields is possibly starting one or two games, I'm getting them out there in a Super Flex League 100%, especially on the Chiefs. But this poor guy, man, when he gets on a good organization, it's to be the backup, right? Steelers backup, Chiefs backup. But go out there and play for those Bears and notice.
- [14:03]
Matthew Berry
Yes.
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Connor Rogers
But yeah, I think as long as we're talking about Chiefs backup quarterbacks, the greatest moment of the Mahomes era for backups when Chad Henney came in against the Browns in that playoff game. Fourth and one hits the. I think a little altitude kill. Yeah. A little five yarder. Yeah. Very well played by Mr. Henney. But yeah, it'll be the best context offensively for Fields, his career by far. But you know, if you're a Chiefs fan, hopefully he's only going to play one or two games.
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Jay Croucher
McGenuine in the chat said is Barry spilled diet Coke on his router. Stuntman Chuck said Barry's iPad is still at 3%.
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Lawrence
He ain't let him live. He ain't stall him out.
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Jay Croucher
The lore of this show.
- [14:44]
Matthew Berry
It's weird because on my end it seems fine. Like I hear and see you guys fine. And I'm so. I don't know if it broke up or something like that, you know, whatever. Apologies to everyone there.
- [14:59]
Jay Croucher
America, I apologize honestly.
- [15:02]
Matthew Berry
They should have fired me after the whole thing.
- [15:05]
Jay Croucher
That's exactly eating good. Minor news here. The Eagles bring back Dallas Goddard on a one year deal. Jay, they kept pushing back his void hitting and they finally get the deal done. That probably makes sense for both sides in this scenario.
- [15:21]
Connor Rogers
Yeah, I think so. He's coming off a very good season. Dallas Got it. One of the most known commodities at the tight end position as we see is 2025 season to have 82 targets, 60 receptions, 11 touchdowns is the key. Now he may not replicate that though he is an excellent red zone weapon, 12.3 fantasy points per game that made him tight end five on the season. Suspect that we can probably expect more of this going forward. And I think the real potential inflection point for his value is what's going to happen to A.J. brown. Because if A.J. brown is not on this team team next year then all of a sudden got it might have more scope to increase those receptions, increase those receiving yards and then devonte Smith as well naturally will see a huge rise off of that. But got it. Very stable. Top 10 tight end every year.
- [16:04]
Lawrence
Well, he finishes tight end five last year and as you said it was due to those 11 touchdowns. Speaking of eating good while 11 touchdowns, it is hard to get right but it's definitely not out of the realm of possibility for him to go out there and get another eight, have an eight touchdown season because of how they used him within the 20 yard line, within the 10 yard line and even at the goal line they'll use Dallas Goddard on a jet sweep. You know, they got Saquon Barkley, devontae Smith, all these fast guys. They will run a jet suite with Dallas Goddard at the two yard line and get them in there. But like you said Jay, if A.J. brown isn't on this team then we might draft or probably will draft Dallas Goddard closer to that tight end five finish.
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Jay Croucher
Yeah, Matthew feels like we've kind of reached the point with Goddard at where he's almost underrated in some ways. I would say in the tight end
- [16:59]
Matthew Berry
landscape, Jay's absolutely right about, you know we'll, we'll rank Dallas Goddard once we know what's going on with A.J. brown. But I mean again, 11 receptions, 11 receiving touchdowns last year after somebody who you know averaged about three to four a year previously. And so you know it's, is it going on weird again? Like I don't know what's going on with my Internet here.
- [17:23]
Connor Rogers
You're looking like a Korean
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Jay Croucher
spaghetti Western.
- [17:27]
Connor Rogers
Yeah, I know what's going on.
- [17:37]
Jay Croucher
All right, well we'll just keep it rolling then. More Eagles news. Hollywood Brown signs a one year deal. Lawrence, maybe the quietest five touchdowns in the NFL last year. But if they move on from A.J. brown, yeah, they're going to draft somebody. But Hollywood Brown would find himself in a role where he's legitimately on the field. As potentially a number two 100%.
- [17:54]
Lawrence
But I would be a lot more if A.J. brown wasn't on the Eagles. That just means for me I'm excited about drafting Devonta Smith who's probably going to play himself into a top 12 receiver in the league. Hollywood Brown, as of today it just looks like a replacement for Jahan Dotson. So for me it's like they needed a wide receiver. 3. He's reliable. He's reliable. It's that that we know. So if AJ Brown is on team I don't know how much I'm excited to draft Hollywood Brown because you still got to see it. It'll be more about Dallas Goddard, Devonte Smith.
- [18:32]
Connor Rogers
Yeah. Well, tough fall for Hollywood Brown from being number one wide receiver for Lamar Jackson his first MVP year.
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Lawrence
Now Jahan, he had his best year one in the years of the Ravens it but then he went to the Cardinals to get like better targets or something.
- [18:48]
Connor Rogers
Yeah.
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Lawrence
I don't know.
- [18:49]
Connor Rogers
The thing with Hollywood Brown is you can't say that off. He just gets a better quarterback situation because he's playing with Lamont. He's not getting any better.
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Lawrence
I want to say his next team will probably be the Bengals or the Bills or something.
- [19:02]
Jay Croucher
Yeah. Tales oldest time teams drafting small receivers very early and he had some success early on. He's had a solid career but just not living up to the billing.
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Lawrence
All right.
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Jay Croucher
The commanders and well this is a true test if Matthew's back or not. As we say the word commander's news out there. They signed Rashad White to a one year contract. They signed Jerome Ford to a one year contract. Kind of building this stable of veteran backs around Jecory, Crosky, Merritt, the artist formerly known as Bill. I think everybody's kind of got their eyes on guys.
- [19:33]
Lawrence
We ain't calling him Bill no more because he's sixth on the depth chart. Yeah.
- [19:37]
Jay Croucher
You regain Bill status if you're one or two.
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Lawrence
Okay. Okay. We back to calling him Jacore.
- [19:43]
Jay Croucher
It's kind of a backfield that just guys Lawrence which makes you wonder they have insurance in case Jeremiah Love doesn't make it to their pick and there's a chance he doesn't.
- [19:51]
Lawrence
I think that's what it is.
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Jay Croucher
And that feels. Yeah, that feels. And Jeremy Nichols is still there.
- [19:56]
Lawrence
None of these. Is Maggie trying to say something? Mr. Diet Coke, can you hear us?
- [20:01]
Matthew Berry
Jacoi I was trying to. I was actually saying maybe there's a different spot in my house that like
- [20:06]
Lawrence
where the Internet isn't like that's the Same spot.
- [20:11]
Matthew Berry
The whole thing's a disaster. But what I will say while we're talking about Rashad White here is that I think they basically like him for the Austin Eckler role in this offense right now. I mean again David, it's David Blau that's going to be running calling the plays. Be very much a Ben Johnson offense who likes multiple running backs and I think they would be in on Jeremiah Love. But at the moment I think they view Rashad White as kind of the Austin Eckler role pass catching guy enjoying
- [20:37]
Connor Rogers
these little pop in cameos like William Hurd at the end of the history of violence. Nominated for best support sporting actor Oscar for five minutes of screen time. In any case, Rashad White, I think he is Rashad White is a guy who's constantly destined to be very annoying to other people's values. Yes. He just coaches seem to like him enough to get him out there. He knows the protection scheme. He's useful as a receiving back as well. He's had number one, you know, borderline workhorse workloads in the NFL before. So Rashad White like wouldn't shock me at all if he does become like if he leads the commanders in carries just because it is such a fractured depth chart at this point. But yeah, we'll see what they do in the draft.
- [21:16]
Jay Croucher
More running back news and Jay, this one's for you. Keaton Mitchell with a nice little two year $9.3 million contract to the Chargers. Maybe the diet version for Mike McDaniel of Devon HN yeah, no, it's tough to say.
- [21:28]
Connor Rogers
They've already given up on a Marion Hampton and drafted a new franchise, a quick one franchise running back in Kate Mitchell. But like Mitchell I think we forget but Lamar Jackson's pre second MVP season where Keaton Mitchell towards the end of the year like he was like lightning. He was an absolutely explosive runner, a great kind of change of pace guy for them and he had the Achilles and he didn't quite look the same. But if this guy can get right fully healthy, he's an electric explosive athlete, one of the fastest guys in the NFL. And I think you know we know how much Mike McDaniel loves speed to your point about a chance. So yeah, again he's mainly he's only going to have fantasy value if Hampton gets hurt. But Hampton was hurt a lot last season. So in that case he could be
- [22:09]
Lawrence
interesting depending on what like what's happening in training camp. And Kymani Vidal, he has some times too last year where he was Literally a running back one in fantasy. But Keaton Mitchell in Baltimore Underused with Mike McDaniels will not be underused. And I think he's a great change of pace for a guy like Amari Hampton who obviously will lead that bat field.
- [22:33]
Jay Croucher
Jay, I feel like this comment's for you from stuntman Chuck Michael Keaton Mitchell.
- [22:36]
Connor Rogers
There you go.
- [22:37]
Matthew Berry
Yeah, I like that.
- [22:38]
Connor Rogers
Michael Keaton Mitchell following on from the William Hurt reference earlier rolling actors who were great in the 80s and 90s.
- [22:45]
Jay Croucher
I think if you want a running back to do well, like you invested in Keaton Mitchell shares in Dynasty or best borrow, this is the place. Like this is the place, right? This is the place.
- [22:54]
Lawrence
His value would be higher now than any other time.
- [22:58]
Jay Croucher
Exactly.
- [22:58]
Connor Rogers
He is going to have like a 74 yard touchdown at some point. He's just got that kind of explosion.
- [23:03]
Jay Croucher
Or a preseason drive where you're like is this going to be a thing? And with Mike McDaniel the answer is potentially yes. Matthew, hello out there. Have you moved? Have you.
- [23:12]
Matthew Berry
Nope, nope. No, I haven't slides over. I told my daughters to get off all their devices, so hopefully that helps.
- [23:22]
Jay Croucher
Sure, they appreciated that.
- [23:23]
Matthew Berry
Yeah, we'll see.
- [23:24]
Lawrence
That's old school right here.
- [23:25]
Matthew Berry
Yeah, I mean, dude, it hasn't ever been a problem here. The only thing I'll say is I wonder if the Chargers signed Keith Mitchell to the kind of deal because they said, they said, oh, they heard Jake Cratcher said he should have Eric Henry. That's running back.
- [23:42]
Lawrence
Yep.
- [23:43]
Connor Rogers
Take your word for it.
- [23:44]
Jay Croucher
Yep. Totally agree. In some other news, the Titans are keeping Calvin Ridley around. They've restructured his contract. Some veteran stability for Cam Ward. Although we feel like they that offense still has a lot of work to do. The Giants get Darnell mooney on a one year up to $10 million contract. So the Giants with Calvin Austin and Mooney go the budget deep ball route.
- [24:06]
Connor Rogers
I say the guarantees. I think Darnell Mooney's getting 10 million.
- [24:10]
Jay Croucher
I'm pretty sure the total guarantees between him and Austin was four and a half million.
- [24:13]
Connor Rogers
That makes a bit more sense. Yeah, I mean there is good little
- [24:16]
Lawrence
deal for both of them.
- [24:17]
Connor Rogers
Yeah, there's opportunity outside of Malik Neighbours in that offense in that passing game. So yeah, we'll see. Jackson dart was willing to throw the ball deep. Mooney was largely deep ball or bust a lot of the time last season. But yeah, he'll be a guy who we talk about on Tuesdays and then
- [24:32]
Jay Croucher
speaking of a guy exactly like that, Lawrence, because you know there's going to be a week or two for Christian Kirk with the Niners.
- [24:38]
Lawrence
Yeah.
- [24:38]
Jay Croucher
The Kendrick Bourne role.
- [24:40]
Lawrence
Yeah. Yes. And it's like if someone's. Someone's a little banged up or something this week because we seen Ricky Pierce saw he's been hurt. Mike Evans was hurt last year. That'll be those weeks that Christian Kirk goes off similar to. What was it against the. I believe it was against the Buffalo Bills last year when Christian Kirk had that one great game, 144 yards or something. And then that'll be Christian Kirk. He's basically there to fill in for what Kendrick Bourne did. But I look at it on the Texan side of things. Now that he's out of there, it gives those younger receivers, Jaden Higgins, maybe Jalen Null, to kind of step up a little bit. So we'll see how that goes.
- [25:20]
Connor Rogers
Do you think Christian is Christian Carrick done like, he had moments last year to your point, Lawrence, Like, I thought he looked good in the Steelers playoff game as well.
- [25:25]
Jay Croucher
He's just so crafty that if he's at like 70% his normal physical self, he finds a way. So when Kyle Shanahan just values iq, like, are you going to run the right route directly when I tell you to? And the quarterback's going to listen and throw the ball. Christian Kirk's gonna do that every time.
- [25:41]
Connor Rogers
Yeah. There's also. Ricky Pearsall is hurt all the time.
- [25:43]
Matthew Berry
All the time.
- [25:44]
Connor Rogers
Mike Evans has got to conquer these hamstring issues. And so there are wells where Christian Kirk will be the number one wide receiver in a Kyle Shanahan offense for stretches.
- [25:51]
Lawrence
Christian Kirk himself, too, has been hurt 18 missed games over the past three seasons. So there's that to think about as well.
- [26:00]
Jay Croucher
All right, we're going to take our first break. When we come back, we're going to see where Matthew is and if he's in a Texas A and M shirt. And we got NFL draft rankings and how it pertains to fantasy right after this.
- [26:19]
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- [26:25]
Jay Croucher
All right, here we are. Oh, it's perfect.
- [26:28]
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To first steps and fixer uppers from starter homes.
- [26:33]
Jay Croucher
So guess what?
- [26:34]
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We're having another.
- [26:35]
Matthew Berry
Another.
- [26:36]
Jay Croucher
We definitely need more space to more practical homes.
- [26:40]
Connor Rogers
Yes.
- [26:40]
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- [26:52]
Jay Croucher
this week on Sunday Night Basketball Wolves versus Celtics seven Eastern time on NBC. And Peacock. And starting April 19th, the NBA playoffs are coming to NBC. And Peacock, where you can see Jay Croucher.
- [27:06]
Connor Rogers
We'll be able to see Jay Croucher. Looking forward to it.
- [27:09]
Jay Croucher
As sharp as this?
- [27:10]
Connor Rogers
Yeah, much like this. Even with a tie, perhaps.
- [27:12]
Jay Croucher
Wow.
- [27:12]
Matthew Berry
God.
- [27:13]
Jay Croucher
Really going the extra mile. Good one here from Doomy McSledge. Is someone in the house downloading music on Limewire?
- [27:20]
Connor Rogers
Limewire. Limewire.
- [27:22]
Jay Croucher
Limewire's a great call, but you gotta be like a certain age for that, which is.
- [27:26]
Matthew Berry
This is.
- [27:26]
Lawrence
How about, say, watch out. Y' all know about LimeWire?
- [27:29]
Connor Rogers
Oh, yeah. Big Limewire guy.
- [27:30]
Lawrence
Napster.
- [27:31]
Connor Rogers
Yeah, Napster. For brief stretch burning some CDs.
- [27:34]
Lawrence
Yep.
- [27:35]
Jay Croucher
When you add an older sister. Sibling, like, that's how you get that passed down. Right. So, Matthew, you don't know about the Limewire error? I think you've missed that one.
- [27:43]
Matthew Berry
No, no, no, I. I know about it, but you know what? I'm. I'm somebody who's honest. I don't steal. I don't feel music. I don't pirate music. So. So, yeah, I've moved. I'm now in the closet.
- [27:55]
Connor Rogers
I'm out of the closet. Matthew, what do you mean? Yeah, is that with the NBC pillow behind you?
- [28:00]
Lawrence
Looks and.
- [28:01]
Jay Croucher
Sounds good, though.
- [28:03]
Matthew Berry
That's a great comment right there.
- [28:05]
Jay Croucher
Tim said try blowing in the end of it like a Nintendo cartridge.
- [28:08]
Lawrence
I love all these shoes.
- [28:10]
Jay Croucher
These are great. Yes. Yeah, you're in the right place here, Tim.
- [28:14]
Matthew Berry
You absolutely are. So anyway, I apologize to America, but you know, in fairness to me, in fairness to me, I'm always apologizing to America. I made a. I've somehow, you know, it's been a weekly occurrence for almost 30 years, so. But, you know, they're used to it, I think, in terms of, you know, some sort of apology. No matter what, I still have my. I saw my. My fuzzy peacock, though. There you go.
- [28:42]
Jay Croucher
It's good to just travel with that. You could build your own little setback drop wherever you go.
- [28:46]
Connor Rogers
Yeah, it's good because it is actually NBC branded and a peacock, but with the kind of angle it just looks like kind of someone's socks. Very good. Anyway, let's get into Connor's NFL draft rankings and start with the quarterbacks. Connor. And just to be clear, these are not fantasy rankings. These are just kind of general rankings, Right?
- [29:06]
Jay Croucher
General scouting rankings, but still a lot of. With this quarterback class, it applies to fantasy because the guy at the top is who matters most. And Fernando Mendoza, he's going to be the number one overall pick to the Raiders, we're assuming he's going to be able to play early, if not be the week one starter, which I think he should be. And Lawrence, the Raiders are trying their best right now after adding Linderbaum, signing Jalen Naylor. We know they're going to do more in the draft to build this thing the right way. With Clint Kubiak calling the plays for the young quarterback in Mendoza.
- [29:34]
Lawrence
I think they've had an exceptional offseason. Obviously you got to still play the games, but the Raiders and that new staff are doing everything. This is what you're supposed to do if you can. If you got the cap. When you know you got a rookie quarterback coming in, one with some talent, you want to make sure he has the best situation possible. And I like that they're doing it on defense because you want to get the ball back for your offense. Now when we talk about redraft and rookie quarterbacks, Fernando Mendoza is the only one that you'll even consider. He's probably not a starter off the bat. Obviously we don't start rookies in fantasy and one quarterback leads. But super flex something to look towards there. But based on what we think they could do. They have a lot of draft picks. They still. Well no, they no longer have.
- [30:24]
Jay Croucher
Because of the Crosby trade.
- [30:25]
Lawrence
They no longer have. But they got Max. They got a. They still got a lot of good picks in those first two days where you could find yourself a good player in there and you've already got Ashton Genty and Brock Bowers just. And I love the Tyler Linderbaum move because it's like now this center quarterback duo kind of get to just grow up together. You know we thought he was going to be what we thought Linderbaum was going to be with Lamar for a long time, but still a young center. Now he gets Mendoza to work with.
- [30:54]
Connor Rogers
What do you think Mendoza will be like as a runner in the NFL? My last memory of Hernando Mendoza is that epic run national title game. I know that he's not got blinding speed, but what do you think?
- [31:03]
Jay Croucher
It's going to be fascinating to see if they give him those chances in the red zone because he's got the big body. He's not fast but he's powerful.
- [31:09]
Connor Rogers
He's fearless as well.
- [31:11]
Jay Croucher
Right. I would think it's look back to those Seattle like Genti is going to get a lot of up. It'd have to be scrambled drill kind of stuff. Mendoza's so smart that he can run when he knows the coverage is going to open up space for a free 10 yards.
- [31:22]
Lawrence
Yes.
- [31:23]
Jay Croucher
But I think is with fantasy like the way I project him. Matthew and I'm very curious for you to get into this too. I think what we saw from Tyler Schuck down the stretch last year is kind of what you hope for a rookie Mendoza where he's doing good work from the pocket. He has a true number one connection with his number one. For Schuck it was Bowers obviously. I mean it was a lave for Mendoza. You hope that it's Bowers. I know different roles but still to lean on that number one kind of guy. I think that's what you would love to see from Mendoza as a rookie. Matthew and Chuck was streamable down the stretch last year in fantasy.
- [31:55]
Matthew Berry
Yeah, you took the words out of my mouth. I think he's. He is in a best case scenario likely streamable. Again, I don't think he's going to run all that much. Maybe they use him a little bit in the run game but quarterback, I don't know if you guys have had a chance to kind of go through the rankings for next year. Quarterback is super deep next year. So I don't think Mendoza will be Inside my top 20 initially among running among quarterbacks but yes, you can see if he's the starter. There's some success. A Tyler Shock down the stretch where he's like a QB15 in the right matchup, number of teams on the bye. He's got a good matchup. You could see him as a streaming option but it's a good move obviously for the Raiders and I'm with Lawrence and that the Raiders have had quietly a nice offseason here and still, you know, more work to do.
- [32:39]
Connor Rogers
Do you think that Mendoza will be good enough from day one that he can kind of create a ceiling where you know Brock Bowers is tight end one which I think he can be because he's a bit done it with worse quarterbacks than Fernando Mendoza. But also the Ashton Genty can be a top three four running back.
- [32:53]
Jay Croucher
I do. I think this offensive line still has some work to be done. It's a good start with Linderbaum and hopefully they're healthy and just better coach next year as well. But I think exactly the talking point for Mendoza in fantasy as a rookie should be let's get Bowers back to being the top dog or the second best tight end and let's have Genti live up to the draft status. Lawrence because he had nowhere to go and Kubiak it's going to Be a lot of play action. You look at what Mendoza did at Indiana, it was rpo a lot of different things that can lean on the run game. Early downs, throw when they had to throw the ball down the field. Mendoza being able to challenge downfield should open things up for Genti in year two.
- [33:28]
Lawrence
Yeah, and speaking of him challenging downfield, downfield, not just those go routes, those deep comeback routes that he likes to back shoulder, he's pretty good at that. But as far as Ashton Gente goes and how this offense runs the play action, you hope to get some good runs started off so that that play action works. And now you could go back and forth with that in the run game, have the defense on the heels and just set up for a better year for Ashton Genty.
- [33:57]
Jay Croucher
Jonathan Medici has a question for the Excuseler. Excuseler. Can you see Mendoza having a second half similar to Jackson Dart? That's an interesting spelling of Jackson Dart.
- [34:07]
Matthew Berry
Jask similar to Lawrence Jason.
- [34:09]
Jay Croucher
Yeah, there we go.
- [34:10]
Lawrence
Jason Dart.
- [34:12]
Matthew Berry
No, I can't. I mean, look, anything's possible. Obviously we know Mendoza's super talented but I just think he just doesn't run the way that Jackson Dart did and, and, and does and, and I also think by the way like day ball was more of a pass first, you know, so he was, you know, Jackson Dart was using both his, his legs and his arms. I think in an ideal world Clint Kubiak makes this offense around Ashton Chanty. He wants to be run heavy. He wants to set up play action for Fernando Mendoza. But I just don't see, I just don't see the way Kubiak calling this, these games. Like I don't think he's, I don't think Mendoza is going to throw nearly as much as Dart did. I think Raiders defensively better than the Giants, believe it or not. And I also think that they're not going to run Mendoza the way that Dart did. So that's a long way of saying no.
- [35:00]
Jay Croucher
Stuntman Chuck said, why are there absolutely no clothes in Barry's closet?
- [35:04]
Connor Rogers
Yeah, what's going on there? This is my question.
- [35:06]
Lawrence
He wearing them right now. He got one out.
- [35:09]
Jay Croucher
He left the A and M shirt off.
- [35:10]
Connor Rogers
NBA say pillow, nothing else.
- [35:13]
Matthew Berry
When you said, when you guys, you guys doubted me when I said I thought I had an A and M shirt here and I don't. So you know, it is what it is. Yeah, exactly.
- [35:19]
Lawrence
They said you ain't got no trousers on right now.
- [35:22]
Matthew Berry
Stuntman Chuck. What I have done is while I was dealing with technical difficulties, I'm actually my. I'm actually in my wife's closet. I have like a, I have like a drawer. This is my wife's closet. But I moved all of her clothes out of the way so that, you know, it wasn't distracting even more than normal. So that's why there are no clothes in, in the closet. They're all hanging over, you know, they're all here though.
- [35:51]
Connor Rogers
There we go.
- [35:54]
Jay Croucher
Oh, boy.
- [35:55]
Connor Rogers
Yeah.
- [35:55]
Jay Croucher
Inside baseball to the running backs.
- [35:57]
Connor Rogers
Terrible.
- [35:59]
Jay Croucher
The running back group. This is, this has a superstar at the top and I know there's probably a sitting there. You told us that about Ashton Genty last year. Well, Jeremiah Love, number one. I think it'll be hard for him to have a worse landing spot than what the Raiders offensive line was last year. Number two, he's better in the pass game. Lawrence, this guy is a three down superstar that can be utilized the same way we're used to McCaffrey being utilized.
- [36:24]
Lawrence
Yeah, 100% in saying Christian McCaffrey. This is a guy who's lined up and I, I know in training camp when you see a running back on, on the Internet lineup in the slot, the fantasy world go crazy. But like, nah, Jeremiah Love was really doing that, really lining up out wide and catching those passes. Hell, he did it at the combine. And I think a great point you brought up, Conner was the fact that we don't think that it's going to be a bad of a situation that Ash and Genty went to. You're talking about teams like the Titans, the Giants, possibly the commander that he could end up on. All those are better situations with, you know, teams that are kind of like they went in on free agency. So Jeremiah Love, wherever he goes, he'll fit. His skill set will fit anywhere. It'll be interesting to see how the consensus sees him as a fantasy prospect. This is a tweet I have from November of last year when I felt like, you know, based on the quarterback play we seen all around college football and based on where Ashton Genty and where am I, I feel like he should be a top three pick in the NFL draft. You see the breakaway speed there and here we are now. He's probably a top three talent. He is a top talent. He won't go there because the Raiders need the quarterback. The jets need the running back. They have the running back and they need the defense. So. But we'll see his name get called earlier for good reason.
- [38:01]
Connor Rogers
Where does he stack up against the other generational running backs? Peterson, Saquon Bean, Magenti, he's close.
- [38:07]
Jay Croucher
I mean, he's probably in the Gibbs tier for sure. That's where I would put him in. And you know, some people were like, oh, Gibbs top 15 pick. And then Gibbs went on to prove. Yeah, warranted that easily. He's, he's right there with the Bijan Saquons of the world. It's, it's that kind of special.
- [38:22]
Lawrence
In the past, I would say six years. That means we go back to 2020. The only ones I consider is over him coming out of college. Right. Because we can't, because Jonathan Taylor's in this. We can't use the hindsight there. I would say Bijan and Jameer Gibbs, he'd be, we'd be having a debate about that.
- [38:44]
Jay Croucher
Yeah, it's, it's that high level with Jeremiah Love. Matthew, do you think there's going to be. And this, this isn't really fair, but do you think there's going to be some hesitancy or resistance to taking Love so early because Genti burned some people
- [38:57]
Matthew Berry
last year in the world of fantasy football. Sure. Especially if he ends up going to Tennessee, given, you know, what the Titans have been the last couple of years and they're currently the betting favorite. By the way, I did my, I did my 35 rumors that I heard the NFL combine and one of them was, I'm actually hearing the Titans for Jeremiah Love, where everyone's just like, what are you talking about? Because he had been mocked for so much to the, to the, to the Saints or the Chiefs. This was, you know, two and a half weeks ago and now he's actually the betting favorite to go to Tennessee. But I think that's a great question, Connor, and I think you're right. There will definitely be some people that are sort of gun shy on Jeremiah Love, especially in Tennessee, given, you know, again, generational running back that went to a bad team in Ash and Genti last year and it just, it didn't work out. He'll, he'll be more of a low end RB1, I think, in terms of ADP than a top five guy. Although if, I think if he went to Washington or the Giants, you'd feel better about his, his potential lining up, you know, with either Jackson Dart or Jaden Daniels.
- [39:59]
Jay Croucher
Crazy enough, the next combo is about his teammate, Jadarian Price. Both of my top running backs went to Notre Dame. Price. What's that?
- [40:07]
Matthew Berry
Before we get, before we get on to Jadarian Price, though, I just want to say one thing. I want to. I'm curious if you think I'm crazy on this one because I don't think I am. Just to Lawrence's point about quarterbacks versus running backs and I know his point was merely about the NFL drop. But so, so as you guys know and Connor desperately knows, I'm in a crazy stupid dynasty league with a bunch of other people in the fantasy industry. 12 teams, 33 man rosters, 4 IR spots. It is crazy deep. And we do our draft before the NFL draft. So you have to draft players prior to knowing what NFL team they're on. That's part of the conceit of this league. And so I'm in a rebuilding. I won like two of the first three years of the league and I've in the last two years I've been rebuilding. So I have the number one pick. It is a super flex tight end premium league. I have the number one pick this year and I'm taking Love over Mendoza. I only have two quarterbacks. I have Purdy and Mahomes. Obviously Mahomes. But I feel good about that position. And so you know it is a super flex league where quarterbacks are super valuable. But I think Jeremiah Love over Fernando Van Dot, my number one.
- [41:15]
Jay Croucher
You have to. Yeah, it's not even much of a discussion. It's nothing against Mendoza. If Mendoza was a very, very high end runner it would be that discussion. I mean you can have a top three running back in fantasy for five years, which I love.
- [41:30]
Lawrence
You can't pass that up.
- [41:31]
Connor Rogers
Mahomes and Purdy, their outlooks for the next five years are pretty good.
- [41:35]
Jay Croucher
Right.
- [41:35]
Lawrence
I'll tell you this Matthew. I'm in a similar type league, super flex. You got tight ends. I have the eight overall pick. The guy that has the number one pick. Right. My quarterbacks are Lamar Jackson and Jaden Daniels. I'm trying to give up the, the eighth pick and Jaden Daniels to get Jeremiah Love and I'm trying to get him to give me Geno back. That's how much I want Jeremiah Love. And I already have Bijan and Jonathan Taylor. But I want to get Jeremiah Love in there. So if there, if that is, you know, that lets you know anything. I'm trying to.
- [42:13]
Matthew Berry
Well listen, Lawrence Jackson having a bunch of great running backs and crappy quarterbacks.
- [42:21]
Lawrence
Well see I'm trying to get to that point with the quarterbacks. I have Jaden Downs and Lamar. So I'm trying to get rid of my good quarterback and bring in.
- [42:29]
Matthew Berry
Yeah, you know. Yeah, I get it. Makes sense.
- [42:32]
Jay Croucher
So Love will take all the headlines for this running back class as he. But his teammate Jadarian Price I think has a legitimate chance to sneak into the first round. It's more likely he doesn't. But in the latest mock trap I had for NBC Sports had Seattle taking him at 32, big playability, great zone runner. I think he has upside in the past game, although we haven't seen it yet. So he would be another high end. Somebody is going to be extremely fantasy relevant Jay from this rookie class besides Love's landing spot because there's teams that still need starters.
- [42:59]
Connor Rogers
Yep. No, that makes a lot of sense. Jerry and Price very much the concanipple to Jeremiah. There we go. Flag. But no, every time the Price came on, it was stunning how how little the Notre Dame offense dropped off despite,
- [43:11]
Jay Croucher
you know, losing six yards of carry back right here.
- [43:13]
Connor Rogers
So yeah, Jadarian Price, Atlantic spot like Seattle would obviously be incredible.
- [43:18]
Lawrence
Look at a team like the Vikings too. There's other running backs on here too, like a EMT Johnson. If he ends up on the Vikings, we're going to be talking about him. Completely different because his main competition will be a getting older Aaron Jones.
- [43:32]
Jay Croucher
A little bit more depth with the wide receiver group as we take a look at the top 10 here and what's interesting, I have Jordan Tyson, number one. Obviously medicals will be the question, but talent, I do think he's in a tier of his own. Carnell Tate, I expect to be a number two pick out of Ohio State. You'd be looking at The Giants at 5, the Browns at 6 and the Saints at 8. Omar Cooper Jr over Makai Lemon. I think he's electric with the ball in his hands, great body condition, control, tons of upside with Omar Cooper Jr. This is a group guys that we're going to have a lot of conversations about in August. I would say that. I'd say the first seven of those guys can have rookie impacts.
- [44:08]
Lawrence
And look, Connor, the guy that was 10 on your list right here, Chris Bell, would you have him if he wasn't coming off the injury? Because that dude could play too. And if he goes in the second
- [44:19]
Jay Croucher
round, sixth or seventh. Yeah, yeah.
- [44:21]
Lawrence
You know, if he goes in the second round to team like let's say A.J. brown goes, you bring in Chris Bale. Let's say if the Ravens get a Chris, it's like that's a guy again. We'll be talking about him because we know he's a bigger receiver. He actually compared himself to A.J. brown at the combine when we talked to him, but he's A guy who's quick, he's got good tempo on the routes, he's just hurt and he's trying to get back. So that's the thing with him.
- [44:49]
Jay Croucher
Yeah, you get a real injury discount with Chris Bell and then if you turn on, you know, a game in November, you're like, who's that catching a 40 yard bomb while Chris Bell made it on the field?
- [44:57]
Connor Rogers
Yep. Last season, the only rookie wide receiver to get to 1000 yards is Ted Roll McMillan who won offensive rookie of the year. Obviously landing spot matters a ton, but how many of these guys do you think have that type of potential for year one?
- [45:09]
Jay Croucher
Tyson, if healthy, will do it. I think he's that good. And I know there's going to be a ton of pushback from people. I get it. They're worried. The thing is he's had almost 2,000 yards the last two years, so you had to play football to have that. We're getting a lot like, okay, so Carnell Tate, it's going to be really landing spot dependent because what if he's the number two to Malik Neighbors, which is good for him? I don't know how great that is for fantasy compared to being the number one for the Browns. And both scenarios are fully on the table right now.
- [45:34]
Lawrence
The Browns situation would be interesting because we the only pass catcher right now we feel great about for the Browns is Harold Fannin.
- [45:42]
Jay Croucher
Right.
- [45:42]
Lawrence
We've seen them do it and then the receivers are just a mosh pit of guys. But you get Carnell Tate in there, then it's like, oh, well, he's better than everybody, you know, and that's something that they haven't had. So the situation could or could not change.
- [45:57]
Jay Croucher
Yeah, I'm with you all the way on that one, Lawrence. It's going to be so landing spot dependent. Doomie McSledge. I'm picking at the 102 in a super flex dynasty and I'm debating whether I should take one of these wide receivers over Mendoza. So first off, doom, I hope your draft is after the draft because there's a scenario like what's the scenario where you take one of them over Mendoza?
- [46:19]
Lawrence
Is it Tate to the Saints after the draft? If Cardinals.
- [46:23]
Jay Croucher
Well, so what's your quarterback situation?
- [46:25]
Lawrence
Doom like that that makes cause like Barry had Brock Purdy and Patrick Mahomes. So that's where you're like, okay, we don't have to worry about a quarterback like that. If you don't have a quarterback, a guy that you know is going like, if you don't have like a top 20 guy then I'm trying to take Fernando Mendoza because we know he's starting.
- [46:44]
Jay Croucher
You need a floor at the quarterback position. So yeah, that's. It's an interesting scenario that a lot of people are going to be going to be dealing with tight ends. Jade around.
- [46:52]
Matthew Berry
Oh, go ahead. Matthew Connor. I was just going to say two quick things. First off, just again because as you know, I'm a crazy Texas A and M fan. Casey Concepcion, incredibly fast and that's somebody that I could in the right landing spot just because of his speed and he's somebody that also does special team teams. I could see him having a Rashid Shahid type right season again just because assuming they use him that way. So I'm just. I'm a big Concepcion fan again because you know, you can tell I love my Aggies. The other thing, but I'm just curious. One of the things I heard at the combine, Connor, about Jordan Tyson was that from a talent level like the comp I kept hearing was Jackson, Smith and Jigba like that, that like again needs to stay healthy. But like is that a crazy comp? But I heard that from two different people.
- [47:38]
Jay Croucher
No, I don't think it's crazy at all. I saw Garrett Wilson, Travis Hunter, the body control, the explosive separation. I think once again some people are just not going to talk themselves into it because of the injuries he's had. But the bottom line is when the guy plays, he's a premium talent. I mean top 10 player for me, the number one wide receiver in this class in a tier of his own where right now people might be hesitant.
- [48:01]
Lawrence
But then once you get on the team.
- [48:04]
Jay Croucher
Yeah, you get one training camp highlight and everybody's taking them in the third round.
- [48:07]
Lawrence
Yeah, things will change. But I also think a lot of receivers on this list, it depends where they go. They can have impact early.
- [48:14]
Jay Croucher
Yeah. And we know how important that is at tight end.
- [48:16]
Connor Rogers
Indeed. Let's get into these tight ends. Connor, headlined by Kenyon Siddiq at the top. So it was a good year for tight ends last year in the NFL in terms of rookies coming out with Tyler Warren, his start to the season, Colston Loveland, what he did, even a Ronde Gadsden year before that, Brock Bowers. How many of these guys can have that type of impact?
- [48:34]
Lawrence
Yeah.
- [48:34]
Jay Croucher
And going back to this is a general ranking versus fantasy ranking. Eli Stowers would be much higher in a fantasy ranking because he's going to get that. He should get that Harold Fannin kind of roll. You're playing off the line, you're playing off the away from the tackles, you're playing in the slot, kind of an F. Tight end Sadiq is going to go in the first round. All the talk with this rookie tight end class is going to be around Sadiq. I think you can go as high as Baltimore at 14. If Baltimore takes Kenyon Siddiq at 14 and he looks like Lamar Jackson's number two target.
- [49:01]
Lawrence
If the Ravens take him, they have a real plan for him.
- [49:06]
Jay Croucher
Exactly.
- [49:07]
Lawrence
Big fans, I don't think they should go there, but if they do, they gotta have a real like they want to use him asap.
- [49:13]
Jay Croucher
Right. This class isn't as good as Warren and Loveland. That was pretty special. Fannin was even better than I thought he would be. But I think Sadiq is going to be incredibly interesting at the top. So. All right, we'll do more draft stuff throughout the coming weeks and leading up to it. That's the surface level rankings for now. We're going to take one more break when we're back. It's last call. Looking at the odds from DraftKings for where Jeremiah Love will land. On DraftKings sportsbook, new customers could bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets instantly. Download the app and use Purchase promo code ffhh when you sign up DraftKings sportsbook, look at old nasty crown. Is yo time for last call? Take a look at the odds from DraftKings of which team will Jeremiah Love be drafted by? The Titans have been steadily moving by the way. I believe just two days ago they were minus 115. So the public is wisely backing this. I mean you're going to see this matchup for a while. It's minus 150. Jay. I feel like you agree with that, Matthew. I know this was in your rumors column too.
- [50:19]
Connor Rogers
Yeah, this is minus 150 implies 60% chance that he gets drafted by the Titans. Just from everything I'm saying that sounds about right. Maybe even higher. So I think that if you're Tennessee, the only thing that matters out of this season is giving Cam Ward the best possible context to succeed. Now they didn't do a ton in terms of past game weapons understanding of Wandell Robinson, but they need more weapons in that offense and and Jeremiah Love just seems like a hand in glove fit.
- [50:44]
Jay Croucher
You agree with that one Matthew, Going all the way back to what you heard at Indy.
- [50:48]
Matthew Berry
Yeah, what I heard at Indy was that the Tennessee Titans had Jeremiah Love just as the number one player on their Draft board in terms of just forget team knee. Just they think he's the most talented player in this draft and it's a team that obviously needs talent across the board. Then you also think about the fact that it's a team that doesn't have a lot of stars. They've got a new stadium opening in 2027. And so with a new coach, new regime, can they get some excitement around a team that's got a long way to go and so getting a brand name, superstar player certainly helps all that. You think about Robert Sala, who you know, for years was a coordinator in San Francisco and knows exactly what a star running back can do to help a defense and keep you off the. Keep them off the field. So. Makes a lot of sense. I think The Giants at plus 400 might be a better bet though, just in the sense because the odds involved, you know, they. They were in on the Ken Walker sweepstakes. They didn't get them. They want. Harbaugh wants a big back and obviously what would be better than having Jeremiah Love in the Big Apple?
- [51:44]
Lawrence
Yeah, the commander's getting a new stadium too, right?
- [51:48]
Matthew Berry
20, 30.
- [51:49]
Jay Croucher
20 30.
- [51:50]
Lawrence
Jeremiah Love will be at his peak by then. I. I'm gonna. I'm gonna go what I think is the best fit in what the commanders need to. The problem is they pick three picks behind the Titans, which is why they're not favored here. But I'm not convinced that Rashad White and Jerome Ford and the artist formerly known as Bill is enough to keep them from taking Jeremiah Love and making them one of the most dangerous backfields with Jaden Daniels in the NFL.
- [52:19]
Jay Croucher
Matthew, I'll let you send us out with this one from Medici. Do we have the draft kings odds for Berry's ride or die next season?
- [52:26]
Matthew Berry
We do not. We do not. I gotta I at least get to see who, you know, who lands where and while the dust settles.
- [52:34]
Connor Rogers
So take calamari again.
- [52:37]
Lawrence
But you got Justin Jefferson now.
- [52:40]
Matthew Berry
Yeah, maybe meet Ty Simpson. Hey, listen, it's closing time. You don't have to go home, but you can stay here. Good luck with all of your brackets. We'll see you next week. Go read Love Hate on NBCSports.com Peace out.