Rams at Seahawks Reaction + Rashee Rice, Drake London injury updates

Summary

Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry

Episode: Rams at Seahawks Reaction + Rashee Rice, Drake London injury updates
Date: December 19, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Fantasy Football Happy Hour is centered around the electrifying overtime shootout between the Rams and Seahawks, with Matthew Berry, Jay Morrison, and Connor Rogers breaking down the fantasy impact of the game’s wild plays, standout fantasy performances, and what it all means for fantasy managers deep in the playoffs. The crew also delivers injury updates (including on Rashee Rice and Drake London), fresh waiver advice, and their spirited, always on-brand banter.

---

Key Discussion Points

1. Rams vs. Seahawks: Game of the Year? (00:54–04:38)

• Opening Energy: Pulled from an animated Seahawks locker room speech (00:00–00:42), the hosts set the tone for discussing "the game of the season."
• Puka Nacua and JSN Duel:
  • Puka Nacua explodes with a 46.5-point fantasy game (“He scores 46 and a half points. He got tackled inside the five twice and Stafford missed him wide open for a 40 yard touchdown. [...] I feel like he underperformed. I wanted more for Puka.” – Matthew Berry, [03:12])
  • JSN (Jackson Smith-Njigba) also shines: “JSN matching him in the second half. They're, they trade game winning touchdowns…” ([02:27] Matthew Berry).
  • Both in the running for Offensive Player of the Year (“That’s basically a head to head now for offensive player of the year. I think that'll come down to the wire…” – Berry, [04:17]).
• Coaching Impact:
  • Appreciation for Sean McVay’s creative use of tight ends and ability to maximize Puka’s role despite double and triple coverage (“Nobody in football does that. But what it does is it allows them to balance the run and the pass with an elite wide receiver in Puka, obviously. […] He's that good.” – Jay Morrison, [05:07])
• Notable Quote: “I think Puka Nacua is the best receiver in football. What he can do contested catch wise…” – Matthew Berry, [10:16]

2. Fantasy Fallout: Player Takeaways (04:38–12:11)

• Fantasy MVPs and Draft Value Debates
  • Discussion of Nacua vs. JSN for fantasy MVP, factoring in ADP value.
  • Projecting 2026's first-round picks: Bijan Robinson emerges as potential 1.01, Puka and JSN likely top-3 WRs.
  • "In some order it's those three wide receivers, it's Bijan…" – Connor Rogers, [11:49]
• QB Analysis:
  • Matthew Stafford’s performance lauded, but with tempered expectations (“Stafford was brilliant last night. And so, yeah, go ahead.” – Connor Rogers, [07:12])
  • Stafford’s receiver situation without Devonta Adams, and how that changed team dynamics.

3. Strategic Fantasy Advice as Playoff Semis Arrive (14:21–17:17)

• Playing for Upside After Big Thursday Night Scores
  • “As you head into this weekend, you now need to aim for upside like you are. It is no longer about floor play.” – Matthew Berry, [15:13]
  • Examples: Start high-variance players like Darius Slayton over low-ceiling options. “Michael Wilson has more chance to go for 120, right. Shakir who just doesn’t really have that scope.” – Berry, [15:33]
• Ken Walker’s Annoying Timing
  • Big game after weeks of disappointment: “No one that has Ken Walker in the lineup is either in the playoffs or using him. And then, you know, Ken Walker… he had two big plays.” – Connor Rogers, [16:41]

4. Injury Roundup & Impact (21:47–41:29)

• Rashee Rice (Chiefs, Concussion):
  • If out, Xavier Worthy “has averaged almost 13 fantasy points per game” in Rice’s absence (Connor Rogers, [22:32])
  • Gardner Minshew not Mahomes, but can get the ball to WRs. Worthy a high-upside option for those needing to chase points.
• Drake London (Falcons, Knee):
  • London returns to practice, and Berry & crew express confidence: “If they're bringing back Drake London, that means he's fully healthy. They're not going to bring him back if he's dragging around a leg.” – Berry, [26:17]
  • Rogers’ “guarantee” that London will go off (based on opponent, personal track record).
• Other Notable Names:
  • Marvin Harrison Jr. (limited, likely to play), implications for Michael Wilson as top-20 WR if Marv is out ([29:28])
  • Woody Marks, Javonte Williams, Swift, Jacobs, Evans, Kincaid – quick updates, most as “monitor on Sunday” situations.
  • Saints RB: Audric Estimé may start; “since week eight, your jets allow the most fantasy points to opposing running backs.” – Connor Rogers, [37:14]

5. Waiver and Start/Sit Strategy (Multiple timestamps, especially 31:59–39:46)

• Flex/Bench Questions Answered:
  • Who to start between Michael Wilson, Pickens, Sutton, Hampton, Pollard: “I think you bench the running backs.” – Berry, [33:04]
  • Kamani Vidal, Michael Carter, or Audric Estime: “Estimate has a higher ceiling than Carter… could be 100 yards and two touchdowns, could be 25 yards.” – Rogers, [37:55]
• Theme: This semifinal week is about swinging for the fences if you’re behind, using upside plays, but not getting too wild.

6. Doctor’s Office: Flexual Frustrations with Denny Carter (40:10–43:49)

• Denny Carter Offers Flex Wisdom
  • Xavier Worthy’s value much higher without Rice (target share jumps from 16% to 25%, [40:59]).
  • Darius Slayton as high-variance deep threat against the Vikings (“could be glorious for you to get through to your championship.” – Carter, [42:07])
  • Mack Hollins unexpectedly viable as a Patriots target: “...since week 10, leads the Patriots in targets and air yards.” – Denny Carter, [43:14]
  • The “Mac(k) that ass up” comedic segment, keeping the show’s tone light ([42:59]).

---

Notable & Memorable Quotes

• “I think Puka Nacua is the best receiver in football.”
  – Matthew Berry, [10:16]

• “As you head into this weekend, you now need to aim for upside... it is no longer about floor play.”
  – Matthew Berry, [15:13]

• “JSN likely wins offensive player of the year because the stats will be close and he's got the weaker quarterback and no Devonte Adams taking pressure off...”
  – Matthew Berry, [10:16]

• “Colby Parkinson then in a game in which Matthew Stafford was brilliant... just... They couldn’t get him the ball. It’s unbelievable.”
  – Connor Rogers, [08:45]

• “If you faced Puka Nakua last night in your semifinal, you now have to chase upside. You're not playing for floor anymore.”
  – Collective advice, [14:21–15:52]

• “No one that has Ken Walker in the lineup is either in the playoffs or using him. ... He broke two plays, which is in a skill set. But it's just, it was just annoying to see.”
  – Connor Rogers, [16:41]

• “If they're bringing back Drake London, that means he's fully healthy. They're not going to bring him back if he's dragging around a leg.”
  – Matthew Berry, [26:17]

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:54–04:38: Rams-Seahawks OT preview & Puka/JSN duel
• 05:07–06:19: Rams’ tight end heavy sets and Sean McVay’s adaptability
• 15:13–15:52: Playoff strategy after big Thursday night scores—chasing upside
• 22:32–24:16: Rashee Rice out; Xavier Worthy’s outlook & Gardner Minshew analysis
• 26:17–26:47: Drake London injury return and start-ability
• 33:01–33:06: “Bench the running backs” on tough flex calls
• 37:14–37:55: Audric Estimé and Saints running back outlook
• 40:10–43:49: Dr. Denny Carter answers “Flexual Frustrations”

---

Episode Tone & Style

The show maintains its trademark blend of expert fantasy analysis, dry wit, and irreverent humor. Matthew Berry’s measured pragmatic takes are interspersed with self-deprecating rants (Colby Parkinson, Ken Walker), Connor Rogers brings energy and relatable league stories, and Jay Morrison provides data-driven, clear summaries. The extended “Doctor’s Office” with Denny Carter delivers comic relief and useful last-minute flex advice.

---

Summary for Listeners

This podcast episode is a quintessential “deep playoff” edition: If you missed the Rams-Seahawks thriller, the crew lays out why it was historic for fantasy, with record-setting WR outputs and implications for the 2026 draft. Injury nuggets, waiver priorities, and strategic playoff advice—especially for those burned by Thursday night explosions—are covered in detail. The emphasis throughout: it's time to maximize upside, stay agile on waivers, and don't tilt too hard if fantasy football’s chaos takes you out—because sometimes, all you can do is “Mac(k) that ass up.”

---

For more analysis and Sunday morning lineup help, tune into Fantasy Football Pregame, and follow @MatthewBerryTMR and the Fantasy Football Happy Hour team on social media.

Transcript

[Russell Wilson]

What a group, man. What a freaking football team you guys are. What a football team, man, we're the freaking Seahawks. Let's go. That's what we do, man. One play at a time. Look, every phase picks each other up all the things. Okay? Defensively, look, you guys did a hell of a job adjusting in the second half and offense picking us up when we needed it.

[Matthew Barry]

Man.

[Russell Wilson]

That's a freaking great job. Special teams with a freaking punters, let's go see it. We are in the playoffs. We are in the proud of you guys. Let's go celebrate this thing. Leo, get us a break. Hey, here we go, fellas. Love y'.

[Connor Rogers]

All.

[Russell Wilson]

Boys, lights on three. One, two, three.

[Connor Rogers]

Fantasy Football Happy hour with Matthew Barry.

[Jay Morrison]

Happy Friday. Welcome to the Fantasy football happy hour. That was a fired up for all the right reasons. Seahawks locker room don't worry, we're gonna break all Excellent, amazing Thursday night football game. Jay, maybe the some people are saying best game of the year. I think so.

[Matthew Barry]

I think the game of the season.

[Jay Morrison]

Bill's Ravens to kick things off, was still pretty close.

[Matthew Barry]

Yeah. It's week one though, right?

[Jay Morrison]

The stakes of the game.

[Matthew Barry]

I didn't know what those teams were. Just. Yeah. With the stakes being so clearly defined and just the absurdity of how it played out to go from 34 games done, like games completely done at 30 to 14. And then the Rashid Shahid punt return touchdown. That's the thing. It's like a lot of these games that turn out of nowhere. It is like something random, like special teams or some random bizarreness.

[Jay Morrison]

A quick score. Yeah.

[Matthew Barry]

So it was. But it was pretty special.

[Jay Morrison]

Yeah, it was. And despite all of that, who's wandering on in?

[Connor Rogers]

You guys doing the show?

[Matthew Barry]

Yeah, let's do the show.

[Connor Rogers]

All right. Should I get on the air?

[Matthew Barry]

Yeah, let's go.

[Connor Rogers]

Is this a good angle? This is my first time on tv. My first time on tv.

[Matthew Barry]

Yeah. Well, it was a late night for all of us watching.

[Connor Rogers]

Oh, east coast dad. Shout out to my friend J.J. zacharison. Yeah, it was beautiful. Yeah. You know what, Vlad? I'm gonna teach Colby how to catch the ball. No, they wouldn't let me. It's a long story. They wouldn't let me get miked up on air. I wanted to give Kenny some screen time, but they wouldn't let me do it.

[Jay Morrison]

Kenny would be great on air. He's entertaining.

[Connor Rogers]

We love Kenny. One of our stage managers here, die hard Lions fan as well. What were you guys talking about?

[Jay Morrison]

Just the big game.

[Connor Rogers]

Oh, yeah.

[Matthew Barry]

Blazers Kings. Blazers Lou a 17 point lead with three games to go. Yeah as I was saying on the the pre call for our show really Rams Seahawks just the matinee for for Blazers Kings which kicked on well into the night past 1am but yeah, ridiculous game I think. I mean there's so much we can get into here Connor. But I think the, the story of the game is the wide receiver superstar performances and Puka Nuku are going absolutely berserk. JSN matching him in the second half. They're, they trade game winning touchdowns now fancy wise not much to take away from that but I just think marveling at the level of play that those two got to is the story.

[Connor Rogers]

Congratulations to Puka Nakua for no racist touchdown celebrations either by the way.

[Matthew Barry]

Okay, hold its breath. Yeah he got tackled inside the five twice but yeah the crazy thing about Puka is that he scores 46 and a half points. He got tackled inside the five twice and Stafford missed him wide open for a 40 yard touchdown.

[Jay Morrison]

Could have somehow been so much bigger.

[Matthew Barry]

I feel like he underperformed. I wanted more for Puka.

[Connor Rogers]

It's unbelievable. Yeah, I'm in a guillotine league where I have both Puka and jsn. You know we're down to final two. I mean everyone's got a team right. You know so I'm feeling pretty good in that league. Of course in the other league I'm playing against a guy that has both.

[Jay Morrison]

That's how it goes.

[Connor Rogers]

Just how it goes. But I mean it just, it just goes to show I mean like we sort of talked about this yesterday in the show about you know these guys were probably the two fantasy MVPs this year. I argued for JSN over Puka based on you know third round ADP versus late first round for Puka but still you know when it mattered most they absolutely crushed. It was looking dicey there for JSN for a little bit. Your best bet yesterday. Yeah six and a half over six and a half but absolutely zeroed half.

[Matthew Barry]

Needed overtime to get there. It's pretty wild though that Jackson Smith and Jigba goes. Where'd he go like 8 for 96 on the game winning touchdown in the end and was doubled in points by his, his rival, his contemporary and Puka Nukua those two going to buy off. That's basically a head to head now for offensive player of the year. I think that'll come down to the wire with the Colts struggling and why.

[Connor Rogers]

Why I mean is McVay just that good of a coach? Where, where Just like, like again, I think most people are suddenly like, you know, he's the only guy. Why are you bracketing him? Triple teaming.

[Matthew Barry]

They did.

[Jay Morrison]

I mean, crazy.

[Connor Rogers]

That's not all the time.

[Jay Morrison]

And it felt like maybe they should have all the time. McVay is a mastermind. I know it's weird to say that on a day we're breaking down. The Seahawks have an amazing win, but I mean, this is the second week in a row where they've had three tight ends on the field for over 61% of the time. Nobody in football does that. But what it does is it allows them to balance the run in the pass with an elite wide receiver In Puka, obviously. No Devonta Adams. And they use all these tight ends, much to our chagrin because it's a little frustrating in fantasy, but the balance in their offense and then to be able to feed their number one wide receiver. The Seahawks tried to. They had a safety over the. They were. They were playing different leverages. It just didn't matter. He's that good.

[Matthew Barry]

Yeah. Also Kanata Mumfield, he's a real person. He is actually. He is a real person. Don't get confused with that.

[Jay Morrison]

Eight targets fucking out of Mumfield. That's a respect of his name he.

[Connor Rogers]

Picked up in my dynasty league last week.

[Matthew Barry]

Yeah, exactly. I thought tactically, Connor, it was fascinating because I really felt like the Rams are the better team last night and I felt that the Seahawks were the better team in the first matchup and they traded outcomes with them. The beauty of the Seahawks defense, which was made to look not great last night, the beauty of that defense is that they can stay in light of personnel and still destroy the run game. And so Sean McVay was just like, all right, well, you guys can say you like personnel. You guys can stay a nickel. Yeah, we're just going to put our tight ends out there. We're just going to mole you. And until the end, where Stafford started getting hit a bit, Ram's O line was magnificent, keeping Stafford upright. But ultimately Nakuur and his gravity was really what created everything.

[Jay Morrison]

I mean, he didn't. The one first down, he caught through the defender. There's nothing you could do there.

[Matthew Barry]

Yeah, I think Jackson, Smith and Jika ultimately will win offensive player of the year because the stats are going to be similar. JSN has Sam Donald as his quarterback. Puknakua has the MVP Likely as his quarterback. And Devonte, that didn't move right.

[Jay Morrison]

I don't want to skip over that. Yeah, Stafford, it's not like you look at that game and go, well, Stafford can't be the MVP anymore.

[Matthew Barry]

Funny, his price is basically identical. I actually think he's more likely to win MVP now than he was before the game because, I mean, a Guy Just went three touchdowns, no picks for 57 yards against the Seahawks defense.

[Connor Rogers]

But ultimately that's the thing that's most amazing. Like, I benched Stafford in a couple of leagues thinking, well, short week, no Devonte Adams against Seattle. Like his third worst game of the season was against Seattle earlier in the year. And so it just sort of like, I mean, Stafford was brilliant. He was brilliant last night. And so, yeah, go ahead.

[Matthew Barry]

I think it's going to like. I thought Stafford was very good. He's very good. 457 and three touchdowns against the Seahawks. They did go five straight drives in the second half without scoring any points. It wasn't, it's been described as like Josh Allen against the Rams last year. I think it's quite that level. He was very good at an 80 PFF grade last night. That's what I thought it was. It was like an 80th percentile type of game. Puka did a lot of work after the cash. Now, Stafford was great in his ability to succeed in that way without Devonte.

[Connor Rogers]

Adams, but they weren't getting anything really going on the run game. Like, you know, I mean, like they.

[Jay Morrison]

They dropped some that they should have had to.

[Matthew Barry]

Yeah.

[Jay Morrison]

Stafford speaking. Drinks for free, so.

[Connor Rogers]

Exactly. I mean, in a game in. Almost 80 points were scored. Colby Parkinson, who, listen, he was on my love list Item, his top 10 play. A lot of people across the industry, I saw many angry Reddit threads about Colby Parkinson and all of us drink for free. The play was right. 73% route participation for Colby Parkinson against a team that going into this game had given up the second most receiving yards, second most receptions to opposing tight ends. The problem is, is that tight ends did do well against them. It just wasn't Colby Parkinson.

[Jay Morrison]

They played three of them on the field at a time, all times.

[Connor Rogers]

That was it. And it felt like they used Colby Parkinson more for blocking, which was weird. Like with Devontae Adams out, they went with three tight ends quite a bit. And they, they used Parkinson more for blocking, which would surprise me. I didn't think he was that good a blocker. I didn't think it was that much.

[Jay Morrison]

Threat on the line of scrimmage for them while the other guys get to play big slot a lot.

[Connor Rogers]

And so he led the tight ends in route participation. But obviously he had two big drops, obviously. And they didn't, you know, when they. He wasn't the tight end that scored the touchdown, which is very upsetting. So incredibly annoying. Colby Parkinson then in a game in which Matthew Stafford was brilliant, in a game in which Matthew Stafford threw 49 times, Colby Parkinson somehow a week after he gets 75 yards, a week after his route participation has increased again, 73% route participation. He was out there like he just. They couldn't get him the ball. It's unbelievable.

[Matthew Barry]

Yeah. Do you think the Seahawks like Seahawks defense statistically? Really. Only the Texans have been better than them this year. But do you think they can be got a little bit where the Rams are relentlessly targeting job corner. Last night Baker Mayfield put up 38 points against this team. Stafford just put up 37, admittedly in overtime with effectively a defensive score. They got down to. To the one off the Donald pick. But do you think that like next week not so much against the Panthers, but in Week 18? The Niners are not as scared of the Niners now.

[Jay Morrison]

It's not a perfect defense. Right. It's definitely has a lot of young talent. Nicki, man, War, he got banged up last night. You could see the town with him on the back end. Witherspoon's a great player. Witherspoon was step for step with Nakuan plays that Naku would just make a miraculous catch. So. Yeah. And then they come in waves with their pass rushers. I don't think you look at their defense and go, oh, they have a Micah Parsons or a Max Crosby or a TJ Watt. They just more come in waves. So.

[Matthew Barry]

And a lot of this game, I.

[Jay Morrison]

Think that's really fair. And Mike McDonald's a mastermind, but you know, who knows how to attack masterminds. Sean McVay.

[Matthew Barry]

Yeah, absolutely. To tie off the previous thought as well, I think JSN likely wins offensive player of the year because the stats will be close and he's got the weaker quarterback and no Devonte Adams taking pressure off. I think Pukka Naku is the best receiver in football. What he can do contested catch wise. I think from Jason as well. Yeah, yeah.

[Jay Morrison]

A monster.

[Connor Rogers]

He's just. He's unbelievable. Insane to think he was a 5th round pick.

[Jay Morrison]

Insane even they passed on him a couple times.

[Connor Rogers]

That's right. I mean credit to Les sneed and Sean McVay and you've seen the clip is, you know, like about, hey, I think this guy could be something.

[Jay Morrison]

He really did like him.

[Connor Rogers]

But no one I Don't think anyone thought that coming out of college he would be the best wide receiver in the NFL, let alone fantasy football. The last two things I'll say about this game here is that you need to take this game and this is a good question from Aloha Bricks. I think PUK is the number one wide receiver.

[Matthew Barry]

I think he's the only thing is the injury stuff. He's more of an injury risk than jsn.

[Connor Rogers]

That's right. He's a first rounder. I think he's probably a top five guy overall. Yeah.

[Jay Morrison]

I think he'll be the second or third player taking him most.

[Connor Rogers]

He's probably right. You're take. I mean you think about this year you could make an argument again assuming health that could you take Jamar Chase over him?

[Jay Morrison]

Sure.

[Connor Rogers]

Could you take JSN over him? Sure. You're not taking CD Lamb over him. You're not taking Jefferson. Jefferson over him.

[Matthew Barry]

No, I think it's. It's JSN Chase and Puka.

[Jay Morrison]

Is there a running back you would take over him?

[Matthew Barry]

Bijan.

[Jay Morrison]

Bijan.

[Matthew Barry]

I think Bajan should be the number one pick probably because of the, the workload, the receiving work and the fact that he's just doesn't. He doesn't get hurt which I know everyone's no one's injury prone until they are.

[Connor Rogers]

That's by the way. That's the. In some order it's. It's those three wide receivers. It's Bijan. I think it's probably Devon, Achan and Gibbs. You know with maybe Jonathan Taylor again depending on what they all. But that's probably your top eight next year. Would be my. Would be my assumption. Yeah.

[Matthew Barry]

Yeah. Say who the Colts quarterback.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah. Again there's a lot of. Yeah. What happens?

[Jay Morrison]

Kyle Murray, Joe Burrows, weird quotes every. I know it seems like a long shot but I'm just saying a lot can change from now when we're sitting here in August actually predict Joe Barra.

[Matthew Barry]

Is talking and so he just came out of a viewing of Waiting for Godot with me last Saturday. I wonder if that's.

[Connor Rogers]

Now we're getting into NFL talk and we have a lot to get to. The only thing I would say about Joe Burrow is I wonder if. Yeah, I suppose I wonder if. I have no inside knowledge. I have absolutely zero inside knowledge.

[Matthew Barry]

Is he going to retire?

[Connor Rogers]

No, no, no, no. Just. But like because I am in business with him like again. And like I mean so I just. But I. So I don't want to be very clear about you know, I have no inside knowledge at all. I don't talk to Joe.

[Jay Morrison]

We don't know if he knows he's an investor.

[Connor Rogers]

He does. He does. No, he does know he's an investor. He does know he's an investor. I have a picture like I took with him where he was holding the fantasy Life magazine. So I know he knows. He knows. He does know. But, like, I deal with his business guy. You know what I mean? I don't even deal with his business guy all that much. Yes, exactly.

[Matthew Barry]

Right.

[Connor Rogers]

It's. Yes, it's Andre Yosemite. But I wonder if. I wonder if he is trying to. I wonder if he is trying to, in a. In a roundabout way, get out of Cincinnati, because that is. That is. He is the cheapest owner in the NFL, Will not invest in the defense.

[Matthew Barry]

Won't.

[Connor Rogers]

Whether Zach Taylor is the problem or not. I mean, we can. We can debate that. That's a different. That's an NFL discussion. But, like, there's no chance Zach Taylor gets fired because the owner is too cheap to buy out a contract. He just never has. Right. He just. He's let Marvin Lewis, you know, all these. And so it's just like, this is why I always say Bengals fans. I always feel so brutal for Bengals fans. It's so tough. But he is the cheapest owner in the NFL. And so if Joe Burrow sitting there going like, I've got my prime, and I just. Maybe he can force his way out or make it to an extent. Like he's thinking about retiring. And the only way he'll come back is if the owner does open up the purse strings. And that's a defense. Defense, you know, so just.

[Jay Morrison]

Anyway, Ryan Oswald Barry cuts off the NFL talk like it derails, but talks about Nemo scripts pitched for five minutes.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, because those are interesting. Yeah, yeah. A thousand percent. Because by the way, if you want NFL talk, pro football talk, Sims unbuttoned. They do a great job of it. But you know, Nemo scripts, the only places you're getting it here, by the.

[Jay Morrison]

Way, it's corner of the market. We have absolutely nailed.

[Connor Rogers]

We've run that lane. The last. The two things from the game. Last two things from this game. Back to NFL talk, Ryan. Back to fantasy football talk. Number one is, is that this is such a crazy game from Puka Nuku, even by his standards, the most fantasy points by wide receiver in a game the season, third most by any player. But at least it happened on a Thursday. So if you are facing Puka Nakua in a semifinal right now at least you understand as you head it. And we'll talk more about this on fantasy football pregame Sunday morning. But as you head into this weekend, you now need to aim for upside like you are. It is no longer about floor play. Every line of decision that you have now, you're not going to do something stupid. But I'm just saying like if you're trying to decide between two players, it's always the guy that has the chance of going off versus the, versus the floor play.

[Jay Morrison]

Right?

[Connor Rogers]

Right. It's. It's. You know, you're. You're trying to. That, that's. I'm trying to give a good example here. But you prefer in a, in a flex blot. I'm, I'm trying to make it up. But like you prefer Darius Slayton in a, in a deep flex to then you know, some possession receiver or you know like a guy that I've got.

[Matthew Barry]

A decision make between. Like looks like Marvin Harrison will play. So I gotta choose between Michael Wilson and Khalil Shakir and I think their median outcomes are pretty similar but Michael Wilson has more chance to go for 120. Right. Shakir who just doesn't really have that scope. So I went up against Puka in that league and so now Michael Wilson. Good luck.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, but that's, but that's exactly the right. Like you're, you know somebody like Derry Slayton who like you're hoping he catches two long ones. Like even if it's a 10% chance. Right. I mean just that's the idea is that you just need to, you need to now re. Recalibrate how you are setting your lineup and any moves you might make. Right. I mean like, like I normally wouldn't start Adric Estimate but like if I'm down to Puka Nicole I might think like. Like he's going to get the start for the. Like he's probably splitting with Evan Hull, but on the other hand he's playing the Jets. And is there a chance that Audrey Estimate out of nowhere has 100 yards and two touchdowns given the jets, he could score twice. Like. So that's the kind of thinking you have to think about again at three.

[Jay Morrison]

Touchdowns against the jets last week through the air.

[Connor Rogers]

That's right.

[Matthew Barry]

So it's amazing that a high upside stack in the fantasy semifinals is Audrey Gastame and the Saints defense both in.

[Jay Morrison]

The semis in an I believe right now.

[Connor Rogers]

Again, it all depends on your situation. Don't get crazy crazy, but just and you have to see sort of who else you have and. But I just think you have to recalibrate your thinking now that you know, you know, you're chasing, you know, whatever it was 46 points that Puka had. The other thing I'll say here is that what the hell, Ken Walker. We've been waiting for this game all year long. No one that has Ken Walker in the lineup is either in the playoffs or using him. And then, you know, Ken Walker, by the way, still had the same usage. It's not, it's just he had two big plays. He broke two plays, which is in a skill set. But it's just. It was just annoying to see.

[Matthew Barry]

Yeah, the issue is like 11 carries still.

[Connor Rogers]

That's right.

[Matthew Barry]

I mean, he popped off touchdown.

[Connor Rogers]

But I bench Ken Walker.

[Jay Morrison]

It's hilarious, too. That's the real icing on the cake here.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, 43% snap rate. He gets 11 rushing attempts, but winds up with 24 and a half, 25 and a half fantasy points. I benched him in a league, I mean, like, again, now I have nice options in that league, but still, it's just like he was a potential flex play for me and I'm like, no, against the Rams, he doesn't get the goal line work. You know, I was, I watched the game last night with my kids, my adult sons, and you know, they. One of them had a anytime touchdown on Zach Charbonnet. I'm like, oh, you got this. And it ended up, you know, ended up cashing early. But I'm just like, yeah, they never use Ken Walker.

[Matthew Barry]

And then it's so funny watching Ken Walker at the end of these long runs as he gets to the goal line because, you know, like, you better get it in, Ken. You're coming out.

[Connor Rogers]

By the way, nothing says father of the year than just sitting around with your two adult sons talking about the parlays and all the bets we have.

[Jay Morrison]

That's right.

[Connor Rogers]

It's a degenerate bet throughout the entire game. Parenting me and my kids actually was an awesome night.

[Matthew Barry]

Last thing on this game, Rams Backfield Blake Corum, 14 carries. Now, they had a lot of games, Griff. They just ran a ton of plays here. Kyron Williams still goes 23 carries, gets 70 rushing yards himself, but Blake Corum gets into the end zone. I think it just repeats, Connor, what we've said in recent weeks that Blake Corum has standalone value and they're going to be huge favorites their final two games against the Falcons and Cardinals.

[Jay Morrison]

This is an offense that scores a Ridiculous amount of touchdowns both guys play while Kyren gets more volume. Sure. But the bottom line is Corum gets opportunities down in the red area as well. That he is a viable flex play now for feels like a month plus, dude.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, I mean 1,000%.

[Jay Morrison]

And if you thought about cinema this week, Seattle and a lot of people thought that and didn't matter.

[Connor Rogers]

Again, that's the other thing. That by the way, again, it was an amazing game, but a super annoying game. Incredibly frustrating game. Parkinson Walker. Here's the other thing. I got a ton of advice. A ton of people ask me randomly, like just a. Should I start the Saints defense? Friends texting me, Seahawks defense or the Saints defense. Right. Seahawks defense or the Broncos defense? I got randomly just a bunch of questions about Seahawks defense or another viable option. And in every case I said give me the other option. I don't want the Seahawks defense against the Rams on a short week and everything like that. And I feel like that was the right call, obviously. I mean, they always put up 40 points. But then, you know, Shahid returns the, returns the punt for a touchdown and you're just like, come on. Like, you know what I mean? Like, it was the right call to bench the Seahawks Seahawks defense. But then, you know, what are you going to do? Anyway, I'm better.

[Jay Morrison]

I don't blame you. I think you're justified, this one.

[Connor Rogers]

No, not all of them are. I appreciate that. By the way, just so everyone knows, as long as we're paused here for one second.

[Matthew Barry]

We're not paused. We didn't pause.

[Jay Morrison]

But go on.

[Connor Rogers]

Just, just. I want to apologize to the audience. I am. We are currently in a monsoon here in. Here in Connecticut, at least, you know, by American standards.

[Jay Morrison]

Did you have to swim to work?

[Matthew Barry]

Yeah.

[Connor Rogers]

No.

[Matthew Barry]

Thailand.

[Connor Rogers]

Cold.

[Matthew Barry]

They've got some problems with your definition of water.

[Connor Rogers]

The particular place where my house is, is, is like underwater, like. And so there's water seeping into our house. And so I was like dealing with, trying to get people over there. My wife is out of town. And so it's just like, I'm like, so anyway, that's why I was, by the way, a couple seconds late for the show is it's literally trying to like save my house. So just so you know. Anyway, so we've got people over there and they're. They're dealing with. They're doing what they're supposed to do.

[Matthew Barry]

Bucketing.

[Connor Rogers]

They are like, there's water. I mean, I saw videos. There's water seeping into the house and.

[Matthew Barry]

Get your hands Dirty. Once you get back there, you get on your knees, put your buckets. Yeah. Put your waders on the many gumboots.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah. So this is what I tell my wife. This is what I tell my wife.

[Matthew Barry]

You earn the money to not do that.

[Connor Rogers]

This is what I. My wife will say, like, honey, can you go fix the car? And I will say, listen, honey, you did not marry the fix the car guy. You married the write a check to get somebody else to fix the car guy.

[Jay Morrison]

Couldn't agree more than that.

[Connor Rogers]

Find your lane. This is my advice to the kids out there. Figure out what you're good at. Do that and then the stuff that you're not good at. And for me, it's a very long list. Get the hell out of the way.

[Matthew Barry]

Yeah.

[Connor Rogers]

But work hard enough so that you can earn enough money so that people that know what they're doing can do it. Because otherwise I would just.

[Matthew Barry]

Right.

[Connor Rogers]

Finding Nemo 3. Barrett's flooded basement. That's right. Valiant business. Damn right.

[Matthew Barry]

Well, they said it. When Nemo ends up when he's looking for his brother, whatever.

[Connor Rogers]

I don't know.

[Matthew Barry]

Cheshire.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, it's. It's. Yeah, it's not. It's not pretty.

[Matthew Barry]

From the Opera House in Sydney to Cheshire.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, it's just. Yeah, exactly. Right.

[Matthew Barry]

Anyway, so let's get into the week.

[Jay Morrison]

16 injuries we're tracking. This is a long list, as you see right here. Josh Jacobs dealing with the knee injury. Deandre Swift has been limited with a groin injury this week. Javante Williams, the same for him with a neck injury. We saw him briefly leave the game, what we thought was a shoulder, and then came back in and played. Woody Marks with an ankle. Drake London has returned to practice with that knee injury. Rasheed Rice, N.T. higgins dealing with concussions. Marvin Harrison Jr. Has been back at practice in a limited capacity. Mike Evans, more veteran rest related Dalton Kincaid with a knee. Let's start with Rasheed Rice specifically, though, because he did not practice on Thursday with that concussion. If he's out and Gardner Minshew is starting, how do you stack up the Kansas City pass catchers?

[Connor Rogers]

Well, listen, Rasheed Rice, there's been three games in which Rasheed Rice has not played, but Xavier Worthy has, and he's averaged almost 13 fantasy points per game. That's a 20% target share. Now it's Gardner Minshew, not Patrick Mahomes. But, you know, I currently have worthy at wide receiver. 27. I think you lean a little bit more on Kelce here. Hollywood Brown probably gets in the mix. They probably take a couple of shots. Tyquan Thornton as well. You don't feel great about any of it. Sounds fun, dude. I mean, it is what it is. But honestly. But Xavier Worthy is one of those guys that if I faced because he's somebody that could get loose for two long ones. Gardner Minshew is Gardner Minshew Patrick Mahomes. Of course not. No one is. But Gardner Minshew is a professional quarterback who has been a starter in this league many years. Has a. Has a little. Especially given the fact that they're out of the playoffs. You know what I mean? And like, he knows, like, this is. It's not like he's trying to fight for hey, I got a shot at starting next year. Like, I mean, like, this is Gardner Minshew has ultimately effort X is down there somewhere. Like, he'll just, he'll. He'll, you know, he'll chuck it up there. So like Xavier Worthy is one of those guys that I think it's interesting, like, if you face Pukinakua, especially if Rasheed Rice is out.

[Matthew Barry]

Yep. No, I agreed. And also like, don't forget we're two years removed from Gardner Minshew being Tyler Goodson's fingertips the AFC South Garden Minchu can function in an NFL offense and.

[Connor Rogers]

He start of your Colts love. Yeah, they were heroic that day.

[Matthew Barry]

They were gallant. Alas, it's all been down.

[Connor Rogers]

They were gallants.

[Matthew Barry]

Jonathan TAYLOR with like 180 on the ground with a bad knee. Anyway, Gardner Minchu. Gardner Minshew is bad in a way that's fun and entertaining and voluminous. He will throw some bad picks. He'll get strip sacks, but he will Nick Mullens it up and accumulate yards.

[Jay Morrison]

He will.

[Connor Rogers]

He will be similar. I'm not trying to troll you here, but he will be similar to Joe Flacco. Especially that run at the end of the year with the Browns two seasons ago where Flacco was like again threw like a couple of bad picks every game. But like ultimately was. It's like just he has zero Fs to give Gardner Minshew this one from.

[Jay Morrison]

Ryan Scott if Rice can't go Cortland Sutton or DJ Moore.

[Matthew Barry]

The DJ Moore business has not been a fun.

[Jay Morrison]

That's a Saturday game.

[Connor Rogers]

Keep in mind, I think it's Sutton for me. It's, you know, Sutton. I think for me against Jacksonville. Yeah, I prefer Sutton, especially because their guys are banged up as well. I know Noah Medunze or I have D.J. moore currently at wide receiver 23. I'll just say this about D.J. moore when he's gotten at least an 18% target share. He's scored at least 15 fantasy points here. So I think it's close. I understand the question. I'm Joe Shane.

[Jay Morrison]

I like that.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, I get the question. I understand the question. But I just prefer, I prefer Sutton just because I feel better about going against Jacksonville than I do against going against Green Bay and I feel better honestly about Bo Nixon than I do about Caleb Williams as a throwing quarterback. Yeah.

[Matthew Barry]

Also one thing, we don't have any idea if Jacksonville's pass defense is any good because they haven't played any real offenses.

[Jay Morrison]

Brady Cook wasn't enough for you last week.

[Matthew Barry]

Brady Cook, Riley Leonard, the week before that they played I guess like Jacoby Brissette. That game like moved the ball and then that game went to overtime. Geno Smith put up like, you know, that got that game to overtime. It's been a while since they've had a real test. Their run defense is very good. It is elite. It is elite that don't have the.

[Jay Morrison]

Front seven is very good.

[Matthew Barry]

But the back end we'll see. And though, you know, Bo Nix isn't Joe Montana or anything, but he's coming off his best game maybe his whole career. So yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if Denver can move the ball through the air in that one.

[Jay Morrison]

Drake London limited on Thursday. He's been working his way back from that knee injury coming off last week. Jay, if Drake London is back, where's your confidence level?

[Matthew Barry]

Yeah, I mean, I think you take confidence from the fact that Kirk Cousins has looked certainly better than he did in that first game against Miami. He's looked much more confident and so it's a reasonably favorable matchup against the Cardinals team that has been decimated for a long time now. And the good thing too is that the Falcons are dumb. Like they're not doing anything this season. So if they're bringing back Drake London, that means he's fully healthy. They're not going to bring him back if he's dragging around a leg. So I feel pretty good that Drake London, you fire him up. You know, almost as usual, I'm at.

[Connor Rogers]

Wide receiver three and I'm just going to tell you here right now he's going to go off. I'm playing against him in my I'm in this dynasty semifinals. I've been the number one team all season long, had a first round bye and I lost in the finals of this league last year. I've lost in the SEM. Like it's been every year I have, like, the best team, and then just something happens and I can't ever get it done. And I'm going to tell you right now. So I started Colby Parkinson in this league last night, right. Because I lost Zach Ertz.

[Jay Morrison]

It's not a fun night.

[Connor Rogers]

It's not a fun night. I'm playing my buddy Daniel Dopp again. This is a Dynasty league with all my friends from espn, a lot of people that, you know, producer Damian's in that league as well, but my buddy Daniel Dopp, that's the only saving grace, is that if I lose this, and I'm likely gonna lose this, that it'll be to Daniel, who I love. Like, I adore Daniel. You know, he's. He's a good friend.

[Jay Morrison]

Very. I'm glad it's you moment. What does he beats you in? Tears. Shoulder?

[Dr. Denny Carter]

No.

[Connor Rogers]

There's other people in the league that if I lost, who I would be bitter about, but that, you know, I don't like.

[Jay Morrison]

But I'm road to perdition, by the way, if you're wanting to film reference.

[Connor Rogers]

But Daniel, I love. I truly love Daniel. But, yeah, he's got Drake London. So I'm just promising you Drake London's gonna come back. He's definitely playing, and he's gonna go off. There's no question about it. I do have an inside source that tells me Drake's going to play. And you like the fact that. Yeah, I'm just saying, you know, we'll see.

[Matthew Barry]

Morris.

[Connor Rogers]

Well, it's. It's. Yeah, it's Raheem Morris.

[Matthew Barry]

It's your best friends with Zach Robinson.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, exactly. Bijan. It's my Bijan's mike.

[Jay Morrison]

What? Falcon invests in fantasy.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, yeah, exactly.

[Jay Morrison]

Tyler Algiero. Exactly.

[Connor Rogers]

No, that's actually more in line. Ray Ray McLeod. Ray Ray McLeod.

[Jay Morrison]

We know it's not Kyle Pitts. Yeah, all the Kyle Pitts slander over the years, which is basically the role Drake London steps into, by the way, when he's healthy.

[Connor Rogers]

48 and a half over under. We expect a lot of points in this game.

[Jay Morrison]

I love a lot of points.

[Matthew Barry]

Good for you, Kirk Cousins. You're in a game with a 48 and a half total.

[Connor Rogers]

Right?

[Matthew Barry]

Didn't look like we're gonna get there after that.

[Connor Rogers]

Where does Kirk Cousins play next year?

[Jay Morrison]

Everybody keeps saying the Jets. It's not gonna be the Jets. He doesn't want to play for the Jets. No, they've already been through this. He'll start somewhere. Will he Maybe Minnesota. Maybe he'll compete. Does he go Minnesota? Because that's one where like say, McCarthy has a good summer. Okay, McCarthy, you're the starter. But we have a break in case of emergency. Kind of boxing. Kirk Cousins.

[Matthew Barry]

We should back up Brock Purdy. I don't think we want Mac Jones under contract. It's true, but Mac Jones might get traded somewhere.

[Jay Morrison]

He might. Miami.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah. I mean, that's what they did.

[Jay Morrison]

Quarterback carousel. This offseason is going to be wild to watch.

[Connor Rogers]

Kyler's going to start somewhere. Like, I have Kyler in a dynasty league and I'm like, Kyler. And some people were trading for him and it was hard for me to value him because it's like Kyler Murray. Minnesota awesome. Kyler Murray with the Jets. Yeah.

[Jay Morrison]

Raiders bridge quarterback Kyler Murray. No. Right. It's all reasonable.

[Connor Rogers]

It's all reasonable. All right, let's move on here.

[Jay Morrison]

You want to go back on track? Sure. Imagine telling somebody in this fantasy playoff semis how important this topic would be. Marvin Harrison Jr. Was limited in practice on Thursday. And this isn't about Marvin Harrison Jr. This is all about Michael Wilson. Matthew. Because if Marv's back panic hours if he's not. You have a bona fide wide receiver 2 locked into your lineup in Michael Wilson.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah. The problem is, is that in the games in which Jacoby Brissette has started and Marvin Harrison has been active, Michael Wilson averages under 8 fantasy points per game, has a 15% target share. This is a guy that has gotten you here like so many people, and I'm one of them, has ridden Michael Wilson to the fantasy semifinals or in my case, a seven game win streak that allowed me to lose on a tiebreaker. Ultimately. Ultimately be part of the. Ultimately defeat a lot of people in our league that should have finished higher than me and did not.

[Matthew Barry]

It's amazing that Michael. It just doesn't feel like it should be this extreme because When Marvin Harrison Jr. Plays, he's basically wide receiver Tyjay Spears. And When Marvin Harrison Jr. Is out, he's God. He's God in Cardi's Booker.

[Jay Morrison]

Yeah, he's basically Booker Light.

[Matthew Barry]

Yeah. Puka Dakua. So best player in the league versus basically useless. I think there has to be a middle ground. I guess I would. If Marvin Harris Jr. Plays, I think Michael Wilson's playing prop will be set around like 50 and a half and it'll have, you know, some chance. 25, 30% chance of getting in the end zone. 25% chance getting in the end Zone. It's not great.

[Connor Rogers]

Again, given the nature given, we expect this to be a reasonably high scoring game here. Atlanta secondary doesn't scare you. I'm Mike Wilson at wide receiver 19. And I have Harrison ranked. I'm ranked as a top 12 play, actually. So I. I do expect Marvin Harrison to play, and I do have Wilson still as a top 20 play this week. But I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. I'm a little bit nervous about it, but I still think he's just been too good and the matchup's been too good that I just. I can't imagine benching Michael Wilson given the production that he's had even with Marvin Harrison Jr. Out. But certainly you don't feel great about it. Like. Yeah, I feel like most of the injuries this week, I'm just sort of like rooting for people not to play versus to play. I mean, like, you know what it is? Yeah. Yeah. As somebody who has Malik Davis, like, I hope Javonte Williams misses. He's dealing with that neck injury.

[Jay Morrison]

The Louisiana regular, longtime listener for first time commenter. Loved it. Is that in a Saints jersey?

[Matthew Barry]

Yeah. And that's. I've never worn that jersey, so it's been nice.

[Connor Rogers]

Were you wearing Michael Thomas? That's unbelievable.

[Jay Morrison]

That's really good. He's getting a regular. You might get a regular power rankings next week.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah. You might make others receiving votes today.

[Matthew Barry]

I definitely didn't forget that Michael Thomas was number 13. I definitely didn't forget that.

[Jay Morrison]

Love the show. Bench 2. Non PPR. Michael Wilson, Pickens, Sutton, Hampton, Pollard. Not start to. It's Mike. Bench two.

[Connor Rogers]

Bench two. All right. So not non PPR makes this interesting, I think. I think it's the running backs.

[Jay Morrison]

I was just gonna say I think I like Amari and Hampton this week, oddly enough. I mean, again, Dallas's run defense has been a lot better, but it gets a lot of volume. Quinn Williams back at practice, but still in concussion protocol. Yeah, you never know what those non.

[Connor Rogers]

I mean, non ppr. I just don't know. Like, let's start with who you're definitely starting. You're definitely starting Pickens.

[Jay Morrison]

Yes.

[Connor Rogers]

Right. You're definitely starting Pickens here.

[Matthew Barry]

I think he's starting Sutton.

[Connor Rogers]

I think you're starting Sutton as well. So then it's like, if you like Hampton, we're definitely benching Pollard. I know that Pollard's been good for the last two weeks here as well, but Kansas City does have a good run defense here. I just. I don't Know, Yeah, I think I'm probably benching Pollard here. So then it's Hampton or Michael Wilson. I think I probably would still go.

[Matthew Barry]

I'd go Wilson.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, I think I'd still go Wilson.

[Jay Morrison]

It's a good problem to have.

[Matthew Barry]

Yeah. I think you bench the running backs. Yeah.

[Connor Rogers]

Again, nine PPR helps the running backs, but again, I think you're going to need touchdowns from each of them to pay off.

[Matthew Barry]

Thank you, LA regular.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah.

[Matthew Barry]

See more comments before you go forward.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, exactly. Nice to have a ton.

[Jay Morrison]

Really good debut from Louisiana regular. Woody Marks not seen at practice on Thursday. He's dealing with an ankle injury. Nick Chubb back at practice with his rib injury. Jawar Jordan.

[Matthew Barry]

This is like very high leverage. Strangely, because The Texans are 14 and a half point favorites against the Raiders. Their offense looks the best that it has released in C.J. stroud's rookie year. So whoever the running back is is going to have a real good chance of scoring touchdown, multiple touchdowns, having great game script. If Nick Chubb can go and given that he practiced in full, you'd expect that he would. And Woody Marks is out, then, yeah, Nick Chubb. Flex, flex. Viable, I think. But Jawad Jordan is the real wild card.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah. I mean, again, if you face Puka and you want to roll the dice, you know, that's an interesting thing. But by the way, if you start Geowarre. Jordan. Jordan, here's what's going to happen. It's going to be Nick Chubb and Dario Gumbawale. Dario Gumbawale is going to get like 15 touches and two touchdowns. Like, you just know that's happening. But if you try to start Dario Gumbawale, he's going to get, you know.

[Jay Morrison]

He'Ll be on 2 for 13 exact for you.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, Just unless we get some more clarity heading forward, you know, be interesting. Maybe I'll reach out. Aaron Wilson is a guy that covers the Texans really, really well. I'll be interested to see if he has any insight.

[Matthew Barry]

So you're going to text him?

[Connor Rogers]

I will, I will text him. I'm just saying.

[Matthew Barry]

But like, this is like your Falcon source.

[Jay Morrison]

Woody Marks is currently doing some work on the side of practice right now.

[Connor Rogers]

So I have a couple of Texan sources. Aaron's one of them. But like, Aaron's not a source. I mean, he's a team beat reporter, but there it is.

[Jay Morrison]

Yeah, that is Woody Marks.

[Matthew Barry]

This is better than the Bucky Irving.

[Jay Morrison]

Footage, which is basically Sasquatch.

[Matthew Barry]

Yeah. Bigfoot. Bigfoot meets the Loch Ness Monster.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, we Can't.

[Matthew Barry]

We gotta do. We gotta make changes. We gotta make changes.

[Jay Morrison]

So what? That's what we got.

[Connor Rogers]

It's ridiculous what we do.

[Jay Morrison]

This is the life we've chosen. It's horrible. Everybody out here, Gerard, Jordan, Woody Marks. Well, Woody Marks was walking on the practice field. So now. It's a ridiculous life when you think about it.

[Connor Rogers]

Ideally, this is what you're going to do. You're going to tune into fantasy football pregame Sunday morning, 11am Eastern on the NFL and NBC YouTube channel or Peacock and we will have a definitive answer. I will text my sources. We will get this all sorted out. We don't have an answer for you right now, but we will have an answer on the Texans running back situation. What you want to do on fantasy football pregame Sunday morning.

[Jay Morrison]

Nick Underhill does a really good job covering the Saints.

[Connor Rogers]

He does a great job.

[Jay Morrison]

New Orleans football is who he covers for. I believe that is his own. It is, yes.

[Connor Rogers]

Support Red.

[Jay Morrison]

Yeah, yeah. Support writers that run their own operation and Nick is one of the best of them. Says Audrey Guestame will probably start in Week 16 against the Jets. I know who I'm rooting for in this spot. It's not the Jets. Audrey Guessamet, this is your shot again.

[Connor Rogers]

Have you guys done a special episode of NFL Stock Exchange, you and Trevor?

[Jay Morrison]

We did just have a listener and I feel bad that I will make up.

[Connor Rogers]

This feels like an emergency podcast.

[Jay Morrison]

Yeah, it should be. I shouldn't be here right now. Who mailed our. Our business mailing address? Yes, we have one of those. A signed Audra Guesstimate photo for our backdrop.

[Matthew Barry]

Come on.

[Jay Morrison]

I will find their name in the DMs and give them a special shout. So this is a big moment for us and a big moment for Audra Guesstimate. Him and Tyler Schuck might actually have a huge impact in some fantasy semi finals this week. I'm not kidding.

[Matthew Barry]

I'll be the future.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah.

[Matthew Barry]

Yeah.

[Jay Morrison]

Well, more important than now. Yeah.

[Matthew Barry]

What does estimate have? The jets, they look like they've given up. Yes. Does estimate have like 145 yard, two touchdown game in here?

[Jay Morrison]

I don't think the yardage, but I genuinely think if he falls into the end zone twice, it would be. I'd set that at like plus 210.

[Connor Rogers]

But you sort of like Evan Hall. Like, it's interesting.

[Jay Morrison]

Like fine. Right. I'm worried that they sort of like Kevin Hall.

[Connor Rogers]

Right. I know, right? Exactly. Like, is this a. Is this a split backfield?

[Jay Morrison]

You know, the weird thing was Estimate got the pass.

[Connor Rogers]

Does everyone start Audrick Est and then Tyler Schuck runs two in, right.

[Jay Morrison]

I'd rather. I think Schuck has the biggest fantasy, you know, impact in this game. Maybe even like Juwan Johnson somehow.

[Connor Rogers]

17 or more fantasy points in four of the past five games for Tyler Schuck. He's QB12 over that stretch. By the way, facing your jets and Audrey Estimate, is this worth noting that since week eight, your jets allow the most fantasy points to opposing running backs? They have given up four and a.

[Jay Morrison]

Half point spread that we've been on.

[Connor Rogers]

They understand the assignment.

[Matthew Barry]

Yes. Lose.

[Connor Rogers]

Lose.

[Dr. Denny Carter]

It's time to lose.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, it's time to lose.

[Jay Morrison]

They should have kept Steve Wilkes. They would have kept doing that easily. Yeah, I don't know why they fired him today. This one from. I think it's Mr. ANC or just Mrank. Whatever you want to be. Kamani Vidal, Michael Carter or Audrey estimate in the RB2 spot. He has Jacobs in the RV1 spot. I know it's not Vidal.

[Connor Rogers]

It's Carter. I think it's Carter. Unless. Unless again, you face JSN or you face Puka or you just feel like you need to swing for the fences. Because I think Estimate has a higher ceiling than Carter because there's a chance. You know, I feel like the Falcons have a better run defense than pass defense to an extent and that with Carter there's a chance because the Cardinals are so weird that they pass all the time and that there's also. Amari Dmicardo came back last week. Could they increase his role this week? Like there's more like I think Carter has the better chance at is much more to the floor play. Yep. Estimate could be any. Estimate could be 100 yards and two touchdowns. Estimate could be 25 yards easily. Just like just you got. We just, you know, could be all Evan hall and Tyler Schuck.

[Jay Morrison]

All right. I was going to rip through the rest of our injuries real quick here. Chris Rodriguez was not on Washington. Final Week 16 Injury Report. The Bears ruled out Luther Burton and Roma dunes for week 16 for the 80th time. That is the Saturday game. Please check your lineups today and tomorrow morning if you are playing Chicago Bears or Green Bay packers because DeAndre Swift is still questionable for that game. He's been dealing with this groin injury all season long. Hopefully you have Kyle Manungai as an insurance back. If for some reason Swift doesn't go. He usually plays through these scenarios. So. So we'll see. Josh Jacobs and Christian Watson are Both questionable in the same exact game. Christian Watson, though, sounded on the more optimistic side when he spoke about it.

[Connor Rogers]

You know what? This is one of those, like, even if he play and tell me if I'm crazy on this one, but I just feel like if he plays, I still don't want to part. Even though Christian Watson is an awesome.

[Jay Morrison]

This year and a big play guy.

[Connor Rogers]

And a big play guy. But I just feel like Christian Watson is one of those guys. Aaron Jones is another one that I just feel like every game they just sort of get injured and leave early. They're always a threat to get banged up and leave the game early. And just.

[Matthew Barry]

He's another upside guy. If you go up against Puka, Christian Watson a good guy to stop because he could go, you know, four for 90 with two touchdowns.

[Connor Rogers]

There's no question.

[Jay Morrison]

Yeah, I'm in a scenario between him and Michael Wilson, and I'm starting Wilson right now. That's what I'm playing Puka. So I'm thinking about playing. It's just a mess. Just a mess. All right. As we always do on Friday, we have a doctor to answer your flexible frustrations as we welcome on our good friend Denny Carr.

[Matthew Barry]

Dr. Carter, I want to talk to you about love in a group setting of men. I speak, of course, of Jordan Love and his group of wide receivers, which features Jaden Reed, who now is in this big group of men of Christian Watson and on Tavian Wicks and Romeo Dobbs and Matthew golden, if he's still alive.

[Dr. Denny Carter]

I think there's enough love to go around, and really there always should be. As a doctor, we, you know, we study the spreading of love, you know, in a group setting like you're talking about, Jay. And so I do think that there's enough to go around for Jaden Reese.

[Jay Morrison]

Flexural frustrations with our Dr. Denny Carter. Denny, a lot of talk about enough to go around. No Rasheed Rice for the Chiefs. Is there finally enough to go around for the feels like underutilized Xavier Worthy?

[Dr. Denny Carter]

I mean, maybe. I don't know if there's much love in Kansas City anymore. The vibes may be too bad, but. But without Rasheed Rice in the lineup, Xavier Worthy's being targeted on 25% of his routes. That drops to 16% of his routes when Rasheed Rice is active. So if he's inactive, I think Worthy could be a decent flex option. If you're frustrated, of course, and it could lead to more frustration. But it's against a Titans defense that profiles as a pass funnel. One of the most extreme pass funnels in the league. 40 drop backs for Gardiner Minshew.

[Matthew Barry]

Okay. Want to talk about balls, Doctor? I know you love them. Darius Slayton in particular. And deep balls.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah.

[Matthew Barry]

Will he get the deep balls from Jackson? Dart enough to be startable in the flex against the Vikings?

[Dr. Denny Carter]

The Vikings see a lot of deep balls, and that's fine. You know, I mean, different teams, different people see different amounts of deep balls and whatever. Look, the Vikings are into it. They are fifth in the league in completion rate on those deep balls. No team is giving up a higher yards per target, yards per attempt on downfield shots. And what does that mean? It means Darius Slayton is in play as a high variance wide receiver.

[Jay Morrison]

3.

[Dr. Denny Carter]

You may be frustrated, but this could be glorious for you to get through to your championship.

[Matthew Barry]

Could be glorious. The Darius Slade story.

[Jay Morrison]

That's a good sell.

[Connor Rogers]

Could be glorious. Dr. Carter, I get an email in here. It's from Pete. Pete says. Pete says, please pass this along to Dr. Carter. I have a problem. I was out at the nightclub the other day trying to introduce myself to a young lady that I was interested in. She was ignoring me. I was having trouble scoring. I was having trouble scoring. And I said to my buddy, I need help. I need your help with some scoring here. And he said, well, listen, you gotta mack that ass up. And he said, wait, what? He said, yeah, you gotta mack that ass up. He goes, I don't know how to dance. He goes, no, I thought you meant about your fantasy team and Mack Hollands mack that ass up?

[Matthew Barry]

I.

[Connor Rogers]

So, yeah, should. Should Pete mack that ass up?

[Dr. Denny Carter]

It's a common mistake, Matthew. And by the way, thanks to Pete for emailing Matthew every single Friday with his flexual frustrations.

[Connor Rogers]

But he's got a lot of them.

[Jay Morrison]

Loyalists.

[Dr. Denny Carter]

He has a lot.

[Jay Morrison]

He has a lot.

[Dr. Denny Carter]

And that's okay. There's no shame here. Listen, Mac Holland, since week 10, he leads the Patriots and targets and air yards. I don't know how that's possible, but he does. He's second on the team in receptions. Hollins has. He leads league. He leads the team in first read targets over the past three games. I don't know what's going on, guys, but Mack Hollins is a viable flex against Baltimore in a game that could be, I think, high scoring. On Sunday night on NBC.

[Jay Morrison]

For more answers to your flexible frustrations, Denny always does a live Q and A right after our show, so please check that out. Denny, thank you, as always.

[Connor Rogers]

Happy holidays, Denny. Very festive today. That's Right.

[Jay Morrison]

Happy holidays to you, Denny.

[Matthew Barry]

See you guys.

[Jay Morrison]

All right, we're taking our first break. When we're back, we're answering some of your best questions.

[Connor Rogers]

You think we're definitely back?

[Jay Morrison]

I think we'll be back.

[Connor Rogers]

I'm not sure.

[Jay Morrison]

I won't say 100% guarantee.

[Connor Rogers]

I'll put it if. If we're back.

[Jay Morrison]

Aloha breaks. Poor Pete is going through it all year. He doesn't need a doctor, he needs a therapist.

[Connor Rogers]

You have no idea. All the things that Pete needs. All right, there's a chance we're back. And if we are, stick around. We will. We will. We get into your question questions and what's on tap. Valiant Vincent, 13, writes, no, Barry, after what you did to Stafford, how dare you wear that? Stop it. Stafford was good last. Stafford was good yesterday.

[Matthew Barry]

Spill diet or bring it a loss to the Carolina Panthers.

[Connor Rogers]

He was like. Even though they had three rushing touchdowns, he. He still was a top 11 quarterback heading into Monday Night Football. Matthew Stafford. Stop it. I'm on raw St. Brown, Madden, Kirk. Don't worry. Don't worry. I've got, you know, spill proof. Yeah, spill proof here.

[Jay Morrison]

Here's the fantasy football happy hour regular power rankings for week 16. Valiant Vincent. Welcome to the top spot. Big dog. Jonathan Medici. You've been doing great, but you dropped one spot down.

[Connor Rogers]

Who will win regular of the year at the Peacockys?

[Jay Morrison]

Massive new category.

[Connor Rogers]

Massive new category. Aloha bricks. Up one to number three. Raised the flags. Down one to number four. Neck Brace Nation. Good to see him in the top five for the first time.

[Jay Morrison]

Climbing Neck Brace Nation.

[Matthew Barry]

Look at Louisiana Regulus. Thinking into all those receiving votes.

[Jay Morrison]

Yeah.

[Connor Rogers]

Gone with Scott McClory. And footballer. Footballer always brings it. I feel like he should be ranked, but he's not. He's quality over quantity as he's. He's a sniper. When football. When he shoots, he scores. Yeah.

[Jay Morrison]

Everybody look at him.

[Connor Rogers]

Vet is plus one to number nine. Ryan Oswald wasn't ranked last week. Gets into the list at number eight. K Gemma, 89, plus two. Up to number seven again. Stuntman Chuck at six. He's down one and making his, I believe, regular top ten debut. SEC Man 01 in the top ten. I don't believe he's made the top ten before.

[Matthew Barry]

Football's kind of like Josh Hader. He's only going to give you one inning, but it's going to be good.

[Jay Morrison]

Has anybody checked in on Clark Brady since his marathon?

[Connor Rogers]

No. Clark Brady's dead.

[Jay Morrison]

I believe he's dead.

[Matthew Barry]

I believe it killed him.

[Jay Morrison]

I really hope not.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah.

[Jay Morrison]

Anyway, he'll be back for the next year's marathon. Boy, oh boy.

[Connor Rogers]

The competition for regular of the year at the Pekkakes is unbelievable.

[Jay Morrison]

We should all have a vote, like the entire staff.

[Connor Rogers]

I agree.

[Matthew Barry]

Sure.

[Jay Morrison]

A handwritten vote.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah.

[Jay Morrison]

What's on tap is brought to you by Bud Light, the official beer sponsor of the NFL. Sundays are easy to enjoy when they are full of football.

[Connor Rogers]

Football.

[Jay Morrison]

And the fridge is filled with beer. And we're going to make it even easier for you by taking some of your best questions. And the first one of those comes from Steven Dunn. Here's a conflicting question. Genty, who's been extremely underwhelming against the Texans, or Gainwell, who seems to be the more consistent running back for the Steelers against the Lions?

[Connor Rogers]

I think the answer is Kenneth Gainwell.

[Jay Morrison]

I don't think it's close.

[Matthew Barry]

Yeah. Agrees. Yeah.

[Connor Rogers]

Kenneth Gainwell, eighth best running back in fantasy since week 11. Sixteen or more fantasy points in four of the past five games. That's the highest over under on the slate. And again, Daniel Doff has him against me. You know he's going to go off.

[Jay Morrison]

Yep, that's a good sign. Question number two from Cody Porter.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah.

[Jay Morrison]

Zay Flowers or Juwan Jennings? Jennings has a really good matchup. Jay. Looks like Jennings could be a top 20ish play at wide receiver this week.

[Matthew Barry]

Absolutely. It looks like the Niners offense is rolling again. Brock Cody is magnificent against the Titans. Understand it was the Titans, but the Colts, no Source Garden are not particularly imposing either. So as you can see, Matthew's rankings neck and neck here. Juan Jennings and Zay Flowers. But I feel better about San Francisco's offense right now than I do Baltimore's.

[Connor Rogers]

I also feel a lot better about Jennings chances to get into the end zone. Zay Flowers is not a red zone target, but Juwan Jennings so far this year, when Brock Purdy, since he's returned, since Purdy's been back, Juwan Jennings has gotten 44% of the Niners end zone target.

[Jay Morrison]

Our last question comes from John. We go in with Loveland or Dalton Schultz. No burden or a dunesday, but the Texans played the Raiders.

[Matthew Barry]

Anyone else?

[Jay Morrison]

I like the last part. Anyone else out there? Yeah, send me a sign.

[Connor Rogers]

No, I'm Dalton Schultz at tight end nine, right. By the way, that's exactly where he's been since week five. He's literally been the ninth best tight end in fantasy on a points per game basis. At least 11 fantasy points in seven of the 10 games during that stretch 35% target share last week. Again more of a floor play than an upside play. He's kind of a catch and fall down kind of tight end. We like Nico Collins. But again against Las Vegas, Dalton Schultz should return. Top 10 numbers that'll do it for what's on tap.

[Jay Morrison]

Presented by Bud Light. Easy to drink, easy to enjoy. We're taking our last break. We think we'll be back and Jay and I have our best picks to impress Matthew. It's pickup lines after this. DraftKings Sportsbook is an official sports betting partner of the NFL and new customers can bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets. If your bet wins, download the app and use promo code ffhh when you sign up. DraftKings sportsbook.

[Connor Rogers]

The Crown it is so yours. It is not mine.

[Jay Morrison]

Pick up line's effectiveness. All right, Jay, let's. Let's get it going.

[Matthew Barry]

Let's fire up get back on the horsey and what better way you could do what better way Matthew to get back on said horsey. Yes, than Philip Rivers. My good friend never met but is the quarterback.

[Connor Rogers]

But it's horse like.

[Matthew Barry]

Yes, horse like. Yeah, he is kind of horse like. Philip Rivers to throw an interception is minus 120. Now the angle here is I watched him play football last week.

[Connor Rogers]

Yes, you're a Colts man.

[Matthew Barry]

I'm a Colts man. I watched every snap. Phil Rivers can't really throw the ball anymore, unfortunately. Now he's still the brain still works. Everything about the shoulders still works. He just can't really connect the body with the brain and his passing attempts. Prop is set at 28 against the Niners. If that man throws the ball 28 times, one of those passes is getting picked off. And here's the thing is last week they were able to run Jonathan Taylor on first down 19 out of 23 times because they had game script like that game. They were either leading or it was close. Like Phil Ribs didn't need to drop back and really do anything until the final drive where he immediately threw an interception. I think that the Niners are going to score more heavily than the Seahawks did against pretty suspect Colts defense with no Source Gardener and no Mooney Ward. I think that Rivers is going to have to throw. I think he'll get picked off once.

[Jay Morrison]

All right Matthew, for me I'm kind of cheating here. I'm going with your ride or die Marion Hampton. You know his rushing prop is set at against Dallas this week. Just 45 and a half rushing yards. Dallas run defense has been a Lot better recently. We don't know if Quinn Williams is going to play, which is a huge factor in all of this. But the good news is for Hampton, it seems like the volume is now ticking upwards. He's cleared this number in five of seven games, and I think this is one where I think he can get there, even if he's not overly efficient. But I think he's looked good. Like Hampton passes the eye test when they get him going downhill. They cannot protect Justin Herbert. They can't. He gets hit a million times on his drop backs. They have to run the ball. They're leaning into the run. I think Amari and Hampton honestly goes over 50 rushing yards in this game. But I'll take the number 45 and a half.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah.

[Matthew Barry]

Game.

[Connor Rogers]

The line in that is Cowboys just favored by a point and a half, so in theory, they're keeping it close as well. Jay, I like. I like the idea there. Although the Seahawks offense is awesome, and then they, you know, they didn't do anything against the Colts defense, right? And we just showed them put up almost 40 points. So I can't bail on my ride or die. It's cheating a little bit. Connor, honestly is absolutely. He's pandering. He's absolutely pandering.

[Jay Morrison]

Play the game.

[Connor Rogers]

That's me.

[Matthew Barry]

Gladly.

[Connor Rogers]

He's the panler. But I'm going home with Connor. So. There you go.

[Jay Morrison]

Valiant Vincent.

[Dr. Denny Carter]

Hey.

[Jay Morrison]

I'll have you know I was ranked the number one regular of the week for fantasy football happy hour this week. Gonna be my new pickup line. Throw it out of the bar.

[Matthew Barry]

They'll have great success.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah.

[Matthew Barry]

Zero percent. Yeah.

[Jay Morrison]

The ladies will know exactly what you're talking about.

[Connor Rogers]

100%.

[Jay Morrison]

I love that show. I know you're Valiant. Vincent.

[Connor Rogers]

Text us back next week. Let us know if you managed to score. And Mac that ass up. All right, listen, close the time. You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here for Jane Connor on Matthew. We'll see you Sunday. Peace out.