Week 15 Start/Sit: Justin Herbert, Ashton Jeanty, Terry McLaurin + Colts sign Philip Rivers

Summary

Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry

Episode: Week 15 Start/Sit: Justin Herbert, Ashton Jeanty, Terry McLaurin + Colts sign Philip Rivers (December 10, 2025)

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Overview

This episode dives deep into a chaotic and newsworthy week in fantasy football, blending humor, pop culture tangents, and in-depth analysis. Matthew Berry and his co-hosts focus on Week 15 start/sit conundrums—especially the shock signing of Philip Rivers by the Colts—alongside frank breakdowns of stars like Justin Herbert, Ashton Jeanty, Breece Hall, Tony Pollard, and Terry McLaurin. The episode blends practical fantasy advice with lively banter on everything from Disney movie story arcs to season-long league drama.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Philip Rivers Signs with the Colts—What Does It Mean for Fantasy?

• Announcement & Initial Reaction

  • Philip Rivers, age 44, joins the Colts’ practice squad and could start this week vs. Seattle.
  • Jay Croucher predicts Rivers will start, noting a switch to three full practices signals intent ([02:04]).
  • The crew jokes about the movie-like nature of the move and Rivers' motivation ("He’s clearly just trying to get out of the house and dealing with all the kids." – Connor, [08:31]).

• Fantasy Impact

  • Rivers' signing injects “maximum variance,” making the Colts' game against Seattle highly unpredictable.
  • Matthew: Concerned about Rivers' ability to withstand NFL hits, noting it's his physical resilience (not his arm) that’s in question ([09:29]).
  • Jay: "I think he'll be better than Riley Leonard would be my take going forward. I think it’s actually good news for the pass catchers on the Colts." ([09:20])
  • Pass-catcher take: Michael Pittman remains a startable WR3; Jonathan Taylor owners should temper expectations, but you’re still starting him ([12:03]).

• Comeback Player of the Year Odds

  • Rivers jumps to third favorite before even being named starter; Jay laments his bets on McCaffrey but sees why bookmakers are jumpy after the Joe Flacco award shocker ([06:01]).
  • “He hasn’t played a down in over four years…and they haven’t even named him the starter.” – Matthew ([07:01])

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2. Start/Sit Panic: Key Fantasy Players

Justin Herbert

• Ranked QB18 for the week—clearly a “sit” given the state of the Chargers’ offensive line and lack of passing volume ([14:18]).
• "Justin Herbert is QB27 since week 10 in points per game. That is not good." – Matthew Berry ([14:22])
• “Offensive line is just completely untenable. It’s not competitive…He had 66 rushing yards and was still unplayable in fantasy.” – Jay Croucher ([15:39])

Ashton Jeanty

• Big disappointment relative to draft-day hype but “keeping it open” as a mid-tier RB2 due to lack of alternatives and continued passing-game work ([18:33]).
• “If there’s a positive here...they’ve started opening up that [passing] piece of his skill set and going against the Eagles…that’s helpful.” – Matthew ([18:33])

Breece Hall

• Sit/close it out this week (RB23 in ranks). Jags have allowed the fewest rush yards per game; Jets QB uncertainty kills upside ([21:16]).
• “For a team that’s constantly losing script…it doesn’t make sense that they don’t use him more as a receiver.” – Connor ([22:10])

Tony Pollard

• One-off RB2 finish in Week 14 deemed fluky; not a recommended start vs. the 49ers (RB29 this week).
• "Last week was the first time he’s had 15 points in a game this season…He broke the long one, but yeah, I’m closing it out." – Connor ([24:03])

Terry McLaurin

• “Keeping it open” due to favorable matchup vs. Giants, who have allowed a TD to a WR in seven straight ([28:13]).
• “McLaurin is the guy that gets the majority of the work…” – Connor ([28:26])

Devonta Smith

• Considered a high-floor WR3, low-end WR2 due to target share and Raiders matchup ([29:23]).
• "This is an offense that now needs to pass because they cannot run." – Jay ([30:29])

Khalil Shakir

• “Closing it out” – low volume and lacking big plays; WR40 for the week ([32:06]).

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3. League & Locker Room Banter

• Inside jokes about the show’s staff fantasy league, playoff bracket drama, and producer beefs ([39:33]–[41:53]).
• Offers a window into the personalities behind the expert personas.

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4. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Philip Rivers:
  "We prefer him on the road at Seattle than you, Riley Leonard, who’s been in camp since the beginning of the year." – Connor ([03:54])
• On Herbert’s struggles:
  “He had 66 rushing yards and was still unplayable in fantasy.” – Jay ([15:39])
• On Fantasy Hope vs. Reality:
  "I mean, if the Jets score six points in this game, no one would be surprised." – Matthew ([22:24])
• On Blind Date Segment Mishap:
  "This segment’s in the toilet. Totally in the toilet." – Matthew ([44:22])

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Back to the Futures: Betting & Award Markets ([48:48]–[51:49])

• Coach of the Year:
  Jay is staked out on Kyle Shanahan (+1600), calling him his “white whale” ([48:54]).
• Rivers Comeback Player of the Year:
  Connor puts a fun flyer on Rivers (+1800): “If Joe Flacco won it for just being on his couch for two months, what about Phil Rivers…four years?”
• Raiders Under 2.5 Wins:
  Matthew bets the Raiders will not win another game, seeing them as favorites for the #1 overall pick.

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Pop Culture & Off-Topic Highlights

• Finding Nemo Story Pitch:
  Matthew Berry shares his rejected alternate Finding Nemo sequel concept (Nemo has a secret brother), drawing both amusement and affectionate groans from fans and listeners ([24:44]–[28:06], revisited at [50:11]).
• Colts Season Compared to Disney Movie:
  “Hopefully instead of Nemo dying, it ends with the Colts winning the AFC South. Somehow.” – Jay ([02:13])
• Old QBs Club:
  Banter on NFL teams resurrecting veteran QBs and the fictional “driving at night” trope for Rivers ([12:06]).

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• [01:37] – Show rundown, announcement that “Blind Date” segment returns
• [02:04]–[13:24] – Philip Rivers/Colts signing breakdown and fantasy fallout
• [14:18]–[24:03] – Start/Sit: Justin Herbert, Ashton Jeanty, Breece Hall, Tony Pollard
• [28:13]–[32:21] – Start/Sit: Terry McLaurin, Devonta Smith, Khalil Shakir
• [39:33]–[43:23] – Listener/League banter & producer jokes
• [43:24]–[47:12] – “Blind Date”: Mystery player comparisons
• [48:48]–[51:49] – Futures & prop bets: Coach of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, Raiders win total
• [24:44] & [50:11] – The infamous Finding Nemo sequel pitch

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Summary Table: Week 15 Key Player Recommendations

| Player | Recommendation | Notable Justification/Quote | |------------------|---------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | Philip Rivers | High-variance start | “It’s good news for pass catchers…most interesting story in NFL” ([04:47]) | | Justin Herbert | Sit/Low QB2 | “QB27 since Week 10 in points/g…”; OL issues | | Ashton Jeanty | Flex | “Passing game usage…RB17 this week…keeping it open” ([18:33]) | | Breece Hall | Flex/Bench | “Low-end RB2 unless Tyrod starts. Closing it out.” ([22:30]) | | Tony Pollard | Bench | “First time all season with 15+ points last week—fluky.” ([24:03]) | | Terry McLaurin | WR2/Flex | “Keeping it open due to Giants matchup” ([28:26]) | | Devonta Smith | WR2/Flex | “High-end WR3, low-end WR2 depending on the league size.” | | Khalil Shakir | Bench | "Hard to start…not getting it done volume wise." ([32:10]) | | Theo Johnson | TE streamer | “Keeping it open as TE10—rapport with Dart, plus matchup.” |

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Tone & Language

The episode’s tone is the signature Fantasy Football Happy Hour cocktail: deadpan sarcasm, rapid-fire wit, and self-deprecating humor. There’s a spirit of camaraderie, plus sidebars into pop culture and listener engagement threads that keep even non-fantasy diehards entertained.

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Final Note

This Week 15 episode is a must-listen for fantasy footballers—especially those facing tough start/sit calls or those who simply enjoy the unpredictable, absurd, and communal nature of the fantasy football grind.

Transcript

[Jay Croucher]

Jay's theme is going to collapse like the 2021 nets right now. The Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Kevin Rhett, Super Jam. Very possible. But Puka Nikura and Jay ASN should be pretty safe. It should be.

[Matthew Berry]

Didn't have 2021 nets appearing on the show this week.

[Connor Rogers]

I like it but kudos to Aloha Bricks for making a reference that Jay.

[Matthew Berry]

Would get right in line with Jay.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, exactly.

[Jay Croucher]

If you'd said 85 bears I wouldn't.

[Connor Rogers]

Have no no no no no. But five year old NBA reference that is in your real house.

[Jay Croucher]

07 Pat's probably a better collaboration of.

[Matthew Berry]

A now a relevant organization than the Brooklyn Nets.

[Connor Rogers]

Brookly Were they the Brooklyn Nets then.

[Jay Croucher]

Or were they the New Jersey they moved to Brooklyn in 2012.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah.

[Connor Rogers]

I don't read the newspaper.

[Matthew Berry]

No. People can say a lot of things about you but they can't accuse you of reading the news.

[Connor Rogers]

Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry.

[Matthew Berry]

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Happy Hour. That was some of our finest work at the top of that Photoshop.

[Jay Croucher]

Can't believe you Forgot about the 2012 Nets first year in broad General Wallace they traded.

[Matthew Berry]

They mortgaged everything in that time for you right now.

[Jay Croucher]

Yep. Yeah. You missed a great AI shot of yourself as well. Terrifying visual.

[Connor Rogers]

Well no, I'll tell you exactly what I'm doing. No, go ahead. No go ahead.

[Jay Croucher]

I'm sure started.

[Connor Rogers]

I know I'm live. I know I'm live. Thank you very much. I appreciate. That's pretty good. That's pretty good. I'm on my trade deadline. My dynasty league is literally sending in a deal. I'm sending in a deal. So you guys talk while I do that and then I'll explain what I do.

[Matthew Berry]

That's fine.

[Connor Rogers]

It's good.

[Matthew Berry]

Let's keep it open or close it out.

[Jay Croucher]

Dave, we'll do the TV show.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah, we'll have your start. Sit questions answer. Blind date is back with a little bit of a twist on it so you'll have to wait for that. We have our back to the futures bets as we always do here on Wednesdays as we look into the crystal ball. But at the top we got some big news and by Big Jay, maybe bigger by the story rather than the impact. Philip Rivers officially on the Colts practice squad and he reportedly could even start this week at Seattle.

[Jay Croucher]

Okay so firstly I think he's going to start because they changed the practice schedule from a walkthrough and two practices to three full practices. Why are you going to do that?

[Matthew Berry]

Giveaway.

[Jay Croucher]

You're going to start the 44 year old quarterback. Secondly, my football team, the season's turned into a bad Disney movie. Hopefully instead of Nemo dying, it ends with the Colts winning the AFC south. Somehow.

[Connor Rogers]

But look, I think for the record, Nemo does not die.

[Jay Croucher]

I meant Nemo's mother. Nemo's mother.

[Connor Rogers]

For the love of God.

[Jay Croucher]

Nemo's mother definitely dies.

[Matthew Berry]

Someone said it's a tough, dangerous spoiler.

[Connor Rogers]

Oh my God.

[Jay Croucher]

Everybody say in the movie, I'm not spoiling anything, that Nemo's mom died. I understand he was raised by his father.

[Connor Rogers]

I know, but it's so. It's a sad good guy.

[Jay Croucher]

No, Nemo very much lives. He lives through finding Dory. Nemo is very resilient. It feels like he should have died a lot of times, but it's actually not realistic. Nemo is like Kenny and South Park. People don't usually make that comparison.

[Connor Rogers]

The first movie I could buy the second movie where they're driving it up where the fish are driving the truck down the highway they went to get it gets a little muddy, it gets.

[Jay Croucher]

A little nutty, a little bit little silly. But look, in terms of what this means for the Colt. Here's the thing. I know Riley Leonard was going to be bad. I don't know what the hell is going to happen with Phil Rivers. So it introduces more variance at least. Certainly makes it more compelling from a football perspective. So this tweet from Stephen Holder.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah.

[Matthew Berry]

Asked about how they'll proceed this week. Steichen indicates that Rivers could start independent of Riley Leonard status. Leonard will pract today on some level. Steichen said they'll be evaluating Rivers through the week and decide accordingly about some. Right.

[Connor Rogers]

Tell me you hate Riley Leonard without telling me you hate Riley.

[Matthew Berry]

Not a great indictment of Riley Leonard.

[Connor Rogers]

Or we would like this guy who hasn't played football in over four years.

[Matthew Berry]

And is 44 years old.

[Connor Rogers]

Is 44 years old, hasn't played football in almost five years and oh, by the way, just got here.

[Jay Croucher]

Yeah.

[Connor Rogers]

We prefer him on the road at Seattle than you. Riley Leonard, who's been in camp since the beginning of the year.

[Jay Croucher]

I think the Colts win on Sunday, Scrot. Here's the thing.

[Connor Rogers]

Make a lot of money yesterday. Yesterday you took the Colts plus 13. Are you still backing that?

[Jay Croucher]

Here's the thing, here's what I would change. I think that. So right now the Colts, their money lines like +730, which isn't great. They're 13 and a half point dogs. Their money line is being Priced like they're a normal 13 and a half point dog. This is not a normal 13 and a half point underdog. They have a quarterback who might make the hall of Fame, doesn't play in five years. No idea what's going to happen. Maybe 13 and a half is the correct median outcome, but there is so much variance in this game. The curve of this game's outcomes is so different from your typical 13 1/2 point dog. So yeah, screw it. Colts win 21 20. Let's do it.

[Matthew Berry]

Wow, that's a take.

[Jay Croucher]

They probably lose. But I do think there is a strange.

[Matthew Berry]

But it's the most interesting story in the NFL right now. Just off of. We need to like, we have to see it.

[Jay Croucher]

Yeah, this is good. Like, because the thing is, is that the season was going to peter out with Riley Leonard throwing interceptions and Brett Rippon getting a shot. Now it's interesting. Now it's compelling. And now also like Shane Steichen is a good coach and he's a smart coach and if he thinks this is the best thing for the team, I'm going to trust him. Also the other thing too, which I think I haven't really seen brought up that much, the fact that Kyle Shanahan was, was going to go with Phil Rivers as the quarterback in the 2023 Super Bowl. Had they progressed that far, that is also a good indicator for the Colts. But now we have two smart coaches who wanted to bring Phil Rivers out of retirement. Understand, he's two years older now, but you guys remember when like, was it Josh Johnson went down in addition to Purdy with the nice and having quarterbacks, they wanted Phil Rivers to be the.

[Connor Rogers]

Quarterback for the Super bowl those three years ago though, right?

[Jay Croucher]

Two years ago.

[Connor Rogers]

Okay. That's still.

[Jay Croucher]

What's the difference between 44 and 42?

[Connor Rogers]

I think I could tell you is this. Is this this year's Joe Flacco? And I asked that specifically from a betting award standpoint, Jay Croucher.

[Jay Croucher]

Well, I'll tell you what, is Philip.

[Connor Rogers]

Rivers comeback player of the Year?

[Jay Croucher]

Well, I don't think he is.

[Connor Rogers]

I mean, because there's no one that came back from the dead this year. It's an easier field.

[Jay Croucher]

Yeah.

[Connor Rogers]

It's an easier path.

[Jay Croucher]

You only have to beat other living human beings. I don't think he's going to win because they changed the rules specifically to prevent the Joe Flacco archetype from winning. Yeah. But secondly, I have a new Demar Hamlin. I have a lot of Money on Christian McCaffrey you love this. Watch out Christian McCaffrey, because the ghost of Joe Flacco kind of animated as Phil Rivers might be coming to get you. But, yeah, he is the third favorite to win Comeback Player of the year now. Christian McCaffrey and Dak Prescott.

[Connor Rogers]

Ballin5258. With Rivers back, how many Comeback Player of the Year tickets are in shambles for Jay? I would argue all of them.

[Jay Croucher]

I mean, if Christian McCaffrey loses, I'm going to lose a lot of money.

[Connor Rogers]

So.

[Matthew Berry]

So now you're torn because you want Philip Rivers to do well for your Colts.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, but if he. Too.

[Matthew Berry]

Well, is he gonna snipe this award?

[Connor Rogers]

This is a better question. What do you have more money on McCaffrey winning comeback player of the Year or the Colts, like, winning the division, winning this.

[Matthew Berry]

How is this real? This board?

[Jay Croucher]

That's unbelievable.

[Matthew Berry]

How Is this real?

[Connor Rogers]

Third favorite right now?

[Jay Croucher]

What's J.J. mcCuff?

[Connor Rogers]

He hasn't played. He hasn't played a down in over four years. And they even named the starter.

[Jay Croucher]

He's on the first.

[Connor Rogers]

Automatically the third favorite plus 1800. Philip Rivers after Chris McCaffrey and Dakota Prescott, two guys that may not make the playoffs, whereas Philip Rivers and The Colts might.

[Jay Croucher]

McCaffrey's gonna make the playoffs. He'll be right there. McCaffrey's gonna win the award. Here's the thing. The reason.

[Connor Rogers]

You know what? The reason.

[Jay Croucher]

The reason why he's the third favorite.

[Connor Rogers]

Is he came back from the dead. Tomorrow, Hamlin is gonna win the award.

[Matthew Berry]

He's got it.

[Connor Rogers]

He's got it.

[Matthew Berry]

I'll keep flushing cash on it.

[Connor Rogers]

How is. Come on. He came back from the dead. How is Demar Hamlin not winning this award?

[Matthew Berry]

Human voters, Jay, you never learned your lesson.

[Jay Croucher]

Yeah, well, the reason why Philip Rivers is so short as a third favorite when he didn't even activate it to the roster yet is because sportsbooks lost a lot of money on Joe Flacco. They just lose it to me. They lost it to everyone else because we were betting on him at 500 to 1.

[Matthew Berry]

So they'll never do it again.

[Jay Croucher]

So they don't want to go down that path again. Yes.

[Matthew Berry]

Stuntman Shuck said, I don't see Mercedes Lewis on the board. What gives? I would like to know.

[Connor Rogers]

That's a good question. He's on the second board, to be perfectly honest. Do you think the Colts should try to trade for Mercedes Lewis just so he has a contemporary in the locker room?

[Jay Croucher]

Here's the other thing, too. Joe Flacco Was lighting up like the three of us playing corner for the jets in the schedule. The schedule's comical, Phil. Look, if he wants to go and come back, player, good luck to him because he's going to go at Seattle. He's got at Houston in week 18 and he's got the Niners and Jags in between at home. That's a little bit easier. But yeah, I'm fascinated by this. This is the most compelling story for the rest of the season. And Michael, it's in it.

[Connor Rogers]

Like you joked about it, but it is kind of a Disney movie. It is. By the way, he's an easy guy to root for, right? I mean, like, I mean, like, come on. Like, first off, everyone likes Philip Rivers. He's clearly just trying to get out of house and dealing with all the kids. He's sick of, you know, he's sick of dealing with.

[Matthew Berry]

He'll do anything. He'll get hit by the Seahawks.

[Connor Rogers]

No, he's probably, yeah, he's like, I'll take it on whatever.

[Matthew Berry]

Worst case I get hurt and I, I just hang out.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, like what, What's. Either I can, I, you know, I can wear padding and get hit a couple times with the Seahawks or I could wait for an hour in the carpool line again, like, no, he's not doing that. Absolutely not. But we say, we say that Philip Rivers in fact drinks for free today. Absolutely. By the way, we don't need to card him here at the bar.

[Jay Croucher]

No, no, no. He's.

[Matthew Berry]

He's an exception.

[Jay Croucher]

He's a little different.

[Connor Rogers]

I think we know he's of age.

[Jay Croucher]

I think he's, I don't think he's going to be amazing. I think he'll be better than Riley Leonard would be my take going forward. I think it's actually good news for the past catches on the Colts.

[Matthew Berry]

Fantasy wise, I don't question his ability even at 44. I question if he survives three hits and the Seahawks hit quarterbacks as much as anybody in football. As much as anybody. It's good. Like, is he going to, is he going to get up from the third hit?

[Connor Rogers]

He's 44.

[Matthew Berry]

He hasn't played in three plus years.

[Jay Croucher]

That's right. Flacco is 80 and still keeps against.

[Matthew Berry]

It's not a question of can you still throw? Which the arm at the end for him wasn't great anymore and that was a long time ago, but at least.

[Jay Croucher]

He can throw to the plays he's trying to throw to.

[Matthew Berry]

Which when you get sawed in half by Leonard, Williams. So you're like, yeah, I feel the same as I did when I was 28.

[Connor Rogers]

Right. Well, all the talk is that he's been in this offense, you know, for his entire career and that he actually was running this offense. He was coaching his high school football, his kids high school football team.

[Jay Croucher]

Yeah.

[Connor Rogers]

And they were actually running basically this offense. So it should be fairly familiar. I do wonder, to your point about like, hey, wanted to get hit because you look at their schedule after the Seahawks, it gets easier, you know, at least defensively.

[Matthew Berry]

Right.

[Connor Rogers]

Home to the 49ers, home to the Jaguars, then Week 18 at the Texans. Yeah, that one might be a little dicey, but. But he gets a couple of games under him there in, in the first couple of games.

[Jay Croucher]

Or he could be dead.

[Connor Rogers]

Yes, I wonder.

[Matthew Berry]

I love the assumption that he survives. Get all these games. You know what?

[Connor Rogers]

But, but here's the thing. It's the same argument, the Philip Rivers argument and wanting to get all this stuff. It's the exact same argument that we made about Joe Flacco going to Cincinnati. And everyone was like. And people were yelling at me because I was saying, like, this is great for Jamar Chase, this is great for fantasy, great for T. Higgins. And people like, he's old. He's going to die behind that line. That's the worst offensive line in football. He's going to crumble, blah, blah, blah. And I'm like, Joe Flacco is a, you know, a very experienced quarterback who is going to get rid of it very quickly and similar to Philip Rivers. Philip Rivers is going to have a very quick release. He's going to be in shotgun most of the time. And oh, by the way, one thing that Joe Flacco and Philip Rivers have in common, they both don't mind chucking it deep and they both have that YOLO effort. Somebody's down there somewhere.

[Matthew Berry]

Flacco's still got the juice in the arm, though. That arm is wild for a 40 year old rivers. At the end four years ago, I was like, it looks a little different. It was playable. Playable, solid.

[Jay Croucher]

He was pretty good in 2020.

[Matthew Berry]

It wasn't. Man, I'm being the Debbie Downer today on this show. I don't think this is going to go well.

[Connor Rogers]

Whatever. Regardless of whether he can chuck it like Flacco.

[Matthew Berry]

This is a wild conversation.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, I mean, look at Aloha Bricks. Philip Rivers or J.J. mcCarthy. Rest of season.

[Jay Croucher]

J.J. mcCarthy.

[Connor Rogers]

Question.

[Jay Croucher]

J.J. mcCarthy. He's J.J. mcCarthy. Yeah.

[Matthew Berry]

You finally found a way for me to defend J.J. mcCarthy. Great job. Chat.

[Jay Croucher]

Yeah. To be fair, when Rivers. When he was. Because he was solid in 20 playoffs, they won four. They lost five and 11. 5, 11 and 6.

[Matthew Berry]

The chat makes an important point. Brian Hickman said Rivers isn't playing on Monday Night Football against the Niners. He doesn't drive at night anymore.

[Jay Croucher]

That's very.

[Connor Rogers]

Wow, that's pretty good. Yeah, that's pretty good.

[Jay Croucher]

The last time we saw Phil Rivers coronavirus was sweeping the nation. It's been a long time since. Yeah, he's been out there, but I do. Look. The fact that they are willing to go through with this is an indicator of what he has because they've seen him work out, they've seen him throw. He feels good enough to do it. And we've seen quarterbacks at 44 and 45 in the NFL before. He's not gonna be the first guy this age 6 months.

[Matthew Berry]

Vinny Testaverde did it.

[Connor Rogers]

Tom Brady. They're gonna lean on. They're gonna lean on Jonathan Taylor. The players you care about. Alec Pierce is the one I might be most worried about, but I feel like Taylor is still. None of these players dropped to a level where if they were everyday starters for you, that you're not all of a sudden benching Tyler Warren. You're not all of a sudden benching Jonathan Taylor. Like, I would lower expectations for both of those guys, certainly against Seattle, but. But you're still starting both those guys, I think, in every league where you have them. And I think Pittman, just because he's sort of the alpha and he's the most the. He's more the pro. I think Pittman probably has some. A wide. He's probably more of a floor than a ceiling guy. But Pittman should get you wide receiver, three numbers. I think with Rivers again.

I mean, I'm rooting for the guy.

[Matthew Berry]

Oh, it's going to be entertaining.

[Connor Rogers]

It's.

[Jay Croucher]

You know, we are all for the shoe. America is for the shoe.

[Connor Rogers]

America is for the shoe.

[Matthew Berry]

Except Mike McDonald's vicious defense is going to try to kill him.

[Connor Rogers]

What do you think Colin Kaepernick feels like when he sees that pass by? Like, ridiculous. Anyway.

[Jay Croucher]

All right.

[Matthew Berry]

Ryan Tannehill, right?

[Jay Croucher]

Ryan Tannehill looks like he doesn't want to come back.

[Connor Rogers]

I don't.

[Jay Croucher]

Yeah, we don't have anything.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah. What about Andrew Luck?

[Matthew Berry]

I couldn't answer.

[Connor Rogers]

They couldn't get Andrew Luck? No, they literally couldn't.

[Matthew Berry]

They wanted that one.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, yeah, whatever. It's amazing that Josh Johnson isn't available.

[Matthew Berry]

That's Usually is the guy.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah.

[Matthew Berry]

All right, keep it open and close it out on a serious quarterback note.

[Connor Rogers]

Here, for the record. I just want the record to show right here quickly as we move in to keep it open and close it out. Backup producer Pete, for the first time in three and a half years, gave us a cue to move on.

[Matthew Berry]

I know, like an actual serious cue.

[Connor Rogers]

Yes.

[Matthew Berry]

But he was kind of like, I think it's time for. He puts it out.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Matthew Berry]

Justin Herbert at Kansas City.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, we were peering around.

[Matthew Berry]

Justin Herbert is QB27 since week 10 in points per game. That is not good. This offensive line cannot protect him. Is anything going to change in Kansas City, Matthew? Where does he come in for your ranks?

[Connor Rogers]

He comes in at quarterback 18 for me. I'm closing it out. Look, four straight games with under 15 fantasy points since week nine. Week nine is the last time he finished higher than QB 17. And part of the reason is my best bet for Monday Night Football, which was under 31.5 passing attempts. Cashed and cashed fairly easily despite. Despite an overtime gain. He's done not throwing. You know what I mean? Like, he's been under 30 pass attempts in five of the past six. He's averaging under 180 passing yards in that stretch. And now you get to Kansas City, who has allowed multiple touchdown passes in four games this year. Just four games. You know, I feel like we say this every single week, but this is Kansas City season.

[Jay Croucher]

The season's over. They're done. They're done.

[Matthew Berry]

But they'll still play like it's their season.

[Connor Rogers]

That's right.

[Matthew Berry]

That's the point.

[Connor Rogers]

Still, there's still a mathematical chance and they desperately need to beat the Chargers, a division foe, an AFC wildcard potential opponent. So this would go a long way to keeping their hopes alive. I'm closing it out on Justin Herbert. Again, not a top 15 quarterback for me this week.

[Jay Croucher]

Offensive line is just completely untenable. It's not competitive. Absolutely under siege.

[Matthew Berry]

Carter didn't play in this game.

[Jay Croucher]

Yeah. So that's a problem. Now the Chiefs pass rush is not as good as the Eagles pass rush, even with Jalen Carter out, I would say. But Herbert, it felt like it was getting in Herbert's head as well. Like he missed some throws he just doesn't normally miss. And the problem is too, that he had 66 rushing yards and was still unplayable in fantasy. Like how does.

[Connor Rogers]

That's the point. I mean, like, right again, he cashed your over rushing by like the first quarter, tripled it. Line was 19 and a half. He gets over 60 and yet still wasn't great in fantasy.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah, he had 41 drop backs. But to your point about your bet, it doesn't matter because he was sacked seven times and he runs for his life on all the other ones.

[Connor Rogers]

That's right.

[Matthew Berry]

So like the actual throwing attempts are just not going to be there. So yeah, I'm with you on the Herbert Take Matthew. Ashton Genty is our first running back. He's got the Eagles under 35 rushing yards in three of his past four games. I don't think that surprises anybody here.

[Connor Rogers]

Matthew, is Genti as big for is. Is Genty a big bust? As big a bust as there's been in terms of can't miss talent, stayed healthy all year. You know, referred to as a can't miss talent. You know, the best running back prospects in Saquon, Barkley can't miss prospect, stayed healthy, got workload. You know, in the NFL.

[Matthew Berry]

It's, I mean the problem is it's a proof that as good of a running back as he is and I don't think he's been amazing this year in his own right. You can't overcome a bad situation in the NFL. Which makes you question why take a running back if the situation was this bad. But he's up there. I'm trying to think of recent.

[Jay Croucher]

Until you said the workload thing, I was seeing him be John Robinson. His rookie year was similar but he did get the workload is the issue. But he was drafted very well and he looked the part.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah, he looked.

[Jay Croucher]

Didn't quite produce at the level that was.

[Connor Rogers]

He didn't produce at the level. But I mean like he was. We were all frustrated. I think he was being. He was effective when used. I remember the frustration of his freshman was like why do you keep going to Algier? Like yeah, it's not like. But like right. Ashton Genti has gotten the workload. He just hasn't been great. And you can say like it's, it's, it's play calling, it's the offensive line, it's everything. But he has not been what's expected of a guy that was like this is the next Saquon.

[Matthew Berry]

I mean think about the first round running backs taken since after Saquon, right? It's him in Hampton this year, Bijan and Gibbs in 2023. In 2021 it was Najee, Travis Etienne, Clyde Edwards, Elaire in 2020 and then Josh Jacobs in 2019. Jetsey's probably the most disappointing one right Absolutely.

[Connor Rogers]

Edwards Allaire would be the second one, right?

[Matthew Berry]

He was taking 30th, but.

[Connor Rogers]

Right, but that was also the end or 32nd. People were just excited about the Chiefs offense and it was just like, you know, they mixed and matched there. He didn't really get the opportunity that Genti has. I mean, Genti was, you know, picked much higher. Anyway, all that said, after I'm sitting here killing Ashton Genti's rookie year, I'm keeping it open.

Here's here. Look, the problem is, is that there's just not like if you close out Ash and Genty and you can certainly make the argument to do so, then it's like, all right, well then who are you starting? That's the concern, right? Because it's just there's not enough running backs. There's not enough running backs that you feel good about and at least he's going to get work, especially I think in the passing game. Like they've started opening up that piece of his skill set and going against the Eagles who allow the fifth most receiving yards per game to opposing running backs. I think that's helpful. Gente's had almost a 20% target share since week nine. So they're using him in the passing game and I think obviously against the Eagles they'll be down. So I do think because of the passing game usage, Gente, he's my running back. 17 this week. I'm keeping it open. I get the disappointment, you know, but if there's a positive here, Connor, if you drafted Ashton Genti, who was basically a first round pick, you're probably not playing this week. You probably don't have to worry about this. You don't have to worry about this.

[Matthew Berry]

I think it would be.

[Connor Rogers]

This decision is not meaningful to you.

[Matthew Berry]

El Segundo said start two. So maybe he did survive the Ash and Genty selection. Genty, Woody Marks, Hampton, I think you're benching Woody Marks. I think so too.

[Jay Croucher]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Connor Rogers]

I just, you know, we like Woody Marks, but. And so does Houston, but it just doesn't seem to translate into anything.

[Matthew Berry]

Right. It's actual fantasy.

[Jay Croucher]

It's not a great offense in Houston.

[Matthew Berry]

Breece hall, our next one on the list. They're at Jacksonville this week. A Jacksonville defense that's playing better, by the way. Season low, 4.3 fantasy points last week. No surprise that coincides with Brady Cook having to play after Tyrod got hurt immediately. I feel like. Matthew, it's hard to answer this question right now without knowing who's starting for the jets at quarterback.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, totally agree. Jay. Give me a second here. I'm going to consult with my jets insider. Emmy losing Conor Rod Rogers is Brady Cook starting this week. What do you think?

[Matthew Berry]

It's Wednesday. I have no idea.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, truly like some insider you are. Rivers might be starting on Saturday. On Sunday. Yeah.

[Matthew Berry]

I would think that if I had to pick I would say it's Brady Cook. A groin injury for a 37 year old quarterback. I don't think there's any interest on either side of Justin Fields playing for this team again yet. But I guess that could change.

[Connor Rogers]

By the way, that was a tough row last week. Breece Hall, CJ Stroud, ja' Marr Chase, Patrick Mahomes.

[Matthew Berry]

I mean the wall in general this year. Not a good year for the wall. Bad wall like lad McConkey, Marvin Harrison, AJ Brown next to each other. Brown's gotten going recently.

[Jay Croucher]

What about Baker Mayfield next to Matthew Berry? It's not great.

[Connor Rogers]

Bad year for both.

[Matthew Berry]

Didn't make the playoffs. Might not make the playoffs. Terry McLaurin hurt. Brock Bowers hurt most of the year.

[Connor Rogers]

But you know what in the back corner we've got Devon HN, Josh Allen, Trey McBride. We've just got a backup producer. Yeah rearrange like those guys should be more prominent. Yeah. I mean McCaffrey stayed healthy all year. He's been awesome but you know I think it's been a tough year for. Been a tough year for.

[Jay Croucher]

I think Jaylen comes off the wall. I think Jalen hurts is I think what he did on Monday night.

[Connor Rogers]

I mean it's, it's. It is not well worthy that one more bad game and we can have that conversation. But in terms of Breece hall it's borderline for me. I'm at running back 23 some is a high end flex low end RB2 but I'm closing it out. You mentioned the Jags defense right? I mean they, they're allowing the lowest rush yards per game to running backs this season. There's a chance that you either have a less than 100% T. Taylor or Brady Cook under center. You don't feel great about either of those. And like for whatever reason Breeze hall who's such a good pass catching running back, Connor, they don't use him that way.

[Matthew Berry]

Brady you thought undrafted fridge and quarterback dump off city didn't ever looked at him Never looked at the one design little screen they had for me air mailed the ball over his head so like if anyone's out there like I'm still going to start Breeze because I think he's going to get cheap receiving production. I have talked myself into that 10 weeks in a row and it just doesn't happen.

[Connor Rogers]

He's got. Since week 10. Since week 10 he's had a double digit target share once. For a team that's constantly losing script.

[Jay Croucher]

It just doesn't make sense.

[Connor Rogers]

And has Garrett Wilson on the shelf. What are we doing?

[Matthew Berry]

I mean if the jets score six points in this game, no one would be surprised.

[Connor Rogers]

No.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah.

[Connor Rogers]

So I'm closing it out on Breeze Hall.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah. If Tyrod does play, it would change. He will change in the rankings.

[Connor Rogers]

So he'll move up a little bit, you know, but. But I still don't feel great about it. I feel better about it, but I still wouldn't feel great. But he'd still be a low end RB2 for me. But not the flex play that I have. Matt, this week, Tony Pollard coming off.

[Matthew Berry]

A week where he was RB2 with over 28 fantasy points, he's got the Niners. Jay, this feels like a one off, right?

[Jay Croucher]

Yeah, I think it was fluky, particularly given it came against the best rush defense in the NFL. Now he gets a better matchup against the Niners this week in theory but as we look at his snap. Right. Actually went down against Cleveland. It's just that they had for the first time in what felt like forever actual game script to run the ball. They were leading pretty much the whole way. And so yeah, he puts up 28 fantasy points but the reality is he's going up against San Francisco team where The Titans are 12 and a half point underdogs. You would not expect gamescript when they are trailing. It's more of a Ty J. Spier show.

[Connor Rogers]

All right. Last week was the first time he's had 15 points in a game this season. Like it's not like it's first time in a month, it's the first time this season. And I get it. But you know, you're probably like oh, maybe the Tony Pollard I drafted is finally usable. I don't think he is. You mentioned, you mentioned the fact that they're, they're, they're double digit underdogs that likely going to use Spears here. 49ers for all their defensive woes, have not allowed a rushing touchdown to an opposing running back in six of the past eight and so that's the only way Pollard pays off for you against Cleveland. He broke the long one, you know, but yeah, I'm, I'm closing it out. He's my running back. 29 and as I talk about it, I might be too high on him.

[Matthew Berry]

At 29, by the way, Philip Rivers just walked up to the podium if you're wondering how long he's been out of the NFL. His first words were he was excited that it wasn't on Zoom. The press conference.

[Jay Croucher]

The one Covid year in Indy.

[Matthew Berry]

Yep.

[Connor Rogers]

I for one want to buy the rights to the movies. That's going to happen. The 30 for 30 is coming. It's coming. Jay Croucher.

[Jay Croucher]

Let's just hope it doesn't end as quickly as it did for Nemo's mother.

[Connor Rogers]

Good Lord. For the record, you never actually see Nemo's mother. It's just implied.

[Jay Croucher]

It's implied implications. It's kind of a tough start to the movie, watching it with kids.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, it's a very. Can I tell you, I'm gonna. As long as it's a backup producer Pete's show, I can derail this for a second.

[Matthew Berry]

Oh, yeah, go ahead.

[Connor Rogers]

So there was just. This is. Back in my. Tell me what you guys think about this. I've never had a chance to tell this story. Back in my producer, my. Back in my screenwriter days, there was a moment in time where Disney and Pixar divorced. You know, like they had a deal with Pixar and then Pixar ended up going away. They ultimately end up buying it. But there was like a two year period there or something like that. There was a period of time where Disney and Pixar were apart. And so Disney still owned the rights to like all their sequels. Pixar was going to go off and do their own thing. So we got whatever was what, what ended up becoming Finding Dory ended up getting scratched. So they asked writers to come into Disney and pitch them ideas for a sequel to Finding Nemo. So our pitch, which I really liked and then we really liked and they were interested in. They're like, oh, that's super interesting. And then they ended up making the deal with Pixar and so it went away because they're like, oh, Pixar's gonna figure out what, what the sequel is. But the argument was the idea was that the sequel was is that opening scene where there's all these eggs and they scatter. You know, they scatter. I say we shoot, we look at that scene, we replay that scene, but from a different angle. And we notice that there is one egg that rolls all the way away and doesn't get destroyed. And that we see Nemo actually has a brother, actually has a sibling. Whether it's a brother or sister. And somehow they discovered. I forget. It's. Whatever. It's been 15 years since we pitched this. Maybe 17 years. But that was the pitch that Nemo and Marlin go on a hunt for his son and the sibling, and they eventually find him. Halfway through the movie, they find. I think we decided it was a brother. And Nemo, who had for his entire life been the sole focus of Marlon's love and attention, all of a sudden now has a brother, a younger brother, who Marlon is focused and is so scared. And you know, all the emotions that he had in the first movie towards Nemo, he's having towards the. The found brother, because it's like, you know, he's got a new kid and he's protective and the kid's been on his own and everything like that. And Nemo starts getting jealous of his new brother. And anyway, emotional arc. And yeah, that was the.

[Matthew Berry]

There's still time for this.

[Connor Rogers]

And the.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah, right.

[Connor Rogers]

The movie would still be going on. Stressy. He tweets finding Barry's hairline. But anyway, that was the idea. And then I think the brother runs away and they have to go find the brother. Something like that.

[Matthew Berry]

But, like, did you have a name for the brother?

[Connor Rogers]

Connor.

[Jay Croucher]

Nice.

[Matthew Berry]

I like that.

[Connor Rogers]

That's good. I don't remember, but I just remember.

[Matthew Berry]

Thinking, like, finding Philip Rivers.

[Connor Rogers]

But the executive then said to us, the executive.

Screw you. Screw you.

Dev.

[Matthew Berry]

This story makes me about. We can arrange those.

[Connor Rogers]

Go ahead, read it. I screwed it up. Go ahead, Dev.

[Matthew Berry]

Of course it's stupid. Dev, this story makes me. This story makes me wish I was Nemo's mother.

[Connor Rogers]

Stupid Deb from the top rope. That's pretty good.

[Matthew Berry]

Raise the flags. Ask, what's your pitch for Magnolia 2?

[Connor Rogers]

Everyone's Nemo's mother. That's the pitch. You know what? Whatever. I don't know. I thought that was actually very clever. And for whatever it's worth, the Disney executives, like, really liked it. They said we've heard a ton of, like, Finding Nemo sequel pitches, and the first time we heard that idea that they're. That turns out he has a brother, you know, and everything. Anyway, so there you go. There you go. You know, Never got made. Never got made. Yeah, but I really like that. Sounds good. I don't know. For whatever it's worth, you know, when am I ever going to have a chance to tell that story?

[Matthew Berry]

No, maybe next year. I'll keep it over to close it out. Maybe producing a show next week. Okay, pass catchers.

[Connor Rogers]

Wow.

[Matthew Berry]

It's been a while since we talked about anyone in Fantasy Football. Terry McLaurin. He's got the Giants under 55 receiving yards in four of six games this season. Jayden Daniels hurt once again. Matthew, what do we do with scary Terry?

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, I'm keeping it open just because of the matchup with the Giants. Right. Fourth most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. At least 20 points to a wide receiver. The Giants have given up in three of the past four and they've given up at least one touchdown to a wide receiver in seven straight. McLaurin is the guy that gets the majority of the work. So whether it is Marcus Mario Tough or Jaden Daniels under center for my commanders, I do think 17 will get a lot of looks this week. He's my wide receiver. 22 Debo doesn't do much in games in which McLaurin has played this year. So keeping it open on scary Terry.

[Jay Croucher]

Yeah, Terry McClure. He kind of reminds me of the Australian dentist in the middle of finding him at night.

Keep it open on Terry McLaren as well. Very favorable matchup against the Giants team that gives up explosives.

[Matthew Berry]

Kind of don't feel the need to continue the show like stupid Deb won the day.

[Connor Rogers]

He really did.

[Matthew Berry]

Kind of just done but we will move on.

[Connor Rogers]

Stupid Dev might make the regulars power.

[Matthew Berry]

Ranking after that comment. That's a top five.

[Connor Rogers]

It's probably others receiving votes be clear but you know, whatever. Yeah, we'll see.

[Matthew Berry]

All right. Devonta Smith, he's got the Raiders. It's been AJ Brown the last four games. Devontae Smith because of that under 10 points in three of those four games. But pretty good matchup here we think. Matthew.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah against the Las Vegas Raiders who have allowed at least 33 fantasy points to wide receivers in all but three games this year. So even if Brown and Smith Combined for 33 fantasy points, we'd like both those days they're allowing the third highest catch rate to opposing wide receivers. And so you think about Devonta Smith a little bit inconsistent but he's quietly gotten at least eight targets now in three straight he's got basically a 25% target share. So you see it there on your screen. He's my wide receiver 24 high end wide receiver 3, low end wide receiver 2 depending on the size of your league. But I am given the matchup at home against Las Vegas, a game that the Raiders after such I think Jalen Hurts has a monster game this week based on what you know after. After Monday Night Football and that embarrassment and I'm sure Philly sports talk radio was to going crazy this entire week.

[Jay Croucher]

Sirianni's getting asked if they should bench hurts.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah.

They got Tanner McKee fever.

[Connor Rogers]

Tanner McKee fever. They've got the McKeever.

[Matthew Berry]

We should start this movement. Yeah. Let's see what Tanner McKee's got.

[Jay Croucher]

The thing is is that the Eagles this is an offense that now needs to pass because they cannot run. I understand the saquon broke the 52 yard touchdown. That was one play. I thought it was instructive that the final drive like serie they didn't want to run the ball because they knew they were just getting stuffed. It's not like the Chargers have the Browns run defense either. Tony Pollard games notwithstanding. But this is a team that all year they just haven't been able to run. The O line is not what it was. Lane Johnson obviously banged up and Saquon. Saquon's just not the same guy. Like he was missing cutback lanes on Monday night. I understand that he broke the long one but even on that it's like I feel like he ran faster last year. Right. Doesn't seem to have the same pace and everything in that offense in the run game. Well, everything really is a bit broken at the moment. But they need to throw and the throwing goes to AJ Brown, Devontae.

[Matthew Berry]

So our last wide receiver Khalil Shakir against the Patriots. 21 total receiving yards over his last two games. Not a lot of rhythm in this offense right now, just big plays. But the problem is Matthew Shakir hasn't been a part of Those big plays.

[Connor Rogers]

One game with 20 or more receiving yards since week 11. He's been under five targets three of the four games for the last three. Three of the last four. You see it there on your screen. You know, last two games he's averaging under six fantasy points per game. And so you know, look, he got the touchdown last week. That was his first end zone target of the year. And that was like on a scramble play. Like he clearly wasn't the first read there. Like was Josh Allen doing Josh Allen things running around, finding somebody in the seam and managed to get it. You don't love this matchup against New England either. Patriots allow the six fewest yards to the slot this season. Which is where Shakir, not Shakur Jay.

Lines up obviously most of the time. So he's my wide receiver 40. I'm closing it out on him.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah, hard to start Shakir going forward in this offense.

[Jay Croucher]

Yeah, they would have to make changes to the offense that's a 2.

[Matthew Berry]

I think they just are. They are what they are.

[Jay Croucher]

Like, trying to do my best there.

[Matthew Berry]

It's okay.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah.

[Jay Croucher]

The other thing, too is the Patriots rush defense is actually very poor.

[Connor Rogers]

Sometimes when I don't react, it's not a lack of comprehension. It's right.

[Matthew Berry]

I just want. I wanted the save.

[Connor Rogers]

Move on.

[Jay Croucher]

We've had the recurring Shakir Shakur joke for six weeks. So we're injecting something new. No, admittedly, it's. Yeah. Not a signature. It's hard to connect the dots to be clear.

[Connor Rogers]

I'm just helping out. Give me a second here, guys. Give me one second just to help Jay out a little bit here. I know we've only worked together for three and a half years, but just so you know, I've made an incredibly successful, a beyond insane career on running jokes into the ground.

[Jay Croucher]

Sure.

[Connor Rogers]

It's really ridiculous how long it's. I've been able to sustain, how maintain it. Like it's. It's. It's broken all models, you know, the under has been, you know, broken through. But, yes, I've managed to make a career on running jokes in the ground and not adding to them. I appreciate the attempt, but. No, no, no, no, no. You know, stick with what works. Yeah.

[Jay Croucher]

No, I've heard that your best friend CD Lamb is Colin Cole Nates.

[Connor Rogers]

Nobody ate.

[Jay Croucher]

Heard about that for seemingly longer than four years. Only known you for that duration. Yeah. The other thing with the Patriots, they've sneakily got one of the worst rush defects in the NFL over the past five weeks. And the Bills not afraid of running.

[Matthew Berry]

I believe they have the worst red zone defense in the NFL, which is very.

[Jay Croucher]

I think it's a great defense.

[Matthew Berry]

Very odd stat. Well, because here's the thing with the Patriots, I said this, and I mean it in the most respectful way. It's amazing where they are because they are not that talented yet. Like, it's year one for Mike Vrabel. They are going to be much more talented in two years. Yeah, like, they got some guys in free agency. They had that draft, but they're still kind of piecing it together. They're playing, they're punching above their weight, which is a credit to coaching.

[Jay Croucher]

Yeah, they're playing like the jets and the Bengals with Flacco every week.

[Connor Rogers]

He's got an unbelievable schedule. But there's a very real scenario.

[Matthew Berry]

They beat Wills.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, that's what I was going to say. Yeah, there's a very real scenario where they are the number one seed in the afc. And the playoffs go through Foxborough and weird stuff happens in Foxborough. I don't think there's going to absolutely make the Super 100%, of course. I mean, is that a hot take? Like, I don't think. Right.

[Jay Croucher]

Everyone in the NFC sucks.

[Connor Rogers]

That was my point. I went to Texas. I was asked. I did a quick thing in Kansas City, and they asked me for my super bowl prediction. And just like on the spot, I said, patriots, Rams. Sean McVeigh gets his revenge.

[Jay Croucher]

I'm going Bill's Rams. I'm putting my faith in Josh Allen.

[Matthew Berry]

That's worked before. I have.

[Jay Croucher]

Well, this year, he doesn't have to go through my homes. My homes isn't going to be in the playoffs.

[Connor Rogers]

100% faith in Josh Allen. Not 100% faith in everything around. Less than 100% faith in everything around.

[Matthew Berry]

I like Bill Ballo in the chat saying, does Jay have an interview today?

[Jay Croucher]

Yes, Jay does new jobs.

[Connor Rogers]

We got another DraftKings commercial after this. And they don't like Jay presenting himself as anything other than. Is very professional. Yes, Mr. King. Mr. King sends the note.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah. You know, the crown is not yours. That's when you learn. They tell you that.

[Jay Croucher]

But Mr. King likes me to go to court. He likes my court attire. Exactly. I am technically a lawyer, even if Lionel Hunt's bad lawyer.

[Matthew Berry]

Can you practice in the United States?

[Jay Croucher]

Cannot practice in the United States. To be fair, I don't think I can technically practice in Australia either. So no country will.

[Connor Rogers]

What's the point?

[Jay Croucher]

I'm on the Supreme Court roll. It's just.

[Connor Rogers]

It's.

[Jay Croucher]

It's. It's not valid anymore, so I have to re up it.

[Connor Rogers]

What would it take? You just have to pass a bar here.

[Jay Croucher]

Yeah.

[Connor Rogers]

Why don't you do that?

[Jay Croucher]

I think it's hard.

[Matthew Berry]

And also, once again, it's like getting.

[Jay Croucher]

A driver's license at the dmv because I can drive a car in Australia. It's not the same. I think you guys have different laws here.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, we do.

[Jay Croucher]

Walk in past the New York bar.

[Connor Rogers]

It'd just be fun for something for you to have.

[Jay Croucher]

Yeah, it'd be fun.

[Connor Rogers]

I just. You know what? Instead of one of the. Instead of one of the many dinner bets we have that you never pay off on, maybe that's the next bet I'll do is you have to go get your car.

[Jay Croucher]

Yeah. Practice.

[Connor Rogers]

I could use some legal advice. I'm in some scrapes. All right.

[Matthew Berry]

Want to talk to Theo Johnson. What'd you do with Khalil Shakir? You closed it out?

[Jay Croucher]

I closed it out.

[Matthew Berry]

Okay, I'll talk Theo Johnson.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, Tom. Theo Johnson. What are we doing with Theo Johnson this week?

[Matthew Berry]

He's got the commanders. He's got one game with more than three receptions since week six. And I would still start Theo Johnson because the rapport between him and Jackson Dart is good. They've come close on a couple big missed plays. And Matthew, here's the big secret sauce on this one. He's got the commanders who look dead for us.

[Connor Rogers]

Right. They've given up double digit fantasy points to opposing Titans in six of their past seven games. Theo Johnson, one of the big end zone targets for Jackson Dart. He's my tight intent. I'm keeping it open as well. I like Theo Johnson. I know there's been. When he was in college, did he have issues with the hands? It feels like catching has been. He hasn't. He hasn't been the smoothest pass catcher this year.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah, he's had some drops where you're.

[Jay Croucher]

Like bad one in the end zone on a bomb from Dodd against the Patriots.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, he's had some bad drops here but he feels, feels like he's good route runner blocks well physical like he's out there. I know they like him.

[Matthew Berry]

Right. And when Dart runs around like a lunatic.

[Connor Rogers]

Right.

[Matthew Berry]

Theo Johnson can kind of be a beneficiary.

[Connor Rogers]

Was that one of the. One of the hallmarks of him in college was just not he needed to.

[Matthew Berry]

Improve as a blocker for his size and consistently catch the ball. It's wild because him and Tyler Warren shared the tight end role in that offense and they both had drops issues. And then Tyler Warren went back to school and caught literally everything, everything and turned to a superstar. Theo Johnson has been, I think pretty good. He's a fourth round pick, third or fourth round pick. So yeah, I would start Theo Johnson anyway.

[Connor Rogers]

We're keeping it open on Theo Johnson.

[Jay Croucher]

He's the man we all wanted Mason Taylor to be earlier in the year.

[Connor Rogers]

I still hold for Mason Taylor long term.

[Jay Croucher]

Yeah.

[Matthew Berry]

None of it is his fault, I'll tell you that. Keep it open or close it out. Recap for the week. Justin Herbert's a close at QB18. Ashton Genty stays open in the top 20 running backs. Really volume based. Breece Hall. It's a Brady Cook game and it's a closed game for Breeze Hall. Tony Pollard, kind of a one off performance. So not open right now unless he somehow pulls that off again. Terry McLaurin stays open as does Devonta Smith. But Khalil Shakir is a close. Just not getting it done volume wise. Theo Johnson stays open at tight end 10. We're going to take our first break. Oh, we got a little breaking news here. Oh, this is a big one. Dan Quinn announced Marcus Mariota will start this Sunday versus the Giants. Jayden Daniels has been ruled out.

[Connor Rogers]

Tough right you have.

[Jay Croucher]

Well, I have a buy Matthew, so it doesn't matter to me.

[Connor Rogers]

Thank God for you.

[Jay Croucher]

He'll be back next week.

[Connor Rogers]

Okay, maybe. Good. This is the right move. This is the right move. And Mariota becomes a very interesting streamer against the Giants if you need somebody.

[Jay Croucher]

He can't be worse than Jayden Daniels was last weekend.

[Connor Rogers]

No, he certainly can't. But no, you prefer him to. I mean like you know, the CJS shots of the world. Yeah, I think I prefer Mariota against the Giants.

[Jay Croucher]

Take that suit.

[Matthew Berry]

Blind date after this.

[Connor Rogers]

Comic Avalon. Matthew picking third for his third one in a row. It is meant to be. I agree with you. I agree with you. It's just. Whatever. It's just one game. I think I lost week one last year as well. It's okay.

[Matthew Berry]

You like the Bengals. Slow starter. Slow starter.

[Connor Rogers]

I got two titles. Honestly I could not win for the next five years and I'm still good.

[Matthew Berry]

Oh my God.

[Connor Rogers]

Several months later. I started out 07. I was 07 and I clawed my way back to lose out on the playoffs by a tiebreaker. This is the greatest season ever played. You got the league should be there.

[Jay Croucher]

Heights in a 12 team league.

[Connor Rogers]

I started 07.

Well, once again proving my superiority to the league of assholes. I gave you guys a seven game lead. That's fine. There will be a new champion this year. But like people that did not start 07 like George Savarikis, like Denny Carter, like Roto Pat all fell to me. At the end of the day, you and I have the same record. Yeah, I gave you a seven game.

[Matthew Berry]

Head start, Slight point differential. And by slight I mean like 200. Yeah, but I also just want to clarify season meeting.

[Connor Rogers]

The record is the record.

[Jay Croucher]

Yeah, this is the.

[Matthew Berry]

The league of assholes playoff bracket bracket.

[Jay Croucher]

A little buy for your old friend Uncle J.

[Matthew Berry]

You and Lawrence. Good year for Lawrence.

[Connor Rogers]

Nice to know the guys giving advice. Make it their producer Stephen against producer Damian. Wow, that's a. That's a battle of producers obviously. And then yes, you've got Roto Pat going up against Emmy award winning stupid Dev. I'm not sure who I'm rooting for there. It was. It was going to be Emmy award winning stupid Deb. But then, you know, he made a mean comment about me. Yeah.

[Matthew Berry]

No, I don't think. I don't think he's a big fan of yours. I'm rooting for Lawrence to win the whole thing.

[Connor Rogers]

That would actually be great.

[Jay Croucher]

I'm ready for me. I hope I win.

[Matthew Berry]

Steven. Winning would be fine. Steven deals with a lot of crap with this show.

[Connor Rogers]

I'd be good with Steven. I'd be good with Damien.

[Matthew Berry]

Damien, yes. Not a bad word to say about Damian if he wins.

[Connor Rogers]

I'd be good with either of them winning.

[Jay Croucher]

Jay would be great.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah. Also, I just want to clarify, is that the worst.

[Jay Croucher]

Matthew made a comment yesterday that he was.

[Connor Rogers]

It would be the worst. Rotopat can't win because Rotopat won our. Our Guillotine or he's won our Guillotine. League is in the finals against me.

[Jay Croucher]

By the way. Me again. Top two. It's a recurring theme. I do want to clarify. Yesterday when you said that you were seventh in points scored, you're 10th in points scored again, just another blatant lie I was told.

[Matthew Berry]

It's a jarring difference.

[Connor Rogers]

I was. I was told it's like almost should.

[Matthew Berry]

Have made the playoffs to one of the worst teams in the league.

[Connor Rogers]

I was told. I was told there'd be no fact checking.

[Matthew Berry]

Who do you think I am?

[Connor Rogers]

Said 10th.

[Matthew Berry]

No math.

[Jay Croucher]

I believe the exact words was I was seventh or eighth. I believe seventh as opposed to reality tenth. I don't know.

[Connor Rogers]

I was seven in a row. I look, I mean three of my first five picks went out for the year. What do you want from me?

[Matthew Berry]

That George Kittle injury really sunk it.

Ryan Oswald, K. Gemma, Mick, Genuine, valiant. Jonathan. We definitely need to start a fantasy football regular league. That'd be great if they do.

[Connor Rogers]

Okay. And then Ryan Oswald continues. I think the winner of our league should replace the relegated 12th place of the league, League of A Holes as their punishment.

[Jay Croucher]

I like it.

[Connor Rogers]

I really like that. But here's what I would do then. What we would do is we would have. You would have to compete to get into the regulars league. It wouldn't just be. It sounds like K. Gemma is saying like, hey, we should just all. Yeah, we need to get Orion saying we should all just. He's just picking, you know, some of his guys.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah, but a lot of those guys are in the chat every day.

[Connor Rogers]

Of course.

[Matthew Berry]

Of course. So I think that's the easiest way to do it. And then I agree. I think it's time to relegate somebody.

[Connor Rogers]

I'm Done with. I'm down for that. That would be producer Adam.

[Matthew Berry]

Producer Adam would be.

[Connor Rogers]

That would be producer Adam.

[Matthew Berry]

Oh, man, that's tough.

[Jay Croucher]

Savarikis didn't cover himself in Glory down the stretch. He's on watch.

[Connor Rogers]

No, he doesn't.

[Jay Croucher]

He put up like 60 points against me last week. I don't think that's possible.

[Matthew Berry]

The end of the season was a tough watch for Sevastopol teams.

[Connor Rogers]

If you.

[Matthew Berry]

I won't name names.

[Connor Rogers]

If you look at George Savari, because on TV he's often covering himself in something, but you know, whatever that. Whatever that makeup is that he wears. But certainly Glory is not something he's covered himself in for. Sure.

[Jay Croucher]

He brings his own makeup on the road.

[Connor Rogers]

He does.

[Matthew Berry]

Who brings their own makeup?

[Jay Croucher]

George Severicus.

[Connor Rogers]

George.

[Jay Croucher]

A whole little operation.

[Matthew Berry]

George is a well traveled man.

[Jay Croucher]

He is. No, I'm just pointing out that's a fact and I'd like to point it out.

[Matthew Berry]

It's a professional.

[Connor Rogers]

All right. Blind date time.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah, I'm taking over.

[Connor Rogers]

Okay, good.

[Matthew Berry]

I'll give you a little breather for once. We're going to take a different approach this week. We'll give a side by side of two mystery players instead of us trying to guess the one player shown on the board. So this is more of a comparison that might surprise you. Wide receiver A. As you see on the left there, 24.8 fantasy points, 120 plus receiving yards per game, almost 10 catches per game. I don't want that graphic can't be right. Four targets is not right.

[Connor Rogers]

Michael Wilson. Well, in the last four games, that's got to be 14 targets per game because that. Yeah, all right. Yeah. That makes in essence the point of this, despite the. The wrong graphic because it should be 14 targets per game for Michael Wilson. Michael Wilson is putting up Calvin Johnson over the last kind of movies kind of numbers. It's unbelievable. Megatron, he's. I don't know what's. He's Birdatron.

[Matthew Berry]

His 2012 season, not my best effort.

[Jay Croucher]

No two pack changes, man.

[Matthew Berry]

This segment's in the toilet. Totally in the toilet.

[Jay Croucher]

It's a poor effort from backup Calvin.

[Matthew Berry]

Johnson, by the way. In 2012, of course, is his almost 2,000 yard season. If you're wondering just how ridiculous this Michael Wilson run is right now, he's going to win some people fantasy championships.

[Connor Rogers]

Do we think unless Marvin Harrison Jr. Comes back. Then he won't. Then he won't. Yeah. Yeah.

[Jay Croucher]

Then he goes back to being wide receiver Tajie Spears. Calvin Johnson or wide Receiver Taj Spears. Those are the two modes.

[Connor Rogers]

This one. What do you do with him this week against Arizona? What do you do this week against. Against Houston? I'm going to say Marvin Herrington. Let's pretend he's out. But it's against Houston.

[Jay Croucher]

Doesn't matter. He's wide receiver one.

[Matthew Berry]

I just keep buying him.

[Connor Rogers]

You got to still still start him. I would bench Jacoby Brissette, though. I don't think I want Jacoby Brissette against Houston. No.

[Matthew Berry]

In the playoffs. You got to have a better option.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, Well, I mean, Joe% may have gotten you to the playoffs. He's been a QB1 ever since. He's.

[Matthew Berry]

Houston is just where fantasy quarterbacks go.

[Connor Rogers]

To die thousand percent.

[Matthew Berry]

I mean. All right, blind date number two here, another pair of wide receivers. Wide receiver a has almost 12 targets a game and 7.6 catches per game. Over 84 receiving yards per game and over 18 fantasy points per game. Why? Wide receiver B has pretty similar numbers. Besides two less catches per game and two less targets. Wow, that's a gut punch.

[Jay Croucher]

Yeah.

[Connor Rogers]

So, Ja' Marr Chase for the year. Proud fantasy life investor Ja' Marr Chase. And weeks one through four, QJ again. That's how good QJ was at the beginning of the year. And also Ja' Mar Chase had to deal with Jake Browning for too much of the year. So we don't blame Jamar Chase for any of this.

[Matthew Berry]

All right, our next one. Let's get to some quarterbacks here. The quarterback on the left averages 238.2 passing yards per game, 37.5 rushing yards per game, 2.6 total touchdowns per game, and 23.9 fantasy points per game.

[Connor Rogers]

Why do I feel like that's Mahomes?

[Matthew Berry]

While quarterback B averages just 194.5 passing yards per game, but 42.1 rushing yards per game, 2.3 total touchdowns per game. So pretty similar besides the pass yards here and then two less fantasy pass.

[Connor Rogers]

Wow. Josh Allen and Jackson Dart, which might have been one of my best calls.

[Matthew Berry]

I think so.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah.

[Matthew Berry]

You were all. You were on the Dartler.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, I was on the dart. QB1 from the jump as soon as he gets the job. But just gives you an idea of just how good Jackson Dart has been in unbelievably trying situations. Changing of coach, losing Malik, neighbors, you know, like it's just a bunch of disarray. And yet Jackson Dart continues to produce.

[Jay Croucher]

By the way, speaking of quarterbacks, I just saw the footage of Phil Rivers at the podium I'd like to retract my Colts money line. He might look like he's.

[Matthew Berry]

He might have the run defense.

[Jay Croucher]

It's not good. It's not good.

[Matthew Berry]

All time presser though. His energy is just the best.

[Jay Croucher]

Unbelievable.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah, we're excited. Our last one here. Two more quarterbacks with similar completion percentage, similar passing yards per game, almost the exact same passing yards per attempt. 7.8 and 7.7. But the quarterback on the left is averaging almost five more fantasy points per game. 19.9 compared to 15. These quarterbacks are Matthew Stafford and Philip.

[Connor Rogers]

Rivers in his 2020 season. His last season in the COVID year.

[Matthew Berry]

Phillip Rivers versus the I think soon to be MVP of this season. Yeah, Matthew Stafford.

[Connor Rogers]

Wow. Touchdowns obviously pretty difficult.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah, it's almost like scoring matters.

[Jay Croucher]

Phil Rivers had 24 touchdowns or something that season. Stafford's on pace for 40 plus at this point.

[Connor Rogers]

24 and 11. That seems like a very specific number that you managed to recall top your head.

[Jay Croucher]

I've. I'm a Colts man. I know everything about the Indianapolis Colts.

[Connor Rogers]

Sure you do.

[Jay Croucher]

I knew because I looked at it last night.

[Connor Rogers]

There you go.

[Matthew Berry]

All right, we're taking one more break. When we're back, back to the futures.

[Connor Rogers]

Honey, can you come read a story to the kids? RIO Mrs. No, I'm looking up Philip river stats from 2020. What am I doing?

[Matthew Berry]

Giraffe King 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]

Oh, the crown is yours.

[Jay Croucher]

Crown is yours.

[Matthew Berry]

Crown is yours. Time for back to the futures, J. Dipping your toes into the coach a year market, I hear.

[Jay Croucher]

Yeah, Kyle Shanahan is my white whale. Call me Ahab.

[Matthew Berry]

Here we go again. I've got running back bets.

[Jay Croucher]

Cole Shanahan's + $1,600. The price of him running the slate to get to 13 and 4 and Mike V taking at least one more loss is plus 600. That is what I think Kyle Shanahan's price should be to win coach of the year. He does that. His team has been completely decimated by injuries. He plays in prime time in week 16 and 17 against my Colts and your Bears. And I think that if he runs a slate, he is a very good chance to win coach of the year.

[Connor Rogers]

He should have. But he also ran the slate for six games with Brock Purdy, who's his third quarterback that year. And didn't win it. And he should have.

[Matthew Berry]

It's a broken award.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah, it's a broken award. And for whatever reason, Kyle Shannon will never win it the way that Belichick never won it.

[Jay Croucher]

Wow. Never.

[Matthew Berry]

Tough.

[Connor Rogers]

I plan on betting him.

[Jay Croucher]

On betting on him for this, what, every year until one of us is dead. So eventually, he's going to win the award. We're going to die.

[Connor Rogers]

Try those first. The fact that you have said you've placed your previously good name on this means he's got no chance now.

[Jay Croucher]

Yep.

[Matthew Berry]

It's over.

[Connor Rogers]

To be clear, I'm a Shanahan fan. Like, I don't. It's not a. It's not that he's not.

[Matthew Berry]

He should have won it by now.

[Connor Rogers]

He should have won it that year that he. The Brock Purdy year. The Brock Purdy year.

[Jay Croucher]

Should have been Dabol.

[Connor Rogers]

It should have been absolutely thousand percent. He got screwed that year.

[Jay Croucher]

He wins this year.

[Connor Rogers]

Yeah.

[Jay Croucher]

Mike Bramble.

What do you got?

[Connor Rogers]

I got two things. First off, I just want to clean up the Finding Nemo pitch. What it was was they discover the brother very, very quickly, right at the start of the movie. And then because the dad's paying attention to the brother, Nemo is mean to the little brother, little brother runs away like kids do, and then that's the movie is going to find the brother.

[Matthew Berry]

Elliot Morgan said, I listen every day. I'm a mailman. I've listened to all my other podcasts for the day. It's either listen to this or deliver in silence. Please don't tell that Nemo story again. And thank you. Appreciate you.

[Jay Croucher]

Oh, that's great, Elliot.

[Connor Rogers]

We appreciate you delivering the mail and listening every day. And by the way, and you delivered that joke very well. I'm taking Philip Rivers come back, play the year. Plus 1800. Jay Croucher. Talk about broken awards. Oh, my God. If Joe Flacco can. If Joe Flacco won it for just being on his couch for two months. What about Phil Rivers, who's been on his couch for four years when he leads your Colts to the playoffs? Philip Rivers plus 1800 comeback player of the year.

[Matthew Berry]

All right, I'm going. Raiders. Under two and a half wins. It's plus 165, obviously, to not win another game. They go to Philadelphia, they go to Houston. They're home to the Giants. I think Jackson Dart beats the Raiders, and then they close out the season hosting the Chiefs. I don't think the Raiders win another game. Good news for you Raiders fans. I think you'll be picking number one overall in next year's NFL draft, plus 165.

[Connor Rogers]

Okay, there you go. And who do they take? They take Mendoza.

[Matthew Berry]

Fernando Mendoza.

[Connor Rogers]

Mendoza. Yeah, that makes sense. That makes a lot of sense. All right, you know what?

[Matthew Berry]

Mendoza in Vegas.

[Connor Rogers]

Mendoza. By the way, Elliot, what I will do is I'm going to tell the Nemo story again. But I will give you a heads up so you don't have to listen. That day for Jane, Connor and Matthew. It's closing.

[Jay Croucher]

Dime.

[Connor Rogers]

You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here. Peace out.