← Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry
Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry
Week 9 Waiver Wire: Trevor Lawrence, Tyrone Tracy Jr. + Saints name Tyler Shough starting QB
00:52:03
October 28: Matthew (@MatthewBerryTMR), and Connor (@ConnorJRogers) analyze top players on the Waiver Wire to target for Week 9, beginning with Trevor Lawrence and Sam Darnold leading the list of QBs. They also highlight Tyrone Tracy Jr., Tyjae Spears, Christian Watson, and Troy Franklin before reacting to breaking news of the Saints turning to Tyler Shough. The duo reflect on the performances on Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice, and Deebo Samuels on Monday Night, and wrap up the show revealing why they both have circled Colts-Steelers on their betting card this weekend.
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- [00:00]
Matthew Berry
Traditions have the power to bring a whole city together. Tapas tailgate in the pouring rain or refuse to wash that lucky jersey. And tradition is what inspires Tostitos to make their masa the traditional way, starting with whole corn kernels and made with no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives crafted for that perfect crunch. Anytime I'm watching football on Sunday, I look around and there's always somebody eating Tostitos. Whether you're at the tailgate or home watching with friends, choose Tostitos for your next game day. Tostitos tradition matters. Official chip and dip sponsor of the NFL. You know the best B2B marketing often gets wasted on the wrong people. So listen, when you want to reach the right professionals, use LinkedIn ads. LinkedIn has grown to a network of over 1 billion professionals. You can target your buyers by job title, by industry, by company, by role, seniority, skills, company revenue. You can stop wasting budget on the wrong audience. So spend $250 on your first campaign on LinkedIn ads and get a free $250 credit for the next one. Just go to LinkedIn.com FFHH. That's LinkedIn.com FFHH. Terms and conditions apply. And honestly, if you think about it, I mean, it was such a brutal injury and Scatterboo was so fun, so beloved. He should have been the one to drink free now. Now, did producer Steven screw up? Yes, we love Cam Scatterboo here. We wish him a speedy recovery. It was awful. He should have drank free. You know what, Cam? If you're watching this, screw the sign, screw Stephen. You drink free. You honestly drink free for the rest of the year. Honestly, we love Scatterboo here. A miss by producer Steven. If you're being honest. Yes, I would say a rare miss, but a miss. Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry.
- [01:51]
Connor Rogers
Welcome to the Fantasy Football Happy Hour. That's right. We made up for it. Cam Scataboo.
- [01:56]
Matthew Berry
No, I'll be clear. This is. It was what's so great about it? So you just saw the clip there? Of course, I'm Matthew Berry, he's Connor Rogers. But you saw the clip there at the beginning of the show where it was. We basically, we threw producer Steven under the bus.
- [02:09]
Connor Rogers
Yeah. And then rolled it back over him again.
- [02:11]
Matthew Berry
But rightfully so. I mean, that was a mistake. How does Cam Scatterboo not drink free? So obviously, Cam Scataboo, we're making up for the mistake he does in for us drink free today. We wish him a speedy recovery.
- [02:22]
Connor Rogers
He.
- [02:23]
Matthew Berry
He Got. He got some pizza from Big Dom.
- [02:25]
Connor Rogers
Cheesesteaks, Philly treatment. Yeah.
- [02:28]
Matthew Berry
You know, I met Big Dog once at the.
- [02:31]
Connor Rogers
How'd that go for you?
- [02:32]
Matthew Berry
He's. I really liked him, honestly. I thought he was great. Honestly. He was a super nice guy, so I really liked him. Here, this is from Jeff McLean. Cam, scatter boo. Had a surprise visitor to Penn Presbyterian on Monday. Hashtag, Eagles, do it all. Chief of security Don desandro dropped off pizza and cheesesteaks for the Giants rookie while he was still at the Philly hospital after dislocating his ankle on Sunday. That's from Jeff McLean on X. Connor. But so, yeah, I enjoyed Big Dom, but what I. What I enjoyed even more than meeting Big Dom is that our producer today is not Stephen, It's Adam.
- [03:07]
Connor Rogers
Right.
- [03:08]
Matthew Berry
Adam is our producer.
- [03:09]
Connor Rogers
The rotation begins.
- [03:10]
Matthew Berry
The rotation begins. And so Adam, out of the blue says, hey, you know what? Our open should be you throwing producer Steven under the bus, like, so. He chose that producer. So we have producer on producer. Rohr, we have producer on producer. Yes.
- [03:25]
Connor Rogers
I like this. How do we get Pete in the mix of this?
- [03:28]
Matthew Berry
Pete will find his own way into it.
- [03:30]
Connor Rogers
He always does.
- [03:31]
Matthew Berry
He always creates chaos. But what I dislike is that we've managed to somehow create a scenario here where now the producers are in fighting. Pete just throws these bombs from left field.
- [03:43]
Connor Rogers
Jay's not here today.
- [03:44]
Matthew Berry
No. As you can see. By the way, that was probably producer Steven's fault as well. He probably forgot to put Jay on the schedule.
- [03:49]
Connor Rogers
I wasn't on the schedule yesterday.
- [03:51]
Matthew Berry
I don't know what's going on. I'm the only one that shows up apparently. It's fine.
- [03:54]
Connor Rogers
It's whatever.
- [03:55]
Matthew Berry
Got it.
- [03:56]
Connor Rogers
Roll a dice when. But you'll be here.
- [03:57]
Matthew Berry
Yeah. At least I'm here. At least I'm here. I might be a little bit late. I might be a little bit late because I live 8 billion hours away. But whatever I got here, I'm on time. As opposed to whatever. Who knows who's showing up on any given basis here, but today it's you, Connor Rogers, hopefully, hopefully full show tomorrow.
- [04:13]
Connor Rogers
We'll roll the dice and see who's here tomorrow. We have waiver wires today. A lot of names to get through because the bye weeks are. This is a bad one. This is not. Not a great one. There's a chance you might need a quarterback, so we're going to start there. Before we do, by the way, don't worry, Matthew. We are going to recap. Chiefs commanders. I didn't want you to Feel left out of that.
- [04:31]
Matthew Berry
We'll see. We'll see. Because there's a chance I could talk enough. And we run out of time.
- [04:35]
Connor Rogers
Right. And then it's like 20 seconds.
- [04:37]
Matthew Berry
Patrick Williams was good again. Rasheed Rice.
- [04:39]
Connor Rogers
Woo hoo.
- [04:40]
Matthew Berry
And then we're done.
- [04:40]
Connor Rogers
Then we're on to early, which is our early bets for the week as well. But let's jump right into the quarterback.
- [04:45]
Matthew Berry
I will say this before we jump in one last thing and then I promise we're getting to the waiver names. But not only did he throw producer Steven under the bus, but Adam also lost to me. I did get my first win of the season.
- [04:56]
Connor Rogers
One and seven.
- [04:57]
Matthew Berry
Yes. I'm one in six. I think I'm one in six. Okay. So yeah, you had a bye week. Oh no, I'm one in seven. You're right. So anyway, whatever. But I did. I'm off the Schneider. I'm no longer in last place in our league.
- [05:07]
Connor Rogers
It's true.
- [05:08]
Matthew Berry
I do have more total points scored than Adam. So Adam's my favorite producer at the moment. Not only did he lose to me, illustrious match Steven under the Bus. Look, it was my super bowl and I came out of victory.
- [05:18]
Connor Rogers
You needed this one.
- [05:18]
Matthew Berry
I really did.
- [05:19]
Connor Rogers
Right. And you had to, you did have to sweat it out because if Jeremy McNichols caught a late, you would have lost.
- [05:25]
Matthew Berry
Yes.
- [05:26]
Connor Rogers
But nevertheless, nevertheless you win. All right, let's get into the quarterbacks here. The starting quarterbacks on a buy this week. These are big names. QB4, Jerry guys, Baker Mayfield, who's hit a rough patch. But Baker Mayfield for a lot of weeks with helping teams single handedly win. Maybe a good opportunity for the Bucs to get healthy there. Justin Fields, who's been the fantasy roller coaster of quarterbacks. He's still a top 20 quarterback despite some awful weeks. And then Dylan Gabriel, which I would say hopefully you're not starting Dylan Gabriel, but Dylan Gabriel starts in our super flex league.
- [05:56]
Matthew Berry
Yeah. So there's a world where he is 100%. But obviously Hertz and Mayfield, we don't know big names and we don't know if Jaden Daniels is going to be. We think he will be for Sunday night against the Seahawks, but we don't know if he will be. We don't know if Michael Penix will be back. I mean there's a bunch of guys that are sort of, that are sort of banged up. So there's a chance that even if you don't have Hertz or Baker or you know, whatever, you know, rolling Up Fields or Gabriel that you might. Who knows, maybe you're rolling out Carson Wentz desperately in a deep lead.
- [06:25]
Connor Rogers
The Saints might be moving to Tyler Schuck officially. Spencer Rattler has been viable in two quarterbacks league quarterback leagues for a couple weeks there.
- [06:33]
Matthew Berry
So we don't know if Bryce Young is coming back. Like there's just a lot of turmoil in the, in the pass catcher area here. And so I want to start off with the Trevler.
- [06:42]
Connor Rogers
The Trevler tops the list, 58% available. And Matthew, he's got the Raiders, which makes him, you know, a play that could be interesting. And he's been better lately.
- [06:52]
Matthew Berry
Oh, look, before the buy, Trevor Lawrence has been up or down from an NFL perspective similar to Justin Fields. But fantasy wise he's actually been pretty good over the last three games. He's the 10th best quarterback in fantasy football. On a points per game basis, he's averaging 21 fantasy points per game. And so this is somebody who by the way is throwing a lot. 37 pass attempts per game this season. That's tied for the third most. Duvall throwing quite a bit. Quite a bit I should say same thing, right? Honestly, or quite a bit.
- [07:19]
Connor Rogers
Whatever you could have powered through. But I respect that you stopped yourself. No, you know what, we have time today.
- [07:23]
Matthew Berry
Look, the regulars know. What am I going to do, try to BS them? No, no, no. I mistakenly said bitch. I meant to say quite a bit, but I just want to own it, you know, and I'm not going to ignore it.
- [07:34]
Connor Rogers
Connor. No, no, here it is. It stopped. It can't be clipped and used against you.
- [07:37]
Matthew Berry
That's right. That's 100% right. At least like, you know, allow me to beat everyone to the punch. Yeah, so I said that. And honestly, if you think about the Raiders defense, they're kind of a bitch this year, to be honest. They made everyone's been made them their bitch.
- [07:50]
Connor Rogers
You're a fan of them? Yes.
- [07:52]
Matthew Berry
For the last six quarterbacks to face the Raiders have scored at least 17 fantasy points. So Trevor Lawrence I think is again if he's available in your league, and he probably is because it was a tough game prior to the buy and then you've got six teams on a bye. Brian Thomas again, we're wondering about the health but you know, we saw the Travis Hunter breakout before the. Before the bye. Hopefully BTJ is a little healthier as well. They've been getting a little bit of production from Breton Strange and Parker Washington.
- [08:20]
Connor Rogers
The usual cast of characters we would.
- [08:22]
Matthew Berry
Like to see Them feature Traveler, but the Trevler. Anyway, the Trevlers out there in almost 60% of leagues and he tops the list. I do feel bad and I want to apologize here. I want to take one moment here to apologize to the social team here at FF Happy Hour because they're the ones that have to clip all this and now they're going to have to. And they're going to have to get around 45 seconds of bitch talk.
- [08:42]
Connor Rogers
The edit might be long. Here comes Scatter.
- [08:44]
Matthew Berry
Boo.
- [08:44]
Connor Rogers
Boo. Connor. Don't encourage him. I'm not going to lie. I do morph into a different character when it's just a two man show. We have more time. I feel like I don't have to toss the other person. We kind of stick on the really bad jokes and bits.
- [08:56]
Producer Adam
Right.
- [08:56]
Matthew Berry
So. Yeah, and it's interesting because I think that our normal. We'll have tomorrow, we're going to have me, you and Jay tomorrow for a backup producer Pete show. But I feel like all the other shows you do, of which there are many, they are also. They are all two man jobs typically.
- [09:16]
Connor Rogers
Yeah.
- [09:17]
Matthew Berry
Right.
- [09:17]
Connor Rogers
Yeah. This is the one where I have to kind of wrangle the zoo animals.
- [09:20]
Matthew Berry
Right. So I mean Badlands and Exchange. Right. The pf Trevor with. With Trevor and. And Sims and the Mets pod, they're all you and somebody else.
- [09:31]
Connor Rogers
Right.
- [09:32]
Matthew Berry
Yeah.
- [09:32]
Connor Rogers
This is my true babysitting job. But not today.
- [09:34]
Matthew Berry
Not today. Not today, not today. You're. Yeah. Screw Jay. Do we even need him back tomorrow?
- [09:39]
Connor Rogers
Let's be careful there because we might, we might need him back at some point. A lot of people saying my tribute to Jay is wearing a hoodie today. And to that I say you are correct. Yeah, this is my tribute to Jay. All right, other quarterback on the list here, Sam Darnold, he is 64% available, which seems a little surprising for how good Sam Darnold has been. Sure, you don't get the rushing, but this is another one. Matthew, coming off the bye week and a soft landing against your commander secondary.
- [10:02]
Matthew Berry
My brutal. Since week two, my commander is giving up the second most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. They're giving up 21.3 fantasy points per game. They give up 9.1 yards per pass attempt. That is most in the NFL. So do you think Jackson, Smith and Jigba can have fun with that? Yes, sir. Indeed he can. It's weird because Sam Darnold has played unbelievable enough. I don't know. It's because he had such a bad meltdown at the end of Last year because he was so, you know, he wasn't great up until his year in Minnesota.
- [10:31]
Connor Rogers
Right.
- [10:31]
Matthew Berry
And so many people sort of said, oh, well, that was a function of the offense and the play calling at Justin Jefferson.
- [10:35]
Connor Rogers
Kevin o'. Connell.
- [10:36]
Matthew Berry
Kevin o' Connell, system, quarterback, whatever. Yeah, the Vikings got rid of him. How good could he be? Now he goes to Seattle, which is, I know it sounds insane to call them a small market team because they're Seattle's obviously like one of the fan base.
- [10:49]
Connor Rogers
Very successful, Very successful.
- [10:51]
Matthew Berry
And it's probably like the 12th biggest city in America. Right. But it feels like a small market thing just because they're in the upper Northwest and they just, they don't get the national attention that they probably should.
- [10:59]
Connor Rogers
That's.
- [11:00]
Matthew Berry
They're just, they're, I mean, you know, whatever you turn on, you turn on any, any network, ours included, but like ESPN and they're talking about, they're talking about the Cowboys 8 million times.
- [11:08]
Connor Rogers
It's exactly.
- [11:09]
Matthew Berry
No one's ever talking about the Seahawks, even in that division. It's much more about, oh, the Rams, Stafford Shanahan, Kyle Shanahan and Christian McCaffrey. Oh, by the way, Kyler Murray. What's like the Seattle Seahawks just never make any noise.
- [11:23]
Connor Rogers
They're not loud. That's the difference. They're not loud. They're just really functional at this point.
- [11:27]
Matthew Berry
And I also, by the way, and Sam Darnold doesn't run either. But like two of the last three games, Sam Darnold has finished as a top 10 fantasy quarterback. He's had at least two touchdown passes in four of the last six. So there is a solid floor there coming out of the by, you feel like, and just to the eye test Conner, he's played phenomenal.
- [11:44]
Connor Rogers
He's playing really well. And you think of some of the fluky things like when they let Cooper cup throw a pass and he threw an interception and it's like, you don't have to get cute like that. Just let Sam Darnold go win you the game. So. And you know, just to reinforce this, the commanders have given up the third most fantasy points to quarterbacks this year. So once again, this is a good matchup. Sam Darnold is really good. Another point, Matthew. I don't think people looked at Jackson, Smith and Jigba as a superstar going into the year. Now he is a superstar.
- [12:09]
Matthew Berry
As we redrafted today, ja' Marr Chase is the first wide receiver off the board. But there's a strong argument that Jackson, Smith and Jigba is the number two guy.
- [12:18]
Connor Rogers
Ved of course a happy hour regular. Sam Darnold or Jackson Darth.
- [12:24]
Matthew Berry
Jackson Dart at home against the 49ers. No team in the NFL has given up more passing yards per game than the San Francisco 49ers. That's a tough one. That's a great question. Ved. FF Happy Hour regular and a lot of people might think wow. Ved Great question. He's probably rising up the power rankers. No he's not. Because I do my rankings on Tuesday night. Ved I don't actually know where my projections are going to land. My rankings aren't going to come out until tomorrow. So I know I have to think on the spot as to whether I would start Sam Darnold or Jackson.
- [12:52]
Unknown Speaker
Dart.
- [12:54]
Connor Rogers
I think.
- [12:55]
Matthew Berry
I think you have go with Dart just because I feel like there's a little bit more to the floor with the rushing. And again, by the way, with no camp Scatter Boo. We'll talk about Tyrone Tracy coming up here in a second but with no Tyrone Trace with no Cam Scatter Boo you feel like they might use Dart's legs around the goal line even more.
- [13:11]
Connor Rogers
Yep.
- [13:11]
Matthew Berry
So it's super close. My suspicion is they're going to be within like two spots of each other. Good question. Question Van Bur But I think my gut at the moment is Dart. Just because of the dual threat.
- [13:23]
Connor Rogers
I'd be curious to look into how Robert Salah's defenses fare against rookie quarterbacks.
- [13:27]
Matthew Berry
Yeah.
- [13:27]
Connor Rogers
Before making that decision. I don't know off the top of my head. So that's something I would go look into going into the week.
- [13:32]
Matthew Berry
By the way, look ahead line at the moment 48 and a half is the over under in that game 45 and a half is Seattle Washington. I feel like the commanders. I get it, they're bad. But the commanders at least and we'll get into this next segment but the commanders showed some fight for the first half of the they were in it.
- [13:49]
Connor Rogers
They punched above their weight in the first half.
- [13:50]
Matthew Berry
They're going to be three and five. It's going to be Sunday Night Football prime time. They're at home. Seattle traveling all the way across again. Seattle probably wins this game but like season is on the line for the commanders. So while again I think Sam Darnold is a viable pickup. I think he's going to be at, you know, easy top 15 play. He's very much a good bye week fill in. I could see Dart having the better fantasy day. I could see like Ken Walker going Nuts. You know what I mean? Like, it just. Yeah. So again, Ved's making me talk down Sam Darnold after I just talked him up.
- [14:19]
Connor Rogers
That's a good question. That's why Ved's in the top 10.
- [14:22]
Matthew Berry
Maybe not this week. We'll see.
- [14:23]
Connor Rogers
You have my vote, Ved. Number one.
- [14:26]
Matthew Berry
As we know, this week's power rankings, regular power rankings, are going to be heavily influenced by who participates in our Halloween costume. I don't know if you saw the promo yesterday.
- [14:33]
Connor Rogers
That's. We're running it back today, so stick around.
- [14:36]
Matthew Berry
Okay.
- [14:36]
Connor Rogers
You'll want to be here for this one. How about some deep league targets? Because Darnold's only 64% available. The Traveler is only 58% available. You might have to go deeper into your bag. Aaron Rodgers is on the board against a Colts. Colts are great, but their secondary is not. He's only 53% available, but a matchup where Rogers should be able to put up points and then if you're really desperate. And I wouldn't feel great about this one at all, Matthew. I wouldn't even feel average about this one. J.J. mcCarthy is out there against Detroit. Maybe he runs because that's something he could fall back on. I just don't know what to expect from JJ McCarthy.
- [15:09]
Matthew Berry
Line secondary has been beat up now. They played better recently, but the. But the defense over the last four weeks is averaging over 20 fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterback. So I think if you bought, you know, again, yeah, you have to kind of squint and talk yourself into it.
- [15:22]
Connor Rogers
In like a two quarterback situation.
- [15:24]
Matthew Berry
Yeah, of course, of course you have to squint and talk yourself into it. But he is throwing to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. hawkinson, in theory. Right. In a game that should be fairly high scoring, it's 47.5 by the way, and the Lions are 8.5-point favorites. So in theory they're going to be throwing a lot in a game that should be fairly high scoring.
- [15:46]
Connor Rogers
Team total has got to be around like 18 to 20.
- [15:48]
Matthew Berry
Yeah. You're hoping for two touchdowns. Maybe he gets you a little bit of rushing, maybe get to you 25, 30 yards. Again, it's not ideal, but you know, if you're down, if you're, if you're in a league where you're like, I just lost Dylan Gabriel. There are going to be people out there that have that situation as long as we're on McCarthy here for a second. Connor, I know people want to kill the kid. Right. And they're just like, he's played two games in his NFL career. I get he's. We've had one good quarter, but like I will. I thought Bo Nix looked like he shouldn't be in the NFL for the first three games of last year his rookie season. Yeah, he looked like. I'm like, oh my God, this is the worst quarterback that's ever. And obviously then Bonix led him to a playoff game.
- [16:30]
Connor Rogers
Right. Like, even Caleb had some really bad like that were on him, not just the environment in his rookie season.
- [16:37]
Matthew Berry
Go back and watch.
- [16:37]
Connor Rogers
Drake May had his bad moments.
- [16:39]
Matthew Berry
Drake may MVP candidate. Drake may go back and watch because he. This is back in the day when. When rookies played a lot in the preseason. Go watch Cam Newton's preseason, his rookie year. He looked like what was going on. And then his first game of the year, then he throws four touchdowns. I think three or four touchdowns against Arizona. And it was just like, okay, you know, Cam Newton came to play. But my point is, is like sometimes it takes quarterbacks a little bit longer.
- [17:03]
Connor Rogers
Sure.
- [17:04]
Matthew Berry
And I just. This is way too soon to write off J.J. mcCarthy.
- [17:07]
Connor Rogers
And I think if you're trying to talk yourself into it as we have a comment here, JJ just needs to be Joe Flacco. Quick passes to JJ and Addison. That is from XYZ or. I mean, yeah, you would think they try to tailor the offense a little more friendly to him with quick game. The problem is the opposition might know that. I think if you're trying to talk yourself into this with J.J. mcCarthy, 1, you need to bet on the athleticism, of course, and then two, that maybe the injury and watching as Carson Wentz wasn't great, but watching this from close, he's been on the sideline as we saw the clip of him jumping over people helps him slow things down a little bit because, I mean, with the surgery last year, he was just completely away from things and yeah, this would be a stash situation.
- [17:50]
Matthew Berry
Yeah. Like, did you like McCarthy coming out?
- [17:52]
Connor Rogers
I had him the lowest of all the quarterbacks. So actually I think I might have had him and Bo together, but I didn't.
- [18:00]
Matthew Berry
You had panics ahead of him.
- [18:01]
Connor Rogers
I had panics ahead of him. Jaden ahead of him, Caleb and Drake May ahead of him. And I thought there was a difference of the tier of those guys compared to the other two. And Bo, it's been up and down this year, but he's obviously, I think, punched above what I expected. J.J. has been kind of exactly what I expected. A developmental day two guy that got drafted in the top 12.
- [18:19]
Matthew Berry
Right. Again, you're talking yourself into. You're believing in the system. You're believing in the game script as a, you know, more than a touchdown underdog. And you're, and you're, and you're buying into the weapons that he has plus a little bit of the legs again. So it's not ideal. But to your point about. But by the way, Bo Nix found himself in the perfect situation like this. We've talked about this all the time and about like when players go to a coach that uses their skillset versus a coach that doesn't. Sean Payton. I don't think Bo Nix is a star quarterback in many teams on the NFL but in Sean Payton's system it works.
- [18:53]
Connor Rogers
That was. And Sean Payton was really the guy that was going to take him in the top 12 or the top 15. The top 20. Like Bo Nix wasn't viewed as a consensus first round quarterback across the league. Drake May was, Jayden Daniels was, Caleb Williams was. But Bo Nix was a little bit of a bolder draft pick where people are like oh, you know Bo Nix in the top. And Sean Payton was right because it's for his system. Like you said. So and like even when you go, you can go back and look at this from multiple guys like Mahomes is Mahomes now. But Mahomes in his draft was not viewed that way.
- [19:23]
Matthew Berry
No.
- [19:23]
Connor Rogers
But Andy Reid knew exactly what he had to do with him while he was developing and then he turned to a superstar.
- [19:27]
Matthew Berry
Yeah.
- [19:27]
Connor Rogers
Josh Allen with the Bills.
- [19:29]
Matthew Berry
I've made this argument a million times. Patrick Mahomes with any other, any other coach than Andy Reid and is not face of the NFL Multiple MVPs to happen. Correct.
- [19:39]
Connor Rogers
And he would be the first to say that.
- [19:40]
Matthew Berry
Yes, no 1,000%. He landed in a great situation where he could learn from Alex Smith for a year and he got Andy Reid, who is one of the all time great offensive minds in the history of the NFL. Look at what. You know, I always say this. Look at what Kevin Cobb and Donovan and Mike Kafka and any of these other guys did when they were coached by Andy Reid, Jeff Garcia and when they weren't coached by Andy like anyway, so that's a different subject. Connor, keep me on track. For the love of God. Let's get to running backs.
- [20:05]
Connor Rogers
All right, running backs time. We got a couple on a buy here. Obviously the big name is Saquon Barkley who got a little banged up this weekend. But obviously maybe this gives Barkley some time to rest. Bucky Irving, who we're all waiting to come back because when Bucky plays, we know how good he is. Breece hall had his best game of the season and now you get Breece hall on a bye week and we'll see if he's still a jet coming out of the buy. We don't know that. I don't think anyone really knows that right now. Quinshot Judkins, obviously he's been a big time player in fantasy in terms of value. And then Rashad White, who maybe has been an insurance for people that drafted Bucky. So it's a pretty dense running back with Sierra Matthew in a shallow position group for sure.
- [20:43]
Matthew Berry
And again, we're also, you know, you've also still got some injuries we don't expect. We don't expect Trey Benson back obviously for the Arizona Cardinals. We just mentioned Cam Scatterboo. He's hurt. So it's, you know, there's definitely some big names there. All those guys, the Tampa Bay running back and the others, you know, Barkley, Hall, Judkins have all been fantasy starters throughout the season.
- [21:07]
Connor Rogers
And speaking of which, the Giants just lost their starter and Cam Scataboo who's been such a great story. And that means it's Tyrone Tracy time again. As you look at Tyrone Tracy at Philadelphia in week eight when he was able to do, obviously the snap rate is at 64% because that was after the Scaboo injury. All a lot of his looks, 10 carries, he catches two passes, which is what he's best at. Ryan Davel spoke on the state of the Giants running back room going forward.
- [21:32]
Matthew Berry
Well, he's a pro.
- [21:34]
Connor Rogers
Right?
- [21:34]
Unknown Speaker
So again, I think he performed well.
- [21:38]
Matthew Berry
For us at Denver.
- [21:39]
Connor Rogers
We've seen pros soak.
- [21:40]
Matthew Berry
We've seen pros soak before and it.
- [21:42]
Connor Rogers
Doesn'T seem like necessarily he.
- [21:43]
Matthew Berry
Did you.
- [21:46]
Unknown Speaker
Yeah, I was gonna say that, but you answered it for me.
- [21:48]
Connor Rogers
Do you expect to do anything in terms of Dante Miller and Devin Singletary mixing them in? Yeah.
- [21:54]
Unknown Speaker
Well, Motors, Motors on the roster. You'll definitely see Motor and then Tracy. Then we'll decide, you know, we gotta.
- [22:01]
Matthew Berry
We got a week here.
- [22:03]
Unknown Speaker
We'll decide what we want to do.
- [22:07]
Matthew Berry
That was a good response by the way. For those of you not watching it. If you guys are listening to this as a podcast, there's like a pause there where you can just sort of see Brian Dabel. Like how much of a jerk do I want to be to this dumb 100% or screw it. I'll just, I'll just. You know, I'm going to swallow and I'll just answer the question. When he says motor, that means Devin Singletary. A lot of people think he might have meant me because that, of course, was my nickname. College.
- [22:29]
Connor Rogers
Yeah, we called you that. Season one.
- [22:30]
Matthew Berry
Yes, yes, exactly.
- [22:32]
Connor Rogers
You've changed to the Ankler.
- [22:34]
Matthew Berry
The Ankler, right. Season one and the excuse of the Ankler. I was known as the motor in college because.
- [22:43]
Connor Rogers
I just want to clarify. Because of your speed?
- [22:45]
Matthew Berry
No, no, no. Because I like to motorboat.
- [22:47]
Connor Rogers
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. With speed.
- [22:50]
Matthew Berry
Sure.
- [22:50]
Connor Rogers
Yeah, sure.
- [22:51]
Matthew Berry
Yeah.
- [22:51]
Connor Rogers
It's just kind of, you know, protecting you there. Oh, boy. Anyways, Brian Dabel, he said it. The reporter answered it for him. Obviously, Tyrone Tracy's a pro. We'll see. Singletary, or as his friends call him, how about this matchup against the Niners here, though? Because he's only 51% available. Tracy because he was getting work. And Cam Scatterboo, he was the start.
- [23:11]
Matthew Berry
At the beginning of the year, and Scatterboo banged up in training camp. And so it took Scatterboo a couple of weeks before he sort of overtake overtook Tyrone Tracy. Then Tracy got a little bit banged up as well. But look, he's had eight career games. Tyrone Tracy has. Where he's gotten at least 15 touches. Eight career games. And in those games where he gets work, where he gets at least 15 touches, and that's what we expect against the 49ers in those eight games, he's averaging 15 fantasy points per game. It's worth noting that the 49ers are bottom 10 in terms of most fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. We saw Woody Marks go off against them last week as well. And so the Giants very quietly are 13th in the NFL in terms of running back fantasy points per game. 13th in running back fantasy points per game. Now, that is skewed a lot by the fact that Cam Skadaboo has scored a lot of touchdowns. Right. So that's, you know, and, you know, he's just basically falling into the end zone. And I don't know that they're going to give it to this sort of what we talked about with Jackson Dart earlier. I don't know that Tyrone Tracy gets as much goal line work as Scatter Boo did just because they're different players. Connor.
- [24:11]
Connor Rogers
But might have a choice, right?
- [24:14]
Matthew Berry
Yeah, I mean, like. But then maybe they use Dart a little bit more. They try to get a little bit more creative. But the fact of the matter is, is that the Giants offense is a, you know, A reasonable, passable. Like is it an amazing offense? No, but it moves the ball.
- [24:26]
Connor Rogers
With Dar, it's been. Yes. Viable, acceptable, competent.
- [24:30]
Matthew Berry
Yeah.
- [24:31]
Connor Rogers
Right. Yeah, they fight, you know, they don't look like they have these dead weeks that we've seen from them over the last year and a half.
- [24:36]
Matthew Berry
Correct. Right. You know. Is it amazing? No. Can you get by with it? Sure. It's a little bit like me as host. Like it's not your ideal situation, but can you, can you get there A.
- [24:45]
Connor Rogers
Little couple weeks, a couple days for you, a couple shows.
- [24:47]
Matthew Berry
Yeah, exactly.
- [24:49]
Connor Rogers
So.
- [24:50]
Matthew Berry
So I do think Tyrone Tracy, he's the starting running back on a competent offense in the NFL and a team in which there are four. Four viable running backs on a bye and more that might be a little bit hurt. So I do think Tyrone Tracy more of a high end flex than.
- [25:06]
Connor Rogers
Than low end RB2, which answers aloha bricks question here. What is your confidence level in him being an RB2 or higher?
- [25:12]
Matthew Berry
Yeah, I don't know that I'm super confident. I think he can potentially get there in the right matchup there, but I think he's more of a high end flex. But you know, my without again, I'll do all the numbers tonight when I do my rankings, but my guess is that he comes in somewhere in the 18 to 22 range. Would be my, you know, in my rank.
- [25:28]
Connor Rogers
Somewhere in that like five guys because of bye week, couple injuries.
- [25:31]
Matthew Berry
Yeah.
- [25:32]
Connor Rogers
So it makes sense.
- [25:33]
Matthew Berry
Somewhere in there. Somewhere in there.
- [25:34]
Connor Rogers
Matchup's not terrible.
- [25:36]
Matthew Berry
Yeah, he's going to get 15 touches or so. They'll use him more in the passing game, I think. I think Dabel's pretty good play caller and he knows that's his skill set and so they use Scatterbo a little bit in the, you know, in the passing game.
- [25:50]
Connor Rogers
Yeah, he's pretty good in the past game. So our next running back, Taj speers, he is 69% available. Matthew. Yeah, I knew you'd like that one. I'd give you time to get a laugh out. So we then go on with the actual information.
- [26:02]
Matthew Berry
All right, so Tajie Spears, speaking of pass catching running backs, just like Tyrone Tracy, Tajie Spears is the pass catching running back of the Tennessee Titans. He's actually led the backfill in snaps two of the last three games, playing over 51% of the snaps as you see it there on your screen. Why is that? Because the Titans are usually down always. And when they're down, they're throwing. And when they're down and throwing it's Taje Spears who is out there three straight games with at least three, three receptions. He's got a double digit target share in that timeframe. And it's worth noting that the Chargers, that's who the Titans play this week. The Chargers. Your Los Angeles Chargers of Anaheim allow the fourth most fantasy points to opposing running backs. They don't always hold up.
- [26:40]
Connor Rogers
That's a sneaky one.
- [26:40]
Matthew Berry
It is.
- [26:41]
Connor Rogers
Yeah. Their front is has regressed a little bit this year. How about this one?
- [26:44]
Matthew Berry
And we think there's going to be no problem with Justin Herbert & Co. Moving the ball against the Titans.
- [26:48]
Connor Rogers
Right cannon start Taje Spears or woody marks RB2 fill in full PPR. I mean I think it has to be Woody, right?
- [26:55]
Matthew Berry
Yeah, it's just a better, just better offense, more explosive player. We talked about this a little bit yesterday Connor, but very quietly. C.J. stroud's been good the last couple of years.
- [27:05]
Connor Rogers
Way better.
- [27:06]
Matthew Berry
Way better.
- [27:06]
Connor Rogers
Way better. You had the Baltimore game and then last week specifically against the Niners was the closest thing we've kind of seen to him. We're going to get to some of his wide receivers but I think there is something sustainable there to carry on going forward. And it wasn't a Dalton Schultz explosive game which is not always been labeled.
- [27:24]
Matthew Berry
Kind of the rookies and some Xavier Hutchinson mixed in but like Marks just gives them an explosiveness out of the backfield that they've been lacking a little bit.
- [27:33]
Connor Rogers
We'll get to the Texans pass game during the wide receivers. Our last running back here is Bam Knight, 80% available. It is worth to know Trey Benson is expected to come off the IR in week 10 or at least eligible to come off the IR and he's.
- [27:45]
Matthew Berry
And Trey Benson's out there in about 40, 42% of the league so he doesn't make our threshold. And again we're not expecting. He obviously can't play this week because he's still on ir. But it's just, it's worth taking a look, you know, for those people that sort of sort by projections. He's not going to have a projection this week. Right. But like sometimes I like to sort by roster percentage, you know or you know and so you'll see players like Trey Benson like oh, he's on a lot of rosters but he's not projected. And so anyway just worth checking to see if he is out there in your league because if he is, he's going to come back next week. And we like Trey Benson and we think he's going to be, you know, viable starter down the stretch. But if you need someone just this week. Bam Knight plays the Cowboys. And over the last four weeks, only one team's given up more rushing yards per game than the Dallas Cowboys. Back to back games with multiple goal line rush attempts for Bam Knight off of the bye, basically 30 touches his last two games. He's averaging like 15 touches a game. They released Michael Carter, which was a, like a, like they're going to sign him back to the practice squad or whatever.
- [28:42]
Connor Rogers
But it just goes to show you though, where this backfield stands.
- [28:44]
Matthew Berry
They don't care if somebody else claims Michael Carter.
- [28:46]
Connor Rogers
No, you don't make that move if you're worried about them all or factor him into a big part of what you do.
- [28:50]
Matthew Berry
That's right. So anyway, you could do worse than Bam Knight and my guess is you.
- [28:56]
Connor Rogers
Probably have top targets. Tyrone Tracy, Taj Spears, Bam Knight. But bye week stashes is something that I think people should keep an eye on here. Isaiah Davis with a really, really good week. Yes, it was against the Bengals. But as we say, if the jets do trade Breece Hall, Isaiah Davis needs to be rostered everywhere. Everywhere. Braylon Allen is hurt. He's the guy in a run heavy jets offense. Sean Tucker, who got some more work this weekend. Matthew?
- [29:20]
Matthew Berry
Yeah, I mean, again, we don't know exactly the timetable for Bucky Irving, but they gave Tucker like a lot of the goal line work here and he's just more involved than he had been previously. His workload behind Rashad White continues to ramp up. We like Sean Tucker. How about Dylan Sampson now? Again, Browns are on a buy and they're saying quinch on Judkins his day to day. So the expectation is that Judkins plays in week 10, but you never know, it's the Browns. And so I could see grabbing Dylan Sampson. Same thing with Saquon Barkley. Expectation here is that he doesn't miss any time. But if. And it's on the buy this week. But if they come back in week 10 and Barkley is limited or can't.
- [29:55]
Connor Rogers
Go, you got to have Tank Bigsby.
- [29:57]
Matthew Berry
Got to have Tank Bigsby.
- [29:58]
Connor Rogers
Without a doubt. All right, so I'm in shock. Insurance backs because it's that time of year where you need to be prepared to lose a workhorse back. Of course, Tyler Algier, who's 57% available, he beats our threshold. Bashal Tutin, Kyle Manungai is a big one because DeAndre Swift has been dealing with, you know, injuries. Yeah. Week after week he guts it out. But there's going to come a time where Menungi might have to take the full workload during a week. Kenneth Gainwell, who we've seen do that before, like Corum, of course, because Kyren Williams does get hurt every year. So you should have corm if you have Kyron. Sebastian pur Ryan had a really good week against the Jets, Matthew. They keep playing them.
- [30:33]
Matthew Berry
They do. Especially when you think about how much the Bengals pass. They like P. Ryan in pass protection as part of that passing game. So as somebody who has a lot of Chase Brown this year, which don't get me started, although we had a good week this week, P. Ryan is playing more than I'm comfortable with. But to your point, like, again, like flacco's throwing it 40 times a game. When you think about that defense and you think about what Flacco likes to to do, I don't see that changing anytime soon. So Samaj P. Ryan suddenly viable. Emmanuel Wilson backing up. Josh Jacobs, he continually gets banged up a little bit. And of course Ali Gordon. Nice game for Ollie Gordon last week and just their drubbing of the Dolphins. He's getting a little bit more involvement as well behind Devon A Chan. We've ranked those running backs. If all the starters ahead of them were injured, that's how we would rank them. So Algier 1 Tutin 2nd Monongai Gainwell, Coram all the way down. But I just think it's as you're sitting here, we're entering week nine, you're starting to thinking about the playoffs. We're like three, four, five weeks away from the playoffs, depending on how your league is set up, trying to, you know, again, when you think about all the injuries, you don't want to be caught going to the waiver wire hoping you get the guy.
- [31:38]
Connor Rogers
If you're 6 and 2, 7 and 1, even 5 and 3, and you look at your roster and you've been like waiting for somebody to maybe be a boom. It's probably time to maybe give up on them and get insurance instead. For your top players. Yeah, that could sink your season immediately for sure.
- [31:52]
Matthew Berry
Like, I mean, just like, would you give up? I'll give you a pretty good example. Like a lot of people and I'm one of them sitting on Brashard Smith. We love Rashard Smith, right?
- [32:01]
Connor Rogers
Looks good when he touches the ball.
- [32:02]
Matthew Berry
Looks good when he touches the ball. He's part of the Chiefs. But like if you had Bijan Robinson, would you drop Brashard Smith? To grab Tyler Algier. And I would have to at this point.
- [32:11]
Connor Rogers
Yeah, unless I'm, you know, a two or three win team, hoping I have something there that helps me turn things around. But no, I agree. You have to have the insurance for your best player.
- [32:24]
Matthew Berry
Producer Adam says there is breaking news into the happy hour set. Let's go ahead. This is from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network sources. The future is now in New Orleans with the hashtag Saints making rookie quarterback Tyler Schuck their starter. Spencer Rattler now heads the bench while the second rounder moves to the forefront in a decision coach Kellen Moore informed them of today. All right, Tyler Schuck, a couple of things I'm going to say here real quickly. First off, the news you just heard is producer Adam sending a note to all of our bosses here at NBC asking can we get a delay button because Tyler Schuck as a last name just lots of different ways that I could get the entire show canceled.
- [33:06]
Connor Rogers
Yes. This is going to be a tough one to navigate for all of us.
- [33:09]
Matthew Berry
This is a tightrope. Second thing is, Connor, for people that like Tyler Schuck was a guy that I think people were surprised that he was one of the guys, the quarterbacks I feel like during draft day where people were like, wait, they're drafting Tyler Schuck ahead of Shadur Sanders As Shadur Sanders continued to drop. And of course we know Mel Kuiper famously, you know, and other people had chadur Sanders very high and the Sanders continued to drop, which was the story of draft of the draft. Tyler Schuck I felt like was one of the guys. Him and Dylan Gabriel were two of the guys that people were like, wait, that guy went ahead of Shadar Sanders?
- [33:42]
Connor Rogers
Gabriel was the pinnacle of it. But I think Shuck caught a lot of people by surprise. Seven year college player, transferred multiple times. Really figured it out at Louisville. Somebody has a big arm. I'm excited for him in terms of and maybe he gets traded. But Rashid Shahid is somebody that gets a little bump from this because shuck can throw the ball down the field, I think better than Spencer Rattler. So yeah, this is someone that they valued a little higher than everyone else. They used a top 50 pick on him. But the rise was real. It was very clear for the last two months leading up to the draft that Tyler Schuck was going to be at least a day two pick. And I'm curious what the ceiling is for someone like that. Because he is an older prospect, he's had a Lot of injuries throughout his college career. That's how you are a seven year college player. I don't think he's a great athlete. Like, I don't think he's. He's going to run out of desperation. He's not going to run as a part of like Jackson Dart. You're not getting that. So you kind of hope that the deep ball factors into the Saints offense.
- [34:33]
Matthew Berry
Now, but they could with Kellen Moore? I think so, fantasy wise. All right, so we've just gone through this very quickly here. I want to go back like down to the bottom of our list for the Tyler Schuck. So the Saints this week are at the Rams. Rams off the bye. Not a fight, Not a fight. But I'll just. Tyler Schuck or JJ McCarthy this week. Yeah, yeah, this is a tough one. JJ McCarthy on the road at Detroit. Tyler Schuck on the road at the Rams.
- [35:03]
Connor Rogers
I think I can get garbage production better from Schuck's spot really than McCarthy.
- [35:08]
Matthew Berry
All right.
- [35:09]
Connor Rogers
Like if the Vikings are feisty and it's a run, run, run game or quick game, I'd be like, yeah, that's how we kind of thought that would go. If the Saints were losing by a lot in the second half and shuck starts just kind of get put in a chucking it, shucking it or putting a few little drives together for some point. Like this is not a place you want to be because it's such an unpredictable nature. Somebody making their first start and then JJ McCarthy who we haven't seen consistency from at all and health. But if you have to play one, I would, I would actually take the flyer on shuck in fantasy.
- [35:41]
Matthew Berry
And just very quickly in terms of if you're picking up a player for the rest of the season, McCarthy or Shuck.
- [35:49]
Connor Rogers
I think McCarthy because there's still a lot of hope in Kevin O' Connell's offense for a quarterback to significantly produce.
- [35:56]
Matthew Berry
I completely agree.
- [35:58]
Connor Rogers
Quietly the Saints defense, I know they've had some really bad blowout losses, but it's not a horrible unit where like they could find themselves in some rock fight games where yeah, for the rest of the season I'd like the ceiling of McCarthy for this week because of the script. I think I'd like shuck.
- [36:13]
Matthew Berry
I buy both those arguments, but let's no longer. Let's stop talking about shucken and let's talk about k' Sean booty. Let's talk about some booty.
- [36:20]
Connor Rogers
Yeah, Kayshawn booty. The pickup lines.
- [36:23]
Matthew Berry
I screwed that joke up by the way I should have said from shuck into Booty and then I just.
- [36:27]
Connor Rogers
But I added Keisha on there plenty more opportunities. Plenty more.
- [36:31]
Matthew Berry
Screwed that one up.
- [36:31]
Connor Rogers
A lot of wide receivers on the bye week and for a lot of them hopefully it's just time to get healthy. That includes Garrett Wilson, Mecca Abuka and A.J. brown all trying to get healthy. Demonte Smith's on a buy, Jerry Jeudy's out there running around but hopefully you don't have to play him anymore. At tight end, Dallas Goddard and Harold Fannin and David Njoku starting from and Mason Taylor all starting for multiple many fantasy teams right now including mine.
- [36:56]
Matthew Berry
Kate Otten also out. By the way Kevin Savanski two time coach of the year is Kevin Savanski. Not a lot of people know that but two time coach of the year.
- [37:02]
Connor Rogers
Kev Svansky some people think only once.
- [37:04]
Matthew Berry
Yeah some people do think that came out and said that when they get out of the bye the expectation is Cedric Tillman will be back. Club said we'll be back open again. So if I don't need someone this week I do think we like Club.
- [37:16]
Connor Rogers
Said less targets for Jerry Judy.
- [37:18]
Matthew Berry
Less targets from Jerry Judy from zero.
- [37:19]
Connor Rogers
To even less than zero.
- [37:22]
Matthew Berry
Anyway he's somebody that you could sort of sneakily grab. But let's talk about Keisha Booty who's now had three straight weeks finishing as a top tour top 24 wide receiver averaging over 18 points per game in that stretch. Four touchdowns his last three games seems to have developed a chemistry with Drake May.
- [37:37]
Connor Rogers
This connection is real. And to remind people you know his receiving prop Matthew was set at 29 and a half yards last week. He ends up with three for 75 and a touchdown. You might say well only five targets, three catches but that's kind of how he's used in this offense right now. Drake May has arguably been the best deep ball thrower in the NFL this season and we got to hear from k' Shawn Booty on that connection. With May.
- [38:01]
Unknown Speaker
The team only going to be as good as the receivers and the quarterback work. No, we're not going to sit here run the ball 50 times a game. You know you got a balanced offense out. So I think what's important just being there when he need me. I was joking with him last week about MVP too. He don't like to hear it but I mean I think it's the truth, you know. But I think just we got to keep it going. You know halfway through the season we just honestly getting started.
- [38:28]
Connor Rogers
All right, so KEISHA Booty now, three straight weeks finishing as a top 24 wide receiver. Matthew, in an offense that's trending upwards.
- [38:35]
Matthew Berry
Falcons this week, but then at Tampa Bay, home to the jets, at Cincinnati. Those are three, three great pass defenses that you really like after the Falcons. Hey, Connor, how about Christian Watson? We saw him make his return on Sunday night for the packers look like Christian Watson.
- [38:49]
Connor Rogers
They slow played his return. They opened his practice window almost a month ago and you're kind of sitting there like, oh boy. But it was actually a good idea because he looked full throttle ready to go. Caught all four of his targets for 85 yards. Matthew, this is somebody that just simply wins down the field. And Green Bay loves to play that way, but they haven't had the pieces to do that recently.
- [39:05]
Matthew Berry
Yeah, his average depth of target this year is 18.2 yards. He got 37% of the packers air yards on Sunday night. And it's a nice matchup with Carolina as the Panthers have allowed a touchdown to an opposing wide receiver in four of the past five games. First game back, he's running 65% of the routes. That's a pretty good sign. I agree with you. Just talent wise, you feel good about him and like he's stretching the field. You got Tucker Kraft in the middle of the field, Josh Jacobs running. Things are turning up Packers. Speaking of another speedster, Connor, what about Trey Tucker?
- [39:34]
Connor Rogers
Yeah, Trey Tucker coming off the bye week, he's got Jacksonville. But listen, this is a football team that plays in a lot of scripts where they're from behind. There are a thought that, I mean, there's a world where they end up trading Jacoby Myers for sure. So that kind of opens the door for even more opportunity for Trey Tucker and Geno Smith. As bad as he's been this year, he's somebody that will always hold the ball and try to push the football down the field.
- [39:55]
Matthew Berry
Yeah, because of game script they have to keep throwing. Since week three, Trey Tucker has basically a 23% target share. He's had at least six targets in four of six games because he had the huge game against my commanders that three touchdown game. But I think just he's the number two wide receiver on this team and there's a scenario where he's the number one. Myers is definitely on the trade block. It seems like the reporting says the Raiders want a little bit too much for him and they're not.
- [40:19]
Connor Rogers
At some point you got to give. At some point he doesn't want to be there.
- [40:21]
Matthew Berry
He doesn't want to Be there.
- [40:22]
Connor Rogers
He's not going to be on the team next year and the season's over for the Raiders. Get something for.
- [40:26]
Matthew Berry
Get something for him 1000% that projects.
- [40:28]
Connor Rogers
Good things for Tucker. How about TROY Franklin? Matthews, 62% available now. Yes. You need to be careful buying in after a matchup like Dallas that a lot of wide receivers have eaten alive this year but he caught six passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns and I think you could stream them while Marvin Mims is in concussion protocol.
- [40:44]
Matthew Berry
Yeah, that's the point here. You don't love the matchup on the road at the Texans, but over the past two games he's got five end zone targets. He's converted three of them into scores and his target share last year was 29%. Last week was 29%. And so again, great matchup with the Cowboys, tougher matchup with the Texans. But if you're telling me this guy's going to get a 30% target share, which makes sense given the connection with Knicks. We've talked about that a lot and the fact that Marvin Mims to your point is in the concussion protocol. So obviously it was perfect game script but I don't think they're able to run on the Texans so they're going to have to throw. But Franklin is a young player. That's. This is not the first time we've talked about his name on waivers.
- [41:24]
Connor Rogers
How about some Rookie duos? Shimray DK, 92% available for the Titans. He's had two really big weeks. Things are turning for him and Ellicott.
- [41:31]
Matthew Berry
Change your mind on DK because I.
- [41:33]
Connor Rogers
Know you were, you weren't crazy catching the ball.
- [41:35]
Matthew Berry
That's the point.
- [41:36]
Connor Rogers
He had a million drops in college, but he's always been super fast. He can win down the field. Cam Ward is very accurate. Like I know it hasn't been an exciting rookie season for Cam Ward, but Cam Ward's an accurate passer, especially throwing down the.
- [41:46]
Matthew Berry
I just remember drafting at you saying like unbelievable athlete. He can't catch.
- [41:49]
Connor Rogers
Right. At some point you got to finish plays.
- [41:50]
Matthew Berry
Yeah.
- [41:51]
Connor Rogers
And that's, you know. But right now he's finishing some plays. I think he looks much better in this offense. Took a while to get going, but the last two weeks have been promising.
- [41:58]
Matthew Berry
And it's weird because you and I both love I.O. manor, but just from the production it feels like DK is the. If you're investing in the Titans pass catchers to the extent that you need to, doesn't feel like Calvin Ridley's coming back anytime soon, right? He's got that hamstring injury he's missed the last two weeks. Feels like DK over IO Manor and.
- [42:17]
Connor Rogers
It feels like with IO Manor you need the touchdown. They get the same amount of targets. They both have 8 targets but DK just has such better speed. IO Manor is the possession guy so it kind of depends what you need. I think going forward though, like the Titans are just trying to figure out what we have. So let's let the young guys play.
- [42:31]
Matthew Berry
Right. I think same scenario here for the Texans who found with no Nico Collins last week. They found what they have. Xavier Hutchinson, we sort of know what he is and Christian Kirk in and out of the lineup. He's always banged up. Talk to people about Jaden Higgins and Jalen Noel, the two exciting rookies for Houston.
- [42:47]
Connor Rogers
So Higgins is a big bodied red zone kind of presence. Jalen Noel right now needs to be here to stay. He's only run half the routes over the last two weeks, but he's been really productive. He had five catches for 63 yards. He's somebody that's a quick separator. This line does not protect. CJ Stroud needs to get the ball out. Nola I think is there arguably the best separator on the team right now. His utilization needs to go significantly upward the next couple weeks and I think.
- [43:11]
Matthew Berry
You, I think you will see because again as you said over the last two weeks he's had back to back games with 60 receiving yards. He's been targeted on 29% of his routes. So target on basically almost a third of his routes. Again, targets are earned and so the fact that Noel has been able to get open when he's got an opportunity. And oh by the way, CJ Stroud has looked better over the last couple of weeks I think is indicative. Shout out to our guy Dr. Dennic Carty who brought him up on Friday as a flexual frustration play. Had a nice game this past weekend. 5 for 63 certainly could have done much worse in a bye week situation.
- [43:44]
Connor Rogers
To recap the top targets, k' Shawn Booty and Christian Watson looking really good for both of their quarterbacks, especially throwing down the field. Trey Tucker's opportunities could go upwards if Jacoby Myers is moved. Troy Franklin in streaming territory as Marvin Mimic in concussion protocol. The Titans getting a look at their rookie duo wide receivers in Chimray, DK and Elocayo Manor. And the Texans are doing the same thing for their young wide receiver duo from Iowa State, Jaden Higgins and Jalen Null let's close things out here, Matthew, with tight ends. We talk about Juwan Johnson every week. He's still 68% available.
- [44:16]
Matthew Berry
Yeah, people don't want that championship pedigree, of course. A member of the first live at noon on the Cock championship, Ron. Juwon Johnson back to back games now with double digit fantasy points. He's finished as a top 13 tight end five of eight games this season. Does the Tyler Schuck news change your opinion on Juwan Johnson as a viable streamer? We really haven't seen Taysom Hill either, by the way.
- [44:35]
Connor Rogers
It's just more of the same, right? You just hope for five catches and 50 yards and if you get 10 points from a streaming tight end, you're probably pretty happy about that. So Juwan Johnson, you once again could do much worse.
- [44:45]
Matthew Berry
Yeah. So two guys that are on a buy that either might be still available in your leagues or they might get dropped and so you can pick them up after the initial waiver run goes is Harold Fannin, who over the last four weeks is a top nine fantasy tight end. He's averaging over 13 points per game. Has a 20% target share. David and Joku rumored to be on the move at the trade deadline as well. And of course Mason Taylor that we've talked about a lot for your jets there, Connor. Guys averaging over six targets a game.
- [45:11]
Connor Rogers
And he looks good. You could see the difference in Mason Taylor out there. Why he's one of their top targets and that's not going to change.
- [45:17]
Matthew Berry
That was an unbelievable touchdown. I mean, I don't know why Breece hall threw that, but like just reaching over and grabbing it. That was a great play by Kevin.
- [45:23]
Connor Rogers
Have you in your life ever seen a skill player on a trick play throw the ball away?
- [45:27]
Matthew Berry
No, never, Never.
- [45:28]
Connor Rogers
They have to throw it. Of course.
- [45:30]
Matthew Berry
God bless Jameson Williams. Last year in the playoff game, like, had no business throwing ball this year.
- [45:35]
Connor Rogers
All right, they have to throw it then.
- [45:37]
Matthew Berry
Preece hall for like, I finally got my chance.
- [45:39]
Connor Rogers
It worked. Yeah, this is my only time. If you need a defense streamer. Well, here's a couple options for you. The Rams against the Saints, a quarterback making his first start. Jacksonville against the Raiders, who have just been really miserable. It's been a tough year for Geno. And then the Bears against the Bengals. Although I'd be a little careful with that one.
- [45:56]
Matthew Berry
Yeah, Joe Flacco. Yeah, exactly. Flacco gets the ball.
- [46:01]
Connor Rogers
They scored against the Jets. They just couldn't stop the Jets.
- [46:03]
Matthew Berry
That's right.
- [46:04]
Connor Rogers
So be careful against anyone with the Bengals. It's officially spooky season at the happy hour and we want to see your costumes. Post your fits using the hashtag ffhhalloween and we'll post them on Friday's show just ahead. How high should we ranking Travis Kelce and Rasheed Rice moving forward this season? We're recapping Monday Night Football briefly after this.
- [46:25]
Matthew Berry
My wife bought us a couple costume that I said you have to return to this because it's way too dirty.
- [46:30]
Connor Rogers
That's a lot for you to say.
- [46:31]
Matthew Berry
I know.
- [46:32]
Connor Rogers
I'm not going to guess.
- [46:33]
Matthew Berry
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- [49:00]
Patrick Mahomes (clip)
I mean he's just like the true chief's chief. I mean he is the guy that's been here through the whole thing, been here with coach Reed the entire time and and he helped set the culture, you know, he helped set the culture of what it means to play for Coach Reed and to play in Kansas City. And I was able to come in and have that guy to rely on. And so he's breaking all the records now and I mean he's all about the team. So I want to make sure he gets that. Hopefully we can get another football for him later in the season when he actually breaks the record.
- [49:28]
Connor Rogers
That was Patrick Mahomes, of course talking about Travis Kelce's big touch touchdown. Notable fantasy performances from this game, more of the same. Rasheed Rice, awesome. Patrick Mahomes, awesome. Travis Kelce. It's hard to do a lot better in tight end land. Kareem Hunt was probably the one that gave people the most surprising scares, I would say. Matthew.
- [49:47]
Matthew Berry
Yeah, I mean touchdown Merchant. He is a touchdown merchant and it just. But if you start Kareem Hunt, that's what it he needs a score.
- [49:54]
Connor Rogers
Right.
- [49:54]
Matthew Berry
He's not particularly efficient, he's not really involved in the passing game. But they do use him when they're in close. Found him in the end zone on a passing touchdown as well. Mahomes was scrambling around, just sort of found him back in the end zone. Huge game for Rasheed Rice which could have been even bigger. He scored what we thought was the first touchdown of the game. And then elbow on a rushing touchdown. They used him in the backfield, elbow down at the 5 inch line. And so Kareem Hunt then vultures that for the first touchdown of the game. But like I don't know that there's a massive takeaway here. My takeaways here are that huge game for Kelce, awesome. I don't know if there's anything to do with it. I think it was probably a better game than he deserved.
- [50:33]
Connor Rogers
Like phone coverage.
- [50:36]
Matthew Berry
Right. So you Know, like his big play was like he was staying in the block and then Mahomes just had all day and then eventually Kelsey's like, all right, screw it, I'll go out into the flat. And there was literally no one there. And he ran for like almost 40 yards catch the touchdown. But over the past four weeks he's been a top three tight end. Kelsey is Kelce. I think this is probably a peak, but I also don't know what you're going to get for him, so keep rolling him out here. I will say it's clear that since Rasheed Rice came back, Xavier Worthy is clearly the number three, if not worse in the pecking order here. Talented player Conner, but since Xavier Worthy came back in week four, he's just wide receiver 38 on a points per game basis. He's been under 55 receiving yards in four of the past five games.
- [51:20]
Connor Rogers
They are just.
- [51:21]
Matthew Berry
When you've got Kelce and you've got Kel, it feels like Worthy is closer to sort of all the other guys, the Juju's and the Tyquan Thorntons than he is to sort of Rice and Kelce who are the top of that pecking order.
- [51:33]
Connor Rogers
Right. So much of their game plan is based on Rasheed Rice now being back. And then like you said, the rapport he's had with Kelsey isn't going to change anytime soon. One quick thing on the Commanders. What do you do with Debo Samuel?
- [51:43]
Matthew Berry
I think you have to keep rolling them out here. I mean like again, he. Bad day at the office, right? Real bad day at the office. That, that drop which counted as an interception for Marcus Mariota was entirely on Debo. That was a brutal cat. That was a brutal, brutal play. That was just a backbreaker over the last two games. He's been bad, right? Under five fantasy points per game. Total 26 total receiving yards. He's been under. But. But I think part of the argument is as I sort of talk, chalk this up to market Mariota. Two of the three starts that Mariota has made, he's been under five fantasy points. Ultimately again, you can call me a homer. I think we like this offense when this offense is rolling. Kingsbury is a hell of a play caller. I mean you saw it like they moved the ball like it was a. Like the two turnovers and then like I thought they got a bad spot on the fourth down with Zach Ertz. Like that should have converted. So that was a turnover on death. But like the Chiefs are a really good defense and the Commanders move the ball for much of the first half with a backup quarterback. So I'm not ready to bail on Deebo yet because I think that at full strength with Jayne Daniels behind center And Deebo and McLaurin, this is a team that can move the ball and they use him in a variety of ways. They like him in the backfield. I get it. It's been two tough weeks. I'm hanging by. I'm hanging with him for at least one more week.
- [52:58]
Connor Rogers
I'm with you. I think Jaden's presence creates so much more space for a player like Deebo that his whole game is can you get him the ball in any kind of space? And Jaden Quiet is one of the best quick game, kind of quick deciphering passers in the league as well. So I don't think there's anything you're doing with Deebo Matthews Commanders are back in prime time again, by the way.
- [53:15]
Matthew Berry
Hey now.
- [53:16]
Connor Rogers
Week nine, Washington will host Sam Darnold and the Seahawks and Football Night in America will lead you up to kickoff beginning at 7pm Eastern on NBC. And Peacock. Still to come, our favorite early week bets on sides and totals. Last Call is next.
- [53:36]
Unknown Speaker
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- [54:36]
Producer Adam
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- [55:07]
Connor Rogers
DraftKings sportsbook is an official sports betting partner of the NFL and new customers can bet $5 and get $300 in bonus bets. If your bet wins, nail the app and use promo code ffhh for when you sign up. DraftKings sportsbook.
- [55:20]
Matthew Berry
Whose crown is it?
- [55:21]
Connor Rogers
The crown is yours.
- [55:22]
Matthew Berry
Interesting. I did not know that.
- [55:24]
Connor Rogers
Time for last call, Matthew. Early line alert as we look at some monster spreads this week. The Ravens are favored over Miami by 7 1/2 points. The Lions are favored over the Vikings by 8 1/2 points. Green Bay favored over Carolina by 12 1/2. The Rams favored over the Saints by 13 1/2. The Chargers favored by 10 against the Titans. What are you looking at on the board this week? This early?
- [55:47]
Matthew Berry
Yeah, you know what? I actually have two lines for you and for the same game. So at the moment, the colts are just three point favorites against the Steelers and the line is 50 and a half. So first off, I think they beat them by more than three. The Steelers don't look good. The Colts look unstoppable. And I think I would take the under on 50 and a half. So give me Colts minus three and give me the under on 50 and a half because the Colts defense is awesome and I know that the Steelers defense has struggled, but this game's on the road. I don't know, I just feel it's a heavy Jonathan Taylor game. And give me the under and give me the Colts minus three.
- [56:19]
Connor Rogers
Yeah, Colts minus three for me as well. This is the line that jumped out right away. The Steelers defense right now, there's no way around it. It's bad right now. And the Colts beat you in so many different ways. I don't see how the Steelers slowed them down enough. Only a field goal. I wouldn't be shocked if this closes at four and a half, five points against that Pittsburgh, anything can happen.
- [56:37]
Matthew Berry
The Colts are and they're a little bit desperate, but Jay's Colts. Jay's Colts.
- [56:40]
Connor Rogers
Jay was right for the shoe.
- [56:42]
Matthew Berry
There you go. All right, listen, you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here. We're back tomorrow with a full crew, but for Connor Rogers and Cam Scatterboo, there'll be more producer on producer crime tomorrow. Civil War. I'm Matthew Berry. We'll see you tomorrow. Peace out.
- [57:03]
Producer Adam
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- [57:33]
Matthew Berry
Newville were making their list but some didn't know Walmart has the best brands for their gifts.
- [57:38]
Connor Rogers
What about toys? Do they have brands kids have been wanting all year?
- [57:41]
Producer Adam
Yup.
- [57:42]
Connor Rogers
Barbie, Tonys and Lego.
- [57:43]
Producer Adam
Gifts that will make them all cheer.
- [57:45]
Connor Rogers
Do you mean they have all the brands I adore?
- [57:48]
Producer Adam
They have Nintendo, Nespresso, Apple and more.
- [57:51]
Matthew Berry
What a bad so the who answered questions from friends till they were blue. Each one listened and shouted from Walmart. Who knew? Shop gifts from top brands for everyone on your list in the Walmart, Apple.