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NFL Draft Day Two Recap! Biggest Steals, Shocks & Veteran Impacts (04/26 Fantasy Football Podcast)
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- [00:00]
Adam Azer
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Dave Richard
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Adam Azer
This is Fantasy Football Today from CBS Sports.
- [02:16]
Dave Richard
What a play.
- [02:17]
Adam Azer
Can you believe this?
- [02:19]
Dave Richard
No, I can't.
- [02:20]
Adam Azer
It's time to dominate your fantasy league. Off to the. And he stays at his feet. Chris is gonna go the distance. Now here's some Combination of Adam, Dave, Jamie and Heath. Okay, we're gonna start with some true or false on Friday night, April 25th. Welcome to the show. It's fantasy football today. Adam Azer, Dave Richard, Jamie Eisenberg. Okay, true or false. You could make a compelling case for any of the four running backs that went in day two to be drafted first among that group.
- [02:54]
Jamie Eisenberg
Yes.
- [02:55]
Dave Richard
Facts.
- [02:56]
Adam Azer
True. True. Yes.
- [02:57]
Jamie Eisenberg
Agree.
- [02:57]
Adam Azer
Quinte Judkins on the agreeometer. Quin. Sean Judkins to the Browns 36th overall. His backfield mate Travion Henderson to the Patriots 38th overall. RJ Harvey to the Broncos 60th overall. Caleb. Yeah. Caleb Johnson to the Steelers, 83rd overall. Kind of love that one too, right? Your big back first and second down.
- [03:21]
Dave Richard
Guy, I think, you know, not that they're going to be drafted in the same spots of these guys, but like you got to be thrilled for Deandre Swift and Travis Etienne and you know what? Javante Williams, I mean like their, their situations got a lot better. I would, I would imagine like one of those teams is going to sign J.K. dobbins. One of those teams gonna sign Nick Chubb. But they, you know, I mean we were talking about Ashton Genti to the Jaguars a 5, maybe the Bears 10. And those two teams didn't, didn't take a running back yet. And now you have Denver, excuse me, Dallas without a rookie there as well. Like it's, it's a little mind boggling.
- [04:03]
Jamie Eisenberg
Dallas is never going to draft a running back ever again.
- [04:06]
Dave Richard
They've been so burned by the Ezekiel pick, I guess.
- [04:09]
Jamie Eisenberg
Well, the contract probably more than anything else. The pick was good. The contract they gave him, not so good. But I just feel like they're, We've been waiting for years.
- [04:19]
Adam Azer
Yeah. Yeah. Tight end. True or false. You could make a case for any of the three tight ends that went on day on round two. Not Harold Fannin Jr. To the Browns. Not this year. But you can make a case for any of the other three. Mason Taylor to the Jets, Terence Ferguson to the Rams, Elijah Arroyo to the Seahawks.
- [04:37]
Jamie Eisenberg
False.
- [04:39]
Dave Richard
Make a case for what?
- [04:40]
Adam Azer
To be number one of that trio.
- [04:43]
Dave Richard
Of that trio.
- [04:43]
Adam Azer
Yeah.
- [04:44]
Dave Richard
Oh, true.
- [04:46]
Adam Azer
I think I would expand it to, to be number one overall for, for. Not dynasty, just redraft, for 20, 25.
- [04:54]
Jamie Eisenberg
False.
- [04:55]
Dave Richard
Yeah, I would say false. We had this conversation last night as well. I think, you know, you're, you're hoping that the talent of the two guys that were drafted in the first round, especially the capital that was spent on them, should carry them through. Even if it's not the best situations for either them.
- [05:08]
Adam Azer
I just wish Colston Loveland or Tyler Warren had gone to the Rams or the Seahawks, you know, but it's Ferguson and Arroyo instead. All right, and then do I have one for the wide receivers? The wide receivers. Let's see, we had. We had Jaden Higgins go to the Texans, Luther Burden to the Bears, Trey Harris to the Chargers, Jack Besh to the Raiders, Kyle Williams to the Patriots. I don't think anyone else has even a. Oh, I didn't even see. I did not even see. Ty Felton was. Was the 102nd pick to the Bronco. To the. To the Vikings.
- [05:42]
Jamie Eisenberg
Pardon me, Vikings. I got one for you.
- [05:45]
Adam Azer
Yeah.
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Jamie Eisenberg
A day two wide receiver should be ranked ahead in redraft of a Day 1 wide receiver, excluding a Buka, because in redraft, Abuka is not going to be a popular pick.
- [05:59]
Adam Azer
Say false.
- [06:03]
Jamie Eisenberg
Jamie.
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Dave Richard
Oh, yeah, I would, I would take Bash over a couple guys over golden.
- [06:10]
Adam Azer
Or McMillan or Hunter over.
- [06:12]
Dave Richard
I'm sorry. Well, I mean, Abuka, but Golden and Abuka you would take.
- [06:16]
Jamie Eisenberg
I would take Trey Harris over Golden. I. I'm a big Jack Besh guy, so I could be talked into Besh over Golden as well.
- [06:25]
Adam Azer
This is really interesting. Okay, that's. That's high praise for Trey Harris and Jack Besh. By the way. I think I've got an unofficial number. I tried to do this during the draft. Over the last 10 years, I believe we have had 11 wide receivers drafted day two or three, so round two or later who have finished as top 24 wide receivers. In fantasy, I would really maybe look at it as 10 instead of 11 because Tyree kill was one of those guys. He had about 280 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Something like that. He basically did. He wouldn't have done it without the rushing. So let's say, on average one a year finishes top 24. Four day two wide receivers in the last decade have finished top 12 in at least one format. Those four were Michael Thomas, Pukinakua Lad McConkey and A.J. brown.
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Dave Richard
A.J.
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Adam Azer
Brown only in non PPR. Those are the only ones who were like absolute stars as rookies. All right, so it was exactly, I think, what we expected. It was more interesting. Oh, it's always a little bit more interesting than day one. Right? You just. The running backs come off the board and you have two rounds. That helps. So let's get some big fantasy winners and losers. Jamie, you gave us the winners yesterday, so Dave, why don't you give us some fantasy winners and losers can be rookies or veterans from day two.
- [07:47]
Jamie Eisenberg
I think all of the rookies ended up in good spots. Some of them have potential to be in great spots. Let's start with Harvey going to Denver. The competition for playing time there isn't that great. I was a little surprised at how soon they took him, but he's a great speedster. He's sudden, he's got upside with his hands. Sean Payton does his thing and it's. It's guys like Julia McLaughlin and Audrey estimate for now as far as competition goes. So I'm. I'm digging Harvey as someone who could be very, very good for fantasy. But I think Travion Henderson is right there with him. His competition is Ramandre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson. I think at minimum he can take over that passing downs role. And as soon as Ramandre Stevenson fumbles, it's going to be the Travion Henderson show. Potentially he is a different type of running back than what Mike Vrabel is used to in Tennessee, obviously. But I think he's very talented so I could see him having a monster here. Quinton Judkins sharing with Jerome Ford. But other than that, it's a great opportunity in Cleveland. Same exact thing for Caleb Johnson in Pittsburgh sharing with Jalen Warren. I like a lot of these guys. I think they all landed in good spots. I do wish at least one of them had gone to Chicago or Dallas. We talked about that. But this, this is, this is promising. And this is what we were hoping for when we were talking about these guys before the draft. That they would go to teams where they'd get good opportunities.
- [09:24]
Adam Azer
I mean there's so much to like here. RJ Harvey going to the Broncos, they throw to their running backs so much. They throw to their running backs on first and second down a lot. So that's going to give him a big edge in PPR over probably a guy like Quinton Judkins. And definitely over I would think anyway over Caleb Johnson in Pittsburgh. Although Arthur Smith does have a history of being sometimes very, very. His offense is very much target running backs. Sometimes they don't. So it's, you know, it could be personnel based.
- [09:53]
Dave Richard
One thing I want guys, both guys last year had over 30 receptions in Harrison Warren.
- [09:58]
Adam Azer
Yeah, but that's not great. But, but overall their running back target rate was pretty high. I think I wanted to look up RJ Harvey's goal line stats because that would worry me just going to Denver. Like did they just give it to estimate But Harvey was great near the goal line he scored 15 touchdowns on 20 carries in his career from the three yard line or closer. That is really terrific, terrific number there. All right, any, any veteran winners that, Jamie, you might want to add.
- [10:27]
Dave Richard
I mean, I mentioned the guys that didn't get competition so far, you know, so those were pretty telling. You know, I think we're still going to see some guys that are out there, you know, scatter Boo, for example, Dylan, for example. You know, there are guys out there that are still going to be some, you know, quality running backs that have a chance to, you know, obviously wreck some backfields. But the fact that, you know, we're heading into day three, round four and Dallas doesn't have competition for devonte Williams aside from Miles Sanders, but no rookie that Chicago did not draft anybody, that Jacksonville is keeping their backfield so far intact, like those backfields are, are looking better for the veterans there. You know, it's, it's, it's again, you know, easily to replace a couple of those guys, but we could see, you know, Javante in a great spot, for example, or DeAndre Swift still in a great spot with an offense that is looking very, very good for Chicago. You know, what they did offensively, had coached through free agency, through the draft, trying to think of like the other positions because it's easy just to look at the running backs and say other veteran winners. I mean, look, Caleb Williams just kind of got even better today. Like we thought yesterday was good. You know, he got better on day two with Luther Burden going there. You know, so not great for the receivers overall, but, you know, another weapon to add to what could be one of the best breakout quarterbacks going into year two. Trying to think any other.
- [11:52]
Adam Azer
Yeah, no, I mean, look like, I think you could look at a guy like Cortland Sutton. They didn't add major wide receiver competition. You could look at Jackson, they. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Harrison McBride for sure. JSN, they added Elijah Arroyo, but I don't really think that's going to affect jsn.
- [12:09]
Jamie Eisenberg
And I like Trey Harris, but the Chargers added nothing that's going to take anything away from Makaki in the short range.
- [12:16]
Dave Richard
No, but they did help Justin Herbert from a win perspective.
- [12:19]
Jamie Eisenberg
Oh, yeah, for sure.
- [12:21]
Adam Azer
And a deep ball perspective. Trey Harris can really stretch the field. Trey.
- [12:25]
Jamie Eisenberg
Yeah.
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Adam Azer
Oh, man, I got so much. We all have so much to say about this class. It's so interesting, right? I mean, it's just. All right, all right, you know what? We'll get into it. I thought that you guys, Luther Burden, like Luther Burton Going to bear. Sorry, I'm all over the place with Luther Burton going to the Bears. You know, I think about the amount of targets that, that Keenan Allen had last year, right. Like they, they're playing three receivers all the time. So does he just, you slot into that slot roll and does this suck for, for Colson Loveland who they drafted in the first round yesterday? You know, so let's go to the losers. Let me transition to losers. Dave, Are the, are the Bears patch pass catchers losers with this Luther Burden pick, 39th overall in the second round?
- [13:11]
Jamie Eisenberg
No, I think, I think Luther Burden will not have much on his shoulders this year. I think he can certainly contribute in on teams and I think that he can be a good screen option and short area target guy and take a couple of deep shots. His speed definitely. My, my son is a Bears fan and he insists that Luther Burden is going to play in the JMO role because he's comparing, you know, everybody does it.
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Adam Azer
Yeah.
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Jamie Eisenberg
You know, the Detroit offense and what Ben Johnson ran. I kind of see it potentially going that way, but not consistently enough. I, I view Loveland and Burden as two quick hitting type of targets for Caleb Williams to get the ball out of his hands faster than he did last year. And like that's going to be job one for Ben Johnson where they're going to scheme up plays so that ball is out in a second and a half and they're going to ask Loveland and Burton to make plays after the catch. And I love it. And it won't just be those two guys. We saw DJ Moore do it last year, but they can also expand. Loveland and Burden can expand on that and have an A dot that's not negative one. They can have an A dot that's like six, seven yards downfield. But I think to start they're going to be getting short area targets. I think Burden will be brought along slower than Loveland. I still think we're going to see a lot of two tight end sets in Chicago and not as many three receiver sets as we saw last year.
- [14:43]
Dave Richard
So this was in Athlon Sports this morning. Jared Goff had the fifth most drop backs with two tight ends on the field last year. 169 snaps. Caleb Williams and obviously this is a Ben Johnson thing. Caleb Williams last year, despite his flaws, he was 47 of 75 for 452 yards, 132 air yards, five touchdowns, two interceptions and a passer rating of 90.5. Last year when they were in two tight end sets. That's not good, though.
- [15:11]
Adam Azer
It's not that good. It's better. Probably better than what he was, but.
- [15:14]
Dave Richard
It'S better than what he was. And I think if you're Ben Johnson and you're identifying what you like to do and what maybe is going to help your young quarterback get the ball out quickly, as Dave just alluded to some quick area targets, you know, you now added two of those guys. And so you're looking at it as, you know, we keep saying, okay, who's going to play the Saint Brown role? Who's going to be the slot receiver for the Bears? It's going to be a little bit of a different version of what the Lions offense is not going to be exactly the same because the personnel clearly different. And so they just added two pieces. Now, the thing that makes you nervous when a new coach, especially an offensive coach, comes in and he's looking at things and they have a guy that they just gave a big contract to and DJ Moore and a guy that they spent a first round pick on against the same regime up at Top, but it's a different coach. Does he not like one of those two guys in particular? You know, and so does he identify as Loveland as a replacement for Allen, as something that he can replace Cole Comet with as a future piece that they're just going to build around, but really more for Burden? You know, is this more of a telltale sign of DJ Moore or Romo Dunze, which is probably the more scary one, that these guys aren't going to be the type of players that we hope they could be? And so that's the concern for me, is that is. Is the two pass catchers being. Are the two pass catchers being brought in to maybe overshadow the guys who we think are a little bit better? You know, at least going into the.
- [16:31]
Adam Azer
Draft process, nothing that you've said makes me feel good about Roma Dunes. I just, you know, I think the good thing is he and Luther Burden are very different players. You know, you can't just put Luther Burden in Romo Dunes spot on the field and expect the same thing. Luther Burden is a slot guy and Odunze is like a big, physical outside receiver. But I mean, I think when you look at a lot of day two picks, you know, they just don't have that big of an impact as rookies. A lot of them don't do it, but like I said, a lot of them do. Like a lot of them are good and then some of them are like, well, you Know, Marvin Mims just don't really do much. I could see that from, from Luther Burton. Make a few big plays here or there, but really not be that much of a factor. But I am wondering, like, you draft a tight end and a wide receiver in the first 40 picks, how are we going to get the, how are we going to get the Roma Dunes a breakout? I'm not, I'm not saying it won't happen, but you got to be a little less confident in it now than you were a few days ago. Right?
- [17:28]
Dave Richard
The ceiling just got, you know, you know, smaller. Yeah, unfortunately.
- [17:32]
Adam Azer
Or less likely. Maybe, you know, maybe like the same ceiling. Because it's very possible that Loveland and Burden don't have huge impacts, but it's less likely for a huge breakout. There's more obstacles to it, I think is the best way to put it right. Unless you say, dude, they're replacing like 130 targets for Keenan Allen or whatever it was. Let's not forget that.
- [17:53]
Dave Richard
But you're also getting a better Caleb Williams too. So that's a big part of this, is that hopefully his improvement just is infectious throughout the entire offense and everybody's better.
- [18:03]
Adam Azer
Yeah. Bingo. Keenan Allen, 121 targets in 15 games. Any other losers worth bringing up real quick, we're up against the break. You want to just, just fire away. We obviously like Jalen Warren loser, but anyone else?
- [18:16]
Dave Richard
So I, I, yeah, I like in the Jalen Warren thinks almost like what you were talking about yesterday in your roundabout way of saying league neighbors was a loser like Jalen Warren, I think goes Back to like 2023 Jalen Warren, you know, whereas, okay, he was looking like a potential huge breakout. Now that breakout is obviously limited, clearly, but can he still be what he was, which was a borderline RB2 in 2023 we averaged 11 1/2 PPR points per game. I think that's definitely on the table because you're asking Caleb Johnson to come in and replace Naji Harris, which was 299 total touches. That's a lot for a rookie, especially if he's going to get, you know, 36 catches, 47 targets, I believe is what it was. I'm. I'm guessing it's probably if you're just again looking at the same offense, clearly quarterback's different, but coaching's have the same like probably 200 carries, maybe 200 total touches for Caleb Johnson in his rookie season and Jalen Warren was, I think it was like 30 carry difference between 2023 and 2024. He missed some time in, in the two seasons last year, played 15 games. The year before I played 17. So if, if you're looking at what he did in 2023, I think it's a very good high end flex, low end RB2 that you could still get good value on now because people are going to probably gravitate toward Caleb Johnson, which I would. But this I don't think crushes his fantasy value. Like let's say what hap what's going to happen in Cleveland. Like Jerome Ford is not going to be I think very fantasy relevant with judging. Sir.
- [19:46]
Jamie Eisenberg
No.
- [19:47]
Adam Azer
All right, let's take a break. We'll take a break. Before we do that, I just want to let you know one more day of the NFL draft, one more day of a post game podcast. So we'll, our post draft podcast we'll break down, we'll have Chris Tripasso on who knows all these prospects and he does grades. If you go to the cbsports.com draft tracker, he does grades for every pick and very quick little blurbs so you can learn about the player, what they do. Well, it's actually, it's really, really helpful because I know football fans out there, your team, your favorite team, just pick someone you have no, you've never heard of this person before and you want to know about him real quick, just go to cbsports.com look at the NFL draft tracker. Chris Tripasso is doing all these little blurbs and he'll be on our show tomorrow to tell you who he likes and doesn't like and all that. All right, we'll be right back on fantasy football today. I've been counted out, dismissed, passed over, told I'd never be a golfer with just one arm. But the only thing that feels better than proving people wrong is out driving them. I'm 14 year old golfer Tommy Morrissey.
- [20:42]
Jamie Eisenberg
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- [20:43]
Adam Azer
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Jamie Eisenberg
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Adam Azer
Learn about our special specialized talent in finance, accounting, technology Marketing, legal and administrative support at Robert Half we know talent. Visit roberthal.com talent today. Let's get some Twitter polls going here. Who are you drafting first in a half PPR league? Quinshon Judkins of the Cleveland Browns, Travion Henderson, Patriots. They went two picks apart. RJ Harvey, Denver. And then in the third round, Caleb Johnson to the Steel. So who are you drafting first and half PPR league Quinton John Judkins on the Browns now Trayvon Henderson, Patriots. RJ Harvey, Broncos Caleb Johnson, Steelers what would your answer be, fellas?
- [21:55]
Jamie Eisenberg
Judge Henderson, but it's in pencil and going to want to do a little more research before I commit to that.
- [22:06]
Adam Azer
And you guys are right there with the audience who said 34% Henderson, 32% Quintean Judkins. So they're neck and neck. I think I'm leaning RJ Harvey actually, but not like a super strong lean. Johnson is last. RJ Harvey has 19, Johnson has 16. I will say I, I need to, I need to say this. Over the last 10 years, I got this, all this data over the last 10 years, I've only got four running backs who were drafted in the second round that got big work right out of the gate. TJ Yeldin, Dalvin Cook, Jonathan Taylor, that's it. Actually just three. It usually takes a little bit of time. Maybe it's just a few weeks, but a little bit of time for a day two running back even in the second round to get big work. I hope one of these guys breaks that mold for me.
- [22:57]
Dave Richard
That's Judkins. That's what, that's what I see is the workload.
- [23:01]
Adam Azer
I don't see why not with Harvey. I mean he should be so much better than golf on an estimate.
- [23:07]
Dave Richard
He should. But you started two days ago or whatever show it was with what Sean Payton's track record is of giving running backs workloads, like the workload for running backs should be.
- [23:21]
Adam Azer
So here's the thing, right? So I, I went back and I actually looked at Every single Josh McDaniels running back today and he's been an offensive coordinator, I think for 17 seasons. He's only had three running backs with more than 250 carries. He's very often split. Lawrence Moroney and gosh, I don't even remember like very often split. But he gets to Las Vegas, he didn't split at all. Josh Jacobs got every touch. So I think if you give the coach the right guy like Alvin Camara in the last season with Sean Payton, Camara Got hurt, but he was on his way to being a true workhorse. I think you give the coach the right guy. I throw all that stuff out the window, basically. Do they have that guy? I don't know.
- [24:06]
Dave Richard
I, I will say this. You know, I haven't, I haven't done my rankings. I don't know if you have Dave, but like, they're all going to be very close, you know, for, for redraft. I just think there's so much upside with all of them. Like if, if Henderson can be that guy for the Patriots, which, you know, the thing that's a little nerve wracking is obviously he was sharing with a really good, you know, backfill partner, but didn't get that type of workload in 2024 Ohio State. And I still think they're going to give, whether you like him or not, Stevenson work. You know, I think you brought up the, the fumble situation and once he fumbles, maybe it's Stevenson job, maybe Tenderson's job, you know, in a runaway. But Harvey could easily be that guy in Denver. I just look at the, the path to touches right now. Like Judkins, the Runway is so clear. I know Jerome Ford's done some nice things, but to me he's clearly just a backup running back that has stepped into an opportunity at times and, and did okay with it More so in 2023 than 2024. I don't know. I like, I like the Browns offense enough with Joe Flacco. I know it sounds crazy for a 40 year old quarterback, but I think it's gonna be fun. I still think the offensive line is good. I really love Stefanski, what he does with running backs. To me, Judkins landed in as good a spot as any of these guys not named Ashton Dent.
- [25:15]
Jamie Eisenberg
Okay, so let's play devil's advocate for a second because I, I think what you're saying makes a lot of sense. Jerome Ford isn't an amazing back, but he knows what he's doing when he's out there and the coaches will trust that. Judkins has to prove that. And we talked about it ad nauseam leading up to the draft that Quinshon Judkins is not explosive. So he's going to work in that same exact type of role that Caleb Johnson might work in with Pittsburgh. Like other big backs.
- [25:48]
Dave Richard
I don't see that. I think Jalen Warren's a much better player than Jerome Ford.
- [25:52]
Jamie Eisenberg
Oh, no, no, no. I'm, I'm just trying to say what the role is going to Be. I'm not trying to compare them evenly because I agree with you. I think Jalen Warren's better than Jerome Ford. And I think Warren can eat into Caleb Johnson's touches a little bit, probably a little bit more than Ford can go into Judkins. So. I don't know, man. I think the guy that's got the easiest path, just strictly path, is Adams guy, Harvey. Because the other running backs in Denver just aren't that great.
- [26:22]
Adam Azer
Yeah, I. Look, my. Just, my guess is Sean Payton uses all three of them for a month, and Harvey will have the opportunity to prove himself. And, you know, I. I don't know how great he is. RJ Harvey's been a very, very productive running back, over six yards per carry three straight years. He is a home run threat. He's also 24 years old. He's one of the older running backs. I like him, but he's. He's kind of Small at 58205 and he's 24 years old, so that's weird. Here's. Oh, I wanted to mention this with Harvey because, Dave, you and I, I think we both said this about Harvey or we said about someone, but I thought same thing about Harvey. He's one of these running backs that stutter, steps a lot in the backfield. He's got that Levy on.
- [27:06]
Jamie Eisenberg
You said that about Hampton.
- [27:07]
Adam Azer
Okay. And I. I saw the same thing with Harvey. So I, of course, want to see every running back go to a team with a good offensive line, but Harvey in particular, because he is very patient and he sets up his blocks. The Denver Broncos had arguably the best offensive line of football last year. It was. I mean, I'll give it to the Eagles, but ESPN had them number one in both run block win rate and pass block win rate. Pff. Had them number one in pass blocking. I think number 11 in run blocking. But I love that for him, that the Broncos actually have a really good offensive line because he might be the guy who needs it because he's. He's kind of this patient runner, sets up his blocks. Right.
- [27:44]
Jamie Eisenberg
But when you say patient, usually that's a good thing. Sometimes you can be too patient or you freeze a little bit, you stop your feet, and when you do that, that's when defenses can gang up on you and whatever lane there might have been is gone. I do think that that's correctable.
- [28:02]
Adam Azer
Yeah.
- [28:02]
Jamie Eisenberg
And I think any team that saw that with Hampton and certainly what Denver saw with Harvey, I think they're going to say, well, we can correct that. He can use his patience judiciously, but he can also take off and go when we tell him to take off and go.
- [28:16]
Adam Azer
Would you draft any of these guys? Judkins, Henderson, Harvey, Caleb Johnson over Omarion Hampton?
- [28:24]
Jamie Eisenberg
I don't think so.
- [28:26]
Dave Richard
Not right now, but maybe once we see what happens in camp.
- [28:30]
Adam Azer
I am so excited, I'm so excited for these. It's gonna be great. I want to draft at least two of them. I really do. You know, I, I just, I think there's so much.
- [28:40]
Jamie Eisenberg
All right, so you're, you're the excited one. When do you want to do it? What round?
- [28:44]
Adam Azer
Yeah, as soon as, as soon as there's, there's, like, it's almost like the same group as last year as, like, Alvin Camara is almost the end of, of the running backs that you feel very comfortable with. Then you get to the older guys, the James Connors, the Aaron Jones. Once we get to that range, so. And that's going to be round five, round five or later, tops. Top 60 picks are, you know, getting to get into like 50, 50 or later.
- [29:06]
Jamie Eisenberg
You're also a big Pacheco guy. Are you taking Pacheco over all them?
- [29:12]
Dave Richard
Another winner?
- [29:13]
Jamie Eisenberg
Yes, yes, he is another one.
- [29:15]
Adam Azer
I think so. I, I, I really think that, you know, what we saw from Pacheco last year is I'm not going to hold it against him. Jamie, you always talk about those first two games for Pacheco. I think he was on his way to a really big season.
- [29:26]
Dave Richard
And again, you know what Andy Reid said to me at the league meetings, you know, like, you're gonna see him, you know, a better version of him. It, I would probably lean a couple of these guys over Pajeca right now, but that's the range. I mean, I, I think you're looking at it. You know, like you mentioned James Conner. The tail end of that for me will probably be like Aaron Jones. But, like, you know, you're looking at this group now. It got a lot better. It got a lot better. You know, so if you, if you are going to, you know, take the Hero RB0 RB route, like, you got a lot better options. You know, when you're talking about getting to that round five through seven range of, you know, whenever you're going to look to get that, either first running back or second running back, and you can, you know, go receiver, receiver, receiver for your first three picks, quarterback, tight end, whatever, and then three or four running backs in a row and feel pretty good about it.
- [30:21]
Adam Azer
Oh, yeah.
- [30:22]
Dave Richard
And again, like some of the Guys that got pushed down, you know, the, the Jalen Warrens of the world that got pushed down into, you know, the high end flex range.
- [30:29]
Adam Azer
How many of these running backs, Judkins, Henderson, Harvey, Caleb Johnson. Are you taking over Tyrone Tracy, who I guess you could call a winner?
- [30:35]
Dave Richard
Yes, all. Maybe not Caleb Johnson, but all of them. All the others.
- [30:41]
Jamie Eisenberg
I'm ready to take Caleb Johnson out of Tyrone Tracy.
- [30:44]
Adam Azer
Let's go to our next Twitter poll question. It's about the wide receivers. I could not fit, obviously all of the day, two wide receivers. But who are you drafting first and half ppr. I didn't put Luther Burden here. I really don't think he would have won this poll. He's going to the Bears. But Jaden Higgins, he was the first receiver drafted and he was drafted 34th overall. That's a really good spot. I mean Lab McConkey was right around there. T. Higgins was right around there. Michael Thomas I think was around 40th. But early round two receivers, some of them are really good. So Jaden Higgins to Houston, Trey Harris to the Chargers, Jack Besh to the Raiders, and Kyle Williams who was a third round pick going to the Patriots. The other three were second round picks. Higgins to Houston, Trey Harris to the Chargers, Jack Besh to the Raiders, Kyle Williams to New England. And this is a very close poll. Everyone between 20% and 32% on Twitter. Trey Harris is the leader right now, followed closely by Jack Besh and Jaden Higgins who are basically tied. And Kyle Williams to the Patriots, he's in last, but still at 20%. So very even here with only 420 votes. Yeah, 420 votes, man. Dave, what's your, what's your vote here?
- [32:04]
Jamie Eisenberg
Tell me you've. Never mind, never mind. I'm gonna vote for Malik Neighbors, high school quarterback. And that's Trey Harris. I think he's, I don't think he's a perfect prospect by any stretch. And I, I do worry about the deep speed injury history. But he's tall, he's lean, he can track the football well, he can turn back to the quarterback, he can run some routes. He's got to work on that. And his competition on the outside is Mike Williams, who's older and slower, and Quentin Johnston, who one week can deliver double digit catches, in the next week go completely catch less. So I'm hopeful that Trey Harris can be a helpful part of fantasy teams. And for now I would take him over golden, but they're both in that same range. What did I say yesterday with golden round 10 is when I'd take them and put him on the bench and just kind of see what happens. That's how I feel about Harris. And I wish I could feel that way about Besh because I really, talent wise, I think he's up there. I think he's fantastic. I like him better than Harris, but he's. He's sharing with Bowers, he's sharing with Myers, and the whole complexion of this Raiders offense changed the second they drafted Ashton Genty. So I'm worried about just how much upside there is for Besh to me right now. And I can obviously change this, but there are four receivers so far that have been drafted that I would consider taking round 10 or sooner. You already know two of them. Harrison, Golden. The other two were guys that were in the top ten.
- [33:36]
Adam Azer
Wait. Oh, okay. Hunter and McMillan. Okay, so can you. All right, so just to summarize, the four receivers that right now Dave would consider in the first 10 rounds of fantasy draft are Hunter McMillan, Trey Harris and Matthew Golden. Okay.
- [33:51]
Jamie Eisenberg
In redirect.
- [33:52]
Adam Azer
In redress. Yeah, I haven't done any Dynasty yet. You know, I got. We got to wrap our head around that. Sorry, Schaefer, can we get that poll up again? I want to get Jamie's thoughts on it here. Who are you drafting first in half? Ppr. Jaden Higgins to the Texans, Trey Harris of the Chargers, Jack Best to the Raiders, Kyle Williams to the Patriots.
- [34:09]
Dave Richard
A best for me. You know, he could. He could be the number one receiver there. He's not going to be the number one guy in targets. But. But I mean, I love what the Raiders are doing right now. I mean, you know, they go, they get their quarterback upgrade, they get, you know, hopefully an upgraded offensive coach. I think that'll be the case with, you know, Chip Kelly coming in there to call plays and, you know, Geno Smith leaning on these guys and looking at what the, again, path to opportunity is, you know, so Jacoby Myers, I think, has been a very solid player and, you know, maybe doesn't get the credit he deserves because he was good at the end of his New England tenure. He was good in, you know, Las Vegas in tandem with Devonte Adams. He was very good last year as well and can play a complimentary best, could come in and be the number one receiver, you know, so I don't see that, at least I hope not in, you know, Los Angeles for the Chargers. I hope that's still McConkey. I don't. I don't disagree with anything they've said, you know, in terms of what Harris can do on the outside and, you know, be a strong threat for Justin Herbert. You know, you talk about Genti revamping the, the offense there. I think, you know, the Chargers also told us what they want to do with their backfield too. You know, signing Najee Harris and drafting O'Marian Hampton, you know, so they're going to be, you know, still a run dominant team as well. So to me, I just look at, you know, Bash as somebody who come in and, and beat number two in targets. I don't, I hope it's not number one because that's going to really, you know, be a problem for Brock Bowers.
- [35:29]
Jamie Eisenberg
But something bad happened to Brock Bowers.
- [35:33]
Dave Richard
If that happens, you know, so I, I just like the opportunity there for him. So this was a, this was a great landing spot, I think a great draft for the jets, for the Raiders so far. Excuse me. And he's my favorite of this group.
- [35:45]
Adam Azer
Yeah, I don't know who my favorite is. It's like the running backs. It's a very tough call for me. I'm not sleeping on, on Higgins though, for the Texans or on any of them. Kyle Williams, I think has the best opportunity. And when I looked at those 11 wide receivers, I'll make it 10 without Tyreek Hill. 10 wide receivers drafted on day two or three who finished top 24 over the last 10 seasons. Opportunity really stood out. When I analyzed their situations, there were some players who came in and had to like, really fight for targets. Like Chase Claypool, who had. The Steelers threw like 41 passes per game. They, I think they led the NFL and pass attempts. And Claypool, Deontay Johnson and who else was it Juju? I think they were all, you know, had a lot of targets so that he wasn't an example. But most of these guys weren't really fighting with a lot of players for targets. I think, you know, like McLaurin for example, could even go to a horrible offense and still finish as a top 24 wide receiver in non PPR. It was for him because he, he was the only good receiver there. I look at Trey Harris and I kind of feel like that might be what he's stepping into. He's. He's got not. Sorry, I'm sorry. Kyle Williams. It might be what Kyle Williams is stepping into here. He's obviously got diggs coming 31 coming off a torn ACL or is he 32 coming off a torn ACL?
- [37:03]
Jamie Eisenberg
I think he's 31 is going to.
- [37:06]
Dave Richard
Be 32 by the end of the.
- [37:09]
Adam Azer
Season, 32 coming up. Torn AC 32 by the end and no one else. And I. And I think an exciting quarterback, so don't sleep on him. But Higgins, you really just need the bounce back from CJ Stroud. Stroud was so bad on deep balls last year. Can Higgins help him with that? Higgins was really bad on deep balls last year at Iowa State. I think his quarterback had a lot to do with that. But I just want to express that opportunity. I want you fantasy managers to think about that. Who's got the opportunity to not have a lot of target competition? You probably don't think that about Jaden Higgins. That's probably the issue here. But Kyle Williams, he's got that opportunity, all right. Yeah, but then again, like, it's gotta be the right player, right? So did Jalen Polk last year. Can't just be anyone with the opportunity. All right, let's go to our tight end Twitter poll here. Actually, let's go to commercial break. We'll be right back. On fantasy football today, Instacart is on a mission to have you not leave the couch this basketball season because between the pre game rituals and the post game interviews, it can be difficult to find time for everything else. So let Instacart take care of your game day snacks or weekly restocks and get delivery in as fast as 30 minutes because we hear it's bad luck to be hungry on game day. So download the Instacart app today and enjoy. $0 delivery fees on your first three orders. Service fees apply for three orders in 14 days. Excludes restaurants. Want to pull off the season's freshest trends?
- [38:36]
Dave Richard
You just need the right shoes.
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Adam Azer
That's where designer shoe warehouse comes in. Loving wide leg jeans. Pair them with sleek low profile sneakers.
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Dave Richard
Obsessed with the sheer trend.
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Adam Azer
Try it with mesh flats, Feeling Boho, comfy sandals. Nail the whole free spirited thing. Find on trend shoes from the brands you love like Birkenstock, Nike, Adidas and more at dsw. Welcome back. Who are you drafting first in half ppr? I don't even know the results. This one I'm going to be curious to see. And I wanted to throw, I wanted to throw Mason Taylor on here. But you know Twitter polls, you only do four options. So who you drafting first in half ppr? Colston, Loveland, Tyler, Warren, Terrence.
- [39:21]
Jamie Eisenberg
Why would you Ferguson ahead of Taylor?
- [39:24]
Dave Richard
That's a weird one because I think.
- [39:26]
Adam Azer
Being on the Rams is so much better than being on the Jets. I think for this year. Was this even a question? You Disagree with that. You think I should have put Mason Taylor on there?
- [39:39]
Dave Richard
Yeah.
- [39:40]
Jamie Eisenberg
Yes.
- [39:40]
Adam Azer
I don't think Mason Taylor has a chance of being the number one tight end this year. I think Ferguson.
- [39:45]
Jamie Eisenberg
Yeah, neither does Terence Ferguson.
- [39:46]
Adam Azer
I don't know. Ferguson was drafted, what, 10 picks after him or something? I don't. Not even.
- [39:52]
Jamie Eisenberg
I'm thrilled for him.
- [39:54]
Adam Azer
He's really good. I. I think you're sleeping on him. He was four picks. He was four picks after Mason Taylor drafted by the Rams, who have a very, very good track record of making draft picks. He could be. Could he be second on the team in targets? I think so.
- [40:11]
Dave Richard
Ferguson?
- [40:11]
Adam Azer
Oh, no. You got Devonte Adams there, I guess.
- [40:14]
Jamie Eisenberg
Oh, yeah, that guy.
- [40:17]
Dave Richard
Does he get more targets than two Two Atwell?
- [40:19]
Adam Azer
Yes, I think so.
- [40:21]
Dave Richard
Does he get more targets than Tyler Higby?
- [40:24]
Adam Azer
Well, yes, I think so. All right, fine. I should have put Mesa Taylor on there. Should I do it again? All right, well, anyway, it was gonna be. It was gonna be Lovelander. It was gonna be Lovelander Warren. Anyway, winning this poll. Lovely. Got 50 of the vote. Schaefer voted for Tyler Warren. Almost no love for Elijah Arroyo. Could he be second on the team in targets?
- [40:47]
Dave Richard
Yes.
- [40:48]
Jamie Eisenberg
Yeah, could.
- [40:52]
Adam Azer
Okay.
- [40:53]
Dave Richard
All right.
- [40:53]
Adam Azer
Well, this was a boring one, but.
- [40:56]
Jamie Eisenberg
Well, maybe you should ask us how we would rank our top four tight ends in redraft.
- [41:00]
Adam Azer
Go ahead. Thank your top four tight ends in redraft.
- [41:03]
Jamie Eisenberg
I have absolutely no idea. I'm kidding. This will be interesting.
- [41:09]
Adam Azer
No, rookies, Rookies, rookies.
- [41:12]
Jamie Eisenberg
The rookies. Warren is going to be first for me. Loveland is going to be second and then it will be some combination of Arroyo and Taylor. I kind of like where Arroyos upside is compared to Taylor overall.
- [41:29]
Adam Azer
Oh, that's not. Not even a question. I am drafting this year Elijah Royal over Mason Taylor.
- [41:36]
Jamie Eisenberg
Is you are or not?
- [41:38]
Adam Azer
Absolutely.
- [41:39]
Dave Richard
All right.
- [41:40]
Jamie Eisenberg
Because a lot of people love Mason Taylor.
- [41:42]
Adam Azer
Oh, it's not like it's about Fields. It's about Fields and Gary Wilson.
- [41:46]
Dave Richard
2023 helped Cole Comet average over 10.
- [41:48]
Adam Azer
Oh, Cole Comet. That's such a nothing year. What a nothing year. That was like.
- [41:53]
Dave Richard
I'm sorry that that's still a top 12.
- [41:56]
Adam Azer
It is, but that's the upside. That's the upside. It was a 700.
- [42:00]
Dave Richard
Royal has that much more upside again. I don't think Noah Fancy going away.
- [42:06]
Adam Azer
You could. I could see it happening.
- [42:08]
Jamie Eisenberg
Eventually they cut him.
- [42:10]
Adam Azer
I mean, honestly, I don't really think either of those guys are going to be that good this year.
- [42:14]
Jamie Eisenberg
And even if. Even if he does go Away. AJ Barner is still there, but to me, I view Arroyo differently than those guys. Well, certainly differently than Barner, but to me he's more like fan, more of a move tight end and a guy that brings some speed and a mismatch problem to an offense that doesn't have a ton of speed at wide receiver. Like they've got mbs, he's going to take the top off. Theoretically, Arroyo is going to be. I think they've got designs for him and this is the type of scheme where move tight ends can do very, very well.
- [42:50]
Adam Azer
Not a great pronunciation of Elijah Arroyo's last name, by the way, in the draft tonight.
- [42:55]
Jamie Eisenberg
I know.
- [42:57]
Adam Azer
Arrow.
- [42:57]
Jamie Eisenberg
Yeah. Oh, dude. Noah fan could be a goner. They save almost 9 million against the cap.
- [43:03]
Adam Azer
Really?
- [43:04]
Jamie Eisenberg
If they dump them. Yep.
- [43:06]
Adam Azer
I happen to be a big Elijah Arroyo fan. I think he's really right.
- [43:10]
Jamie Eisenberg
I don't want to let my bias get in the way here, especially since this is interesting. Like both Arroyo and Taylor did not have great stats in college and Arroyo really only had one big year. Taylor started for three years at lsu. He just ran a lot of routes, didn't get a ton of targets until his last year there. So they're both projection type players and I don't know if I'm necessarily drafting either one of them. Maybe with like my third to last pick.
- [43:41]
Adam Azer
Yeah, maybe. All right, well, obviously they cut Tyler Higby. That might change things a little bit, but they still do have that devonte Adams guy. Okay, news and notes real quick. The Steelers still hopeful for Aaron Rodgers. They think a decision could be coming soon. Liam Cohen, the head coach of the Jaguars, said the plan is for Travis Hunter to play on offense primarily and learn the defense throughout the off season. He didn't say the snap counts or anything like that. Obviously it's all fluid. But that's what Liam Cohen said. Travis Hunter primarily on offense. And Nick Saban called Mason Taylor jets tight end. Now he called him an outstanding player and said it was his biggest recruiting mistake when he was at Alabama. So yeah, we all like Mason Taylor, just don't love the jets situation there. But yeah, so this. Remember Nick Saban said, according to Brian Dable last year on Hard knocks, that the two players who were a problem for him in 2023 were Brock Bowers and Malik Neighbors. So him calling, him, praising Mason Taylor, saying it was his biggest recruiting mistake at Alabama. That's pretty interesting. All right, let's go position by position. Talk about the quarterbacks and running backs, wide receivers, tight ends. See if we have time for offensive line quarterbacks. So Ward and Jackson dart yesterday to the Titans and the Giants. Tyler Shuck to the Saints in round two, Jalen Milroe to the Seahawks in round three, and Dylan Gabriel to the Browns in round three. Shuck going 52 picks before Milroe, 54 picks before Dylan Gabriel. Jamie, what'd you think about these quarterbacks?
- [45:19]
Dave Richard
I mean, everybody hates your Sanders, huh? It's just crazy. Look, they're, they're, you know, maybe Tyler Shuck can, can be the starter depending on the Derek Carr situation, whether it's, you know, he's gone or his, his shoulder. So that's really the one you want to keep an eye on there. Clearly, Dylan Gabriel can compete for the starting job in Cleveland, but does he beat out Joe Flacco right away? Is this one of those situations where early in the season, if Flacco struggling, they turn to Gabriel? Do they turn to Kenny Pickett first? I was actually surprised that he was the guy that they chose. I thought, you know, from what you're hearing that it would be McCord, I mean, Milrose the wild card here. But you're gonna have to wait or need an injury, you know, because of what they just paid Sam Darnold. So it could be a really good long term situation, you know, especially for dynasty managers. You know, you want to take a chance on him and see how this pans out in potentially maybe a year, but most likely too, you know, and if Darnold just reverts back to pre Minnesota Darnold, then maybe he gets an opportunity to, you know, do a Jalen hurts ditch, for example, you know, know, take over and, and run away with the job because we know the fantasy upside is there. Will the NFL upside be there? So I like the, the move by Seattle. So Milro somebody that in super flex, you know, dynasty leagues will be very interesting to see when he goes. But yeah, these are, these are all backups.
- [46:44]
Adam Azer
I'm just reading right now. Sam Darnold, I. It does not appear that he has any guaranteed money after this year. He has a $15 million March roster bonus in 2026, according to ESPN. It's. And his contract, his contract is guaranteed for injury now, but if he doesn't get injured, they could cut Sam Darnold after year one. All right, running backs, we've got. I think we talked about it all. If there's anything you want to add. All right, give me projection. How many carries for all four of these guys? How many carries in year one for Quinton Judkins.
- [47:25]
Dave Richard
215.
- [47:26]
Jamie Eisenberg
14 per game with a little bit more toward the end of the year.
- [47:30]
Adam Azer
If you think I can do 14 times 17, you're very wrong. Let's see. 14, 140, 280, 28, 42. So that's 248. 240 ish.
- [47:45]
Jamie Eisenberg
21.
- [47:46]
Adam Azer
Let's see.
- [47:47]
Jamie Eisenberg
73.
- [47:48]
Adam Azer
14 times elemental. 238. I said I'm really doing math, damn it. It's 12, 16 in the morning. How many carries for Travion Henderson?
- [47:58]
Jamie Eisenberg
I'm scared to answer now because I don't want to do any more math.
- [48:02]
Adam Azer
It was pretty close.
- [48:03]
Dave Richard
175.
- [48:04]
Jamie Eisenberg
12 times 17. You said carries, right? 12.
- [48:12]
Adam Azer
How many carries just now? Wait, you know. 200. Let's say 230 carries for Judkins. How many catches for Judkins? 18, 20, 22. How many catches for Travion Henderson?
- [48:29]
Jamie Eisenberg
I. Judkins gets to 255 carries.
- [48:32]
Adam Azer
Trayvon Henderson catches.
- [48:34]
Dave Richard
You tell me that right now. He's my favorite. How many catches for Henderson?
- [48:40]
Adam Azer
Huh?
- [48:40]
Dave Richard
35.
- [48:42]
Jamie Eisenberg
Oh, 40. Oh, 45.
- [48:46]
Adam Azer
Then he's a bust in year one. I mean, what, A hundred? What did you say? How many carries? 170 carries. I don't even know what you said. Started with a hunt with one.
- [48:54]
Jamie Eisenberg
I think 200 carries, but 45 catches.
- [48:59]
Adam Azer
Oh, that's not enough for me. I want to see. I want to see a 50 to 60 catch season from Trayvon Henderson. This is a good.
- [49:08]
Jamie Eisenberg
This is a good exercise. I'm glad we're doing this.
- [49:10]
Adam Azer
Well, Josh Jacobs. Josh Jacobs played every game. 20, 22. And he had 53 catches. I think, obviously Josh McDaniels has a great history with James White and gosh, who else? Like Kevin Falk, Shane Vereen. I mean, he's had 80 catch guys in the past. I don't know if Henderson is that kind of player, but I want to see them use him that way. RJ Harvey carries and catches.
- [49:42]
Jamie Eisenberg
180 and 35 and 30.
- [49:46]
Dave Richard
30 on the bridge.
- [49:50]
Jamie Eisenberg
Not a polished pass catcher or third down back.
- [49:53]
Adam Azer
No, but that's what they do. They throw to their running backs all the time.
- [49:56]
Jamie Eisenberg
And they might throw to somebody else.
- [49:59]
Adam Azer
They will. Oh, man.
- [50:01]
Jamie Eisenberg
Yeah. That's why I'm only giving him 30 catches.
- [50:03]
Adam Azer
I'm giving him 40. I'm very optimistic today. Caleb Johnson, I. Caleb Johnson for Pittsburgh. Carries and catches.
- [50:12]
Dave Richard
215.
- [50:16]
Jamie Eisenberg
250 carries.
- [50:21]
Dave Richard
Seven more than Naji had last year.
- [50:24]
Jamie Eisenberg
Yeah.
- [50:25]
Dave Richard
Wow.
- [50:25]
Adam Azer
What did Naji have? 236 impressive that you remembered that.
- [50:31]
Dave Richard
I just wrote the story on.
- [50:33]
Adam Azer
Oh, you're wrong. Two 63 and 36 receptions.
- [50:40]
Dave Richard
Yeah, sorry.
- [50:41]
Jamie Eisenberg
Yeah. Caleb Johnson's not going to sniff 36 receptions.
- [50:47]
Adam Azer
I mean, if Naji can, why not Caleb Johnson? Yeah, but he's not a good pass catcher. He just benefited from being there. All right, wide receivers. So we had Jaden Higgins. What do you think of this pick overall and what it means for Houston and all the relevant guys?
- [51:06]
Dave Richard
Means Tank Dell is probably not playing in 2025 and who knows if he's ever going to play again for the Texans. And Christian Kirk is just going to be a rental for you.
- [51:19]
Jamie Eisenberg
Higgins is going to be a perimeter receiver who plays opposite Nico Collins for the rest of his life. And that makes me sad because Higgins is really Good. Great hands. Three drops over the last two years. That's 209 targets.
- [51:32]
Adam Azer
Wow.
- [51:33]
Jamie Eisenberg
At Iowa State. Big dude, six four. He's kind of like Nico Collins in that regard, but he's not a burner. Quicker than fast, just big guy. Catch radius. Kind of like a glorified tight end playing wide receiver. Noel is the one that kind of intrigues me because he is fast and he's like. I was about to say he's a thicker Tank Dell because everybody's thicker than tank Dell. He's 180 pounds, good speed, can play in the slot very quick, small hands. So he's got a little bit more of a drops issue than Jaden Higgins does. But I. I kind of. I kind of like Noel better in Redraft and maybe even. Yeah, well.
- [52:21]
Adam Azer
But no, be. Oh, in dynasty, you're saying in Redraft, like I. In Dynasty.
- [52:26]
Jamie Eisenberg
Dynasty.
- [52:27]
Adam Azer
But isn't he just buried behind Christian Kirk this year? Jalen Noel.
- [52:31]
Jamie Eisenberg
He might be.
- [52:32]
Adam Azer
He's a slot receiver.
- [52:33]
Jamie Eisenberg
Jaden Higgins is buried behind Nico.
- [52:36]
Adam Azer
Oh, he's the number two receivers on the outside.
- [52:38]
Jamie Eisenberg
Yeah, but one of those guys can.
- [52:39]
Dave Richard
Take the top off.
- [52:41]
Jamie Eisenberg
Look, I don't think I'm drafting either Texans rookie wide receiver. So it's semantics about who I would really take first. But in Dynasty, I think I might take Noel first.
- [52:51]
Adam Azer
Well, I guess I would just say if. If we thought Nico Collins and Stefan Diggs and Tank Dell could all have good seasons last year they were all picked in the top six or seven round. You know, why, why can't Jaden Higgins, who was the fifth receiver off the board and the 34th. I mean, if you count Travis Hunter as receiver, fifth receiver off the board, 34th overall pick in the draft, I could Make a. I could spin a more optimistic case for him, Dave. I mean, I think the opportunity is there for him. I don't know if he's gonna have a great year, but to be fantasy relevant at least. Jamie, how you feeling about Higgins?
- [53:32]
Dave Richard
I mean, I. I think he's the second best Texans receiver by the end of the season and maybe right out of the gate. You know, like you said, if C.J. stroud bounces back to what he was as a rookie, like, there's so much upside here. So while Collins had his breakout season in 2023, tank, that was putting up some pretty significant numbers. And so there's a, there's a pretty clear path here for him to have, you know, be one of those guys that when we talk about at the end of the season, like, is he approaching 900 yards? It's your magic number as, as a rookie, like, he's. He's going to be in that conversation. He's got that type of talent. So I'm glad Dave and I are a couple dynasty leagues together.
- [54:16]
Jamie Eisenberg
Does it bug you that Higgins isn't anywhere close to the same type of receiver as Tank, though? Dal, though?
- [54:22]
Dave Richard
No, but, you know, you don't necessarily have to be in terms of what your target volume can be. And he may have a better chance to get some easier opportunities than Tank Dell did in his rookie season. So, you know, Christian Kirk's missed a lot of time the last couple of years, so he can maybe do a few different things as well on the offense. So I'm optimistic. I think it was a good landing spot. You know, go back to your question with the Twitter poll of, you know, those, those four guys. I think it's, you know, close between Harris and Beck and Bash and Higgins, at least for me.
- [54:57]
Adam Azer
I put in my notes that Higgins opportunity with the Texans reminds me a little bit of JuJu Smith Schuster, who was one of those 11 wide receivers in the past decade that's finished in the top 24 while being drafted on day two or three. Well, yeah, on day two or three reminds me a little bit of him. In 2017, you had a stud in Antonio Brown, and then the other guys who were catching passes were Martavis Bryant and Le'Veon Bell. So if Higginson come in and be good, I don't see why he can't, you know, be productive. Because you had Ben Roethlisberger, who was an established quarterback. Right. You're not talking about some crap quarterback here. So I just wanted to throw that comparison out. I thought I could see that kind of path whereby as Jamie said, by the end of the year he's the second best receiver for the Texans. All right, who else we got here? We only got through one guy. So we have a lot of players. Luther Burden for the Bears undraftable right.
- [55:51]
Dave Richard
Now in the same late round you know, gamble that you would take on, you know, a Buka a little bit easier path to see him being productive. But it's just tough. It's really tough. It feels like what we're going to get from, from him is what you got from Odunze last year.
- [56:12]
Adam Azer
We got Trey Harris of the Chargers. I know you guys like that. Any knock here for Lab McConkey?
- [56:20]
Jamie Eisenberg
Nope, not for me.
- [56:22]
Dave Richard
I don't think so. I mean, you know, again if he's dynamic then he's going to command more targets than let's say Quentin Johnston did. You know, the Mike Williams addition, as Jim Harbaugh said, you know, Justin Herbert was extremely ecstatic. But for a guy that's in his early 30s at this point, coming off, you know, a couple years of knee and, and you know, injury prone situations, that wasn't productive at all with the jets in his short stint. They're like, I don't know. I think this is a great spot for Harris to be in.
- [56:55]
Adam Azer
All right, next wide receiver off the board is Jack Besh. Jamie, even you're pretty pumped about him. So I keep trying to do this to, with no success to get someone to be worried about Brock Bowers. Even though I'm not really worried about Brock Bowers. But yeah, you got, got it. Now we got a running back, they're gonna run the ball. We got run heavy coaches here. We got, I mean you could, you.
- [57:18]
Dave Richard
Could see it, you know where there's. And again, I'll go back to when you brought this up. It was either yesterday or pre draft of or I'm sorry, I guess about yesterday with Jenty. The, the real question is are you, are you taking Bowers or McBride? Because they're, they're not going to I think slip past Kittle, which at least for me is tight end three, I'm gonna guess it's going to be based on adp probably barring a holdout. Look, if you were to say right now McBride can get to six touchdowns, which may be all he has in his career, but if he can get to six touchdowns, I would take McBride.
- [57:59]
Adam Azer
Yeah.
- [58:00]
Dave Richard
So there the gap is closed. You know, Bowers was a borderline first round pick for me. McBride late second. Okay, Bowers now more mid, mid round two and McBride is, is still kind of in that range. So it, it's not as rosy as it was when last year ended because you got better run game, you got better talent around him. You also have better quarterbacks. That helps. And you know, again, more creative play caller. But it's just so hard to gamble against what that talent could be, you know, for what he looked like as a rookie and just hopefully years to come of that, that type of quality production.
- [58:37]
Jamie Eisenberg
Dave, I am nervously going to tape McBride over Bowers in full PPR, but it is very, very close. But it will not be the case in non ppr.
- [58:48]
Adam Azer
So what about Jacoby Myers? Did you draft Jacoby Myers or Jack Besh?
- [58:53]
Dave Richard
Myers, still Myers. But you know, again, similar to the Houston situation. Wouldn't surprise me by the end of the season if Besh is the best wide receiver there.
- [59:02]
Adam Azer
Okay, Kyle Williams to the Patriots as we get to round three, 69th overall, a guy I really regret not talking about on our wide receiver preview shows. I'm sorry about that. He's out of Washington State. 511, 190 pounds. He's got good speed, ran a 4 4, 540 and had a 1200 yards and 14 touchdowns last year in 13 games for Washington State. You guys share my, my optimism that there's, there's some sneaky potential here for Kyle Williams. Do you feel that too or.
- [59:31]
Jamie Eisenberg
No, Definitely. He's got an opportunity to lead the Patriots wide receivers. Well be second. It depends on Stefan Diggs. Obviously if Diggs is healthy and his old self, that guy's gonna run away with all the targets. But if Diggs is a slower version of himself and it takes him a month to get ready for the season, then yeah, the doors open a little bit for Kyle Williams to be that guy. But he's got to go there. He's got to practice, he's got to play great and he's got to stand out. The last few rookie wide receivers that the Patriots have taken, and I say last few facetiously, it's been a bunch have not worked out, they have not been great. But Kyle Williams certainly deserves to be drafted in redraft in that same late round pick range as Harris Golden Bash. But behind those guys.
- [60:23]
Adam Azer
All right, do we have rookie wide.
- [60:24]
Dave Richard
Receivers done for McDaniels? I'm gonna guess not great.
- [60:28]
Adam Azer
Oh yeah, yeah.
- [60:30]
Jamie Eisenberg
I can go back and look, but I'm gonna guess exactly that.
- [60:34]
Adam Azer
I just want to point out rookie wide receivers usually don't do well. So if they're not Drafted in the first round usually don't do well. And even if they are, it's. It's a toss up. I can't really think of. I mean, Nikhil Harry was one of them.
- [60:49]
Jamie Eisenberg
Oh God, that was such a terrible pick.
- [60:52]
Adam Azer
I can't think of any others. I'm sure there have been. Yeah. Isaac Tesla going to Detroit, Pat Bryant going to Denver, Jalen Noel going to Houston, Savion Williams to Green Bay, Ty Felton to Minnesota. Jamie, do we have a single draftable guy in redraft? Isaac Tesla to Detroit, Pat Bryant to Denver, Jalen Noel to Houston, Savion Williams to Green Bay, Ty Felton to Minnesota.
- [61:19]
Dave Richard
Bryant. Maybe, maybe, maybe, maybe. Just because you look at the receivers there for Denver, I know there should be some optimism about Marvin Mims, but for whatever reason, we've seen Sean Payton not necessarily give him the type of opportunities that he's, I think deserved. Devon Vale, you know, may or may not have an opportunity as well, but there is clearly a path for somebody to take that number two receiver role and maybe run away with it. Clearly Evan Ingram is there now, so different playmaking tight end. But look there, there's reasons to watch all of these guys. You know, we could sit here and say Matthew golden and the chance that he has in Green Bay. Well, maybe we do get that from Savion Williams as well. You know, another guy come in and push the Romeo Dobbs, Don Tavian Wicks of the world aside with Christian Watson not there and get a chance to be, you know, a playmaker for a receiving core that is as is running. As the running back there said, you know, missing an alpha. So I don't think Williams is that guy. But very telling that the packers never invest heavily in wide receiver and first two days they take two.
- [62:25]
Adam Azer
Okay, Dave, what'd you find?
- [62:28]
Jamie Eisenberg
The all time leader among rookie wide receivers under Josh McDaniels and targets is Aaron Dobson with 75.
- [62:38]
Adam Azer
Okay, any.
- [62:40]
Jamie Eisenberg
I think that's a number Kyle Williams can beat. I think he can get more than 75 targets, but not a single one of these stiffs had more than 9.1 PPR points per game. This does not excite me very much about Kyle Williams and maybe he isn't necessarily worth a pick. But guess what guys, we've got time. We'll see how he does. Minicamp and training camp.
- [63:04]
Adam Azer
All right, tight ends Douglas Colson, Loveland and Tyler Warren, our first round picks. We have Mason Taylor in round two, Terence Ferguson four picks later to the Rams, Mace Taylor to the Jets. Quick Twitter poll here. Who do you, who you draft first this year and half? Ppr Mason Taylor on the Jets, Elijah Arroyo on Seattle. Right now only 181 votes, 54% Mason Taylor 46 Elijah Arroyo. So Arroyo was okay. I would go Arroyo, but I wonder what Schaefer, who would you take? Arroyo or Mason Taylor? And I'd pass on both. You take Shadow Sanders and then Dave. Let's talk about Harold Fannin Jr. We haven't talked about him. This guy led the country in receptions and receiving yards. He goes to the Cleveland, Cleveland Brown, 67th overall. Bummer. But what a player he is.
- [64:01]
Jamie Eisenberg
I mean, I believe he set the FBS record for catches and yards by a tight end in a single season. And he is potentially the long term replacement for David Najoku in Cleveland. And that could happen as soon as 2026. So Najoku will still do his thing. Harold Fannin is going to have to play like a madman in training camp, turn snaps alongside Najoku and turn all of those three receiver sets in Cleveland into two tight end sets. Can it, can he do it? It's possible. Would I love him if David Najoku got traded or missed some time? Yeah, probably. I think he's a good player, but until that happens, I, this is another player I just don't see myself drafting in. Redraft dynasty. I'm taking him ahead of Arroyo and Taylor.
- [64:56]
Adam Azer
As far as the offensive line goes, you know, the Texans took a tackle early in the second round, the Raiders at picks 98 and 99. They traded for both of those picks to draft offensive tackles.
- [65:09]
Jamie Eisenberg
Yeah, interesting players too.
- [65:11]
Adam Azer
And both of them got A's or A minuses from our Chris Tripasso. You know, one, one thing I want to talk about that we pretty much.
- [65:18]
Dave Richard
Skipped is you just third person yourself as a grade. No, you say A's or A minuses.
- [65:27]
Adam Azer
A's or a minuses. I think we should talk about Tyler Schuck just a little bit because he really like, could he really be the starting quarterback for the Saints this year with this Derek Carr situation.
- [65:43]
Jamie Eisenberg
So when I did the report on him, I think he showed enough on film last year at Louisville and strictly last year that made me believe that a team that's salary cap strapped or you know, transitioning a quarterback, they could turn to him and use him this year. And if he's great, then great. Maybe they've got their guy long term and if he stinks, then great. You'll find another quarterback in the 2026 draft and I think that's what the Saints are going to do. Certainly experienced, older gentleman, injury prone. He's hurt his shoulders a bunch. It's funny how he, he's, he has all these injuries, a couple of shoulder injuries and a broken leg, all from running out of the pocket. Never from being sacked, never from throwing too much or getting hit while he's throwing. It's always been when he's running. So my guess is he won't do a lot of that. But if his competition is Spencer Rattler and Jake Haner, this dude starting for New Orleans in week one, 26 years.
- [66:42]
Adam Azer
Old in September, absolutely miserable completion percentage. I don't understand. He completed about 62% of his passes. Just. I don't have the stat in front of me, but I don't get how like a 26 year old could do that. But in college, horrible, bad quarterback class. Don't get too excited. Any thoughts on Shadow Sanders?
- [67:05]
Dave Richard
I don't, I don't think we should waste our time.
- [67:08]
Adam Azer
It's the story of the day. I mean, I thought it was an overblown story yesterday, but him not being drafted in the first three rounds, now I get it. Now it's a story.
- [67:16]
Dave Richard
Yeah, it's. Look, you know, the, the interview process may have been horrible for him, you know, based on the things you're hearing. I don't think at this point now it's a talent thing, like if you're taking chances on the guys that are getting drafted right now, he certainly belongs in the conversation. Yeah, so look, it's, it's. Clearly there's. Some of the stuff that's being said is ridiculous. I, I don't think he's being blackballed by any stretch. It's just a silly conversation. But we're now in backup quarterback territory, which nobody thought. You know, I think there was the, the idea of New Orleans at 9, Pittsburgh at 21, you know, somebody else may be buying back into the first round like the Giants did, that would say, okay, we' chance on him. Just to see if I'm like the Rams at this point, for example, why not? Like, you know, you have the two first round picks next year now to go get your quarterback of the future if you want to. Since Stafford's basically playing on a one year to year basis. If this kid shows you anything, you know, you reckon you did a great reclamation product project on Baker Mayfield, you know, for just going in your system. I, I think if you give any player great coaching, he can make himself something. If he's got the talent. And I still think Sanders has some talent. So to me, that'd be a great destination for him at this point because he's going to be a backup. He's not going to get a chance to start.
- [68:41]
Jamie Eisenberg
Well, the only thing I'll add is if you, if you have the time, watch his game against byu. I've said it before, I'll say it again.
- [68:48]
Adam Azer
He should not have played the bowl game.
- [68:50]
Jamie Eisenberg
He looked like he had no clue what he was doing out there.
- [68:57]
Adam Azer
I just wonder if he didn't play in the bowl game, if he could have been a first round pick or something that was such.
- [69:02]
Jamie Eisenberg
No, because there's definitely. There's definitely something going on on top of what the general public knows.
- [69:10]
Adam Azer
Yeah, I just.
- [69:12]
Jamie Eisenberg
I just don't think it's worth talking about on a fantasy show when he doesn't have a team yet. Once he's on a team, we can talk about him a little bit more. I know it's a great big story and all that, but no one's trapped.
- [69:21]
Adam Azer
The content Police are here.
- [69:25]
Jamie Eisenberg
12:38 in the morning. I've been up since 6am we're talking about a guy who wasn't even drafted, who's not going to get drafted in our fan. You know, I'm done.
- [69:34]
Adam Azer
Yeah, you know, I'll tell you, Dave can leave. I took a great nap today because I was. We were all very tired and the weather is so nice in New York that I don't have to put the air on in my house. And I didn't even need a blanket.
- [69:48]
Jamie Eisenberg
Oh, God. Let's go back to talking about Jamie. You nap sometimes your nap and the weather.
- [69:53]
Adam Azer
I didn't even need a blanket. I didn't need the air conditioner conditioning, the heat or a blanket to nap. It was absolutely perfect. Just what a beautiful afternoon.
- [70:01]
Dave Richard
There's nothing better to take a nap.
- [70:03]
Adam Azer
Oh, especially after a long night. I'll be taking a nap tomorrow. All right, folks, have a. Have a great day. We'll talk to you after day three.
- [70:11]
Jamie Eisenberg
What time is your nap tomorrow?
- [70:13]
Adam Azer
I don't know. I have a tennis match, so I'm not sure I will.
- [70:16]
Jamie Eisenberg
Actually, I'm calling you at 6am no, live streaming it. Thomas set up a live stream for 6am we're calling Adam every hour.
- [70:25]
Adam Azer
Later, everybody. We'll talk to you tomorrow.
- [70:27]
Dave Richard
By the way, you've worn in a long time.
- [70:31]
Adam Azer
I went out to dinner tonight. Yeah, thank you. I went to Bear Burger. Do you have Bear Burger in Florida? No, it's a burger place.
- [70:41]
Dave Richard
Really?
- [70:42]
Adam Azer
I got a chicken sandwich. All right, we'll talk to y'all tomorrow.
- [70:45]
Dave Richard
At a burger place. While wearing salmon colored shirts.
- [70:48]
Adam Azer
Yeah, well, I have. I bought burger meat, so I'm gonna make burger burgers at home on Saturday. So I was like, I'm not gonna double up. Okay. Now, we'll talk to you tomorrow. Bye, everybody. Paramount podcasts streaming on Paramount plus.
- [71:09]
Dave Richard
Everyone who comes into this clinic is a mystery. We don't know what we're looking for.
- [71:13]
Adam Azer
Their bodies are the scene of the crime.
- [71:15]
Dave Richard
No symptoms. Symptoms and history are clues. You saved her life. We're doctors, and we're detectives.
- [71:22]
Adam Azer
I kind of love it, if I'm being honest. Solve the puzzle, save the patient. Morris Chestnut is Watson.
- [71:30]
Jamie Eisenberg
Now streaming on Paramount plus and new.
- [71:32]
Adam Azer
Episodes Sundays on cbs.