Start or Sit (AFC): Start all Chargers? Sit Your Broncos? Start Kareem Hunt? (10/30 Fantasy Football Podcast)

Summary

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Fantasy Football Today (10/30/2025)

Episode: Start or Sit (AFC): Start all Chargers? Sit Your Broncos? Start Kareem Hunt?

Hosts: Adam Aizer (A), Dave Richard (D), Jamey Eisenberg (A), Heath Cummings (C)
Original Air Date: October 30, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this episode of Fantasy Football Today, the team takes a deep dive into AFC matchups for Week 9, discussing who to start and sit with a focus on trending players like Chargers skill positions, the murky Broncos offense, and the prospects of Kareem Hunt with Pacheco sidelined. The analysts debate players they love and ones they're avoiding, with actionable insights on difficult decisions and injury updates. The conversation is fast-paced, rich with data, and peppered with classic FFT banter.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Players the Hosts Love (03:51)

• Jamie highlights:
  • Kamani Vidal (Chargers RB): "Start of the week...excited to see him against the Titans defense without Jeffrey Simmons... all in the top 12, so should be a great game." (04:11)
  • Keenan Allen (Chargers WR): "Almost every receiver that's had at least seven targets against the Titans has been very good." (04:11)
  • Kyle Manangai (Bears RB): "Flex play. Cincinnati's been giving up positive production to two RBs three times this season." (04:11)
• Heath adds:
  • Khalil Shakir (Bills WR): "Leads the bills with a 21% target share for the year, actually 26.6% over the last month... He’s a top-24 guy for me, probably for the first time all year." (07:09)
  • Kyler Murray (Cardinals QB): "Hopefully coming back from injury, and facing the Cowboys. Do you need any more explanation?" (07:09)
  • Tyrone Tracy (Texans RB): "Efficient and high volume against a really beat-up San Francisco defense." (07:09)

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2. Players to Avoid (08:47)

• Heath’s avoids:
  • Xavier Worthy (Chiefs WR): "He's now in that Jameson Williams and Quentin Johnston group that could have a big week, but target share is low and you’re just hoping for a long touchdown." (09:10)
  • Bo Nix (Broncos QB): "Now he's facing the Texans... I don't want to start Bo Nix." (09:50)
  • Ja’Kory Cross/Bill (Panthers RB): "When you get 12 touches a week and are facing the best run defense, you’re just hoping for a huge play." (10:52)
• Jamie’s avoids:
  • Alvin Kamara (Saints RB): "Rams have yet to allow a rushing TD to a running back, and fewest fantasy points allowed to the position. Kamara is just too tough to trust… only a flex." (11:39)
  • Rico Dowdle (Panthers RB): "At best a flex. Prefer to sit if I can." (12:17)
  • Courtland Sutton (Broncos WR): "Tough to get away from, but low-end WR2 at best, just because of the tough matchup and questionable quarterback play." (12:23)

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3. News & Notes (15:25)

• Big QB news: Jaden Daniels expected to play, Bryce Young back to full practice, Joe Flacco questionable, impacts rankings for Chase/Higgins (15:31).

  • Jamie on Ja’Marr Chase if Flacco is out: “Still be a must-start, maybe slides down a couple of spots, but you’re not benching him.” (15:55)
  • Heath on Tee Higgins: “More of a low-end WR2/high-end WR3 if Flacco is out.” (15:55)

• RB injuries: Ramondre Stevenson (toe), DeAndre Swift (vested day off), Isaiah Pacheco (missed practice), Cam Scadaboo had surgery.

• WR injuries and changes: Puka Nacua limited but expected to play, Christian Kirk returned to practice, Nico Collins likely to play, Terry McLaurin out, Calvin Ridley missed practice, lots of uncertainty for Bears WRs.

• Notable trade: Jets acquired John Metchie from Eagles.

• OL/DL injuries: Panthers and Cowboys have banged up O-lines, Titans’ Jeffrey Simmons still out.

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4. Quick Start/Sit Debates & Rankings (Various)

- Chargers Skill Players

• Start SZN: "You just start them all and figure it out as you go." (06:25)
• Keenan Allen: "Number two wide receiver; Heath has him WR1." (04:11)
• Quentin Johnston: Lower floor; more go routes, big plays needed (23:10).
• Gadsden (TE): "Bubble might burst, but still a start inside top 10." (38:07)
• "Justin Herbert—no buts with him. He’s a start." (39:04)

- Broncos Skill Players

• Courtland Sutton: Low end WR2 at best; Texan D difficult matchup (12:23, 25:21)
• Bo Nix: "Avoid if possible." (09:50)
• J.K. Dobbins: "Still RB2 for me, but easy path to Knight/Hunt finishing better." (66:15)

- Kareem Hunt vs. Night:

• Adam: “Night, but that's a very good comp.” (29:18)
• Heath: “They're back-to-back.” (29:20)

- Tough Calls

• Evan Engram vs. Kyle Pitts: Pitts > Engram for both (63:51)
• Gadsden, Bowers, Kincaid: Bowers > Gadsden > Kincaid (43:35)
• Woody Marks vs. Kyle Manangai: Most rank Marks ahead. (70:57)

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5. Game-by-Game Quick Hit Analysis (22:31+)

Colts at Steelers

• "Top-5 fantasy game of the week… lots of must-starts and maybe-starts." (22:38)
• "Start Daniel Jones for Colts; Pittman is a set-it-and-forget-it." (31:42)
• "Rogers is a good superflex start but not high ceiling." (35:19)

Chargers at Titans

• Start all Chargers skill guys, including Keenan Allen and Gadsden; sit Titans skill guys (40:07, 40:15).
• "Chargers an offense where someone gets left out every week, but not a reason to shy away." (06:25)
• Quentin Johnston is 25-36th for most, so likely only a start in 12+ team leagues with byes.

Jaguars at Raiders

• "Start Bowers…Etn is RB2 but could be more with better offensive line." (47:08, 47:52)
• "Thomas and Hunter both startable as WR3s. Would start both over Raiders WRs." (51:09, 52:02)
• "Tucker is still preferred Raiders WR, but only a middling flex." (52:48)

Broncos at Texans

• "Don’t want to start a QB here. Sutton is a flex/low end WR2, Dobbins a borderline RB2." (65:21)
• "Woody Marks as top play over most back-end RB2s/flexes." (70:12)

Bears at Bengals

• "If Flacco plays, start Chase, bump up Brown. If not, downgrade all Bengals except Chase." (71:48, 75:24)
• "Caleb Williams – set up for a 30-point upside, but risk if Bears run over Bengals." (73:08)
• "DJ Moore – high-end WR3, solid floor." (74:05)
• "Colston Loveland a dart throw; only if Kmet is out." (74:27)

Falcons at Patriots

• "Start Bijan, start Kyle Pitts (Patriots struggle with TEs, and Pitts’ role is safe)," (60:12, 63:19)
• Drake London iffy with injury; Mooney not yet startable (60:12).
• Patriots WRs – Diggs is highest ranked (deep-league flex), Boutte is a boom/bust deep league option (60:48).

Chiefs at Bills (AFC Game of Week!)

• Heath on Kareem Hunt: "RB24, right on the edge." (28:09)
• Adam: “Bills give up 5.3 YPC and 6th most points to RBs; Hunt a goal line guy—he averaged 14.5 PPR/G last year without Pacheco.” (28:34, 28:53)
• Heath: “No more than one target in a game since Week 1, but that’s also true with Pacheco typically.” (28:53)
• Dalton Kincaid: “Toughest matchup of season, don’t want to start but remains top-12 by default.” (79:25)
• Khalil Shakir: “Love him this week, top-24.” (07:09)

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6. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jamie on the volatility of Chargers skill players:
  • “You just start them all and figure it out as you go.” (06:25)
• Heath on Bears offense/Bengals defense:
  • “I would not be surprised if this is a blow up spot for Caleb Williams... but so many good QBs this week.” (73:08)
• Heath on James Cook vs. Kareem Hunt:
  • “James Cook is too good to even consider sitting, but it’s not the best matchup.” (83:40)
• Adam’s bold prediction: “Kareem Hunt outscores James Cook.” (82:52)
• Jamie on Courtland Sutton: "Low-end number two wide receiver at best... I'd start him over Worthy." (12:23, 13:36)
• Heath on Evan Engram: "Evan Engram is the most opposite player of George Kittle... he catches four or five passes a game for 30-40 yards." (69:09)

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Important Timestamps

• Players Love/Avoid (Start/Sit rapid-fire): 03:45 – 14:05
• News & Injuries: 15:25 – 19:30
• Game-by-game Q&A begins: 22:31
• Chargers at Titans deep dive: 39:04 – 42:11
• Jags/Raiders WR/RB breakdown: 47:08 – 54:16
• Broncos/Texans RB debate: 65:21 – 70:22
• Chiefs/Bills Hunt & Shakir: 27:48, 81:16
• Kincaid analysis: 79:25

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Quick Tiered Start/Sit Summaries

• Start Confidently:
  • Chargers starters (Herbert, Allen, Vidal, McConkey, Gadsden), Colts (Taylor, Pittman), Khalil Shakir, Bijan Robinson, Brock Bowers
• Decent Flex/Borderline:
  • Kyle Manangai, Tyrone Tracy, J.K. Dobbins, Quentin Johnston, Courtland Sutton (low end), DJ Moore, Evan Engram
• If Desperate/3-WR Leagues:
  • Xavier Worthy, Quentin Johnston, Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter, Patriots WRs, Troy Franklin
• Sit if Possible:
  • Bo Nix, Rico Dowdle, Alvin Kamara (downgrade), Titans RBs not named Henry (especially in this week’s context)

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Fun Moments

• Jamie’s dog interrupts his opening take (03:45)
• Heath’s Halloween plans: “Just hang out out back and leave all the lights off... Grinch who stole Halloween, folks.” (02:45 – 03:37)
• Adam’s “Bold prediction counter”: Hunt > Cook (82:52)
• Goat references to the New England quarterback carousel ("Patriots have the best quarterback in the world again... just joking around." 27:07)
• Adam’s trivia on sliced bread and Indiana’s Wonder Bread (29:39)
• Heath’s granddaughter going to the Dolphins game as a penguin in a Waddle jersey (77:19)

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Closing Takeaways

• Load up on Chargers (unless you’re desperate; if so, Johnston is risk/reward)
• Sit Broncos where possible (Sutton only out of need, Nix a no-go)
• Start Kareem Hunt as a strong RB2/flex without Pacheco—in exciting spot vs. porous Bills run D
• Heavily monitor injuries (Saints RBs, Patriots RBs, WRs in Chicago & Cincy, Flacco for Bengals upside)
• Brock Bowers is a must-start at TE
• Caleb Williams is not a must, but a solid bet for upside
• This is a strong QB week, weak RB week—make lineup choices accordingly!

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For more depth, listen for Jamie and Heath’s weekly tiers on CBSSN and tune in Sunday on YouTube for lineup lock.

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Fantasy Football Today: The only podcast you need to win your league!

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

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[C]

This is Fantasy Football Today from CBS Sports. What a play.

[B]

Can you believe this?

[C]

No, I can't. It's time to dominate your fantasy league. This is going to go the distance. Now here's some. Some combination of Adam, Dave, Jamie, and Heath.

[B]

What's going on? We are getting ready for week nine on Thursday, October 30th. Welcome to Fantasy Football Today presented by BetMGM. Make it legendary. And Heath's not gonna be on the show tomorrow, so we should take this time, Heath, to wish you a very happy Halloween. Hope you have a wonderful time. Full of trick or treaters.

[C]

Already went to one Halloween party this year trying to talk my wife into turning all the lights off and building a fire on the patio tomorrow night because it's going to be, like, 68 degrees. Be a great night for a little fire on the patio. Just hang out out back and leave all the lights off.

[B]

So hang out out back and do you think people will know that you're out back? Will they smell the fire? See the fire and. And then they won't be able to.

[C]

See the fire from the street. They might hear the music because I'll probably have some music playing on the speaker. They might smell the fire and then.

[B]

They'Re gonna ring the doorbell and you're just gonna ignore them.

[C]

I don't think people. I've got kind of a long entrance on my sidewalk into the house, and if all the lights are off, people don't generally walk down that.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

All right.

[B]

He's the Grinch who stole Halloween, folks. But anyway. Jamie, what's going on?

[A]

Sorry, my dog's going crazy. Yeah. Ready for tonight's game? Should be fun.

[B]

We'll see about that. Okay, let's get to players we love and players to avoid. Jamie's loving. Kamani Videl and Keenan Allen at Tennessee and Kyle Manangai, like, kind of like, I guess, maybe compare him to Tyler Alger. How we were feeling about him a week ago, but you tell me. So we got a couple of Chargers at the Titans and Kyle Menangai.

[A]

Yeah, I mean, Vidal's the start of the week. So excited to see him against the Titans defense without Jeffrey Simmons. Once again, he's dealing with a hamstring injury. I'm glad to see we're all on the same page. Have him all in the top 12, so should be a great game for him. And he's been good two of the three starts that he's made from Martin Hampton. In the case of Keenan Allen, almost every receiver that's had at least seven targets against the Titans has been very good. And he's had one game with less than seven targets so far this season. Unfortunately, it was Last week. But I still think that Keenan Allen's got a chance to be, you know, number two wide receiver. Heath has a number one guy, SportsLine number one. So I think we all like him this week, except for Dave. And then in the case of another guy, like you said, you know, we kind of went down this path last week with Tyler Algier in terms of backup running back and a good matchup. But this is even better. You know, Cincinnati's been giving up positive production to two running backs three times already this season. I think it's at least three times already this season. So I like Mananga as a flex. I'm actually in. In one league playing both DeAndre Swift and Managai in the same lineup.

[B]

Okay, that's a flex, you're saying not.

[A]

Yep. Not.

[B]

Okay. Yeah. I mean, just. And Heath, you can comment on this too, because you have, you have Keenan Allen very high as well. He's been, he's been sneakily kind of bad last five games. He had one huge game against the Colts, who give up the most or the second or third most fantasy points to wide receivers. And other than that, 8.7 at the Giants, 10.8 against Washington, great matchup. 6.7 at Miami, had seven targets or more in all three of those games. And then last week, 8.4 against Minnesota. That's the PPR fantasy points for Keenan Allen. So you want to comment on that, Heath?

[C]

Yeah, I mean, I think some of that is he scored a touchdown the first three weeks of the season. He scored one touchdown in the last five weeks. The yardage totals are probably never going to be great with Keenan Allen. You're hoping that he gets you five or six catches and 60 yards and scores a touchdown. The Titans are a pretty good team to hope for a touchdown against.

[A]

Okay, Heath, who just let you know it's five receivers have had at least seven targets against the Titans and all five at least 13.9 PPR points. Yeah.

[B]

Are you worried about a blowout here though? Because what did Herbert throw Last week's low 20s in the past attempts?

[A]

I think there's definitely that fear. And again, this is going to be the situation we run into with the Chargers on a week to week basis. At this point when everybody's healthy, you know someone's probably going to be left out. If not maybe two guys getting left out. So I think in the case of this team and this offense, you just start them all and just kind of figure it out as you go. So Johnston is the one that would be the lowest for me, I'm starting McConkey without hesitation. I'm starting Gadsden based on his position without hesitation. And I'm still starting Keenan Allen for at least one more week.

[B]

Okay. All right. And by the way, Gats, the Titans have actually been pretty good against tight ends. Just something to keep in mind. We'll talk about that game. That game's going to be one of the ones we really break down, I think for the longest, but. All right. Heath, players you love this week? Yeah.

[C]

Khalil Shakir, Kyler Murray, Tyrone Tracy. Shakir leads the bills with a 21 target share for the year. Actually has a 26.6% target share over the last month. Sometimes that doesn't turn into production because Josh Allen throws 25 passes because they like to run the most boring offense they can when they have an easy win. They don't have an easy win this week. Well, they might, but I don't think they do. It's the Chiefs. It's the Bills. We should get Superman. Josh Allen like we always do when he plays the Chiefs start his number one W wide receiver. He's a a top 24 guy for me probably for the first time all year. Kyler Murray hopefully coming back from injury. He's facing the Cowboys. Do you need any more explanation than that? That's good enough. And then Tyrone Tracy filling in for Cam Scatter.

[A]

Boo.

[C]

It's been about an 18% target share for the running backs with Jackson Dart. Cam Scaboo was averaging 18 and a half rush attempts with since Jackson Dart took over. I'm not sure Tracy gets all those rushes. I think we see a little more Devin Singletary than we have. But still 15 rush attempts, three, four, five targets against a San Francisco defense. That is not like you see San Francisco and on the opponent side. And just don't think of the 49ers because they don't have hardly any of their players. It's not very good defense. Tracy should be efficient and have high volume.

[B]

Yeah, we'll see their injury reports going through the week. But San Francisco is even more injured than than I even realized. That's why they traded for a defensive lineman this week.

[C]

They're even more injured than the Giants defense.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, right. It's just a secondary for the Giants. Maybe getting Javon Holland back. He was limited yesterday. The other two guys did not practice. Heath players to avoid for you. So sad that you have Xavier Worthy on this list in a potential shootout. Bo Nicks at Houston and Jacori Cross game merit against the best run defense in football. Seattle on Sunday night. Worthy Knicks jcm yeah, I think the.

[C]

Worthy one's probably the one that I feel the least comfortable with just because he's now in that Jameson Williams and probably Quentin Johnston group of guys that could have a big week any week and it is a shootout with the Bills. So maybe this is the week that's how far he's fallen. I think he has the same target share since rashi rice came back 16.7% that Jameson Williams has for the year. I he doesn't matter to Rashi Rice. Rice. Rice is the clear number one. Travis Kelce has not completely gone away. So you're just hoping for a long touchdown from Worthy and a lot of his targets have been close to the line of scrimmage.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

So I, I do not he's still ranked for both Jamie and I and Dave I guess as a number three wide receiver. So if you're in a three wide receiver league you're probably going to start him. Although I'd start Khalil Shakiro from but yeah, you probably need to get away from orderly if you can and that's probably not just a one week thing. It's probably for as long as Rashi Rice is healthy. Bonix no, we've talked about it a lot this week. 77 fantasy points over the last two weeks. Now he's facing the Texans who have given up more than 20 fantasy points twice all season and they're favored over the Broncos in this game. I don't want to start Bo Nicks. I think Jamie doesn't want to start Cortland Sutton. It's maybe just get away from all the Broncos and then Bill like it's one thing to be a full time running back and face the best run defense in football, but when you get 12 touches a week and you're facing the best run defense in football, we've probably got him ranked too high and.

[B]

That'S not even in the top 24. No, not even top 28.

[C]

Yeah, 29th for me and Dave, 32nd for Jamie. You're just again it's kind of like Xavier Worthy. You're just hoping that Bill hits a hole and when he does that he can, he can go the distance. But you need one, one huge play probably.

[B]

Would you start Jagori Crosby Merit or Kyle Manangai?

[C]

I'd still start managing. I'd still start Bill. If Flacco is not able to play with this shoulder entry then Manangai would move up for me. But I Think it might turn into. I don't think the Bears are stopping Joe Flacco, Jamar Chase and T. Higgins.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

So I think there might be more pass attempts for Caleb Williams.

[B]

All right, Jamie, let's get to the guys that you are avoiding this week. Got Alvin Camara at the Rams, Rico Dowdle at the Packers, Courtland Sutton against Houston.

[A]

Yeah, it's funny. Camara is the one I feel the worst about, you know, just looking at the situation, how he's performed. And I thought last week, you know, let's see what happens. First game without Kendra Miller, and he was worse. And so now you're taking on a Rams defense that yet to allow it. Rushing touchdown to running back number two and few. Fewest fantasy points allowed to the position. And so it's just tough to trust, especially now with a rookie quarterback making his first start on the road. So could be very ugly for. For him. I'm glad that he's healthy. You know, we were a little concerned based on how he got banged up in that game. So still something to keep an eye on. But it's just. It's just too tough to trust him at this point as anything more than a flex. And I would start Kyle Manangai ahead of Alvin Camaro.

[B]

Okay, Rico Dowdle, tough run defense at Green Bay. And then there's Cortland Sutton.

[A]

Yeah. And. And look for Rico Dowdle. I. I'm hopeful that what Dave Canalis said is going to lead to a very promising workload, but I don't think Chuba Hubbard is completely getting benched and not seeing the field. So we'll see what this now looks like. But I still expect Hubbard to get some touches. And if you just look at what obviously he's done, he's done his best work against the Dolphins and the Cowboys, and he had a good game against the Jets. I think you're just looking at it now. He's taking on a Packers defense that for what it's worth, the last three games, Chase Brown, Zomban Knight and Jalen Warren, I would say is comparable to two of those guys. 9.4 PPR points or less from the packers run defense. So this game can still get away from the Panthers. Their offensive lines banged up. So Dowdle at best is a flex for me. I would prefer to sit him if I can. Sutton's the toughest one to get away from, and he actually has a good history against Derek Stingley, so we'll see how that plays itself out. But as Heath alluded to, you know, the Quarterback play is probably going to be a little bit tough to trust from Bo Nix in this matchup. The Texas defense, just fantastic. And so Sutton hasn't scored a touchdown, I believe in his last three games. So if you're banking on that, I know he had the bad drop in the end zone, I believe it was last week. But just looking at him as a low end, number two wide receiver at.

[B]

Best, still going to start him over Xavier Worthy.

[A]

I would start him over. Worthy. Yes. Yeah.

[B]

Heath, how about Shakir versus Sutton?

[C]

Oh, I think I have them like back to back. Oh, and it's very close. I. I would probably still go with Sutton, but I think there, there might be. There's probably more upside with Shakira.

[A]

Yeah. And. And if you're looking at YouTube, I'm sure this is after I adjusted it. So he's 24th for me. So they're back. I've secured 26. They're very close.

[B]

Okay. All right. Those are some players to avoid. So Jamie likes Kamani Vidal, Kyle Menangai as a flex, Keenan Allen. Heath also likes those guys. I mean, it's the Keenan Allen thing we're signing off on. Heath likes Khalil Shakir, Kyler Murray, Tyrone Tracy. Players to avoid for Heath, Xavier Worthy, Bo Nix and Bill for Jamie Camara. Dowdle Sutton not going to avoid. Bet mgm, baby. Bring that playoff energy to your pro football bets all season long with this pro football boost pack. It gives you three ways to boost your payout on a winning bet. Just log into your BetMGM account to receive your boost pack. Then place any pro football bet and apply one of the tokens. Make sure to bet up to the minimum stake odds and legs specified on the token. And if your boosted bed hits, you'll score a bigger payout. From opening kickoffs to game winning drives, this pro football boost pack is your ticket to unforgettable moments this season. Don't wait on the sidelines. Join the action with BetMGM. About those blue Jays, huh? Paying any attention to that?

[C]

I saw the hit home runs on the first two at bats of the night.

[B]

You know what they remind me of? They remind me of the Pacers. It's like how did my team lose to this team? And then they're going to get killed in the. In the World series of the NBA final.

[A]

You know what?

[B]

It's pretty damn good.

[A]

All right.

[B]

See if they can bring it home. News and notes. Jaden Daniels expected to play.

[A]

Please play.

[B]

The Saints do not want to go back and forth with their quarterbacks they intend to keep Tyler Shuck as the starter. The Falcons are optimistic about Michael Penix playing this week. Bryce Young practiced in full. Joe Flacco questionable with a shoulder injury. That could be a big deal. How much is that going to alter the rankings for Chase and Higgins? Jamie, if Flacco is out, Chase will.

[A]

Still be a must start wide receiver. So you know if he slides down a couple spots, nobody's benching him. In the case of Higgins, clearly there's an issue because he has not played very well with Jake Browning when Chase has been healthy. So I think you're looking at more of a low end number two, high end number three receiver. I would start Sutton and Shakir over him. He would be right in the same range as Worthy. Big play type of guy. Exactly what he said about worthy.

[B]

Okay. J.J. mcCarthy is healthy. He should practice in full this week. He's at Detroit. Brock Purdy was limited. He's been limited a lot. Mac Jones practiced in full. Those those quarterbacks are at the Giants this week. Running back news Ramandre Stevenson missed practice with a toe injury. The Patriots signed Dearness Johnson off the off the practice squad for Arizona. And then there's some rumors that they're looking for a running back in the trade market. So yeah, just don't drop Trayvon Henderson yet. Let's see what happens. By the way, I noticed something very interesting with Trayvon Henderson. Going to give you some cool numbers on him when we talk about that game a little bit later. Atlanta at New England Hassan Haskins missed practice. Tony Pollard was limited with a neck issue. DeAndre Swift missed practice, but that's pretty normal for him. Isaiah Pacheco mispractice. We're not expecting him right now. Kareem Hunt's pretty interesting. Cam Scatter Boo had his surgery. He should be ready for training camp next year. Wide receiver News we did have a trade with the jets acquiring John Mechi from the Eagles for cornerback Michael Carter, who could slot in as their slot corner. Now Puka Nakua was limited, but he's going to play. Christian Kirk got in a practice session and Nico Collins is expected to play. Philadelphia is, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk Unofficially shopping AJ Brown Terry McLaurin is out. He re injured his quad. He is out this week. Hopefully not much longer. Right now they're not putting him in ir. Drake London is day to day. Marvin Mims missed practice. Josh Downs missed practice with a hip injury. Every Chicago wide receiver missed practice. There doesn't seem to be a lot of panic about Odunze and DJ Moore specifically, but they were all out yesterday. Calvin Ridley missed practice. Rashid Shahid was limited and Ricky Pearsall missing practice. So we can't say we're expecting Piersol yet. He hasn't practiced practice in a while. Tight end news Pat Fryermouth missed practice with a quad injury. Cole commit was limited. Now that's something that we're going to certainly keep an eye on because not like Loveland couldn't be good with Cole Comet playing. But it's Loveland runs most of the routes when commit plays and when commit when commit doesn't play. When Kemet does play, he's had about a 50 route run rate so it's obviously a big deal for Loveland with the best matchup in fantasy for tight ends. Brock Bowers says he's good to go. He said he's close to 100. I wish he had said he was 100, but he's close. And Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger missed practice on the offensive line, the big one, you know. Another reason that you might want to avoid Rico Dowdle is three of their starting offensive linemen missed practice, yet left the game with an injury and missed practice yesterday. Now they are, they're kind of, they've just kind of shuffled guys, but it's not good for Carolina and the big stuff. On defense, Jamie mentioned Jeffrey Simmons. Seattle safety Julian Love may not play. The Raiders may not have Max Crosby or defensive lineman Adam Butler. And Trey Hendricks. Trey Hendrickson missed practice for Chicago. All right, we're going to take a break. We're going to come back with one question for each game. We got some really interesting games on the slate for today's show and we'll be right back on fft. Protein never tasted this good. What am I referring to? How about new Eggo protein waffles? Same great eggo Taste with 20% of your daily protein. This is now a staple of my mornings. I wake up, I go downstairs, I start getting my kids kids ready for camp. And as I make their lunch, I pop some Eggo waffles in the toaster. One for everyone in the house. They are so good and made with wholesome ingredients. My favorite flavor is the strawberry Eggo protein waffles. The kids love all of the flavors and obviously they're just so easy to make. They're a no brainer. By the way, it's not just Eggo waffles. They've got Eggo protein pancakes too. I have trouble getting my kids to eat protein sometimes, so I'M pumped about these new eggs. Eggo Protein Pancakes and Waffles this is a really great solution for my family and I think you're gonna love these pancakes and waffles too. Head to your local grocery store to fuel your morning with Eggo Protein Waffles and Pancakes. Available at retailers nationwide.

[D]

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[B]

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[A]

I don't think we're going to find out about Barkley or Judkins until Monday when they do their first workouts. So usually Coming off a bioteam will not like a walkthrough on Monday. And you should know for your pickups Tuesday what their status is in some capacity.

[B]

All right, let's go to one question for each game. Indianapolis at Pittsburgh Heath. Is this going to be one of the best fantasy games of the week?

[C]

Top five. We are blessed this week with five games with an over under over 50, which is fantastic. It's a week of bonanzas. This is one of them. There are plenty. There's a lot of guys, I mean there's, there's a lot of must start guys and then there's a lot of guys in this matchup that I think are kind of maybe starts, which is probably good because there's a lot of teams out there that need some maybe starts in their lineup.

[B]

All right, Jamie, the Chargers are at the Titans. Would you start Quentin Johnston or Chimary dk?

[A]

Quentin Johnston. Just looking at, you know, the offense that they're. The defense that the chargers are facing versus the defense that the Titans are facing. I think DK's got an opportunity to be a number three receiver, but I don't want to just run away from Quentin Johnson just because he didn't play well last week. Again, this is going to be one of these offenses where somebody gets left out on a week to week basis and I hope it's not Johnston consistently, but he was open for some potential big plays last week and Justin Herbert just did not look his way.

[B]

He's had a target share under 13% three straight games. I think one of the problems for Johnston is the way they're using him now. He's running a lot more go routes than he was earlier in the season and the route depth is up, which I think is kind of what Jamie's saying. It's big play. It's. He's got to make big plays now, it seems, or maybe score. He does get the end zone target sometimes. All right, Las Vegas at Jacksonville. This is an interesting game. Heath, who are you most confident in in this game? Jacksonville at or Las Vegas of Jacksonville?

[C]

Well, I think the answer will tell you a lot because it's the guy who hasn't played for a few weeks. It's Brock Bowers. I, I think you're probably still starting ETN and Genti because of the state of the running back position and the everybody else is just kind of a shoulder shrug.

[B]

Yeah, I mean it's, it's crazy to even think about sitting Genti, but the Jaguars actually have a really good run Defense. All right, we'll get into that game in a bit. Denver at Houston. Jamie, do you like anyone in this game?

[A]

I mean, Sean Payne's a nice guy.

[B]

Ask Russell Wilson that.

[A]

Do I like anyone?

[B]

You like Nico?

[A]

My favorite running back in this game, Woody Marks is. Yeah.

[B]

How about Nico Collins with no certain.

[A]

Yeah, he's not ranked anywhere close to where he normally is just because of what this offense has looked like. And listen, I know Sir Tan's not there, but this pass rush is still going to be a problem for CJ Stroud. So this is not one of the five best games of the week and this is not one of the Bonanza games. You know, this is low scoring and potential field goal fest. But no, I don't love anybody in this game. Nico is my favorite probably player overall.

[B]

Okay, Chicago's at Cincinnati Heath. Give me some quarterbacks. You would start Caleb Williams over?

[C]

I'm, I'm actually there's. I mean, Bonix is the easy one. I have him one spot ahead of Jackson. Dart two spots ahead of Daniel Jones and I'd start him over Aaron Rodgers, who's been better lately.

[B]

Oh my gosh. You're starting over Daniel Jones against the Steelers.

[C]

It's the Bengals.

[B]

It is the Bengals. All right. Everybody's got Caleb Williams around.

[C]

I would not if Flacco was out fair.

[B]

Okay, what, what game is next? On one question for each game. Here we are, Atlanta at New England. Can you trust any wide receiver in this game, including Jamie Drake London if he were to play?

[A]

Can I trust anyone? Yeah, I mean, I'm starting Drake London without question. If he plays outside of him. No. You know, Diggs, I think just based on what we saw last week from the Dolphins, Diggs could certainly have a Jalen Waddle type of game. And case on, Booty can still find the end zone. I mean, look, Drake may is playing so well right now. Yeah. That he's going to find some sort of mismatch in some way shape or form to be successful. So it's just hard to say this is the guy from that team, you know, because last week we had a Matt Collins game. You know, we've had Booty finding the end zone four times in the last three weeks. Diggs has sort of fallen off a little bit. You get the one touchdown from Hunter Henry on his lone catch. Like, you know, it's just it, it feels very much like young Tom Brady. No. Standout. No, no, no.

[B]

Because he. Jamie, I was with a Patriots fan yesterday. He was just like, I'm like, you know what? We're all so happy about what you're gonna say. We're also stand out.

[A]

No standout wide receivers. I'm talking about how the offense is operating.

[B]

No, no, I'm just joking around. I'm just saying it's great. The Patriots have the best quarterback in the world again. We're all so thrilled.

[A]

No, I mean, listen, Drake May's got a long way to go for that, but it, it's, it's just the way that this offense is sort of the, the ecosystem. It's like there's no real go to guy, but the quarterback's still playing fantastic.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah. No, I was just messing around. Kansas City at Buffalo starter sit Kareem Hunt. This is what an opportunity. The Bills have one of the worst run defenses in football right now. Kareem Hunt.

[C]

Heath, he is right on the, the edge for me of if you have an RB2, you, you don't start him. If you don't, you do. I would start Kareem Hunt. I've actually got him one spot ahead of Woody Marks. You'd obviously start him ahead of Pollard and Ramandre. I'd start him over Bill. I'd start him over any Vikings. But he's. I think I might be just a little bit lower.

[A]

I'm.

[C]

I'm just not sure how many touches they're going to give their 30 year old very good running back. Who you always say nice things about how talented he is as a rusher. I, I think we'll see a little bit of a split here between him and Rashard Smith. Hopefully Elijah Mitchell doesn't get involved too, but he's. I think he's RB24, so right on the edge.

[B]

It's really interesting because, you know, the Bills give up the six most fantasy points to running backs, 5.3 yards per carry to running backs, and they're even more injured on the defensive line than they had been. And you know, he's obviously their goal line guy, which is great. He averaged 14 and a half PPR fantasy points per game in eight games without Pacheco last year. So, you know. Yeah.

[C]

As one. No more than one target in a game since week one.

[B]

Yes. And Pacheco is usually getting about two or three targets a game, so probably won't be a ton of that. And the Bills are amazing against pass catching running backs. It's their best attribute defensively. But I don't know, I was thinking a good comp maybe be Donovan Knight against the Cowboys. Who would you guys rather Start Knight or Kareem Hunt.

[A]

Night, night. But that's a very good comp.

[C]

They're back to back.

[A]

It's so funny how we were, to whatever degree, excited about Pacheco coming back this season, and now we're excited that Pacheco is not playing this week because of somebody else getting a chance to maybe do something that Pacheco has not done yet.

[B]

All right, the Colts are at the Steelers. We get into the games here. Stat of the game. I'm just gonna read this right from indy today.6amcity.com Ever wonder where sliced bread came from? Well, look no further than the Circle City where Wonder bread creator plus local bakery Taggart Baking Company kicked off its 91 year reign as the most popular bread in the world.

[C]

That is not a stat.

[B]

Oh, wait, this game's in Pittsburgh. This game's in Pittsburgh. Anyway, so that's. That was about. Indeed.

[C]

It's also not a stat, but really bad job kicking off their.

[B]

Really bad. That is horrible. All right, how. How do we not love Daniel Jones?

[A]

How is this added? He put it in Indy.

[B]

I did. Oh, my gosh.

[C]

Well, I think that's also the answer to the question you just asked.

[B]

Well, how do we not love Daniel Jones? Because he's not at home. Is that a thing with him?

[A]

He's had one great road game so far this season.

[B]

Okay, well, who is. His road game is 17.8 points at Tennessee, 12.4 at the Rams, and he was awesome at the Chargers and 26.2 at the Chargers. Okay.

[A]

Pittsburgh.

[B]

Pittsburgh's terrible. Pittsburgh gives up the second most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Who was it last week? Oh, Aaron Rodgers. Heath, you were like, gotta start Aaron. No, Jordan Love. So we gotta start Jordan Love against. Against this team. Well, Daniel Jones has been better than Jordan Love this year. We gotta start.

[C]

He has been for fantasy. I'm not sure anybody's throwing the ball better than Jordan Love this year.

[B]

For fantasy. Yeah, for fantasy, he's been better.

[C]

Right.

[B]

Okay, well, Jamie, where do you have. He's got him, I think. 14th, 15th. Jamie. 10th. Dave.

[C]

Oh, Jimmy moved him.

[B]

Yes, he did. Thoughts? Daniel Jones?

[A]

I just can't overlook the Steelers. How bad they've been, how good Daniel Jones has been, the fact that, you know, at least right now, we're expecting Josh Downs to play, but his full complement of weapons and this feels like there's a chance for the Colts to score a lot of points in this matchup. So I. I'm just gonna, you know, stick with Daniel Jones for the Most part until the wheels fall off. And so far they have not.

[B]

Yeah, they're the highest scoring team in football, facing a pretty bad defense right now. And this could be a great game for fantasy. As Heath mentioned, we got a lot of good ones. High total start, Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman is he just kind of a set it and forget it at this point?

[A]

Yep.

[C]

The wide receiver too, I will say. Also it's it. I don't really have concerns about Daniel Jones in my projections. This is by far the best week we've had at quarterback.

[A]

Okay. Yeah.

[C]

So many quarterbacks projected for more than 20 fantasy points. I think we're up to 15 now and another five that are projected for at least 19 points.

[B]

So now, Heath, you have Pittman as wide receiver, 22. Dave and Jamie have him in the top 12. So. Yeah, go ahead.

[C]

I think it's that stat that you gave yesterday during our wonderful episode of Fantasy Jeopardy. Or before where it's like so much of what Michael Pittman's done is touchdowns. And I, I do think that there is a weekly risk. It's not quite to the extent of the Chargers, but there's a weekly risk that he's third in targets on a team that might throw 29 or 30.

[B]

Passes for the season. He is wide receiver 13 per game in full PPR, wide receiver 15 per game and half PPR. But again, he's on pace for 948 yards, 91 catches, 948 and 10 on 119 targets. 119 targets is exactly seven per game. So that's good. But okay, so it's, it is good. Anyway, most people are going to start Michael Pittman. We don't have to go around in circles there. How about the other receivers for the. So everyone's going to start Metcalf and Pittman. Jamie, the other receivers in this game. Who do you like?

[A]

I think if you're stuck and you think you can, you know, need a Hail Mary, Alec Pierce could easily have some big plays against the secondary. You know, this is just tailor made for him to, you know, at. At. I don't say at worst, but you know, have the Christian Watson type of game, you know, 4 for 85 type of performance. 3, 3 for 70 something, you know, can get you 10 plus PPR points. Downs has been very solid, you know, since, you know, missed. He had the missed game with the concussion, but two touchdowns in his last three games. He's been involved more over his last five. So in a potential high scoring game or I don't want to say high scoring game. I think that the Colts are going to score like a high scoring game for the Colts. Yeah, we could see Josh Downs, you know, again, be a solid number three fantasy receiver. I don't want to trust Calvin Austin yet. I certainly don't want to trust Roman Wilson. He was not great when Austin was out. And just because he scored a touchdown last week, I don't think that warrants him being in your lineup.

[B]

Would you guys start Jalen? We'll come back to Aaron Rodgers in a minute, but we start Jalen Warren over Donovan Knight and Kareem Hunt.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

You like Jalen Warren this week?

[A]

Yeah, I would start night over Warren in non ppr. I mean Warren's touchdowns are just. He's allergic to the end zone.

[B]

Okay. And not gonna start Tyler Warren, but not a Steelers tight end. Heath.

[C]

If you could start Steelers tight end, I'd be. I'd be on board with that. But no, I'm not going to pick one.

[B]

Friar Muth missed practice yesterday. I don't know if that would have a big impact for you. Indianapolis does allow the fourth most fantasy points to tight ends. Let's talk about Aaron Rodgers here. Does anybody like Aaron Rodgers this week against the Colts who really haven't stopped any good quarterbacks this year?

[A]

So he, I think said it best, like this is a pretty good week for quarterbacks. And so for me, having to write stardom situm and finding guys to sit, it was not easy because there is a lot of potential for guys to be 20 plus points. So the question now becomes is, do they finish as top 12 quarterbacks getting over 20 plus points. So Rogers in two of three games where he's been good, 21 points against the Browns, 20 points last week against the Packers. I think that's where he lives. He, you know, he had the big spike game against the Bengals. So I just don't think we're gonna get a three touchdown game from. I could be wrong. Like you said, Colts have not exactly been great at stopping opposing quarterbacks and I do think there's the potential of them chasing points. So we'll see how this sort of unfolds. But I wouldn't run away from Rogers. He's certainly a great start in super flex and two quarterback leagues, but I think there's a few other guys out there that have a much higher ceiling than him this week. So Kyler Murray versus Rogers, like you said, you know, Rogers, you said Jones has been better than love. Obviously Rogers has been better than Kyler Murray for the season. I would rather start Kyler Murray against the Cowboys than Aaron Rodgers against Colts.

[B]

Okay. Would you rather start Rogers or Bonix?

[A]

I would rather start Rogers than Bonix.

[B]

Okay. Rogers or Jackson? Dart against the Niners.

[A]

Dirt Dart.

[B]

Rogers or Niners quarterback Against the Giants.

[A]

Niners quarterback.

[C]

Yep.

[B]

Last one. Rogers or Tua?

[A]

Spider Man Meme. Same. Same exact thing I said about Rogers. I feel about 2. I think Tua can have a 20ish point game against the Ravens, probably chasing points, but I don't think he's going to have a very high ceiling.

[C]

I'll go with Rogers. I don't want to start my week off with Tua.

[B]

Right. Okay. And the Colts dst, they're kind of a borderline starter. They've actually been pretty solid this year, but, you know, not a great start by any means. Chargers are at the Titans. Stat of the game. This is.

[A]

Wait.

[B]

Yeah. Okay. Oh.

[A]

Oh.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Okay. Right. For Gadsden. Sorry. Michael Mayer is the only tight end to score more than 9.3 PPR fantasy points against Tennessee. That includes Tyler Warren Twice and Trey McBride. Jamie, does that matter for you when you consider Orani Gadson the hottest tight end in fantasy?

[A]

It definitely does. And you're right, they've been good against tight ends. But I think if you tell me right now that he can get to 9.3, I would probably still start him. Okay.

[B]

Yeah, it's gonna be tough for people where you guys have around A Gadson.

[A]

Ranked 8, just inside the top 10. So for the most part, the guys that you drafted to be ahead of him, I'm still starting ahead of him. Trying to think if there's anybody obvious that's not.

[C]

I've got him ahead of Laporta.

[A]

So yeah, so I would start laporta over him, but I get it. George Kidd, Kittle for sure.

[C]

I've got Gadsden, the projections ahead of Kittle. I'll probably move Kittle ahead of him. I've got. I've got Gadsden ahead of Ferguson.

[A]

I think just at some point the bubble's gonna burst and this is easily the week that could happen. I have him as a start and start set, you know, so I'm not telling anybody, but at some point the bubble is going to burst because again, there's, there's four really good receivers in this offense. He's one of them. And so we could get the, the two or three shots down the field to Quentin Johnston. We get the, you know, seven targets for Keenan Allen, the seven targets for lad McConkey. Like you said, we may not get 30 plus pass attempts, certainly not 40 plus past attempts. If this is a blowout from Justin Herbert and then everybody's not eating, and then it's. It's a problem. So you just have to understand the risk with the Chargers at this point. It's a great group of players and a great quarterback. But. And what's the but?

[B]

All right, well, Justin Herbert. There's no buts with him. We are. We are starting Justin Herbert. He's fifth, sixth, and second for Jamie, Dave, and Heath. He's only starting Patrick Mahomes over Justin Herbert. Would you, Jamie, start Herbert or Kyler?

[A]

Herbert.

[B]

Herbert or Dak?

[A]

Dak.

[B]

All right, but Herbert is a start. Commandell is a top 12 running back for everyone. Lad McConkey's top 12. You guys already talked about Keenan Allen. That was right at the top of the show, Basically, if you want to hear that they really like Keenan Allen. Dave does not. I am not. I am.

[A]

I do think Dave updated his rankings based on what the graphic is, because we have an HQ segment where Dave has him as a start.

[B]

21St now. Okay. 17th for Jamie, 21st for Dave, and 11th, I believe, for Heath. That's Keenan Allen. Quentin Johnston is 30th for Jamie, 25th for Dave, and 36th for Heath. So Jamie's right in the middle there, right around 30th for Quinton Johnston. I think we've kind of talked about these guys. I'll look for questions in the chat. If anybody has any questions for this game.

[C]

We'll.

[A]

We'll.

[B]

We'll get to those in a minute. All right, Gadsden, we just addressed on the other side of the ball, Heath, is there anyone that you want to start for Tennessee?

[C]

Nope.

[B]

Yeah. All right, we'll keep it simple, but just tell me about Pollard and Spears and other running backs you could consider over them.

[C]

Yeah, if. I mean, Pollard's got this neck thing, I guess. So if Pollard was out, then Spears would be kind of in that Kareem Hunt range for the Titans. But I would start Kareem Hunt over both running backs. I would start Bam Knight over both running backs. I would start Tyrone Tracy over both running backs. I'd start Rico Dowdle over both running backs. I start Woody Marks over both running backs.

[B]

And Jamie said he'd start Quentin Johnson over DK to Mary. Dk. Would you?

[C]

Yes.

[B]

How come DK is not. Not higher in your rankings after two very encouraging games of 16.9 and 16.4 PPR fantasy points.

[C]

One of those games, he did it on four targets. So he has one game this season with more than five targets. Yeah, I just, it's, it's not, that's not enough to move. I mean, he's my top 48, but he's not, he's not in my top 36.

[A]

We, we have to, you know, clearly there are people that are, you know, in need of a player like this, you know, so four teams on a buy injuries. You're going to be excited to pick up DK and start him if you're stuck, but this is the type of player you want to pick up and stash and see him do it again, you know, and then he does it again and you're like, okay, now I can sort of buy into this and especially knowing what Calvin Ridley's situation is. But I think unless you're, you know, you're talking 14 team leagues or bigger or larger, 12 team leagues are smaller. You know, if you don't need to start him, you just sort of see how this unfolds. But you know, again, they're nine and a half point underdogs at home and probably throwing a lot. Like you said, Cam Ward has been hovering, if not over the 250 yard mark on a week to week basis lately. There's a chance for him to get an uptick in targets. I, I will say another situation to keep an eye on is Okonkwo being on the injury report.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And Gunner Helm getting more opportunity. Scored his first touchdown last week. That would be somebody I'd be interested in in a deeper format if in fact Okonko's out.

[B]

Yeah. Cam Ward, first four games he averaged 4.9 yards per attempt. Your yards per attempt should never look like a yards per carry. That's awful. Last four games, 6.7 yards per attempt. It's not great, but it's not terrible.

[C]

And not bad for a Rookie.

[B]

Yeah. And 250 yards per game for him. I'm going to start, I'm looking at a lineup right now. I'm going to start Chimeri DK over Christian Watson against Carolina in a full PPR league. And I have Quentin Johnson in that league too, so hopefully someone's playing me this week because I'm starting Quentin Johnson.

[A]

And Jamari tk do you have any regret over dropping Cam Ward in the Superflex?

[B]

No, because. No, he's hadn't scored more than 14 points all year. Heath picked him up and he's pretty much out of it. So it's not like I have to worry about facing Cam Ward in the playoffs. I have crappy quarterbacks, but they've all had their buy. So I don't even need Cam Ward. I needed receivers. Three receiver league that I've dropped Rattler and Ward in that league and you know, be all right. But good for Ward. I'm glad he's doing some good things. Just can't score touchdowns. They're just they. He never throws touchdowns. All right, I think that's it for this guy. I got some quick questions. Here we go. Charbonnet or Quentin Johnston?

[A]

I go Charbonnet.

[C]

I think I go Quentin.

[B]

Rank these three Gadsden Bowers, Kincaid.

[A]

Bowers. Gadsden Kincaid.

[C]

Yep.

[A]

Herbert. Or maybe Herbert Herbert.

[B]

Tony Pollard or Tyler Algier.

[A]

I mean, that's where we are at this point.

[B]

Pollard still Tony Pollard or Prashard Smith.

[C]

Pollard.

[A]

I'd go Smith.

[B]

Nico Collins or Gadsden Nico.

[C]

Nico.

[B]

Start of the week, Kamani Vidal or Javante Williams?

[A]

Javante. Yep.

[B]

Quinn. Quinn. Quentin Johnson or Wandell Robinson or Josh Downs or Troy Franklin? Half ppr.

[A]

All right.

[B]

All right. Time for a break and we'll get to our next four games. And next up, we've got. What do we got? Ooh, Jacksonville, Las Vegas. Honestly, a very intriguing fantasy game. We'll be right back on fft. Football season is fun. I love every minute of it. But it's busy and I get tired sometimes and all of us are busy and all of us get tired. And we all need energy, focus and recovery. So let me tell you about Quicksilver Scientific, a US company that makes advanced liposomal supplements your body can use fast. And I recently got my supplements delivered. Quicksilver Scientific is a leader in cutting edge supplement science. Quicksilver has a lot of great products. I ordered the Ultra Vitamin, a highly absorbable daily multivitamin in liquid form. It has vitamins for mood and energy, plus immune and bone support. It makes me feel energized and balanced every day. Quicksilver Scientific makes advanced liposomal supplements so you can actually feel the difference. Energy, focus, calm recovery. Get 10% off and free [e-mail] FFT that's tryqs.com FFT these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

[E]

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[F]

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[B]

Visit roberthalf.comtalent today welcome back to Fantasy Football Today. Here we go. Jacksonville's at Las Vegas. Oh, a couple things real quick. We're on YouTube.com fantasy football today at 11:00am Eastern until 1:00pm about 12:55pm when lineups lock. That's Sunday. Okay, join us there. YouTube.com fantasy football today, CBS Sports Network today at noon. All right, usually we're at one on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Today, noon Eastern, Jamie, Dave and Heath giving you their tiers, their rankings, getting you ready for the week. Jacksonville's at Las Vegas. All right, just to get this out of the way, which tight ends would you start over? Brock Bowers, Cherry Bright.

[C]

That sounds right.

[B]

Okay, so get him in the lineup. How's Trevor Lawrence compared to, let's say, Aaron Rodgers to that group? Jamie ahead of them.

[C]

Yep. Trevor Lawrence would be a guy I wanted to start in a normal week. There's just so many good quarterbacks. He doesn't make the top 12.

[A]

But he could have, I think you.

[C]

Could have a very good game.

[B]

All right, we got Travis ETN coming off three really bad games in a row. Single digit PPR points, but three tough matches. Yeah, the Chiefs, the Seahawks and the Rams. But the Raiders aren't that bad. I mean they give up 4, 4 yards per carrier running backs or 17th against running backs. Do you like ETN this week? Are you starting him by default? I'll throw it to Jamie first. Look at both of you guys on this one.

[A]

I actually do. I, I think, you know, coming off the bye week after those three tough matchups, you know, he's not a number one running back like I start by dial over him, for example, I actually like him as the best running back in this game. You know, just based on what these two teams are facing and especially if Max Crosby's not there. Like, Crosby is very good against the run. He's not just, you know, one of the elite pass rushers. He's just good overall. So I think there's a lot of upside for etn. The one concern would be it's very small, but what if coming off a buy, they start to give toot more work and so does he have a chance to maybe pop a play here or there? And then we're talking about him taking some touches away. But I think just looking at what ETN's body of work has been. You mentioned that the three games were brutal. Absolutely brutal. Like that's as tough a stretch as any running back can have. And he was mad, he was bad. But they still think there's a chance for, you know, healthier offensive line, reset the offense a little bit. You still have a chance to make the playoffs. ETN could be, you know, your best running back. And listen, may also be a trade tip that they're trying to highlight as well.

[C]

As much as it's a great week at quarterback, it's not at running back. We got a lot of potential low end RB2s, but I would start ATN over all of them. He's just a start this week.

[B]

Over Tyrone Tracy.

[C]

Just barely.

[B]

Okay, Ben over Bam Knight over Kareem Hunt.

[C]

Yep.

[B]

Over Macho Grande. Yeah, I use that joke all the time. Over Genti, over. Yeah, so let's talk about that. How about Genti versus Tyrone Tracy?

[C]

I'm. I've got Tracy over him, but all the other guys we've talked about, including Rico Dowdle, like, I'd start him over Hunt, I'd start him over Dowdle, I'd start him over Woody Marks, I start him over Bam Knight.

[B]

What's going on? Why are we not. I mean, he's not that low. He's like 15th basically in the rankings. Genti. But why, why are we not treating him like the first round pick we drafted him to be?

[A]

Well, he obviously has not performed at that level and it's been frustrating. Again, you hope coming off their bye week that they've retooled a few things to make sure he's getting more opportunities and more touches. You talked about this a couple times during Brock Bauer's absence. Like his numbers have spiked in the passing game to whatever degree you want to call Spike, but have been more involved in the passing game without Bowers there. So Bowers back Meyer is expected to play, you know, so they're going to be as healthy as they have been from a receiving standpoint. I just hope that they find a way to manufacture some easy touches for Genti, whether it's their blocking or certainly involvement in the passing game because we just haven't seen that consistently enough. So just something that I think you got to take into account with with Genti. So he said it's not a great week for running backs. That said, there are some guys you could potentially consider starting ahead of Genti. Vidal being one night being one, Tracy being one. Like, you know, he's closer to, like he's behind, I think Vidal for all of us, but he's closer to that night. Hunt, Tracy, range of guys that, you know, you're just sort of stashed on your bench. Woody Mark's range of guys stashed on your bench or, you know, picking up this week to consider starting. I wouldn't do it, but I certainly understand anybody who would.

[B]

Okay, would you start? Who do you like better in this game, the wide receivers or the running backs? It's kind of a vague question, but what do you think?

[C]

Heath, Running backs?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

How do you feel about Brian Thomas Jr. And Travis Hunter?

[C]

They're both number three wide receivers. One of the questions I have to answer on CBSSN is who's the hardest wide receiver? Rank. And I think it's Travis Hunter because I was a big Hunter believer coming into the year and it was a very frustrating start. And then he popped right before the buy. They had a little whispers that he might be their number one wide receiver rest of season. But I've also not given up on Brian Thomas Jr. At all. So it's one of the reasons I think it could be a great week for Trevor Lawrence is what if Brian Thomas just starts catching the ball again and Travis Hunter is a full time wide receiver and we might finally get the Jacksonville offense we hope for for firmly and Liam Cohen, but they're both number three wide receivers. I would start Thomas over Hunter.

[B]

Would you start? By the way, I, I sorry for not looking this up. I didn't see a report on Jacoby Myers. Did he practice?

[A]

He did.

[B]

Okay. Are they. Are both of those guys better than Tucker and Myers?

[A]

I would start them both over. Tucker and Myers. I just don't know what to expect from Myers at this point. Yeah, you know, and Tucker, I don't know. I don't want to say he's tied to Myers but this could be the feature Myers game and see what they get in trade. Or it could be yeah, you know, we don't want Myers to get hurt and he doesn't see the field very much. I have no really basis of what to expect. So I think you just treat my like we haven't ranked Myers yet. So I, I do believe he practice in full so we'll probably get that by the end of the day. So like Tucker is still my preferred Raiders receiver but lowers the ceiling for him with Myers playing in Bowers back. So I think at best you're talking about number three receivers. So for me personally I'd start the Jaguars GU guys over the Raiders guys.

[B]

Okay. So I think I just want to give a stat here on the, on the Raiders they give up the Most fantasy. The fifth most fantasy points to wide receivers. Ten wide receivers have scored 11.4 or more PPR fantasy points in seven games against the Raiders and seven wide receivers have scored 14.6 or more PPR fantasy points. And of those seven wide receivers who have scored 14 points, which is so good for a wide receiver these days. Of those seven wide receivers who have done that against the Raiders, only one had more than eight targets. It's not like these guys are getting 10, 12 target. Right. Like they're not good against wide receivers. So hopefully the Jaguars can take advantage of it. When you think about Trey Tucker usually I think probably think about like downfield plays, big plays. The last couple games is a dot something like two yards each game. It's been screens and really short stuff. I wonder if that changes with Bowers and, and Myers back and honestly I just feels like this is such a, this is such a let's find out what these offenses look like kind of situation coming out of the buys for both of them.

[C]

Well, I think even Geno Smith, as bad as he has been lately, like what. What does Geno Smith look like if his two top targets actually play?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So all right to that point.

[A]

Week one he was decent.

[B]

Yeah. 350 yards. Right.

[A]

Week three he was decent.

[B]

Yep. Scored 32 points at Washington that week. Yeah, he's been horrible since. Okay.

[A]

I think I also will say this. If you're in a super flex and two quarterback league and you have an IR spot, Aiden o' Connell is now in the practice window to return. So we'll see what they decide to do if Gino continues to struggle. Where they go to Kenny Pickett or where they go to o'. Connell, it's, it's Just an easy player to stash if you can, you know, stash players on an Irish spot.

[B]

Would you start Quentin Johnston over any of the wide receivers in this game? Well, some of them, but who would you start Quentin Johnson over?

[A]

Both Raiders if Myers plays.

[C]

I've got Johnson ahead of Hunter right now. I don't know if I'll keep it that way or not, but they're in the same category.

[B]

Not Brian Thomas Jr. No. Keenan Allen ahead of all of the guys in this game.

[C]

Yep.

[A]

Yeah. I think just in the case of Thomas, if I'm not mistaken, he's trying to play with a harness on his shoulder.

[B]

He did, yeah. He was limited with his shoulder injury. I don't know about the harness, but he's banged up. Jacksonville's DST, Jamie and Dave like them top 10. Heath 20th.

[C]

I think I've got him like 15th now. But again, it's just like Gino could give him some really good opportunities. But I am a little bit worried the Raiders offense isn't terrible with their best player.

[B]

All right, let me read some chat questions here. Trey Tucker or Jacoby Myers?

[C]

We don't have Myers ranked right now. Tucker for me, I'll probably have Myers a little higher.

[B]

I'm sorry. Craft or Bowers?

[C]

Bowers.

[A]

Bowers.

[B]

Bam Knight or Jacoby Myers? When you rank him, Bam, Bam, bam. Pick two. Trevor Lawrence, Caleb Williams, Joe Flacco, Sam Darnold.

[A]

First two.

[C]

Right now, it'd be Flacco and Caleb for me, assuming Flaco place, Travis Hunter or Kareem Hunt. Hunt.

[A]

Okay, Kareem. Hut.

[B]

Next game is Atlanta at New England. Ooh, this Trayvon Henderson. This is the exciting adjustment of the game. Watching his tape, man, everything. Almost every carry from last week where he averaged seven and a half yards per carry was to the outside. They basically stopped running him in between the tackles. He's not good. He hasn't been good like that. On runs that. That, pff. Categorizes as left end or right end. Perimeter runs. Trayveon Henderson's averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Obviously, this is not enough for me to tell you to start him, but it's a development that maybe they're figuring out the best ways to use Trayvon Henderson. And then we've got this from Andre Stevenson, injury. So we'll keep an eye on that. We'll keep you updated on that. If he, you know what if he doesn't practice today? Well, you're not going to start him. You're not going to start Henderson over Henry or Hn So I don't think we have to make that decision.

[C]

We do not.

[A]

No. But you might have a flex.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Decision of him, maybe. I mean, look, this is the place he's been, you know, Malik Washington or Rashad Bateman.

[B]

Yeah, but we probably won't even know about. About Stevenson, even if he misses practice. But let's say hypothetically, Heath Stevenson did not play. Where do you think you'd put Henderson against Atlanta? I.

[C]

Well, I mean, Mike Vrabel might hate him enough to give Terrell Jennings more carries. I would say I'd put henderson Somewhere around 20th. He'd be right in that Kareem Hunt range.

[B]

Would he be better than Stefan Diggs?

[C]

I'm starting Diggs, so no.

[A]

Is there anything we can learn through eight weeks of the season in going back to the evaluation of Judkins versus Henderson?

[B]

Well, I. I always go back to first of all, their seat. Their careers are far from written. Right. So. But I go back to when we had Emery Hunt on and we were saying how much we love Travion Henderson and he. Not that he didn't. He did like him a lot, but he brought up. Brought up the point that this guy was like the number one running back recruit in the country and they. He never was able to be the guy. They never were able to give him a bunch of carries and he didn't carry the team.

[A]

Right.

[B]

He was a rotational running back. So it is possible that that's his fate. I really hope not. But Judkins maybe just physically built more for the job of NFL running back than Travion.

[C]

I was going to just say listen to Matt Waldman because he was on FFG Dynasty in April and said Judkins was the second best running back in this class.

[B]

It just blows my mind because judging Rusher for sure so much of his production.

[A]

I know you kept harping on the Big Ten.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yards per carry. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. I mean, when you have two guys in the same backfield, one of them is so much better than the other, so much more efficient than the other. It is surprising to me that Judkins has had such a better year than Travion. But it is what it is for this game start.

[A]

Bijan, what do you think of my trades? What's well around Henderson?

[C]

You traded Henderson a first and a second for Jonathan Taylor and a third.

[A]

So 2027 first and second and Henderson for Taylor in a third.

[B]

Yeah, I thought.

[C]

I thought it was like. I thought it was a good trade. I think probably comes out on the trade chart Pretty close to even. And I'm still pretty optimistic about Henderson. He's still a top 16 dynasty running back for me, so.

[B]

Yeah, that's a fun trade. I was. I think I said off the air, Heath. I think we should up the, the yearly fee for the leagues because for the Dynamy leagues, it's like Jamie going all in. To win this year, there's got to be more of a financial prize. I think for people who want to be that bold, it's just not enough of a reward for like giving up first and a second round pick and a young stud maybe.

[C]

You did not say that to me at all.

[B]

No, I said it to Dave. Sorry. I said to Dave off the air. Yeah, think about it. I'll think about it in the Big Burger too. Obviously, if you have people to agree.

[C]

To it, I'm all. I'm all for it. You should definitely do it this year in the Big Burger. I'm not in it. Thomas thinks so. I was just thinking because of your team.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Oh, my poor team. Can't even tank properly. All right, so sit Panics. Bijan's a start. They don't like Algier this week. All right, Jamie, talk to me about the wide receivers because we don't even know if Drake London's gonna play. So wide receivers with and without Drake London for Atlanta.

[A]

Well, Darnold Mooney also was on the report with a hamstring problem again. So, I mean, look, if, if, and so was Kyle Pitts. If London plays, I'm starting him. I don't care. You know, it's, it's not going to be with the same confidence, but it will certainly be as a top 20 wide receiver. Darnell Mooney, I'm hoping will be better with Pennix as the starter, but I don't want to start him yet. And Pitts is a must start tight end at this point. The Patriots actually have been bad against tight ends and Pitts has been good for the last two weeks. So hopefully Pennix coming back will be a good thing for Kyle Pitt's production. So you want the pagers too?

[B]

Yeah, sure.

[A]

I mean, again, Diggs is still the top choice, but more of a number three receiver. And Booty is more of a, you know, boom bus number three wide receiver. Again, I said this on Tuesday. He has three games this season with just five targets or more. In all three of those, he's been over 16 PPR points. So when he gets opportunities, he's been productive with them. It'd be nice to see what he could do with maybe seven or eight targets, but we just don't see that from him at all this year.

[B]

I've said a lot about Stefan Diggs over the last few weeks and how he has some of the best metrics in football. He also has one of the highest, if not the highest catch rate. Yeah, I'm not feeling the same way that I, I don't think he's the guy that's going to win your year league. I'm just want to throw that out there. He is not, he's not an explosive player anymore. He was, he was running on piss and vinegar against the Bills and he was like great. But other than that, I mean he's just like a savvy veteran wide receiver coming off an ACL at 31 years old. I think it's just this is me editorializing a little bit. I don't see like, I don't see an explosive player personally. That doesn't mean that he's not going to be good for fantasy. I just, I thought there was a chance he was going to be second half league winner. I do not think that's really in the cards for.

[A]

I know it's, it's a potential but we'll see what they decide to do it. But if Jacoby Myers goes to New England, you know what does that change for everything? Everybody there wouldn't be good.

[B]

Good for May, I guess. But Myers too. Okay. Diggs. Yeah, he threw the high guy on Diggs actually this week. 18th.

[C]

Yeah. And I think my, the I've updated him. He's 24 so I, I, he could have wouldn't be that surprised if he had a top 15 week. But there's just too many weeks where he just kind of disappears from the game plan.

[B]

Starting a tight end in this game.

[A]

Pits. Start.

[C]

Pits. Have you seen how many fantasy points the Falcons are giving up to tight ends this year?

[A]

No, they're number one in the position.

[C]

I think like 3.8 PPR fantasy points. Two tight ends this year.

[B]

Oh, George Kittle. Zero catches on two targets against the Falcons.

[C]

Yeah, I mean I think ZACH Ertz had one catch against them like just 1.7 catches for tight ends per game. And they've not played a lot of really great tight ends but they've played some guys that we've started this year and they've just completely erased them.

[B]

Yeah, I think Earth's. Yeah, Earth's had the most yards of any tight end against the Atlanta Falcons at 21. So let's not start Hunter Henry Kyle Pitts. Already this year Kyle Pitts has more catches at or behind the line of scrimmage or expanded to five or fewer air yards. So five yards or shorter than he had in any season in his career. They're using him completely differently and it makes him kind of a safe PPR guy. Would you start Kyle Pitts or who's the type?

[C]

Oh, Gadsden Pitts pits for me.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I think that's pretty much it good there. Yeah.

[A]

Did I miss starting Bizon?

[B]

Oh, what what do you do about the Patriots running backs if Stevenson plays high influx?

[A]

Stevenson's still over Henderson.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And what where do you have Drake May ranked? We always get Drake May or questions.

[A]

Top 10.

[B]

That's it.

[C]

I think it's fourth for me. I was the. I was the high guy on him last week and it felt pretty good. So I think I'm just gonna do that from now on.

[B]

Kyler or May Dak.

[A]

Or May I go Dak this week?

[B]

All right. Start Drake May. He's going to be great. Let's go to Denver at Houston. Stat of the game only one team this season has finished top 20 in pressure rate while facing the Broncos. The Texans have the fifth highest pressure rate in the NFL. This is a huge storyline because Bo Nix, you watched the tape last week that he was not touched by Dallas and he rarely is great offensive line can the Texans get to him. I just. That's something that as football fans we want to see. We already know you guys don't don't like a lot of players in this game but to just to kind of set the scene for this game. Heath, give me the the quick run through of starts and sits for Broncos Texans.

[C]

You do not want to start a quarterback in this game. J.K. dobbins is an RB2. Woody Marks is a borderline RB2. Would like him better in my flex spot. R.J. harvey. Those three touchdowns were awesome, but he's still just a boom bust flex. I'm still starting Cortland Sutton as a number two wide receiver. Troy Franklin is a what the heck Flex. I do not want to start a tight end in this game. And Nico Collins is in that. Cortland Sutton, he's still kind of a wide receiver too. By default.

[B]

Is that just because he hasn't really.

[C]

Been that good and the Broncos, even without Patrican have a very good defense.

[B]

They do. But I don't think they have anyone that can cover him really.

[A]

You know if he gets the targets, he's going to be great. Right? Right.

[B]

Okay, so how. What are we thinking about J.K. dobbins? Because he's going to be kind of a tough call. Like, you can expand on that one. Heath, start with Dobbins, and we'll go a little bit deeper because it seems like you're the high. Not really. Actually, you are.

[C]

Vidal and Tracy are the only. I guess you'd call them replacement running backs that I would start over Dobbins. So I'm still starting him over Dowdle and Knight and Hunt and Marks.

[A]

I think there's an easy path to Dowdle. I'm sorry. To Knight and Hunt being better than Dobbins because rushing touchdowns have been hard to come by for him. This is a very tough run defense, and those guys have a better chance, in my opinion, of finding the end zone. Dallas, obviously, is a great matchup for night. He scored in two of the three games where he's gotten opportunities since Benson's been out. And Hunt finds the end zone almost on a weekly basis, you know, when he gets those chances. So if you're just counting on touchdowns, I think there's an easier path for that. And then Dobbins, you know, if he's. If, like, to me, he's the definition of a trap back. This week, you know, we're looking at maybe 70, 80 yards rushing, unless he breaks one, which he hasn't done regularly. This run defense is just good. So I'm going to start Knight over Dobbins. I'm still starting Dobbins over Hunt at the moment, but that might be a switch.

[B]

Yeah, you know what? Let's do it. I'm. I'm starting both those guys over Dobbins for. I know no one's asking for my ranking.

[A]

No, you're not wrong.

[B]

But, like, I just think about it this way. Like I said yesterday, and Yesterday I used PPR. I'll use half PPR here. J.K. dobbin's having a really good year. He's playing well. He's a good football player. He's running the ball well. He is in half PPR. He is RB23 per game, so this is his toughest matchup of the year. I'm gonna. I'm not saying that he shouldn't be in the top 24, but. Yeah, I mean, I. I think guys who have much better matchups and similar, like, similar roles. I'm gonna start them over. J.K. dobbins.

[A]

Yep. I gotta run. See you guys.

[B]

All right. Dobbins or Cortland? Sutton Heath.

[C]

I think that's probably just a Format dependent question. So in full PPR, you go with the wide receiver, and non PPR, you go with the running back and half PPR. I've got Sutton at around 12 points, and Dobbins is probably right there, too. So the tiniest of liens to Dobbins for me.

[A]

Okay? Yeah.

[B]

Sutton was so bad against the jets. In a 13:11 win for the Broncos, he scored 2.7 fantasy points when he was shadowed by Gardner. But he also had tough matchups at the Chargers and at the Eagles, and he had huge games there. But Stingley's probably going to be on him, so it's tough. Evan Ingram is someone that's outside the top 12. He's kind of like Kyle. He's. Is he. What's so different about Evan Ingram and Kyle Pitts?

[C]

Kyle Pitts might go somewhere after he catches the ball.

[B]

The Texans have been good against tight ends, but they face a very easy schedule. And last week they gave up 43 yards and a touchdown to George Kittle.

[C]

Evan Ingram is like the most opposite player of George Kittle. Like we always talk about. Tucker Kraft is now George Kittle. Plus, in terms of yak. Evan Ingram is the opposite. He has averaged over nine yards per catch in one game this season, and he catches about four or five passes a game. So you're gonna get somewhere between 30 and 40 yards.

[B]

Would you rather do it?

[C]

42.

[B]

Okay. Would you rather start Woody Marks or Troy Franklin?

[C]

Woody.

[B]

Woody Marks or any Texans receiver other than Nico?

[C]

Woody.

[B]

And if Christian Kirk were out, is there any Texans receiver that would crack your top 40 other than Nico? No. Okay. Woody Marks or Tony Pollard?

[C]

Woody.

[B]

Is there optimism about Woody Marks here that I'm sensing or not really?

[A]

No.

[C]

He's outside of the top 24. You've just asked me a bunch about a bunch of terrible options.

[B]

All right, Dalton Schultz, starter. Sit. Sit and give me a few players. You'd start over Bo Nix.

[C]

Oh, there's. There's like 20 quarterbacks. I would start over Bonix. So let's. Let's start at the top with Kyler Murray. I would start Jaden Daniels, who we're expecting back, but I'm conflicted about Overbo Nix, Caleb Williams, Jackson Dart, whoever starts at quarterback for the 49ers. Trevor Lawrence, Aaron Rodgers, Sam Darnold.

[A]

Okay. Is that.

[C]

Is that enough?

[B]

That is enough. Last question for this game from the chat. Kyle Menangai or Woody Marks?

[C]

Woody.

[B]

Okay, next game, Chicago's at Cincinnati. Stat of the game. The Bears, they got TJ Edwards back a few weeks ago and since then they've allowed 3.6 yards per carry to Jakory Crosby, Merritt, 2.6 to Camara, 3.4 to Derrick Henry. He did score two touchdowns though. But the run defense has been a lot better. I don't know if it's because of Edwards or coincidence. They had Edwards all of last year in the run defense stunk.

[C]

But so what's more real.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

The fact that the Bears are giving up like three and a half yards per carry with TJ Edwards or the fact that Chase Brown is averaging seven yards per carry with Joe Flacco.

[B]

Just the. Based on the extreme of the seven yards per carry, I'd say it's the Bears run defense. Okay.

[C]

The fact that the Bears run defense is good with TJ Edwards or the fact that the Bengals run offense is efficient with Joe Flacco.

[B]

I honestly don't know.

[A]

Right.

[C]

I, I think like Chase Brown is in that RB2 range for me where I'd start him over Dall Knight and Hunt and Marks. But that's only if Joe Flacco place. If Flacco was out and Jake Browning started then Chase Brown's gonna fall behind all those guys and be just ahead of Tony Pollard.

[B]

Caleb Williams, you know he had a huge game against Dallas. 37 points against Dallas. I think Washington's the only good matchup he's had other than that he scored 22 points against Washington and six point per passing touchdown leagues. Is that kind of what you're thinking this week for Caleb against Cincinnati?

[C]

Yeah, I, I think it's tough because I do kind of think the Bengals defense is almost as bad as the cow.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And so this, I would not be surprised if this was a blow up spot for Caleb Williams. I think when we did the show on Sunday night, my believe it or not was Caleb Williams is right back to a must start quarterback. And we all said yes. And then we got to ranking the quarterbacks this week and realized that there's so many good ones and so he's, he's not a must start by any stretch. I probably would like him more if I thought I needed a whole bunch of upside because I think he has the potential to have a 30 point game. But especially if Flacoes out there's also the potential that Deandre Swift and Manangai are just good and they, they run all over the Bengals.

[B]

Oh they will. The Bengals see the second most running back carries in the NFL. They are so bad against running backs. Oh, Swift or Videl?

[C]

Videl.

[B]

No.

[C]

Maybe Swift, I've got them. They're both top 12 for me, so I hadn't really considered sitting either one. I've got Vidal at 11, Swift at 12. Again. If flacoes out, Swift will probably move ahead of Vital.

[B]

So you're gonna, you're gonna start. You're gonna start Swift over etn over.

[C]

Genti, over Sutton, over Tracy, over Dobbins, over.

[B]

Yeah, over Nico. Yeah, I think I would. Yeah, Me too. Start O'Dunes a starter said DJ Moore.

[C]

I do not want to start DJ Moore, but if you're in a 3 wide receiver league, you probably should. I've got him ahead of the Jags, I've got him ahead of the Raiders. I've got him ahead of Xavier Worthy, ahead of Quentin Johnston. So high end wide receiver three.

[B]

Yeah. And the thing, as bad as he's been, he rarely gives you less than, say, eight PPR fantasy points. Right. So it's not like you're gonna get a one of those one catch for 15 yards games from DJ Moore. All right, and then what do you.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

What do you think about Colston Loveland here with and without commit against the Bengals, who bleed fantasy points to tight ends?

[C]

Yeah, I. I don't have them. I had him 24 at the beginning of the week and Dave and Jamie's optimism talked me into moving him up to like 18 or 19, but it's still just like there's zero evidence from the Bears and Colston Loveland that you should be considering starting him. This is entirely a. The Bengals are terrible against tight ends and they are. And so let's just start this guy who has done nothing start worthy all season long. If Cole commits back, I can't do it. If commit's out and you just want to throw it dart at tight end because you hate Dalton Kincaid or Travis Kelsey because both those defenses have so been so good at tight ends. Or you have Hunter Henry and the Falcons have been so good and you want to, but I just think people should know. Like you're kind of throwing a blindfolded dart.

[B]

Yeah. Okay. The Bengals. How much? Okay, I asked this earlier, but you know, just talk about the offense with and without Flacco and who to start.

[C]

So Chase Brown would go from a good RB2 to a high end flex Jamar. Chase would not be ranked wide receiver one anymore, but I would tell everybody to start him. T. Higgins would go from a low end wide receiver two probably to a low end wide receiver three for me.

[B]

Okay. Flacco if he starts, or Caleb Williams.

[C]

Flacco if he starts and like, we get some optimism. There was a report that he could not practice and still play. And if that happens, I'm probably going to drop him down a little bit because that's, that's nerve wracking. If he's able to get a practice in, then I'm going to view Flacco as a top 12 quarterback and I'm going to start him. It's not a good pass defense. He's been pretty awesome with these two wide receivers. If he doesn't practice at all, I'll probably drop him down to like the QB16 Trevor Lawrence range.

[B]

I mean, do you think T. Higgins is even going to score? Like, you know, the if. Okay, I said that DJ Moore almost always scores at least eight fantasy points. If Jake Browning is the quarterback. Are you starting T. Higgins or DJ Moore?

[C]

DJ Moore.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Okay, let's read some chat questions here about this game. Kyle Menangai or Woody Marks?

[C]

Jamie might have been on guy because I know he likes him more, but.

[B]

I would say Woody Williams or Kyler. Caleb Williams. T. Higgins. Chris Olave, Cortland Sutton. Please rank.

[C]

So if we have Joe Flacco, then that order would go Olave Sutton. Actually, it's a lot of a Sutton Higgins no matter what.

[B]

Okay. Chase Brown or Kamani Vidal Videl.

[C]

Regardless of who the quarterback is.

[B]

Right? Lovelander. Ertz.

[C]

Ertz.

[B]

Even with commits out.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Okay. Swift or Waddle.

[C]

Oh, wow. I think I have to choose. So I'll just say this. I've got Swift projected to score more fantasy points in all formats. You know how I feel about DeAndre Swift.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

But my granddaughter is going to the game tonight and it's the night before Halloween. So this is Adam approved. She is dressed up like a penguin with a Waddle jersey on.

[A]

That's so.

[C]

So I think, like, I, I hope, I hope. I think the Dolphins are obviously gonna get spanked. I hope Jalen Waddle has a good game for her.

[B]

Yeah, that'd be great. This, I think, is the only game on the NFL slate where it's appropriate to wear a Halloween costume too.

[C]

Can you believe what I did on Tuesday? I know you probably didn't listen to the FFT Dynasty episode. It was a great episode. Theo Grimminger is awesome. We basically had a National Tight End Day episode two days after National Tight End Day.

[B]

Oh, he. No, of course I didn't listen.

[C]

I knew that I did it just for like, you made me think about it and I thought, you know, I should do this right afterwards because we wanted to talk about the historically great rookie tight end class.

[B]

That's awesome. All right. Kansas City at Buffalo. You expect a very high scoring game, but for what it's worth, and it's probably worth nothing, the postseason games are usually the really wacky ones. The regular season games haven't been as high scoring between these two updates.

[C]

They haven't been low scoring.

[B]

No, they haven't updated that. But I think they've been probably under the number 52 and a half more often than not. Don't hold me that passion. Mahomes has scored more than 28 fantasy points in four, four or five straight games. He did that only five times in 2023 and 2024 combined in the regular season. Unbelievable new stat of the game. Dalton Kincaid. He's had a really good year. Well, guess what he has had it based on right now. Fantasy points, a lot of tight ends. Dalton K is a very easy schedule. Almost every team he's played has been 18, 19th or worse against tight ends. The Saints were 14th and he had one catch in that game for 28 yards and a touchdown. So this will be the toughest matchup by far for Dalton Kincaid. Starter. Sit Kincaid.

[C]

I don't want to start Dalton Kincaid. I really don't. He is a top 12 tight end for me just because that's the nature of the position right now. I. I would start Gadsden over him, but that's probably the only. I'd start pits over him, but those are probably the only guys that you might, I guess, if you're considering between Kelsey and Kincaid. I've got Kelsey one spot higher, but these are the second and third best defenses against tight ends so far this season. And so it's. It's not a good spot for Kelsey Working.

[B]

Yeah. It's easier, I think, to get away from Kincaid than Kelsey, but then again, one team should be able to run the ball really well. The other one has. I mean, James Cook is really good, but the Chiefs run defense has been great, too. All right, so would you start. You said you'd start Gadsden over Kelsey and Kincaid.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Who else? Kyle Pitts over those guys.

[C]

I also said that just now. I literally just said.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

How about. How about. But LaPorta?

[A]

Yep.

[B]

You said him, too.

[C]

I didn't say him, but he is. I would start him over Kelsey and Kincaid because I have Zach Ertz right behind Kelsey and Kincaid. I have Mark Andrews and Evan Ingram right behind that. And I think that kind of tells you what tight end looks like this week. I would start these guys over Hawkinson because I don't like him, but. All right, I don't want. But you're probably starting them. I don't want to.

[B]

Now, some of this game we've already covered. Heath loves Khalil Shakir. This week, we talked a lot about Kareem hunt. He's an RB2, kind of on the low end, but in the Bam night range, I think I'm a little more optimistic. Fact, I'll make a bold prediction. Well, hold on.

[C]

Would you stop it with the Chiefs running backs?

[B]

Hold on one second. Start my home. Start Allen. Start Cook. Start Rice. Start Shakir. Any hope for Keon Coleman? I mean, this is this. They've only had one shootout, and that was Keon Coleman's good, great game. So what do you think?

[C]

I think, like, what? Probably when you look at the projections, the thing that tells the story as well as anything is that these four players are listed back to back to back to back. Quentin Johnston, Keon Coleman, Travis Hunter, Xavier Worthy.

[B]

All right.

[C]

Any of those four guys could have a great game this week. Yeah, there's very little floor with all four of them.

[B]

See, I know I have him in one league. I'm going to take a look at this league and see. I mean, I'm just gonna. Why not? I'm gonna have fun. I'm gonna get Keon Coleman in my lineup. I'm gonna start him over either. I mean, I got, like, Wanda Robinson, Darius Slayton, and Christian Watson starting, so I'm gonna start Keon Coleman over, probably one. Darius Slayton. Let's do it.

[C]

Darius Slayton is like, I stopped the list at 4. Darius Slayton was the next name.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I also have Juman Jennings, so I probably have to start.

[C]

I've got Watson, last of that group, but I understand.

[B]

Yeah, I might change it, but, like, that's Coleman. I do think there's an opportunity.

[C]

Sounds like a really good receiving room you got there.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Malik, Neighbors. Oh, do I have Brian Thomas? Oh, yeah, I do have Brian Thomas Jr. There, but I had Neighbors. Wasn't gonna say so. Bold prediction. Kareem Hunt outscores James Cook.

[C]

That is an extremely bold prediction. You've had a lot of bold predictions go your way this week, and I think it probably bodes well for the Chiefs. Not this week, this season. Probably bodes well for the Chiefs if that happens. So I'm with you.

[B]

I mean, but.

[C]

But don't. Don't. Don't start Cream.

[B]

No, of course I'm starting. James Cook. I. James Cook. This, this Chiefs run defense has been so good. They have held. Listen to this. The Chiefs have held. Omarion Hampton, Derrick Henry, Travis etn, David Montgomery, Jameer Gibbs, Shakuri Crosby, Merit and Ashton Gen to 8.8 or fewer PPR fantasy points. James Cook has one target in his last three games. Now he's one of those guys that's too good because the Panthers were great against the run for three straight weeks. And then James Cook had 216 yards and two touchdowns. He's too good to even consider sitting.

[C]

But as a RB4 this week.

[B]

Yeah, but it's not the best. It's one of those weeks where it's like, oh, man, I could see my James Cook team. Not, I can see him not having a great game, and I don't. What do you have against Kareem? You said stop talking about the Chiefs running backs again. He averaged 14 and a half PPR fantasy points per game last year. Without Travis, without Isaiah Pacheco, they have a much better offense this year. He's playing better this year. And the Bills have a terrible run defense.

[C]

Yeah, I think I, I'm just very skeptical that Kareem Hunt's gonna have like. I think it's more likely Elijah Mitchell. Mitchell touches the football on offense than Kareem Hunt has more than 15 touches.

[B]

I don't know, man. I mean, Pacheco has had 12 or more carries in three straight games, and Hunt said it'd be very easy for.

[C]

Him to have 12 or more carries and not have 16 touches.

[B]

No, but, but I'm saying if he gets like Kareem Hunt said, six, four, nine in those three games. And, and he left one of those games early with an injury. And Pacheco's had 12 or more in three straight games. That's a lot of carries.

[C]

Yeah. I haven't projected for 14 carries for 61 yards.

[B]

Okay. And four touchdowns.

[C]

Did you not have him projected for four touchdowns?

[B]

Any interest in Burchard Smith?

[C]

I think he's like, if. I'd like him a lot more if the Bills hadn't been so good against pass catching running backs. Smith has not done much as a rusher yet. And so I, I think he's in that interesting flex range and full ppr. I would start him over. Bill. I'd start him over Zach Charbonnet, I'd start him over the Vikings running backs. But I, I, it's not a great matchup for Smith based on how they've used him.

[B]

Try to get away from the Chiefs dst. They've been good, but when they face really good offenses, they, they're mostly bad. I think the Chiefs are going to win this game by a touchdown.

[C]

Yeah, this, I don't want to make any Bills fans mad, but this game, it often looks like maybe a little more important to Buffalo in Kansas City. They generally handle the Chiefs in the regular season.

[B]

Yeah, but this is big for, for playoff seating. Oh, it's huge.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Bills are five and two. They're not even in first place.

[C]

And the, I think the Chiefs have like six or seven, like almost every team that's currently ahead of them in the standings because they're the seventh seed is left on their schedule.

[B]

That's they're the seventh seed. They're in third place in their division right now.

[C]

They play the Colts in a couple weeks. They still have to play the Broncos twice.

[B]

Oh, this is great. That's great stuff. All right, thanks everybody for watching. Listening. We'll talk to you tomorrow on Fantasy Football Today, also noon Eastern on CBS Sports Network. See ya.

[F]

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