← FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast
FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast
Is Tetairoa McMillan a Top 10 Wide Receiver? | 2025 Rookie Class Rundown: Which Players Will Be Sophomore Studs? (Ep. 1963)
01:01:12
Loading summary
Transcript131 lines
- [00:00]
Laquan Jones
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.
- [00:05]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Welcome in everybody, to Fantasy Pros. This is the fantasy football podcast and it's me, Joey P, Joe P. Zappia. We got a fun one for you today. Today we're going to look at the sophomores. That's right. Freshman year is tough for a lot of people. Sometimes people get stuffed into lockers, sometimes they get swirlies in the bathroom, and sometimes they come out like rock stars. Freshman year. But does that mean that sophomore year is going to be good? But we're going to talk about all the players with rookies this year and what might be in store for them. Good, bad, or maybe push or indifferent here in 2026 to help us do it. Jake Cely of the Athletic and one of my favorite people, Laquan Jones from NFL Network. I love getting to talk with Laquan. It's been a while. My team made it one step further than your team to the super bowl this year, so I do love that. But your guy did get the MVP over my guy. And I told you, Quan, if I had a vote, I would have voted for Stafford because I'm old and I respect my elders now. And I want to make sure before Matthew Stafford walks off into the sunset that he got that award. It's like when Al Pacino won the Oscar for Scent of a Woman. Was it his best work? No, but, you know, you want to make sure he gets some hardware at some point for the.
- [01:16]
Laquan Jones
The.
- [01:16]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Was it the lifetime achievement Award? I'm good with that. How are you doing, Laquan?
- [01:21]
Laquan Jones
I'm good. This is why you my guy, man. I love coming on the show with great energy. And you got my boy Jake here as well, where we can have convers stations for hours. Man, I. I really love this crew for this show that you got me on today, man, because we're gonna have some fun.
- [01:35]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Yeah, we are. And you know, he's throwing some shade at Drake May before this. I don't know if Drake's really your guy. I don't know. Would you think of. Drake made a super. I was like, I didn't think he was good in the super bowl, but I. I'm not worried about him. I would take him over.
- [01:50]
Laquan Jones
You can't peek behind the curtain so early in the show, man. I wasn't.
- [01:54]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
There is no curtain on this show. Everybody who watches the show knows I don't do curtains. That's why we're so popular. We don't believe in that stuff. Jake Seeley, I'll let you get in on this too. Sophomore slumps, very difficult. What was your best memory as a sophomore in high school, Jake? Did you have a great sophomore moment? How was your sophomore year?
- [02:11]
Jake Seeley
You know, it's funny, it was my best basketball moment of my life. Like legit. And it's the last year I played basketball because I'm old enough that like 3 and D wasn't a thing yet. And I mean you can see that I don't jump very well even though I'm six one. So if you can shoot a three pointer and play some defense are cool. But once I lost my three pointer, I was done. I didn't play after my junior year, but as a JV player and as a sophomore, that can tell you how bad I was is we played knockout versus the varsity and I beat the entire varsity shooting three. We actually kept stepping back when the last guy I was against, I mean, we're hitting like the way, way, way out. Steph almost half court. Steph Curry type shots at the end.
- [02:52]
Laquan Jones
And I beat the varsity team.
- [02:54]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
This is weird. I was, I was thinking like your best basketball moment was something like in game. This is a practice that was.
- [03:00]
Jake Seeley
I would actually have to play in the games for that to happen. My career point total, career point total is 13, by the way. Just so you know, three three pointers, a field goal and two free throws. That's how. So I, I actually have to play to be able to. Hey, hey, Joe, you want one more thing? I'll give you one more. I had, I mean, hair down here. No, I had hair down to here and the Sealy shot that everybody mimicked me for, like because I would shoot and have to push it out of my like. So.
- [03:31]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Laquan, you didn't know that Jake was the original high school musical inspiration? You didn't know that? I didn't know that. I'm learning more about. Keep going. Studied all about Jake Seeley. That's, that's the inspiration for the. That is absolutely true. All right, we're going to get into the players. We're going to start with the running backs. Before we do, we got a fun giveaway. A championship belt could be yours right now. And of course it's a great time to reward the winner in your league. Or just keep it for yourself from trophy smack, the number one destination for epic fantasy football hardware. The massive gold plated belt is a statement. It's bold, it's heavy, it's guaranteed to turn heads. And if anybody likes a good belt, it's all three of us. I Mean, you're talking about three of the big wrestling guys here. We love the pro wrestling stuff. So we love, we love rocking the belts here. And you should have one of these too. So how do you win it? Subscribe to the channel. Drop your comments below. That's it. That's all you got to do. Pretty easy, right? And it could be yours from trophy smack again. Ring the bell till it goes ding. So you know, if you are the big winner of the championship belt, subscribe to the channel, ring the bell and of course, never miss a piece of content here on the channel when you subscribe and set the alerts. All right, let's start with the running backs here. We'll start with Ashton, Gente, Laquan. Obviously we were all very excited for Ash and Genti. Seemed like it was going to be good but unfortunately what was so bad was the Raiders offensive line. He finishes RB 13 and a half point PPR, currently RB 7, which feels about right. We're going to get Fernando Mendoza most likely as the new quarterback there. We have Clint Kubiak as the new coach, which makes me very excited too. So we're replacing a coach who, you know, probably system wise might have been a little outdated. Certainly offensive coordinator, a nightmare. What the hell they were thinking about with that hire, I'll never know. I'll tell you what, the best job you can have, Laquan, is offensive coordinator. In the NFL you just get hired all the time. It doesn't matter if you're any good at it. Matt Nagy got another job. Chip Kelly gets jobs everywhere Anyway, Ash. I know, but let's talk about Ashley. Really, Phil, it blows my mind the amount of failure that people have as offensive coordinators and they keep getting hired other places. That's why I am throwing my hat in the ring as an officer.
- [05:35]
Jake Seeley
Real quick before we talk, Genti, Joe, I mean the proof is in the pudding with Jim Harbaugh or John Harbaugh. I actually think what they're doing is smart. They brought in Roman because it's hey, you're good at the run, you suck at the pass. They bring in Nagy because they're like, hey, you're good at the pass, you suck at the run. So you have two offensive coordinators to fill one.
- [05:50]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
No, no, you have no offensive coordinators. You're trying to make one out of two people. That's what you're trying to do. Let's talk about Ash and Jente here. Do you think this ranking too aggressive? Just right. How much of an impact you think Kubiak's going to have and obviously the offensive line via free agency in the draft really has to be the defining factor here. Right?
- [06:08]
Laquan Jones
I think it's just right because when you look at what Clint Kubiak has done in the recent years, you see that he got career highs out of Alvin Kamara where he was with the New Orleans Saints. You see Kenneth Walker, we've seen him in the playoffs, have that stretch as the guy and we see the potential of the run game being excellent and we know Genti in that outside zone scheme is going to be able to feast. I mean, honestly, it all comes down to what you said before. It's the offensive line. That's the only thing that'll make me scare away from his rankings, but I'm all in. I honestly think Genty with the beefed up old line, with Clint Kubiak on the sticks, we're gonna see this offense really move forward and be able to see Genti hit that full RB1 potential. I think it's workhorse season. I think last season when we saw him get sprinkled with them targets, you know, being force fed to have some type of fancy relevance some weeks because we know he's run into a brick wall like 50. It was one of those things like, boy, you seen that boy yards before contact per rush. It's at the bottom of the table. Now we're looking at a guy that we see can break tackles, Juki out of your socks, make you look like what just happened. Like bro had 100, he had 860 yards after contact. That's among the elites up there. So we know that this boy is a problem. There never was question of his talent. It's just more so the situation around him. So hopefully Clint comes in, cleans this up, man. And then they basically had me, you and Jake out there as offensive linemen out there trying to block right, like, come on, what are we talking about?
- [07:28]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Yeah, I think 750 of those 860 yards you were talking about were also in the backfield for that contact. That's pretty much. Hey, Jake Seeley, let's talk about Ash and Genti. Volume is king. You know he's going to get volume. So let's talk about a little bit here. What do you think that volume is going to look like and in terms of the improved quality of it year over year?
- [07:47]
Jake Seeley
Yeah, I feel like this is a quite, not quite, but close to peak for me. I'm a little bit lower than this mostly because there's a lot of questions as of today. You brought it up. It's the offensive line. Now granted Colt Miller missed almost the entire season but Param, their arguable best guard is a free agent so they're going to have to address it. As you said, you already stated the biggest part of this, the biggest factor is the offensive line. And you talk about the volume. Well, the volume was already there. The only person with a higher running back touch percentage was Jonathan Taylor. 84.4 to 84.3 for Genti. What Laquan just said, we knew 100% through the first three weeks he actually had over over 100% of his yards were after contact because he was getting negative yards before contact. And that was back when like Colt Miller was actually in the mix. So there's a lot of factors at play. Yeah, the offense should be better. Yeah everything's going to but like the workloads there and the point that I'll compare it to is why I feel like this might be peak RB7 is because RB8 in points per game in his last season with the Giants, Saquon Barkley. I think that's a really good comparison. Peak Saquon Barkley on the terrible Giants with offensive line issues, questions about their offense. I think that's kind of what we expect. So as of today I have a few other guys, guys including Laquanz Boy, Kyron Williams in front of him. But I think, you know, I think he could get to RB7 and maybe even RB6. But I think this is kind of pricing them at like everything has to go right. We have to get better help on the offensive line. So I just have a few spots lower.
- [09:11]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
All right, let's talk about RJ Harvey. Obviously patience prevailed eventually, but he finishes RB8 over the last six weeks. However, unfortunately those who had the patience might have missed the playoffs because it took a long time for him to be really useful. So if you picked him up in a trade, you picked him up on the free agent wire, somebody dropped him and you picked him up. Then all of a sudden RJ Harvey was useful for you down the stretch. Currently RB16 the ECR Jake, is that too low Considering what Denver looked like last year and what the last eight weeks looked like for RJ Harvey, I.
- [09:41]
Jake Seeley
Think it's too low if everything remains the same. The biggest question here is I think why he's there. I don't want to speak for everybody and get obviously the Quan's opinion, but I feel like everybody's hesitant on what Sean Payton might do and that's the issue here is we basically had R.J. harvey's backfield to himself because we had the injury in the backfield and that opened up everything for Harvey. You go back previous to that and this is why people were dropping him is because it was a timeshare. And of course Harvey was also getting to the mix of being a rookie in the NFL. Harvey does fit the Sean Payton style of the Alvin Camara. But even Alvin Camara was paired up with Mark Ingram for years. There was days that he had Sundays that Peyton had four active running backs. Like he just. He uses everybody but that depth chart behind him. Last year once it was just Harvey and then everybody's like, oh it might be Jaleel McLaughlin. Like I even said take a flyer on him in waivers because it's Sean Payton. But nobody held the candle to Harvey. And including the fact was really interesting. He had a really high success rate and carries inside the five. Not just inside the 10, but inside the five, which is what we like to see. The only reason I think people are hesitant and have him around this 15, 16, 17 range is because what if they go sign a significant name and just turn it into a timeshare? What if they draft somebody in the second round and turn it into the Mark Ingram timeshare? I think that's why. So if you're looking for the potential biggest reward right now, if you're drafting you take them as a fringe RB1 because you just mentioned RB8. But we also know that that comes with plenty of risk because it's Sean Payton.
- [11:09]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
All right, so Laquan is RB16, the ECR do you think that is the baked in consensus expecting there to be somebody else to share this backfield with? And if there isn't, then where does RJ Harvey move up to in terms of breaking up through that 16?
- [11:24]
Laquan Jones
16 is where it's at because watch out, I'm calling it now. Tyler Algier is on the way.
- [11:31]
Jake Seeley
Tyler Algier is a free agent. Don't do that.
- [11:35]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
I'll put him at 27 then if that's the case.
- [11:38]
Laquan Jones
Algier can get you those ugly yards, man. And Algier has that same type of vision as a J.K. dobbins. And that's all Sean Payton cares about is con third down being a guy that can block and also get peppered with semi much of targets. And I think that is the Tyler Algier mold that is the missing piece. Like I think this is going to be a rotating wheel until they find a Long term, you know, situation as a backup. But Harvey to me is the most talented back in that backfield like he is. One of the basic reasons why that backfield was able to have any type of success being that he's able to get involved in the red zone as a pass catcher like that is one of the underrated things about him. He's not just getting the carries into inside the 5 or inside the 10. He's also rolling out in the flats and taken into the end zone as well. So having that upside PPR formats I'm never going to shy away from Harvey just based on. I just love the pure talent of what he does as a receiver, as a runner. When he does bounce outside, when it is successful. He may hit that wall five times, you know, on the outside zone pitcher and all that other stuff. But at the end of the day he busts one off. It's likely going to go to the crib. So I'm always going to believe into him. But having him at 16, I think that's a solid place with or without the Tyler Algier, you know, addition as.
- [12:51]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
The kids like to say. Low key. I really like it if Alger ends up there. That's actually really good. Yeah, I love that one. All right, let's talk about Trayon Henderson and speaking of explosiveness and upside, we saw it but then I don't feel like we saw a whole lot of in the playoffs now I get it. I understand we're talking about playing the defense. Margin of error is very small here. Randre Stevenson's role in his contract even he can even talk about that. But will we see kind of the Shackles come off a little bit and we see full trade beyond Henderson or do you think sophomore year we're really looking Laquan more like possibly more of the same. Very games dependent in terms of game script or opponent dependent when it comes to year two at Raymond Henderson. Maybe it's not. Maybe it's totally different and it becomes more of a 7030 thing. What's your. What does your percentage look like for that Patriots backfield and how will that impact his ranking going forward?
- [13:43]
Laquan Jones
It's exactly what we've seen. Like I think we need to get ahead of this. Like we know he's talented. He has to look. He has the upside, but he does not have the juice. I mean Stevenson's bishop in this. Like there is no way that we can sit here and see what the coaching staff has told us has shown us that it's Stevenson's Backfield that boy is locked in until 2029. We got a long ways to go before we start seeing that snap percentage get above 45% and that's exactly where we need to have Henderson at if we're going to have some fantasy relevant weeks for him to be a valuable flex. Like think honestly we're going to keep playing this game because we know the talents there. We all want it but the coaching staff has told us no, I'm not listening to you. I'm going to do what I feel is right for the team. Like this is real life football that they're playing out there in the X's and O's. They don't care about our fantasy rosters. Like I coined Travion Henderson in the preseason as one of the most electrifying prospects in sports entertainment. My guy like we all know it's there but they will not unleash it because they have a good thing going with a reliable back. Yes, the fumbles are there for Stevenson but he cleaned it up. That became a story of the past after a while. Like him and Kyron Williams were very similar on the path of like hey these guys without fumbling issues, they're about to lose their jobs to backups now look at they cleaned it up. They're starting running backs now man.
- [15:02]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
All right, so Jake Pat's backfield more of the same or maybe something evolving there potentially in 2026 I think more of the same.
- [15:09]
Jake Seeley
And Laquan wasn't alone. I was team Travon Henderson's explosiveness and I'll know that there were very many people that were anti Trayvon Henderson. Maybe the draft cost might have been part of it but everybody knew the talent. But looking at next year we're talking sophomores, Genty we're going to talk about the next running back Hampton, Harvey, Scatterboo if healthy, Judkins if healthy all in front of Travion Henderson for me and I'll throw one more at him too. A seventh rounder and 8.8 cap hit 1.3 dead money if they get rid of DeAndre Swift if Manangai is the lead for the Bears he has big jersey and that's the thing because if you look at Stevenson higher all these numbers are he's higher. Higher percentage of rushes for 10 plus yards touchdown per touch. Yards per touch, touches when neutral or down. You talked about the game script. Yards per route run and explosive play percentage were all higher than Travion Henderson. So even if that sees an uptick for Henderson Next year. He's just trying to battle even with Stevenson at this point.
- [16:09]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
All right, so maybe the guy we're all probably most bullish on going into 2026 is going to be Omari and Hampton. Right? Because we assume the offensive line will be healthier. We have Alton Slater coming back from injury, Mike McDaniel taking over to great offensive mind. I really like this hire. I think this is very exciting and I give Jim Harbaugh a lot of credit for this because it feels like a very non Jim Harbaugh kind of higher and I think it's good. I think he needs to get something a little fresher in there, a little bit more innovative in there. So right now he could be a top five guy currently as RB7. Jake, I know we've had some early discussions about Hampton. So where are you at in terms of this transition in this new offense with Mike McDaniel and what it could mean for him in 2026 and year two?
- [16:50]
Jake Seeley
Yeah, I looked at four games for Hampton with 65% of the touches or more. 15.3 fantasy points per game with three touchdowns, including 17 for 113 yards and 19 targets. That all lines up perfectly for McDaniel. Here's the downside where I'll say don't go crazy, like, don't put Hampton inside the top five. Because the one thing that we do know, McDaniel already had this issue with the Dolphins and then Harbaugh already had this issue as the leader of the Chargers. Plays per game part because they run the ball so much, but always at the bottom of the league in game script or neutral game script battle in the league and plays per game just whether, you know, it really doesn't matter. Honestly, I was about to go down the list. It really doesn't matter. You're just talking about bottom third even worse, potentially in the 30s. So he'll get the work. He'll be the guy, he'll be a Chan on this team with a little bit more. But the thing with a Chan is he has to be as productive on a per touch basis, which he can be because Hampton is that good. But that's why I say don't put him inside the top five because Achan still has that floor like we just saw two years ago where he could get knocked outside the top five just because he wasn't as efficient per touch. So I top 10 is where I have him. But I just think that the excitement could continue to build this offseason and possibly price him out of. Out of our Hand.
- [18:04]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Well, it's funny, Jake, because, you know, looking at the rankings right now, you have Achan in the system that we're still trying to figure out what it is, right? Who's the quarterback? It's a new head coach, new world there. Then you have James Cook right now Ash and Genti, who we already talked about, and then Amari and Hampton. So Laquan, who's the best value there? Because to me, if you wait it out, it feels like It's Hampton at 8.
- [18:27]
Laquan Jones
I will have to say if it's Genty, James Cook and Hampton, I like James Cook because I already like James Cook.
- [18:34]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
But, you know, for the sake of the sophomore conversations, like, would you rather have Genti or Amari Hampton a couple picks later?
- [18:39]
Laquan Jones
I mean, Hampton, I'd probably go Hampton, because I think Hampton, in a sense, we're going to get somewhat similar of an A CHAN workload and types of targets he's going to see. They're going to be valuable targets like McDaniel's from that Kyle Shanahan tree. We talked about running backs getting those targets in the red zone. If he's going to be in striking distance, he's going to be heavily involved. Why this team scores. So I think there's going to be a lot of touchdown strap to Hampton. Like, he's another one of those freak athletes. He can handle the workload as if he's a Derrick Henry and also contribute in the passion passing game and find himself breaking tackles and being explosive. This dude did a freak athlete. Have you seen the photo of him shaking Jim Harbaugh's hand like, oh, my God, Joe, I copped this guy to Brock Lesnar. The dude is a freak athlete, bro. Like, it's one of those things that I wouldn't be surprised if I see Hampton doing a shooter star press off of offensive lineman into the end zone. That's how crazy this guy is when healthy and having the right tools on the old line to block for him. So I'm all geared up for Hampton the sophomore year. But like Jake was saying, he could get pulled up into that top five conversation where you have to start making these business decisions like, hey, do I really, really like this guy to take him over Devon H? And do I really, really like this guy to take him over some of these guys like Gibbs or even having the conversation about cmc. Like, I think that's where we might see him get pulled up by August.
- [19:59]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
All right, one more running back to talk about here. We've got Quintean Judkins I was out on Judkins. He had some of the personal stuff going on Laquan going into the year. He was missing training camp and I usually, you know, rookies missing training camp doesn't feel like a good beat to me. Then he came back and he played very well and I was like, oh man, I'm gonna take an L on this. And then he kind of disappeared in the second half. Right. Really just kind of fell off in terms of fantasy productivity. Now that could be all the quarterback transitioning. That could be a million different variety of reasons for all that. So Quinte Sean Judkins with his stock going into this year, are you comfortable with where it's at? Do you feel like at the 23rd overall back that's too low potentially for what he brings in terms of talent or is it just right because it's actually a few picks later than guys like Travion Henderson, Toronto Williams was very steady last year. But I mean would is Quin Sean being undervalued, overvalued or is he just right.
- [20:53]
Laquan Jones
He'll probably just right there. You said 23rd, right? Like that's the line where you start getting into some high end backup running backs, you know, guys like the Zach Charbonne's of the world. Right. Like that's kind of the area where start making no decision do I get depth. And I think with Judkins, like this is another situation. First of all, it's the Browns. You got to figure out what they're doing, what their identity is on offense. They have four offensive linemen right now that are free agents. And I think a lot of his, I would say back end of the season kind of downfall was the constant musical chairs of the quarterback position. If you look at the three games he played with Flaco, he was averaging 16 fantasy points in those games, 4.8 yards per carry. Then you look at the Dylan Gabriel saga, 10 fantasy points per game and then the five games with Sanders, 11 fantasy points per game. So not much change from the rookie quarterback situation. I honestly think if you're going to sit back there and have Joe Flacco air you out all downfield because you got to respect Joe's arm. But if you get these young guys coming in with the new, with a new head coach and a whole new staff and trying to mold this identity of this Browns offense, I think you're going to be looking at somewhat similar of the issues that we had on the back end of the season for Jukin. So I don't feel like he's going to be pulled up into the areas of where we're talking about. Do we take the shot on Harvey, do we take the shot on Henderson? I think Junkins is probably the last of that bottom barrel of the softwares that I would have interest in.
- [22:11]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Yeah, Jake, to Laquan's point, it kind of does feel a little bit like we're in a cycle there in Cleveland. I'm sure Cleveland Browns fans will certainly reiterate that it feels like that. But again, the talent is there. It's just whether or not the opportunity in the situation will lend itself to more fantasy productivity. Do you think it could in sophomore year or is it just more of the same?
- [22:30]
Jake Seeley
I think it could obviously depending on health. You know, that was kind of a gruesome injury for Judkins. So we're assuming that he's hopefully going to be ready for week one, but 100% for week and assuming so I think it's a fair spot. I actually have them a little bit higher because you know, drafting or ranking this early. Like I'm going to assume I'm going to shoot for like the RJ Harvey situation. Like I'm going to shoot for potential upside here. It might bite me but we have plenty of time to adjust for that. The one thing about Cleveland is their offensive line was just as bad as the Raiders. So everybody talking about the things with Genty is Cleveland's right there lockstep with them. They bring in Todd Monkin as we know. But the Schweitzer situation of it as Monkin is going to not really focus too much much on the passing game. That's what we have Switzer for, for. For the run game for Monken. So I think the fact that what we've seen the success for the Ravens is why a lot of people are have hope for Judkins. The interesting thing here is we're also talking about Lamar Jackson, Derek Henry versus question mark and Judkins and that's going to be a big factor. And the interesting thing, the one thing I'll add to is like they progressed over the three years with Switzer at the Ravens situation with, with they move from man to zone more year by year running style. And I think that would work if they carry that over that they were almost 5050 zone at the end just to mix things up especially with Judkins ability. But if they go man heavy I don't think it works because the offensive line has so many issues. So I think that's part of an answer that we probably aren't going to find out, unfortunately.
- [23:54]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
All right, we're going to talk about these sophomore wide receivers in just a moment. Before we do, I want to shout out our sponsor, Hard Rock bet. Get the Sports book of Florida. I know it's tough without football. Everyone's a little depressed nowadays. But maybe the thing you need to shake you out of the winter doldrums, a little hoops, a little hockey. Baseball's around the corner. WBC coming up. A lot of fun stuff going on. They've got same game parlays, they got live betting, got everything over at Hard Rock Bat. It's the official sports betting partner of the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic, so they know their basketball as well. And if you haven't signed up with Hard Rock Bet, there's never a better time. New signups can double their winnings on their first 10 bets. 50 max. That's right. So if you've won a hundred bucks on your bet, make it 200. That sounds pretty good to me. That's how math works, boys and girls. Hard Rock Bet app also is the only legal sports book in the state of Florida. It's also live in Arizona, Ohio, New Jersey, Indiana, Tennessee, Virginia, Illinois, Colorado and Michigan. More states coming every single day. And plus, Hard Rock Bet offers new promos every day. So whenever you're listening, just open the app, see what's going on that day over at Hard Rock Bet. But you can't do that that if you don't download it. So download the Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook app today. Payable and bonus bets Not a cash offer offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida and Florida offered by the Seminole Hard Rock Digital LLC and other states must be 21 in physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee or Virginia. Play terms and conditions apply. Concerned about gambling in Florida? Call 1833 play wise in Indiana. If you are someone you know is a gambling problem wants help, call 1-800-9 with it gambling problem, call 1-800- gambler in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia. This month, iHeartRadio is celebrating the stars of the 2026 Winter Games. Gaylord Michigan's Winter Vanecki was born to compete in the cold. A powerhouse in aerial skiing, she launches herself 40ft into the air, performing triple backflips with pinpoint precision. Known for her high degree of difficulty and perfect landings, she enters Milano Cortina as a top contender for the podium. Vanecki comes Combines aerobatic grace with daredevil courage. Looking to stick the landing of a lifetime and secure Olympic glory for Team USA. For more Winter Games Gold Search Olympics on the iHeartRadio app.
- [25:58]
Laquan Jones
Bettering your business takes working with the best. With the James Hardy alliance, you gain access to leads, training, networking and support.
- [26:06]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
From the number one brand of siding in North America.
- [26:09]
Laquan Jones
Achieve new levels of success by joining the James Hardy alliance today.
- [26:13]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
All right, gentlemen, let's transition to wide receivers. Tyrone McMillan had a pretty damn good year over a thousand yards for him. He's currently ranked as wide receiver 14, which I think is kind of fair. I want to try to make the case here, Jake, if you can, for something of top 10 range, because I don't think top five with Bryce Young as your quarterback is achievable. I just don't. Top 10, though, I think could be achievable. But we got to figure out what that draft looks like, I think for Carolina and what other kind of building blocks they continuously push forward here in terms of Bryce Young development. So is there a range here where you could carve out something even better in year two for Ted?
- [26:54]
Jake Seeley
Yeah. So I'm glad you brought the top five because the original thought process we were talking about before the show was the chances, the percent chance, the top five. And I was going to say big.
- [27:02]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Fat zero because he digits well, injuries happen crazy things.
- [27:08]
Jake Seeley
But yeah, oh, we're getting 17 wide receivers hurt like this.
- [27:12]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
I don't know. I got a bunch of them last year. Some teams, some rosters specifically for the top. Drop the YouTube comments. Laquan had seven on one team, I think.
- [27:25]
Jake Seeley
Yeah, he was just wide receiver, 26 in points per game. So to get to top five is why I said zeros.
- [27:32]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Yes, I think it's. I think it's impossible. But 10, maybe you can make the.
- [27:35]
Jake Seeley
Argument so well, that's the difference. So top five is five points per game that he needs an improvement of top 10. He needs still 3 at 2.8 if you really want to get technical. So looking at that, I still say slim because you brought up the biggest issue. His quarterback is Bryce Young. If this was, you know, even the Cardinal situation, like, well, they get rid of Kyler Murray so he can be excited about Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison, which Kobe Brissette, because he's just going to throw, throw it on. Cool, whatever. Like you said, Jacoby Brissette on the Panthers and throwing to him all the time. Because as we saw the one game where Marvin Harrison came back healthy, he actually got the vast majority. And I know we're not talking about, but I'm bringing this up for comparison's sake. He got the vast majority of the targets, not Michael Wilson. But that was an offense that when you get that volume of targets, you're also producing top 10 value. And I think that's the issue with Tedro McMillan is that the touchdowns were higher than I expected. But that line was almost exactly you, Joe, you and I talked about a few weeks ago was almost the exact line I projected from receivings and yards, receptions in yards. I just don't see him getting to. What do you really need to get to top 10? You need what he just did in receptions, but now you need 12, 13, maybe 100 yards and like nine touchdowns.
- [28:44]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
He was a touchdown nothing burger for half a season. That also hurt him too.
- [28:48]
Jake Seeley
So you know, if he, okay, let's say he gets 70, he gets 200 more yards. Does he really get to 10 receiving touchdowns? And I know it was a vast difference in the second half of the season. But it just comes down to Bryce Young. I played the game of Bryce young basing off 20, 24, saying like I really liked what I saw when he came back from injury because he started to play more comfortably. That went out the window in 2025. He went back to old Bryce Young. So maybe there's a, you know, some.
- [29:15]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Chance they got in the playoffs. They're not going to replace 10%. They're not going to replace a quarterback who went to the playoffs. That 10 rarely happens. So is it 10 for top 10 for you too, Laquan?
- [29:26]
Laquan Jones
Is that where you're at about 8%? No, I'm only lower because everything and every point that Jake made, it's Bryce Young. Like it's the inconsistent play week in and week out from Bryce Young. And then there's also another emerging factor in this wide receiver room and it's Jalen Coker. Mark my words, if Coker is back, signed and paid, he is going to be able to be the wide receiver too for that team where I think the valuable targets may be spread out between Tet McMillan and Jalen Coker to where top 10? I don't know, bro. Top 15 we can make the case like I think top 10 he would have to be in the touchdown department. More often than not he will have to be getting like 120 something targets and 85 catch. Like he would have to be in that range of where on a week to week basis Bryce is going to be lights out. He's going to be leaving games with at least two Touchdowns, not just one or nothing. It's one of those things that it's all strapped to Bryce Young and I think me going into next year, I can't sit here and try to paint this picture that Tetro McMillan is going to be a week to week wide receiver. 1 1.
- [30:34]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
All right. And Mega Buka, another guy too hot start aware. You looked at him and you're like, wow, this is, this is unbelievable. The connection was there with Baker Mayfield. Some guys went down, Mike Evans got hurt, Godwin got hurt. Right. And then Mega was great. And then the second half it just became those crickets for him. He's wide receiver 29. So it's one of two things. Either he's appropriately priced here or Laquan. We're getting a huge discount on a guy that you already saw the flashes of and now you're just waiting for year two with with the assumption I guess they made that Mike Evans moves on at this stage and it might be best for all parties at this point. Where are you at when it comes to Mechag Buka and his value at 29?
- [31:13]
Laquan Jones
29 feels like a value because we're strapping talent to the reason why it's a value. Right. Like we're looking at what he did in the beginning of the season but then fell off. He fell off because of situational things, injuries. Baker Mayfield not being himself, him suffering injuries, himself to his shoulder. And it's like, like a lot of the offense kind of just had this up and down misidentity week to week. But a Mecca Buka to me, I do feel like eventually during the summer we may take a little jump on him, take a little risk because we remember what he was able to put off. I'm sorry if you hear the fire trucks fire. There's always fires here in California.
- [31:50]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
I just want to know that you're safe.
- [31:52]
Laquan Jones
I am always gonna be safe. But listen, I need to get out.
- [31:56]
Jake Seeley
Of the house or something.
- [31:56]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Just you know, like clockwork in this area. I don't know what it is. Yeah, it happens.
- [32:03]
Laquan Jones
Fire content only, baby. That's why they out here looking for you.
- [32:05]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
That's the problem. The content's always been fired with you for so many years. Well, eventually they're gonna find you.
- [32:11]
Laquan Jones
I do think that we are going to jump in this sophomore bag with him and not really try to remember on the back end of the season because we've seen him at the absolute heights. And even if Mike Evans does move on, this just opens up more opportunity for him to get on the field and we can go into camp now knowing he's a starter. I think Jalen McMillan being back as well is going to contribute to this offense. So they're going to have some nice pieces. You know, going into this off season where guys have a year under the belt. They got the experience now they see the mistakes. We just hope Baker Mayfield shows up as the MVP in the first five weeks. Baker May.
- [32:45]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Yeah, well that's the other thing too. Like Baker Mayfield clearly was playing her down the stretch too. He had some, some issues there too. I mean they off to such a great start together. So that in mind Jake, if he is wide receiver 29 come August I will be having a lot of exposure to a mecha Igbuka. How do you feel about him?
- [33:02]
Jake Seeley
I feel like there's a lot of factors. As of today I actually have him as a wide receiver three because there's. You brought it up. Mike Evans and the one name neither of you guys mentioned. Chris Godwin's still there and Chris Godwin was healthy in the second half of the season and Chris Godwin looked like oh by the way, even with Baker Mayfield's issues was still had his connection, his. And you talk about these numbers. I'll give you the numbers. So the first five games with Ibuka and Baker Mayfield, 92% of his passes were on target to igbuka. After that 72%. Ibuka went from those first five games of 25 receptions, 445 yards and five touchdowns to the rest of the season 37, 485 and five basically in his first five games. That's what he did for the rest of the year after that. And I know some of it's Baker Mayfield, but part of that too is Mike Evans was out there in games one through three and then it took two games for Igbuka to kind of fall off. But then Godwin came back and started looking healthy. And that's why I bring all this up is to say that like I think a book has talent is legit. I said this last year. This is coming from somebody who was on a book as a top tier wide receiver in that draft. I just think that 20 what was you said 29. That's too low if Mike Evans is gone and I just don't know like we talked about it, Joe, we did the free agent show. I actually think there's better spots for Mike Evans next year. Not just because of Mike Evans, but because what it would do for Buka Buka with Godwin. I would have as a top 24 wide receiver. And I do think McMillan would be a factor. As Laquan said, I do think he'll be a significant wide receiver three on the team. Mack? Yeah. Wide receiver three on the team, not wide receiver three. In fantasy, to be clear. But if Mike Evans comes back because he just wants to finish his career and the Buccaneers just want to bring him back for a swan song, I just. It's. We're looking back at the Bear situation and it's just tough for him to get there. So this actually might end up being too high if Evans is back.
- [34:47]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
I'm not as bullish as you are on Godwin. He had one great game against Miami in the second half. That was his one wide receiver, one finish. Everything else was 24 or worse. Like, I don't know.
- [34:56]
Jake Seeley
It's not the fantasy part of him. It's what he takes away from opportunities.
- [35:00]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
No, no, absolutely. But again, healthy Chris Godwin's not something we've seen a lot of in the last three years. I just feel like that's another issue.
- [35:07]
Jake Seeley
If Evans is gone and Mike. Chris Godwin gets hurt again, then.
- [35:12]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Look, Igbuka is 29. You have to go all the way down. I think was 37 where.
- [35:16]
Laquan Jones
God.
- [35:16]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Yeah, 37 is where Godwin is. Like, like, that's significant difference there. I think the market's telling you that, like, Igbuka is the future Luther Burden. Is he the future for the Bears? Another guy that had some heavy draft capital ECR, wide receiver, 23. Is he ready to be the alpha dog there, you think? Or is it just still another one to choose your own adventure on a weekly basis with the Bears, Jake, it's.
- [35:39]
Jake Seeley
Wait one more year because they can't get away from DJ Moore unless they find somebody that's willing to trade something. And that's still a hell of a dead cap if they do trade him. Because they're still on the hook for some of it. It's not as bad, but it's miserable. Like, they can't get rid of DJ Moore straight up. Like, maybe they can work the contract, but if they restructure it, he's still with the team. And that's the issue here is like, and this is from another one, that I was a big fan of Luther Burden a lot more than most people that were on Burden, that even they liked him. I still thought that he was knocking on that tier one door for the draft. And you saw it and you saw what he could do. But let's also talk about his Situation. Roma Dunese wasn't healthy at the end of the season. Colston Loveland, which we're going to talk about later in the show, broke out at the end of the season. There's just a glory hog of options for Caleb Williams to turn to. And it's just. Will luther burden get 20% of the targets over the course of the entire season with DJ Moore still around? Yeah, Dj Moore should fall to being the third option with A Dunes A healthy A Dunes A and a healthy Burden. But we also have Loveland entering his second season each season, even with Cole Comet likely gone. So it's just, it's the factor of too many options, which is great for the Bears in real life, but for us in fantasy, it just kind of sucks.
- [36:49]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
All right, luther burden in 2026 sophomore year. Laquan, what do you see in store?
- [36:55]
Laquan Jones
It's more of what we saw last season because like Jake said, they can't get rid of DJ Moore. I mean, honestly, it's too many mouths to feed and Caleb needs to find a way to complete the ball. Also, it's one of those things that, hey, how valuable are these targets going to be for Luther Burner on a week to week basis to be a, what we say, a wide receiver? 3 in the sense of where he will be drafted, where he's at right now, this is one of the hype trains that started immediately after the season end. And I'm not ready to jump on this hype train yet because I think folks are going to pull up and pull him up even higher. Even with an existing DJ Moore. This is one of those situations, like if they're like how, how I operate, if there's a long line and I've been standing in this line too long, I'm ready to move to the next. Another train will be on the way. That's one of the situations that I'm looking at where Luther Burden, I love the talent. I love him as a prospect. I was one of the few people that, hey, he could be very explosive in a Ben Johnson offense. If Roman Dunes and DJ Moore didn't exist, like, you know, this is one of the first pie pieces that he was building this giant, you know, masterpiece of an offense behind Caleb Williams, then yeah, I'm full on board for it. But it's a matter of opportunity, a matter of that target share that Jake was talking about. I don't even think he cracks 15% of the targets next year. You got to wait one more year for them to get DJ Moore out of the way or, you know, they figure something out.
- [38:13]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Well, one more wide receiver too is a sophomore this year. You really didn't see him much. A little bit sprinkled at the end of the year for the Chargers was Trey Harris. I like this pick. Originally I like Trey Harris as a prospect too. I thought I was like, okay, this is a good fit here. We have to probably wait a year at least, you know, because Katie now is going to be there. I did not see the QJ Renaissance coming at me in 2025. That one I was not prepared for. So I don't know if I want to bet on it or not. But again, this is another crowded situation, but a much cheaper one than burden. So because it's so much cheaper, is it appealing to you, Laquan?
- [38:44]
Laquan Jones
Yes. I love Trey Harris. And Jake, I think think you were on the timeline as well talking Trey Harris as well. I think we were aligning. I feel like Trey Harris last year, the little flashes we saw was like, okay, the future is bright. He's in the right situation. Justin Herbert, his is his quarterback for X amount of years. I think Trey Harris with another experience here at getting on the field, with Keenan Allen out of the way, we might be looking at a high end wide receiver too. And that is in the future for him. I think, honestly, La McConkey, he'll be the function, he'll be the operation of the offense. We know he'll be the target share, but they need that number two on the perimeter that can stretch the field and beat guys as well. And I understand that at the end of the day this is a sophomore wide receiver. We don't have much evidence of him being a full time wide receiver. We see Keandre Lambert Smith in the preseason making plays as well in the same exact role that Trey Harris has had. So there's a little competition during summer camp that we need to be watching. But at the end of the day, if Trey Harris is sitting there for free for me in drafts, you know, I'm grabbing him up because I just love the player he is.
- [39:46]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Jake, I always had massive concerns about Mike McDaniel as a head coach, but as an offensive mind, I'm thrilled and really excited to see what he could do with a quarterback like Justin Herbert. Like, this is a real, this is a big boy quarterback, okay? There's no limitations here in terms of what he could do physically and you put him in this offense and to me you have that kind of offensive mind. Working with a quarterback like Justin Herbert has already proved in the NFL. He could throw for 5,000 yards and, you know, make the big throws and do what he's got to do. Can Trey Harris be an emerging star that maybe nobody's looking enough at in 20, 26 drafts?
- [40:20]
Jake Seeley
I think if we're going to quantify it with free, nobody's looking at absolutely. You know, Trey Harris. Yeah, Laquan's right. I missed Trey Harris. I thought Trey Harris would be the number two for this team. I really thought that was the talent here. But now, as you're saying, maybe just a year early, also a year after.
- [40:38]
Laquan Jones
We never wrong, just early.
- [40:39]
Jake Seeley
Quentin justice, nobody saw that coming and we had all written them off, but third year wide receiver that finally broke through and finally, oh, by the way, learned how to catch a little bit. Still had some problems at times, but got his hands and figured out Eric Ebron, figured out the hands part. So yeah, sure, Keenan Allen's gone, but now there's whole other piece that we didn't even bring up yet. So far, another name Arande Gadson at tight end. They just have weapons. And the one thing I'll go back to Mike McDaniel with is again, again great offensive mind. He can get a lot out of this team. But just like with the Dolphins, you're talking about a funneled target share most likely. And again, the running is going to bleed the clock and the amount of plays being hangered. So if Trey Harris is the clear number two, Gadsden's kind of like a hit or miss tight end. Cool thumbs up. If Quentin Johnson still factored in and Aronda Gasson's factored in and Trey Harris is factored in. Now we're going back to the Bears situation of it's just the amount of volume there and we're talking about Tua just two years ago through 4700 yards and almost 30 touchdowns and it was still, it's so concentrated in the McDaniel offense. So there can be an ancillary piece if we're talking dfs, best ball, fun stuff like that. But unless we get that clear picture, which is that's why Trey Harris is certainly valuable for free right now. Absolutely buy in. But it could be a non factor because he might not even be the second option on this team.
- [41:59]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
I already have him on my Dynasty team. I think he's a buy low in Dynasty. And speaking of Dynasty, Dynasty managers, we just launched the brand new Fantasy Dynasty channel for fantasy pros over on YouTube. So we got the rookie stuff, we got the Super Flex strategy, we got Startup Drafts going. We got trade advice, we got everything. So if you haven't already, run over to the channel, Fantasy Pros Dynasty channel on YouTube hit subscribe support the team. A lot of Dynasty talk. We know there's a lot of Dynasty players out there too, so we want you to be a part of that channel. It's growing very quickly as well, to no one's surprise. All right, let's talk about quarterbacks here. Tyler Shuck, old man Shuck somehow was able to defy gravity maybe. I mean he did. He finishes QB10 from week 8 to the end of the season. I don't think a lot of people realize that. And Jake, we did a lot of shows together where we kept saying we come together on Monday mornings ago. You know, every week Tyler Schuck plays a little better and then we come back the next week and say, you know what? He played even a little better this week and it feels like that was going. And I guess the question is in 2026, do we go and revert because there's no film on him and people find out his weaknesses and they expose him or does he grow into something even more in that steady slow climb that we saw a quarterback who got a lot more reps in college, which seems to be benefiting him at the NFL level.
- [43:12]
Jake Seeley
Yeah, you know, had more 300 yard passing games. Tyler Shook or the next quarterback. We're going to talk about Jackson Dart Shook because Dart had none. So just gave you an idea. It's just.
- [43:22]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Well, in all fairness, how many games did he play with Malik Neighbors?
- [43:25]
Jake Seeley
It doesn't matter. How many games did he play with only Chris Shook? Yeah, like so the thing is the.
- [43:32]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Blue tent got a lot of yards.
- [43:34]
Jake Seeley
With shuck is top 16 is a fair spot because he also runs like we're not talking about when we talk about Dart. We'll talk about that as a whole separate topic, I'm sure. But the fact is that Shook adds that on the ground and you know you're looking at the fact that he could probably give you four or 500 in the ground a couple of touchdowns over a four full season, maybe even a little bit more if they let him run free. But it'll be interesting to see what happens in year two. But as a mid QB2 with what he did with only Olave for all intensive purposes is Juan Johnson the. You know, the trader Shahid. And then he know they're trying to fill that spot. It was the Von Vele for a spot but then he got hurt again. So like they just like we all assume that they're going to find a way, whether via the draft or making money and Monopoly to try and figure out their salary cap to bring somebody in there alongside Alave. But like as, as much as we laughed at Shuck for being as old as he was, as you just said, the one thing that he showed was the polish that he came in from college with. So I don't think there's a high ceiling. I don't think Shook's ever going to be inside the top 10 conversation. But as a mid QB2 because he will run too, I think absolutely deserves the conversation as like a top 16, 18 quarterback.
- [44:44]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Laquan, he's at 19, Sam Darnold's at 22. That just doesn't seem fair to me, me or right to me? Does it feel right to you?
- [44:52]
Laquan Jones
It feels right to me. I mean we talked about it. Shuck was out there shucking it for fantasy. Like we seen my boy run a 34 yard touchdown out of the pocket, making magic under pressure. This is the type of player we're seeing. Like my boy is poised in the pocket. I was just so wild how comfortable he looked like in the first game against the Rams. Like I'm like watching this guy like wait, hold up. This is the guy that took over Spencer Rattler.
- [45:14]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Oh, okay.
- [45:15]
Laquan Jones
You throwing downfield. Okay. You find a Juwan Johnson. And Juwan Johnson was one of my summer summer must draft tight ends because I felt and knew that he was going to have that connection with Kellen Moore. And this is the system that I think Kellen Moore is going to map around Tyler Shuck and his strengths because we see he can get out of pocket, roll out and run and get up vertical. We know he can throw the deep ball. Really deep. Pretty ball at that. So bringing somebody in this free agency like Jake mentioned them playing with Monopoly money, they have in the past have been kicking this can down the road for years. Man. They got 65 million in dead cash cap. That is insane. And they signed Brandon Cooks, Justin Reed, extended Juwan Johnson and Chase Young. How are they doing this? I don't know. With the cap and greasing, I do think they'll find some wiggle room to bring in another piece that they need because again there's some wide receivers out there. I was whispering Romeo Dobbs to the New Orleans. That would be a perfect thing, you know, for them to have that wide receiver too acting as a 1B to Chris Olave. So I think Tyler Shuck, I'm all in top 12. I'll say top 12. Tyler Schuck next year.
- [46:20]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
All right. Jackson Dart obviously is gonna have a huge hype train attached to him because the rushing equity, the new head coach, the Giants are kind of fun. You know, not a statement that I've said in my lifetime, very much. Even when the Giants were good, most of the time they were pretty dull. Let's be honest. Like even in the 80s. Great defense, but kind of dull. Eli Manning years were dull.
- [46:44]
Laquan Jones
That's.
- [46:44]
Jake Seeley
That's my dog Barkley with the Giants helmet.
- [46:46]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
And I can.
- [46:47]
Jake Seeley
I'm struggling to point backwards.
- [46:48]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Well, you're usually struggling, but there you go. I hope everybody on the podcast audio version enjoyed that. So that's why they have to watch things that they can't say and they mess. So look, Quan, here's the question. They're going to be excited because Scatter Boo is going to be back and neighbor's going to be back and Harbaugh is going to be there. When does the hype train run out of control for Jackson Dart for you, like, he is QB7 already, it's ahead of Justin Herbert, which I would not do. It's ahead of Brock Purdy, Caleb Williams, Trevor Lawrence. Do you think that's too much, too soon for Jackson Dar, especially with some of the concerns you have in terms of style of play that we just talked about? Put it like this.
- [47:23]
Laquan Jones
I get it because that boy averaging 20 fantasy points per game in the games that he was available. That's top five potential right there. We know he can get out of pocket. We know he can hit the long ball. We saw that connection in Ole Miss with him and Trey Harris. Like, we know it's there. So with a healthy neighbors, this is a dangerous formula for an offense that could produce a ton of fantasy points. And I think think you do bake in the risk of him having these concussions piling up 50% of his games. He was in the medical tent. Like, this is all risk baked into that QB7. But I think honestly, if he gives us a full season, we may be talking about him in the top five because again, we've seen the attitude. He has this mindset. He was questioned about him taking too many hits or sliding or running out of bounds. He's like, hey, Wayne, playing soccer, which I take is very disrespect. You say that to Wayne.
- [48:09]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
I know you're in soccer game.
- [48:10]
Laquan Jones
Yeah.
- [48:11]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
I wore my AFC Richmond sweatshirt for you today, which also you can only see on the YouTube channel.
- [48:17]
Laquan Jones
Yes, yes. But I do Feel like he's going to have that conversation around him for the rest of his career. But the play that we've seen in the games that he's available, how can you not strap that top five conversation to him?
- [48:30]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
All right, let's talk about the cost. Jackson Dar for you, Jake Seal, you're willing to pay what it is because it's already pretty steep.
- [48:36]
Jake Seeley
Yeah, because I have him right there at QB7. If you look at the fact that there's a lot of factors you can put into Jackson Dart and the biggest one being for the detractors is the head. Like if he gets concussions, if he doesn't stop trying to take contact, like legit, like trying like him and Cam Scatterboo stopped. Like I don't know what they had. Like they watched too much of the juggernaut, whatever it is, but stop. Just learn to slide, learn to avoid contact. Step out of the bounds. You can go out of bounds, you don't have to keep staying in. Watch some Michael Vic tape, dance on the sideline and step out and they give the extra 15 yards penalty as you step one foot out of bounds. But the point being 487 and 9 on the ground compared to the 2200 yards 15 and 5 passing 40. Almost 43% of his production and fantasy came from rushing. Now I know people are like, well that's risky to bank on and that's what I just said about the injuries. But the interesting part about it is a 16, almost 17% goal to go rushes and 22% goal line rush attempts for the entire season for the Giants. That's not just games he played, that's the entire season of the Giants. And the reason I bring that up is because Lamar Jackson's not a huge, huge touchdown maker. But under Harbaugh, 25 and 35 for those numbers in 2024 when he wasn't even running, like that was his huge new year passing obviously as well. And I'm not even saying that Dart's going to be a huge passer because there's Malik neighbors, questions of whether he's ready for week one, questions of what's going to be the number two Wandell Robinson or a draft pick or free agency. But I really like the 15 to 5 touchdown interception because he threw smart. And I think that if you look at this, look at Jaden Daniel's rookie season, he basically had about 30. Was it 3820 something touchdowns and just a mid level, that's a mid level passing season. And he was a top five quarterback because of the rushing. And I think that's what Laquan was bringing up too, is that the healthy games he played the entire time, the running made him a top five quarterback. The risk is you don't have a quarterback for half the season. We're playing the Anthony Richardson game, but the upside legitimately is top five. And that's why I would take him as seven because I'd rather chase for the upside than to get QB9.
- [50:39]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
All right, let's talk about Cam Ward and Shadore Sanders here for a second. Obviously Ward real struggle bus in the beginning, the fire of the head coach. Then towards the second half of the season, obviously improvement. Right. We cut down the turnovers. That was really good. Shador Sanders didn't get his shot until the second half of the season. A couple moments that you could say that, you know, gave you some hope. Jake, I'm going to ask you this question, put you this way. Who has the bigger fantasy impact in 2026? Is it cam Ward or Shador Sanders in their current situations as the they build out on bad teams, it's Cam.
- [51:11]
Jake Seeley
Ward and then it's Cam Ward and then it's Cam Ward. There's no Shador Sanders in this conversation. And it really comes down to him. It wasn't just what we saw from Cam Ward in the second season where he showed the talent that had people excited. Yeah, that's what I meant. It's. We heard the reports Brian Dable wanted to send the freaking farm to go trade for him and Tennessee said no. Dable comes over as somebody who. We saw what he did with the offense, with the Bills, and now he can go back to being one of the head coaches. That was a bad experience as a head coach. He was better as an offense coordinator. And we've seen Mike McDaniel's doing this. Everybody's praising Mike McDaniel as we did on this show going to the Chargers, but nobody's talking about the fact like, well, what if Brian Dabel gets back to being what Brian Dabel can do and he's over his head as a head coach, but he's great as an offensive coordinator. And we talked during. Again, this is another. I'll reference that free agency show again is he also had Darius Slayton a thing for years with the Giants because he loves having his quarterback take attempts downfield. They added Alec Pierce or even figure something out with Ali Manor takes a step forward as the deep threat with a Wandell Robinson type in DK and maybe they even bring in Wandell Robinson. Anyway, the point being is they're going to add something to this receiving core. Maybe even get rid of Calvin Ridley and take what Cam Ward is doing well and build Brian Dable's scheme as the offensive coordinator for Cam Ward. I think Cam Ward could legitimately be in the top 15 game next year in fantasy.
- [52:35]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
All right, Laquan, what are your thoughts there? By the way, I like the Robert Salah. I also like that all the other coaches that he hired after himself also bald. I was about to say, did you, did you get a contract offer, bro? I mean you would have thought that after the offensive coordinator comments I made the fact of my prolific flag do we know resume that I Are they.
- [52:55]
Jake Seeley
Sponsored by Banana Boat? Like do we know? Like just gotta protect those donuts.
- [52:59]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
I don't know. But all I will say say is that I. I mean I have a pretty damn good competitive tournament flag football resume.
- [53:06]
Jake Seeley
Kangle hats like the baby blue ones.
- [53:08]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
That would match the team Sam Jackson Kangal look is so good. They should all wear those.
- [53:14]
Laquan Jones
That's such a good before my time.
- [53:16]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Oh my God, the Kangals. Stop it, bro. Don't even play around like that.
- [53:23]
Laquan Jones
I mean the age on my fault. Look, I got the grays out. I mean all the video watchers and you know, the audio listeners go check out the video. You see the little patch right here? It's for Wizards wisdom. But Cam Ward. Cam Ward, Cam Ward. But listen Jake.
- [53:40]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Just for the record, the producers, if you're watching this, I want you to hopefully in that conversation you're inserting the picture of all the bald head coach or coaches. I should say yes, I want that visual. I'm gonna drop it in there for.
- [53:51]
Jake Seeley
The guys but make this all like.
- [53:53]
Laquan Jones
Jake was talking about. Brian Dabel is a key piece of why I think Cam Ward has that type of ceiling that Jake is talking about. I'm weather I'm looking to take a leap Forward the top 10 conversation and here's why. This is another first round quarterback that Brian D. Ball gets to work with. I mean he's had success in the first year with all his quarterbacks except for Josh Allen, believe it or not. But look at Daniel Jones at 22, 700 yards on the ground. My guy was QB9. Not saying Cam Ward is going to be as mobile, but we got a great look of where we seen flashes of Dan Jones being able to attack deep downfield. Then you look at Jackson dart last year that we just talked about. He had top five Potential that we are putting him in that conversation if he stays healthy. I think with Cam Ward finishing on the back end of the season, the plays that we've seen, the game against the Seahawks is the game I keep watching over and over. Yet the fourth best fantasy performance against that defense by the way. And I think we honestly look at what Cammore possesses on that utility belt. It's the football iq, it's the confidence and it's obviously we need upgrades on the perimeter and Ellic ironmaner led the league in drop rate. He cannot drop the ball anymore. I think Elick Iron Manor is one of the great, you know, perimeter wide receivers that were coming out of this class that I think he has that likes to take a step forward next year. Then you look at Ed Deke ak, he's a playmaker, kind of like a gadget guy. I think more of a special teams guy. But like Jake said, what are they going to do with Calvin Ridley? I mean he has a roster bonus that's triggering March 17th so that's a month away that's coming up. So I think they honestly should keep Calvin Ridley because we know what he possesses. But I don't think he's a one anymore. I think he's more of a two A distraction, a one B because he has the speed, he has the hands when he's available, it's just more, more is it here for him? Is he emotionally invested anymore? It's Tennessee, I get it. But Cam Ward, his future is bright man. So I am all in on the Cam Ward height train. I'm going as further as saying like in super flex leagues he is my QB too in one quarterback leagues. If I want to get cute and I wait deep, deep late in drafts I might take him as I'm a QB one just based on the evidence we have seen with Brian D Ball with these quarterbacks.
- [55:57]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
I think that's where a good head coach comes into play too. And I think Robert Sala is a good football guy. We've got a raw deal and with the jets and I think him bringing that stability, bringing some of those players back and saying hey, you know, look, I don't care if it's a Tennessee, it was going to be a different kind of Tennessee now. And Cam Ward is an incredible worker. That's what I like about Cambord. He's a hard working kid. He takes it real seriously. All right, last position here. It's actually a really good one. It's the tight ends and the tight ends are some real Talent that came into the league last year. You got Colson Loveland, you got Tyler Warren, looked like a beast. And Harold Fanning Jr. Who also looks like a star in the making. Right? These are three really high quality young players all entering their sophomore year. Colson Loveland, number three tight end on the list right now. Fannin number five, Tyler Warren, number six. I'm guessing it's number six because we're still waiting to figure out what the quarterback situation ends up being in Indianapolis. So Laquan, I'll put this to you. Who is your favorite investment of those three guys based upon the early rankings?
- [56:55]
Laquan Jones
I gotta say Harri Fannah Jr. I've been rocking him for some time now. I mean February 28, 2025, I said he will be a team top five fantasy tight end and I would dye my hair blonde if so. So the blonde hair is on the way. Joe and Jake. So I got a ride with Fannin man. Because I think Warren like you said the question marks in Indy. I like Riley Leonard by the way. I think they should stick with him. But Dan Joe's coming back from an Achilles at 29 years old. That doesn't sound great. We've seen that be the chef kiss and end game for a lot of these quarterbacks. Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousinson, recent examples. But leveling at 3. It's interesting because there's a lot of question marks after Brock bowers and Trey McBride. KD's hurt is Kyle Pitt stay in Atlanta. I mean when we're looking at all these other guys that are falling later like the Sam laporter, is he back? Like there's a lot of question marks after the two tier one tight ends. So it's like Loveland feels like may not be the not sexiest pick but the safest pick because we've seen him explode on the back end of the season. There's obviously a plan for him to be involved as the function of this offense. So I'm happy with him at three but he's not my favorite. It's Harold Fannin. I think he's going to surpass that.
- [58:06]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
I gotta say Jake, like the three, it's. It's a little jarring at first but if you were paying attention to the end of the year for the Bears, I think it's right. I'm actually on the loved one train. How about you?
- [58:16]
Jake Seeley
So I have my four but that's only because assuming health I would go with Tucker Kraft at three. That's a big one and obviously we have to see Also they might make some moves in free agency at wide receiver that surprise us and then that changes things as well. But I think the bigger take here is I go Loveland fan and Warren in order. There's a lot of assumptions we have to make with all three of them and I think the bigger takeaway that I would say is that it's tier one McBride and Bowers and then pick your poison if you want like whoever you like. If you want to chase this Laporta situation because of their OC coming in with pets and what he did with McBride with Arizona and all of a sudden like Laporte is back and now Jameson Williams falls off and all of a sudden laporte is back inside the top five. Point being there's a multitude of options that you could pick and make your own case for. I'm not going to argue too much with Klaun on this. I would go with Loveland mostly because once we saw things start to clear out, one person that we saw how much of a factor Loveland will be especially down the road and in the playoff. Like the target share at the end of the season was ridiculous for Loveland and I mean he was putting up double digit games per week. But I brought up the DJ Mo before. If DJ Moore is still around, oh Dunes A is healthy. What happens with other pieces on this team? So he's got the target share problem, Fan has got the quarterback problem and even with the similar probable offense that will be running, you still have is it Sanders? Is it going to be him and Fannin together for the year and then Warren is Daniel Jones back? Because if they go back to Anthony Richardson, which I do think deserves another chance, maybe not with the Colts, but if it's Daniel Jones, cool. Tyler Warren, you can make a case that he's the best one. But if it's. It's not Daniel Jones and it's Anthony Richardson, then we're like okay, okay, hold on. We might be looking at Taylor Warren even being behind Laporta and Pitts. So I have no problem. Whoever you want to take Eileen slightly Loveland, but I can see a case for all three. I guess that's a three way straddled fence that I just did which I don't know if it's possible but sounds dangerous. It sounds very uncomfortable. But the point being is they're all great options just behind that top tier.
- [60:13]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Yeah look around Gadson at 102 we talked about what he could be potentially in that might be Daniel offense. I gotta tell you this is the best young group of tight end players I've ever seen in the league at this juncture for Fantasy ever. Like, I just. That means we're all gonna get hurt.
- [60:29]
Jake Seeley
None of them are gonna finish and we're gonna see like Brenton Strange is the third quarter.
- [60:34]
Laquan Jones
No, we're gonna see some of these rookies. We're gonna see some of these rookies.
- [60:38]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Maybe, maybe Sidi.
- [60:39]
Jake Seeley
We'll see Jake Tis when Kittle's out for the year.
- [60:43]
Joey P (Joe P. Zappia)
Yeah. Oh, my gosh. Oh, no. On and on that note, it's a good tight end class. Be excited about it. Don't let Jake rain on your parade. Great stuff, guys. Looking ahead to the second year for all the rookies from 2025. A lot of great stuff here. Who's your favorite sophomore to have a great 2026? Drop your comments below in the YouTube channel. I want to hear your picks. And of course, shout out to Laquan Jones from NFL Network for joining us today and Jake Seeley from the Athletic. Great stuff, boys. Really fun conversation. We, we could do this for hours, but we won't. One is enough that'll do it for us. But the story of the game goes on for Jake and LA Quantum. Joey P. We'll see you next time, kids.
- [61:21]
Laquan Jones
Thanks for listening to the Fantasy Pros Fantasy Football podcast. If you love the show, the best free way to support us is by leaving a positive review on apple podcasts@fantasypros.com.
- [61:31]
Jake Seeley
Review or on Spotify.
- [61:33]
Laquan Jones
Follow us on X Instagram and TikTok at Fantasy Pros and subscribe. Subscribe to our YouTube channel at YouTube.com fantasypros. This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.