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FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast
MUST-HAVE Fantasy Football Rookie Draft Targets | Expert WR Picks, Dynasty Values, & Sleepers (Ep. 2008)
00:34:23
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- [00:00]
A
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Welcome in everybody to Fantasy Pros. This is the Fantasy Football podcast. It is me, Joey P, Joe P. Zappia and we all know that the NFL draft is over, but our actual drafts are just beginning and we've got rookie draft targets for you today that we're going to talk about. It's part of a three part series and in today's part of the series we're talking about the wide receiver picks of the Dynasty values, the sleepers, the guys you need to know. As we know, a lot of rookie drafts are starting up right now. So of course subscribe to our channel. Subscribe to the new Dynasty podcast as well on the feed on YouTube also. And of course while you're subscribing to us, give us a subscribe over at Tailgate NFL we just did a fantastic fun draft recap show of all the storylines and headlines and everything going on. Plus it's about the coolest looking show you'll ever see on YouTube. So go support our team too. So that's three channels to subscribe to, but YouTube know we we love you here. And speaking of three people, we got three amigos with us today here for this wide receiver show. We got Jake Sealey from the Athletic and Pat Fitz Morris, whose belly is full of breakfast burritos this morning, ready to give you all the information you need on the wide receiver class. So Pat, we'll start with you on this one. Maybe not a whole lot of super alphas, right? We know next year we got Smith coming out, we got a couple other guys we like a lot. But when it comes to some alpha guys with that potential, at least in in the first round of these rookie drafts at wide receiver, who is it that you've got your eye on that you think everybody should be circling and being aggressive on in their drafts?
- [01:32]
B
I like all the top three, but Mai Lemon maybe has fallen. I don't know if he's really fallen out of Dynasty managers good graces for going a little later in the first round than maybe we thought he was going to. But I, I still like Makai Lemon quite a bit. Like Carnell Tate is my wide receiver one in this class. But I'm kind of torn between Lemon and Tyson at wide receiver too and sort of consider it a virtual tie. Like both guys have really exciting college tape. Tyson probably has the better target outlook for 2026, but Tyson also has a somewhat concerning injury history. There's a school of thought that Philly was a bad landing spot for Makai Lemon, because Jalen hurts either doesn't like throwing middle of the field or isn't good at it. Jake had an excellent Twitter thread not long ago debunking the idea that Hertz is not good at throwing to the middle of the field. Now, it's true that he hasn't thrown to the middle of the field as often as other NFL quarterbacks, but it's possible that was more about the play callers than it was about Hertz himself. And the Eagles have a new offensive play caller this year, Sean Manion. Manion has never been a play caller before, so we don't really have much to go on except what the Eagles did in the draft, taking Makai Lemon and taking Eli Stowers. That sort of indicates they want to work the middle of the field more.
- [02:56]
A
But, man, look, I know he's gotten some comps to Pat to like, I'm on Ross ain't Brown. And I think that's a little lofty, but I kind of get where they're, where they're going in terms of the type of player you should expect. You see that same comp?
- [03:09]
B
Yes, I do, Joe. I mean, you can't not see it when you watch Makai Lemon on tape. He's just such a fun player, plays bigger than his size. He's what, 511, 194. Um, wins contested catches despite being a smaller guy, just so feisty after the catch, like really shifty. And he is not going to go down without a fight. And he's a fantastic route runner. I mean, he's just so quick, like, beating defenders off the line. So I think it's going to be a pretty smooth transition for Lemon. He's just got NFL player written all over him. So I don't know. I think he's going to kind of hit the ground running. And I've noticed there's like in redraft, pretty big gap between Devonte Smith and Makai Lemon. I think it's maybe a bigger gap than it should be.
- [03:55]
A
I think you're right in those early rankings. I agree with you. And you're correct, Pat, in the sense of it's kind of open season in terms of everybody's own thoughts about this grouping, too, because there's no one clear number one guy. I mean, I agree with you. I think I have Tate number one on my board, too. But in my rookie dynasty draft, we just had Tyson go one. Lemon went the second wide receiver and Tate went third. So really, it's kind of choose your own Adventure. Now, I don't necessarily agree with that order, but it's interesting that Lemon went ahead of Tate and that one. It's a pretty sharp league too. It's with some of our Discord members who are very high up on the trough. By the way, I won last year for the first time ever. After getting my butt kicked for two years. I came back around, won the damn thing finally. But it is a very sharp league and it was really interesting to see because it is such a unique draft class in terms of the standouts. It really becomes about do you like the player, do you like the landing spot, how that all works. So I know Tate is number one on our boards. I know Jake, you're going to talk to Carnell Tate too, because I think some people might question okay, where are we at with the development of Cam Ward? Where are we at with, you know, Brian Dabel taking back over an OC job? So talk to me about Carnell Tate, Jake, and what you think his value looks like here, especially in year one, because I think that's the thing people are looking at and trying to decipher how useful will he be to me right away. I think long term we all think there's upside. What about 2026?
- [05:14]
C
Well also I want to take a quick step back and I'm curious to see the comments in this to see that if Fitz reasoned level of talking sways people more than mine because as people know I have lemon one and I will stick with lemon one and I made the argument for lemon B1 that this offense is going to change and the fact of the target share being minimum what we just saw Devontae Smith get. So he's stepping into that at worst potentially AJ Brown and you're going to tell me they threw away two FL fourth rounders to move up three whole spots to a division rival, not to use him over the middle, not to shift like really that's what the Eagles are going to be 100 right. Let's trade up and then use them only as a slot when Jalen hurts might throw over them. Anyway, sorry, I don't want to go that that's why I picked Tate. This.
- [05:55]
A
No, I think that's. I think draft capital matters. I think when you're trying to make these decisions between these players and you see certain aspects like you're pointing out where you said division rival, right moving the two fours, like yeah, I mean obviously there is they want that player. It's not because they didn't want the Steelers to get him they wanted that player. They desire their player. And chances are maybe Howie had him as the number one wide receiver on his board, Hence the big move for him. There you go.
- [06:22]
C
And I couldn't agree more. But I will speak to Tate because I've gone down the lemon road plenty. I'm kind of curious. Hopefully Fitz can swing more people our way.
- [06:29]
A
You've walked down the path of the lemon trees many times on this program.
- [06:33]
C
Actually, you know what? So much so maybe I'm just bitter that somebody stole a piece of Nicole's lemon tree off the Fort porch. Like it had two branches and somebody stole one of them. I'm like, who does that? Who steals somebody's piece of the lemon tree?
- [06:44]
A
How many neighbors do you have?
- [06:45]
C
I know, right?
- [06:46]
A
So anyway, so you're sour when it comes to lemons.
- [06:48]
C
Yes, 100%. That's why.
- [06:50]
A
Thank you. I will see myself out. Thank you. Please do.
- [06:55]
C
Carnell, Tate. Look, I think there's a conversation for all three of them. I agree with what Fitz is saying. And if I was going pure talent and health aside, I think you can make an argument for Tyson being the one in this class. I had all three in the group is Tyson, Lemon, and Tate. And you want to argue either way. I'm not be like, oh, my God, you're crazy. Lemon should be one. No, pure talent. You can make an argument for any of the three. I actually would put Tyson third just because as good as Schuck was, it was still pretty good and half of his season. So much to say that, like, I'm not going to put him over a full disappointing season of Cam Ward and over somebody playing with Jalen hurts. That's really what it comes down to in Dynasty or Redraft. So Tate's upside here is that what we saw in Cam Ward was everything we knew from college. Quick release, gets the ball out really easy, gets it downfield really easy. Because of that, didn't have a lot to throw to. You know, we saw Aya Manor flash a little bit. We saw DK flash for a little bit. And then they bring in Wandell Robinson, essentially. Dable told him to come with him, but I think Tate can be the new number one. And whatever's left of Calvin Ridley at this point is just going to get tossed aside because Tate has that ability to be George Pickens. I saw somebody comp him to CD Lamb. I think that as you said with the Monroe St. Brown, that would be like the hundred out of hundred outcome is that if he became CD Lamb. But if you tell me a mix of lamb and pickens and he's like 90% of those guys. We're going to be talking about a top 20 wide receiver for the rest of our lives with Tate for his career. So I think that he just fits the offense really well. And then if anything with Cam Ward is that we saw the placement and some of the questionable waiting a little bit too long at times. But in year two, you're still telling me Ward over shook. I'm going to take it every single time. So I'm going to take Tate and I want to be surprised if he is a top 30, like he's a wide receiver. Three as a rookie with some wide receiver two weeks and if he finishes his top 25, I wouldn't be shocked. I think that if he out produces Lemon, I would be a little bit surprised just because I think the target share is more guaranteed for Lemon. I think Ridley's still hanging around the options there. I just think there's a little bit more for Ward to throw to, but I wouldn't be shocked if it happened.
- [08:57]
A
Well, Fitzy, the thing that I find people kind of slicking around the Internet right now is like, well, it's hard to like take too much because Wanda Robinson was the free agent signing. And I said to myself, I said self, Wandell Robinson being there is good for Tate because there's less pressure on him, right? Wandell is going to play a different role in the offense and I think it allows a rookie wide receiver to come into a situation and grow and not feel too much pressure right away. And I like those kind of situations for young wide receiver talent. I think that's one of the reasons I like to make it Buka so much. Last year, that's why he was, you know, the early favorite for rookie of the year for me, because I saw that being a situation, I was like, hey, you got Godwin, you got Evans. You could just kind of float in there and see a lot of single coverage and not worry about life. And guess what? That's kind of what happened in the early going. And then of course, Baker Mayfield injuries kind of derailed everything. But do you see that as a positive too, that he's walking into a situation where although there are other bodies, it doesn't put him in a situation where he has to produce week one and be the alpha dog right away. And I think mentally that's really good for an adjustment period for a young player.
- [09:56]
B
I do. And I just think Wondale and Tate are complimentary receivers. They Work different areas of the field. Wanda's a short area guy and Tate is a downfield playmaker. And I might be worried if Cam Ward was Charlie check down. But the knock on him coming out of college was that he maybe played a little too much yolo ball where he liked to throw it downfield in a tight spaces into well covered receivers. That's fine because Carnell Tate, I mean he knows how to win contested catches. That's what's so exciting about him, like his body control, his ability to high points. He's going to come down with some, some big plays this year but he's also pretty good at getting open. And what I thought maybe you were leading into Joe was like, and I've seen this too, people sort of knocking Tay Wally wasn't even the number one receiver.
- [10:47]
A
Oh, that is the dumbest thing ever. It just so happens he plays with the best wide receiver in college. So everybody would be number two to him.
- [10:52]
B
And by the way, could have said the same thing about Jackson, Smith and Jake but he turned out pretty well. So yeah, no fears about that. I totally agree with everything Jake said and I think like, I mean don't
- [11:05]
A
say that out loud too often.
- [11:06]
B
Yeah, exactly. So he, he's my number one. I know Jake doesn't have it that way but I, I do think it's reasonably close with all of these top three and you know, I just think Tate has maybe the most, the, the best immediate outlook, I think.
- [11:23]
A
All right, if you've got a rookie draft coming up, Uncle Joey's going to help you a second because we're going to give you a little kind of inside baseball here on your football. So we are giving you access to some of the premium tools right now. You can start a three day free trial at fantasypros.com dynasty26. And if you want to start winning this trade market in your Dynasty league, use the trade analyzer right now@fantasypros.com myplaybook so again if you download it and you try three free days of the premium subscription there@fantasypros.com Dynasty 26, you will get all the trade analyzer bells and whistles. You'll get it all for you. So you can have go through your draft basically with the best tools and I would recommend going premium the rest of the season so you have them for all of your drafts and redraft as well and then all the in season stuff to. Once you see the tools that we have here, you'll be blown away, I guarantee it. So make sure you go ahead and check it out. So if you're looking at package offers, if you're looking at trading draft picks for players, whatever it is, it's going to give you all the breakdowns there. And the analyzer is going to help you make smarter data driven decisions. So check out the trade analyzer today, part of our amazing suite of tools at Fantasy Pros. Go to fantasy pros.com dynasty26 and win the trade market. All right, over on my playbook at the three day free trial right now. All right, let's go to the next group, the value tier. And I think this is where we really have to put the work in, gents. This is where I want to make sure we get in there because I think after that first round this year, everybody's kind of looking at each other because they really don't want to do. Not a lot of people who even love fantasy football and even playing dynasty leagues watch a ton of college football necessarily. They're relying on shows like this to help them through some of these deeper rounds here. So, Jake, I'm going to start with you. Give me a wide receiver that you want to talk about that you think deserves highlighting in this value tier.
- [13:01]
C
I think it's Chris Bell and I really think that everybody out there is like, oh my gosh, well, he's hurt and he's not going to play. And they're like, like, well, is he? I mean, there's some optimism. And it's funny, like we see a lot of people sitting here like the optimism for week one with wide receivers like Malik Neighbors, despite the fact that they're talking about the injury potentially pulling them out, like not to be 100% until October. And I'm not saying he's on Malik Neighbors level at all. I just look at Chris Bell in his landing spot and we all sat there pre draft saying he had a chance to be around one wide receiver if not for the injury. And yet we see Miami get essentially what I thought was a steal, where they were able to get him after a wide receiver who I don't think of as talent. And it just comes down to the injury. And maybe that's the cautionary tale, maybe that he lasted that long because the injury to NFL teams is worse than we know. But it seemed like with the workout videos that we're seeing, I know they're only workout videos that he's on pace to at least be ready, if not by October, potentially sooner. And he's stepping into a situation where there is a clear void for the number one wide receiver on his team. Like we all joke that Malik Willis had nobody to throw to before the draft and they were going to ignore it and they pretty much did until round three. But if you're telling me of who's on this roster and has the chance to be his one and I mean a one as in a one on an NFL team and of course look, I still say the other three that we've already mentioned are clearly ahead of them. Conception as a talent ahead of him. But that very next tier you can make argument with a bunch of other names in my opinion that Bell was one of the best in that next grouping if healthy and if he's healthy and even close to that, you tell me Malik Willis is not going to use him as his number one when you look at that roster and who the Tolberts and the options of theirs. So I think everybody was shocked by the fact that they took the one that they took. I just had a brain fart or Caleb Douglas like before him and I think that's for good reason. I would be surprised if Caleb Douglas is making much noise until the second, maybe third season season at best. I think Chris Bell if a hundred percent and that's the big question and I think that's the only question. If you, if you told me, let me take it the other way. If he told me today he will be 100 by week three, I would say he's going to be a wide receiver 3 in fantasy from October through the end of the year.
- [15:11]
A
It's pretty good sell right there. And look, I think Chris Bell has some warts. Jake and I think on the film room shows that we did, DBRO and I we got to point them out. But this is one more landing spot. Just makes a lot of sense. The upside makes a lot of sense. The roll of the dice makes a lot of sense because the outcome could be great. And I think what you're doing with a class that's more mid level that you're more apt to roll the dice and say hey, if I hit Chris Bell is a is a game changer for me and if it doesn't hit well, it's a weaker class and it's not really setting me back too much.
- [15:38]
C
And that's the I'm glad you brought that up. That's a really good point because if we are talking primarily dynasty and if I'm going to take the chance and that's where it's like his upside is Brandon Marshall. His downside is Robert Meacham but I think he's more towards the end of the cavern. That's what I'm saying. That's a very wide range of outcomes. That's from somebody we consider a top 15 wide receiver for years and somebody that we don't even have on our rosters in three. What I'm saying is I would skew more towards the Brandon Marshall side. Like, I would say this is like a 7030 split, but the 70% still clearly has risk associated that he is not. You bring up the warts and concerns, but I think landing in a spot like this, I think he's going to have more leeway than he would on most teams because there's such a void with the Dolphins. And of course, people are projecting already the 2027 mock draft and the Dolphins are going to take a wide receiver next year and all. Like, there's a lot. Like we could sit here and do the same thing we did last year. You just never know.
- [16:29]
A
Such a waste of time.
- [16:30]
C
I'm going to.
- [16:31]
A
Last year we all sat here and this is going to be the greatest quarterback class of all time. How did that work out, Everybody? How did that work out?
- [16:37]
C
See, and that's the thing is like the other names and we're going to talk about some of the others, but like Boston is going to be contending for the rest of his career, essentially at least his Cleveland career with conception to be the one or the two. Coop coming in as the two. Who else? Bernard's coming in as the three that we can hope that he can be the two with entire. So I'm just going to take the chance that somebody that could be the one from day one, we're talking dynasty. I'm going to take a shot when I'm in this tier for the most upside, in my opinion.
- [17:03]
A
Speaking of, Bernard happens to be the guy that Fitz, he wants to talk about. So the Pittsburgh Steelers didn't get Makai Lemon, so they have to settle later on for Jeremy Bernard of Alabama. And what I like about him is, although he doesn't jump off the page with a lot of the metrics, he is kind of a lunch pail wide receiver. And I think that kind of fits what the limitations are right now of the Pittsburgh Steelers. And to Jake's point, yeah, he's going to start out as the three. I think the health of Michael Pittman's a little questionable at this stage in his career. And I think that we know what DK Metcalf does well and doesn't do well at this point and I don't know how well that fits into. If we go back to Aaron Rodgers, a guy with the lowest A.in football last year, a guy that is really not necessarily pushing the ball downfield. It feels like there's a space here for a guy like Bernard to maybe carve himself out a role. Fitzy.
- [17:48]
B
Yeah, I couldn't agree more with what you just said about the two guys in front of him, Joe. Like I.
- [17:54]
A
You have both agreed with me in the same segment. I should just retire. Like, this is a beautiful day. I just want to point that out. Jake said something nice. Fitz said something nice. You could tell it's Monday. It's early in the week, everybody.
- [18:03]
B
Yeah, I mean, like, how much of a roadblock are we going to consider? Michael Pittman, when the Steelers basically traded a ham sandwich for him, what did they do, swap like sixth, a sixth for a seventh and pit or gave up a sixth, get Pittman and a seventh back? I think that was the deal. Or maybe it was fifth and sixth, I can't remember. But like it was not much to acquire him. He's had the back issues. I mean, I, I know that was kind of a fracture rather than like a bad back. So maybe he's going to be fine. But like he's in his late 20s. DK Metcalf in his late 20s and he's a certain type of receiver. He's just vertical threat, contested catch winner. Jeremy Bernard plays a different type of game. Like he's more about the in breaking routes. I think Bernard and Metcalf have complementary styles and I just think the fantasy community is sort of ambivalent about Jeremy Bernard. But the NFL draft analysts seem to unanimously like him and obviously the NFL did too. He went in the middle of the second round, can play inside or out, good size speed combo 61206, ran a 4, 4 8. Good route runner ball skills are good. Dangerous after the catch. And you mentioned the Aaron Rodgers thing, Joe. I mean Aaron Rodgers does not like to stand in the pocket and have pass rushers buzzing around him anymore. And if, if Bernard is kind of a short area receiver in year one, like there's target upside for him.
- [19:31]
A
Yeah, he's like your uncle in the Thanksgiving football game we were all playing in the yard. Now that just sits back in the shotgun because you know he's not going to roll out because he's got that bad hip. Like that's kind of Aaron Rodgers right now. Go ahead, Jake.
- [19:44]
C
Oh, I thought so. It's funny, I was like Uncle. Like, uncle. I was gonna say, if you look at. With Bernard, I compared him to Golden Tate because essentially I'll get this point.
- [19:53]
A
Like, you know what? You know what, though? I was a big Golden Tate guy. I like Golden Tate. He was a very. He was a useful fantasy wide receiver. He was never like, game changing necessarily. But not everybody on your roster is going to be that. You need some of those lunch pail guys. You got guys that show up there, get you a couple catches every week. Maybe there's a couple of spike weeks, but, you know, they're not necessarily special. But it doesn't mean they're not contributors. And I think that's okay.
- [20:17]
C
And everybody focuses and I'm not coming for you guys with this. It's just like everybody focuses on Aaron Rodgers. But like, let's say, okay, it's not. Let's just. It's not Aaron Rodgers. It's not Aaron Rodgers next year. Like, we know that. What if it's not Aaron Rodgers this year, too? What fits better when you have an inexperienced. Because they will. No matter if who it is at this point, if it's not Aaron Rodgers, you're going to have inexperience or lackluster inexperience at Mason Rudolph, but you're going to have questionable quarterback play. Who fits better for somebody who needs a reliable option? Who is the reliable receiver on this team? I know people are going to be like, Metcalf and Pittman are proven NFL wide receivers. But if I'm turning to somebody and I know he's a rookie and I know he could bust, but if I'm turning to somebody that I'm going to trust is going to be there for the reception, it's going to be Bernard over those two. Unless he obviously just bust in the NFL, he is the reliable of the three.
- [21:04]
A
Well, I got to tell you, Jake, when I was at the draft last week or two weeks ago, now there's a lot of Will Howard jerseys out there. So I don't know if the Steeler Nation's trying to manifest something. I know they took Drew Aller. I don't think any of the options are correct. I'm always looking for it. When you always say who should be the Steelers quarterback? And they list them all, whatever, like option E. None of the above, whatever.
- [21:22]
C
That.
- [21:22]
A
That's. That's the option I would like. That's the option I would like to take at this point, but also to that point, too. I mean, Bernard's gonna be the guy who's going to be at the early, you know, rookie minicamps, the OTAs and all that stuff. And if one of those quarterbacks is there too, working with him, that also bonds them a little bit more. You create a little bit of a chemistry of the player and I think that's something also that shouldn't go unnoticed or under discussed as well. All right, so we talked about Bernard, we talked about Bell, Jake. Let's talk about a guy in San Francisco, another place where there's some age and certainly some. I don't even know how to put it anymore. It's just like disintegration of a wide receiver room. Is that a good way to put. I don't know what to say. I mean, we brought him Mike Evans, but he is an older player. Yeah, he's coming off an injury, But I mean 49ers right now, there's definitely some pathways there for more playing time from some rookies.
- [22:07]
C
So there is a big discussion about this pick and Dejan Stribling and it's because everybody like, whoa. It's funny that the Caleb Douglas attention like just got thrown to the side because of Stribling and just because everybody's like, what the hell were the 49ers doing? Kudos to Dame Brugler, my co worker over the Athletic. He was higher on stribling than anybody. He was somebody that said that he will go inside at least the second round. So like he was high. He knew the Stribling pick was coming even though it shocked everybody. But there's still a lot of questions like you talk about warts in your game. I mean there's plenty. I brought up pre draft and I said he could be Marquez Valdez Scantling and that's like, okay, we don't even care for fantasy purposes. We don't care for real life. At best he becomes the third on a day when somebody else is hurt because that's who Marques Velda and Scantlian is at this point. But there's projectability with him. I know some people have said like Romeo Dobbs with the way that he can play downfield, but if you add the other aspects of the game that you project out and that's the point we're projecting out what Stribling can turn into. There's a lot to like for somebody of this size that runs a 4, 3 and change and there's a lot of, again I'm going to say projectibility. Projectability. Projectability. But that's what we're talking about with Stribling. We're not talking about them for 2026. Like, we're just not. If injuries happen, we're probably still not. Like, if Pearsall gets hurt again, we just have to look down this depth chart and I want to be surprised that they still add a veteran. Like there's still talks that they add somebody else just for more competition because they are projecting the future for Stribling. But if we're talking potentially again in this group of like the fields and the lanes and the branches of the world on a team that fits and he can be the new Juwan Jennings with as much as Juwan Jennings. If you projected both their ceilings, Stribling has the higher ceiling. And we just saw what Juwan Jennings can do when thrust into a role where they need him to be a top two wide receiver option. And that's what we're hoping for. The best of Stribling. Is this a potential pick that you don't even have on your roster? Absolutely. But as a flyer in the second round because he's on the 49ers in a situation where they clearly see some projectability. Like, you don't spend this draft pick without thinking there's something there. And that's really what it comes down to. Whether we all sit here and disagree with what Shriveling's done. There's something here for the landing spot and what the 49ers invested.
- [24:18]
A
All right, let's talk about the investment, Pat. For the Washington Commanders on Antonio Williams. I know it's a guy that you've kind of circled as a value guy on the list today. A guy maybe not great after the catch necessarily, but certainly again, you're looking at opportunity and pathways and I think there could be one depending upon how the rest of this offseason unfolds here. For the Washington Commanders.
- [24:38]
B
Yeah. And I mean, I actually do think he's decent after the cat. Better route runner than after the catch, for sure.
- [24:45]
A
Right. At least metrically.
- [24:46]
B
Yeah.
- [24:47]
A
In terms of measurables, I'll tell you that.
- [24:48]
B
And so Antonio Williams gets to play with Jaden Daniels and goes to a team that doesn't really have any high quality pass catchers other than Terry McLaurin. Like Williams could potentially be Washington's number two receiver right away. And it seems like the Commanders sent a clear message about how much they value Antonio Williams by taking him in the third round. And I know third round draft capital doesn't seem like a substantial investment, certainly not like Dijon Stribling at the top of the second, but Washington only had two picks in the first four rounds and there had been speculation they might trade down from number seven in the first round and pick up more draft capital. They didn't trade down. They took Sonny Stiles at seven and with only one more pick in the next three rounds, they spent that pick on Antonio Williams. So I think that's just a clear indicator how much they like him and that they see him contributing right off the bat.
- [25:45]
A
Well, we'd love to see that too, for any rookie, especially a guy like Antonio Williams. All right, we're going to get to some lottery tickets here in just a second. Before we do, shout out to our sponsor. We love Hard Rock bet, the official sports betting partner of the Orlando Magic. And speaking of the Magic, it's NBA playoff season, baby. So the Knicks are creating a buzz again after a disappointing season last year where they, you know, kept pushing through. Now, luckily I'm not a Nick fan, but I'm surrounded here in my area with friends and family that are. So I'm just, as a Mets fan, I'm trying to talk them down off the ledge a little bit. It's like, guys good too excited. You know, bad things are always around the corner for the blue and orange, no matter what it is. But the good news is you can still enjoy yourself by making some waiters at Hard Rock Bet. Same game parlays are out there for you. We could try your first bet right now. You bet five bucks. If your bet hits, you get your winnings and 150 in bonus bets right now at Hard Rock Bet. So it's just the tip of the iceberg, by the way, too. They've got promos every single day. So check it out. And remember, it's Florida's legal sportsbook, the only one. So if you're not in Florida, that's okay. Arizona, Ohio, New Jersey, Indiana, Tennessee, Virginia, Illinois, Colorado and Michigan. More states on the way are all in Hard Rock Bet right now on the app. So download the app today and get the party started only at Hard Rock Bet payable and bonus bets. Not a cash offer offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in Florida, offered by a Seminole Hardware Hard Rock Digital LLC in 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 1-833-play- wise in Indiana. If you or someone you know has a gambling Problem wants help, call 1-809-with-Gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia. All right, lotto tickets, baby. Let's go. Let's scratch them off and see if we can get a winner here. Jake, who's that scratcher guy for you that you think could possibly hit and make us all really rich in Dynasty?
- [27:37]
C
Well, I wanted to talk Brendan Thompson, but we could do it on the other show. So if help the, you know, the algorithm over here. Go watch the other show and you bring up Brennan.
- [27:45]
A
Go watch the other shows.
- [27:46]
C
Because really what he does after the catch and fitting with Mike McDaniel and potentially that situation, I'll bring up another that I think is very similar is Deon Burks, is the fact of what he can do. He gets up to speed and he's one of those players that if you ever see how fast he is and then something happens like in the middle of the field, the other with the ball or trying to get to that deep play is that they hit that second gear. There's a lot of fast players that were just. It's one speed. He has that second gear and yeah, he's a buried pick. He day three, late, super late day three, seventh rounder, wasn't he?
- [28:14]
A
54. There you go.
- [28:16]
C
Almost at the end of the draft he was almost Mr. Irrelevant. But he might not be just because of the landing spot. The Colts don't have a plethora of options at their wide receiver situation. They just signed Alec Pierce to that long term deal which they like throwing the ball deep. I think that Josh Downs is in store to step up and compliments very well. Similar to what we're talking about with these other teams about the wide receiver complimenting the big play threat. But as a potential to be the number three and another big play threat, there'll be inconsistencies because unless something were to happen, Alec Pierce and he got thrust into a top two role, you're not going to get consistency from Berks. But we are talking about Flyers, we're talking about upside, talking about third, fourth round pick in your rookie Dynasty draft. I'll take a chance on Burks just because there's not a lot of options in front of him where he can make some noise. It'll be inconsistent noise. You're thinking like later career Hollywood Brown or the Best of Me Cole Harbin, which isn't a lot but I mean like if they get the best, it's
- [29:09]
A
more of a TikTok video than a full two hour documentary.
- [29:11]
C
Right? Right. Hollywood Hardman. There you go. Like I know people hate those but you Know, that's just a fun name. But I think that again, if we're Talking about past 17, there's some names that I thought we might be able to talk about. Like I thought Branch landed in a nice situation or Scholar Bell, but we said 17 or beyond for these wide receivers. So of them, the only two are Thompson and Burks. Well, outside of the one that Fitz is going to bring up, there's like three names. I'm only considering this late.
- [29:38]
A
By the way. Those two guys are back to back in the Overall rankings on fantasypros.com that we're looking at right now. So it's interesting because I just did all the team previews and off season recaps for the black book, trying to get that together for June and going through the Colts, it just kind of just continue to look at that depth chart going, man, they're. There's light at wide receiver. Like, I understand they love Alec Pierce and I get it and just like they are light. So I agree with you. I think he's a really interesting option if he can have. You know, I don't think most people
- [30:05]
C
press everybody realize they signed Westbrook Aquinas. Like that's how, like they're, that's how desperate.
- [30:11]
A
Oh, I do. I know because I just did it. Sorry for the sirens here.
- [30:14]
C
Hey, you. You want to make some money, go to a bar and ask where Laquan Treadwell is playing. Actually first, if he's playing in the NFL and then what team he's on. Because he's on the Colts right now, at least as of today.
- [30:25]
A
Laquan Treadwell. There you go. Some guys just last forever in the league. Gotta love that Fitzy. All right, who's your lotto ticket guy?
- [30:32]
B
Well, I'm sort of on the same track with Jake here. If you're gonna take a flyer on a receiver drafted outside the first two rounds, bet on a fast guy. But you know Jake, Jake likes the Smurfs. He, he took a small guy who's going to be wearing.
- [30:45]
C
No, I left you the guy. I've taken a lot
- [30:49]
A
in Pat's defense. He also wears blue and white now.
- [30:52]
B
That's right.
- [30:52]
A
So it's very Smurf life.
- [30:54]
C
There you go.
- [30:57]
A
That's what he is.
- [30:58]
B
I tease. I know Jake. This guy too.
- [31:03]
A
I can't even say heard here first.
- [31:05]
B
Yeah. So we're, we're betting on the big, big fast guy with Bryce Lance. 63 and 4. 34 speed. Lance played at North Dakota State, so it is going to be a major Adjustment to NFL competition. But Lance did have more than a thousand yards each of the last two seasons. 2024, he had 17 touchdown catches, better than one a game on average. And 2025. Bryce Lance averaged 21.2 yards per catch, had eight catches of 40 or more yards. So probably not going to be a high volume guy, at least not early in his career, but this guy can make some big plays. And Lance landed in a pretty good spot in New Orleans. He'll obviously be behind Chris Olave and first round pick Jordan Tyson, but the Saints really don't have much at receiver after those two. And Tyler Schock, yeah, like, we don't know if he's going to pan out yet. He put up good numbers late last year, but he did against some pretty bad defenses. But we do know that Tyler Shuck likes to do business downfield. Like, his average depth of throw last year was 8.3 yards, which was one of the higher numbers among starting quarterbacks. So maybe Bryce Lance is a pretty good fit for Tyler Schock.
- [32:14]
A
There you go. Great comprehensive look.
- [32:16]
C
Smurf blue. Like, we've all got blue, but at least I've got the Smurf blue on. You're a little bit more Smurf your tan smurf. And
- [32:26]
A
I'm 10smurf. And it's only May 4th.
- [32:28]
C
Fitz is Irish Smurf. That's what it is with the light skin.
- [32:33]
B
I think you're a little too tall for us to pass you off as a Smurf.
- [32:37]
A
Yeah, well, both of you are tall. Everyone, everyone I work with is a freaking giant. It's. It's kind of crazy, you know, so whatever. This is a great job.
- [32:46]
C
Not Brian Hartman told some names here like that.
- [32:48]
A
No. Well, who is.
- [32:49]
C
That's just true.
- [32:50]
A
Just, you know. All right, so if you're looking for some of these wide receivers right now in the ranks, go look for them over on fantasypros.com you see the full breakdowns, all the profiles. Again, don't forget, use the trade analyzer when you're making all your Dynasty trades. And also the Dynasty Draft Simulator that's available for you right now. So our MVP and Hall of Fame subscribers, remember I was talking before about, you know, kind of moving up a tier. If you do that, you can go and mock with all the actual traded draft picks. So that is super useful to you, but you can only get it fantasybros.com simulator. The regular version works too. But again, if you're a Hall of Fame or premium membership there, of mvp. You get more bells and whistles and more ways to basically streamline your draft for your specific leagues.
- [33:31]
B
All of them.
- [33:31]
A
You can customize every single setting. Again, you can trade all the draft picks. Do everything you need to do. So Dynasty Draft Simulator is out there for you. Don't be a tool, use the tools. And of course, subscribe to our YouTube channel right here, Fantasy Pros, so we can keep you up to date with all the NFL Fantasy goodness all year round. That'll do it for us, but the story of the game goes on. For Jake Seeley and Pat Fitz Morris, I'm Joey P. Make sure you check out parts two and three of this series we're dropping here with some of the best rookies in fantasy football. Thanks for listening to the Fantasy Pros Dynasty Football Podcast. If you love the show, the best
- [34:04]
C
free way to support us is by
- [34:05]
A
leaving a positive review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
- [34:09]
C
Follow us on X Instagram and Tick Tock at Fantasy Pros and subscribe to
- [34:13]
A
our YouTube channel at YouTube.com fantasypros. This is an I heart podcast. Guaranteed human.